Broken But Unburnt

Chapter 46 - Kazimir

Chapter 46: Kazimir

An abandoned Keep, somewhere off the Delosian Coast

Kazimir had always hated the silver robes of the Delosian Sahir. The shimmering, metallic monstrosity used to mark them as some sort of sideshow attraction rather than the being of immense power that they were. Delos said it was a badge of honor, a uniform to show that they had registered their talents and dedicated their magic in service of their king. But it was a costume, nothing more. Regalia to wear through the streets and continue this mummer's farce of acceptance.

Kazimir hated them.

"I'll ask you one more time," he said slowly, narrowing his eyes at the two Sahir kneeling before him. "Where is she?"

Lillibet and Annalise were their names, or so Jyn's intel had said. They hadn't even verified that for him yet. Supposedly, the girl had been seen in the latter's home, brought there by the former. And, just days ago, they had been seen traveling toward a certain Duke's home not long after a royal procession had departed from there. They were the best lead Kazimir had as to the girl's whereabouts, and he wouldn't leave here until he heard of her location from their lips.

"We don't know who you're speaking of," Annalise tried desperately and not for the first time. It was a valiant attempt but bravery became stupidity easily enough and Kazimir had never shrunk away from using pain as a form of persuasion.

"Very well."

With a swift flick of his fingers, he stoked the flames roaring in the grate at their back. The smell of sizzling flesh and burning hair spread throughout the ancient abandoned keep they were occupying just off the coast. Kazimir tried to ignore the way Erol looked away, the way Zahra's lips set in a grim line as her eyes glassed over. His lieutenants stood behind him, ready to assist him if necessary but, undoubtedly, hoping it would not be necessary. Very well. If he was the only one with the stomach to do what needed to be done, so be it.

"Where is she?" Kazimir spat again once their screams had subsided.

"This prophecy that you're so obsessed with," Lillibet began through gritted teeth, "it mentions that there will be two and yet your church puts up only one. Where is the other?"

"That," Kazimir responded, almost amused, "is what I'm trying to get out of you."

Lillibet's eyes widened. She glanced toward Annalise whose head hung low over her chained hands. Finding no support there, she turned her shocked gaze back to Kazimir.

"You can't possibly think–" Lillibet began.

"I didn't ask for prophetic interpretations, Seer," Kazimir spat. "I asked for a location."

"I'm not sure why you think we would know–"

She cut herself off on another scream. Kazimir raised his hand and let the flames grow, licking at their backs, heating the whole room until even Zahra and Erol were taking a step back. Kazimir, however, stepped forward, firelight dancing in his dark eyes. This was what he needed again. To feel his power once more, to loosen the flames and let them burn, to be reminded of what real, raw power felt like, what the magic coursing through his veins looked like. It responded to his touch, to every gentle caress he placed against the burning embers. No one, not even that girl, could take that away from him. He had needed a reminder of that.

"If you think you're one of the two," Lillibet spoke through the pain, hissing as she did, "and she is the other, you must know you are not the one destined for good."

"I don't have to be good," Kazimir reminded her. "I just have to be chosen."

He knelt down so that he was only a foot from her, looking into her eyes as sweat and blood dripped in rivulets down her neck. She glared back at him, doing her best to maintain the strong, unaffected front that her companion had dropped long ago. Annalise merely whimpered now whenever he burned them. He wasn't even sure if the girl was still conscious. But it didn't matter. He only needed one of them to talk.