False Confidence

An Infinity Apart

Azriel Huang

(TW: SLIGHT TORTURE)

"Stop teasing me and get on with it, will you?" I drawled shakily, my voice carrying a rasp that only pure exhaustion could create. Despite my attempt at being neutral to the blade currently running up and down my calf, my fear was evident. It shadowed every syllable and every shaky breath, all I could really think about was how that cold steel met my skin like a lover's lips.

"Don't play brave with me mutt, I bet you want to piss your pants right about now." The Disciple mused sweetly, as if she was talking about the petunias being in full bloom and not carving her name into my flesh. She had done it numerous times before. So many times in fact, that I knew her name yet i had never once been able to glance down at the wound.

"We don't have to waste time like this boy, you could simply tell us what we want to know and you could be shipped off straight to Chicago by tonight!" Natalia continued smoothly, skimming the dull side of the blade up to my thigh. I hissed softly, my frame instinctively trembling regardless of my efforts not to.

Finally, I gathered the courage to blink my sensitive eyes open. The light was still dim and yellowed, allowing my pupils to easily adjust to my surroundings. Same as the day before, a dingy but clean room with poorly painted walls and a steel door. I was strapped down to a surprisingly sturdy medical table, right beneath that yellow, flickering light. Time had melted into nothing, not a single window allowing me to see a glimpse of daylight. It could've been days but under her knife it felt like centuries.

"That silence of yours...it's a no, I take it." Natalia sighed, turning the knife over, the sharpe edge resting above my knee. I leashed a shudder, bringing myself to look upon my tormentor. A decorated veil hung over her face by twin moon hair pieces on her head, auburn ringlets falling upon bare, milky white shoulders. I was glad I couldn't see her, glad I didn't have to look her in the eyes.

I didn't bother with words, only turning my head away in abhorrence. She didn't need any further prompting, a hunger settling in her that I didn't need to look into her eyes to sense.

Only when I had squeezed my eyes shut, had the slicing started, that pure and mind-melting pain that took over every sense I had to call my own.

Even as I sunk into unconsciousness, I could only think of one thing.

Wren.

~~~

Wren Brooke

A twang of sharp pain flared from low in my gut, causing me to readjust my position on the slouchy sofa I had been sequestered to upon arrival.

There had seemed to be a constant ache that appeared in my chest and slithered its way throughout my body. The stab of nerves was like a shout against echoes, loud and clear. Unease rustled in me once more, spurring my leg to jitter.

Did this mean Azriel was hurting? Our mating bond was one sided as of now, but could waves of feeling be transferred still? Perhaps, if they were intense enough.

The notion made my stomach curdle, my mouth twitching into a deep grimace. Every beat of my heart felt like a waste when it wasn't beating beside Azriel's. Everything felt like a waste, every breath, every blink. Every single second sitting here, waiting for the two useless pieces of shit squabbling in the room next to me, was another second Azriel spent in the Church's possession. It made my body surge with a heated rage every instance i thought of my mate, and i thought of him constantly.

This was hell. I knew it now. I don't recall how i had managed to go over a month without seeing Azriel, but after this I knew. When I eventually got him back, I had no intentions of pushing him away ever again. I'd beg, cling and kill myself just trying to stay by his side, regardless of his expected aversion to it.