From the Ashes

Chapter 46 ~ Entombed

    Tarion had to be dragged every inch of the way from the dungeon to the throne room. He wasn't even lucid enough to remember the route they'd taken and where possible escape points would be. He didn't have the strength to lift his head, much less try to make a run for it or throw himself out a window.

    Rhidian had shattered the bones in his legs and taken great delight in ripping the shards through his skin. Then, through whatever magic Astaroth had granted him, he healed the wounds only to inflict them all over again.

    When he grew bored of that, he'd taken to scraping his skin off. Small strips, one layer at a time, in many different areas so he'd be sure to feel each bite of the blade. And he'd done more than just those two things. Even buried deep within himself, Tarion hadn't been able to escape the pain.

    He'd fought his screams as long as he could until they'd broken from him whether he wished it or not. Rhidian had delighted in each one and continued to wring them from him until Gaelen returned to reiterate the order Rhidian seemed to have forgotten.

    Tarion had been lying on his side in a pool of his own blood, vomit, and drool when Gaelen appeared. He'd just watched the male vacantly. Gaelen hadn't looked at him and left as soon as his message was delivered.

    Rhidian had pieced Tarion's limbs back together enough that they'd function, but he'd been too weak to stand. He wasn't even able to put on the pants the male threw at him. A Human slave had dressed him instead.

    And now here he was, dangling from the arms of two Corrupted Fae, with five more flanking them and Rhidian leading the way. Bloody saliva still dripped down Tarion's lips and his vision blurred periodically.

    His eyes kept rolling back and he prayed each time for the sweet relief of unconsciousness, but it was as though the gods were mocking him by forcing him to live through every moment of this.

    Tarion let out a faint groan as they halted before a massive set of obsidian doors. Rhidian was waiting before them and scowled when an idiotic laugh burst from Tarion's chest. "What do you have to laugh about?" The male spat, stalking over and snatching him by the hair.

    Tarion's laugh shifted to a bark of pain. Right, he'd forgotten that a few parts of his scalp were gone. "I was just thinking that I wouldn't hire Astaroth's interior decorator," he rasped, managing another low laugh.

    Rhidian released him with a scoff and jerked his head towards the doors. The Fae hauled him into the throne room and down the black carpet that formed an aisle across the black marble floor. He really wouldn't hire this decorator. All of the black surroundings kept blurring together, making him even more dizzy.

    Tarion blinked some semblance of focus back into his gaze as he was pulled past a familiar female. Morana's friend had her brown arms wrapped tightly around herself. Confusion reflected in her gaze, but she didn't look like the mad and raving female he'd seen all those weeks ago.

    Her eyes landed on him and flickered with vague recognition. "Who was she?" Neeri whispered. "That female you were with. Who was she? I...I think I knew her."

    Tarion didn't dare answer. He shook his head, silently pleading with her not to jeopardize herself. If she was beginning to remember Morana, odds were Astaroth would have her tortured again for whatever information he hadn't received before Corrupting her. He didn't wish that on Morana's friend.

    A hoarse grunt broke from his lips as he was dumped before a flight of stairs leading up to the dais Astaroth's throne was seated on. Gaelen stood beside the stairs, still not looking at him. Rhidian grabbed Tarion by the neck and forced him up onto his knees, fixing his gaze on the enthroned figure.