Magyk

xvii

nodus tollens

the realization that the plot of your life doesn't make sense to you anymore

~~~

Drip. Drip. Drip

Faerie's hooded eyes watched the sink outside of her cell as it dripped, painfully, slowly, yet consistently. She supposed it was to drive her insane, but she found herself drawn to it, an unknown pull easing her into moving towards the irregular sound.

She shifted slightly, but a sharp buzz against her throat caused her to jump back against the metal wall, resulting in a loud clang when her head hit the wall. She winced, holding back a hiss, knowing that making a sound would hurt more.

She breathed out sharply, leaning back against the wall slightly, and immediately winced, waiting for the sharp sting of electricity to buzz through her veins, but no punishment came. She looked up and her eyes landed on a pair of shiny shoes.

Her eyes dragged up slowly and Secretary Ross watched her carefully. She could break out of here, but something kept her here, he knew that. He just needed to know what.

"You could've left a long time ago. Yet you're still here. Why?" he demanded. She looked up at him impassively but gasped harshly when a burst of electricity popped against her throat. "Talk."

"I don't know the answer you seek." Her voice was scratchy and the Secretary held back a grimace at the harsh sharpness in her voice. After hours of screaming and electricity, her voice was practically torn through under the harsh conditions she had put it through.

"If you talk I may be able to alleviate your, ah, conditions." It wasn't a promise, probably a threat, really, and he raised a brow. A smirk lifted the corner of Faerie's lip and he shivered. Her eyes darkened and the lights in the room flickered eerily. Blood trickled from her lip slowly, dragging down her chin.

"It is not up to me to alter the fate of these fools," she hissed darkly, and the man quirked a brow at her.

"Your grandmother told me you were unstable but this is a whole other level. I never knew you were this volatile," he said analytically, watching her expression just as she watched his. "I thought you cared about those 'fools'."

"You don't know anything about me. That hag may have convinced you otherwise but you're just like her. Foolish, pitiful creatures preying on the weak to make yourselves stronger."

"Perhaps. This still doesn't explain your stay here. If I had known you were this weak I wouldn't have wasted so many resources on you. Your grandmother assured me you had incredible strength but I guess she was wrong," Ross said, trying to get a rise out of the goddess before him. However, she only laughed lightly before grimacing at the voltage that struck through her.

"It seems so," she agreed quietly. Faerie wavered from side to side, eyes staring blankly. The Secretary stepped back nervously, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. The flickering lights and blood dripping on her face unnerved him greatly all of a sudden.

"I'll come back when you have your answer." With that, he turned on his heel and left and another sharp buzz stung Faerie's throat and she rolled her head back, closing her eyes. Her fingers twitched anxiously under the harsh restraints holding her arms around her body.