The Fawx Bite

XXVII.

My throat felt like sandpaper, my tongue swollen and dry as a cotton ball. I opened my eyes slowly to find myself in a dark room. There was no furniture, only a single door and barred window. I seemed to be standing and I realized that shackles strapped to my wrists, a stool under my feet so that there wasn't too much pressure on my shoulders were holding it up. But there was soreness in my back, neck, and shoulders, which meant that I had to have been in this position for longer than just a few minutes. I wrapped my hands around the chains and used them to help me straighten, that way I was actually standing on my own weight. I swallowed thickly, wincing at the pain. My throat was sore from Momsen's hand wrapped around it. Which brought up the question, where was he?

As I inhaled deeply, I realized that I had been stripped down to my bra and underwear.

Before I could exhale the stool was kicked out from underneath me. I screamed as my body fell, abruptly stopping due to my bound arms. My shoulders protested fiercely against the violent motion. I kicked my legs around, trying to find something to give me leverage. That was when a warm hand rested on my bare hip and I stilled. There was a moment of tense silence before the hand moved away. I couldn't even be relieved before a powerful punch was delivered to my side. A strangled noise was ripped from my throat. I was unable to catch my breath before I was hit again, and again. The force caused my body to begin to swing. I couldn't stop myself as I began to cry, wheezing from the pain.

Just as abruptly as it had started, it stopped. Silence enveloped the room aside from my whimpers. My body remained tense as I waited for more blows. Instead there was the soft clicking of shoes as the attacker walked around me. Anthony Momsen stopped in front of me, a smile on his face. "Good morning Scarlet, I hope you had a pleasant sleep."

I pursed my lips, struggling still to catch my breath. I managed to smile and say hoarsely, "Oh you know, choking is a nice way to achieve something positive. Whether it's to get a good night's sleep or to get an orgasm during sex."

His face darkened, the broad smile faltering. "I always find it fascinating when someone has so much gall. Able to find enough energy to fight back when they know they have no hope. You see, not many people actually have the right attitude or mindset to do so. They pretend they do but when it comes down to it, they break. But you have so much spirit. Pointless, but more entertaining then your weak sister."

At the mention of Viola, I gritted my teeth and tried to kick him but he was just far enough out of my reach. Frustration boiled in front of me and I couldn't help but scream – even though it tore at my throat – at him. I tried to yank my hands from the shackles but all it did was send pain through my wrists. Momsen just watched my futile attempts with barely restrained amusement. I finally let myself fall still; trying not to let the burning tears escape. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because," Momsen stepped closer, "you killed the love of my life."

I flinched, realizing he was talking about Sophie. The image of her head snapping back filled my eyes. I closed them in a desperate attempt to wipe away the memory. I tried to reach for Marek; instead I slammed into a brick wall. Where was he? Why couldn't I touch him? Another blow to my gut snapped me from my thoughts immediately. His hand grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking my head back. I cried out in pain, struggling against his grasp. His face was dangerously close to mine, and he was still smiling. "You're supposed to be a dragon rider. Yet here you are whimpering, unable to get away. Were you ever truly a dragon rider?"

My bottom lip quivered in an effort to hold back tears. I tried to turn my head away but he gripped my jaw with bruising strength forcing me to look at him. "Look at you. You couldn't even protect your sisters."