Conquest of Magic

Part 33

Lyn gritted her teeth, heart pounding against her chest, as she prepared to make a break for it. Fear coursed through her veins like wildfire, threatening to consume her whole. But just as she was about to bolt, the head guard stepped in front of her, a sinister grin etched onto his face.

Exhaustion weighed heavy on Lyn's body after she fought the soldiers along with her brother, and tears streamed down her face as she remembered the painful loss of John. He was turned into a vampire when he was just 11 years old. He saved the Prince from an attack and sacrificed his life. William turned John and kept him by his side since then. They became good friends eventually but never in the wildest dream Lyn could imagine her brother's death at the hands of his only friend. John did whatever was asked of him without asking any questions be it good or bad until Kristen came into his life. Her kindness changed him for good and now became the reason for his death.

He had been fighting for her safety ever since he came to know that she was in danger, he couldn't turn against William yet he couldn't let anyone harm Kristen. He had to choose and he chose to follow his heart and for the same reason he had been ruthlessly slaughtered by the prince. Yet, despite the agony of her grief, Lyn had no regrets. They had managed to help Kristen escape to safety, and her brother's sacrifice had not been in vain.

Her brother had begged her to stay out of their battle and remain in the palace as a lowly maid, tasked with spying on the vampire inhabitants. But when Lyn saw her beloved sibling being savagely beaten, she knew she could not just stand idly by and watch. She had to intervene, even if it meant blowing her cover and exposing herself to the dangers that lurked in the palace.

As she stood there, facing the menacing guard, Lyn's emotions were a tumultuous mess. But through it all, she held onto the knowledge that her brother had died a hero, fighting for what he believed in and protecting those he loved. And she would honour his memory by doing the same.

"Listen here, you worthless scum," the guard spat out with a bored and impatient tone. "I'm growing tired of this game. Tell me the location of the Fork's land, and maybe, just maybe, I'll spare your pathetic life. Refuse, and well... you know exactly what will happen."

The guard glared at Lyn, who was trapped in a foul-smelling cell, weakened by daily beatings and malnourishment. Lyn had lost count of the days, and every moment was a torment. She was only given a single piece of stale bread and a meagre glass of water each day, barely enough to keep her alive.

Despite the daily interrogation by the witches and guards, Lyn's answer remained the same. "I don't know." And the guard had grown increasingly furious at her defiance. How could she not know? Didn't she realize the consequences of withholding such information? She was a close friend of Kristen.

The guard's emotions churned inside him like a violent storm. Frustration, anger, and impatience boiled within him, threatening to spill over. He couldn't understand why this prisoner was being so stubborn, why she couldn't just spill the beans and save herself from further suffering. The guard had a job to do, and he wasn't about to let some pathetic captive stand in his way.

The guard's frustration boiled over as Lyn remained stubbornly silent. It was infuriating to think that the reason they kept her alive was to use her as bait for Kristen's inevitable rescue attempt, and yet here she was, refusing to cooperate.

"We're losing our patience with you, girl," the guard snarled, pressing down harder on her skull with his foot. Lyn grunted in pain, feeling the pressure against her head. "If you don't give us what we want, you'll be executed for aiding in her escape."

The guard's anger was palpable, radiating off of him in waves as he screamed at Lyn to answer him. But she remained defiant, even as the pressure on her skull grew unbearable. She knew she couldn't give in, couldn't betray Kristen's trust. Even if it meant sacrificing her own life, she couldn't let them win.