Child Control

Betrayal In Our Midst

Taylor dragged us to to a stairway and led us down. We stopped in the middle of the stairway, he pushed in a piece of the wall and a doorway opened to another set of stairs. We went down the stairs and entered into a surprisingly well light prison. When I glanced at his face he looked solemn. He led us to a conference room with Zax, Fia, and Annita. We all sat and waited for Annita to speak.

"So as Yov told you lassie, there's been a break-in."

"Sorry." I said. "I know this is completely off topic but before we get into the deep stuff why is there a conference room in a prison?" Fia rolled her eyes,

"So we can have meetings to inform underlings, or stratagize torture beforehand obviously." That's not obvious.

"Oh okay." I said, leading back in my chair. "Continue. The break in."

"Yes. We found the spy and brought you lassies down here to learn how we handle these situations. We know the spy got information from the inside which is why this meeting has been kept secret and everything you see and hear here will not be shared with ANY guild members who are not currently present. Understood lassies?"

"We understand." I said and looked at Yov while she nodded her agreement. The triplets and Annita got up and left the room without another word and we followed after them. They led us past many empty cells to one in the back with a singular bright light in the middle of the ceiling. The light shined down on a thin brunette girl. She had a black eye, split lip, and was cradling her side. When she looked up my eyes widened. Before our eyes could meet I turned my face so my hair partially covered it. I hoped it would be enough to mask my identity from her. That's Tink! The girl I roomed with on the trip to Numinore. Why the fuck is she trying to spy on spies?

Annita stepped forward and looked down at her. I've never seen her look so...angry. I'd never been afraid of Annita until that moment. I knew in my bones that they people who got on her bad side or hurt those she cared about. Would never be able to rest in peace.

"Why did you break in here girl?" No 'lassie'. Tink didn't answer. Annita didn't ask anymore questions because it was clear from the defiance in her eyes she wouldn't talk. "Zax." Annita said softly. He came forward and she stroked a hand down his face. "Do your work and report back to us." He nodded solemnly and started taking off his clothes.

"What is he doing?!" I whispered frantically to Fia. Tink's eyes got wide when he started taking off his pants but Fia turned Yov and I away and started leading us back down the hall.

"Zax deals with torturing the prisoners. He is the best at doing it and getting the information out of it. He takes his clothes off because they get dirty and bloody and he hates cleaning out the stains." I shivered.

"But I thought you were the best at getting information."

"I am. But not in that way. I don't have the stomach for torture." As we started walking up the stairs out of the prison I heard Tink scream. I stopped and Yov ran into my back. She put her hand on my shoulder and pushed me up the stairs, Tink's screams carrying all the way up behind us.

I swallowed loudly.

"Buck up lassie." Annita chastised. "Or you won't survive here." I straightened up as we walked into Annita's office again and waited. Taylor and Fia whispered in the corner together and Annita sat in her chair perched up like a queen. We didn't have to wait long before Zax came in. He was clean shaven and dressed in business casual clothes. The fact that he looked as if nothing ever happened made it more disturbing.

"So?" Taylor asked. "What'd you find?"

"She was tipped off about a passageway leading from the guild to the fabric shop. I tried to figure out who told her but she kept her mouth shut." Annita's eyebrows rose.