𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒// 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐔

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟔// 𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

Nico stood against the wall, arms crossed, the stone digging into his back. Octavian was to his left, while Reyna stood to his right, backs erect, eyes gleaming in the torchlight. Before them was a metal box being slowly filled up with water.

For the past week, the interrogation of Prince William had escalated from cutting, to beating with brass knuckles, to pulling out teeth. King Abaddon wanted to know everything about the Aureole palace-- the tunnels under the Healer's Tower, the shifts of the guards, the pathways from the entrance to the dungeons. Every inch. The Aureole prince was starting to break under the pressure, and at last began to supply information. Nico remembered every word, comparing it to what General Yew said. Now as he stared at the box-turned-tank, he had a feeling what would happen next.

On the other side of the tank sat Prince Solace, blonde hair concealing his face, toga torn in places to reveal brutalized skin. He was tense, preparing for the torment to come. Though he was free from his chains, he made no attempt to run for the door-- he knew it would have been useless.

King Abaddon materialized from the shadows. Startled, Nico reached for his sword, then cursed himself for it. The king didn't notice, only frowning at the amount of water in the tank before speaking, eyes still fixed on the box.

"My dear Prince, I need you to answer me this: how many guards are posted around the castle gates at a time?"

No response from the man slumped in the corner.

Abaddon raised his head at the silence. He turned around and knelt next to Solace, brushing the prince's hair out of his face in a way that was almost tender. "Answer me, and there will be no pain."

"I...I don't know."

Silence.

King Abaddon's smile became forced. "Think harder, Prince."

"I'm serious. I don't know about the guards. I never cared to learn the number." His voice shook, the words becoming nearly impossible to decipher. "Please. You have to believe me."

"I'm afraid I'm not in a position to believe you, Prince." Abaddon sighed. "And I'm afraid I have to do this." He turned to Reyna and Octavian. "Put him in."

The two lunged forward and seized Prince Solace, dragging him to his feet. They cuffed his wrists and arms, then looped thick heavy chains around his neck and shoulders. The prince thrashed, then went limp, staggering under the chains' weight. In a single movement, Reyna and Octavian lifted him up and shoved him into the water-filled box, slamming the lid shut.

A loud splash, thrashing, then a gasp. The prince tried to grab the lid's bars to keep himself above the water, but Octavian smashed his fist on the lid to stop him. Nico knew that in the box, there was barely any space to breathe, and the prince would have to fight the weight of the chains to keep his mouth above water.

"Answer my questions, Prince William, and I let you out. How many guards are at the gate at a time?"

"I don't know! I swear!" Terror laced every word. "Just--"

"How many guards, Prince?"

Nico rushed over and peered into the box. All he could see were flashes of white and gold as Prince Solace vanished underwater then reappeared with a splash, thrashing and coughing, straining against the chains. Blue eyes peered through the bars, wild with terror. Nico found himself unable to meet those eyes.

"Let me out!"

"How many--"

"Let me out!"

"Answer me!"

Nico had interrogated countless people in a search for information, but the screams of terror echoing from the tank were different; instead of bouncing off of him, they tore at his ears, invading every inch of him. He resisted the urge to clap his hands over his ears.