Avitas Harper

Torch Against the Night- Part 1

I kept my face and voice devoid of any emotions as i spoke to the Blood Shrike. 

"How did Elias Veturius escape?"

Her eyes are not focused, like she is thinking of something else. I bring back her attention to her present situation. "How did he escape?"

She repeats the same answer that I am tired of hearing. But I am a Mask, and under the Commandant, I have learnt to school my expressions well. 

The Blood Shrike seems unrelenting to give away any answers. Could she actually know nothing? But I know better. 

I nod at the two legionnaires standing and they dunk her head into the foul water. She keeps still like her training taught her to. When I think it has been long enough, the legionnaires yank her head back out. 

I move towards her and tip her face to mine, so that she has to look at me.

"How did he escape?"

"I just told you-"

"Why were you in the Skulls' barracks after the explosion?"

After a series of questions, at my order, the legionnaires dunk her head back again. She seems still at first and then starts thrashing.

I ask the next question. "Who is the girl?"

For the first time in hours, her expression cracks showing recognition. At last! She schools her expression, but it is too late.

"Very good, Aquilla." I can't call her Blood Shrike, can't get myself to call her Helene. 

"Why don't we begin there?"

Her expression is of horror. Her voice betrays her. "Begin, what do you mean, begin?"

This is the way of interrogation. Breaking the person down in front of you, piece by piece.

"But, now Blood Shrike, we will see what you are made of."

I pull my brass beaters on. When the first blow lands, she doesn't utter anything more than a moan. I hit her, wait for her to feel the pain and then land the second blow. Five days go by, she doesn't reveal anything.

Could a traitor, Elias, be worth all this? The Commandant has given me orders to beat her to death, the Blood Shrike is a threat. I see it in the way she refuses to break. She would have made a good Blood Shrike. 

My half-brother means so much to her. She is going to meet death if she doesn't say anything. 

I remember the Aquilla saying. Loyal to the end.

I ask her, "Tell me about them- it is not so hard, is it? We know the girl was affiliated with the resistance. Had she turned Elias to their cause? Were they lovers?" 

In return I get a moan. I almost sigh at the thought of beating her again. It won't be the first kill by my hands, but maybe I would care about it a little. I want to ask about Elias more, but I can't do it without making her suspicious. 

The legionnaires dump her on the floor. She tries to soften her landing. I almost sigh. I kneel next to her. I let some of that tiredness seep into my voice.

She refuses to answer. I wait for a moment so that she can change her mind. When she stays silent, I pull on my brass beaters. 

The Commandant hates her son so much, but the Blood Shrike doesn't. I fear that I am just like any other Mask. But Elias left Aquilla in this situation. To run away with a scholar slave, to be declared a traitor.

Does he look more like our father? I wish I knew what kind of a man he was, that the Blood Shrike fuses to relent even under the Commandant and Marcus. Maybe she knows nothing, but that is hard to believe. His best friend, how could she know nothing?

I see the Blood Shrike accept her fate, something I don't think I could do. 

The door opens, and Marcus and a tall and pale man enters. 

"Father?"

Ah, I warily stay quiet, wondering if I was required to torture a man thrice my age. 

Marcus says, "Lieutenant Harper, anything?"

"She knows nothing about the girl,your Majesty. Nor did she assist in the destruction of Blackcliff."

I see the King threatening Aquilla as her expression remains blank. I see ghost of a expression pass through her. Fear. Uncertainity. 

The tall man says, "Your Majesty, our arrangement?"

So her father bought her way out in some way. The King needs allies, what better exchange than a daughter?

"Unchain her." Marcus says. 

When Blood Shrike tries to stand, she fails and her father catches her. Not much strength left in her. 

"I have a mission for you." The King leaves and we follow suit. When he turns back to look at us, I can feel his stare linger on me for a little longer before he dismisses me.

I walk towards the Commandant's office. She is sitting there. 

"Report, Harper."

"Gens Aquilla and Highness have made an agreement. The Blood Shrike lives."

I see frustration in her eyes for just a second before she masks it. 

"You may go, I will handle this."

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