Crimson Lace

Chapter 46

WARNING: chapter ends on a big ✨cliffhanger✨but enjoy! 😌

ELLE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Already guards have approached Gore and I. They take my brother's odd shaped cane and bind his hands behind his back. I wince as he seems to grimace in pain.

"He needs that to walk, you morons," I shout, tugging uselessly at my own bindings as two guards take hold of my arms and begin to lead the two of us inside. As prisoners.

Gore gives me a long look. "Thank you, Sister, but I can handle this." He turns to the guards who have started to shove him forward by his bound hands. "I do need it to walk, you fools," he deadpans with a lopsided smirk.

I can't help but chuckle inside. Leave it to Goreth Crimswell to have humor in a time like this where our lives are on the line. But then again, Gore has always been one for putting on a show. I remember the day he brought us to the Reaper's Arena. How he had thrown open the doors and done a twirl as the room came into view.

The guards exchange glances before one of them—a heavy-set male with long, brown hair—speaks up. "We'd be fools to let you keep your cane, Mr. Crimswell." He draws out his name in a mocking tone. "You may be a cripple, boy, but you ain't harmless."

"Good, you should be scared of me." Gore pretends to bite, amusement worn on his face like a colorful paint.  "Because you're not wrong."

We are brought down a long stairwell, the stone walls and floors are easily recognizable. I don't even have to try and memorize the layout. Having grown up in the palace, every inch of the building is burned into my memory. Even the dungeons.

To my surprise, Keaton doesn't follow us down. He is probably too busy playing with his new Variants to care.

My mind can't help but stray to Alec. That single tear that slid down his cheek before we left had nearly killed me. He's stuck in there. Trapped inside a body that is acting without his control. I wonder how he feels, seeing his father and being helplessly locked inside his own head. The thought has my mind spinning as we descend the stairs and take a turn into a hall of cells.

I'm pleased to find that they plan on tossing both Gore and I in the same cell. That makes it ten times a simpler task to break us both out.

They unlock the door and shove my brother in.

He stumbles with the momentum, but doesn't let his lack of balance show as he straightens himself up and stares the guards down.

A needle pricks into my neck. It takes me a moment to realize what is happening, but instantly I feel my veins flood with the burn that is Mute. I work to push it aside like Lance and Celeste have been helping me learn, focusing the pressure against the liquid until it submits to my strength and is crushed by the weight of my own power.

They watch me for a second and I realize that they are waiting for me to react.

Put on a show? Easy. I drop to my knees, pressing my hands to my temples and let out a shrill cry. The burly man seems to relax at hearing me scream. They shove me into the cell.

I try not to laugh at their stupidity. It is fun to know something that Keaton and his crew don't. It is fun to have this power.

The walls already feel too tight as they lock the door and the guards head off. I've escaped imprisonment before. I can do it again. Though, the stench of bodies and rats wafts past my nose, making me nauseous. Somehow I managed to sleep in one of these for over a week when Keaton had locked me up.

Suddenly I have a new level of respect for myself.

"That was a highly convincing performance," Gore teases. "I'd applaud if my hands weren't bound behind me."