Chapitre 63: Playing Dirty
Weimin stares at the woman with distrust as he says, "You've gotten what you've come for, now leave." The beautiful woman gives him a knowing smile as she slowly waves her hand over Lyra's sleeping body and says, "Such a beautiful woman... such a powerful woman. Do you really think you can control her?"
Weimin narrows his eyes and says, "It's none of your concern. Leave while I'm still allowing you to." The woman chuckles as her eyes flash with a mysterious light. She nods her head and says, "Sure, sure. I understand hero, I will leave as quietly as I came. You have nothing to fear. After all, you gave me your shadow as well. I'm plenty full."
She gives them both one last knowing look before turning around and walking out of the pool of water. She chuckles as she slips into the darkness and disappears. Weimin glares in her direction with hatred before looking back down at Lyra.
He reaches out, lightly touching her cheek as he softly says, "Sleep just a little longer. I must prepare one last thing to ensure you can't be taken away." He slips his arms under her and slowly lifts her up out of the water before walking out of the pool with her.
He travels down several dimly lit pathways before reaching a room with what looks like an altar. He lays her down on the stone altar and gently places her hands on her sides. Chains and something being dragged can be heard in the distance.
As it grows closer, it gets louder and louder. When they reach the room, he looks up to see his men dragging Aiya into the room. She was missing her hair, her nails, and most of her teeth and skin. The only reason she was still alive, was the power Weimin was feeding in through the chains.
Aiya moans, her lifeless eyes flashing with recognition when she sees Lyra laying on the stone altar. Weimin watches her with cold eyes as his men drop her before his feet. Aiya crumbles to the ground. She was too weak and in too much pain to hold up her own weight.
Weimin's men throw pieces of paper down in front of her as Weimin coldly says, "Draw it." Aiya hisses out, "I have nothing to write with." Her voice is raspy and broken. After hours and days of screaming, she sounded nothing like she did before.
Weimin releases his power into the chains, instantly causing her to cry out in pain. He pulls it back and says, "Use your bloody finger for all I care. Draw the symbol!" Aiya cries as she lifts her bloody hand.
Weimin leans over and says, "If you don't do it right the first time, I will have you write it over and over until nothing but your bones are left." Aiya shivers, knowing he's speaking the truth. She summons all the strength she has to steady her hand and slowly draws the ancient and dark rune.
It was a dark rune used for prisoners back in the day. It would prevent the user from using magic; anytime they tried to use it, they would be inflicted with immense pain. It was later deemed unnecessarily cruel and was replaced by handcuffs marked with the same dark runes.
Those handcuffs would do the same thing without all the pain, but she wouldn't tell this bastard that. No, she wanted Lyra to suffer like her. This rune had to be cut into the flesh like a true sinner in order for it to work.
Once the rune healed, it would have to be cut into them once again. It was truly the perfect punishment for sinning witches and warlocks back in the day. And now, it would be used on Lyra! The thought brought her so much joy, it almost took away all the pain she was in. Almost.
As soon as she was done, Weimin kicks her hard! She cries out, falling back on the ground with cries of pain. There wasn't an ounce of skin left untouched and now there were parts that were starting to become infected and festering.
Weimin looks the symbol over with suspicion before saying, "If this doesn't work, I will have this carved into your face." Aiya shivers and cries out, "It will work, I promise!" Weimin walks over to Lyra and says, "Take the disgusting thing out of here and lock her back up. She's stinking up the place."
The men bow and quickly drag Aiya out of the room, leaving just Weimin and Lyra. He reaches out and lightly brushes her cheek as he says, "I don't wish to hurt you, but this is necessary." He reaches out and slowly turns her so that she's laying on her stomach.
He tears open her dress, revealing her flawless, slim back. His fingers tremble as he slowly touches her warm, soft skin. He slowly drags his finger all the way down to her lower back and takes a deep breath. He looks at the strange symbol once again before taking out a small blade.
He uses his power to clean the blade before cutting into her skin. He keeps his hand steady as he follows the same pattern Aiya used and when the last lines connect, it softly glows before turning a dark red color.
He lightly wipes the blood, using a soft cloth but doesn't use anything to help with healing. This needed to stay in place in order to keep her from using her powers. Once she becomes more obedient and reliant on him, he would stop using it.
Until then, he would keep her in the palace with him. By his side so that he could keep her safe and away from that Bastard Bolin.
__________
LYRA
I suddenly find myself outside a very familiar house. Ashes slowly fall from the sky as I look at the house I grew up in. I look up at the gray sky, wondering how much longer I had to keep doing this. Why wasn't my magic coming?
Twisted laughter is heard as he asks, "What's wrong, witch? Are you not going to try and save them this time? Do you not one last hug from your mommy and daddy? Should we play with your grandfather some more? Or would you like to play with all the people you've killed again?"
I can't tell you how many times I've had to watch my loved ones die over and over here. Or how many times I've been cursed at by those I've killed or couldn't save.
Instead, I yell out, "Why not just kill me instead?"
It chuckles and says, "Where's the fun in that? If I have to be stuck in here for eternity, then you will suffer with me. Now, who should we play with today? Do you want to play with the children you murdered?"
I snarl, "I NEVER MURDERED CHILDREN!"
Its laugh echoes all around me as he asks, "Are you sure? You killed them lots of times here... you probably killed them out there as well." I shake my head with gritted teeth, trying to keep my sanity but I feel it trying to slip away.
I feel like I've been here for ages... It feels like a lifetime has passed and I'm still stuck in some kind of infinite loop of pure hell. I feel as if I'm about to go mad as his laughter echoes all around me once again.
I fall to my knees, wanting to beg for it to stop. Wanting to end my own life but when I think about Abell, Bolin, Vanir, and the others who are still waiting for me... I feel myself tearing up. I dig my nails into the hard dirt as the Artifact replays my mother and father's voices. He makes them scream and beg for me to save them.
I need to free Abell, I promised her. I gave her my word. Abell... My tears fall, landing on the hard dirt and instantly getting soaked up.
Wait... Abell...
She told me to call her if I needed her...
My chin trembles as I softly call out, "Abell..."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone