Page 93 of Into the Abyss
And what will he do once you give into him?He’s not going to let you walk away; he’s not going to free Magnusor Wren. And with Corson in his hands, what could he learn aboutthe king?
“No,” I croaked.
The simple word was the toughest one I’dever spoken, but once it left my mouth, I knew it was right.
There was a moment in which it didn’t seemas if he heard my response, and then fury emanated from him.
“I was hoping you would say that; more funfor me,” he lied.
I didn’t get a chance to reply as he turned,grabbed my mother’s head, and tore it from her shoulders beforeanyone could react. I recoiled when her hot blood sprayed over myface and clothes. A scream rose and lodged in my throat when herbody toppled in front of me. Pride released her head, which thumpedon the rocks before rolling to settle near my mother’sshoulders.
The scream burst free of me as I collapsedto my knees. “No!”
Pride’s hand landed on my shoulder. Bearingdown on me, he dug my knees painfully into the rocks as he pinnedme in place.
Through tear-filled eyes, I turned my blearygaze to my father as strange, choked sounds tore from him.Collapsing beside me, he gathered my mother’s body into his armsand sobbed while he rocked back and forth.
“Vya,” he whimpered in a voice I didn’trecognize.
I did this to him; to her. I did this!
No,hedid this!
Lifting my head, I glowered at Pride as myheart shredded into a thousand pieces.
CHAPTER 39
Magnus
When I made it to the top of the bars, I kept mylegs and one hand locked on them. From here, the mark was only afoot away from me. I stretched out with my free hand and felt overthe symbol. I’d expected it to be etched into the ceiling, or maybebranded onto it, but it was smooth against the sandstone, almost asif it were a part of it.
Frowning, I pulled my hand away and examinedthe marking more closely. “There has to be a way to break it.”
Rereleasing the bar, I used the side of myhand to rub at the mark. I scrubbed until my skin scraped off andmy blood stained the ceiling, but the symbol remaineduntouched.
“You know,” Wren said, “I think if it wereas simple as rubbing a piece of the symbol away, they wouldn’t haveput it within easy reach of the bars.”
I didn’t reply as I rubbed harder, but themark remained fully intact. Drawing my fist back, I ignored thediscomfort in my body as I battered the ceiling. My knuckles brokeopen, more blood spilled free, but I ignored it as I was determinedto tear through the symbol and rip it to shreds.
Minutes later, sweat slid down my cheeks, mybattered body ached, my hand was broken, and I hadn’t made so muchas a scratch on the surface. The only difference in the marking wasmy blood drying on it.
“No!” The scream tore my attentionaway from the symbol as the word rebounded down the hallways andechoed throughout the ruins.
Amalia!I recognized the voiceinstantly and the anguish in it.
What had they done to her? What were theydoingto her?
I’ll kill them ALL!
Releasing the bars, I landed on the groundas her scream reverberated in my head. My shoulders heaved, and myhorns curved away from my head. The still new sensation of themsliding forward was strange, but it came with a rush of power thatI felt all through my body.
“Who wasthat?” Wren stared at theback wall of her cell as if she could somehow see through it. Whenher head turned toward me, her eyes were haunted, but then her jawdropped. “Magnus, your horns!”
I have to get out of here! I have to get toher!
Clutching the bars again, I forgot any painas I ascended and, without thinking, battered my horns into wheremy blood stained the ceiling. Whereas my fists had failed topenetrate the symbol, my horns caused bits of sandstone to breakfree and rain down on me. I pulled my head back and slammed myhorns into the ceiling again.
As more dust broke free, the bars wobbledand a faint grinding noise sounded from somewhere above me.
