Page 150 of Tainted Souls
I almost cry, tears burning behind my eyes, but there’s no room for weakness. I have to fight.
Saul looks worse, barely conscious, his face bruised and bloody, one eye swollen shut. It’s painfully obvious how fresh his beatings are.
“Sis,” he manages, the word slurred through split lips.
“Family reunion,” Cain announces, spreading his arms wide. “Isn’t this cozy? All of you together again after all these years.”
I look from my mother to my brother, both beaten but unbowed, and feel something hardening inside me. A resolve that burns through the fear and confusion. We may be captives now, but this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
“Let them go,” I growl, pulling hard against my restraints until the leather cuts deeper into my wrists.
“Oh, but they are such effective motivation.” Cain snaps his fingers, and one of his lackeys yanks my mother’s head back by her hair. She doesn’t make a sound, but I can see the pain flash across her face.
“Stop!” I shout, my voice breaking.
Cain approaches my mother, running one finger along her jawline. “Seena, my love. How the years have changed you. Still a sight for sore eyes, though. A corpse bride.” His eyes flick to me. “She was supposed to be mine, you know? Before your father stole her away.”
I know. And I’m glad he did.
My mother’s eyes blaze with hatred as she stares up at Cain. Even gagged and bound, she radiates temerity.
“You’ve had her prisoner for over a decade,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “Isn’t that enough?”
“Hardly.” Cain moves to Saul next, circling him like a toy. “And this one—so much like his father. The same infuriating compassion. The same… breakable body.”
Without warning, he drives his fist into Saul’s stomach. My brother doubles over as far as his bonds allow, a muffled groan burbling from the gag.
“Saul!” I scream, thrashing against my restraints.
Cain continues as if I hadn’t spoken, grabbing his face and forcing it up. “We’ve been having such interesting conversations, your brother and I. About loyalty, perseverance, pain thresholds.” He drives another blow into Saul’s ribs, and I hear something crack. “About how long he thinks you’ll hold out before you give me what I want.”
Tears burn in my eyes as I watch my brother’s body convulse with pain, knowing he won’t heal as fast as vampires.
Cain approaches me, his smile widening as he leans down until his face is inches from mine. “You’re so beautiful when you cry.”
“Please stop,” I plead, no longer caring about how pathetic I sound.
Cain sighs dramatically, then turns back to my family. “Round two coming up.”
He nods to one of his vampires, who produces a pocket knife.
“No!” I lunge forward, but it’s useless.
The vampire presses the blade against my mother’s forearm, slicing slowly. She doesn’t scream, doesn’t even flinch, but her eyes find mine across the room, filled with a silent plea I can’t decipher. Cain gestures again, and the vampire moves the knife to my mother’s face, pressing the tip just below her eye.
“Stop!” I bellow. “I’ll do it.”
Cain holds up a hand, grinning from ear to ear, and the vampire pauses. “Are you reconsidering my offer?”
I look from my mother to my brother, both watching me with the same intensity despite their pain. They silently urge me to stay strong, to resist. But at what cost? How much of their suffering can I bear to witness?
“I need time,” I blurt out, trying to buy myself a moment to think.
“Time is something your family doesn’t have much of.” Cain nods to the vampire again.
This time, he turns to Saul, pressing the knife against my brother’s throat. A splash of dark ruby explodes into the air, painting the walls with blood.
I try to scream, yell, but all that escapes is a shuddering gasp, choked by the weight in my throat. My voice shatters into sobs I can’t control. My mother’s eyes close in defeat.
