Justine’s lack of concern over letting her loose couldn’t have been more insulting, but Melly was okay with that, since it meant the Vampyre wasn’t paying any attention to her. Briefly tempted to slip over to her nest to retrieve her stake, she glanced at the corner, but as appealing as it was to make a try for staking Justine, the risk of getting caught was too great.
Now that Justine had Julian in chains, she had no reason to keep Melly alive any longer. If Melly attacked her and failed, even if Justine chose not to kill her, she would take everything out of Melly’s cell, and they – yes, it was now time to say “they” – would need all the help they could get if they were going to escape from this alive.
Taking the key out of her pocket, Justine let herself out of the cell and locked Melly inside. Then the Vampyre strolled into Julian’s cell while twirling her knife in between long, pale fingers.
Watching her, Melly’s stomach clenched. Oh gods, this was going to get bad.
Maybe she could get Justine to focus on her instead of Julian.
She rushed to the bars, gripping them so tightly she bruised the palms of her hands. “Justine,” she said in a sharp voice. “You promised to let me go. Locking me in the cell again isn’t letting me go.”
Justine gave her a glance filled with equal measures of contempt and amusement. “Poodles shouldn’t try to think so hard. Everybody knew I wasn’t going to let you go, except apparently for you.”
“Julian was right.” Melly spoke as fast as she could. “You’re playing this all wrong. Stop and think for a moment. My mother considers you a friend, and that’s a really valuable commodity. You don’t want to jeopardize it.”
“Tatiana will continue to consider me a friend.” Justine’s reply sounded almost lazy. She came to stand in front of Julian, who regarded her with the same contempt that she showed to Melly. “In fact, I’m going to be so sympathetic and helpful over your disappearance, our friendship will grow even stronger. That will be quite useful in the upcoming months, since Julian won’t be the Nightkind King any longer. Now hush, Melly, and don’t forget, you’ve just become a luxury mammal. You’re no longer a necessity to me.”
“Yeah, I figured that part out for myself,” Melly muttered.
Justine dug into Julian’s jeans to withdraw his cell phone. Dropping it on the floor, she ground it underneath one heel. Then, faster than Melly could track, Justine lashed out.
Ribbons of Julian’s T-shirt drifted to the ground, revealing his heavily muscled, scarred chest and arms.
Justine told him in a quiet voice, “I like breaking things. It’s always been my way, and I’m going to especially enjoy breaking you. You’re dictatorial and arrogant, and inflexible, and you’ve been a pain in my ass for too many years. I’m going to tear you down until there’s nothing of you left, and then I’m going to train you to be my pet.”
Julian gave her a cold, bored look. “You’re delusional.”
Her voice gentled. “Just wait, you’ll see. But before I destroy your mind, first I’m going to hurt you a lot. I want you to be fully aware, so you realize what’s being done to you, and you know that it’s me who is doing it. And you’re going to let me, because if you don’t, I’ll carve something off of Melly while you watch. She’s got lots of bits she can lose before she dies. A thumb, a breast, an ear or her nose. Even her hands and feet.”
“Please,” Melly whispered. “Don’t do this. Justine, there has to be something you want more than this. What is it? Tell me what it is, and I’ll see that you get it. I swear I will – I swear it.”
The Vampyre didn’t even glance at her. “There’s nothing I want more than this.”
Justine struck again, and Melly muffled a moan against the heel of one palm as long red cuts appeared on Julian’s muscled arms and chest. A roil of nausea twisted in her gut. Leaning her head against the cold bars, she breathed evenly to make it go away. This leisurely sadism was so much worse than anything she could have imagined.
As Justine ran the tip of her knife along his abdomen, Julian’s sharp, steady gaze met Melly’s.
He said telepathically, Don’t watch.
I have to, she whispered. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be here.
Don’t be stupid, he said. Justine’s the one who is responsible, not you. She’s the reason why we’re both here. Goddammit, Melly, turn the fuck away.
I can’t.
Justine cut him again and again, and Melly clapped her own hand over her mouth to muffle a sob. Each movement was drawn out, until the torture seemed to go on for hours.
“That ought to do it,” Justine said finally. Taking a step back, she licked her knife clean. She made a sound of pleasure. “All the blood oaths you’ve taken as King have made your blood really potent. I hadn’t realized just how Powerful you had become.”
Dread pulsed a rapid tempo in Melly’s veins. Ought to do what?
Julian must have been wondering the same thing, for he watched Justine with a sharp, wary expression. He said in a mocking voice, “Is that all you’ve got?”