Controlling Destiny - 11 The Shadows Within

“You- you’re a monster. . .” The girl finally managed to say.

She had completely stopped struggling at this point as she realized she should probably try to conserve her energy instead.

“Oh don’t worry honey,” Mavira said softly. “I promise not to hurt you anymore as long as you answer my questions!”

The man lying on the ground had also stopped shouting at this point. He realized that Mavira had not lied about anyone being able to hear them.

“We’ll never tell you anything!” He declared hoarsely.

“Well, isn’t that a shame?” Mavira said coldly. With a flick of her hand, the man’s rib cage started to slowly implode.

“Ahhhhhhhhh!” The man screamed in pain as he felt like a hundred hot knives had started penetrating his lungs.

The girl in Mavira’s grasp screamed: “STOP!”

“Please stop!” She pleaded with Mavira with tears in her eyes.

“Please, if you stop I’ll tell you anything,” she cried. “Just don’t hurt him anymore, please!”

“Luzith-” The man barely managed to speak. “Luzith, you- you must not!” He cried out between violent fits of coughing up blood.

Completely ignoring the dying man, Mavira turned her gaze towards Luzith.

“Well hon, now you’re talking!” She said with a bright smile.

Tucking the dagger into her robe, Mavira used her empty hand to wipe away Luzith’s tears.

“Now, don’t be so sad, it ruins your pretty little face,” she said softly.

Her hand suddenly shot forward from Luzith’s cheek to her throat. Her fingers opened and clenched playfully causing Luzith to gag and sputter.

“Now, tell me, dear,” Mavira said as her fingers closed in again on Luzith’s throat, “Tell me everything or else I’ll strangle you to death right now.”

Luzith took a sharp breath before she started telling Mavira all about who sent them and why they wanted Mavira dead.

The man at this point was completely motionless and he did not say a word. It wasn’t clear whether he was alive or dead or simply blacked out from the blood loss.

Listening to the end, Mavira did not interrupt a single time. Her eyes however never stopped moving and she stared intently at Luzith as if searching her soul.

Finally, she let go of Luzith who immediately crawled over to where the man was lying.

“Well, it seems that you have been telling the truth,” Mavira said. “Oh, and don’t worry about him, he will be completely fine soon.” She said, gesturing at the man’s wounds.

As she finished speaking, Luzith watched in awe and confusion as the man’s wounds all started sealing up and his breathing returned to a normal steady rate.

Checking to make sure he was okay, Luzith gripped her dagger tightly, preparing to escape as soon as possible.

To her amazement though, the courtyard gate opened up silently, and the rustling of wind returned to the quiet courtyard.

“I did say that you were free to go once you answered all my questions,” Mavira said with a light chuckle. “It was unfortunate though that we could not continue playing.”

Luzith shuddered uncontrollably at the notion of whatever ‘playing’ would have alluded to. Without any further hesitation, she carried her partner on her back and nimbly escaped from the courtyard.

Mavira stood alone in the courtyard for a few moments as if deep in thought once again. Finally, she called out quietly “Egran!”

A dark shadow separated itself from the corner of the wall and glided silently to her.

“My mistress, I am here.” It said telepathically.

“Follow those two,” she ordered. “Do not let them disappear and report back to me.”

“Your wish is my command.” The shadow replied before slipping back into the dark corner.

Mavira once again stood alone in the courtyard. She said nothing, but a sly smile played at the corners of her lips.