Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 3

[ Taiya ]

After some time, honestly it seemed like forever, Garrett returned. The door was thrown open and he strode in; anger flashing in his eyes as he stomped barefoot across the cell.

“Lower her!” He barked at the soldier boy. As he brought me down more guards began entering, bringing with them equipment and a metal gurney. s**t. This just got serious. The men started setting things up and Garrett walked up to me. My feet were firmly on the ground but soldier boy was lowering me slowly so there still wasn’t much slack. I readied myself. Garrett must have the key – he wasn’t going to be able to strap me to the table if I was still cuffed. If there were so many men in here then there were less out there. This was my chance. Maybe my only chance.

The Captain of the Guard had his hot hand on my half numb, cold arm as he reached up to the manacles.

CLICK

I sprang into action, calling on my gift to add strength to my spent muscles, head butting Garrett before bolting for the door. If nothing else, the soldier boy’s weapons were just outside the door. It would give me a fighting chance. My fingers locked on to the edge of the frame as I willed my body forward. Adrenaline was rushing through me and my heart was already pounding from such minimal exertion. Damn, I was in trouble, the healing-torture cycle had drained my body and the cuffs had been sapping the well of my magic. I'd barely poked my head out of the doorway when I crashed to the floor.

Solid hot muscle held me down as I struggled. I pushed my magic further, managing to free an arm.

“Grab her arm!” Garrett called from behind me. He was the one who had me pinned. Two of his men came over, one on each side, helping pin me down. Garrett released his iron grip on my shoulder and brought his hand to my face, fingers probing at my mouth.

NO, no-no-no, no, noo.

I tried to keep my panic down and look for a way out but I couldn’t see one. He crushed his fingers against my lips as I thrashed. This wasn’t going to end well for me. More hands pressed me down and Garrett was able to remove his other hand from my body and pinch my jaw forcing my mouth open.

My eyes watered as his fingers pushed at the back of my throat. I might have pleaded if there wasn’t a half a hand in my mouth, I would have rather done this myself and kept a shred of dignity at least. Perhaps if I hadn’t head butted him and tried to escape I might have been able to but hey, can’t blame a girl for trying.

I gagged as he wiggled his thick fingers, my muscles tensed and my stomach clenched before I vomited a mix of blood, bile and water on to his hand. He didn’t stop there, instead forcing me to vomit repeatedly until he was sure my stomach was empty. I felt weak. Garrett flipped me face up while sliding me further beneath him and away from my vomit.

“Davis.” Garrett snapped while stripping off my clothes. Play time was over. He had made me vomit so that I wouldn’t while he had me on the table. That was an indication of the pain he planned to inflict. Couldn’t have me choking to death on my own vomit before he had his answer; must have been some meeting with the King.

“Yes Captain.” Soldier boy, aka Davis, said stepping forward.

“What were my instructions?” He asked in a gravelly voice. I swear I heard Davis gulp, a tired smile crept onto my face – he was in trouble now. Garrett had my filthy ragged shirt off and was slicing through the cloth strips wrapped around my chest.

“Stand by the winch and watch her, two minutes and pull her up. Keep her alive and secured in the cell, Captain.” Davis replied in a strained voice.

“Why then did you give the prisoner water?” Garrett questioned him with just an edge of anger underlining the words. “Were my instructions not clear enough?”

“Yes Captain, my apologies Captain, it won't happen again Captain.” Davis said, just shy of stammering.

“Get out, I’ll deal with you later.” Garrett said evenly while looking straight at me. Emotionless, he picked me up and put me on the table. I hissed the metal freezing against my bare skin but he simply locked my wrists in place before unbuttoning my tight fitting trousers and yanking them over my hips and down my legs. The cuffs attached to the table were also imbued but I kept quiet, despite the pain. I was a little relieved when he didn’t remove my knickers and just clicked my ankles into the restraints. He motioned to some of the other guards who came over and started pulling the other straps over my body whilst he turned to the small table and started laying out tools.

I stared at the ceiling, steeling myself for what I was about to endure. I had to endure. I couldn’t give up the Remnant, it was too important, too powerful for any of these assholes to have. Normally I was wheeling, dealing and stealing but today I was playing hero. Ugh, how stupid, I should just let them have it, fight it out and have their stupid war - only I couldn’t. I couldn’t let these idiots bring ruin and destruction. I wasn’t innocent by far, there was blood on my hands (plenty of it) but that was business; that was the immoral crowd I ran with, not innocent women and children dying for the greed of the wealthy. I was bad but I wasn’t a monster. Mostly I was just trying to survive.

“Last chance before I begin.” His voice was hard and cold. “Where is the Remnant?”

My innards clenched with fear. He was really going to do this. I thought he would give me an opportunity to escape. Had I missed it? I kept my mouth shut and focused on my breathing.

“Fine, have it your way.” He growled, frustrated with my lack of cooperation.

There was a pinch at the crook of my arm, I realised it was a needle and he was injecting me with something. Panic flooded my mind as my arm started to itch and burn. He hadn’t! This couldn’t be his plan. I had told him I was allergic to standard painkillers, like deathly allergic. I got that it was standard practice to inject a little before this kind of torture session to stop the prisoner passing out too soon but he could have easily skipped it, no one would have questioned it. My chest was heavy and my throat was constricting. I started gasping for air and banging whatever I could move against the table.

Garrett looked at me with alarm. Had he forgotten? Did he think I'd been lying or was he just that arrogant that he thought he could control the situation by only giving me a small amount? I was on fire now and my vision was closing in. I couldn’t be 100% sure but from past experience it was likely that I had pissed myself and from the rattling I was convulsing. At least the Remnant was safe I thought to myself as the world faded away.