my face. “And find Volod.”
He nodded. “You’ve got it.”
“Thanks, Max,” I said. He gave another nod before he left the cell. The agent locked the door behind him.
I turned my attention back to Gary.
The Vampire-Doppler’s muscles were chiseled, showing power in every fiber of his body. No matter the strength of his paranorm powers, or as strong as he was physically, he was no match for the magic in the restraints or Desmond’s power. Everyone had a breaking point, and we would find Gary’s.
“Where is Rodán?” Desmond released his hold on Gary’s neck, and the Vampire-Doppler slumped in the chair. Desmond got into his face. “Talk or you’re really not going to like what I’m about to do next.” He held his hand out, and green flame danced on his palm.
Gary stared at the Sorcerer, anger in his gaze. His blue eyes were still in the stages of turning dark as they would be for the rest of his unnatural life. Unless of course that unnatural life ended tonight.
“This little flame”—Desmond bounced the magic fire on his palm—“will make you feel like every nerve ending inside you is on fire. You’ll feel like you’re burning alive.
“The good news is you won’t die,” the Sorcerer added. “You’ll just wish you would. You will struggle and move around. You won’t be able to help yourself.” Desmond looked at the place where Gary’s balls were trapped before looking back at the Vampire-Doppler. “When you jump, you might lose a couple of things.”
My fury over Rodán’s abduction, and over what the Vampires had done to me just months ago, kept away any speck of pity that might have been in me. Fear for Rodán burned like the fire in Desmond’s hand, only a thousand times worse. Joining the horrible fear were white-hot flames of anger.
No, I didn’t care what Desmond did to this Vampire. We’d do whatever we had to do.
When Gary didn’t say anything, Desmond blew on the flame in his hand.
The flame leapt from his palm and landed in an explosion of sparks, encompassing Gary.
He shrieked, his body jerking and straining against his restraints, his muscles bulging as the magic fire sizzled on his skin. How his balls stayed attached to his body I didn’t know, but it had to hurt.
“What are you doing to him?” I asked Desmond in a lowered voice. My heart pounded. The green fire unnerved me. “Don’t kill him.”
“Like I told him, he’s not going to die.” Desmond’s gaze grew more intense, and the green fire popped and crackled while Gary screamed. “It’s like burning in the flames of the human version of hell. Only worse.” Desmond closed his hand, and the flames vanished.
Amazingly, the Vampire-Doppler’s skin wasn’t even blistered. The only sign he’d just been through an ordeal was the sweat rolling down the side of his face and coating his skin wherever it was visible. His breathing was erratic, as if he’d just been running.
“Are you ready to talk?” Desmond asked Gary yet again.
The Vampire-Doppler still said nothing, just glared. The Sorcerer held out his hand and once again green flame erupted on his palm. “Last chance.”
I was pretty sure Gary was a former Tracker, which meant he would be hard, if not impossible, to break.
No, everyone had a breaking point.
Everyone.
Some took longer than others.
After two more times with the flames, Desmond asked for a tub of water for Gary’s feet. By the look in his eyes, he knew what was coming next.
Ice-cold water sloshed out of the tub and onto the stone floor when two agents brought it in. The agents unstrapped his legs just enough to put his feet in the tub.
When the agents finished and left the cell, Desmond steepled his fingers together. Currents sizzled, bouncing from one fingertip to the next. The air filled with static. My own magic felt the pull.
“Gary, we’re not giving up,” I said. “We won’t stop until you give us the information we need.”
“So be it,” Gary said, his voice deep, guttural.
Desmond looked at me. I gave a short nod.
He directed his magic at Gary’s temples. It reminded me of an old black-and-white horror movie.
Streaks of white lightning shot from Desmond’s fingertips to Gary’s temples.
Gary shouted so loud I flinched. His entire body jerked like he was being electrocuted—which he was. Only magically.
Desmond drew his magic back and asked Gary again if he was ready to talk.
Again Gary refused.
And again Desmond blasted him with his magical electrical charges.
And again.
And again.
I paced the cell as Desmond continued.