and most of all, how to control it. Because if I knew this and understood it better, then maybe I would have the ability to direct it at my enemies and not that of my friends. But until that happened I couldn't risk Nero's life.
I tried once more to fight and kick my way through the Harpies that stood in my way, preventing me from getting to a screaming Nero. I was pinned back against the bars and held there until their Masters’ orders had been fulfilled. I knew what he was doing, they were going to use Nero as a pawn to get me to do what they wanted.
“Let me go!” I shouted but it was no use as my face was slammed against the bars and I gritted my teeth against the pain, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of how much it rattled my jaw. I was forced to watch as they dragged a struggling Nero over to the well. I sighed in relief when their intentions didn't mean Nero was next in line for being forced to hold the Eye. Meaning that she wasn’t going to become the next sacrificial lamb stepping up for the slaughter.
No, instead her body was lifted and positioned in the well bucket with her hands tied once more over her head. The length of rope was then looped over the hook the swinging bucket was attached to. At least her feet had something to stand on so she wasn't just hanging there by her arms over the sheer drop of the well. Naturally, she looked utterly terrified and I couldn't say I blamed her. Her eyes kept snapping between looking down at the death that awaited her at the bottom of the well and back up to mine, silently questioning what was coming next.
It was only once she was in place that I was also dragged from the cage before being pulled and pushed until I was before Lucius' brother. I was quickly forced to my knees and the bastard in front of me clapped his hands once, as if the sight pleased him.
“You won't be laughing soon, asshole,” I muttered between clenched teeth. I could feel the rage, the hatred and the anger all directed at this man and the creatures he commanded. I could feel it like a sickness sweeping across my skin. Like an infection I wanted out of my body knowing that when it did, it would become a destructive force eradicating my enemies that surrounded me.
“You will touch the Eye and reveal to me what you see of the future.” I released a deep sigh already knowing how this was going to play out.
“And if I don't?” I asked needing to know what they would do if I didn’t comply. Lucius’ brother simply shrugged his large shoulders and said in a nonchalant tone,
“Then the witch dies.” He stated this in a simple, matter of fact way before raising his hand and silently commanding them to drop the bucket. Nero and I both screamed at the same time, but hers was only one that echoed down the well before tailing off, the further underground she went.
NO!” I screamed when I heard the splash of water and my heart sank with her. The cranking sound of the mechanism that had been released for a quick drop had stopped and the deadly silence of her cries was deafening.
“Alright, alright! I'll do it! I'll do whatever the fuck you say, just pull her up…come on pull her up, for fuck sake, do it quickly!” I shouted desperately hoping that the fall hadn't killed her. Lucius' brother nodded to the Harpy that had been stood next to the crank, someone who started to turn it far too slowly and I could only breathe again when I heard her body emerging out of the water. However, I still needed to know she was alright, so only ended up holding my breath again as the rope thickened in the giant cog, until it was coiled around like a nestled snake.
I felt as if my heart had stopped and only started to beat again, the moment I saw her defeated form still attached to that bucket. Water gushed out over the bucket’s edge as her feet and ankles fully emerged. Her wet, dripping hair hung limp to one side where her head seemed too heavy for her body.
“Come on Nero, just give me a sign you're still alive,” I muttered to myself, because