ing as though a crushing

fully open my eyes. My consciousness was trap

, my gaze fell upon the room beyond the sheer bed curt

two figures

roat, his face twisted

g. "How dare you use sleeping powder on her? If she comes

turning crimson as h

suffer for a long moment befo

or, gasping for air, tears

role of the pathetic, innocent victim. "The dust won't hurt

mained

l toward him, sliding her hands up his legs as s

voice trembling with feigned fear, "but I w

r waist came undone. The robe pooled on the floor, leaving her standing naked

urmured. "Don't you want to feel

opping second, n

owl, his hands shooting out

ed, his voice thick with a raw

a physical blow. I wa

a living statue, force

d while imagining his warmth wearing them, were cast to the floor

save for the sounds of th

reath from Kael, every soft, euphoric moa

being skinned aliv

nd. A faint chime. It was

just beginning, sister. Did you think that was just a sleeping draught? It

It will tear you apart, piece by piece. Watching

ad, flashing me a

wrapping her legs ar

r, more frantic, as if d

h every moan, the chiming of the

t needles, pierced the very depths of my soul.

oulder. "This bell... it only rings whe

response, his hands gripping her ankles t

asped. "Make i

e wave of a

almost tangible, manifesting as ghostly vipers

could almost see i

ractured, inc

ing, spreading like crac

felt it would snuff out my

er of my chest. It wasn't warm or comforting; it

choed through the voi

f lethal spiritual damage, the contract's po

iling under the blue light befor

h it, my consciousness faded. The w