A Glimmer of Hope (The Avalon Chronicles #1)(81)

“It will be fine. I’m going to go speak to Chloe right now and ensure that she knows how to behave.”

“Do not kill her.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Elias left the room and walked to the far end of the farmhouse, where two blood elves stood guard outside of a white door.

“Unlock it,” he told one of them, who did as commanded.

There was a shriek from inside the room as the door was pushed open and Elias stepped into the doorway. He liked the little whimpering noises the inhabitants made whenever he arrived.

“How often are you given food and bathroom breaks?” Elias asked the fifteen men and women inside.

No one answered.

“I asked you all a question.”

“Every six hours,” one of the captives said. Elias had made sure the windows were boarded up and there were no lights inside the room, so it was hard to say who had spoken.

Elias turned to the blood elves. “Give them free rein of the bathroom opposite this one. They may go between the two as they wish.” He turned back to the group. “Take this act of kindness for granted, and you’ll be killed.”

More whimpering. He looked back at the blood elves. “Grab two of them and come with me. I don’t care who.”

The elves entered the room and dragged two people from it, as the remaining captives cried out in horror. Elias waited outside in the hallway for the two captives to be brought to him. He didn’t know their names, nor did he even care to know. It was information he didn’t need. As far as he was concerned, they were a man and woman. The man was older, probably mid-forties, and the woman early twenties.

“One of you elves stay here, the other comes with me. Remember what I said about the bathroom. I’m not a monster.”

The blood elf that remained behind nodded. The second elf followed Elias, occasionally pushing the two captives to keep them walking.

At the opposite end of the farmhouse, where four more blood elves stood guard, Elias opened a second white door, although this one was considerably more faded in color. Chloe sat inside, chained to the wall by thick manacles. She got to her feet and glared a look of pure hatred at Elias.

The room was sparsely decorated and consisted of one single bed with a dark blue quilt and several pillows, a small sink, and a toilet. Elias hadn’t wanted to risk Chloe being moved when she needed to use the loo.

“Bring them in,” Elias said, stepping into the room. “Hello, Chloe. I’m sure you think you can escape from here at any time.”

Chloe’s lip was bleeding and there was some swelling around one eye. Elias smiled; Reyes had told him that Chloe had been forcibly subdued.

Chloe remained silent.

Elias wasn’t deterred. “You probably think that you can run around here and build up enough power to force yourself free. I’m here to show you otherwise.”

“Who are they?” Chloe asked.

Elias turned back to the two captives. “Oh, how rude of me. Please introduce yourselves to Chloe.”

“Jack Simmons,” the man said.

Elias pointed at the woman and motioned for her to speak.

“Star Davis.”

“Jack and Star,” Elias said with a smile. “Aren’t they lovely? Nice, wholesome people. Salt of the earth, you might say. Tell Chloe something about yourselves. Jack, do you have any family?”

“Wife and son,” Jack said. “I miss them.”

“Ah, how sad. Star, you?”

“No, I’m single. I don’t have any kids. I live with my parents, until I can afford my own place.”

“Just starting out in the world and this happens to you.” Elias looked over at Chloe. “It’s just so sad, isn’t it?”

“If I try to escape, you’re going to hurt them. Is that it?” Chloe asked, her voice hard and angry.

“Not quite.” Elias nodded to the blood elves, and the five of them grabbed the two humans, forcing them to kneel. “You see, every time you displease me, I’m going to kill one of these captives.”

“Don’t you dare,” Chloe said.

Elias ignored her and drew his stiletto blade from the sheath on his back. He leaned over Jack, placing the tip of the blade against his jugular.

“Please don’t,” Jack begged.

“I hate begging, Jack. Hate it.” Elias pushed the blade up into Jack’s throat as Chloe and Star screamed at him to stop. He never took his eyes off Chloe as he pushed the blade further and further in, until Jack shuddered and died.

Elias withdrew the blade and pushed Jack’s body onto the wooden floor, his blood seeping between the floorboards. He looked at Star and smiled. “Do you understand the kind of man I am, Chloe?”

“Yes, yes, please stop,” Chloe pleaded.

“His death is on your head. You murdered Dara, and now you know what punishments will be given to you if you ever cross me while you’re here.” He pointed the blade at Star. “Take her back to the others. If Chloe does something wrong, we’ll kill her first.”

The blood elves dragged Star out of the room.

“You’re going to die for this,” Chloe said.

Elias laughed. “We all die at some point, but I’m willing to bet you’ll go first.”

One of the elves went to move Jack’s body, but Elias stopped him. “Leave it for a day. I want Chloe to think long and hard about her decision and the consequences it brought. Let her see what happens to those who cross me.”