Cold Mark (27 page)

His smirk hadn't died. "Because Mr. Waterston was just as shocked to be released as I later found myself to be. You, on the other hand, are not shocked. In fact, besides your restless sleep, appeared quite content when you left after your sentencing—even though you are so adamant about being free." He rubbed his bald head in thought. "In fact, my guess is you expected to be released soon, and that is why you did not pick a larger fight."

Too smart. He was too intelligent for his own good. "You're insane."

"Name calling is just another game, Ms. Valorn."

"Unless it's true." I had to stick with this. Give him any seed of doubt. My squinted gaze scanned the room once more. "Where the hell are we?"

He stood from his chair and stretched his arms over his head as if I had been a burden to carry here for him. "We're in my personal hov-craft circling Center. I couldn't have your Vaq getting suspicious if they became sick, so I had to stay close." He shrugged his shoulders again and began walking toward the laser wall on the right. "I would suggest you not touch the barrier. It is designed for only me to pass through. You'll have enough pain later if you continue with your games—there's no need for any added torture. Plus, I need you awake." With his parting words, he walked through the lasers and disappeared from my line of site.

The hell with that. I wasn't trusting him for anything.

I jumped off the table and ran full out at the opposite laser wall.

My bones jarred as I hit what felt like a concrete barrier and my scream was the last thing I heard as I flew backward from the jolt of electricity that hammered my body. Eyes closed, I barely perceived my head smacking the ground and the lights going out once more in as many months.

"Who do you know on Triaz?" Rule questioned. For the
sixth
time.

"I already told you." I ground my teeth together, not bothering to attempt to stop my shaking. The rough leather straps holding me down rubbed my skin with every inhale I took, a burning sensation overriding the freezing temperature. I fisted my hands and pulled at the bands on my wrists. "Aren't you getting tired of that question? I know I am."

He pressed the soaked cloth back over my face and began pouring cow piss over the cloth.

I choked as the warm urine filled my mouth and the cloth caved, suctioning the filth inside.

I had lost all embarrassment two days ago when he had started his
interrogations.

Now, I would never tell him a damn thing to point him to the Plumas. My nights were filled with torture while my days were overflowing with thoughts of ways I would kill this bastard. And, yes, it did include cows—and their shit.

He chuckled, hoarse and deep, when I had to swallow or else drown.

When my eyelids started to flutter shut from lack of oxygen, he pulled the cloth away.

I sucked in much-needed air and turned my head before I started to puke, my body racked with revolting pain. The shots he gave me before any torture session where keeping me alive—just barely. Any toxin entering my system was immediately purged ... through one end or the other. Acid burned my already raw throat, and I spit it directly on his shoes.

He leaned over me, his glowing blue eyes piercing mine. "Are you ready to tell me the truth?"

"I have, you insane bastard," I croaked. Then, I twisted my head and heaved again.

"I think it's time for a different technique ... "

"Fuck you."

"
Fuck you!
" I screamed at the top of my lungs, jerking, as bolts of electricity scorched me from the inside out. I couldn't breathe as he pressed a taser-rod to my perspiring chest again. My body convulsed as arcing pain slid through every molecule of my being. At the last minute, he pulled the taser-rod away before I passed out, the bastard making this an art form. My head fell back, and I peered with blurry vision up to the red laser ceiling, my teeth chattering uncontrollably.

"The name, Ms. Valorn. Give me the name of the individual who is helping you."

I tried to speak, but nothing came out except for a gurgle of spit. It dripped down my cheeks and found purchase inside both of my ear cavities. His voice, when it came, sounded as if I was underwater and he was some type of rescuer ashore.

But he wasn't. He was evil incarnate.

I saw his hand too late. In a rush of speed, his palm landed with a loud
smack
on my right cheek.

It didn't even hurt as my head whipped to the side. I could only feel the pings of charring pain that still resided in my body, making my limbs twitch abnormally. I wondered if I would ever be the same again.

"The name! Give me the damn name."

My slur was barely audible. "My name is Braita Valorn."

He heard it though. He sighed heavily and muttered, "That's enough for today." With aggravated jerks, he released my body from the straps and left, walking through the far laser wall with a long stride of fury.

I cupped my hands inside the hov-toilet and filled them with water. Rule didn't give me liquids unless it was to torment me. Though, this was a mental cruelty all unto itself. Which he knew full well. Swallowing the lukewarm water, I cupped my hands again for another mouthful. He would be coming again soon. It always started right after a loaf of bread was thrown into the room. My stomach churned with said bread.

I shuddered at the form of torture he might use again. The worst was the flashes of light. It was so simple, yet so painful. No matter if I shut my eyes, hours upon hours of the alternating blinking lights right above my face, drove my mind to the brink of madness, my thoughts swirling until I didn't know up from down.

Right on cue, Rule strode through the laser wall like the devil coming through the flames of hell.

I instantly startled, scuttling backward in an attempt to hide behind the table. My legs weren't working well from the stick beating yesterday, so I had to pull myself by my arms, skinning my elbows on the rough tiling. "I answered all of your questions! Leave me alone!"

I heard the chair scrape and creak on the other side of the table as he sat down, and then he stated calmly, "Actually, after two weeks of this fun, I am inclined to believe you, Ms. Valorn."

I paused in my arm-crawling. "What?"

"I said I believe you."

This had to be another mind trick. My chin began to tremble. "You're going to let me go?"

"I didn't say that, Ms. Valorn. I stated I believe you have answered all of my questions truthfully." He cleared his throat, and the chair creaked again. "This means I am either asking the wrong questions or I am looking at this all wrong."

I didn't have the energy to comprehend what he meant. "Explain."

"In simple terms, we can continue with the torture, with a whole new set of questions, or I can take the simple route. A path that had not occurred to me, which should have by now. For that, I do apologize."

He was off his damned hov-rocker.

"The simple path, Ms. Valorn ... is you."

My brows puckered, and I peeked around the table. Only the top of my head showed as I peered directly at him. "What about me?"

His bald head cocked as he watched me. "Do you—a Human—find it curious that you're linked to a Vaq—a Mian?"

I blinked slowly. "I did think it was odd. But I still don't understand."

His lips quirked up on one side. "That, I believe is the truth, too." He pointed a finger at me. "Do you find it curious that you wear ten marks on your wrist for someone so young?"

Instant. "No. I worked my ass off to wear these."

"And other Humans don't?"

I paused. "What are you getting at?"

He smiled his crazy-ass thrilled grin. "I'm stating that I believe you are not merely Human, Ms. Valorn. I believe you are something
other
."

"I think I would know if I was anything
other
than a Human," I pointed out. It wasn't me who was
other
. But this line of questioning may keep him from torturing me, so I decided it was a better fate. I kept him talking. "Do you really believe my people would genetically engineer our race with other DNA?"

"Yes, I believe they would. Especially when they realized how superior the Mian and Kireg race were to them when Humans first arrived on Joyal."

I barely contained an eye roll. Instead, I pushed back so I wouldn't have to look at his face any longer. The face I wanted to slaughter. The man I was going to kill. "Superior isn't exactly correct. Outnumbered, yes. But not superior." I rested my head back against the table. "If you remember correctly, it was the Kireg and Mian race who needed our support in technology when we first arrived."

"Good point. Do you know what that technology was?"

I faltered, caught off-guard. "No. I don't."

"It was genetic technology. Even though your people claimed it would help cure diseases for our people—which, it did—it could have easily been used to engineer specific DNA patterns. The Humans didn't give us all of their latest and greatest intel, which indicates your people were capable of dastardly deeds with genomes."

This also meant his people were, too. He just hadn't realized it. Yet.

"Rule, I don't have any special gifts of strength, speed, or physic ability." I snorted softly. "And I'm blind as hell at night. I much prefer the sun over the moon."

He hummed quietly. "The Kireg prefer the daylight, too."

"That doesn't mean anything."

"You're right. It doesn't. But I have an easy enough way to prove if I'm correct in my theory."

His idea of easy wasn't the same as mine. I cringed, backing against the table. "Can't we just keep talking this out? Maybe you'll convince me."

"As much as I do prefer your company, you aren't my only business today."

"Rule, really, we could—"

"Calm yourself. It's a simple blood test."

I stared at the laser wall. "And how big is the needle? The size of a tree trunk?"

The chair squeaked, and I shuddered as he walked near. He pulled a tiny syringe from his pocket before squatting next to me. He lifted it in a blur before my eyes, reminding me of his speed ... and just how weak I was compared to him right now. "See? No tree trunk needle."