The night air was cool and damp. I closed my eyes and envisioned the glow of the moon guiding me. I could almost hear her outcries of disapproval at what I was about to do. It was a risk worth taking.
The guards moved swiftly, and I grabbed my makeshift blade. I didn’t want to bleed out and die before anyone could help me, but I needed to be noticeably injured so that they would send me to the infirmary. I let my internal clock work as I waited with bated breath. Then when I could hear footsteps approaching, I lifted the blade up and stabbed myself in the stomach.
A grunt escaped my lips, and the approaching footsteps sounded like they were running. My mind was woozy. Crimson blood poured from the wound and coated my palm with its sticky pain. Perfect.
They came in quickly, probably drawn by the scent of blood. I never knew exactly what species the guards all were. Some of them could scent it. Some of them could taste the damage in the air. Strong hands hauled me up while another person took me from that pair of hands and dragged me to the infirmary. I’d rarely been inside, not in all my years at the prison. Keeping me healthy was one of the things they did for Bhaltair. I was his power battery after all.
Laid out on the table, I stared up at the blurred image of the woman gazing down at me. This wasn’t the first time I was meeting her, and I knew that the sadistic Dr. Brina had a reputation for pain. It might be a good thing I was drifting in a haze of blood loss at the moment. If she wanted to mess with me, I’d rather not feel it.
“Self-inflicted, hmm? That’s a first with this one,” she spoke to someone behind her. “Better let the warden know so he can tell that fellow Bhaltair. You know the rules. She isn’t supposed to be hurt to the point of needing assistance. This one is special.”
Hands pressed to the wound in my stomach, her fingers sloshing around my guts. More blood flowed freely from the wound and onto the concrete floor. “Clean cut. Should be easy to heal,” she replied with a sigh. “Should I let her suffer a little longer, though? This was obviously self-inflicted. What a waste.”
“Not today, Dr. Brina,” one of the guards replied. My veins flooded with ice. My body trembled. I held onto my strength and looked around for a weapon of some sort. I wasn’t the first to try escaping by way of the infirmary, but I’d be the first to succeed.
“Fine. You’re no fun,” she complained while ripping my shirt off and cleaning the wound. She worked methodically and without care for the pain I endured or the moans breaking past my teeth. I jerked as she stitched me up with her magic-infused needles, healing the cut efficiently.
And as she worked, I waited. It didn’t take me long to realize that my cell was spelled. As long as I was in my cell, my power was siphoned. But now that I was out, that thin thread of earth and moon and life strummed against my chest. I could feel it, and I welcomed my abilities home like a long-lost friend.
“Why are you smiling?” Dr. Brina asked while leaning over to peer at my face. I couldn’t hide the crazed bliss flooding me with every passing second. I knew now why Bhaltair didn’t want me to know about my abilities. Before, I didn’t know what I was capable of, so I couldn’t access my powers.
Now, I knew.
“You’re masochistic. I bet you like a little pain,” Dr. Brina whispered. I bit my lip to stop myself from lashing out at her. “I’ll tell you a little secret,” she replied while digging the needle further into my skin. “I do too.”
The door burst open just as I cried out, and in walked Bhaltair to the infirmary. “Why isn’t she in her cell?” he demanded. “You know the new ordinance. She doesn’t leave her cell for any reason whatsoever.”
I drew on my stores of power as he shouted.
“So you wanted her to just bleed to death on the floor?” Dr. Brina asked while putting her hand on her hip. “I’m usually supportive of such things, but I hear this one is important to you.”
“Couldn’t you have saved her in her cell? We need to bring her back now.”
I sat up with a groan. The throbbing pain in my stomach burned with intensity as the stitches Dr. Brina so expertly sewed burst open and more blood pooled around me. “Fucking hell,” she complained. “I’m not patching that up again.”
I ignored her and turned to Bhaltair. “You look scared,” I noted while tilting my head to the side. I embraced my powers, letting them fill me up as the room shook. Guards scattered around. I didn’t care if they got me though. I didn’t care about anything. I just wanted to make Bhaltair pay. For ruining my life. For capturing me as a child and taking away my freedom. For hurting Cypress. For taking my birthright.
He threw his hands up, trying to conjure what was mine. But the moon didn’t obey him, she protected me.
“Fuck!” one of the guards screamed. Bhaltair stalked forward, as if prepared to attack. I flicked my wrists, and the room turned burning hot. Winds whipped around our face. My gifts were ready for vengeance.
“I’ll fucking tie you
