Page 122 of Eternal Craving

“Lilly, is she all right?” Marcus’ lips quivered.

This time, they’d not chained me to the prison wall. Relieved that my hands were still attached, I opened and closed my fingers instinctively. There was no evidence of what Delacroix had done to me, but I massaged my wrists anyway.

“We heard screaming.” Marcus was visibly shaken.

Leaning with my back against the cold stone, I wrapped my arms around my legs.

“What did he do?” Marcus’ gaze fixed on my shirt. “Where’s Lilly?”

I looked down, ashamed.

“Whose blood is that?” he asked.

I glanced at my soaked shirt, and then over at Ted. His shallow breathing signaled that death was near.

Marcus followed my gaze. “Can you help him?” he asked.

“Let him die.”

“What?”

“At least one of us will be at peace.”

Marcus slumped against the wall.

“I want to find my son, find Sunaria, and go back to Spain,” I murmured.

“You’re our only hope of getting out of here.”

I wanted to scream in frustration, but I resisted the urge.

“Whatever happened in there,” Marcus said, “it wasn’t your fault. He’s a monster.”

“I’m a monster, too.” My vision blurred with tears.

“No, Delacroix’s a sadist. You, me, we’re his victims.”

“I’ll never forgive myself,” I whispered.

“God will forgive you. He forgives those?—”

“Don’t spout religion at me,” I snapped.

“I’m just trying to help.”

“You’re not.”

“It’s always comforted me.”

“What? After you steal, you ask for forgiveness? How convenient.”

“Don’t you dare judge me.”

Ted moaned.

“I just need quiet to think.” I rubbed my temples.

“Taxes forced us into the city.” Marcus’ nostrils flared. “But they hire children. It’s cheaper. We work for virtually nothing, twelve hours a day, seven days a week, and all we get is scraps. So yes, when we heard this place was empty, we foraged. We trespassed.” He held up his wrist and the chain dangled. “But I think I’ve been punished enough.”