Temperatures deep in the dungeon had dropped in the early hours of the morning. Their breath formed a white mist in front of them as they breathed.
Eilownia looked up at Marix from the old, damaged wooden chair as he tied her wrists and legs to it with thick rope.
Contrast to the rough fibers of the rope, Marix' expression and touch remained gentle.
"I am confused," She admitted, her voice a low whisper, "Did I do something wrong? I don't understand."
"Being a spy makes you an enemy of Viraaz. I've already told you, your feigned naivety will not work on me, Little Flower." He didn't bother to look up at him, his focus remained on tying the knots of her bindings.
"But I'm not a spy. I told you that already. Why won't you believe me? I've never lied to you....."
"You've known me for one night. Using trust as your alibi means nothing. There is no foundation, no value to it. The evidence is stacked against you. I'll give you the opportunity, you can confess at any time and I may be lenient on you. But, if you insist on doing this the hard way, we can do that too."
"But-"
He patted her thigh and gave her a small smile, "Regardless, I'll get the answer in the end. You were a fool if you thought I wouldn't recognize the fact you approached the General of Viraaz."
Eilownia tilted her head, 'The General?'
Where had she heard about a General before? Her mind sifted through all of her memories.
Then, it came to her like a lightbulb turning on.
The Evans Estate Spring Ball!
Her mind played the picture almost perfectly in her head.
Lord Smith had wondered into the garden that night, drunker than she and Marix had been from the flower festival, the scent of alcohol emanating off of him sharply.
"Damn General Marix, brazen and annoying as always, causing s'ch a scene with 'is talk of spies. Tsk. Psh. Damn him. Damn him!"
That's right, Lord Smith had grabbed her arm and tried to drag her into the estate.
"GENERAL MARIX! YOU'RE RIGHT! THERE IS A SPY!!!!" He had yelled into the night.
She gasped, her eyes widened to the point they felt like they could've popped right out of her head, creating a sharp sting at the corners.
"General Marix?!"
His eyes narrowed as he stood up and stared down at her. He crossed his arms and leaned back, tapping his foot.
"Quiet."
"Please just lis-"
"Quiet I said. I already told you not to feign ignorance. You're quite the disobedient one, aren't you."
She shook her head, "No, please just listen. It's a misunderstanding! I didn't know you were the General. I don't know why everyone keeps accusing me of being a spy, but I swear to you, I'm not one. How can I prove it to you?"
Marix placed his hands on his hips and laughed, bending over slightly as he did so.
"So you've been accused more than once have you? You're not doing yourself any favors, Whin."
Her heart skipped a beat and a light blush came over her face.
'Whin? Why is he calling me that all of a sudden.'
He trailed his finger along her jawline and tilted her chin up. He leaned in, his breath ghosting over her cheek as he whispered in her ear.
"It's obvious that you are a spy from Sola who approached me on purpose. I'd like it better if you stopped acting like I was a fool. Now, if you just tell me the truth, Whin, we don't have to do this. Things can be better. Your life won't have to be so miserable."
He leaned back and then knelt in front of her, gently rubbing her thigh as he stared up to meet her gaze, his expression soft.
"Wouldn't you like that?"
Her breath hitched in her throat at his touch. Why did it feel so good?
"I….."
She bit her lip. There was no way she could tell him. Would he even believe her anyways? It's not like he was believing her now, even though she was telling the truth to begin with.
"I can't tell you. Please just believe me Marix! I can't tell you who I am, but I am Eilownia. That's my name. That's true. I'm not a spy! I swear!"
Marix stood back up and rolled the side of his finger from underneath her chin, flicking it gently.
"I see." His voice was dangerously low.
Eilownia sighed in relief, "Okay, I'll start at the beginning and tell you what I can. I've always wanted to come to the Flower Festival ever since I was a little girl and heard the maids talking about it and-"
Marix lifted his hand and snapped his fingers twice.
"Supplies!"
A man of small stature waddled in, his head hanging low. He carried a wooden tray with a leather pouch and a brown sack.
"Sir, I have the….hiss…items you requested. …..hiss…..Only the best for you….hiss....sir." The small man's voice was high pitched, wheezy, and interrupted by a bunch of hissing noises as he slurped up his drool.
Marix's nose twitched upwards as he shot him a sideways glance. "Whimble. You need not speak."
A single corner of Whimble's mouth twitched upwards, causing a bit of drool to dribble out of his mouth. He let out another hiss as he sucked it back up.
Marix grabbed the leather pouch and unfurled it, looking over its contents.
Eilownia lifted her head as she tried to see what was inside, but it was no use, all she could see was the torchlight glinting off of whatever was in there.
He shot her a smile and grabbed her hand. He rubbed his thumb over it, causing her heart to leap in her chest.
"Marix?" A small smile came over her face. Was he ready to hear her out? He was holding her hand so sweetly. Was he going to undo the ropes and listen now?
He gently pulled her fingers out, extending them one by one, rubbing them with his index and thumb.
Once each was extended, her grabbed her index finger and pressed against it.
A sharp pain pricked her finger, followed by a wet sensation.
She jumped in the seat and stared at him with confusion, her eyebrows knitting.
He held her index finger firmly, and she was unable to withdraw or lift it no matter how much she wanted to.
"What are you doing? L-Let go!"
He stared up at her, then looked down at her finger.
A bead of blood appeared where he had pricked it with a needle. He squeezed the sides of her finger until the bead grew and started to run down her finger.
"This is what happens to those who dare try to spy on Viraaz. Since you don't want to speak the truth, I'll have to make you. You understand, don't you?"
"No, I don't understand! I don't understand anything because I have told you the truth!"
Marix smirked, "The tone in your voice has changed. A good indication."
"Whimble."
The look on his face changed completely, and so did his voice. It was as if he'd become a completely different person, someone darker, someone.....angry.
Whimble brought the tray over, never lifting his head, the hissing noises still coming from his mouth.
Marix grabbed the bag and opened it up, pouring its contents onto the tray. Small white grains ticked against it as they filled it up.
Eilownia withdrew her finger, folding it towards her palm, but Marix paid no mind.
"Lower it."
Whimble did as he said as Marix grabbed Eilownia's finger again, extending it and pressing it into the white grains.
It stung like she had shoved her finger into a bunch of little thorns.
"Ow!"
Marix pressed down on her nail, shoving her finger harder against the grains. She tried to pull back, but that only added to the friction and the ache.
After a few seconds he untied her hand and lifted her finger, examining it closely.
His face flickered for a moment before he quickly masked it.
"Tsk." He looked over at the tray which now had a small red mark, "You've gotten blood on the salt. You know how expensive that is? We'll have to throw it out now."
He squeezed her finger with his thumb, causing her to squirm in her seat.
"Are you ready to speak yet?"
"What is the answer? I've told you already. You won't listen."
"Tell me how I am supposed to believe you." His thumb gently rubbed over the wound.
"You can start by listening….."
Disappointment flashed on his face, "I have no time to waste to idle chatter."
Later that night, Eilownia sat in the corner of the cell, gently blowing on her finger tips. They were an angry shade of red, stinging and bloody. She gently sucked on them, trying to relieve some of the ache.
'When will I get to be free?'