Soldier

Part 1

I held back a scream as Nefarian Serpine slid a dagger up my arm, opening veins and arteries from my wrist to elbow. He'd learned hours before that his typical means of torture just didn't work on me. I closed my eyes tight against the pain and feel of my blood pouring from the new wound. "I'm not saying anything, Nefarian," I said hoarsely. He just gave me his evil smile.

"Then you will die," he said, a deadly gleam in his eyes. I closed mine again as he slid my tunic up, exposing my belly. He sliced with the dagger, making me hiss. "You don't want to die, do you, Grace?" he asked. I bit my lips to stop a sarcastic comment. "All you have to do is tell me where the Dead Men are at." I opened my eyes.

"Half-way between Dublin and Hell," I said. Serpine snarled. My back arched when he plunged the knife into my stomach.

"You little bitch," he growled. The wound in my left arm was agonizing as I struggled against the bonds. Blood pumped from the gashes Serpine had given me. I forced myself to meet his eyes.

"I will never betray my friends to the man who killed my brother and his family," I growled. "I will die first." His sparkling eyes settled into another glare and he moved the blade to hover just over my heart.

"As you wish," he said softly. He frowned. "These damned clothes," he snarled, reaching to pull the tunic from my shoulders. He didn't get far before a blast of air knocked him back.

I struggled to look behind me. I couldn't see much because of the restraints, but it didn't take long for them to get to me. Serpine saw the force and fled. I looked up to meet the eyes of the man undoing the metal bands around my wrists. "Tell Corrival that I refuse to play damsel anymore," I said, my vision going fuzzy. I shook my head, but that just made it worse. The pressure on my wrists and ankles released and someone scooped me up.

"I'm sure he'll understand," his voice rumbled above me. I barely realized it was Erskine's before I blacked out.

"I will never understand why you go on those stupid missions, Sparrow. You're a smart girl, you should know better," Kenspeckle Grouse said as he checked the bandages over my wounds.

"It's war, Professor, I'm doing what a soldier does. Fighting and playing with my enemies." He sighed.

"It's going to get you killed." He re-applied the bandages and said, "Another hour and you can take them off. I swear, I don't think I've ever met anyone as reckless as you, and I doubt if I ever will." I snorted and smiled.

"Yeah, I know," I said. "It's what makes me such a good warrior." The professor sighed.

"It runs in the family. I don't think I'm going to be able to keep the both of you alive much longer."

I sat up, softening my expression. "I'm not going to die on you, neither is Skulduggery." I paused in thought. "Though I'm sure you wouldn't mind if he would disappear once in a while." Kenspeckle just looked at me, his expression impossible to read.

"Fine, fine, I'll lie down and rest, sheesh." He nodded, then moved away to check on his other patients. I closed my eyes, listening to the quiet. Footsteps approached. I turned my head and the curtain parted. Skulduggery and Erskine stepped in. "How are you feeling?" Skulduggery asked.

I raised my eyebrows. "Like I've been torn up by a plow," I said dryly. I knew if he'd had eyes, he would be rolling them. Erskine's face was subdued. His eyes met mine, and my sarcasm dried instantly.

"I thought we were going to lose you for a second there," Erskine said softly. I reached over with my less-injured right hand and squeezed his.

"I'm more resilient than most, Ravel," I said. He gave a quiet laugh.

"Yes, well, we'd better let you rest." I nodded and watched him and Skulduggery leave. I closed my eyes, thinking about the odd reaction I always had to Erskine. I waited for the next hour for Kenspeckle let me free from the bandages.

As soon as I was, I dressed back in my blood-stained clothes and headed to the safe-house to change. I stepped in, and felt a dark energy pooling in the main room. Swallowing, I stepped in and closed the door, pulling on the light around me as I headed toward the source.