The room feels larger once Maven is gone. The council seems to exhale in relief. Davidson stares blankly at a bookshelf across the room. The Command generals murmur inaudibly to each other. The Montfort representatives do the same. I turn to Farley, "What's going to happen now?"
"Well," Farley says, "The generals will decide whether or not to trust him. The rat conveniently left out any hard information about the tunnels. We still need the location of the entrances and exits. Davidson will have to have another conversation with him to find that out."
Another conversation. I don't think I can sit through this again. Besides, Maven can lie through pain. He will probably die before he gives Davidson what we need. But there's one person he won't lie to. I stand up.
"I'm going to talk to him."
"What?" Farley stares at me.
"He'll tell me what we need to know. I'll get it out of him."
"Mare, you don't have to do this."
"I want to. And he's weak now. It will be easier to negotiate with him."
I turn and leave the library. I don't know what I'm doing. I walk out the premier's palace, the light breeze refreshing after the stuffy library. I head back to the Ascendant main barracks, then down the flight of stone steps where I saw the guards take Maven when we first came. The air slowly becomes cooler and damper. I smell mildew. Then the faint ringing of Silent Stone reaches me. I freeze. I can't do this. Not Maven. Not Silent Stone. It brings back too many horrible memories. They flash behind my eyes. The pain. The weight. The isolation. The silence. I almost turn back, for fear of it. But I can't. I remind myself that I am on top this time. I have the strength and power. I catch myself saying those words and am filled with guilt. Not here. Not now. I continue down into the depths of Ascendant.
At the foot of the stairs, two guards stand waiting. "I'm here to speak with Maven," I say calmly, preparing what I will say when I see him. Should I threaten to bring Tyton down here, to see if that will make him talk? Maybe I should have brought Farley with me. She has always intimidated him. But I have to do this alone.
The guards let me pass, handing me a key. I'm surprised. There are no keys in Norta. Magnetrons guard the prisons. opening and closing the cells doors with their abilities. But in Montfort, this is not the case. These guards might be Reds. I can't even tell.
I follow the long, dank corridor of cells, overwhelmed by the pull of Silent Stone. Thankfully, the hall itself is made of marble, but every cell gives me a chill. Most are empty. I don't see Maven anywhere, and the passage goes on for miles underneath Ascendant. Just when I'm about to turn back to ask for directions, I hear something. A strange, pitiful noise, something between choking and moaning. My stomach flips. I follow the sound down the corridor a bit more, until I find its source.
Maven sits on the floor of his cell, his knees pulled to his chest, his arms hugging his torso. Tears course down his cheeks. A metal bucket sits beside him, recently filled with whatever the Montfort guards have given him to eat. Though his thin frame gives the impression that he hasn't been eating much. He takes heaving breaths.
I stand, stunned. This is not what I expected. All of my plans for this conversation evaporate. I say the only thing I can think of, though nothing could sound more stupid.
"Are you okay?"
He starts, his pale face blushing grey. His trembling hands flying to wipe away the tears. "What do you want? Who is with you?" His ice-blue eyes scan the passage behind me with panic.
"It's just me. I came to check on you."
"Of course you did," he says, rolling his eyes. A bit more like himself. He moves to stand up, but his legs shake too much. He sits back down, grimacing in pain. He sighs.
"Are you okay?" I repeat, stepping closer to the metal bars that separate us.
"Well, judging from the fact that if you had come a moment earlier you would have seen me retching into a bucket in a cell under the Montfort capital after being tortured by lightning for half an hour, I think I'm perfectly alright."
"Oh."
"I suppose," he continues, "this must be a bit like how my mother felt. While she was being fried." Maven glances at me. My eyes narrow. He sees this and smirks. Though he conceals it well, I can still see the pain in his eyes. He takes slow breaths, trying to rid his mind of it. Shimmering teardrops he has not wiped away cling to his eyelashes and he scrapes his fingernails against his palm, an old habit we share.
And on top of everything, there is the Silent Stone, making up every brick of his cell. Even the ladle in the water bucket and the base of the bed are made of the silver-flecked stone. He must be somewhat used to it since he chose to build his throne from the stuff, but being surrounded by it day and night is incredibly draining. I fight the urge to step away from the bars, into the warm welcome of my ability. Even being near the stone weakens me. Without even looking, I can feel the purple sparks at my fingertips. Maven eyes them enviously, one hand circling his wrist. Aching for his flamemaker bracelets. I can't pretend I don't understand how he feels.
I need the information about the tunnels, but I don't know how to get it from him. One wrong word and he will shut me out. I know what I have to do, but my blood curdles at the thought. I swallow my fear. "Can I come in?" I ask, moving towards the door.
"Can I stop you?"
I take that as permission and slide the key into the cell door. I twist and hear a metallic click. I tuck the key into my pocket and step inside.
I feel the power draining from me. The silence hits me like a blanket, washing away my lightning. I shiver, feeling naked without my ability. I am completely vulnerable. But so is he. I close the door behind me.
I look down at Maven, still sitting on the cold stone floor of the cell. I lower myself to sit down beside him. It makes my skin prickle. I doubt we've been in such close quarters since I was his prisoner.
"Why did you really come?" Maven asks, not looking at me.
"We still need to know where to enter the tunnels."
Maven sighs, remaining silent.
"If you don't tell me, I would be happy to call Tyton down here."
The comment is a bit harsh, even for him. Maven shifts uncomfortably, still holding his sides. "No, I'd rather you didn't."
"I won't," I mutter.
"I suppose I now know what burning feels like," he says bitterly.
"What?" I ask, turning to him.
"Burners can't feel fire, Mare. But apparently, I can feel whatever that white-haired Red did to me." He glares, staring straight ahead.
"What does it feel like?" I've never felt an electric shock before.
"Like fire, I guess. Like someone is dragging a knife up and down my sides. It's awful. I'm done talking about this!" he snaps. He won't allow himself to be that weak in front of me. He grits his teeth and remains silent. I stand up and pour a cup of water for him. I hold it out to him and he makes no objection. He drains it in one sip. I sit down in front of him, the two of us barely a foot apart. "Why should I tell you where the tunnels are?"
"Because I need to know. We need to know. The Guard."
"Exactly, and why should I help them?"
"It's revenge on Ca-"
"I've heard it. But I need more. Ah, I know." He smirks, looking pleased with himself, "A question for a question."
This sets me on edge. I remember a similar proposal, back when our roles were switched. He told me that as a gift for my birthday, I could ask him one question. I remember how well that went.
"I will ask you a question first," Maven continues, "and then you may ask me whatever you want."
"How do I know you'll tell the truth."
"I am a man of my word." The mantra that has plagued me day and night.
I have to accept him. There is no way I can't. We need the information so we can finish this war. And I need this information. To prove to everyone - what? That I'm strong enough to take down Cal? I'm not sure.
"Fine. What do you want to know?"
But the question that leaves his lips is not what I expect.
Sorry about the cliffhanger! I'll get the next part up as soon as I can!