Sneers and Taunts

Sneers and Taunts
Emmalee 
I'm being dragged to the cell where Romain is being kept.
This is Soren's way of wounding me once more.
He hasn't mentioned a word but I know his plans are wicked, and I can do nothing but trail after him, all to keep Romain alive. That's our deal—that Romain will get to walk out of this place unscathed. 
When he's freed, this weight in my chest will lessen. 
Only then. 
I'm not sure if I'm being idiotic for trusting Soren but I'm a woman with limited options, so I had to take the safe route to protect those I love. Though he assures me he won't lay a finger on Brent, I can't verify this. Soren is a malevolent man—he'll do anything to further his agenda. 
I ruined my life and Brent's when I foolishly decided to marry him. I should've run away. Believing the lies I was told about Romain is the exact point where my life went downhill. 
But anyway, it's too late for all that now. 
We walk across the field. All eyes are on us, and I keep my eyes trained on the ground. It takes all my strength not to cry. I'm being strong for Romain. For Brent. I recall the way he looked when Soren forced me upstairs and wonder what he made of that. 
I think of everything except what happened moments ago in the bedroom, and how I wish I could burn myself to a crisp if only to rid myself of Soren's filthy touch and his putrid scent. 
The dungeon where Romain is being kept is on the other side of the estate. We have to cross the garden to get there. I look up briefly and note how different everything looks. 
This isn't the same garden as before. It's devoid of life. 
That's the effect Soren has on everything he lays his fingers on. For the longest time, I was the one who took charge of the garden and everything else that is associated with the household. That was Luna Ana's job, but after her retirement, I kept a close eye on everything. 
I made sure this garden was always well-tended because it's always been Brent's favorite place, ever since he was a kid. 
And now, it's destroyed. A few weeks and the place resembles a battlefield. 
We reach the entrance of the dungeon. It's subterranean, so we descend a long flight of stairs to reach it. This one is newly built, which makes me wonder what kind of horrors await me. 
I hope Romain is safe and unharmed, but deep down, I know that's too much to hope for. 
My heart is a wild horse galloping behind my rib cage. It almost hurts to breathe. Gammas flank us, all of them standing with their backs straight and their chins tilted. Romain's cell seems to be the one at the very end because the ones on either side of us are empty. 
The air in here is stale. It's way too dark even with all the lights on. As I follow closely behind Soren, trying my best not to do anything stupid like take all his hair in my fist and pull while clawing at his neck, I pray to the goddess for strength. 
I pray that Soren is telling the truth because if he even tries to hurt Romain in front of me, I'll do something incredibly stupid and I won't care if it costs me my life. 
I'm tired. 
If it weren't for Brent, my precious boy, I would've given up a long time ago. 
Finally, we enter the cell, and my gaze falls upon the love of my life, chained up like an animal, on his knees with his head hanging. 
His name forms on the very tip of my tongue and I nearly utter it when I spot Brent standing in the corner of the room, his hands in his pockets. 
"Brent?" I say instead. At the sound of my voice, Romain looks up. His right eye is swollen and he has several cuts and bruises all over his face. I'm certain that his body is worse beneath his clothes. 
They hurt him. 
Soren allowed this. Maybe even commanded it. 
"Son, what are you doing here?" Soren asks lightly, not a hint of suspicion in his voice. I wonder the same thing, my mind spinning. 
Why did Brent come down here?
Did they talk? 
I'm in the dark here. 
"I came to question the rogue," he answers. Hearing him refer to Romain this way hurts my feelings. I keep my lips sealed, though, not getting involved. 
Doing just as Soren asked. 
Meanwhile, Romain's gaze is practically burning through me. I feel ashamed and it's the kind that a kind or reassuring thought could never get rid of. It's deeply rooted. I wonder if Romain can see right through me and what I've done. 
The hair. Soren's scent clinging to my skin. 
I never even got a chance to wash. 
"Question him?"
"About Uncle Cade," Brent replies. His voice is clipped and his face is completely transformed. I have never seen my son look like this in all my life. He's wearing a look cold enough to cut. 
In his eyes, I see bottomless anger. 
"Yes, this animal took him from us," Soren proclaims as he puts an arm over Brent's shoulder. "But don't worry. His time will come. In fact, it's fortuitous that we're all here. Together. Right in this cell." 
With a mere clap of his hands, the Gammas who were posted by the cell door and also the ones lining the walls of the corridor outside all start to leave. Dread builds in my cut. 
"Now, we're alone," Soren claims. His voice has an odd ring to it. "Just as it should be. All one big happy family. Come, Brent. Move closer."
My son does as he's told. I watch, shivers running all along my spine. Soren's eyes meet mine before they shift to Romain, who's still watching me. 
"Look at me, mutt," Soren grits out. "I want you to see this. Take a good look at this young man here. My son." He pauses and practically sneers at Romain. "He's sensible enough to know that it doesn't matter that I'm not his blood father—what matters is the love I've given him throughout the years. Isn't that right, son?"
Brent offers no response but the look in his eyes intensifies. I look back and forth between the two of them, questioning Soren's motives. 
"Brent knows that all you'll ever be is a criminal rogue. A deviant. Who would ever want a father like you when he has me?" He looks at Brent for the longest time, a strange look in his eyes. Brent slowly turns his head to meet Soren's eyes. A tense moment passes. 
"That's enough," I say softly. "Brent, go outside."
Soren cuts me a look. "He'll stay if he wants to. Besides, I doubt he'll want to miss the show."
Show? What show?
"If I were him," Soren continues, a grin thinning his lips, "I wouldn't want to miss it either."