Chapter 216

Chapter 216
Eleanor's POV

I tensed slightly. "What about it?"

"Well, Helena was part of that organization, right? So her testimony against Amelia would be invalid anyway." Natalie shrugged. "The council would never take the word of a known traitor against the Luna Queen."

Relief flooded through me. Without even knowing the full story, Natalie had inadvertently solved a problem that had been weighing on both me and Sebastian. We'd been keeping Amelia's situation quiet, and I felt a twinge of guilt for not being completely honest with my friends.

"Natalie, you're brilliant," I said, pulling her into a quick hug. "You just solved a major headache for us."

She looked surprised but pleased. "I did? How?"

"Let's just say you found a perfect loophole in a very complicated situation," I replied, not wanting to reveal too much about Amelia's predicament. "Trust me, you just took a huge weight off my shoulders."

Maggie chuckled. "Our Natalie, accidental genius. Just wait until Sebastian becomes Alpha King officially. No one will dare challenge any of us then."

The mention of Sebastian's future power sent a flutter through my chest. So much still needed to happen before we could truly feel secure, but we were making progress.

We approached the heavy door where Remy and Nia were being held. I reached for the handle, but Maggie placed her hand on my arm.

"Wait," she said, her eyes gleaming with an intensity I recognized all too well. "We're coming in with you."

I raised an eyebrow. "You want to participate in the interrogation?"

"We're Lunas too," Maggie said firmly. "I don't want to miss out on the fun."

Natalie nodded eagerly. "We added a little something extra to the poison. Silver dust." I caught the anticipation in her tone. "I want to see them suffer."

I considered their request for a moment. If torturing traitors gave them some satisfaction, who was I to deny them?

"Alright," I agreed with a nod. "But follow my lead."

Their faces lit up like children being given a special treat. I pushed open the door, and we stepped inside.

The sight that greeted us was unexpected. Nia and Remy hung from chains attached to the wall, completely naked. Their bodies were marked with bruises and scratches, evidence of their struggles. Nia, the dark-haired eastern woman Fox had identified, glared at us defiantly despite her compromised position. Remy, by contrast, had her head hanging down, tears tracking silently down her cheeks.

"Who ordered this?" I asked, my voice carrying a hint of surprise. I hadn't specified for them to be stripped.

"I did," Maggie admitted without a trace of remorse. She stepped forward, her eyes scanning their exposed bodies. "I wanted to make sure we could treat every inch of them."

I glanced around the room. We were alone with the prisoners. On a small table nearby sat a silver whip and several containers of liquid that I assumed were Maggie's special concoction. The air felt heavy, charged with tension and fear.

The three of us pulled on rubber gloves, the material making a squeaking sound as we adjusted them on our hands. The noise made Remy flinch.

How's it going, Berry? Sebastian's voice filled my mind, warm and comforting despite the circumstances.

We're having a great time, I replied, feeling an odd satisfaction as I surveyed the room. The girls are helping me with the interrogation.

Chris should be arriving at the manor tomorrow, he informed me. Good luck with your prisoners.

Are we still on schedule for the arrests tomorrow night? I asked, curious about their progress.

Yes. Everything is prepared. The coordination with Edward and Killian has gone better than expected.

I felt a tinge of nervousness at the thought of meeting Sebastian's half-brother.

I should go, Sebastian added. Keep me updated on what you learn.

When the mind-link disconnected, I felt momentarily alone despite the room's occupants. I shook it off and focused on the task at hand.

"Nia Richards," I called out, my voice steady and authoritative.

She growled at me, her eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and fear. "Go to hell."

I noticed Remy sobbing quietly. Her reaction, compared to Nia's defiance, told me everything I needed to know about their dynamic. Nia was the leader here. She would be my primary target.

"You seem uncomfortable," I said to Nia, approaching her slowly. "Thirsty, perhaps?"

She spat in my direction, but her weakened state meant it fell short, landing on the floor between us.

"That's not very polite," I commented, reaching for one of the containers on the table. "Let me help you with that thirst."

I moved closer, gripping her jaw firmly and forcing her mouth open. Her eyes widened in panic as I poured the silver-laced poison down her throat. The effect was immediate. Her screams were hoarse and raw as the silver burned through her system, her entire body convulsing against the chains.

"Now," I said calmly as her screams subsided to whimpers, "you're going to answer my friends' questions. If you don't, I'll be happy to give you more to drink." I sat down in the chair by the wall, gesturing for Maggie and Natalie to begin. "Your turn, ladies."

Maggie approached Nia with confident strides, while Natalie moved toward Remy, her eyes hardening with determination.

For over an hour, I watched as my friends interrogated the two women. I didn't ask questions, merely observed their reactions, the way their bodies jerked and tensed, the sounds they made when pushed to their limits.

At one point, Nia looked directly at me, her eyes pleading. "Make them stop," she begged, her voice barely audible.

I simply shook my head. "I promised they could have their time with you. I keep my promises."

Finally, when both prisoners were covered in sweat and trembling uncontrollably, I stood. I walked to the corner of the room where a hose was connected to a water tap and turned it on, washing the blood and sweat from their bodies. The cold water made them gasp and shiver. When they were clean, I gave Nia a small vial of liquid that would help her throat recover enough to speak clearly.

"Now," I said, "tell us what we want to know."

Nia's voice was raspy as she began to talk. "My uncle sent me."

I exchanged a glance with Maggie, impressed by her interrogation techniques. The truth was flowing freely now.

"Tell me exactly what your uncle planned," I demanded.