The Elementals: Chapter 38 Family Reunion

Skys POV

I should never have trusted Hades, I let my guard down and that’s on me. I just hope that he will leave Lily and the girls out of this. I don’t know what power play this is in whatever game he is playing, but I don’t care if I die as long as they are safe.
I was going to make them all breakfast before Hades showed up and asked me to help bring a package up the stairs. I should have questioned why he didn’t just ask the guards, but I just blindly followed him. He knocked me out before I knew what hit me and now I have woken up tied to a chair alone in a room but for one man.
He says nothing for several minutes, staring at me as though assessing me. I have never met him before, but I know who he is. It is like looking in a mirror or more accurately like looking at yourself with an ageing filter on. If the resemblance wasn’t enough, the feeling in my gut would have told me that this man is my father. Rage boils inside me like I have never felt before. This is the man who killed my mother, lead to me being raised as an orphan and threatened my Lily. I try to shout at him, but it is muffled by the gag.
“Did you really think you and your little friends could trick me?” He says walking towards me slowly. “The hunters knew it was a trap and came straight to me. I have to say though I wasn’t expecting this, I knew that meddlesome girl would be involved, but I really didn’t expect to have a son. That boy Hades is a good politician in the making, he struck a deal for arranging this little family reunion which I can respect.”
I have to fight the urge to roll my eyes, like seriously is there an elective these guys take in school to learn the whole evil villain speech or does it just come naturally when you love the sound of your own voice enough.
“I’m almost proud, my son forming a union with the leader of 2 kingdoms, you might have been useful if you were not trying to depose me.” Ryder continues and I suppress a shudder at the thought of just using Lily like that "This is why I made sure none of my heirs survived, so no one could threaten my position like you dare to. You are only alive because I don’t know how you survived, so please enlighten me so that I can make sure it never happens again” Ryder continues before removing my gag.
“Why would I tell you anything, you are a sadistic bastard and you are going to kill me anyway.” I spit at him.
“Now is that anyway to talk to your father?” He taunts
“You are no father to me” I say
“Oh, but I am. I remember your mother, such a beautiful creature from the Air kingdom that I though she might be an angel. A beautiful voice too, even her screams as I took her were musical. When I was done with her, I arranged her to be taken care of, but I don’t understand how you survived.” He muses.
“What did you do to her?” I snap, trying desperately to free myself, but feeling unusually weak.
“I didn’t do anything to her. Hunters killed Angelica. They are very useful those hunters, stupid, but efficient. They think I work for them, but really they work for me, I give them names and locations and they get rid of anyone who stands in my way without me ever having to get my hands dirty. I’m not above getting my hands dirty though and I will make you talk, so tell me how you escaped?” He says.
“Go fuck yourself. I will kill you for everything you have done!” I threaten him, struggling against my restraints.
“I wouldn’t bother struggling, you have been weakened with dragons bane. You can’t use your powers and your strength is failing. Now since you are not going to choose the easy way, have you ever heard of water boarding? It is a form of torture, simulating drowning over and over again until you beg for death. As a water dragon it is actually very easy to do, shall I demonstrate or are you willing to talk?” He asks so casually you would think he is asking if I want tea or coffee.
“I’d rather die than help you.” I say, I also don’t have an answer to his question, I don’t even remember my mothers face, yet alone how she hid me but I’m sure as hell not telling him that.
“Oh you will die, what I’m giving you the choice of is how quickly and painlessly you die. Oh and don’t worry your girlfriend will join you soon enough.”
Murderous intent builds inside me “Don’t you fucking touch -” I start as I manage to break my hand binding loose, but I’m cut off by water flowing through my lungs before I can finish.
It feels like my lungs are burning from the inside out as I clutch at my throat and try to gasp for air hopelessly. My vision goes black as the searing pain overwhelms me, but just before I lose consciousness I cough the water up and manage to breath.
“I will touch her if I want to. You can’t protect her, you can’t even protect yourself. Now tell me where the hole in my operation is and we can be done with this” He says starting to lose his composure and seeming agitated.
“Ok… Ok I will tell you, if you promise to leave Lily alone” I say still gasping for breath.
“You are really not in a position to bargain here.” He says.
“You can torture me all day, I don’t care, I won’t tell you anything unless I know she is safe.” I say
“Fine, I will leave her be.” He says.
“I don’t believe you, swear on it with blood.” I insist. If I’m going to die here, I’m going to make sure she is safe. Dragons can’t break a blood oath.
“Fine, I swear with my blood that I will do no harm to Lily, leader of the earth and fire kingdoms” He says cutting his head with a dagger and shaking mine. “Now tell me!” He demands impatiently.
I sigh relieved that she will be safe and accepting my fate “I don’t remember my mother, I was taken to the orphanage as a small child. I don’t know if she placed me there herself, if a hunter did or if Mr Elm found me. I don’t know how I survived, whether it was planned or just luck, but I’d say it was fate. Surviving meant that I could save the love of my life from you and if that is all I achieve in this world then it is enough” I say, strangely at peace even as I see Ryder lunge towards me with the knife still in his hand.
A sharp pain cuts through my stomach and I feel rather than see the blood spilling out, warmth spreading over my clothes as it trickles down my body and the darkness washes over me.