Selene woke to pain that wasn't sharp-but intentional.
Her wrists burned where the ropes dug into her skin, tightened just enough to remind her they were still there. Her throat felt dry, like it had been scraped raw from the inside. The concrete floor beneath her was cold and unforgiving, as though there was an inbuilt air conditioner in the ground, stealing warmth slowly.
She didn't scream when she opened her eyes. She just scanned the room.
Not because she wasn't afraid-but because she'd learned fear fed the people watching.
The air smelled stale. Time had lost its shape.
Three days.
That's how long it had been since she last drank water. Since hunger had turned from discomfort into something comforting -something that hollowed her out and made her limbs weak.
The door creaked open.
Footsteps entered the room.
Selene lifted her head with effort.
Diana stepped inside.
She looked flawless. Dark hair smooth, makeup untouched, heels clicking against the floor like this was her stage and Selene was just a prop placed badly. Two men followed her-broad chests, quiet, faces blank. Not bodyguards. Enforcers.
"Still breathing," Diana said, almost disappointed. "You're stronger than you look."
Selene swallowed painfully. "If you're going to kill me...just do it."
Diana laughed-a short, delighted sound. "Kill you? No. That would be merciful."
She walked closer, eyes sharp and glittering. "You see, Selene, I believe you know something."
Selene frowned weakly. "I don't know anything."
Diana tilted her head. "Your father did."
Selene's chest tightened. As she glared at her with pain in her eyes.
"Documents," Diana continued. "Evidence. Financial trails. He was very careful." She smiled. "Where did he hide them?"
Selene shook her head slowly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Diana's smile vanished.
She straightened and snapped her fingers once.
The next moment, pain exploded in Selene's stomach.
"AAHHN"
She cried out despite herself, body jerking forward as one of the men struck her hard. The air rushed from her lungs in a sharp, helpless gasp. Her vision blurred.
"Again," Diana said calmly.
Another punch.
Selene whimpered, folding inward, her body screaming in protest. Tears spilled freely now-not from weakness, but from the sheer shock of it.
"I don't know!" she cried. "Please-"
Diana crouched in front of her, eyes blazing. "You don't get to beg yet."
She stood and nodded.
The men stepped back.
Selene sagged in the chair, chest heaving, every breath painful. Her stomach throbbed, nausea rising. Blood streaming down her nostrils.
Diana watched her carefully. "Your father threatened powerful people," she said. "Men who don't forgive." Her lips curled. "He wasn't stupid enough to leave proof lying around."
Selene shook her head weakly. "He never told me anything I swear."
Diana sighed, annoyed. "Then we'll try something else."
One of the men returned holding a bucket.
Selene's eyes flicked to it, hope flashing for half a second.
Freezing Water.
The man lifted it-and dumped it over her head.
Cold water drenched her clothes, soaked her hair, and splashed across the floor. Selene gasped, shivering instantly, thirst burning worse than before.
Diana smiled. "See? I'm not heartless."
Selene's lips trembled. "You're cruel."
Diana leaned down, whispering, "Cruel is letting empires fall because of sentiment."
She turned and walked toward the door. "Think harder."
The lights went out.
The lock clicked.
Selene sobbed quietly in the dark, body shaking-not just from pain or cold, but from fear.
Because if Diana was right...
Her parents hadn't just died.
They'd been erased.
Hours later-or maybe days-Selene barely registered the sound of the door opening again.
Diana's voice floated toward her. "He's coming."
Selene lifted her head weakly. "Austin?"
"Yes," Diana said with satisfaction. "And he still believes in family."
Selene's heart ached painfully.
Diana stepped closer. "By the time he leaves here, that belief will be broken."
Across the city, Austin Blake stared at his phone screen.
A location glowed back at him.
"Port Botany."
One message beneath it.
"Come alone."
His chest tightened.
He grabbed his keys.
He didn't know what waited for him there.
He didn't know how much harm had already done to Selene.
But he knew one thing-
Selene was running out of time.
