"You want death? Then I'll give you death!"

Adina screamed as she was dragged out of the room by her hair. Carter didn't let go, holding onto her hair as if he wanted to rip it out of her scalp. Tears leaked out of her eyes, her body scraped against the floor as she was dragged out of the room. The light was blinding at once. She couldn't keep up.

Carter brought her to some place, he knocked the door open and forced her in. The smell was the first thing Adina noticed.

It was disgusting.

The place was filled with men, rough, animalistic-looking men. They looked like they'd been on the run for months. Their beards grown out of their faces. They looked less like men and more like beasts. Some had patches of fur that hadn't receded, claws instead of nails, teeth that had grown too sharp to be human. Their bodies twitched unnaturally, like something inside them was still fighting to get out or trying to break free.

Adina's heart dropped to her stomach. Horror bled into her veins. What has Carter done?

In there, there were hundreds of men. There was no way Carter could get all of them. The missing people. Could it be—

"What have you done?" Adina choked out as she was forced to her feet by the said man.

The air was thick with the stench of sweat, blood, and rotting meat. Bones littered the filthy ground, alcohol spilled across broken tables as the creatures laughed and fought among themselves.

Adina felt sick. It was a disgusting sight to behold. She shook her head, not wanting to see more of this barbaric scene, but as she moved her head around, she caught sight of the one thing she never imagined.

Her heart sank as her knees gave out. Right there, in the middle of the room, between these creatures, was Mason and Kora.

Mason was hanging from above, chained. His head slumped, his chest barely rising and falling. Blood covered his shirt, dripping steadily onto the floor.

Beside him, Kora dangled the same way, but she was still convulsing weakly, her body jerking with every shudder. Her lips parted in soundless whimpers, tears streaking down her pale face.

"Mason! Kora!" Adina's scream ripped through the room as she lunged forward, but Carter yanked her back hard by the collar, forcing her to the ground. His boot pressed down on her back, keeping her there like a dog.

The beasts looked up at the noise, their wild eyes fixing on her. Some of them grinned, showing jagged rows of teeth.

Carter's hand fisted in her hair again, jerking her head up so she was forced to look. "There," he said softly, almost with satisfaction. "Look at them. Look at what you've done to your precious friends. They're in this position because of you. You've killed them, Adina," he said.

Adina's heart stopped for a second. Blood rushed into her ears. Anger rumbled in her veins and she jerked her hand up, praying to the goddess, just a flicker of energy. Just one. Let her deal with Carter. Let her show him who he is dealing with.

Nothing happened.

She stretched her hand forward like she was going to bless him. Not one single spark of energy.

Carter burst out laughing and soon the creatures joined like they couldn't get the joke.

"When will you understand? Those powers of yours. They don't exist here," he grinned and before she could let out a squeak. The collar vibrated against her skin and she fell to the ground, convulsing as the sparks filled her body.

Adina screamed, her body trembling as the collar zapped her. Suddenly it stopped again and Carter dragged her up by her hair, forcing her to look at Kora and Mason.

"Look what you've done to them? Why, Adina? Why did you do this to them? What have they done to deserve this?" He asked even as she sobbed.

"Please—Please stop."

Carter grinned, leaning closer to her, his breath fanning against her ear. "You wanted death. Let's start with the girl." He nodded shortly and soon five of these creatures stood up, snarling and licking their lips like they'd been offered a buffet of food.

"No- please!" Adina cried out as the men walked towards Kora, who had begun struggling weakly against the chains.

Adina tried to look away, tears rolling down her cheeks, but Carter held her jaw tight, forcing her to watch as the creatures' hands roamed over Kora's body.

One held her legs tight, forcing her to stay still so she couldn't struggle anymore. One tore her shirt off, exposing her body.

Kora let out a broken scream as her chains rattled violently, her body jerking with every desperate thrash. The sound tore through Adina's chest.

"No! Stop it! Please!" Adina's voice cracked as she fought against Carter's grip, her hands clawing uselessly at his hands. "Don't touch her! Stop it!"

But Carter's hold only tightened, his face twisting with amusement. "This is what happens when you defy me, Sage. This is what your stubbornness costs."

The beasts only laughed, their hands moving over Kora as she sobbed, her cries growing weaker by the second. Mason stirred faintly, groaning as his swollen eyes cracked open. He tried to lift his head, saw what was happening. He growled weakly, trying to swat them off Kora but he was punched right in the face and sent back unconscious.

"No!" Adina screamed again, her throat raw. Her powers clawed at her veins, but the collar burned hotter, zapping every attempt before it could form. Her body convulsed violently, smoke curling faintly from her skin as she writhed.

"Goddess, please! Please, take me instead!"

Carter leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. "That's the point, girl. You can't take her place. Only you can stop this. You know what to say." He continued as the beasts tore off Kora's trousers, leaving her naked.

"What to do to stop the agony your friend is facing. She's like your sister, isn't she? Say it then! Stop them! It's in your hands, Adina. STOP THEM!" He growled into her ear.

"I'LL DO IT!" Adina screamed painfully, her body trembling. "Please— I'll do it— anything—whatever you want. The curse! The power! I'll do it all…..just please, stop it."

Carter let go of her and she fell to the ground, sobbing hard. "Please let them go. Please," she cried weakly.

Carter smirked cruelly, hand raised and the beasts stopped. He looked down at Adina. "Good girl. The first step to being a vessel is obedience."