In Numina: Urban Fantasy in Ancient Rome (Stories of Togas, Daggers, and Magic Book 2) by Mehr Assaph

Author:Mehr, Assaph [Mehr, Assaph]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Historical Fantasy, Fantasy - Historical, Horror, Ancient Rome, Mystery & Detective - Historical
Publisher: Purple Toga Publications
Published: 2018-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter XXV

“Look at this!” Ambustus marvelled at his own work. He glanced at me, the incongruence of his smile and facial scars chilling. “Flex your hand,” he barked. Borax was staring incredulously at his left hand, moving his fingers. I could see his right forearm twitch too, as tendons pulled on decayed digits, but those remained as devoid of life as Orpheus’ wife.

“See, I can feel the pulse, strong and steady,” Ambustus placed his fingers next to Borax’s bound wrists. “I could continue to make it even younger, get rid of old scars and wrinkles,” Ambustus traced his index finger along the lines of Borax’s palm. “It’s an interesting question what would happen if I continued past that point.”

Borax surely knew that there was no way this day would end well for him. In a final act of defiance, he grabbed Ambustus’ finger and twisted hard. The finger made a sickening, cracking sound and Ambustus screamed. Borax held on, twisting the broken digit and screaming back at Ambustus as if they were gladiators in the arena.

Ambustus flailed wildly, first at Borax’s hand and then at his face, but it is a lot harder to pull one’s finger away from a trained fighter than one would imagine. Our minds recoil at the pain of each movement and prevent us from what feels like tearing the finger off.

I didn’t wait for Ambustus to wise up. I stumbled to my feet, pulling on the rings in the walls with my hands, then launched myself at Ambustus’ back with my one good leg. My lunge was enough to cover the short distance of the hold. I looped the rope from my bonds over his neck, then crossed my arms and pulled hard.

Ambustus freed his finger and staggered backward. He knocked into me, forcing me to step back. My broken ankle crumpled, shooting waves of pain up my body and we crashed to the floor. I held on to the rope as we thrashed together, Ambustus flailing his arms trying to dislodge me. I was screaming in pain and frustration, but still I gripped the rope, pulling it tighter, tighter.

In our scramble, we knocked into the table. The jars and boxes on top came crashing down and the brazier toppled, sending burning embers scattering on the wood floors of the hold. A pile of hessian sacks in the corner began to smoulder.

Within a minute it was over. Ambustus’ limbs became heavy and his movements slowed, his face acquiring a deep shade of purple as his tongue hung bloated outside his mouth.

I stretched the rope past the point when he stopped moving and went limp. When I finally let go, his head lolled, and his bulk lay limply on top of me. I rolled him over and stood, leaning on the wall for support. I would have kicked his lifeless body, if my ankle wasn’t broken.

***

Orange flames sprouted from the sacks in the corner, and black smoke billowed up. I grabbed my knife from where it fell, and, holding on to the wall, limped towards Borax to cut his bonds.

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