The oxygen seemed to have become restricted in the room for Aselia couldn’t breathe at his words. Her pupils dilated and both her hands fisted at her sides, if the man hadn’t raised her she would have punched him. But then she was the one who had brought Xiran here to get tortured, why was she feeling so frustrated?

"Isn’t Markius handling that part? Why am I needed to do it?" Aselia finally spoke getting her bearing back and unclutching her hands.

"Because he is your prisoner and you don’t agree with our techniques," Aldridge replied calmly, observing her like a hawk.

"Fine," she got up and stormed out of his office followed swiftly by Yurian.

She wanted to scream in frustration and agony for these dilemmas were new to her. It had always been shoot, sway, kill and dump. No emotions were needed but this whole territory was not only testing her patience but also her resolve as a hunter to its fullest. Aselia wasn’t sure she could sync her mind and heart anymore. Both yearned for different things, one wanted revenge while the other wanted him.

She was almost at the stairs when Yurian caught up to her and whirled her around so his partner could face him and said: "You can talk to me you know, whatever is bothering you. And you don’t have to torture him." He could see how perturbed she was at Alderidge’s command.

"I have to, didn’t you hear he is my prisoner?" She avoided his eyes to hide what she was truly feeling for the mouth lied, eyes didn’t.

"Do you even want to? Speak the truth, partner." He tried to catch Aselia’s gaze.

"I don’t know Yuri, leave me alone." She shouted, jerking her arm out of his reach and rushing down the stairs. He watched her go but didn’t follow her this time. Yurian knew his elven partner needed this heartbreak to realize what she felt for the vampire in question.

While Aselia headed for the room where they had bound Xiran, Yurian later made his way to the adjacent room to observe her actions through the one-way room mirror.

Aselia entered the room and stopped in her tracks at the sight that met her eyes. Wasp was standing too close to Xiran’s body, with a glass of blood in her hand as she traced her fingers on his naked chest. Xiran was staring at her with disgust.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Aselia’s thunderous voice made her jump and she almost stumbled and dropped the glass in her hand. Xiran’s gaze shifted to hers and disgust was replaced by relief.

"You see... Markius sent....me to....feed him." Wasp stammered, unable to speak properly for she was doing exactly what Aselia had forbidden her from doing.

Aselia marched toward her and yanked the glass out of her hand, there was such intensity in her actions that Wasp took a step back. Aselia spat at her: "GET OUT," and pointed to the door.

Wasp stiffened at the blatant insult, although Aselia was her superior, she felt it was disrespectful to say something like that in front of the enemy.

"But, Markius said..." Aselia didn’t let her finish and cut her off, she grabbed her hand in an iron-clad grip and twisted it, making her grimace in pain.

"I don’t care what he said. You forgot what I told you would happen if you touch him? I am restraining myself right now. You better leave or I will throw you out and that won’t look pretty. So, get out, I won’t say it again." Aselia fumed, her patience running out with the girl who dared go against her orders.

Wasp’s eyes enlarged in shock as she winced in pain. She jerked her arm and Aselia finally let her go, she took the cue and rushed out without a second glance, shutting the door behind her. Aselia watched her flee, she wanted to break her hands.

"It fills me with satisfaction to see someone else at the receiving end of your wrath." Xiran’s words made her turn sharply to face him. His grey orbs were focused on her.

"I am sure you would have loved what she was about to do to you. She is exactly your type, sexually active, and likes to throw herself at every guy she gets a chance with. Sadly, for you, I don’t have time for these notions." Aselia reeled all her emotions in, she couldn’t show him her vulnerability, if she wanted answers. Although what she truly wanted was to wrap her arms around him and thank him for saving her life all those years ago.

Moving closer she pressed the glass to his lips so he could drink. Her words had hurt him, and she could see it in his eyes. He pressed his lips shut refusing to drink the blood she offered.

"Drink, you will need your strength for what’s to come next." Her voice was ominous but he just stared back at her without showing her any sign of fear. He wasn’t afraid to get tortured.

"Why won’t you give me the information I seek? At least tell me about your father’s powers. So we know what we will be walking into and how to counter it." She tightly clutched the glass in her hand, restraining herself from touching him, touching his hair which had enveloped him and was tumbling to the ground, they were so long.

"So you can have more nightmares thinking about what he must have done to your parents, to your race, what he is still doing to this day. No, I would prefer if your and his worlds remain separated, forever."

He replied nonchalantly, not giving in to her words. She gritted her teeth and tried to take deep breaths. The point he missed was she will also have nightmares knowing what he had gone through at the hands of his father. What he didn’t understand was the fact that she knew how he had risked his life and suffered just to keep her and the other kids safe.

"Xiran, I don’t want to hurt you. Don’t push my limits." Her words held her desperation and it was evident to him.

"You can hurt me all you like, I want to see your limits. I want to see how far you would go before realizing what your heart already knows." He challenged her, his lips curving up in a smile. She felt he was taunting her, underestimating her. Her bond tugged at her heart, his words messed with her brain. Her thoughts were in disarray as her mind raced to formulate the next move.

So he wanted to play, well two could play the game, besides she already knew how to rip his heart apart, she didn’t need to use physical torture for it, she had other means.

Keeping her eyes glued on him, she took out the communication device from her pocket and plugged it into her ear. It was connected to the speaker in the adjacent room where Yurian sat, watching everything unfold in front of him.

Once the device connected she spoke: "It’s White Falcon, who is available for assistance?"

"It’s me Yurian, what assistance do you need?" Yurian’s voice chimed in her ear.

"Send, Markius. I need him." Her blunt reply sounded like a surging storm that was about to engulf Xiran.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Yurian asked just in case.

"Yes, send him now." She disconnected the communication and approached the table where all the torture devices lay. Aselia placed the glass on the table and carefully canvased all of the devices. Then she grabbed the chair that lay beside it and dragged it to the corner from where she could see him, clearly.

Propping herself on the chair she crossed her legs and clasped her hands, giving him all of her attention but none of her warmth. He could sense the coldness of her attitude. Her emotions had been masked and there was no hint of any sympathy on her face. And the two men wondered what she was about to do. One in front of her and one behind her who observed from the one-way glass.

The door of the room finally opened without a creak and Markius stepped inside. He was a short man with curly black hair, numerous tattoos and a mark on his face which ran from his left cheek to his lips, giving him a menacing look. Vampires hated him, for he was their worst nightmare. He was a master when it came down to torturing them and Xiran had been his latest victim.

"White Falcon, you called for me?" He addressed her with his crooked smile.

"Yes, you are in charge of this prisoner and extracting information from him." Aselia pointed toward Xiran with a blank expression.

"I am, but I understand you didn’t appreciate Wasp assisting me in this endeavour." He added stepping closer to Xiran.

"I don’t, she is not to come near him or this room. Do I make myself clear?" Xiran couldn’t help but suppress a smile at how authoritative she was, sensing she felt jealous of the girl who was touching him earlier.

"Understood, what do you have in mind for him?" Markius pointed toward Xiran who was dangling from the chains as his gaze shifted between them.

"I am asking you one last time if you want to give us the information." Aselia asserted while peeking at him, hoping he would change his mind. Xiran only shook his head at her. Her face was devoid of any emotions as she gave her next command:

"Very well then, Markius cut off all his hair."