C5 Chapter Five : You already tried

Debra's pov

Three days had passed.

The cell had stopped smelling strange, the stone held the cold longer than it should have, and the narrow strip of air near the ceiling never quite reached the floor.

I had counted the cracks in the wall twice, inspected the inner walls, the old high window I could not reach, then stopped. I was bored out of my mind.

That bastard.

I already knew who had put the sword under my bed. No proof that would stand in front of Bradford,nor a witness, Just the shape of the timing, the precision, the way Xander had looked at me afterward like a man checking his own work.

He had wanted me in here and wanted to watch what isolation did to me. That was enough.

Knowing that only made the rage sharper.

I was still turning the edges of that fact over when the air in the corridor changed.

There were no footsteps, just the shift that meant someone who did not belong to the guard rotation had arrived.

Xander strolled to my cell like he had all the time in the world. His hair was wet, and he smelt clean.

Perfect proportions to my current state.

“Three days,” he said. “You’re still upright. Impressive.”

I didn’t get up from the cold floor. “Leave.”

“That’s the second time you’ve said that to me in here. It’s losing force.” He tilted his head, studying me. “How’s the food?”

“Why are you here?”

“Curiosity.” His smile was slow. “And the view. Yunno, You’re quieter when you can’t walk away.”

I met his eyes and said nothing.

Silence had always been cheaper than giving him anger.He didn’t mind.

He settled more comfortably against the bars, one shoulder braced, looking in at me the way predators looked at preys that might still bite.

“Does it itch?” he asked.

“What.”

“The bindings. Being locked in a place full of boys who think you’re one of them. Sleeping in a cell that still smells like the last idiot who got caught.”

His voice stayed light. “Must be an experience.”

Heat moved under my skin, I kept it off my face.

“You put the sword there.”

He didn’t deny it and also didn’t agree, only watched me with that private, interested expression.

“You’re very sure for someone with no proof.”

“I don’t need proof to know a pattern when I’m sitting inside it.”

“Careful.” The smile sharpened. “That almost sounded like a compliment, pussy.”

The chain on my hands shifted, it was loose on my slender wrists but it still hurt. The space between us was only the bars, but it felt narrower than it should have.

Xander’s eyes brightened, he genuinely pleased.

“There she is.” He pushed off a bit.

“I was starting to worry staying here would soften you.”

“Get out.” I said it with reserved fury, each word barely concealing that temper.

“In a minute.” He looked me over once more, slower this time, as if committing the version of me behind bars to memory.

“You know what’s funny? most people in your position start explaining. Begging, making deals, but you just sit there sorting me like another problem on a board.”

“You are a problem.”

“I know.” He said it softly, almost like a confidence.

“That’s why I put you where you can’t ignore me.”

The words landed exactly where he wanted them to.

I held his gaze and let him see that I had heard the admission underneath the tease.

He didn’t flinch,he looked satisfied.

“hmm. You’ ll need news about the academy since your absence. Let me fill you in so you won't feel left out. Your loyal shadow keeps walking around looking like he's missed his better half, Varr keeps making Little jokes about the pretty-faced culprit, the food still satisfies hunger, and the practice blades at the backyard of the armory are breathing freely, enjoying your absence. Generally, the world is going fine without you.”

“Richard’s useful for now. Try not to make him expensive.” He stepped closer, dropped to one knee, with a smirk across his face.

“Come here.” He beckoned.

I stayed where I was.

The chains limited how far I could move and the cramping state of the cell wasn't helping matters.

He watched me then reached through the bars and caught my chin with his thumb and index finger, tilting my face toward the thin light. His thumb rested just under my mouth. The touch was careful and completely deliberate.

“Still so angry,” he murmured. “Even when locked up.”

I didn’t reply. Giving him the reaction would only feed him.

His eyes dropped to my lips for a second, then came back up.

“You still owe me a kiss,” he said. “Pay it, and I might decide this door doesn’t need to stay shut the whole night. You get a few hours of real air. I'll put you back before anyone notices.No one will know.”

The offer sat between us, clean and poisonous.I kicked my boot hard against the bars, so hard, the cuffs bit into my wrist, he was taken by surprise, and snatched his hand immediately.

“Touch me again” voice low, shaking with the effort of control. “ and I will carve the hand you used off your body before anyone in this academy even knows you’re bleeding. I don’t care what game you’re playing. I don’t care what you think you know about me. You dared put me in this cell and then put your hands on me”.

He moved before I could step back.

One hand locked around the front of my throat and pinned me against the bars. Not hard enough to choke , just hard enough to make the metal bite into my spine and remind me how little space I had. The smile was gone, what looked at me now was flat, cold, almost bored. He leaned in until I could feel the words against my mouth.

“You already tried to kill me once, Debra.”

His thumb pressed once against my pulse.

“You just didn’t know it was me.”

He held me there long enough to watch the sentence land, then let go like the whole thing had barely been worth the effort.

“ When I get out of this cell” i said, rage and hatred raw in my eyes, “you are dead”.