The rope that bound Valerie's wrists cut into her flesh. He told her struggling would only make the constraints tighter. Valerie should have listened. The rough, scratchy fibers had rubbed her wrists raw. She flexed her fingers, trying to regain feeling.
Her pulse quickened when she heard slow, deliberate footsteps. Tears stung her eyes as panic threatened to overwhelm her. She took a deep breath. Valerie wouldn't let him see her weep.
Silas stepped into the room in his gray officer's uniform. He tossed his cap on a table. His pale blonde hair glowed in the dim light. Valerie's eyes darted over the jagged scar that marred the left side of his face before she could stop herself. She tasted fear at the back of her throat when she saw him stiffen.
He studied her for a long time. Valerie forced herself to hold his gaze.
"Are you thirsty?" asked Silas.
Valerie's voice was a rasp. "I am."
Silas made a show of pouring water into a clay cup. His eyes never left hers as he brought the cup toward her with painstaking slowness.
Valerie lifted her bound hands to accept it. "Thank you."
Silas reached past her hands and held the cup up to her mouth.
Her lips curled back into a dry sneer.
"I thought you were thirsty?" He asked, pulling the cup away.
"Don't! I am thirsty," pleaded Valerie.
The water was cool and clean in her mouth. Valerie never imagined water could taste so sweet. She gasped after she swallowed the last drop. Silas's earthy hazel eyes were bright with a wicked malice. Valerie shuddered at the hunger she saw in them.
"Would you like more water?" he asked.
Valerie blinked away tears of defeat. "Yes, please."
He refilled the cup and brought her the water with a self-satisfied expression on his face. He held the cup while she drank the liquid down. When she was finished, he ran a finger along her cheek.
Valerie didn't flinch away. A desperate plan formed in her mind.
Silas set the cup on the table and brought over a worn wooden chair. He sat, running his fingers through his thick blonde hair.
"What am I to do with you? Your uncle has failed to appear," said Silas.
A bubble of hysterical laughter escaped from Valerie's lips. "My uncle has no love for me. If you think you can buy his submission with my life, you are mistaken, Captain."
Silas snorted. "Do you care so little for your own survival that you would say such a thing? Do you think I would let you go? Do you take me for a fool?"
Panic fluttered in Valerie's belly. "No, Captain, never. Forgive me."
Silas rubbed at the back of neck. Valerie noticed dark circles under his eyes and sunken cheeks.
He stretched his legs, crossing them at the ankles.
Silas laced his fingers behind his head. "What about your brother? Does he care for you?"
Valerie licked her lips, choosing her words carefully. If Alex knew Silas held her, he would do everything he could to rescue her. Valerie prayed Alex would never learn of her imprisonment.
Valerie shrugged. "Not enough to risk his life to get me out of here."
Silas smirked. "So I'm stuck with you, then?"
"Afraid so, Captain." Valerie cringed at the fear in her voice.
Silas stood from the chair and pulled Valerie to her knees. "Don't forget about our deal. Tell me where they are and I'll let you go."
Valerie shook her head. "Never."
Silas cupped her jaw, lifting her face toward him.
