Fallen Angel

The footsteps, sure and steady, halted just inside her cell. She felt his shadow fall over her.
For a long while there was nothing--only the constant drip of water over shallow breaths.
Then his voice, familiar, soft and dangerous like silk over a dagger.
"Welcome home. You'll find that very little has changed since you left. You might, of course, note Commander Laroe's absence. I'm certain you won't be mourning him, though--since you killed him."
Her tongue felt dry and heavy in her mouth. She swallowed, not sure she could have answered even if she'd wanted to.
He wasn't finished, though. "I wonder how disappointed you were. That you missed your true target."
Her hands, chained behind her back, were shaking. She clasped them together. Licked her cracked lips. "We all have regrets," she replied, her voice breaking despite her best efforts.
He crossed the room in a stride and hauled her roughly to her feet, spinning her to face him. Her chains rattled, his grip added more bruises to her arm. Her eyes were temporarily blinded from the torchlight behind him.
"You will tell me everything," he breathed, his green eyes seething with anger. "You'll have seven days to do so. And when that week is up, you die by executioner's blade." He shoved her back against the wall. "Until then, you will give me whatever I demand."
She closed her eyes as he pressed his lips to her neck.
"You were wrong," he added softly. "Flying is for birds. Even angels fall..."


woman from [link]
man from [link]
background by [link]
brushes by [link] and [link]

Above excerpt is mine (please don't steal!)