CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 427 BEGGING

Karl almost cried out in joy when he saw Kaelan stir, his eyelids moving slightly before struggling to open. For a moment Karl thought he was imagining it, but then Kaelan’s lips parted, his face twisting in pain as a weak groan escaped him.

"Kai!!" Karl whispered, leaning closer, his own eyes shining with tears.

Kaelan’s body looked heavy, every muscle trembling as though even breathing hurt. He tried once, twice, to open his eyes, and finally they lifted halfway. His gaze was unfocused at first, but soon it settled on Karl’s face—Karl, sitting right in front of him with a smile that was shaky but filled with relief.

"You’re awake," Karl said, his voice breaking as he gripped Kaelan’s hand lightly, too afraid to squeeze too hard. "Thank goodness, Kai..."

Kaelan blinked slowly, his throat dry, words catching as he forced them out. "W... where are we?" he asked with difficulty, his voice so faint it was almost a whisper.

Karl’s smile faltered, his chest tightening again as he looked around the dark stone walls. His joy of seeing Kaelan awake mixed quickly with the sharp sting of reality—they were still trapped, still in Lex’s cruel grip.

"Water..." Kaelan muttered weakly, his cracked lips barely moving as his eyes closed again from exhaustion.

Karl froze, his heart twisting painfully at the small request. He glanced around the dark basement desperately, searching every corner, every shadow, hoping to find something, anything. But there was nothing—no jug, no cup, not even a drop left behind.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he turned back to Kaelan. "I... I don’t have water, Kai..." Karl whispered, his voice breaking. "I’m sorry... I’m so sorry..."

His hands trembled as he brushed Kaelan’s hair back carefully, his own tears falling fast. "Don’t ask me that... I can’t even give you water," he cried softly, feeling useless, his chest aching as Kaelan’s weak breathing filled the silence.

An hour crawled by in silence, broken only by the sound of Kaelan’s faint breathing. Karl sat beside him, holding his weak hand in both of his own, his ears straining for any sound. His throat was dry too, but he didn’t care about himself—he could only think of Kaelan muttering for water, his cracked lips, his pale face.

Then the sound came. Footsteps. Slow, deliberate, echoing down the stone corridor. Karl’s body stiffened, his heart hammering painfully as the door creaked open. Lex stepped inside, her silky dark hair falling neatly over her shoulders, her expression unreadable at first.

Karl’s eyes filled instantly with tears, and he dropped to his knees in front of her. "Please... please give us some water," he begged, his voice trembling. "Kaelan is hurt badly. He asked for it, just one sip... please, I’m begging you."

For a moment Lex just stared at him, her sharp eyes shining with cold amusement. Then, slowly, her lips curved into a cruel smile. She stepped closer, the heels of her boots clicking against the stone floor. "Water?" she repeated softly, her tone mocking. "That’s what you want?"

Karl nodded quickly, tears spilling down his face. "Yes! Please! Anything—just water!"

Her smile widened, but there was nothing kind in it. Suddenly, she raised her hand and shoved him back harshly, making him stumble onto the ground.

Karl’s chest heaved as he scrambled back, his palms scraping against the rough floor. His heart thundered in his ears, but still he pushed forward on his knees, clutching at the edge of her robe desperately. "Please, don’t be cruel... he’s dying. He just needs water. I’ll do anything, just give him a little!"

Lex looked down at him with her cold, shining eyes, her smile twisting darker. She bent slightly, tilting her head, her silky hair brushing forward as she spoke. "Anything?" she whispered, her voice smooth like poison. "Then crawl for me. Crawl like the worthless little pet you are. Show me how badly you want it."

Karl’s eyes widened in horror, his pride burning, but when he glanced at Kaelan slumped against the wall, his lips dry and face pale, his chest shattered. Shaking, he lowered his head and began to crawl toward her on his hands and knees, his tears splashing onto the stone.

Lex’s cruel laughter filled the room, sharp and echoing. "Look at you. Pathetic. Your wife must be so proud—her husband crawling for a witch’s mercy." She suddenly lifted her foot and pressed it against Karl’s shoulder, forcing him down until his forehead touched the floor. "This is where you belong."

Karl sobbed, his body trembling, his voice muffled against the cold stone. "Please... please, just water."

Lex finally stepped back, letting him rise just a little. She pulled a small silver flask from her robe, the faint sound of liquid sloshing inside making Karl’s heart leap. He stared at it with desperate eyes, hope flickering in his chest.

But instead of giving it to him, Lex tilted her head back and drank deeply herself, letting the water spill down her chin. Then she laughed, a cruel, mocking sound, and tossed the empty flask onto the floor where it clattered loudly.

"You see, sweetheart," she said, kneeling so her face was inches from his, her smile wide and merciless, "I could have given it to you. But watching you beg is sweeter."

Karl’s whole body shook as he clutched the empty flask with shaking hands, tears streaming down his face. His throat burned, his heart screamed, but he couldn’t fight her. Behind him, Kaelan stirred weakly, whispering something he couldn’t even make out, and that broke Karl even more.

Lex stood and brushed off her hands like she had finished a chore, her cold eyes sweeping over both of them. "Let him suffer. Let you suffer. When your wife comes, I want her to see what’s left of you." With that, she turned sharply, her robe sweeping behind her as she walked out.

The door slammed shut again, and Karl collapsed forward, holding the empty flask to his chest, his sobs echoing in the darkness.

Her smile widened, but there was nothing kind in it. Suddenly, she raised her hand and shoved him back harshly, making him stumble onto the ground.

To be continued... 🪄