Romans & histoires Stolen Tongues

“I know you would.” For a heartbeat, the forest noise dulled. Just them — breath, pulse, and the faint gold reflection of her eyes in the dark. Then the ground beneath their feet vibrated again, faint but insistent. They ran. As they disappeared into the mist, the runes dimmed to red and black, the faint outline of words forming across the stone — a language older than prayer: “Balance was never broken. It was stolen.”

Black hair like spilled oil. He leaned in, and the world narrowed. A tongue—obscene, wet, deliberate—traced from the collar around Caelum’s throat to the hollow of his ear. It was slow. Intentional. A violation scripted into ceremony. The creature’s breath was cold, but his tongue was rough—like a rasp dragged across vulnerable flesh. Ownership. That was the word that lodged in Caelum’s mind, even through the drugs. He was being claimed. The nausea came not from revulsion, but from how known it felt.

“Are you going to act ignorant or should I cut out your tongue?” “Wh-what?” “I guess you don’t need your tongue.” Hands pocketed in her skirt, Selena drew a sharp breath and directed her gaze to land on Lucius. “Lucius, he wants you to get rid of his tongue.” Horror filled the man’s eyes who instantly fell to the ground. Shaking his head fervently, rubbing his palms as though saying a desperate prayer. Selena who was now wearing a smirk said, “I guess we can play a game of tag with his tongue when we are done. What do you say?”

My twin sister and I were born with the same face and nothing else in common. Elara was gentle enough to step around an ant. I was vicious. Cross me and I'd take your skin off and never lose a night's sleep over it. The year we came of age, the Crown Prince chose Elara. But the old court held that royal twins brought ruin. If Elara was to be Crown Princess, I had to die. So our parents wept and begged me to drink a death-simulating draught and disappear forever. Before I left, I made three demands. First, my Shadow Guard would pass to Elara. Second, she'd have a dowry worthy of a princess and a wedding no one could sneer at. Third, if the Crown Prince ever wronged her, they'd bring her

In the darkness of the screen, I saw my reflection—blurred, tired, and nothing like the person I used to be. … At breakfast the next morning, Andrew came over with a bowl of clam chowder, wearing a practiced smile. "Ed, try this. It's really good." "No, thanks." I turned him down gently. However, he pushed it toward me anyway. Suddenly, his foot slipped, sending the scalding chowder spilling all over my thigh as the bowl shattered across the floor. A patch of angry red instantly bloomed on my skin. I sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.

Mr Smith’s keen eyes scanned hers as the other men kept whispering in a foreign language; she bit her lips in frustration; were they plotting to avenge him now? “Was it you?” Mr Smith said to her and she nodded in affirmation. He let out a frustrated sigh “We wouldn't be getting out of here alive; that is what they are discussing; fortunately, I am multilingual.” Two strong men came out of the room with the general’s corpse on their sturdy shoulders. Diane's eyes widened, he was already looking pale as if his blood had been drained. Mr Smith put his hand by his side, and Diane knew he was ready for the worst that was to come.

Olivia says with a high-pitched voice. "I'm nervous and I'm just doing this for the money and not because I love to be here," Rita roared into her friend's ear. The noise is making it difficult for them to hear each other. "I understand but you really can't turn back now". "I know and on second thought, I'll stop this once I've gotten sufficient cash to start up a business." They head to the bartender who offers them a cocktail and they sip, waiting for a man who'll walk up to them. The noise around the counter is less and easy to hear each other. As Rita is about to say something, a husky voice spoke up,

“I warned you all! I will not be second-guessed! My word is law! And yet three times this pathetic man pushed against it – an offense for which he will pay with his insolent tongue!” Horror presses me back against my throne as Mahl presses his fingers raw into the ambassador’s mouth. The man screams as Mahl presses down, forcing his jaw open. His mouth spreads too wide. The sickening crack of bones and teeth sounds in the room the moment before Mahl reaches inside the gaping, bloody hole and seizes the tongue, ripping it out. Screams erupt in the room and I whimper, terror seizing me, making it impossible to move. People scatter, Vendans rushing forward to pull their ambassador away. Mahl le

She looked at me intently in the eyes and her meaningful stare was clearly visible. I blushed right away and couldn't utter a word. “What? Cat got your tongue? Your blushing bitch!” she sounded playful. I did not answer her, instead, I leaned and hugged her tightly “Bella, my heart is full," I whispered audibly. She caressed my back “I’m so happy for you," she expressed gently "Don’t be stupid this time, Okay?” she chuckled and I hissed on her warning.

“What do you mean, nothing? Did you not sleep well?” “I sleep. But- I’m fine, okay?” I looked away, looking outside the glass closed window. I am trying to feel my new tongue and still feel weird. Having a forked tongue, I can feel like a snake. Is this what it feels to be a snake? Argh. Ridiculous. Why should I have to go on like this? Why didn’t he tell me before that most of the tongues I’ve borrowed will go rot and be dead despite of eating black pearls! And then I turned back to Drayce. He looks awfully pale and doesn’t look okay, too.