Damien laughter ceased; he dropped the thumbscrew and fixed his gaze on the man, who quickly looked away, unable to hold Damien's flat, expressionless face.
"It pains me to do this," Damien's light tone floated into the man's ears, making him look up. Seeing he has the man's attention, Damien continued.
He raised three fingers in the air. "I'll give you three chances to come clean, and I'll grant you a peaceful death. But if you refuse, you'll wish for death. Now, choose."
Damien set an hourglass on the table and left the room with a smile playing on his lips.
At first, the man remained calm, but as the sand trickled down, his mind went to war with himself, torn between betraying his people or telling the truth for a quicker, less painful death.
