Chapter 244: Final Justice

LUMINA   Andy's face went white beneath the grime and dried blood.   Lynn stepped up beside her brother, her expression as serene as if we were discussing the weather. "The ground beneath your cell is going to start heating up," she explained helpfully. "Gradually at first, then more intensely. It will stop for one--minute intervals to let you recover slightly, then resume. The process will continue like that, over and over, until you're dead."   "The beauty of it," Lyn added, raising his hands as magical energy began to coalesce around his fingers, "is that the spell is automatic once cast. We don't have to be here to maintain it. It will continue working until your heart stops beating, which according to our research should take approximately two to three weeks."   Andy's composure finally cracked completely. "You can't be serious! This is barbaric! You're talking about torture, about murder!"   "You're right," I agreed readily. "It is barbaric. Almost as barbaric as spending years c