Summary:
Neal is in a bind, literally, and Peter Burke cannot save him. One shot.
Warning: Multiple Character Death
And so, my prisoner awakes. I watch as he starts to struggle against the ropes around his wrists that were fastened high above his head. The great Neal Caffrey may be able to pick locks, but he sure as hell can't escape my knots. It took him awhile to realize that his ankles too were restrained, by then he was in a full fledge panic mode, doing what he can to undo my knots.
As for me, I sat behind him and watched. I must say it gave me an exhilarating feeling, knowing that the power is in my hands. I love that feeling. I love power, it fills my empty soul. God knows how long it took, but the naked man before me finally gave up and rested his head against his arm, his body glistening with perspiration his chest heaving from his failed efforts.
I smile. It is now time for fun. I stood up and walked up to him.
'Neal.'
He turns and looks, eyes questioning. I stroke his hair and whispered into his ears, 'It was me. All these...Kate, Ellen-' He jerks away before I finish, eyes burning with anger this time. I laugh. My prisoner is angry. Very angry. He fights his bonds and spew curses at me.
'Language, Neal.'
He ignores me. I back off and watch his futile struggles in amusement.
Finally he asks, 'What do you want with me?'
'Once upon a time, you stole what was mine and I lost everything. Now it is time to atone for your sins.'
Who is he? I don't know him. What did I steal?
'I don't know you.'
'No, you don't. It doesn't matter. You stole the ring that was mine. Remember the ring, Neal? The ring with my family's crest?'
Oh. That ring. It didn't seem like anything important. How long ago was that? 10 years?
'I didn't know.'
'Now you do, Neal. And now you pay.'
I smash a leather strap against his back. He screams. I hit him again and again. I let him scream, I let him curse, I let him cry, I let him beg, I let him apologize, I let him bleed.
Save me, Peter Burke.
My arm tire and I finally stop my abuse. He was a bloody mess. His body slumped against the wall, held up by his wrists alone. He was shaking. I stroke his head.
Save me, Peter Burke.
'Nobody will save you now, Neal. No one. Not even Peter Burke. You are mine.'
He froze. I smiled at him and showed him the picture I kept in my back pocket. A picture of Peter Burke...in all his dead glory.
No! No...this can't be.
'It wasn't my doing Neal, sometimes things go wrong.'
Wasn't my doing. Of course I wasn't my doing. I didn't ask for Peter Burke to be killed. I ask for Neal Caffrey to be mine. What they did to bring him here...well, it wasn't my doing. My hands are clean.
'Neal, it's all you fault.'
All my fault.
All my fault. Kate, Ellen, Peter... All my fault.
Epilogue:
Neal is no more. I watch as his battered and bruised body was tied with weights and tipped off the side of my yacht.
Empty. My soul is empty.
My ring gone. My love gone. My family gone. My birthright gone. Everything gone. I am empty.
My vengeance fulfilled. And yet, despite all, I am still empty.
Life is meaningless.