For once in my life, the repetition is intentional. New story because this lot need an angst warning. Enjoy...
SPOILERS UP TO 4x08
Disclaimer: Not mine.
"Scared?"
"Of course I'm scared. It was terrifying."
He was trapped in a dark, cold place with no light and no peace. He was rooted to the spot; it felt as if his feet had sunk into the earth, or whatever passed for a floor here. He couldn't see it, doubted he could have seen his hand in front of his face even if they hadn't both been clamped over his ears anyway.
The screaming; it was unbearable, he wanted it to stop. They wouldn't stop, the voices of everyone he'd ever hurt, every breather he'd ever drained, crying out in mortal terror. It was hard to believe that he'd once relished the fear, savoured their screams.
Now, though, they weren't screaming because of him. No, the most horrifying thing as Bertrand struggled to move, to hide, to stop the infernal screaming, was the certain and inexplicable knowledge that the screams were being caused by whatever was coming for him out of the darkness. It was getting closer, he could sense it-
The darkness smashed around him, breaking into a million pieces, and he almost broke too before opening his eyes - when had he closed them? - to find himself on the floor of the Dracula quarters. He stood cautiously, trying to get his bearings and put his mind back in order. Vlad had learnt to give him that moment, at least.
It wasn't the first time Bertrand had been banished to that cruel nightmare world - Vlad might have been a natural, but he'd still needed to practice - but this time had been different. In their blessedly infrequent training sessions, Vlad had always been calm, albeit filled with the quiet, icy disdain he seemed to favour Bertrand with all the time these days. Bertrand, for his part, had always had chance to prepare, to brace himself, however pointlessly, for the shock of the zone.
This time, Vlad had lashed out in anger, and Bertrand had been caught off-guard. He'd been plunged into the darkness without warning, completely unprepared, and the threat had seemed somehow closer, as if every zoning was bringing him nearer to his doom. Worst of all, though, he'd had no idea when Vlad would let him out; if he ever would. If he would release him in time to save him.
"Scared?"
"Of course I'm scared. It was terrifying."