I do not own Sailor Moon or its characters. Rated Teen like the rest of the story, save for the last two chapters I've put up.

A short one, but the next chapter will be longer and a bit gorier. Enjoy and don't forget to tell me what you think about it!

Chapter Seven

EJ cried out in pain as the blade dug into his skin and was dragged from his shoulder blade to his hip, the deep cut burning viciously. "Son of a bitch!" he cried out as Zoisite giggled.

"You should have struck them," she told him in a sing-song voice as the faceless torturer dragged the blade from his uncut shoulder to his hip to match the fresh wound. "Three weeks you've been evil and not once have you even attempted to strike them." She squatted in front of him, shackles at his wrists that were attached to chains in the ceiling holding his body up, lifted his fallen chin so he would look her in the eyes. "That's what I admire about you," she continued when he jerked his chin from her grasp and spat on her viciously. "Even when you're being tortured you're still so very proud."

"Don't ever touch me," he growled, jerking the chains with enough force to frighten her and send her sprawling backwards.

Furious at his trickery, she deliberately sat in front of him. "You're a healthy, strong young man," she started. "As a matter of fact, you're my age, maybe a little older." She trailed a fingertip down his chest, her eyes gleaming maliciously when his jaw tightened and eyes cooled to an arctic temperature. "Surely three weeks without any…outlet," she purred and laughed when he jerked the chains again as she stood to finger his bracelet.

"It's stuck on your skin, did you know that?" When he was silent, she continued talking anyway. "I was looking forward to stealing it from you while you slept, but now I'll just have to wait until you die."

The faceless torturer put away his bloody knife and brought out his glass-edged whip, snapped it once on the ground and waited for Zoisite to nod to begin. Her delighted laughter at EJ's cries of pain echoed in the empty chamber as the whip sliced his skin.

Slowly, the pain dulled and his cries silenced as he fell to unconsciousness. There, he dreamed of the past that he'd forgotten, of the family that had died when he was too young, of the grandparents that had loved him dearly and saved him from a life of emptiness.

Then he saw her face, her large blue eyes and swinging golden hair, her long, slender body, her laughter, her kiss. Mina, he thought in his dreams as sorrow warred with the ever-churning anger to dull it. What have I done?

A part of him cried out in anguish at his betrayal of her love for him, for the pain he had caused her and his friends. Then the same part of him called upon whatever strength he had left in him and he vowed to fight back against his evils. He would return, even if it cost him his life he would come back to her and apologize for all he had done wrong to her.

When he lifted his head, his eyes were a bright, intense gold that frightened Zoisite in their pure and undiluted fury. "Release me," he snarled, not noticing that he was still being whipped. When she hesitated, he hoisted himself with the help of the chains so his body was parallel to the floor and caught the torturer's neck between his ankles and jerked. "Release me," he demanded again as the lifeless body fell to the floor and disappeared.

"You are to take your punishment!" she gasped as she searched for the ring that held the keys on within her uniform. "Queen Beryl ordered it!"

He smirked as she released his chains and stood, not caring that he was naked. "And I'm overruling it. Now," he softly murmured as he reached out with such speed she didn't even have time to gasp as he grabbed her by the throat and squeezed, "What was that you were saying about an outlet?"

She gasped for breath and scratched frantically at his hands, well aware she was drawing blood with her sharp nails. "I…Sorry."

He lifted a brow. "I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

"I…can't…breathe!"

He shook his head and squeezed once more for good measure, loosening his hold only marginally as he let the rage flow through his blood riotously. "No, that's not what you said. I want to hear you say it."

She sucked in a thin amount of air. "I'm sorry, Prince Emerson."

EJ nodded and tossed her away like a rag-doll, perversely pleased when her body slammed against the jagged stone pillar and she cried out. "Much better," he murmured, rolling his shoulders as his wound promptly healed themselves. He slipped on his princely uniform once more and only looked at his mother, who was glaring at him from her throne. "What?"

Her eyes flashed in anger. "You dare to disobey me, son?"

"You would dare to punish me for simply watching battles instead of fighting in them?"

Her eyes flashed darker this time, a true sign of her rage. "You were ordered to kill them."

Not if I can help it, he thought but kept his face the same cold mask as it had been. "And I will," he lied easily, knowing very well that she couldn't sense his emotions, read his thoughts, or tell where he was because of their blood connection. "But I will dispose of them in my own time and in my own manner. I want to have a little fun with them first." I want to have a little fun pissing you off first, he corrected mentally. Then I'll be sure to kill you and yours, even if it costs me my life.

Her face registered interest. "You mean to torture them? It worked quite well for Prince Darien when he was by my side before that moon brat stole him away from me again. Perhaps it will work for you just as well, my son."

Christ, she's a complete monster, he mused darkly and with disgust. No feelings except for selfishness and greed. "Perhaps." He pushed his hair out of his face and noticed Zoisite was slowly standing. "But before that, I have a plan for an attack that will supply energy to Metaria and yourself, mother." Saying that was like chewing on glass.

"I'm listening."

He nodded and flicked a wrist to bring down a large globe that showed a series of attacks and fallen human bodies. When she gave her assent, he lifted a brow at Zoisite and decided to have a little fun with it. "I need Zoisite to help me with this."

The general gaped at him in shock. "You…you're not angry with me anymore?"

He shrugged his shoulders eloquently. "You were following orders, so why wouldn't I?"

Beryl nodded, pleased at the progress her son was making with her generals. "Go as soon as you can."

EJ and Zoisite bowed briefly and walked into the shadows until they were met up with Ephyzal and Malachite. EJ drew the former aside. "You were guardian to the king of the Venus Kingdom, right?"

Ephyzal nodded. "And his bitch daughter. Both of them were so righteous and goody-goody. I was happy to betray them."

And Malachite and Zoisite had betrayed Darien, he thought venomously. All three would pay. "I see."

First on the list: Zoisite.