Thanks for the reviews! This chapter's kind of short but it sets up a lot for the future. One flashback scene is also coming up!


Chapter VII From Bad to Worse

Chains dangled above and around her as Morgana started to regain consciousness. Before even opening her eyes, she understood that she was back in her cell, safe from the bitter cold and starless nights but within range of Morgause's fury. Remembering what she had done, Morgana shuddered and tried to make herself as comfortable as possible. Her hands were chained above her head and only a slight amount of slack was left for her to maneuver. Of course, it didn't help that her ankles had also been shackled together. There really was no way out of this one. Suddenly overcome by the memory of what happened in the square, Morgana was plagued by an indescribable amount of guilt. If only I'd held on a second longer more could have survived, she told herself over and over again. Before more tears could make their way to the surface, Morgana heard footsteps echo across the room and realized that Morgause was coming for her. Her heart caught in her throat and her breathing increased to the point of hyperventilating. Her false bravado fooled no one; Morgana was terrified of her sister and for good reason. Suddenly, Morgana found herself pressed up against the wall with a force that could only be magic. Not being able to move her head, she strained her eyes to get a glimpse of Morgause making her way towards her.

"You-" Morgause was practically fuming with anger despite the fact that it had probably been hours since the incident. "You self-righteous, pompous bitch!" A ringed knuckle met Morgana's jaw and the dark-haired woman whimpered. Morgause crouched down to her level and grabbed her wounded jaw tightly, drawing her face close to her sister's. "If you ever do something as foolish as that again I swear on the Old Religion and the New that you will be begging me to kill you within the hour."

"Then might as well kill me now since I have every intention of being foolish again." Morgana spat back, secretly hoping that the blonde would be angry enough to carry out her request. Standing swiftly, Morgause brought her knee to Morgana's gut. Unable to even cradle her wounded form, Morgana simply dug her nails into her palms.

"When I do decide to kill you; and rest assured, I will kill you;" Morgause wrapped her hand in Morgana's hair, pulling it towards her and exposing the woman's neck. "It will not be swift, it will not be painless, and above all, it will not be in here."

"Fine then." Morgana tried not to stutter. "You think what you do to me matters anymore? For all I care you could bring me out there and beat me to death in front of the entire kingdom. It'll only make them hate you more." Morgause surprised her by laughing and Morgana couldn't help but shudder at the wicked sound.

"I'm fairly certain that the good people of Camelot will betray their love for you once they learn you've sealed their prince's fate." The blonde whispered in her ear, causing goose bumps to crawl up and down Morgana's neck.

"What-what are you talking about?" Morgana knew that any threat Morgause made was not made lightly. "I already told you; even if I knew where they were, I wouldn't tell you."

"You used to be a better liar." Morgause released her firm hold on Morgana's hair and reached into her pocket. Morgana could have sworn she heard the faint sound of hissing and slowly pressed herself against the wall, as far away from the other woman as possible. "I don't think you've had the pleasure of meeting my old friend."

"Get away from me." Morgana tried to sound demanding but was ashamed at the way the order had come out. Morgause chuckled and kneeled in front of her.

"Consider this your first lesson in the old ways, my dear sister." Morgause moved her hand to reveal a small, black snake in her palm. It hissed at Morgana and she jumped back in fear. "This is a nathair. She's fairly harmless at first but with a little…persuasion….well, let's just say that you'll soon be singing a different tune." Morgana squirmed away from Morgause and the snake, terrified of what it was going to do to her. The blonde reached forward and stroked Morgana's hair out of her face in an almost loving manner. "Tell me where Arthur is and I will have no reason to show you her talents."

"Please Morgause. I don't know." Morgause swept her sister's hair behind her, revealing her porcelain neck. Grabbing the woman by the collar, she forced her forward.

"That is the last time you will lie to me Morgana." She snarled and raised the nathair to Morgana's neck. The snake hissed, its tongue darting out and sampling its victim's flesh. Morgana flinched as she felt the hot tongue touch her skin. "Tell me."

"I don't-" Before Morgana could finish her lie, Morgause jabbed the nathair into her neck.

"Unmicel snaca, suge þa soþan... swilcnesse." The snake took several small bites, working its way into her skin, before releasing its magic. Morgana remembered screaming (or at least hearing herself scream) as unimaginable pain spread throughout her body. She could feel the creature crawling under her skin, nipping at random moments and hissing underneath her flesh. Morgana screamed and screamed until her voice was gone, but still the pain did not cease. What felt like days later, the nathair grew tired of its game and slithered out of the holes in her neck. Morgause dropped the woman, having had to sustain her weight the entire time, and frowned as she collapsed on the prison ground. Morgana's body trembled violently as the after affects proved just as bad as the actual torture itself. Unable to move, unable to even breath properly, Morgana simply lay in agonizing pain. She did not notice that Morgause left nor did she notice when she had given orders to the guards to alert her the second she awoke. The only thing that Morgana could register was the unendurable misery that overpowered her senses and sent her into a much dreaded, restless slumber.