Hello, long time no see! First off, I sincerely apologize for my long hiatus. I DO intend to finish this story and I did not mean for this long break to happen, especially at such a cliffhanger. I have read all your lovely reviews and they were a pleasure to read, once again I'm sorry for having kept you guys waiting. So before I delve into the whys and wherefores, here is chapter 10 of Ghirahim's and Link's sadistic tale of... something or other.

Enjoy reading! And please don't forget to review!

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Your Menacing Smile: Ch 10 - … Only pain remains

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I could not see anything. My eyes were strained open to the point of aching, yet not even the slightest light reached my eyes no matter where I looked or turned. I was only met by endless darkness. The all too familiar pressure of the cold metal on my throat kept my weakened body standing upright, its chain cruelly arranged slightly too high for me to reach without standing on my toes. As if to even it out my wrists where shackled behind me on both sides and forced me to remain at a level not too far from the ground. On their own these restraints were troubling enough to begin with and by putting them together my mobility was limited vastly as a result. Whenever I lost my balance, even by the slightest bit, it never failed to be accompanied with the choking sensation on my throat. Each time the rattling of chains filled my ears, its hollow sound resembling derisive laughter. To my frustration, I could not even struggle to break free from my bonds. The man who had gotten me in this predicament surely must be observing my miserable state right now, wearing his usual smirk which hid his animosity and amusement in equal portions. I could just picture it in my mind.

After all, it was the last thing I had seen before everything got black…

...

"Brace yourself, Sky child…" He whispered darkly against my lips as he slowly raised his hand above his head, watching my blue orbs shake in anticipation. With a snap of his fingers, the bright, white room slowly disappeared, being replaced by complete obscurity, its unknown content staying well hidden in its dreadful cover of darkness.

"For this is where the real fun begins…"

I felt his hand on my face, covering my eyes. All of a sudden strays of light reached me through the small gaps of his fingers but soon even that was taken from me. It took me a moment to realize that the touch of Ghirahim's warm hand had been replaced by some cold semihard material which completely shut out any source of light. I saw nothing but darkness. Before my chained hands could reach my face I was suddenly grabbed by my arms in a manner which was anything but gentle. I did not have time to as much as protest before I was thrown harshly against something solid, hitting the back of my head in the process.

The blow had been hard. My head was throbbing in pain and my hair felt damp. Most likely it was bleeding which would explain the groggy state of both my mind and body. I must have blacked out for a while because before I realized it I was already tied up with new shackles. The chain on my neck was currently hoisting me upwards forcing me to stand. The pain caused me to let out a strangled cry and I could swear that I heard the familiar laughter ring in my ears spitefully.

His voice.

...

And this is how the situation had played out up until now. So far my future did not look very promising. I had probably not been in this room for more than a couple of minutes since I woke up, but it already felt like hours. I had to put a lot of energy on keeping my balance as I stood on my toes to refrain from choking. I was already tired out. It also seemed like my body had sustained some damage from the blow to my head, affecting my senses. It was the only explanation I could think of to explain why I felt so strange. My body felt tingly all over. All sounds my ears perceived seemed warped; the rattling of the chains, the sound of my own labored breathing and pained groans, the haunting laughter… It was unnerving. Come to think of it, hadn't it been like this even before I passed out? Just what is this room?

Aside from the laughter from before, the demon had stayed silent. It made me question if he was even in the same room anymore. Perhaps he had been so generous as to leave me to my own devices. Despite the uncomfortableness I felt by the fact that I was kept in the dark- quite literally so, I would not on my life call out to him in order to confirm it. Instead I tried to analyze the situation the best I could, starting with feeling around with my legs as carefully as I was able to manage without falling. While I searched with my right leg blind as I was I suddenly felt my heel knock into something hard behind me. I slowly let my foot slide up the cold, smooth surface while maintaining my balance on my other leg. Could it be a wall? No… When my bare foot had slid up to what I estimated to be at the height of the middle of my thighs, I could feel my heel go over an edge, making contact with a horizontal area. Following across it, it did not take long before my foot hit yet another wall. My eyebrows creased into a frown. …A chair? It seemed like the chains binding my arms were connected to it as well, judging by the position of my arms.

"Pardon me for intervening with… Whatever discovery you are making-" I jolted in shock after the smooth voice had disrupted my thoughts and I audibly gasped. Luckily for my throat I managed to keep my legs steady enough not to collapse. "-But I believe I've given you more than enough time to get comfortable in your new chamber by now, don't you? In all fairness it becomes a bit dreary after a while from a bystanders point of view." Contradictory to his words, the demon ended the last sentence with a dark chuckle. Of course he had never left. He must have simply stood there watching me in my state of confusion, surely taking great joy in doing so. I gritted my teeth in anger.

"Well now, there's no need to look so hostile, boy." His tone was that of an adult scolding a child, but the amusement in his voice was evident. "Don't you find a little change of pace refreshing?" He continued. I heard his footsteps echoing closer to me until I could feel something tap the side of my cheek playfully before leaving it once more; with each step taken his voice seemed to gradually fade into a whisper. "I think it's a good time for both you and me to get fully… acquainted with this place."

A cold chill ran down my spine when the hidden threat sunk in. I dreaded that he meant to continue what he had started before in the bath. He had reduced me to that pitiful state against my will, prying down all my defenses while my mind screamed in protest. His vile touch driving me mad with… pleasure. I did not want to ever go through that again. With his lips to my ear his breath felt hot and unpleasant. His voice as he spoke was calm yet foreboding. "Now… Do you remember why I brought you here in the first place, Sky child?" I visibly stiffened. "That's right." He hissed venomously, his breath in my ear causing me to shiver and turn my face away, only to be forced to be returned to the same spot by a sturdy grip. "I told you I would punish you. Does that sound familiar?"

I ignored his taunting and pressed my own question instead through clenched teeth. "What is this place?" I bit out, feeling a surge of irritation induced by the feelings of dread I felt forming in the pit of my stomach, feelings which all got spiked further as I heard my own voice coming from my lips. The sounds in here reverberated on the walls. In lower spoken words small tremors reached my ears, like a vibrant humming sound. Louder tones echoed fully through the room, its haunting tremor making me dizzy.

"Oh? You don't find it to your liking boy? Pity, since it seems to have a far better effect on you than I had first thought. I on the other hand find this place quite charming. It's a rather good match for you." While he told his unwanted opinion in feigned nonchalance, his hold on my jaw loosened. He slowly slid his hand to my throat, outlining the collar of metal until his fingers reached the back of my neck.

"And regarding that matter…" Suddenly a firm grasp was held on my hair which pulled my head harshly backwards, coincidentally burying the collar on my neck into the already fractured skin. I yelled out in pain and my choked cry echoed in my ears. While keeping his unyielding grip on my hair he continued speaking calmly as if nothing had happened. "As tight-lipped as you are to a fault, here your voice lingers in the room even after passing through those lips of yours…" I felt something briefly brush against my lips in a circular motion leaving a ticklish sensation dancing like sparks on the sensitive flesh, most likely from Ghirahim having trailed the contours of my mouth with his fingertips. It was off-putting. My mouth twitched and I tried to jerk my head away from the touch only to regret it immediately as the cold metal pressed into the skin of my neck painfully yet again and the hand that clutched my hair tightened its hold, lifting me of the ground. I could only helplessly kick with my feet while bearing with the strain put on my bound arms.

"Punishment aside, perhaps this is the right time and place to get some answers out of you", he murmured against my lips and then let go of my hair so abruptly that I had no way of recovering my balance in time. The pain striking my neck was fierce, numbing my other senses for a moment. I forced myself to rise to my feet on shaky legs, grunting from the exertion. If he wanted to make me talk, was deliberately hurting my throat like this that clever? Not that it would have made a difference; I would rather have my windpipe crushed before I betrayed Zelda. But at this rate that reality was not too far-off. I was not sure how long my body could last like this, and I was afraid to find out.

Ghirahim's laughter echoed profoundly through the room, waking me from my stupor. The more I heard its sinister sound the more I could feel my unease grow. I was once again reminded of the horrible dream I had experienced after losing Plats and it made my heart ache terribly. In the dream all sounds which reached me had felt distorted and vicious, like a dark and twisted mirage of reality. In a world where the voices whispering into my ears told cruel truths I before had tried to stifle for my own sanity's sake, easily unearthing them. I had not noticed that my breathing had grown so labored and now I was forced to hear it magnified by the echo. Being aware of it only brought me great shame. I could not believe I was already so affected when he had yet to physically do anything serious to me ever since I was forced into this room. Pull yourself together, you can't show him any weakness. Don't play into his ha-

"Did you know?" His voice was suddenly right in my ear and it successfully caught me by surprise. So much for trying to remain calm. Once again a sharp pain dug into my neck as I lost my steadiness only for a moment and I groaned in pain. Ghirahim continued speaking as if nothing had happened and soft steps resonated in the air in even intervals. "…That by just ridding one of his sight there are a wide array of ways the person in question is affected by it?" I heard an abrupt clinking sound and shook. What was he doing now?

"It can increase the feeling of helplessness, fear and isolation. Your remaining senses also grow more intense; smell, hearing, touch…" He went on, wording it like he was counting a list of outcomes on his fingers. The scraping of metal was heard again but before I could collect myself enough to inquire about it, he was back at my side. "Sensations of pleasure…. As well as pain."

All of a sudden I felt something wet and warm running along the insides of the shell of my ear and I let out a startled gasp, instinctively turning my head away. The disturbing feeling disappeared with it, but it still felt a bit wet and somewhat cold. Did he just… lick my ear? "Hhgh!" I gave out a strangled cry when I was assaulted a second time and I could feel my skin starting to prickle. With the repulsive sensation having returned to my ear once more, my suspicions were confirmed. His hand kept my face still this time despite my futile attempts to escape his touch so he was free to rove it with his long, slimy appendix. After what felt like an eternity he stopped to chuckle huskily in my ear. "Naughty Sky child… You seem to have quite the sensitive ears. Even more so now when you can't rely on your sight any longer. How does it feel?"

"Disgusting." I spat out, grimacing. It truly did. He let go of my face so suddenly I almost fell. I could hear him humph followed by the ebbing sound of footsteps. Carrying out his words with a sudden switch of mood, his tone turned grave. "Let's hope you'll enjoy this more." A heavy clacking sound reached my ears, followed by a continuous, indistinct buzz. "You do have quite the astonishing ability to get me sidetracked from the matter which is at hand. But even I have my limits. It is high time we get serious."

"What are you doing?" I asked, the bit of panic I felt making my voice crack, that or all the damage to my throat had done its work. "Oh come now, did you really believe this rooms unusual acoustics where the only reason I chose this location? You underestimate me Sky Child… Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed; I thought you knew me better than that." Ghirahim heaved a sigh in dramatic jest. The way his mood could change in the blink of an eye was hard to keep up with and disturbed me greatly. "Use your remaining senses... What feels different in this room?"

Different? I had felt strange from the start but it was hard to discern whether it was due to the violence or not. I licked my lips nervously, focusing my attention on everything around me. The air felt… odd somehow, potent. Against my naked body I could feel it all the better and it caused me to shiver. It was a familiar sensation. My instincts told me it was something dangerous and together with the whirring sound it put me even more on edge. I recognized this sound. It was a noise which brought painful memories of the desert back to my mind. It was the sound of… My eyes widened in realization as I voiced my suspicion."Elec… tricity."

"Yes! That's exactly right. The other day I was lucky enough to come across this area, and can you imagine what I found?" Ghirahim excitedly continued his tale after a brief pause, answering his own question. "A time shift stone. It even held similar devices to that of Lanayru Desert. Crumbled to pieces of course but that's nothing a little jump back in time can't fix. Furthermore, did you know that this volcano used to be dormant?"

I bit my lip in thought while taking in the new information. That would explain why this room felt so cold in comparison to the rest of the mountain… This whole room must be in a time shift. Most likely this mountain had been inhabited by humans at one time, who even had used technology at such a place. The machinery probably either decayed with time or could not handle the extreme heat when the volcano erupted again. I was at once reminded of how lucky I was to still have my fireshield earrings on, having protected me all this time from not bursting into flames.

"The stone serves greatly as a power source, as you soon shall see. Or feel that is." Suddenly the chain pulling on my neck slackened, enabling me to let my heels touch the floor again. I had no time to take comfort in this before I was roughly pushed down into the seat behind me by a firm hand on my bare chest. "Just for precautions' sake. It would not do if you suffocated this early on, though I am sure it would be an entertaining demonstration of what a weak creature you are." Ghirahim said in elated mockery to then start walking away from me. I sank into the chair, feeling my body tense up. I had been shocked by electricity before. It had been horrible, painful but also fleeting. After encountering enemies using it as a weapon against me, I could guard myself against it, or if worst came to worst, escape to live another day. But now I was bound to a chair, blindfolded with nowhere to go. I could not help but feel alarmed. It seemed like Ghirahim could sense my growing dread, because I could hear him snicker in derision.

"Ready, hero?"

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There was no way for me to guard myself against what came next. The excruciating agony of the electricity pulsing through my body was overwhelming. Behind the blindfold my eyes opened wide in both horror and pain at once. I screamed. Screamed for so long that my throat felt like it was bleeding, each and every time the shocks would penetrate my body. Screamed to lessen the inescapable pain. I had screamed so much that my voice no longer felt like my own. Its pitiful sound was rebounded to me in its lasting, twisted form and my mind sunk deeper into despair. My fingernails dug into the palm of my hands in tight fists, until my hands found the chain to clasp instead. I had to hold on to something, anything, and that was all my fumbling hands could find as the shocks wrecked my body, increasingly cramping down my muscles. Despite wearing the fireshield earrings, it felt like my skin was on fire, seeping into my bones and burning me from the inside out. The scent of scorched flesh reached my nostrils and I felt like I would throw up at any moment.

Being in this room for a longer time period affected me greatly, especially with my other senses heightened now when my sight had been blocked – I was unable to think clearly. Hostile, violent, everything I heard seemed harmful and both irritated and frightened me. The noise was everywhere. It felt like it all had latched onto me, encasing me, drowning me. Even my own voice haunted me. Sounds, sounds, sounds, enlarged and twisted, bloodcurdling sounds. Electricity buzzing so loudly that it felt like my ears had set aflame. My ragged breathing was not even distinguishable due to my howls; it enveloped me so deeply it was hard to breath.

But worst of all was his laugh. It was his slighting laughter that reached me during the interlapse of my cries as he shocked me again and again, whenever he would not mock and ridicule me instead. It made me feel small and inferior. Pathetic. Don't laugh don't laugh don't laugh, shut up! I felt sick to my stomach. I could not see anything so my mind cruelly replaced the darkness inside my eyelids with the last thing I wanted to see. The nightmare reenacted inside my head. No, I could not see yet I found myself staring back into Plats dead, accusing eyes which marked me with dread and guilt and a pain so strong it felt like it was gouging out my chest. The collar turned into long fingers wrapping around my neck, choking me as my body curled inward, spasming. This isn't real, that was only a dream, an illusion. I tried to convince myself of this and in my mind I knew the truth but my heart would not listen. It twisted in agony.

Pain.

Screams.

Laughter.

Poison, poison, poison.

Just stop.

Stop it!

"Stop!" A raspy voice cried out, cutting through all sounds at once. It took me a moment to realize that it was my own. I blinked behind the blindfold in confusion. Breathing. I could hear myself breathing. Small and trembling intakes of air made my chest heave up and down rapidly, though I could not see it, it sure was felt. The shocks had stopped. The voice was gone. My mind could finally escape the hell of my nightmare. Was it finally over? A slow, rustling sound was my only warning before the warmth of another's skin pressed to the side of my face.

"Sky Child…" The demon's whisper in my ear had returned. "Now… was that not frightful?" I felt his caress on my other cheek but I was too exhausted to shake it off, or care enough for that matter. His melodious voice cooed softly into my ear, his tone gentle but words ruthless."Tell me… Tell me the location of the gate Sky Child. That is all I ask for. If you would simply be a good boy for me we will not need to resort to any of this senseless violence…"

Lies.

"You're the one making me this cruel."

Liar.

"It can all cease with just a few words."

He will only stop when I'm dead.

"Well? Is there anything you wish to tell me?" He probed, a bit of impatience slipping into his voice. I held my tongue, though there were a tremendous amount of things I wanted to say to him none of them would improve my situation or his temper.

"… So you want more pain? More suffering? " The questions were left unanswered.

"Very well. By all means, that is exactly what you shall get. What sort of host would I be to decline such a request?" His presence vanished from my side in an instant along with his voice which had finally dropped its tender act. "What do you say we turn it up a degree, to make it a bit more engaging? I believe I forgot to mention that this." On the last syllable the burning electric shock coursed through my body, eliciting a scream from my lips. "…Is merely the lowest point of power. Now for demonstrative purposes you must have a taste of the next…" Despite the darkness filling my vision, for a moment I saw a flash of white light. It hurt. Everything hurt. I was not even aware of if I was screaming or not. The electric shock only lasted for a few seconds but it was enough to cause tears to stream from my eyes, at once wetting the blindfold covering them.

"Shocking is it not? The difference a little trip up the scale can make." Ghirahim slowly added, as if in wonder at the thought. I knew better. To my horror, my body had begun trembling. If it was due to the stress my body had been put through by coming in contact with electricity or caused by the gnawing fear eating at my heart I had no way of knowing. What I did know was that it would come off as a sign of weakness in his eyes, a victory I did not want to grant him. I held my breath in an attempt to calm down, trying to stay strong in the face of more strains to come.

"Now… Until you have found that tongue of yours, let's take our time and enjoy exploring the depth of each level together, shall we?" With that said, the droning sound of electricity and a brief, scornful laugh was the last thing I heard before my mind was once more filled with screams, pain and the condemning eyes, staying with me in my world of darkness.

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I hope you liked that chapter. Link had to endure quite some sensory overload, the poor thing.

While writing the "Did you know?" part with Ghirahim I couldn't get the image of a Ghirahim-mameshiba out of my head. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about try searching mameshiba on youtube. You might regret it though)... Disturbing. Also I wonder if anyone noticed the wordpun-ahim comment which I couldn't help but add. Sorry Link.

About my hiautus, it was never something I had planned, at a loss for how to define it, "it just happened". It started out with some health problems I had to struggle with and I ended up taking a break from the internet for a whole year. About one year ago I think, I came back and I had some mishaps with having forgotten my ff password which was... troubling. Somehow I then forgot about the whole thing and now just recently I came to realize that I still had not continued this fanfic, and was set upon continuing it once more... Then I remembered, aha! I still can't log in to my account (some of you may have seen the anonymous reviews on this fic about that, it's safe to ignore now as you can see). After some panicking on my part by some stroke of luck I managed to log in, finally. Success. Sweet success how sweet you taste. Ahem.

So here I am now :) I plan to continue this story to the end. The updates may be slow, but I hope you will bear with me in the future as well. You guys are great.

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See you in chapter 11, don't forget to review!