A/N: Thanks, Zaeryth for your reviews! Here's another chapter for you!
Chapter 10: Like Father…Unlike Son
Outside in the darkness, Waverly could scarcely see a thing. The only light was from dim torches that flickered in the chill wind blowing across the forest. The meager glow served only to illuminate trunks of large oak trees, whose branches reached for the sky. Waverly was at first confused as to why anyone would want to light up a bunch of trees, but then her unspoken question was answered.
In the massive tree before them appeared a door, and out stepped a squat, fat man clutching a similar torch in his trembling hand. He was dressed in gray monk's robes, and had disheveled white hair, full lips and a long nose, all of which had a ghastly sheen to their ethereal pallor. In fact, he was a very ugly man, and one whom Waverly was not too happy to be shoved into the arms of.
"I want you take her and keep her, down there. And…don't do anything yet. Just hold her," Gil commanded mysteriously.
"Oh, you mean throw her in one of the cells and hold onto the key? Of course, your Highness," the albino elucidated. Waverly gasped, her worst fears realized. She turned to beg to Gil, but he had lowered his eyes, shamefaced, and refused to meet her anxious gaze.
Waverly cried out in desperation and struggled against the albino's unfoundedly strong arms. With an annoyed sigh, the albino finally brought up two fingers and pinched the back of her neck. Waverly let out a breath before going limp in his arms. Gil swallowed a little guiltily and turned to Jack and Jimmy, who were watching the episode with rapt attention.
"Come. You will get your reward soon enough. Follow me," he ordered, and then glanced back over his shoulder at the albino, heading for the opening in the tree. "Don't hurt her," he implored. The albino nodded and disappeared into the darkness of the tree, closing the door until all the cracks had vanished. Gil sighed and closed his eyes a moment to clear his head, and then strode forward with a purpose, grabbing one of the torches from the tree to light their way.
Jack and Jimmy followed along obediently as Gil led them around the side of one of the castle's thick outer walls. Gil peered around nervously as he inched closer to the stone and felt along its grainy surface with his hands. He finally appeared to find what he was feeling for when he stepped back, throwing open a hidden door.
Light streamed out as the three slipped inside. Jimmy and Jack found themselves trailing the Prince through a kitchen, weaving between tables, cutlery islands and a large fireplace with scrubbed iron pots suspended over burnt coals. They passed doors, undoubtedly leading to storage rooms and/or freezers, and Jimmy and Jack exchanged glances. This place was huge, and with tons of food and certainly treasure! And this foolish Prince has just shown them a secret way inside! They would definitely return to loot the place in the future.
Grinning eagerly to each other, Gil scoffed silently to himself. They might know a secret entrance, but it was nearly impossible to find it from the outside. Gil had taken the necessary measures to learn the numbers behind locating this passageway, and it hadn't been that easy. They would come back and have no clue whatsoever to how they had gotten in! He bet they didn't even know what side of the castle they had emerged.
Once out of the kitchen, the three crept through the dimly lit halls of the drafty castle. Luckily, the floors were carpeted and absorbed their footfalls. Stealthily, Gil led them through a wide corridor and then up one of the secondary staircases, keeping to the shadows whenever an occasional guard shuffled by. Jimmy and Jack exchanged glances again as they narrowly avoided collision with the night patrol, halted by a harsh whisper from the Prince. Apparently, he was accustomed to sneaking out.
As they rounded the final bend that would take Gil to his chambers where he could keep the henchmen secret until morning, he suddenly froze.
There, sitting outside the door was King Humperdinck, resplendent in a blue satin robe with white pajamas beneath them. Slippers adorned his wide feet as he leaned back in a wooden chair with a massive yawn.
Internally, Gil panicked. He turned to whisper to the men to sneak back, but before he could say anything, Humperdinck spoke.
"Don't think I can't see you there, Engilbert."
Gil groaned inwardly as his father rose and eyed the three blearily.
"Ah, and you even brought some cutthroats along. Goodness, Engilbert, if you wanted to bring cutthroats you could have just come through the main gate instead of sneaking around! Or better yet, in the morning," the King said, stifling a yawn. He motioned for Gil to come closer, and Gil trudged forward guiltily, his head hanging low. Humperdinck glared down sternly at his son. "You know, I very much don't appreciate being woken from a lovely night's sleep with the news that my son has run away again from that awful ugly butler—"
"But I didn't run away!" Gil interrupted. Humperdinck raised a thick eyebrow.
"Oh really? You know, I may not be that intelligent, but I am not that dumb!"
Gil shook his head vigorously.
"No. You see, I…I hired these men here," Gil gave Jack a warning look as the kidnapper was about to protest, halting his speech, "to go out and capture Buttercup, and I wanted it to be a surprise…for you…in the morning," Gil added, smiling awkwardly at his father, who was frowning. It took Humperdinck a few moments to register this news.
"So, Buttercup is in our possession?" he asked, his tone growing in excitement. Gil nodded and turned to the henchmen and widened his eyes, gesturing for them to contribute to the conversation.
"Oh yeah…we, uh, plucked her right off the boat!" Jimmy exclaimed triumphantly. Humperdinck's eyes lit up as Jack shrugged, agreeing with his cousin. Humperdinck then grinned nastily and clapped his hands, rubbing them together in sick eagerness.
"Finally! Revenge will be sweet!" he whispered. Gil could see malicious plans running through his father's head and suddenly thought about Waverly. He vowed to not let his father harm her, and then realized his father would know she wasn't the real Buttercup. She would be tortured even worse! He shuddered to imagine her anguished cries, and then berated himself. Why was he feeling so guilty about her? It wasn't like he had been the one who had physically kidnapped her! And yet he couldn't shake the feeling that he wanted to see her again, uninjured and healthy enough to converse with him. He had never really had someone his own age to talk to…
"—I want to see her, confined!" his father was saying. Gil's heart seized painfully as his father pivoted on his heel to march off and do just that. Gil thought quickly as Jack interjected.
"Uh, your Majesty, we was promised a handsome reward. Might we…see some of it now, perhaps?" Jack asked innocently. Humperdinck glanced back at him and smiled.
"Of course! You men righteously deserve it! Come with me to my vault—"
"Why don't we all go see her instead?" Gil cut in, and then appealed to his father. "You can hear their story tomorrow when you're better rested, but I'm sure you're just dying to see her now, aren't you?" he hinted. Humperdinck looked thoughtful and at last relented.
"You're right. Let's go! I'll pay you gents in the morning, when you can tell me all about your marvelous capture!" Humperdinck said graciously to Jimmy and Jack. "As for right now, I'll alert one of my guards to see you to the master suites, where you two can order anything you like!"
Jimmy and Jack grinned zealously at one another, practically smacking their lips in anticipation. They nodded briskly, very satisfied with the way things were working out for them. Humperdinck signaled one of his men to lead Jimmy and Jack away before turning to his son and letting Gil guide them toward their destination.
Gil headed past his room and came to the main stairway. They descended rapidly, Humperdinck practically skipping with delight. Gil could hear him muttering to himself: "One down, one to go!"
When they finally reached the tree in the forest, the albino humbly opened the door and admitted them, bowing. They trotted down the stairs carved into the wall. Gil pushed past the albino and surged ahead, feigning eagerness as he grabbed a torch from the wall and waved it in front of him. He hoped and prayed his plan would work. Gil headed down the aisle of cells and located the one with Waverly hunched over in the far back corner. He pushed his head up to one of the gaps between the bars.
"Hey Waverly. Turn your face to the wall!" he whispered urgently. He didn't know if she heard or not, because he heard the scuffles of his father approaching, humming happily to himself. He withdrew his face and grinned broadly.
"She's in there," Gil cried loudly, pretending pride. Humperdinck beamed at Gil, not knowing when he had ever been more pleased in whom he considered a dumb, worthless boy…well, almost worthless, he corrected himself. He craned his neck and stretched his eyesight as Gil thrust the torch into the cell. Humperdinck's emotionless brown eyes swept over the illuminated area and lit upon a huddling figure's back, streaked with long blond hair.
"Ha!" Humperdinck laughed triumphantly. "My dear ex-wife, Buttercup, how does it feel being locked up? Not feeling very talkative? Well my son will make you talk!"
Gil started and nearly dropped the torch.
"What?" he gasped. Humperdinck chuckled and patted Gil hard on the shoulder, making him wince.
"You heard me. You're not good for much else, eh? Your sword skills are mediocre, you can barely remember the name of our kingdom of…uh…?"
"Florin?" Gil suggested flatly. Humperdinck snapped his fingers.
"Ah, yes, that's it. And well, you've never tried torture. Let's just see how it works for you. Hey, maybe you'll even find your calling. Who knows? I'll give you a few days alone," Humperdinck winked knowingly at Gil, who swallowed dryly and gave a weak smile. Humperdinck nodded in satisfaction and directed his sneering voice at Waverly.
"I'm guessing that's all the time you'll need, if my son actually lives up to my fabulous reputation. And, well, if he doesn't, then I'll just set the machine on you. Still works after all these years. You remember it, I gather?" Humperdinck said slyly. "Oh, you'll squeal on your dirty, rotten, thieving husband before too long! No one can withstand the machine!! Muahahaahaha!!" Humperdinck cackled evilly and then choked on his own saliva. Still choking but pretending he wasn't, he turned on his heel and strutted out of the prison aisle, leaving Gil behind.
Up ahead, Gil heard his father ask the albino a question about greasing the machine, and he shuddered. He bit his lip and sighed, glancing around nervously as he began to undo the straps on his satchel. He took it off his shoulder and placed it through the bars of the cell, scooting it along the dirty floor toward Waverly.
Rising abruptly, he strode back to his father and together, the King and the Prince made their way back to the castle to get some sleep.
A/N: I hope I got Humperdinck's character alright. Anyways, not much else to say. Until the next chapter…review!