He watched her, five minutes passed, then ten. If he was honest with himself he had no idea how much time passed. With only her to look at he made sure to study every detail, the green dress she had been changed into at some point had a slight metallic luster that caused it to shine dully in the light of a lone torch hanging on the wall just outside the cell. Her hands were curled slightly one tucked close to her face the other resting over her side hanging limply only moving as her soft breaths cause her chest to rise and fall slowly. Something was off, and it wasn't until he noticed the loose dark strands being blown by her breaths, that he realized what it was. Her hair was placed oddly the dress was up in a way that he could tell that the back was low cut, but her hair was strategically placed, hiding the pale flesh... to well placed to be natural. She had never worn low backed clothing before and this green gown raised several questions as well as the placing of her hair.
She stirred and his examination was forced to a halt, he highly doubted she would appreciate being stared at so openly, especially by him. Her eyes becoming tighter as they held closed, a soft groan escaped her and they fluttered open, for a moment the golden orbs unfocused as she slowly woke. Her left hand was on her forehead in an instant as throbbing pain filled her mind, preventing all thoughts but not blocking the memories of how the pain had come to be, her brothers tretury, posing as Severus and drugging her during her moment of allowed unguarded rest.
"Gonna skin him alive and use it to make boots..." she muttered pushing from the ground and holding her head a slight grimace crossing her features, she looked a little green, like she was going to be ill. He stayed silent, she was notably angry and he had seen what she did when her temper flared, he would allow her a couple seconds to cool off, he had no need for any more injuries.
"Drug me... I'll kick... his... ass..." she glanced around in confusion as it suddenly dawned on her were she was, she looked around quickly Her fingers curled into a fist as her eyes fell on the damp stones and barred cell door. That idiot had the gall to lock her up? She would do more then skin him. He would be lucky to be dead when she was finished with him, older brother or not, looking her up was inexcusable... and brought back memories she didn't want.
"Lock me up! I'll kill you! Mamiya! I hope you feel pain because I'm going to flay you alive!" She yelled pushing her self up quickly her eyes went wide and she stilled before collapsing to her knees
"Maya!" His silent observation of her reaction ceased to be silent when she fell; she looked up her eyes meeting his
"S-Severus? My god look at you!" she said standing, slowly this time, walking the few steps over to him she reached up and touched his cheek. His face had a few cuts and his left eyes had become a rather bad black eye, his lip was split and slightly swollen. His shirt had been ripped off his back to add humiliation to injury, long cuts from his torture sessions now littered his pale frame, he was covered in bruises and his left leg, though at one point completely numb, throbbed dully another injury to the bone making itself known to him.
"You look like you've seen hell." she said softly pulling up the hem of her skirt and bighting it and tearing a large part free she began to mop up his bloody face her concern quickly replaced with a slight smile Severus gazed at her watching as her gaze had softened
"And after all I went through to make you all healthy, you go and get yourself messed up again..." He was about to make a sound, protest that, had he the choice, this never would have happened, had he not been asleep, his guard down because he was worried about her, none of this would have happened. But she continued Oblivious to his sudden mental rant.
"Guess you'll have to put up with me till you're all better again." she said softly his protest died on his lips and he smiled weakly, she still wanted to care for him... care? he liked the word more and more but he wouldn't admit it openly... the woman had an odd effect on him her presence was calming, knowing for this moment she was ok gave him an odd feeling of peace. His pains becoming numb, not from their intensity, but just her waking, her odd words and even, calm voice, even considering the situation they now found them selves in, it was oddly calming.
"Yes I guess I will... Maya you were betrayed, It was Matchi." he said suddenly serious, he had to tell her, she had to know of the elf's betrayal and why she had been found and was now in a dungeon under the riddle house. Maya frowned her eyes flicking to meet his as she continued cleaning him up, obviously not about to stop her work because he was now speaking
"What are you talking about?" she asked her dark eyebrows furrowing in confusion at his words she shook her head and reached up licking the scrap of green and wiping away the dry blood now crusted to his skin. Her fingers moving quickly her eyes leaving his she was suddenly adamant to avoided his gaze, the dark eyes were again, peeling back her layers, the protective coating she had spent years growing. This could not be Matchi's doing, Matchi was sweet and innocent, her one companion and confidant.
"Your injured you must be sick from fever or something. You must have been dreaming or something Matchi's is probably wondering were we are or is being held hostage by my brother." she said firmly Severus frowned, He understood a little why she suddenly seemed so defensive, Matchi had been the only 'person' she had held close, probably the only person she had ever opened up to, aside from himself... he wasn't sure about Dumbledore but the few times she had mentioned him he was unaware of what their relationship had been, using the word lightly.
"I'll need help thinking of a way out of here." she said softly after a moment. He glanced at her, escape? Was she aware she had just suggested that they escape the dark lord? With him chained to a wall both their wands gone, and locked in a cell in the heart of riddle mansion? It wasn't too difficult to imagine that this woman was unhinged somehow or another.
"You need to get out, I'll just slow you down, and I'm the one he wants anyway, because of my betrayal." He said, maybe, she could make it out on her own, use her panther form and escape, but the defiant glint in her eye told him she would hear of no such thing. How could he think that she would run away? Leave him in her brothers hands, looking at him now it was clear her brother had already gone and had a lot of 'fun' with the ex-potions master, the bruises however where not his doing, he either drew blood or didn't bother, that was his mentality, sick as it was.
"And leave you in the hands of a mad man and my obviously over eager brother? I think not! We will both escape, I'll tend to your wounds again and we'll contact the order, this is beyond my skills to handle, and you safety is-" she was cut off as a door opened and the both looked towards the door. For a few moments it was deafeningly silent both straining to hear footsteps, but there was nothing. She stepped toward the barred cell boor pressing close she gazed as far down the hall as she could, but saw nothing, mimicking her glance to the other side she smiled
"What is that?" His voice was soft and she faltered "On your back?" She looked back, her eyes wide with fear. Her hair had moved her back was exposed, and so were the scars, the criss-cross of soft shiny pink that made up what could have been a bad replica of the road ways in London
"It's nothing." She said quickly covering shifting quickly she pulled her hair carefully into place the inky black engulfing the slim back hiding the marks, she had hid them for som long, so many years no one but her and him had known, and she certainly did not want this man, who she was feeling for, to know anything about them.
"Now, now dear sister, don't lie to your friend." She had a second to react before a dark blue light wrapped around her neck wrists and ankles becoming chains and shackles that extended to the wall quickly and with a tug pulled her to it. The impact of hitting the wall winded her slightly and Severus glared at the golden eyed death eater who now stood behind the bars of the door, watching with sadistic glee as his sister struggled against her bonds
"Let me go you malicious bastard and lets fight fair and square!" she said sharply, the man shook his head, but Severus took note that he didn't open the door to the cell till he was certain she was unable to pull free of the chains.
"Annoying cretin! I'll skin you with my claws and destroy your remains with my teeth!" she said sharply, the man smiled
"How rude sister, to say such things to your dear host! You'll have to be punished." Maya smiled bracing herself for an attack, but instead of smacking her he back handed Severus and Maya let out a noise of outrage
"Wrong person you blind fool!" she said loudly Mamiya smirked
"Oh no dear sister, you see, this man is your punishment, as you are his, for each word you say against me and each order you don't follow he will suffer, the same goes for him to you." Maya frowned
"Oh yah attack the injured man, how original, as if I care, you know for a fact a beast does not fall in love, and certainly not with a man like him, I was merely following my orders and doing as I was requested." She said firmly, Mamiya smiled turning to the dark haired woman, apparently interested in her words
"I had a boss, I did work for him, on of his requests was that I save any life I found in danger, I found this man laying half dead in some forgotten abbey during my wanderings, I took him in and healed him." She explained the man smiled
"You tell such simple tales sister, I may have believed you if I had not herd the true story first. You work for the dead wizard Dumbledore and were nothing more then an obedient watch dog... cat" He said Maya frowned
"And who has been feeding your gullible brain lies like this, you think I would bow to a man, even Dumbledore!" she said sharply, A giggle filled the air and she froze
"Mistress is so harsh, but she is a bad liar is she not master Mamiya?" Matchi asked looking up at the man who patted her head fondly
"Yes, My sister is very bad with lies." He said with a smirk Maya frowned her eyes on Matchi
"All that we had together? Matchi? All the time and conversations as equals?" Matchi only giggled
"The mistress is a fool, Matchi can now be with who she wants to be with, Matchi hated the loneliness months of you not returning, She became tired and searched for her former master, You spell didn't work, and we were still linked, but Master Mamiya freed me from you and Now I serve him and his lord." She said Maya smiled and Matchi faltered
"Well if that's all, then why I'll have no need to punish you, the death of my brother will tear you shreds in itself." She said Matchi frowned
"You say that, dear sister, assuming that you'll be able to hurt me ever again." Mamiya said with a sadistic smile he stepped towards Snape and with a mutter had a blade firmly griped and slashed across the mans chest quickly Severus held back a yelp of pain as the cold steel cut past his flesh
"You coward!" Maya shouted suddenly both men froze Severus eyeing her with a questioning look Mamiya glared at her with malice
"This is why I was the one." she said her eyes narrowing a smile creeping across her face Mamiya's grip tightened and he slashed again, Severus grunted but Maya kept her gaze on her brother
"Your rash actions and uncontrolled outbursts are why he gave up on you and chose me as his source of strength, the one who would carry the families legacy... not his weak eldest!" she said Mamiya slashed at the pale man again
"Look at you, just like before, lashing out allowing you emotions to cloud your judgment thinking that attacking him will change any thing, I was always... Papas favorite." Her last two words were said silently but both men herd her, Mamaiya rounded on her
"You're just the weakli-!" She was cut of as he rushed at her Sudden pain blossomed in her chest and She shouted in pain as the b lade sunk deep in to her gut, a nonfatal area
"Dose that hurt sister? How about I remind you how you became that mans favorite!" He said loudly Snape watched as the man dug his wand into the woman's chest and hit her with an orange blast she grunted and closed her eyes tightly, her face twisted in pain. The chains fell free and she collapsed to the ground Mamiya murmured and other spell and a white cloth wound out from among his robes and covered her eyes
"Do you remember sister, you must be blind to the pain, you have to learn to black it out..." the man chuckled his shoulders shaking his eyes wide
"You want to be his favorite! Remember his punishments! His Training!" Severus watched as a golden whip of energy formed at the end of his wand
"You watch to! You'll get the treat of hearing her screams how many lashings do you think it will take to make her shed her lovely tears!" He asked, Matchi had retreated to a corner a smile playing on her face. Severus had about a second to realize what the man was doing when his arm was raised and he brought it down on his sisters exposed back he saw her shift she bit her lip tightly to hold back a scream her teeth digging into the flesh and drawing blood.
"Dose it hurt?" he asked sadistically Severus pulled at the chains They rattled but didn't give at all. The mans hand was up again brought down forcefully it cut past the flesh and as he pulled away blood that had stained the golden light was flecked across the cell...
Each hit filled her with a sharp pain that demanded she scream out for, him mind was whirling with only the thoughts of how much she wanted to yell with everything she had, she wanted to pass out, to escape the pain that filled her, but her mind would not allow it. The training her father had put her though had made sure that she had a level of tolerance for the pain... she could not escape using the darkness of unconsciousness and now more then ever she felt hate rise with in her at her fathers actions. One last crack of the whip on her flesh, the energy digging so deep she was almost sure it had cleaved right through her body, bone and all. She screamed, her eyes closed tightly her mouth wide as the sound reverberated off the walls filling the air and tearing at her ears.
"Yes..." the word was long, drawn out far past its limit his voice was an almost hiss of pleasure He smiled and let his head loll back his golden eyes falling on Severus
"Is it not a beautiful noise? I fell in love with it and it alone after her first training session... she screamed for much longer periods of time back then though, a beautiful song that filled the house with her strong, and according to father, noble notes." He said Maya was shivering she couldn't move, the pain from the dagger was one thing but the added torture of her memories and her brothers beatings was enough to completely smash her self control and had reduced her to the quivering mass that now lay sprawled across the floor
"I'm... not... crying..." she said between gasps for breath defiance lacing her words, even in such a state she wouldn't allow herself to lose. Mamiya's head snapped in her direction so fast he could have gotten whiplash and Severus smiled weakly, she had gut's that was for sure.
"I will... not cry... for you... ever..." She said stubbornly
"My tears are not yours, they will not fall again!" Strength was returning to her voice and Mamiya realized it, raising his wand he lashed at her again and she let out a gasping cry of pain
"You, you stupid beast, when I have softened you up the lord will take you both to deaths door, and when your are gone, Dear Sister, I shall skin you and pull out your golden eyes, they will no longer be something we share, something I share with you." He said his voice tones of silk. He glanced at Severus and smiled
"You should comfort her, I think she's shaking." He said tauntingly allowing the chains to vanish the dark haired man fell to the floor his body giving way to his injuries and weakness he stayed were he was he would not give the younger man the pleasure of seeing that he was right about them. Mamiya laughed and walked out Matchi followed obediently and as soon as his footsteps died Severus moved over to the woman and attempted to undo the blindfold, she pulled away.
"Leave it for now." She muttered he frowned brushing back the dark locks that hid her face he saw two dark stains
"They aren't mine... they were an accident, but as far as he knows, they aren't real, they will fade before he returns." She said turning away from Severus's touch
"You're bleeding." He said simply he wanted to help her but there was nothing to clean her back with, and they were wandless.
"Tear the dress up, I hate it anyway, it's not mine, use the strips to clean it up if you want, I don't care." She muttered, she sounded defeated the last spurt of defiance had been all she could manage to give her brother. He hadn't broken her but she was so tired, the scream had hurt her throat and the knowledge that Matchi had betrayed her was waying heavily on her mind.
"You should rest a little for now." Severus muttered
"Not till we are free." She said evenly her fist clenching with determination. They would get out of this alive.