Chapter 11: Terribili Pazzia
Author's Note: You may have noticed that some of the titles in my chapters are Italian or some other language. I made this on purpose to be able to get the feel of the story. After all, the story is centred in a foreign land. To be able to harness this kind of natural feel, I have to imbue it with its corresponding culture.
The Maitresse stepped down into the pitch black room. It stank of decaying moss and was damp and dirty. The lamp she carried gave little light as she slowly descended the disfigured stone steps. In the darkness, the Maitresse was purely in control.
As she finally reached the landing, the Maitresse stole a glance at herself through the old mirror that stood off to the wall to her left. Her white dress was a complete opposite to the morose blackness, her bloodred coat an added style to the purity of her form. Smiling to herself, the Maitresse walked away from the mirror and proceeded to where she was awaited.
The lamp's light flooded the door in front of her. Even through the orange light, the Maitresse could accurately conclude that the door was a bit over a hundred years old. Its once green paint was now left a brownish mold, smelly and was beyond any sense of redemption. She found its putrefying wreck a perfect entrance to what she was about to unleash.
She was justice untold. No one would be able to stop her.
The Maitresse kicked the door open, watching it break off from its hinges and pitched forward. The bang the door made on the stone floor echoed hauntingly, a dead melody of terror. She entered the room, head held high. A man stepped out from the darkness, bowed and brought a brighter lamp to light the room.
"Mistress." The man deferentially said. The intense illumination erased the darkness and stripped it bare of its secrets. Walls, now mere forms of their past selves, were rotting and infested with dirt, soil and water. The heavy stench of death flooded the extent of the room, like a mighty creature breathing on its foes. Ancient runes climbed the walls and into the tall ceiling. Large and imposing, the crucifix was hanging on the front side of the wall. Through the mess, an air of solemnity hung. In the center of the room was a magnificent boulder. It ran from the floor and up to the massive ceiling. And tied to it naked, chained by a deluge of ropes and fetters, was a man of the age of around thirty. His face was worn and dead, his eyes tired and hungry. Red lash marks stood off his white skin, glistening with blood in the light. The man's soft black hair was matted with sweat and stuck ridiculously to his skin. His sunken eyes, born out of endless hours of purging, were filled with the expectant release of death.
"Leave us." The man bowed and left the Maitresse alone with the man and the lamp. She stepped closer to the man and, in all courtesy, bowed to him. "Signor Theodoro. A pleasure to meet you."
Theodoro spat at her, his spit flying off to hit her cheek and slide down her neck. A burst of rage made her backhand the man, blood drizzling from his mouth. When she saw the red staining liquid, the Maitresse felt the elation of hunger. Controlling her rage, she slowly fumbled herself and found a white handkerchief. She wiped the spit away and threw the handkerchief on the floor, stepping on it as she stepped closer to the man.
"Signor, why do you resist? It is so futile, so insignificant! Reveal her to us! You will be spared further pain and your soul will be welcomed into the Creator's arms." She softly cooed. Theodoro watched helplessly at her, his eyes saturating with tears. Theodoro was a handsome man, who was kind and caring. Had this madness not happened, she would have fallen for him. But, Theodoro was the enemy. The Maitresse was under obligation to eliminate all enemies. He was but one of the many people she was determined to cleanse from their unholy stain. She knew him for so long, yet she never realized who he was. When she found out, all signs of friendship was burned. It left only smoldering rage.
Theodoro wasn't able to respond. He couldn't. His throat was burned with boiling oil when he refused to tell where the Rose was now. When offered the chance of writing it out, he instead ripped the paper and used the pen to stab one of the inquisitors. His punishment consisted of his fingers being battered to mere pulps of bones with a small hammer.
Theodoro shook his head. He wouldn't tell. The Maitresse sighed tiredly. "You have chosen your fate. Guards! Bring down the box!"
Moments later, two big men bringing a large wooden box entered the room. The box was held on by a small lock, but it was enough, despite the box's constant shaking. The two men stared at the box uneasily. The Maitresse growled at them. "Well?! Where is the attractant?!"
One of the men jumped and hurriedly gave her a small bottle filled with a yellowish liquid, thick and greasy. He also gave her a small and slender metal rod. She knew what its purpose was. When she ordered the men out, the Maitresse slowly opened the bottle, grimacing at its horrid smell. She picked the metal rod with one hand and stirred the bottle's contents with it. When she was satisfied, the Maitresse brought the bottle and the rod closer to Theodoro. His eyes were fixed to the two items, like magnets. Though there was no fear, there was a slight hesitancy in them. He was unsure of her actions.
Without bias, she tremendously whipped the man's member with the rod. His mouth opened to scream but no sound came out. Quickly, the Maitresse whipped his member. Repeatedly, he tried to shriek the agony but nothing was heard. Tears fell from his eyes as he silently screeched. When his member was now a bloody mess, the Maitresse proceeded to his chest. Teasingly, she used the rod to entice his nipples. To her satisfaction, they stood on end, elated and stiff. Surprisingly, even the man's shaft stood on end. Through the pain, the man was aroused. Slowly, the Maitresse gripped his private part in one hand and gently massaged it, eliciting a hungry look from the man. He tried to turn away, but the ropes forbade him that option. After several moments, the man released himself into her hand. His seed was crawling down her hand as she stood straight and wiped her hand on his chest. Still in the faze of lust, Theodoro was unable to comprehend the stupefying whip of her rod against his chest. When he finally perceived the pain, the Maitresse delivered more blows against him. His body was now greasy with blood, sweat and the yellow liquid. Finally bored, the Maitresse picked the bottle and poured its content all over his body. When the smell became thicker and thicker, the box moved unnaturally. Even the Maitresse stared at it with caution.
"This is where it ends, Theodoro. I will give you one last chance. Please, for me, stop this pain you are calling to yourself. It hurts me as much as it hurts you. Please? Won't you let the pain stop?" It was true. In some peculiar and twisted way. The more the Maitresse hurt him, it also hurt her. He was the enemy, but that was no comfort to her heart. To do this to an enemy she didn't know was different from beating an enemy she knew for so long and had shared so much. It struck her with misery as powerful as lightning. But, what was her heart for the greater good?
Theodoro's eyes beckoned her to come closer. Mesmerized by those perfect blue eyes, she drew closer until her face was inches from him. He opened his mouth, struggling painfully to make a sound. When the Maitresse couldn't face his torment, she turned away but stood frozen in her tracks. A soft whisper called her name, not her title as Maitresse, but her name, her God-given name.
"Please...Listen to me." Theodore's voice made her come back. She knew that his voice never really came back, only a small portion was left until he would be fully mute. Trying to capture that moment perfectly, the Maitresse brought her ear near his mouth. Not too far to mistake anything yet not to near, in case he would lash out and bite her. It sounded stupid, he was delirious with pain, but still, one could never be too cautious.
"No. I will not...r-reveal anything but t-this...I l-love you...even if you k-kill me..L-ly.." He was unable to finish as the Maitresse stood stiffly and backed away from his as fast as possible. He was the enemy, she reminded herself. She verbally muttered it repeatedly as tears cascaded down her eyes. In her horror, the Maitresse exited the room, still shocked and afraid. But, even when she was already far away, the deafening silence brought his last words.
"Don't let it swallow you, l-love."
Screaming, the Maitresse fished out her pistol and shot the moving box's lock continuously. When the lock finally fell and the box was ripped open by its content, the Maitresse fled in horror.
All the while, she screamed as she left her only love to the starving mercy of hundreds of hungry rats.
Author's Note: That is not the last time you will see the Maitresse! She will return, with a vengeance brought more from madness!!!! Hahahaha! weird....anyway, reviews anyone!!!!