A/N: A wonderfully long chapter for you today. Poor little Ronnie being all captured and Eric and Alan being all cute and missing him and evil demons. Poor Ronnie. Don't worry, Eric will save him sooner or later. Don't worry, I won't let him die. I think. Thanks for all your reviews guys, please keep them coming.
"Brandon, I want to play," Christina called. Brandon sighed, returning to the form of a dark haired man rather than a shadow as he set Ronald on the bed. "Please!"
"Shh," he said gently, pulling her up into his arms. "You'll wake him up. You know your doll isn't ready yet."
"Why not?" she whined.
"You've got plenty of dolls to play with," he said firmly. "Go and play with them. And fetch the doctor."
He set Christina down and she hurried off out the room. Brandon glanced down at Ronald, sprawled out unconscious on the bed. The young reaper he'd been working to break down for over a year and a half. He'd almost been worried that this Eric would interfere with his plans and snatch Ronald from his grasp when he was so close to succeeding. He'd been just waiting for a chance to get between them. His so called mentor was getting far too close to Ronald, giving him hope and the courage to stand up to him. The scythe wound to his shoulder had been evidence of that.
Finding out little Alan's connection with Eric had been a gift. He'd been waiting for the torture and torment of not knowing where Alan was to force Eric to a place where he could easily be pushed to give Ronald up. Their relationship becoming more and more intimate wasn't what he'd planned on but when it became obvious they cared for each other Brandon had decided to let it happen. Their relationship would only hurt Ronald more. That's why he'd struck the second Ronald had broken off the relationship.
Of course, Eric hadn't traded Ronald's life away for Alan's. In the state Eric had been in he was more likely to simply remove Brandon's head. So he had simply left Alan in Eric's bed and let Ronald believe he'd been betrayed. The poor child had believed it too.
Now he just needed to finish off the process and break down what little resistance Ronald had left.
Brandon got to work quickly, bricking up the window so there was no even a crack of light getting in and covering it in padding. The door fit snuggly on into the frame and what few slivers of light could get in would rely on the room on the other side being lit, something he would make sure wouldn't happen. He'd prepared this all just for Ronald. The walls were padded and there was no way light would get in once it was sealed off. Ronald could scream as much as he wanted and no one would hear him. In this room, Ronald would be isolated from everything but Brandon's will. Just to make sure his spirit was completely crushed.
"Oh, he's so cute," Annabelle squealed. "Just how I remember him. Are we going to play with him?"
Sighing, Brandon lit the candles around the room, watching the triplets petting Ronald for a moment before waving them off. Ronald groaned and stirred slightly, starting to return to the waking world. Sooner or later he would wake up, he just didn't want it to be now.
"Did you bring the medicine?" he said quietly.
The triplets giggled and nodded and Ruth shoved hurried over with a bottle of water and some tablets. "This'll do it."
"Good," he said. He moved over to the bed, crushing the pills into the water and waking Ronald just enough that he would take the drink without question. He was still dazed, tired and confused and drank without thinking before coughing and spluttering. "You're alright, little one. Just go back to sleep, Ronald."
Ronald resisted for a long moments, struggling to push Brandon off and kicking and squirming in his hold before the pills took their full effect and he collapsed back into unconsciousness once more. "Thank you, ladies, you may go now."
They paused before turning away and running off. They weren't stupid enough to argue with him. He pulled Ronald up and slowly undressed him. Really, this was simple. Strip Ronald of his strength, dignity, self-worth, even his sanity. Being drugged and naked in a dark bare room with no contact with anyone but Brandon would certainly do that. And it if wasn't working quickly enough, Brandon had other ways to break him down.
Finally, he shackled Ronald's wrists, a length of chains the only think between them meaning he could barely get them wider than his shoulders. With the preparations done he let Ronald fall back on the bed, which was little more than a foam mattress really, gathered up the boy's clothes, blew out the candles and sealed the door. Ronald would do just wonderfully on his own for now. The medicine should induce nightmares that would just play into his fall. Sooner or later he wouldn't be able to tell if he was awake or asleep.
The room Ronald was sealed in was in the attic. Brandon had the room next to it just waiting for Eric. He was going to enjoy forcing screams of agony from that man. Maybe he'd even leave the joining door open so Ronald could hear. He was going to pay for trying to take Ronald from them. Christina would have her doll, he'd make sure of that and he'd make sure Eric suffered.
He climbed down the ladder from the attic and pulled the trap door shut, leaving Ronald's room in absolute darkness. He abandoned the old storage building and chosen an old country house, done it up with his demonic abilities. There would only be a few people passing through along the road outside and they wouldn't be able to hear Ronald screaming. It was the perfect place to torture reapers.
"Are you worried about Ronald, Eric?" Alan said quietly.
"What do you think?" Eric grumbled. Alan smiled and sat next him, gently lying his hand on his side. "I let him down, Alan. I was supposed to protect him and I ended up pushing him away and letting him end up in that demon's hands."
"You tried you best, Eric," he argued, slowly rolling Eric onto his back, leaning down, his weight resting on his elbows either side of Eric's shoulders. "Did you and Ronald ever...?"
"No," he murmured, a wave of pain and guilt washing over him. "I wanted to wait. I wanted to make sure we weren't rushing and that he'd be sure I wanted him not you."
Alan nodded slightly but before Eric could ask what exactly was going on, Alan leant down and kissed him gently. Eric blinked up at him and was about to react when Alan sat up and Ronald wrapped his arms around his shoulders. It all made sense now. He was dreaming. This was his sleep deprived and guilty mind ruining his dreams. If he could have both of them it would be so simple.
And rather aesthetically pleasing if what he was seeing was anything to go by.
Ronald was slowly pulling Alan onto his lap, their bodies pressed together, trapped in a heated kiss. Eric sat up slowly. Even if it was a dream, he wanted to have some fun too. He reached over but Alan slapped his hand away.
"You can't have us both, Eric," he said quietly. "You know that. You have to choose before you lose us both."
"But I don't want to choose," Eric argued. "I want you both. Why can't I have you both?"
"You think I'd put up with that?" Ronald snapped, glaring over. Alan laughed softly and leant down, kissing Ronald's neck slowly, gazing over at Eric. "Why did we break up again?"
"Because I… Ronald, I didn't mean for it to be like that," he argued. "I wanted you. I know you were all insecure and hurt but I wanted to wait because I didn't want to push you. I wanted you to know this was serious."
"You wanted Alan. You've always wanted Alan."
"Not anymore." He caught Ronald's chin and pulled him into a deep kiss. "I want you. Ronald-"
Ronald shoved him off and returned his attention to Alan. Eric ended up being stuck there, watching dumbly as the pair turned to him, pushing him onto his back. He swallowed heavily. Alan smirked and Ronald leant down on Alan's shoulder. Of course he still adored Alan, he still wanted Alan but he wanted to be with Ronald more. Alan would never have him back, he'd finally accepted that. He'd just wanted to have Ronald now, to be able to hold him close and reassure him and take reassurance in his presence. He needed Ronald home. Glancing around, he noticed thorny vines wrapping around Alan's ankles, slowly creeping higher and shadows creeping up Ronald's legs, threatening to take them both from him.
"You have to choose," Ronald whispered.
"Before you lose us both," Alan murmured.
"You can only save one of us," he continued, leaning down to kiss Eric softly.
"If you can even save yourself," Alan murmured.
"No!" Eric snarled, glaring up at them both and the darkness and thorns continued to advance. "No, I can save you both! I will!"
Suddenly the darkness passed over Ronald's chest and his eyes went dull and dead and the little blonde collapsed forwards against him. Eric scrambled to sit up and held him close, shaking him desperately. But those glassy, dead eyes were just staring back up at him. Alan was coughing violently and the shadows spread onto Eric, forcing him back to the bed, covering him slowly as the thorns twisted around Alan, making his coughing worse. Ronald was already gone, and he was fading away as Alan suffered and grew weak. Why couldn't he protect either of them? Why couldn't he do anything?
"Eric," Alan whispered, shaking Eric's shoulder gently. Eric was tossing and turning in his sleep, calling desperately to Ronald. Even in the darkness, Alan was sure he could see a few tears dripping down Eric's cheeks. "Eric, wake up. It's just a bad dream."
Eric jerked awake, staring up at him and panting heavily. Alan sighed and gently reached across, brushing his damp hair from his face. His poor Eric. Was he really suffering so much guilt over losing Ronald? It wasn't Eric's fault. There was no way he could have known that the shadow would take Ronald.
"It's ok," Alan said gently, stroking his hair. "It'll be ok. We'll get him back. Come on, get up and I'll make you some coffee then we can go and talk to William and he'll help." Eric nodded weakly and Alan smiled. "It's ok to be ok. I promise, Eric, we can get him back."
Eric nodded again, slowly sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Alan hadn't been sleeping anyway. He'd tried but every noise woke him up and his body was too sore to get comfortable. His thoughts were racing. Like, what if Eric had traded his life for Ronald's? What it he had been so desperate? He knew Eric loved him once and maybe he would trade Ronald for him.
"Eric," he murmured as the blonde staggered in. Eric grunted slightly and Alan handed him the coffee. "You didn't, did you?"
"Didn't what?" Eric groaned.
"Give Ronald to that demon?" Alan said.
"No!" he snapped, his head snapping up. "No. How can you even ask me that? Alan, don't you know me better than that by now? You think I'd that? I honestly cared for Ronald. Why does everyone think I'm using him? I'm not."
"Alright," he said gently, nodding slightly. "I just needed to hear you say it." He sighed and kissed his cheek. "Please, don't do anything stupid."
"I won't. I'll do anything to get him back, but I'm not stupid."
Alan nodded slowly. He wasn't really sure whether Eric would have or not. Eric was a little immoral sometimes. Sometimes he got a bit blinkered and could act a little bit dangerously. He would do anything to save the people he cared about. He just Eric kept calm and didn't go running straight into this demon's trap.
"I hope not," Alan whispered.
"Hmm?" Eric said, tilted his head up. "What was that?"
"Just hoping you're going to keep your promise, Eric," he replied. "It wants to torture you. It wants to make you pay for giving Ronald hope. It's waiting for you to charge in like an idiot. Please, just wait and let's deal with this together."
Eric nodded slowly and took a sip of his coffee. His dream had spooked him though. This didn't seem right, just sitting here while anything could be happening to Ronald. Who knew what that demon would do to him, or how they'd find him when they saved him. What if they waited so long they couldn't save Ronald?
At least Alan was home. That was good, wasn't it? Why did it have to be at the cost of Ronald though? He opened his eyes slightly as Alan's arms wrapped around his shoulders. "We'll get him back, Eric. Don't think like that."
Of course Alan knew what he was thinking. Alan knew him that well. Just like he knew Alan so well he could almost read his thoughts. He'd never been able to read Ronald like that. He couldn't tell what Ronald was thinking or feeling just by glancing at him. He sighed and threaded his fingers between Alan's, leaning back against him. They'd talk about the Thorns later. He wasn't going to add more stress to the situation. Stress could cause attacks. He wasn't going to risk it. They'd talk peacefully and quietly when there was nothing going on to cause him more stress.
Ronald groaned and opened his eyes slowly. At least, he thought he had. He was sure his eyes were open and he was awake but it was pitch black. There were heavily chains and shackles on his wrists. He had to be awake. And he seemed to be lying on a mattress under a soft duvet. What was going on?
After a long moment, everything hit him. Eric had given him to that demon so he could have Alan back. He slumped back on the bed, burying his face in the pillow, fighting the urge to break down and cry. He'd thought Eric cared about him. He was starting to believe him when he said he wanted him more than Alan. He wanted to believe it. He thought Eric would work things out with Alan and maybe come back to him. Instead he'd just given him to this demon and now he was chained up and locked up and… naked. He staged to his feet, the duvet falling from around him. He was naked. In bed. Waking up after being drugged.
His heart was pounding and his breath quickened as terror set in. What had that demon done to him while he was unconscious? What was he going to do to him while he had him here? The walls were padded and Ronald ran his hands across them, looking for a door or window or anything but it was pretty much empty. He'd found a few candles but there was nothing to light them. He was locked in, in the darkness. Reaper's had good night vision, but that required at least a little light. Even the smallest spec of light and he'd be able to get a vague, blurry look at his surroundings, but there was nothing.
Before Ronald even knew what he was doing, he was screaming for help. Someone had to hear him. There had to be people around. Someone had to hear him. Someone had to save him. Tears were slipping down his cheeks as he screamed, slowly more and more pitiful, scared sobs wracking his body as he collapsed back onto the bed. Why was it him? What had he done to deserve this? Why had this demon picked him? He should have known better than to trust Eric. He should have known he'd never be able to help him. Ronald's fists clenched absently and his body shook as a pathetic whine escaped him. Why had he ever put his trust in Eric when he knew he'd only push him aside just like everyone did in the end? Why was he so stupid?
Ronald curled up tightly, closing his eyes and struggling to control himself. He couldn't just break down, could he? He had to stay strong and figure this out. What did he have to work with? There were the chains on his wrists. They weren't going to be much use. There was the mattress. Maybe there were springs or something in the mattress he could get to. But that meant getting into the fabric.
Slowly sitting up, Ronald pressed his hands down on the mattress. It felt like it was just foam and padding. What if there weren't any springs? There was movement and Ronald's head snapped up. Was it that demon? Demons wouldn't have a problem seeing in the darkness, unlike reapers who needed just a little light, demons didn't need any.
"Ronald?"
"Eric?" Ronald whimpered. Please, please, let it really be Eric. The movement came closer and Ronald sat up straighter. "Eric."
The mattress shifted and his arms wrapped slowly around him. He snuggled against him and all his fears were eased. Eric was here. Eric had come to save him and protect him. Fingers ran through his hair soothingly and his hand moved slowly over his side.
"Eric, please," he whispered. "Please, can we go? Please, get me out of here."
Eric chuckled against his ear and his hand slid a little lover over his side, down over his waist to his rear. Ronald gasped and tossed his head as Eric squeezed teasingly. Really? Eric wanted to do this now? They could play later, he needed to get out of here right now.
Suddenly, there was a flash of red and he was thrown over onto his knees, his head forced down into the pillow and his wrists held at his knees by a hand on the chain. Ronald twisted and cried but a hand in his hair kept his face in the pillow, muffling all noises. He struggled desperately but his wrists were now trapped between his own knees and that of his captor's. Not Eric. That demon. It had to be. It was this demon. He'd been stupid enough to believe it was Eric and it was going to use it against him.
The lean, powerful body of the demon was pressed against his back and Ronald almost screamed in disgust and absolute despair, sobbing into the pillow as the demon slid his hand over his rear once more.
"Shh," he murmured against Ronald's jaw. "Shh, little reaper." Ronald twisted violently and screamed curses and insults into the pillow. There was a sharp crack and Ronald swore into the pillow as the demon slapped his thigh hard. "I told you to be quiet. I want you to be still and quiet, Knoxie." His fingers dancer over his stomach and Ronald felt sick, continuing to struggle and fight against his hold and cry into the pillow. "Now, if you can't behave now while we're handling simple thing, how will you manage when we get to the fun stuff? Or are you hoping your dear mentor will save you before then? He's busy, boy, he's probably had that sweet little Alan in bed all day. I doubt they've had any rest since he got rid of you. Now, just stay still and quiet for me, hmm? Behave and I'll make it quick and easy for you."
Ronald was trembling and sobbing, all ideas of fighting pushed from his mind at the mention of Eric and Alan. Eric had set him up for this. Eric had given him to this demon so he could have Alan. Of course he wasn't going to come and save him. Eric didn't care what happened to him. The demon was running his free hand over his stomach and chest, kissing his neck teasingly. Ronald was just crying into the pillow, terrified to think where this could be heading.
"Hmm, I told you to be quiet," he demon purred. "Hush, reaper. If you're obedient it will be prolonged. Shh, little reaper."
Ronald bit the pillow, struggling to stifle his sobs. If it would make this quicker and less painful, fine. He'd be quiet and stop fighting. Anything to make this torment stop. He didn't want to think what could happen, he didn't want to know what the demon wanted from him long term. He just wanted to be left alone again. If that meant he needed to play its game, fine. He'd behave. He'd stay still and try not to cry. He could do this if it would make it leave him alone sooner.
"There we are," the demon cooed. Ronald swallowed heavily, struggling to take deep breathing and stop his crying. "Good boy. Hmm, there's a good boy. That's it, deep, calm breaths." Ronald hiccupped but managed to force himself to stay silent. "Such a well behaved little boy, aren't you?"
Ronald closed his eyes tightly, trying to block it all out. The demon continued to tease him for maybe half an hour longer. Ronald wasn't sure. He just knew it was all agony. Finally, he was released and thrown over onto his back. Silent tears still slipping down his cheeks, Ronald staggered to his feet and ran after the sound of movement. The demon had got in somehow, maybe he could escape.
"If you keep following me I'll start thinking you want more," the demon said.
It didn't put Ronald off. He had to get out. Suddenly he was slammed to the wall, the demon's mouth over his. Ronald gasped and cried as the demon's tongue forced its way into his mouth, his body pressed between the wall and the demon stopping his fighting. It only lasted a few moments, just enough to get the message across before he was thrown away to the ground.
"I would have thought you've be saving yourself in case your dear mentor did decide to save you," the demon snarled. "But if you want be close to me, I might be obliging."
There was the thud of a door shutting and Ronald whimpered, slowly climbing to his knees. This wasn't right. He climbed to the bed and buried himself the covers once more. Everything hurt. They probably even miss him. They probably didn't care. Eric had just thrown him away for Alan. Alan didn't seem to know he'd done it if the look on his face just before he passed out was anything to go by. Alan had burst in with Eric right behind him. Alan had wanted to save him, right? Maybe Alan cared enough. Maybe Alan had noticed and cared about him not being there. Maybe he was going to be saved.
It was some hope. If he had nothing else, Ronald had that little sliver of hope.
