26: Innocent
Prima did feel terrible, at times, for Servus – for how his chances had played out, as compared to hers.
Out of the two witchdoctors, Hunter Chamberlain and Dangler, it was safe to conclude that being subjected to the black – haired female was far worse than "belonging" to Chamberlain himself – for he still had most of his sanity and honor about him.
Although it was obvious to tell that he hated the Armada, that he despised and abhorred the clockworks, he was not like Dangler, his mad partner – he was not a sadist.
She, who happened to be Servus' captor, was.
His blood, his pain – it was all her pleasure.
There was no other explanation for it, really – for the excitement in her voice and the shivers and tremors of euphoria that ran through her body, for her joyful laughs and shrieks that were akin to that of a banshee.
Dangler was the very embodiment, the very deliverer of the human emotion known as fear – something that Servus was entirely unfamiliar to.
Prima could only imagine what was racing through his processor.
The chances becoming shattered, the ever – reliable calculations becoming obsolete for the first time in the presence of the uncertainty, and in the presence of the danger that lurked around the corner for every second of his existence.
When was she to return, what was she to do next, with what weapon would she break open his skin with next - ?
Prima had felt and experienced all of this, and then more – and if only, she thought, if only Dangler had chosen to torment her instead, so that the Captain, who did not even have half of her years in function, would be spared.
Servus Albus – the musketeer officer was practically a virgin to pain, to fear such as this, he was blissfully unaware of it all – that was, until now.
Now, his unseen innocence had been stripped from him, torn away by the wicked hooks on Dangler's nine – tailed whip, by her grating and terrifying screams.
Just like Decimus –
Even though it had been more than five years ago, Prima could still remember that day as if it had occurred the day prior – she could remember how he had trembled, how his voice had been shaken so that he could not utter a single coherent sentence.
She had offered her hand to him and he had grasped her entire arm, clinging to her with desperation, as if he was caught in a tempest and she was his anchor.
It was an accurate analogy – except for the fact that the tempest was unseen.
Would the same happen to him, she would wonder – if they were ever to make it out of this ordeal alive?
Like Decimus, he would be reduced to the mental state of a frightened child – and she would bear the weight of them both, she would once again offer her arm as a branch, as an anchor for him to grab to as his meticulously – designed programming cascaded down, as his innocence shattered into mere fragments.
It was a terrible fate, for she had seen it once – and Prima could only hope that she would not have to see it again.
I've always made the analogy that Prima is like a mother to the rest of the clockworks, especially given that she is several decades older than they are and has a far more complete understanding of basically everything - and to a mother, the most painful torture is to see your child suffer while you are absolutely, completely powerless - which is exactly the situation that she is in right now.
Just thought it'd be interesting to explore.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed, and as always, be sure to leave a review!