CHAPTER TWENTY- SIX: TAKING IT LIKE A MAN
Lycan Headquarters
She was following Raze through a maze of tunnels, ending up in a room that looked like a fighting arena. Alex didn't know whether to be relieved that it was almost over, or scared as to what was about to happen.
She looked around the room and saw that swords, knifes, axes, maces, as well as many other weapons she couldn't identify, were displayed along the entire length of one wall. Weeeell, it appeared the lycans seemed to take their torture and challenges pretty seriously.
Directly opposite the weapons wall, Alex found two steel poles sticking out of the ground. Attached to each pole were chains. She figured this must be where she was expected to stand, so she calmly walked over to the poles and took her place.
Lucian's heart was in his throat. When he walked into the room, he found Raze pulling down two of the four whips that graced the wall. He glanced about sharply and found Alexandra standing by the whipping posts.
He fought the urge to go over and comfort her. Vaguely he realized she never got the bathroom break she had requested hours earlier. One of many promises he seemed unable to keep.
Michael and Selene went to stand by her side. They began speaking to her; he could hear Michael trying to convince her this wasn't necessary. But his Alexandra was aware of what needed to be done. How he wished it could be different, but Raze's deception and Alex's stubbornness lead them to this point, and nothing could be done about it.
But he had a few things he wanted to say to Raze, so he needed to confront his lieutenant before the lashing began. So he walked over to the lycan as he was getting the feel of the whips in his hands.
He didn't realize he had begun calling Alex "his" in his thoughts.
"Alex, please don't do this", Michael pleaded. "Tell Lucian the truth and you won't have to be subjected to this."
Alex looked at Michael, and knew he would never understand how thin the ice was they were skating on. She glanced at Selene and thought she saw respect in the female vampire's eyes. Selene knew what would happen should Alex refute Raze's version of things.
"It's done Michael, there's nothing else to be said", Alex told him. But knowing he felt responsible in some way and helpless to do anything about it; she put her hand on his arm, "Michael, there isn't anything you can do now, but after this, I have a feeling I will need your help. I've never received lashes before, nor have I ever witnessed it, so I'm not sure what kind of pain to expect. But as a doctor, I'm hoping you will be there to clean up whatever damage Raze might inflict", she asked hopefully.
"I've never worked on animals, but I will do what I can", he promised her.
"Thank you, but you won't have to worry about working on a lycan. I'm not changing", she told them.
"Have you lost your mind?" Selene asked sharply.
"No", Alex responded.
"You won't suffer as badly if you make the change", Selene told her.
"I know, but my human form is all I have left. I won't be forced to change just because it will make them feel better about punishing me", she said, her voice brooking no further questions. "My supposed indiscretion was done as a human; my punishment will be received as a human."
"While admirable, I still think you're insane", Selene said with real respect lacing her voice. "Come Michael, let's ask Lucian where they will take her to recover. You will need to be ready when they bring her in", she told him.
Alex knew what Selene was doing. She was getting Michael out of the room, knowing it would kill him to see her being flogged. "Thank You", she mouthed over Michael's head to Selene.
"We'll be waiting for you", Selene assured Alex. Then they made their way over to Lucian.
They walked in mid sentence on the discussion Lucian was having with Raze.
"…and I'm telling you, she never told me any differently. So, punishment will be inflicted upon her, on your word. Nothing will change that. But what I want to know, is if an innocent woman is being held responsible for something she didn't do?" Lucian said. He had moved in close so he was literally in Raze's face.
Raze held himself in check, angry with Lucian for taking up for the woman, and mad at the woman for putting him in this position. Later, he would admit that he himself had been the only one to put himself in this predicament; but for now, he held it against her.
"You saw her Lucian, she held a knife against my manhood. She was threatening to cut it off. And, she disobeyed you when you told her to relinquish her weapons. What more evidence do you need", he asked Lucian.
Raze had made his little speech without ever looking Lucian in the eye. Which told Lucian all he needed to know.
"Very well, Raze, you have the option of administering the blows yourself, or I will do it, whichever you prefer. But be aware that Alexandra has no intention of changing. She will take the lashes in her human form", Lucian told him.
Raze finally looked at Lucian, but he did so with horror dawning in his eyes. "Why? Surely she knows it will be easier to take in her animal form", Raze said amazed and confused.
Michael spoke up before Lucian could reply, "Oh yes, she's aware. But she contends that she was in human form when the rules were violated, therefore, she'll take the punishment in that form as well."
Raze tore his gaze form Lucian's and looked over at the American woman awaiting her punishment. He looked back to Michael, "But she'll turn once the flogging is completed, yes?" he asked.
"No", Selene answered for Michael. "Lucian, she has asked Michael to tend to her injuries, afterwards", she said letting the leader know what Alex had requested.
"Which is why we're here", Michael said. "I need to know where you will be bringing her, once this debacle has ended", he said in disgust.
Closing his eyes against the vision he was receiving of Alex, torn and bloody, Lucian answered, "I will bring her to my room. You can take care of her there."
"I will need antiseptic, antibiotics, clean water and bandages", Michael told him, making a list of the things he would need in order to properly care for his patient. He couldn't accept what was about to happen, but by moving into doctor mode he would best be able to help Alex when she needed him most.
Lucian searched among his pack, looking to see if any of them were feeling badly about what was about to happen. He found what he was looking for, actually in more of them that what he would have figured. But one in particular looked very ill at ease.
"Micca", he called out to one of the younger pack members.
The young lycan came over to him, looking up at his leader sheepishly, "Yes, Lucian?"
Lucian offered a crooked grin to the lycan, "Can you please show Michael where he might find medical supplies and anything else he might require. Then take him to my quarters", he asked of his pack member.
Looking relieved, the younger man answered quickly, "Yes sir, no problem." Then he spoke to Michael, "If you'll follow me, I'll take you where you need to go."
Michael looked at Lucian one last time before he followed the lycan. Selene wasn't so quick to leave.
"You aren't going with him?" Lucian asked the vampire.
Selene surprised him. "She has no allies here Lucian", she began, "I thought it might be easier on her if I were here for her."
"I agree, thank you", he told her remorse filling his voice.
"She understands why this has to happen", Selene tried reassuring the man she had only come to realize was truly a living legend.
He was thoughtful for moment before he responded, "Yes, but I'm not sure that I do", he told Selene with a very sad smile.
She stayed by his side, silently offering support. Strangely grateful, Lucian turned back to Raze. "So, are you ready?", he asked.
He had begun to feel guilty about what he had done to test Luican's loyalty to the lycans. But he knew it was to late to stop the mess he had made. All he could do was nod to Lucian that he was ready.
Lucian took a deep breath, then walked over to Alexandra. When he had made it to her side, he looked at her and had to ask one more time. "Are you sure you won't make the change?" Knowing her answer before she said it, he waited with a heavy heart.
"I've made my choice Lucian", she told him quietly, unable to meet his gaze.
"Very well then, we need to remove your garments", he whispered to her.
Her head jerked up, causing Lucian to wince. The bruising had gotten worse, but the bleeding had stopped. He didn't know which was better, but decided that in a few minutes, her facial injuries would be insignificant. He made himself concentrate on the moment at hand, and tried to explain why it was necessary to disrobe.
"When the change is made, your clothes are ripped and torn off in the process. If you were to be lashed with your clothes on, the material will embed itself into the wounds. This could lead to infection. It will also make Michael's job more difficult, as it will be harder and more painful to clean your wounds if he has to dig in there for pieces of your shirt", he explained.
"I see", Alex answered. She had never been huge on modesty, but the idea of disrobing in front of a room full of lycans, unnerved her.
She turned her back to the strangers eagerly awaiting her lashing. She pulled her shirt over her head; grateful she didn't have any buttons to undo. In her current state, she wasn't sure her shaking hands would allow her to unbutton them. Then she realized she would have to undo the hooks on her black lace bra. She reached around her back and grabbed hold of the clasp, trying to keep her hands steady. After a couple of tries, and hearing snickers from the audience, she was ready to give up.
"To hell with it", she muttered under her breath.
To her surprise, she felt warm fingers pushing aside her hands. Then those same fingers undid the clasp for her. She looked over her shoulder and saw Lucian looking at her back with a profound sadness in his eyes.
She quickly averted her gaze and looked forward, before she broke. She could not afford to show weakness to the lycans. They would see it as one more thing to hold against her.
She clutched her bra to her chest for just a moment, gathering together her courage. With an inward sigh and a deep breath, she handed her clothes over to Lucian. Then she moved to stand between the two poles.
Lucian handed Alex's clothes to Selene; then walked over and picked up one of the chains. Gently taking Alex's left hand, he closed the cuff around her wrist.
"Ya know old guy, I like a little kink in my sex, just as much as the next guy. But how about the next time we use chains, it's you that's topless and me putting the cuffs on", Alex said jokingly, trying to ease both his nerves as well as her own.
Lucian gave her the crooked grin. She realized she hadn't seen it in a couple of hours. Considering the events that had taken place throughout that time frame, she figured it was as good as it was gonna get.
He surprised her, "I'll take you up on that offer, once you feel up to it." After which, he placed the second cuff around her right wrist.
It was done. She was firmly locked in place, and wasn't moving until he released her. He couldn't buy her anymore time, but he hesitated before he moved away. No longer caring what the lycans thought of his treatment of Alex, he leaned in and whispered into her ear, "Be strong, Princess."
Then she was alone, standing at the front of the room, waiting for the inevitable. The silence was unnerving, but here was nothing to be done about it. Wishing they would hurry up and get this over with, she caught a glimpse of something off to her left. She looked over and saw Selene standing there. Surprised, Alex nodded in her direction. Selene nodded back, but stayed right where she was.
She waited, the anticipation killing her. She could hear Raze and Lucian arguing in the background; then there was nothing but the sound of the whips brushing the floor.
"Eight lashes has been agreed upon", Lucian called out.
Alex waited; listening to the swishing of the whips, when suddenly it stopped. Then she could hear the whip as it sliced through the air then tore through the skin on her back. She jerked and had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming; the pain was excruciating. Now she understood why it was such an effective tool of torture.
She didn't have time to ponder the agony though, because the second lash soon followed the first. She inhaled sharply as the whip cut through the tender flesh. She somehow managed not to cry out in pain. She glanced over at Selene and saw the woman watching the situation intently. Alex gave her a thumbs up sign; trying to show her that she was holding up okay. But her optimism faded fast.
When the third lash broke across her back, she felt bile burning the back of her throat as she forced herself not to throw up. Instead, she bit the inside of her cheek, reopening the wound she had received earlier from Raze. Blood filled her mouth and surprisingly helped push down the nausea.
She was thinking that at least her face didn't hurt so bad, when she heard the crack of the whip. By the fourth lash her back felt as if it was on fire; and, she found herself growing faint. She was halfway there.
The fifth lash brought on whimpering and she forced herself not to scream as tears began making their way down her face. There was no room for fresh lashes, so it had cut across the blows Raze had already placed on her back.
With the sixth lash, she nearly lost consciousness. She could actually feel the muscles ripping open as the whip dug deep into the previous wounds. The seventh lash produced blackness at the edge of her vision and a low moan was torn from her mouth.
She glanced over at Selene again, looking for a little strength. A single tear could be seen falling down the vampire's cheek. "Just one more", she tried saying to Selene, but no sound came out. Then the eighth lash was made and Alex strained against the chains, before she fell to her knees.
Her head dropped against her chest, she found it was too big an effort to keep holding it up. Her vision was blurry and it was all she could do to stay conscious. Soon, she heard footsteps approaching; then two boots appeared in front of her downcast eyes. She tried to look up, it seemed important to see Lucian's face, but it would seem that her body wasn't listening to her brain.
Suddenly, her chains were off; but before she could fall to the ground, Lucian pulled her up against him. She caught a glimpse of his pale face and she tried to smile. "It wasn't too bad", she managed to squeak out, then she let the darkness overtake her.