"So it was you all along…"
His eyes glared into mine as I sat bolt upright on the cot, his gaze like ice. "Yes," he replied, his tone unfeeling, unwavering, almost seeming dead.
I was confused. "But why? I don't understand."
"Don't think for a second that I do any of this for you, girl!" he growled angrily. "I'm simply following the Emperor's orders." In his voice, I found no sympathy, no cheer, no emotion whatsoever…save for anger and annoyance at the moment. I searched his eyes for any traces of emotion. I found nothing. They were blank.
But why then, was Ken ordering him to do this? Why was he commanding that I be healed and that my suffering not be prolonged for any lengthy period of time? To help me? Could that possibly be why he's ordering it? To help me and make sure I heal and that I don't become too weak and die from my injuries? No, it's just not in any way, shape, or form possible! …Is it…?
"But Elfmon—!" I began to protest, but a sharp slap across the face silenced me. I reeled back a little bit, and then steadied myself. I stared at him in surprise as I sat there and raised a hand to my cheek gently, unable to fully comprehend what'd happened really, the slap silencing me for the time being. "I did not give you permission to speak, so just shut up for a while and maybe you'll understand after I tell you," Elfmon growled at me. I shuddered slightly at his tone. He smiled menacingly at this, obviously enjoying the reaction he was getting from me, and continued, "He demanded that I do this, runt, so that you wouldn't die from the beatings he's been giving. All of which you completely deserved in my opinion, I might add."
I glowered at him as he said this. He replied to it with a death glare back at me and I backed down to him. Satisfied, Elfmon went on. "He didn't want you getting too weak, so he had me heal you and make you strong again so that you'd live." My eyes widened. Could my suspicions be true? Could he be doing this to help me? "Now don't go getting the wrong idea, you little brat!" Elfmon suddenly shouted, bringing all my hopes crashing to the ground. "He's not doing any of this for your well-being, if that's what you're thinking…and I know you are!" Elfmon narrowed his eyes at me. I shrank back even more.
"He's doing it for the soul purpose of being able to go on torturing you," Elfmon laughed cruelly, and I hung my head. "He seems to quite enjoy it, to be perfectly honest." I knew it was too good to be true! I just knew it! He'd never help me…not intentionally! "And, to tell you the truth," Elfmon's voice cut into my thoughts, "I quite enjoy watching him do so!" I became angry and narrowed my eyes at him, quickly getting to my feet and positioning myself directly in front of him. Elfmon was at least four inches taller than me, but I stood my ground, looking him straight in the eyes. He saw this and, taking it as defiant rebellion, I guess, slapped me across the face once again. I stumbled backwards and fell back onto the cot with a short gasp of surprise, catching myself just before I hit the wall and potential injured myself further.
Elfmon laughed again and then stared at me menacingly. "Don't you ever," he spat at me, and then quickly grabbed my throat before I could stop him, causing me to grab his wrists tightly and gasp for air since he was squeezing so hard, "ever do that again, you little brat, or I'll beat the shit outta you for your disobedience! Is that perfectly understood!" He pushed me back really hard, causing me to slam my head on the wall. I cried out in pain and leaned to the side on the bed, clutching my head, squeezing my eyes shut to try and prevent myself from beginning to cry. I stayed silent for a few seconds, trying to overcome my disorientation from my head colliding with the wall, my head pounding as a killer headache began to come on.
Elfmon must've taken my silence as more defiance, for the next thing I knew, he was choking me again after he'd grabbed me by the throat again and slammed me back against the wall, instantly pinning me in place. "Hello, Earth to the Little Brat! I said 'Is that perfectly understood,' and either you answer me when I'm talking to you now or you receive a good whipping!"
He looked at me angrily, dead in the eyes, and I knew he was entirely serious. I became very afraid. The tears sprang into my eyes all at once before I could stop them. I began to cry, though I tried hard to stop myself and to calm down so I could reply. It didn't work quickly enough. Before I knew what was happening, he'd let go of my throat, grabbed one of my wrists tightly, pulled me to my feet, and punched me hard in the stomach and then resumed choking me again after letting me fall back onto my cot, this time harder. "Answer me, damn it!"
I cried out it pain and then tried to lean over when he hit me, which didn't work with his hand clasped tightly around my throat. I wrapped one arm around my stomach, and one hang gripping his wrist, gasping for air and wincing in total agony. I took a second to gather my breath, finding it extremely hard to breathe at the moment.
"Yes, Sir!" I panted hurriedly before he could make another move, gasping and out of breath from having the wind knocked outta me as well as from being strangled, the tears rolling down my cheeks, "Yes, I understand!" It came out choked and hoarse, but at least I got it out this time! I looked up at him, the tears falling, hoping he'd be satisfied and finally let me go. I was starting to feel light-headed.
Elfmon glared at me for a second, his eyes narrowed. "That's a good girl," he said finally, letting go of my throat with a little shove, a sadistic, yet satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Now then…" He grabbed my wrist roughly and threw me violently to the ground at his feet before I could move an inch. I gasped as I landed hard on the ground on my hands and knees, not even daring to look up at him. I kept my gaze to the floor.
I concentrated my gaze on nothing but his shadow, which didn't move for about a second, then all of a sudden came rushing towards my own. I knew something was coming, so I shut my eyes tight just seconds before his heel connected with my back, pinning me to the floor. I cried out again as my rib cage slammed against the floor.
Elfmon ground his heel into my back growling, "Since this was your first offense of this kind, you will be spared a harsh punishment. Let the wounds you've already sustained be enough of a reminder to you. But it better not happen again! If it does, next time, you will be beaten severely! Understand!" He dug his heel into my back farther for emphasis, at which I cried out.
The tears fell from my eyes even more and my voice was a soft, choked, wavering whisper, but I managed a reply. "Yes, Sir," I whispered softly, crying. I laid there, motionless save for my trembling and the slight scratching of my fingers on the floor as I tried to find something to grab onto to for comfort, awaiting whatever Elfmon planned to do next in complete terror. He said he'd spare me, but I knew very well that he could change his mind at any minute, and so I didn't let my guard down quite yet.
"Good little kitten," I heard Elfmon laugh cruelly from above me, calling me that despicable pet name that Ken had made up for me. He lifted his foot from my back and flipped me over onto my back with it, at which I gasped in surprise. "Now then," he continued after smiling maliciously down at me for a few seconds and making me cringe at the sight of him, "get up!" I complied quickly and wordlessly, terrified at the thought of receiving any further punishment then I'd already been given.
"And stop with that crying this instant!" he yelled suddenly at noticing my tears and my sobs, grabbing my chin roughly and forcing me to look at him again, causing me to jump. "You know perfectly well that I do not and will not tolerate it in my presence at any time." He let go, pushing my face to the side violently, not quite causing me to fall again, but only to stumble backwards a step.
Again, I did as I was commanded to the best of my ability, keeping my head down and my gaze to the floor, my hair falling into my face and my arms hanging limply by my sides. "Good!" he approved after seeing me obey him, then turning to leave. "See to it that you obey me like this without a struggle next time," he ordered me as he walked out the door, his heavy footsteps resounding off the walls.
He stopped in the doorway to the cell then at noticing Ken watching us from the entrance to the dungeon. He nodded a quick bow and stood there, waiting for any orders. Ken looked at both of us and chuckled cruelly, then walked in. "I take it you have everything under control with my slave, Elfmon," he said. "Good."
He leaned against the doorpost of the dungeon entrance, folding his arms in front of his chest and smiling evilly. "And…I trust she's obeying you without resistance then?" He said that with complete mocking in his voice. He knew the answer… He just wanted to make me nervous. It worked… Uh-oh, busted!
Elfmon turned to look at me and smiled maliciously. I backed up slightly, knowing exactly what he was about to do. He turned back to Ken and said, "Well, yes and no," she said. "You see, she does obey me…after I 'persuade' her to, that is."
Ken looked at me and started walking into the cell. A chill instantly went up and down my spine as I gazed into those cold, amethyst eyes of his. I knew he was about to do something to me. I backed up more and then pressed myself against the wall, looking pleadingly back at him. All I got in return was a cold, hard glare as he continued to advance on my, stopping when he was mere inches from me.
"Really then?" he said, and then smiled evilly. "Then maybe we should give her a little 'reminder' of who's in charge here… Make her suffer a little more…" He spoke as though I weren't even in the room! Ken paused for a minute, contemplating on what do next. "I say," he said after a minute of silence, "we should have her go the next three days without any food or water, and no contact from us. We'll put her in isolation. Her hunger and thirst should open her eyes and make her realize who's really in control, and being alone for so long may get her to realize that we're not fazed by her rebellion and that it doesn't accomplish anything. Maybe she'll finally understand how the whole master/slave deal goes, since it seems she currently doesn't get it." Another pause followed this, then he said, "Yeah, let's go with that."
I looked at him beseechingly and my eyes began to fill with tears. I shook my head slightly, wanting so bad to beg for him not to do this. I opened my mouth to protest—"Ah ah ah, Kitten! I didn't give you permission to speak. It'd be wise not to do so." I raised my hand to my stinging cheek, looking up at him in surprise from my stop now lying on the ground at his feet.
He'd backhanded me and I'd fallen. I hung my head as he lectured me, actually resorting to wagging his finger a little in my direction. I felt so degraded. He was treating me like a child…or worse…like a puppy going through obedience training. "Now then, Kitten," he jeered. "What do we say when we displease our master in such a way?" Oh yes, he was definitely treating me like a child or a dog.
But, afraid of the consequences if I didn't, I cooperated with him. "I'm sorry, Master. It won't happen again." I kept my eyes to the ground, too humiliated to look up at him, my pride way too bruised at the moment. I thought that was exactly what he wanted, but I guess I was wrong. The next thing I knew, he'd kicked me in the stomach. I curled up into a ball from the pain and whimpered softly, crying.
"Don't promise anything unless you're a hundred percent sure you can live up to it, Kitten," he lectured me again, referring to how I apparently promised to behave from now on, since he knew I didn't truly mean it.
I sighed. "Yes, Master. I'm sorry; I beg your forgiveness." This was so degrading!
"Good girl," Ken laughed cruelly, then turned and walked out of the cell, slamming it closed and locking it behind him. He glanced at Elfmon, who was standing by the dungeon entrance and watching us, obviously finding this whole thing very amusing.
Ken turned back to me. "See you in three days, Kitten." And with that, he and Elfmon left, leaving me alone at last. I weakly got up, grabbing my stomach in pain and wincing with a small groan, and limped over to my bed, lying down exhaustedly. Then, thinking about how long and hard these three days were gonna be, I finally broke down and began to cry, my sobs reverberating off of the cold, stone walls like they would in a cave…
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A/N: (Yells from somewhere out of sight as the sounds of someone's ass getting kicked can be heard) Well, there's chapter 27! (A scream is heard and Diva'sDream whispers angrily…) Shut up and take it like a man, Ken! Ahem…Sorry it took me so long to finish it… (The sound of a frying pan smashing into Ken's head is heard) I've been out of town again! (The sound of Ken whimpering is heard and another angry whisper from Diva'sDream…) I said shut up! Anyways…I promise I'll get 28 up as soon as I possibly can! (The sound of Ken crying can be heard followed by Diva'sDream yelling…) Shut it! (Continues to beat up Ken)
midnight breezy: 0.o …Wow… Um… It looks like Diva'sDream is a little busy right now, so I'll say it for her. Please R&R! Bye everyone!
Ken: (Comes running across the room, chased by Diva'sDream) Ahhhh! Help me! I'm sorry, Diva! I didn't mean it! I promise I'll never do it again, just please don't kill me!
(Chasing after Ken with a frying pan) Make me go for three friggin' days without food or water, will you! I'll show you! (Speeds up)
Ken: (Speeds up as well and goes out of sight) Yikes!
(Also goes out of sight) Come back here, Cape Boy! (Frying pan sound connecting with Ken's head and then a long silence as Diva'sDream comes back into sight alone, smiling mischievously and dusting off her hands, the frying pan in her backpack) There!
midnight breezy: 0.o …
What? (Sees readers) Bye everyone! (Waves)