The Monster of Hexley Hall

Summary: *Based loosely on The Hunchback of Notre Dame.* Cedric is a reclusive sorcerer who was taken in by Grimtrix the Good many years ago, now living within the confines of Hexley Hall and never daring to venture beyond the school grounds. When a newly recruited student named Sofia begins attending the school, Cedric is immediately drawn to her for some reason. In addition, there is a dark secret lurking below the surface of the pristine magical school's exterior: students are getting severely injured, and some have even perished. When Sofia appears to become a target, Cedric will do anything he can to protect her while also trying to solve the mystery of what is happening to the other students. (An AquaMan Production. Read Me a Story format. Takes place 5 years after my "Season 5" stories.)

Disclaimer: I own neither Sofia the First nor The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Tanya and Nana belong to MarionetteJ2X. Serena and Charlie belong to me, and so do a few OCs mentioned in this story.


Chapter 5: Whipped Into Shape


Crack! Crack! Crack!

Each time the whip sliced into his back, welts forming and some skin breaking open to cause minor droplets of blood to smear on his skin, Cedric held back his gasps and the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. He'd learned a long time ago not to cry during his punishments. It only made things worse, most notably prolonging the act. So, he did his best not to say a word or make a movement that might cause Grimtrix's whip to sting him a few more times than he'd intended.

"Did you see their faces, my boy?" Grimtrix asked angrily as he snapped the whip against his charge's back once again. "I told you not to venture beyond these walls, and that's why! None of them will ever look at you with anything but fear, disgust, and hatred. They don't see you as anything but a monster, and that's all you'll ever be to them."

Cedric wanted so badly to struggle against his confines. He was chained to the floor in the dungeon section of the school, stripped of everything except a tattered pair of pants, his arms and legs shackled so he couldn't escape. Not many people knew of this place, and he envied those who didn't. He'd seen it far too often in the past, usually due to his insubordination (or that was what Grimtrix labeled it, anyway).

"No one will ever trust you. You're dark. You're different. You're wicked!" Another crack against the sorcerer's back sounded particularly loud, and he stopped, noticing that he'd drawn more blood than earlier. He watched as it trickled down the pale skin, and he noticed Cedric shivering and shaking—from the cold, the pain, or the loss of blood, he wasn't quite sure. He could tell that the inflictions were irritated. Why wouldn't they be? He'd been at this for about half an hour now…

Cedric whimpered once when he felt the shackles magically release him, and he curled into a ball on the floor, panting and groaning in pain. He wondered if going outside was worth all this: this torture, this brutality… His eyes closed, he pictured the smiling face of the girl he'd met, Sofia, who saved him… Who intrigued him… Who offered genuine consideration and perhaps even…friendship? Or…

Despite the loss of blood, the shame, the mental and physical abuse… She was worth it. He wasn't sure how or why, as he'd only known her for a very brief period of time, but anyone who stood in front of him and received the stones meant for him? She was worth it.

"I could easily take your pain away," Grimtrix murmured, frowning at the sight of Cedric's lanky and filthy body shaking on the stone floor. "I could clean you up, dress you, and mend the wounds… But a lesson must be learned here, Cedric. You must learn that you cannot defy my orders and expect no sort of repercussions in the end. Life doesn't work that way."

Cedric said nothing, even as he felt the older man sit before him, his stormy eyes observing him thoughtfully. He cringed visibly when the headmaster reached out to him, running his fingers through Cedric's hair in an almost paternal way, and then even kissed his forehead. 'Conflicting' didn't even begin to explain his emotions right now.

"You're like the son I never had, Cedric. No one has ever cared for you the way I have. No one would ever care to try. I alone am your saving grace, because I will keep you safe from the outside, if you just obey me. Those ignorant fools will always fear what they don't understand, but with me, you'll be secure. Do you understand?"

"Mm…"

"What was that?"

Cedric blinked a few times before staring at the man next to him. He felt those fingers subtly tugging at his hair, choosing individual strands to send minor pain to his scalp. He'd already physically tortured him, beaten him, whipped him… Did he really have to add to it? But was he right…? Was he the saving grace? Did he really only do the things he did to keep him safe? He sighed, feeling the older man release his hair. "Y-Yes, Master…"

Grimtrix smirked and nodded. "Very well then." He held a hand out over the sorcerer, healing his body and redressing him in some pajamas. "It's late. Go to bed." He watched Cedric scramble to his feet, nearly stumbling after being in his position on the floor for so long, and once he was gone, he scowled.

Cedric's curiosity about the real world would be his downfall. He'd been expressing more and more inclination toward the light… Even coated in his dark marks, tortured, mocked, scorned, and held captive, he still refused to give in to his dark desires. And he'd been drawn to that girl—that Light Magic student… Whatever her name was…

He hummed thoughtfully. "I think it's time to do a bit of research."

To be continued…

Next Chapter: A Little Light Reading