Evening My Lovelies

Okay, so buckle up, our boys are getting a bit dark today :D

Notes On Reviews:

pallysAramisRios: Thanks for the review - Yeah Athos's is definitely the one to be worried about, especially as he's giving in to his dark side a bit today :) Hopefully, it's not completely OOC. Enjoy the new chapter! x

beeblegirl: Thanks for the review - Oh that volcano is beginning to erupt today but don't worry. As angry as they both are with their traitor the knowledge that they need to find out what was given to D'Artagnan is fixed in their minds. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Hehe I'm glad you liked it, I chuckled a bit writing that :D Our boys are quite determined to get answers and we'll be seeing some of their methods today. Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex: Thanks for the review - Treville's going to feel quite a bit of guilt for not noticing sooner as he's a proper papa-bear where our musky's are concerned :D and yeah, Athos's desire for answers is pretty much the only thing stopping him from releasing all his anger at Corenau. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Seventy: A Lesson In Pain and Fear

With a long, exhausted sigh Treville glanced heavenward, taking note of just how the sky had darkened since he and Athos first left the musketeer camp with the traitor who, much to their annoyance and irritation, was remaining tight-lipped on what he had given the Gascon despite their attempts to get him to reveal the truth.

In the beginning, Treville had been hopeful they would have been able to get the information without too much bloodshed, the man had been relatively easy to get talking before and the musketeer Captain assumed it would be the same with this piece of information, but that was not the case. The moment either he or Athos mentioned the Gascon poisoning Corneau clammed up or retorted with a sneering or snarky comment, furthering the pair's frustration over the whole situation.

It didn't help matters that after each refusal Athos would look towards him in silent question, waiting for the okay to take the interrogation to the next level. Treville could see the swordsman was barely holding back him anger that was screaming at him to lash out and hurt the one who had harmed his brothers and each time he refused the man's request that hold became even more precarious.

Eventually, even Treville couldn't justify remaining passive and nodded once to Athos, ignoring the squirming feeling in his gut as he watched a dark look pass over the swordsman's face.

Treville hated that part of him still saw Corneau as one of his men, the man had betrayed both him and their brothers in the worst possible way but there was still part of him that saw him as one of his and as such yearned to put a stop to the violence now being exacted on the man by the furious Athos, who didn't seem to have the same problem as he remained impassive as he slowly bent Corneau's fingers backwards, one by one, far enough for the bones to snap, making the traitor cry out in pain.

However, Treville knew that Athos wasn't allowing his hatred to completely rule his actions as he repeated the only question they wanted answers to before each break, giving the man a moment to compose himself and answer before snapping the bone when Corneau either remained stubbornly silent or responded with snark.

"Captain," spoke a voice, startling Treville out of his recollection of the last few hours and he couldn't help but glance over to the traitor before looking to who had spoken. To his surprise, it was Porthos who stood before him, clutching a small but clearly overflowing notebook, in his hand. It spoke to the inseparable's shared mindset when it came to getting the answers they needed that Porthos didn't react, at all, to the sight of Athos beating Corneau, the swordsman having run out of fingers to break.

Seeing the silent question in the larger musketeer's eyes Treville shook his head, "Corneau has experienced brutal torture before without giving the information asked of him… I fear it will take a lot more to get him to talk if he continues to remain stubborn and I have no intention of asking that of Athos."

Porthos nodded, gratitude in his eyes as he glanced over his shoulder towards his brother. They all had dark sides when it came to protecting each other or getting justice for some harm done to one of their brothers but they all knew Athos wouldn't handle giving so deeply into that darkness well, not even for one of their own so it was a relief to hear that Treville was willing to put a stop to things before it got that bad as he was sure that not only would it drive Athos back into some of the worst the self-destructive the man had but it also wouldn't sit well with D'Artagnan to have his mentor go so dark on his behalf.

"This might help," he spoke, holding out the notebook for Treville to take, pausing a moment to allow Treville to begin skimming through the book before continuing. "I went through Corneau's things to see if he had any more of whatever he used or at least any clues as to what it might be when I found this." Reaching over he flipped a few pages of the notebook before pointing to a page, "You might be able to use this."

Treville made quick work of reading the page, a torn look on his face as he looked back to Porthos who, despite having a look of sympathy in his eyes, had a hard expression on his face. "The kid's getting worse," he spoke quietly, the alarm that one statement made Treville feel chased away all residual protective feeling he may have had for Corneau after serving years together.

"How bad?"

Porthos was quick to explain how D'Artagnan fever was continuing to steadily rise and how it was becoming harder for him to breathe. He did explain that Gaspard and Aramis couldn't be sure if this was because of his existing illness or because of whatever Corneau had given him but that neither man was willing to risk giving the boy anything until they knew what he had already been given as the results could be deadly for the young musketeer.

For a moment Treville said nothing as he worked to process what he had just learned but before too long he straightened, an emotionless mask on his face as he nodded to Porthos, who understanding the silent dismissal turned on his heel and headed back towards the musketeer camp, not missing how Treville called for Athos as he walked away.

"G… Giving up?" huffed Corneau as he struggled to walk at the pace Treville and Athos were setting. The man was clearly trying to portray that he wasn't hurting as much as he was but it was clear by the wince he couldn't quite hide, along with the stumble in his steps that Athos had been anything but kind during their time together.

To Corneau's annoyance and slowly growing fear, both musketeers remained silent as they continued to walk, slowing only when the sound of, what he assumed to be, a stream or river reached their ears, causing the fear in the traitor's chest to sky-rocket to all-new levels as he looked over to the Captain, his eyes narrowing at the all too familiar book in his hands.

"Y-Y-You've been through my things I see," remarked the man as he desperately tried to control and hide the fear in his voice that only continued to grow the closer they got to the water.

"Porthos actually," shrugged Treville, is emotionless mask still in place as he looked over his shoulder to their prisoner. "Found a rather interesting passage inside it as well and came to share it with me."

They were within sight of the river now and Corneau's fear had reached beyond the limits he could control, forcing his legs to lock up as they refused to take another step towards it.

"I will say I'm impressed how you were able to overcome your aversion to water following your capture to the point you can handle rainstorms just fine," commented Treville as he nodded to Athos who forcefully made a heavily resisting Corneau move closer to the fast-running river until they were only a few feet away from the edge. "However," continued Treville as he looked towards the traitor, "That's not the same when it comes to larger bodies of water… Is it?"

Without needing any further instruction Athos kicked Corneau's knee's out from under him, sending him crumbling to the ground even closer to the river's edge than he had been before, making the traitor unconsciously let out a small whimper of fear.

Grabbing the man by the back of the neck Athos forced Corneau slowly down towards the river, feeling how fast the man's heart was beating in fear as he continued to force the man closer and closer to the water.

Ignoring the small whimpers of fear now coming uncontrollably from the traitor Athos leaned in close enough to speak directly into the man's ear.

"What." he hissed, "Did. You. Give. My. Brother."