Tanith's heart raced. Her fingers clenched on the arms of the chair and she kept her eyes on him. Billy-Ray Sanguine tapped his razor on his leg, keeping his eyeless gaze on her. He grinned as Tanith tried her hardest to keep the look of fear from her face, but even she knew she wasn't doing it well. He chuckled to himself and stepped closer to her, but Tanith remained still.
"Miss Tanith Low." he said, letting that snide smile appear on his face again. "Not so long ago it would've been Mrs Sanguine, wouldn't it?" Tanith stayed quiet as she watched Sanguine walk back and forth across the room, spinning the razor between his fingers. "I'm surprised you didn't come lookin' for me."
"Now why would I want to do such a silly thing like that?" Tanith replied.
"Well, I was sure you'd know that I was back in town. I thought you might wanna come settle things with me after you left so suddenly, runnin' back to your lil' friends and the ugly bloke." Tanith tensed, clenching her jaw. Sanguine stopped and looked at her, tilting his head. "Oh I'm sorry, have I hit a loose nerve? You're not datin' him now, are ya?" Tanith remained silent, but kept her eyes on him. Sanguine laughed. "Oh so you are! How lovely for you, I'm sure he's scared out of his ugly skin right now, frettin' over his dear Tanith."
"He will kill you." Tanith mumbled. Sanguine chuckled, lifting up his razor and admiring it in the dim light.
"Y'know what this razor does?" he said. "It leaves scars." He turned to face her, his eyes scanning her body. Tanith's tunic was strapless, leaving her muscular arms and the top part of her chest bare. Tanith knew what was coming. Sanguine walked toward her and her breathing became rapid. Her eyes gazed up at him as his lifted the razor up. Tanith gritted her teeth. Sanguine leant forward.
"How about we make you as ugly as your new boyfriend?" he whispered.
"Don't call him, ugly." she said through gritted teeth. Sanguine grinned and slashed his razor across the top of her arm. Tanith cried out and her jaw clenched as she felt fresh blood trickle down her arm. He pressed his razor into the lower part of her left arm, enough for it to hurt, but not enough for it to cut her flesh open. Tanith turned her head away from him and he laughed again, slowly slicing the razor across her arm. Tanith screamed as Sanguine dug the razor into her arm even deeper, his grin not leaving his face. He crouched in front of her, reaching out to her face and making her face him. He smiled and leant on her knees, the nails twisting through her flesh. Tanith cried out and shook her head.
"Y'know, this would be a lot easier, and less painful if you'd just say you'll marry me, like we were meant to." Tanith glanced down at him and said nothing. "Fine. Have it your way." Tanith didn't even have time to flinch as Sanguine sliced another part of her left arm open with his razor. She screamed and tears streamed down her face. She hated crying, she knew how weak and powerless it made her seem.
"What was it you used to say?" Sanguine asked. "Come and have a go-"
"If you think you're hard enough." she muttered.
"I don't think you're sayin' suits you now though, darlin'"
"Really?" Tanith replied and Sanguine frowned. She kicked out, her foot colliding with Sanguine's leg. He cried out and fell to the ground, as Tanith tried to ignore the pain that shot through her leg. Sanguine got to one knee and Tanith kicked out again. Sanguine fell back as her foot hit his face. Tanith cursed as the nails in her knees twisted. Sanguine got to his feet and Tanith looked up, but wasn't quick enough in moving her head. Sanguine's fist came at her face, knocking her head back on the chair. Tanith's world rocked and she blinked a few times, but her eyes were blurry from the tears. Another one of Sanguine's fist hit her cheek, snapping her head to the side. His fingers curled around her jaw as he pulled her head toward him.
"Do not," he began, his nose bleeding. "do that, again." Tanith growled and crushed her knee into his ribs. She cried out as the nail ripped through her skin and Sanguine stumbled back. He came running back to her, but Tanith kicked out. Sanguine, however, caught her foot, snapping her leg upwards. Tanith heard the bones in her knee shatter and she screamed. He came at her again, throwing slow but hard punches to her face. He stopped, soon running out of breath. Sweat and blood ran down Tanith's face and her hair stuck to her scalp. Her heart was racing and her body was screaming at her. Sanguine stood up straight, pulling his razor out from his trouser pocket. He grabbed her chin again, his nails digging into her cheeks. He lifted the razor up to her face and she glanced down at it. Her breathing became heavy and quick and Sanguine smiled again. The razor slashed across her lip and blood poured from it. Tanith let the pain wash over her, but tears fell as she felt the blood trickle down her neck. Sanguine spun around, cutting her chest open as the razor sliced across it. Tanith cried out in pain, but also in sadness as she knew that none of the scars Sanguine had inflicted would ever heal. She felt the blood drench her chest and tunic and Sanguine rose the razor to her throat. She swallowed, feeling the razor sharp against her skin.
"You will pay, for everything." Tanith screwed her eyes shut as Sanguine snarled. The door to the room flew off its hinges and Sanguine turned. Tanith's eyes opened as she watched Skulduggery Pleasant, Valkyrie Cain, Ghastly Bespoke and Erskine Ravel enter the room. Relief washed over her as she saw the fear in Sanguine's face. Sanguine tapped two fingers at his temple and the ground below him shook as it opened. He disappeared, slowly appearing behind Tanith's chair. He grabbed her chin, pulling it back as he stuck the razor to her throat. Skulduggery drew his revolver and Valkyrie summoned a flame.
"Well," Sanguine said, pressing the razor against Tanith's neck "This could get mighty interestin'"