AN: Hey there! Thanks so much for the kind reviews! I am very glad that at least a few people seem to be enjoying this fic, as I am quite enjoying writing it. This was a very difficult chapter for me, for some reason. Perhaps it was the stress of school and work, but I don't know if it's quite as good as the others. Oh wells, I did my best. Keep the reviews coming please! They're giving me much needed confidence in my writing!
Voldo scrabbled wildly across the earthen floor, using his arms to propel him forwards as his legs were still bound together; Vercci's convulsing servant was now in no fit state to finish freeing him. In fluid movements and in twisted mockery of a predatory cat, Voldo flung himself at the large and screaming man running towards him. The man, Cephas, if Voldo had connected the words the cruel one had spouted correctly, had removed a cold shining sliver of metal from a strap fastened across his hips.
Voldo knew the word for this object quite well and as before it elicited in him the same animalistic fury and terror that Vercci's sword had done in the alley way. The dagger arm lifted, Cephas aiming with deadly accuracy for the cannibals left shoulder and the thick, blood-filled arteries within it. Voldo paused for a fraction of a second, balancing his trussed legs and sprang again as the arm came down. He did not notice the look of shock in Cephas's deep set eyes as the dagger came down not to the satisfying resistance of parting flesh but with the easy, harmless whistle of severed air.
The cannibal felt the dagger pass his arm by the merest of distances and before his newest of many threats could recover the failed stroke, Voldo had rammed his balled up fists into the gritty floor and with a rippling wrench, pivoted his body in a circular arc, swinging his lower limbs into Cephas's side and kidney. The sustained momentum of this collision sent Cephas to the ground caused Voldo to skid forwards using his outstretched arms as brakes as the grit beneath him opened new burn marks.
Alarmed now and wasting no time Cephas twisted to a pained but standing stance, half stumbling towards the cannibal. Voldo contracted the muscles of his abdomen, bringing bound legs under his torso, while splaying his arms wide in preparation for the counterstrike.
It came from a different direction than he would have expected. Cephas again had raised his dagger but instead of making that familiar slashing movement, feigned it and struck out viscously with a roundhouse kick. The tough leather boot slammed into Voldo's face and he sprawled sideways, blood trickling from his mouth. Too fueled by adrenaline to realize his pain, Voldo made out the glistening metal through his tangled curtain of hair as it jabbed towards him yet again. Voldo arched his back so forcefully that his legs swung over him and towards his opponent, effectively reversing the target Cephas had been aiming for. The dagger that had been meant for his head met instead with the rope binding his feet and with a bristly snap the cannibal was again allowed the full use of his limbs.
Voldo made a wide side step; more to test the wound on his back than anything else and found with some confusion that the gash had apparently already closed itself. Although his left leg did not react with the swiftness it once did, he knew he could now easily outmaneuver his powerful but sanity-burdened opponent.
Cephas seemed to have come to this same conclusion and he was obviously furious with himself for inadvertently freeing the cannibal, his strong features twisted in anger. Taking a chance, Cephas turned his back on his foe, doing a quick flip to land near the now dead servant and the dagger lying beside him. He snatched up the weapon, thankful that it's handle had not been doused in slippery blood and feeling comforted now by the feeling of two blades at his command. His dark eyes flew to the cannibal, expecting to see him still crouched in a spidery fashion. He was startled then, to see that Voldo was no longer there.
The sound came from much closer than Cephas would have wanted; a low, withered gurgle, rattling up from the cannibals lungs, the foul breath brushing maddeningly on the back of his neck causing the hairs to stiffen in surprise. His foe was less than five inches away, standing behind him with the determined patience of a stalking beast. Cephas turned to find himself nearly level with the cannibal and his breath caught as he stared at the bloodied and filth covered face. Only the eyes were pure in the fetid mask and he had never seen eyes so unnervingly mad. Not in the wars. Not anywhere. Not even on Vercci. Cephas read his doom in them, prayed it was false but felt the unshakeable surety in the core of his being. He would not turn from it though.
Screaming, Cephas streaked both daggers inwards towards the cannibal's bare neck. Voldo did not take his eyes from Cephas as he brought his hands to other mans soft inner arm with the speed and surety of a striking snake. He dug into the well-muscled flesh and tore downwards, ripping gaping holes deep in the arm, rending tendons from bone. Cephas howled in pain, both daggers reflexively dropping from his quivering hands but Voldo did not hear, was too far in his predatory tunnel vision to be distracted. He dropped the clumps of flesh and muscle to the steadily reddening arena floor.
Cephas stumbled as Voldo bent so far backwards than his stained hands hit the floor and dug in. With strength one would not expect from his lean and wiry frame, Voldo hefted his lower body upwards, grabbing Cephas about the neck with his lower legs. He squeezed hard causing dry squelching noises to erupt from Cephas's slowly crushing windpipe. In one devastatingly fast motion, Voldo wrenched his upside-down body in an arc, flipping himself back to a forward facing position. Cephas, still gripped tightly about the neck had been flung over the cannibals straightening body and slammed face first into the ground, gravity and his own weight crushing his face as effectively as the speed of the cannibal's movement. His body slumped as Voldo released his hold against his neck.
Voldo stood, back hunched, arms hanging and chest heaving, the wound on his back reopened and bleeding angrily as he stared down at the body of his opponent. Cephas lay, his face ground into the dirt floor, body twitching and feet towards the cannibal. Not willing to leave the human alive, Voldo took cautious steps towards him; slowed by the pain edging it's way into his mind as his adrenaline subsided. He bared his teeth as he bent over the body, reaching one pail arm out towards the spine.
Cephas's arm swung up from its limp position at his side and caught Voldo in the face, looking more like a spasm than a controlled hit. Voldo jerked backwards in surprise. No human he had fought had ever posed a threat to him while in such condition. Cephas managed the strength to flip his body over, revealing a blood drenched and dirt plastered face that looked quite literally as though it had been run over by a carriage. Cephas was unable to stand and lay prone on the ground, staring with unfocused eyes at Voldo.
Some part of Voldo was amazed that the human was not yet dead and he edged towards the man once more, curiosity flaring up within him alongside renewed caution.
Again he bent over Cephas, head cocked slightly in raw interest. At once, Cephas jerked his leg out, catching Voldo point blank in the stomach. An explosive breath escaped Voldo as the kick dug in, his eyes widening in surprise. In the fraction of a second it had taken to exhale, another kick hammered him in the ribs, and again in the groin.
Voldo's inhalation was a screech as he lurched backwards off Cephas and away from his still flailing legs. He hunched forwards to ease the searing pain sweeping through his gut and groin, keeping his eyes locked on to the man that wouldn't die. Like a cat faced with a mouse that refused to stand down or run, Voldo was confused. These past few humans he had encountered were not like any others who had hunted him. At deaths door this one continued to fight. Surely he must know he would be killed? Voldo observed warily, waiting until the flailing slowed and what strength was left in Cephas seemed to evaporate.
Voldo treaded a circle about the twitching man, keeping himself out of range of the seemingly useless limbs; they had already proven themselves to be unpredictable in this area. Limp hands on shaking arms rose to the ravaged face and made slight clawing motions as if, in Cephas's half dead mind, he could pull the damage off. The dark eyes began to roll. Licking his lips and knowing any danger from this man was now gone, Voldo leaned over him and in a slow motion that would have appeared to be almost loving to an outsider, bit Cephas's throat out. The warm, coppery blood gushed into his mouth and down his throat and Voldo swallowed, welcoming the comfortable familiarity of the taste. He suddenly lifted his eyes from the corpse as if recalling that he was not in the sanctuary of his nest and could therefore not afford to devour his kill in peace. The other one, the cruel one that had taken him here and tied him to that fearful beast…he would not leave him be, Voldo knew that much.
His eyes darted about the arena, breath heavy as the long exhaustion of the night's events pulled at his body. The remaining servant was cowering now, near the exit Vercci had sealed off, rocking back and forth and muttering something under his breath. Voldo eyed him and felt no threat from this one…and his own body was not willing to exude itself further without rest, food and water. This one would live. He had more urgent needs to attend to. Panic and confusion clouded his mind as he realized he was trapped in the arena. The length of time between being un-blindfolded and ending the fight had not given him sufficient time to inspect his surroundings. The skin on his neck prickled. He wanted his dark alley where humans that wanted only to kill him trespassed. Those, at least, had no hidden agendas. He wanted his solitude. He did not like the light. He did not like the noise of the crowd. And most of all he did not like the human coming down the steps and un barring an entrance to the arena, the smile he already despised plastered to the long face.
Breath quickening as the cruel one drew near, Voldo abandoned his kill, back hunched and head lowered although his unblinking gaze remained locked on this biggest threat of all. The smile did not falter, and the other expressed no distaste at what Voldo had done to the dead man. Voldo saw the fresh ropes in the others hands, the hard gleam of the others eyes. So unnerved by this that he could not bring his crazed mind to fight and without the ability to understand why he was here or what the other wanted from him, Voldo did something he had never done.
He turned and ran
.
The sight of the cannibal's dripping maw, the beasts eyes wide with delicious fear made Vercci feel as though he were walking on air as he strode easily onto the stained arena floor, stepping casually over the body of his loyal bodyguard. Cephas was now refuse, something fit only to be chopped and served to the dogs, but then, as his life had never held any value to Vercci, Cephas had always been refuse in his eyes. The loss of the failed guard would trouble him no more than discarding a piece of trash and Vercci was delighted that his new trophy had made such short work of the man.
In the part of his mind so deadened by constant pleasure and the ease of obtaining whatever he desired, Vercci felt a dull flicker of amazement flair up. He'd not truly felt such an emotion for decades…until tonight and since laying his eyes on the cannibal he had felt it many times. Like an addict numbed by what used to give them pleasure and then reawakened by a more powerful drug, Vercci wanted more. More of those fluid, undulating movements that he'd never seen a human perform, more of the animalistic fury, more blood. His hands flexed convulsively has he neared the cannibal.
With surprise and a welcomed rush of amusement, Vercci watched as the cannibal abruptly turn and fled, his left leg beginning to drag and breath heaving. Vercci smiled smugly as the cannibal frantically wandered the oval arena, tracing the tall walls with bony fingers, searching for any foothold or hidden exit that would grant him freedom. Vercci allowed himself the pleasure of observing the fruitless, obsessive search of the cannibal before noting with a sense of foreign concern that the mans breath was coming in ragged, uneven gasps. The cannibal placed a hand to his ribs, eyes shining through his lank hair in urgent anger at the top of the arena partition; his pacing slowed but not stopped.
The death-fueled kicks of Cephas must have caused some damage to the cannibal's ribs, Vercci mused. Inwardly he was pleased that at least Cephas hadn't been a total waste and had not died without causing some damage to his opponent. He took another few steps towards the gasping cannibal. Heedless of the pain he must have been in, the cannibal edged away warily, trying to keep his eyes both on Vercci and the arena wall.
Vercci sighed, realizing he would only send the man into a fearful flight that may inflict more harm on his tiring body. Idly, he raised his hand and waved it, a motion used to beckon his servants. Reluctantly, Vercci's nearest aids came timidly to his side. The three servants regarded the remains of Cephas with scantly disguised sorrow and disgust. They dared not openly emote around Vercci who addressed them without turning, steely eyes intent upon his captive. "Bind him. But do it carefully. I don't want him damaged further, understand me?" The men looked horrorstruck and stood rooted to their places; the nearby corpses of their comrades were more than enough to deter them from their order. They hesitated a fraction too long. Vercci whipped his head about in an icy glare. "If I must repeat myself, one of you will become his supper." He said pointedly. No further incentive was needed. He handed them each a coil of the rope he'd been cradling and leaned back, arms crossed as his servants went tremulously forwards.
Voldo saw the three fanning out in a half circle, his back up against the wall as he tried to even his breath and prepare to fight. As the man to his right moved a step too close Voldo lunged, but was immediately caught and half choked as the man to his left lassoed him about the neck and yanked hard. Voldo tumbled over onto his bruised side at the force of the pull, hands grasping the rope about his neck. As he tried to move to a sitting position, all three of them were upon him. They'd seen what he was capable of and none of them were willing to give him the second he needed to rip a part of their bodies off. In a struggling flurry of limbs and rope, Voldo was hastily bound once more. He growled and yelled, the tearing noises punctuated by sharp inhalations. He twisted about the dirt floor, unable to lash out or protect himself. The servants hastily backed away, shaking and hoping their task was complete as Vercci strode past and knelt by the cannibal.
Vercci looked over the man, who recoiled violently as he reached out to make sure the ropes wouldn't cut off his circulation. Egged on by the reaction of the cannibal, Vercci stroked the bare neck greedily, tracing the jugular. Voldo immediately snarled and tossed his head as if to fling the hand away but was too exhausted to twist himself about in the rage that was nonetheless flowing through him. Satisfied Vercci rocked on his haunches and whispered "Marvelous". His thin lips curled as he brought his fingers to his face and seemed to reach some understanding in his mind. He looked at the cannibal's skin in sudden distaste, one dark eyebrow raised. He stood suddenly and called out to a servant girl sitting nearby. "You, girl!"
She could not have been more than twelve and her face had a pallid, haunted look upon it, whether if it was from seeing such a gruesome display as the one that had just played out or whether it was from the dreary reality of her life, Vercci neither knew nor cared. She raised at once, obedience beaten into her, and curtsied. "Have a bath drawn in my chambers." He said, his eyes still dancing across the cannibals form. He wondered absently when the beast had last been truly clean. The greasy grime upon his fingers suggested several years. "And make sure it's hot."
Vercci's personal chambers were elaborate to say the least. The foyer led to a spacious bedchamber of polished limestone walls, intricate marble flooring and opulent Middle Eastern carpets. A king-sized canopy bed covered in the richest of deep red satin stood on a raised dais near a bay window and balcony. Floor to ceiling mahogany bookshelves lined one wall, stocked with issues of curious make and full of gruesome and perverted tales and instructions. A fireplace large enough for ten men to stand comfortably in, shoulder to shoulder, separated these bookshelves. The base of this ended in clawed feet, while the gaping mouths of miniature gargoyles flanked the mantle. A large circular, wrought iron chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling, enough candles holstered in its frame to light the entire room. Stands supporting coats of armor from the medieval ages and further back into history decorated the room, while tapestries fluttered in the cool, early morning breeze.
If it weren't for the man that lived in the room, it would have seemed cultured, artistic and almost welcoming. The room was kept immaculately clean, but the servants who kept it in such a state were always quick to leave and reluctant to return. To the right of the foyer was the bath chamber.
There were no windows in the room for privacy reasons. A large ovoid bathtub had been built directly into the marble, so that one had to climb a small set of stairs to descend into the water below. A privy was located to the right and behind a marble partition. The servants, who still used bed pans and small tubs with no advances of modern plumbing often joked about sneaking in to use Vercci's bathroom while he was out on business. So far none had decided that a warm bath was worth their life.
Currently a small team of women servants were pouring a bath of the hottest water they could procure with the haste demanded of them, praying silently that the water would not scald it's guest and bring Vercci's wrath down on them. They had nearly finished this task when they heard footfalls against the marble of the bedroom. They swiftly laid out a pile of cloths, soaps and brushes, hoping that it would be enough for the gruesome and filthy man Vercci made to cleanse. Then, with the quiet rustle of aprons, they departed. None of them wanted to take part in the process.
Vercci entered just as the last of them disappeared down one of the service corridors. Behind him, the three men who had bound Voldo a second time had the weakly struggling cannibal hefted above them, each looking tense and profoundly disturbed as Vercci crossed over to the steaming tub and dipped his grime stained fingers in it. He pulled a face at the heat, but apparently decided it was the proper temperature for the task at hand.
"Alright," Vercci breathed as he turned back to his servants and captive, "set him down then wait in the foyer." The three exchanged glances and quickly rid themselves of their burden. Voldo tried to twist about and gain a better vantage point, but the only thing in his line of sight was the bottom most stair leading to the bath tub. He could sense the heat from it and did not like it. He turned his head wearily at the sound of retreating footsteps, somehow more afraid that the other humans had gone and left him bound and trussed before Vercci, the one who didn't fear him. He twisted his head back around as the sounds faded trying to look at Vercci out of the corner of his eye.
Vercci too had been watching his servant's retreat. Once he was certain they were out of earshot he squatted down towards the cannibal once more, and much to his captives surprise, took him by the chin, turning his face upwards and to his own. A long shudder seemed to wind down the cannibals spine as he registered the touch and the unwelcome closeness of the other.
Vercci stared down at him with medicinal interest, tilting the cannibals face to and fro. He chuckled to himself as examined the deep bruises already radiating out from the cannibals jaw and cheekbone. "I don't suppose it would do my fingers any good to see if you're missing molars from that hit, eh my friend?" He said jovially. He wiggled his digits, as if to emphasize their importance and then mimicked biting one of them. Voldo could only create a whisper of a growl. "And I don't suppose you understand me at all do you?" Vercci continued with a sigh as he stood up, letting Voldo's face fall back against the marble. Usually Vercci would not lower himself to miming to get a captive to understand him; a few well-placed blows or crushing statements were enough to cow an average man.
But the creature before him was anything but average and his usual methods could not therefore be expected to apply. He figured the cannibal was spent enough that even if he tried, he would not be able to cause too much damage before Vercci could overwhelm him. He removed the dagger from his knee holster that was usually concealed beneath the sash now lying on the bloody arena floor and the effect was immediate.
A low keening sound came from the cannibal as he spied the blade. Intrigued now that they were not on horseback and with room to investigate at his leisure, Vercci brought the dagger quickly before the cannibal's eyes. Another eerie keening cry as the blade neared. Vercci wondered if it were a sound of fear, helplessness or…perhaps even sadness, although he did not think the creature was capable of any emotion quite so advanced. He repeated the motion a few more times, each movement drawing out another mourning sound before the cannibal turned his head away from the blade, perhaps thinking that if he could not see the threat, then it would cease to threaten.
Vercci cut loose the robe binding the cannibal's arms. Voldo immediately tried to claw his way forwards, but Vercci held him tight by the rope about his neck as he finished freeing his legs. Voldo kicked out but hissed in pain as his side flared in vehement pain at the motion.
Vercci suddenly pulled at the rough leash, dragging Voldo towards the source of the heat he'd felt while lying against the condensation-covered floor. He squirmed enough to cause Vercci some aggravation. Vercci released the rope, wiping his glistening brow against the humidity of the bathroom and sighing heavily. "I am NOT going to hurt you." He bit out. "But I will not have something as filthy as yourself wandering about, fouling up my possessions." Vercci paused staring at nothing in particular as he realized that the cannibal had clearly not understood anything he'd just uttered. He rolled his eyes as he crossed over to the tub and cupped some of the water in his hands, bringing it before the cannibals face.
"Bath." He said, allowing some of the water to slosh over the edge of his hand and onto the cannibals arm.
Voldo jerked, but he did not make any terrified sounds; something Vercci took to be a sign of progress. "Understand? Clean." He poured the rest of the water onto Voldo's forearm, and then rubbed it vigorously until the layers of accumulated filth detached and floated off in the light trickle of brownish, now un-useable water. "Clean." Vercci repeated and showed the cannibal his own forearmed where a gleaming oval of clean skin shone lightly against the surrounding grime.
Voldo stared at the spot on his arm in some confusion, fear edging away and slowly becoming replaced with curiosity. Vercci cupped more water and poured it on the cannibal's wrist, again scrubbing and repeating, "Clean." Voldo had stiffened at the touch; his curiosity at the new color of his forearm vanishing instantly as Vercci manipulated his wrist…but again, white skin seemed to materialize out of the grime and Voldo's fear was deadened by another unwelcome flair of curiosity.
"Yes, see? You understand. Clean, that's what that is." Vercci pointed out taking Voldo's arm again to examine his work. His brow furrowed as he looked closely at the color of the skin beneath the greasy foulness. It was white. Impossibly white. Seized by curiosity and a strange, hopeful desire, Vercci cupped another handful of water and scrubbed part of the upper arm clean, ignoring the raised burn marks brought on by Voldo's struggles against the horse. His stomach fluttered in excitement as he saw the alabaster pail skin now unearthed to the bright candlelight.
In hurried excitement he bent over the cannibal and began to tear off the grime encrusted, lank strips of clothing. Voldo made an exclamatory noise at this, twisting in his bindings, and hissing slightly as some of the clothing that had been encrusted to his skin was peeled roughly away. The combination of his wounds, bindings and fear made it quite impossible for him to lash out. Only through his panicked and angry vocalizations could he make his discomfort known.
Not that it seemed to be doing much good. Vercci was in a frenzied state and he did not cease his actions until the cannibal was laid bare, all filth and sinew, before him. Voldo's breath had quickened as far as his broken ribs would allow, his heart hammering within him. Although his clothing had been scant, it had almost literally become a part of him. Psychologically he felt completely unprotected, as if the thin strips could somehow have helped deflect a sword.
Vercci stood and stared down at the naked cannibal, eyes dancing in the candlelight, desire and fanaticism flickering disturbingly within their dark depths. If the mans entire body was as pure white as the bits of exposed flesh on his arm would suggest…Owning such a creature as this…A shiver wound up Vercci's spine at the thoughts running through his head. Ignoring the cannibals retched noises, Vercci bent over, took the cannibal under the arms and slid the bound man slowly into the cooling water, smiling perversely to himself as he did so. It was time to unwrap his prize.