Chapter 16: Playing By Ear
Victoria bowed her head in defeat as Merdoc tied her hands firmly behind her back. No DiMera form of transportation would have been complete without somewhere to chain a hostage, and that's what this part of the cargo hold served for. It was under the actual cargo hold, and was little more then a bare room with a chain secured in the middle. The shackle was already around Victoria's foot, giving her only a very small circle of room to hop around in, not that she had any intention of moving, or breaking free. Stefano had instructed Merdoc to stay down below and guard Victoria until they reached their destination. After securely binding the mute Victoria, Merdoc retreated to the room's only door, leaning up against it and watching the dejected young woman intently.
"You know, it's kinda funny," Merdoc started after a few moments, and not a word or movement from Victoria, who merely sat on the cold floor with her back to him. She didn't respond, hadn't the will or the energy to. "I always figured you were too smart to turn on your father like this. Or, at least smart enough not to get caught. I guess I should have known though. You're kind isn't loyal to anyone."
"You're not intelligent enough to notice your surroundings," Victoria finally muttered. Merdoc's eyes flashed with anger. He stepped away from the door and a little closer to her.
"Why you..."
"And don't try coming back with a witty remark either, Merdoc. Your not capable of intelligent conversation, so just do me a favor, and shut the fuck up," Victoria spat. Merdoc growled low in his throat, stalking up to her and forcing her to turn his way.
"Don't you talk to me like that! Your in no position to fight me," Merdoc spat. Victoria laughed, jerking away from his grasp.
"Fight you? You're not worth the air you breathe, why would I want to fight you? You weren't worth a shit then, and you're not worth a shit now," Victoria laughed. Merdoc snarled, slapping her in much the same fashion as Elizabeth had earlier. It didn't have the same emotional impact as Elizabeth's, but sent the vulnerable Victoria down the rest of the way to the floor none the less. Merdoc took advantage of the position, kicking her roughly in the stomach.
"I said don't fucking talk to me like that, you bitch!" Merdoc yelled, kicking her again for good measure. Victoria groaned, rolling onto her other side to keep Merdoc from seeing the pain he'd caused. "I don't know what your trying to pull here, Victoria. But unless you want me to rip out all that pretty hair of yours, you'll shut up, and play nice like a good prisoner," Merdoc spat. Victoria coughed, pulling herself up into a sitting position once again.
"Do you know what's really funny, Merdoc?" Victoria asked, shaking off the pain and turning her face to look up at Merdoc, glaring daggers at him. "The really funny thing about all this is... you had to tie me up to beat me." Merdoc's lip curled up in disgust, much to Victoria's pleasure. "Ah, but even you, the scrawny little twit who's only being strung around here because your not worth killing... even you know I'm right. You couldn't lay a hand on me if you didn't tie me up or sneak up on me, like the coward that you are," Victoria prodded. Merdoc raised his hand to strike her again, but was cut off by her laughter. "Now now, Mer, wouldn't want to let the prisoner get the better of you, now would you? You, dear Merdoc, are far too predictable." Merdoc's eyes narrowed down at her, studying her and trying to figure out what her game was. Did she just want to torture him for kicks, or did she actually want him to lose his temper and kill her? Boy, did he ever wish he could do just that. It wouldn't be that hard to just snap her neck and be done with it... Such a thought felt as natural to him as breathing.
"You know, Vic, the only reason you're not dead right now is because unlike you, I follow my orders," Merdoc snarled, turning away from her and heading towards the door.
"Ah, following orders. How rich. To see the mighty Philip Kiriakis becoming a mere lap dog for the likes of Stefano DiMera," Victoria taunted. Her stressed name caused Merdoc to stop in his tracks, turn around to stare at her, almost begging for her to go on. "Ah ha, but then again, you don't remember that part of your life, now do ya Phil?"
"What the hell are you talking about? I don't know any Philip Kiriakis," Merdoc argued. Victoria chuckled, turning to face him better as he stood still in front of the iron door.
"Oh, of course now you don't. Daddy dearest made damn sure of that. I guess the name Chloe Lane wouldn't ring a bell either, now would it?" Victoria taunted. Behind her back, she'd already begun to slowly make work of relieving herself of the rope that bound her hands together. Merdoc had relieved her of the dagger she had on her, but no good art thief wasn't also half escape artist.
"Who..." Merdoc paused, processing both names. The first, the male name, had been enough to stop him in his tracks. But the female name... there was something too familiar about that name, something that gave him this overwhelming feeling that he needed to prove himself, needed to own this Chloe whoever she was completely. "Damn it Victoria, I'm not falling for your games!" Merdoc yelled.
"No games, love. Only truth. You see, I am my father's daughter, whether I like it or not. And I share one of his most important beliefs; the truth, is far too much fun," Victoria stated. Before she could get much further with her efforts to free her hands, Merdoc advanced on her, grabbing her shoulders and lifting her up onto her feet.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Merdoc boomed. Victoria's hard gaze faltered as she realized he'd noticed her attempts to untie her hands. He slapped her across the face once more, turning her around and pulling the rope tighter. "Where the bloody hell are good old fashion handcuffs when you need them," Merdoc muttered. Remembering something he'd learned in training, Merdoc grabbed the last remaining piece of rope in the room, looping it between Victoria's back and bound hands while she struggled against him, before tying it securely to the hook that held the shackle around her ankle in place. Victoria now couldn't move her hands up enough to work her way out of them. Plus, he was on to her, and would stop her if she tried. "You're pretty sneaky, Vic, making up stories to distract me. But, not that smart. Where would you go, Victoria? You're on a ship."
"I could live with a lifetime of imprisonment if I were able to take you down first," Victoria growled. Her only thought had been to get out and reach Elizabeth. Her sister, thanks to Stefano's brainwashing, might hate her now, but Victoria needed to get to her, make her listen to her. If only get her intrigued enough to search out the Black's herself before she was dragged back down to this hole to await their arrival, and her true punishment for betraying her father. "But, just so you know, I'm not making anything up, Merdoc. Ask him. Ask my father to tell you about a medical procedure that places a programmed chip into one's central nervous system. See what kind of lie he tells you in reply. You are pathetic, Merdoc. I mean, for God's sake, you had more backbone and talent as a common killer! Why don't you ask him about who Philip Kiriakis was!" Victoria yelled. Merdoc grabbed her by the hair, pulling her head back and producing a knife from his boot, holding it to her delicate neck. He didn't know what she was getting at, but all this talk about Philip what's-his-face and Chloe whoever was confusing the hell out of him. He didn't like such deep thought.
"I swear to God if you don't shut up..."
"That's enough," Stefano called from the doorway. He'd suspected Merdoc couldn't handle his daughter, and Stefano DiMera was always right. "Merdoc, you're dismissed."
"But, sir..."
"I said dismissed!" Stefano ordered. Merdoc released Victoria sharply, pushing her away before retreating out the door as he was ordered. Stefano walked up to his bound daughter, another guard just behind him. "You always were able to push everyone's buttons, Victoria my dear. That's why it saddens me so to have to do this to you."
"Whatever you have in store for me father, don't bother," Victoria spat wearily. He would take it a different way then she meant. No wound, no broken bone, no strike could ever sting her as badly as the sting of her sister's immediate rejecting of her. Stefano shook his head slightly, motioning for the guard he'd brought along to hand him something.
"Ah, Victoria, you know, even you can be broken. I had thought, that the daughter I raised would always remain loyal to her family. But it seems, a few moments with the Blacks, and you so easily turn on me."
"I don't give a damn about what you do to me, or what you keep doing to others. And I don't give a rat's ass about the Black family. I won't let you do to my sister what you did to me. That is all they mean to me. A mean's to an end," she half lied. Yes... that's what she told herself. But truth was... she felt it was her duty to reach out in any way to them. As if somehow, she could make up for a lifetime of torment by offering up even her own life to their cause. But either way... if it meant Chloe's freedom, it didn't matter to Victoria who benefitted from that. "Protecting her... shielding her from you... that is all I have ever cared about!"
"Such a noble quest my dear. Noble, but fool-hearty. You, and your sister, are mine. I will do what I please with your lives, and there is nothing you, or the Blacks, can do to change that. And besides... I made her, after all. She would not dare raise a hand against me. Even if it means turning her back on you," Stefano said with a satisfying grin as Victoria was unable to hid a cringe at the mere thought.
"You disappoint me, daughter. But do not fear. I'm a very gracious father. I believe whole heartedly in second chances. After all... I'm not quite ready to give you up just yet," Stefano declared. It was then that he grabbed Victoria's arm, and she felt the sharp pain of a needle puncturing her skin. Victoria cried out as the needles contents were injected into her arm and her father pushed her away.
"Merdoc's little temper tantrum has made me see the light. The most efficient way to regain your loyalties," Stefano started, handing the needle back to the man he'd brought with him and watching in delight as Victoria fell to her knees, the effects of the drug hitting her hard and fast, "is to beat the loyalty back into you. Sleep well, dear daughter. You shall be needing the rest." Stefano laughed, waving his assistant out and remaining only long enough to see his daughter slump helplessly to the floor, the paralyzing effects of the drug washing over her senses and knocking her out for the count. She didn't hear Stefano's evil chuckle as he slammed the iron door to her cell, sealing her alone in the darkness...
Brady lifted Jordan's black bag up, storing it in the overhead compartment above him. Their jet was about to take off. They had merely to bring on board the rest of the supplies Jordan had insisted upon, then they would be on their way to Ireland. They couldn't fly in to Dublin directly, but that's where Jordan was sure Stefano would be taking Aida, Elizabeth, and his crew. Their only worries now were, DiMera's plans to punish Aida, and whether he knew about Jordan or not. Jordan assured him that DiMera had no way of knowing he had teamed up with Victoria long ago, but John wanted to take as much precaution as possible. They would fly to another part of Ireland, finding some small airport, and then make their way to Dublin. John had just gotten off the phone with Bo, who had relatives waiting to help them into the city without bringing any attention to the new arrivals. And without connections from the inside, they probably wouldn't have been able to make it into the city without drawing attention to themselves. That was probably the reason Stefano was going by boat. He couldn't just outright waltz into the city with his legions of art thieves.
"Alright, that's everything," Jordan stated, seating himself on one of the plush couches. The doors were now shut, and they would taxi onto the runway momentarily for lift off. Brady heaved a heavy sigh as he slumped down next to his father, leaning forward and planting his elbows on his knees and burying his face in his hands.
"God, and I was actually hopeful just a few hours ago," Brady murmured. John placed a hand on his son's back, trying to give the only comfort he could at the moment.
"I know, son. Things seemed to be looking up when Aida contacted us. But... don't worry about it now, son. Just as you told Aida there was no time for blame, there's also no sense in worrying. She's strong son, she's not going to let DiMera get to her, and she certainly isn't going to let anything happen to Chloe."
"To hear you say such positive things about a DiMera, I'd swear you're not my father," Brady muttered. John chuckled despite himself as the pilot's voice came over the intercom, telling them to fasten their seat belts.
"It seems so shocking and wrong, doesn't it? But, I believe in Aida. And, after all, whether we want to admit or not... Chloe is DiMera's blood. Chloe could never turn like Lexie did. Not as long as we all believe in her, fight for her. And Aida... well, though my instincts tell me I can't trust someone raised by that snake... I just know she's the key to getting Chloe back. And, perhaps, the key to bringing DiMera down, once and for all," John stated. Brady nodded, setting back in his seat and adjusting his seat belt. Jordan turned his eyes away from the father son talk, training his focus on the laptop in his lap.
"You should have seen her though, Dad. Her resemblance to Chloe... it's scary. And, I know I can trust her. Those eyes... that's the only way to tell her and Chloe apart. Her eyes are so hollow, Dad. I could tell she blames DiMera for that. I think we can use that to end DiMera's evil, for good," Brady stated.
"So do I son. But now, we need to focus on what we're going to do once we reach Dublin. Bo's relatives are waiting for us, but they're not too keen on being much more assistance. None of them want to let outsiders in on the struggle with DiMera. I'm not sure if all of them even want to come up against him. But they do have information for us. And right now, that's what we need, information. Jordan." Jordan looked up from his laptop. "What do you know about Stefano's dealings in Ireland."
"I don't know much myself, that's why I'm working with this," Jordan replied, indicating the laptop. By now, they were off the ground, and up in the air, off towards Ireland. Jordan removed his seat belt, leaning forward and handing John the laptop. "The information isn't easy to hack into, but I pulled up some files for you. Nothing there looks to be much of a help, but at this point, we need anything we can get. It seems that DiMera's dealings in Ireland mostly have to deal with... well, to put it bluntly, killing for hire."
"DiMera's in to bounty hunting?" Brady questioned, obviously shocked. Of course, he didn't know why he would be. The man had tried endlessly to ruin the lives of the people he cared about. He was a known art thief, what would stop him from bounty hunting as well?
"Unfortunately, yes. Victoria's legion was trained for both, art thefts and bounty hunting. They generally co-inside. I just wasn't sure where he kept his other base. Supposedly, he left that part of the game awhile back. My guess is that's what he's taking the others to Dublin for," Jordan said. John nodded, but Brady didn't remain so calm. His face flushed with anger.
"He's going to turn Chloe into his next bounty hunter," Brady growled.
"It appears that way, son. But we have to have faith. Aida will fight Stefano. And Chloe... her memories can resurface. From what Aida told you, Stefano put her under the same procedure he preformed on Hope and I. Her memories aren't gone, just replaced by ones of his own choosing. You have to believe she'll fight him, Son," John insisted. Brady shook himself, reaching for the laptop.
"Alright, so, what's the plan?" Brady asked Jordan and John.
"Play things by ear..."