Blood for Blood Chapter 3

The Animal I Have Become

Alannah glared in contempt at Gerald Maxwell. "You know, it always amazes me how many cowards hide behind masks of bravery and nobility. Your brother was slurvish, and you are no better. You are a worthless waste of life."

She gasped as he slapped her again, and then gazed at him in spiteful triumph. "Did I strike a nerve? Cowards like you and your brother can't bear to hear the truth spoken, so you must manufacture the lie-because if you were ever forced to confront the truth it would destroy you."

Gerald glared in hatred at her. "Truth, My Lady? You want truth? Very well. The truth is-I am going to take my time with your death. The truth is-you will be begging for me to kill you before I am even halfway through. The truth is-once you are dead, I will kill your daughter and husband. Is that enough truth for you?"

Alannah shut her eyes, shuddering inwardly. She had no doubt that what Gerald said was the truth. Except for one thing-"I would never beg to a guddlers scut like you."

Gerald grinned evilly. "Oh, but you will. I promise you, before I am through you will be screaming for death."

Alannah glared in silent hatred at him. He walked out of the room, returning a few minutes later with a large bag. Alannah watched with mild curiosity as he set the bag down at her feet. "What's in the bag?"

Gerald knelt down and unclasped the bag's catches. "Just some instruments of mine. I'm sure you'll find them to be very educational." He smiled, and then pulled a small knife out. "Now, this may not look like a very impressive blade, but appearances can be deceiving."

He pressed the blade down on Alannah's wrist, and she whimpered. The blade felt as if it were on fire. Gerald pressed harder. Alannah shut her eyes against the pain. "This blade is very special, My Lady. It took me many years of trial and error to perfect it. Don't you think I did a marvelous job?"

He removed the blade, and Alannah stared at the burn on her wrist, and then gazed at Gerald in silence. He smirked. "Not going to say how impressed you are? That's perfectly fine. I have many more fascinating instruments to show you. I'm sure that sooner or later you will speak."

Alannah said nothing.

Any person who laid eyes on Captain Stayne would have sworn he was going to war. He had gone to the Armory at Marmoreal and stripped it bare. Swords, daggers, dirks, all were taken-strapped to his back, sides, belt, and front. He had taken the dagger belts off the wall and strapped them so they crisscrossed his front, and stuck daggers in every slot. He wore two swords strapped across his back, and had another sheathed at his side.

He ran as quickly as he could to the stalls, startling the stable hand that stood on watch. He saluted. "Captain!"

Stayne spoke quickly. "Get Grey Star saddled and ready. You have three minutes. MOVE!"

The man was off like a shot. Minutes later, he returned with Grey Star. "All saddled and ready, Sir. Will you need anything else?"

Stayne leapt onto Grey Star, and then looked down at him. "Yes. Did you happen to see a carriage leave here earlier?"

"Yessir. It left not twenty minutes ago."

Stayne sighed impatiently. "Did you see which way it went?"

"Yessir. It headed east."

Stayne smiled wickedly. "Thank you." He dug his heels into Grey Star's flank, and the horse took off at a gallop. The stable hand watched, wondering why he was in such a hurry. 'Oh well, probably nothing that I need to be concerned with.'

Stayne urged Grey Star onward, praying to Time that he was not too late. The idea that he might once again lose his wife to a Maxwell was too horrifying and sickening to contemplate. He knew what would happen to him if she died. True madness-the kind that Thackery still suffered from. The one kind of madness that even the mad citizens of Underland feared. Even Tarrant, for all the years he had been friends with Thackery, still felt slightly uneasy around him. Stayne knew that if he lost Alannah, he would lose himself as well. 'Time keep her safe!' he prayed as he galloped onward.

Gerald was beginning to get slightly exasperated. He stared in frustration at his captive. "You will scream. I promise you. This display of stoic silence is becoming a farce. We both know how much pain you must be in. But I must say, it is quite intriguing to have someone as strong and stubborn as you in my clutches."

Alannah could barely raise her head. Gerald had not stinted in his torture, and she was bruised and bleeding from more than a dozen shallow cuts inflicted by a myriad of different blades. Her dress was in tatters, and sharp welts were visible on her breasts and chest where he had lashed her with a belt. But she had remained silent the whole time, stubbornly refusing to scream or beg. She had become detached a few times, floating in oblivion, only to be bought crashing back to reality by buckets of ice water. 'Gerald certainly was prepared for everything'. She thought bitterly. She took a breath, gathering her strength to speak.

"I told you when you began this that I would never give in. My husband will find me, and you will die. You don't know what you have unleashed in him." She raised her head with an effort, and grinned wickedly. "If you think what your brother suffered was evil, then what he will do to you will make that seem like a kindness. You have no idea what is coming for you."

Gerald looked uneasy, and then laughed. "You can't scare me. Captain Stayne has no idea where we are. I took great pains to cover my tracks. There is no one in Underland that could find them again. You are not going to be found in time."

Alannah laughed slowly. "Ilosivic can track anything. He will find me." She yelped as he slapped her hard, drawing blood. She smirked at him. "He. Will. Find. Me."

Gerald sighed, shaking his head. "No, he won't."

Stayne growled in frustration. He had lost the trail! He quickly dismounted, scanning the ground frantically for any sign of carriage tracks, but could find none. He dug his hands into his sides, making a huge effort to not scream in anger. A violent shudder ran through him as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. He glanced around, hoping to find something that would show where the carriage had gone. He was beginning to despair when he noticed Grey Star snorting and pawing at a patch of dirt three feet in front of him. Stayne walked over, and knelt down. He grinned in triumph at the faint impression. 'Horse's hooves.' He stroked Grey Star's flank. "You are the smartest horse in Underland. Now, do you think you can find the scent of the horse?"

Grey Star snorted in affirmation. Stayne grinned, and then mounted. "Good. Let's go rescue Alannah." Grey Star nickered, and took off at a gallop.

Mirana and Alice watched sadly as Tarrant walked out of Mirana's private chambers. "Poor child cried herself to sleep a few moments ago. She kept asking me where her momma and daddy were. I didn't know what to say to her. Why did Alannah go willingly? She must have realized she was going to her death."

Mirana nodded. "She could not bear to see another hurt on her behalf. It goes against her Oath as a healer, and since the one that would have been hurt was her daughter, she also had the motherly instinct to protect her at any cost, even her life."

Alice spoke up. "If Ilosivic finds her dead, it will destroy him."

No one answered. They knew Alice spoke the truth.

Stayne reined Grey Star to a halt, gazing at the small cottage that he could see through the screen of trees to his right. He looked down at his horse. "What do you think? Should I go and have a look?"

Grey Star snorted, and Stayne nodded. "So do I." He dismounted, throwing the reins over a small tree branch that hung overhead. He quickly made his way over to the cottage, peering into the small window set in the back wall. He growled in rage at the sight before his eyes.

Alannah was trussed up in a chair, barely conscious and bleeding. Her dress was in tatters, and she was staring ahead at empty space. Stayne nearly screamed, but then noticed the man that had taken Alannah captive enter the room. He was carrying a bucket, and he threw the contents in Alannah's face. She yelped, focusing on him. He spoke in a soft, gentle voice. "What did I tell you? I don't like it when you drift. I want you to feel everything."

Stayne grinned evilly. 'So he likes pain. Well, my good Sir-I will be happy to oblige you.'

He sneaked towards the front door. 'This guddlers scut was so sure he'd never be found that he didn't even bother to have someone else for a lookout.' He reached the door, and quietly tried the knob. As he had expected, it was unlocked. 'Foolish man.' He slipped inside the cottage, stealthily making his way to the room he had seen Alannah in. When he wanted to, Stayne could come and go as quietly as a shadow. Now he pressed himself against the far wall of the room, eyeing Alannah. 'I'm here.'

Alannah was sure something had changed. She gazed around the room as best as she could. Gerald was focused on reopening a cut on her arm, and not on the room. She was careful not to draw any attention to what she was doing. She suddenly realized what was different. The shadows on the far wall were different-more defined. She blinked, and then gasped sharply as the shadows formed a shape. "Ilosivic." She whispered under her breath. She caught his eye, and he smiled, pressing his finger to his lips. She smiled back, nodding in understanding.

Gerald, who had been reaching into his bag for one of the few implements he had not used, suddenly found himself with a sword pressed tightly against his throat. He froze as the sharp blade bit into his neck, and a voice that sounded as cold as death spoke from behind him. "Drop the bag, and stand up. If you try anything, I will not hesitate to decapitate you in one stroke. Is that understood? Don't speak, just nod."

Gerald nodded, and then slowly stood up. Alannah was grinning at him in wicked glee. "I warned you, Gerald Maxwell. And now, you must reap the consequences of your actions."

Gerald gaped at her, and then slowly turned around, paling in terror at the sight before him. Stayne's eye was blazing in cold fury. He leaned in, and spoke darkly. "So nice to meet you, Gerald Maxwell. You and I are going to get very well acquainted in a short while. But first, untie my wife."

Gerald blustered. "What if I refuse?"

He paled as Stayne smiled evilly. "Why, then I will be forced to slowly cut your throat. The longer you hesitate, the more pain you will be in." He pressed his blade deeper into Gerald's throat, drawing a fine ribbon of blood. "Now, I will not repeat myself again. Untie. Her. Now."

Gerald knelt in front of Alannah, quickly untying the knots that bound her to the chair. When the last knot was free, Alannah slumped forward, and Stayne moved quickly, catching her before she fell. She clung to him, smiling weakly. "I knew you would find me."

Stayne kissed her gently. "I told you, I will always find you." He gasped as she slipped into unconsciousness. "Alannah!" He shook her, and she slowly opened her eyes. "I'm here..." she fainted again, and Stayne moaned in agony. Gerald gazed at him, and then eyed the open door. 'My chance for freedom.' He started to make his move. Stayne's hand shot out, grabbing his shirt and flinging him hard against the wall. Gerald gasped sharply as the wind was knocked out of him.

Stayne turned and shook his head slowly. "You shouldn't have done this, you know. If you felt wronged for what I did to your brother, the noble thing to do would have been to openly challenge me to a duel. Instead, you chose to take the coward's route. Therefore, I do not need to observe any nobility in dealing with you."

Gerald gasped, and then smiled wickedly. "And what of the fact that the longer you bluster, the closer your wife comes to death? I'm no healer, but I'd say she has hours at the most, and I'm almost certain you came here alone. So, again you are faced with a choice. Save her, and get her to the Queen before she dies, or avenge her-and watch her die in the midst of your vengeance."

Stayne gaped at him, shaken. "You slurking urpal slackush scrum." He whispered.

Gerald grinned wickedly, then his eyes widened in shock. "Impossible! You were unconscious!" Stayne turned, gaping in amazement.

Alannah stood against the wall, staring in flat hate at him. "I'm stronger than I look." She suddenly staggered, and Gerald smiled when he realized the wall was the only thing holding her up. "Yes, I see that. So strong that if your husband gives in to his animal urge to kill, then he may inadvertently cause your death. Such a dilemma. Become an animal, and risk your death, or retain control of his faculties and maybe have a chance at your life being saved. Which would you rather he does?"

Alannah glared at him. "Kill you slowly, but I have a feeling you are right about time being important, so I suppose I will have to settle for a quick death for you. I have faith in Mirana's abilities. She will be able to cure me. But after Ilosivic is through with you, no one will be able to save you. Ilosivic quit hesitating and kill this slurvish bastard, please."

Stayne smiled wickedly. "As you wish, My Lady." He whipped out a dagger, and Gerald cried out as he brought it down. His eyes widened in pain as the dagger met flesh, pinning his hand to the wall. Stayne quickly bought a second dagger out of his belt, repeating the action-and Gerald found himself pinned to the wall, with daggers embedded in his hands. Stayne stared impassively at him.

"I will obey the wishes of my wife, but do you not think it is a shame for me to bring along all these beautiful daggers and not put them to use?"

Gerald gaped at him in fear, and then cried in pain as Stayne plunged a dagger into his side. "I wasn't actually looking for an answer, Maxwell. I intend to use every single dagger I have, and I know just where to stab you to cause the most pain. And I intend to do it so that you die slowly."

Gerald started to speak, only to have Stayne drive another dagger into his chest. He gurgled in pain. Stayne smiled, and then quickly pulled the remaining daggers out of his belt, plunging them deeply into Gerald's body, making him look like a human pincushion. Gerald screamed in pain.

Stayne had two daggers left. He walked forward, and then grabbed Gerald's head, forcing it upwards. "I want you to look over at Alannah. I want you to burn her into your mind; I want you to remember everything you did to her. Now." He forced Gerald's head around, and stared into his eyes with black hatred. "I want you to look at me, since I am the last thing you will see in this world."

Having finished, he brought his daggers down, one at a time-plunging them deeply into Gerald's eyes. Gerald howled in pain. "KILL ME!! PLEASE!!"

Stayne shook his head. "No. You'll die soon enough."

He turned on his heel, quickly hurrying over to Alannah. She had slumped to the floor. He bent down and picked her up, then quickly went to where Grey Star stood.

The horse was kneeling down, and Stayne marveled again at his intelligence. He gently maneuvered Alannah onto the saddle, and then mounted behind her. Grey Star quickly got to his feet, setting off for Marmoreal more swiftly than he had ever gone before.

Stayne reined him in, and then leapt out of the saddle. The entire ride to Marmoreal had been a harrowing experience. A few times, Alannah had started to stir, only to fall back into a stupor. Stayne's heart was in his throat as he gently lifted her down from the saddle, quickly carrying her to the castle.

"Stay with me, my love. Please." He had been repeating that for what felt like hours, and he was beginning to lose hope. He burst into the Main Hall, sighing in relief as he noticed Mirana running towards him. "Majesty, please…"

"Take her to my chambers. I will be along shortly."

Stayne nodded, and then set off for Mirana's chambers. He set Alannah on the bed, and then noticed it was already occupied. He gulped, and then gently shook the occupant. "Katarina?"

Katarina, who had only been pretending to sleep, sat up swiftly. "DADDY!!" She threw herself into his arms. "Daddy, where's Momma? I want Momma!"

Stayne gulped. "She's…safe now, Little Bit. The man that took her doesn't have her anymore."

Katarina wailed. "WANT MOMMA!!"

"I'm here, little one." Came the soft reply. Katarina turned around, and wailed. "Momma, you got hurts?"

Alannah smiled gently. "Yes, Momma got hurts. But Auntie Mirana will fix Momma's hurts."

Katarina hugged her gently. "Kat'rina helps fix Momma's hurts."

Alannah looked at her, tears in her eyes. "I'm sure you will my little one."

Mirana came into the room, closely followed by Alice and Tarrant, who gave cries of relief at seeing Alannah. Mirana quickly made her way over to the bed, glaring in mock anger at Katarina. "Young lady, I thought you were sound asleep."

"Wanna help wif fixing Momma's hurts." Katarina said solemnly. Mirana smiled. "Very well. Could you please hand me the pretty blue bottle in that bag?"

Katarina reached into the bag, carefully extracting the bottle, and then handed it to Mirana.

"Alannah, you need to drink this."

Alannah took the bottle, swiftly draining the contents. She handed the bottle back, and blinked tiredly. "Sleeping draught?"

Mirana nodded. "It is. You need sleep more than anything, and I find it much easier to heal extensive wounds when the person is sleeping."

Alannah nodded, and then looked at Ilosivic. "You'd better be here when I wake up."

He smiled, and then kissed her. "I promise."