Lana watched with foreboding as the woman stalked to the cage, a smile on her face Lana did not like at all.
She murmured some words again, and for the third time today, Lana's limbs went lifeless.
This is really starting to grate on my nerves!
"Come in, boys", the woman called with her strangely melodic voice. "And bring my toys with you."
Two guards entered the room, carrying an assortment of chains and metal rings between them.
"Put them down on that table", she said, pointing. Then she went over, regarding the chains thoughtfully. "Now, which ones do I select...? I think I'd like you to be able to move a bit, this time. So, just the neck ring... and a long chain." She took two items from the pile, the chains rattling as she pulled them out.
"Take him out of the cell, to the rings, boys", she said, snapping her fingers at the cage, and the magical humming of the bars ceased. The guards opened the door, dragging the immobilised Bishop outside and to the wall to the left.
"Yes, perfect", she purred, as she went over and fastened something around Bishop's neck. "Now, put him against the wall. Yes, like that." She drew the chain through a ring fastened into the wall at shoulder height with a rattling sound. Then she bent down and fastened the end of the chain somewhere at the floor.
"You can go now, boys, I won't need you anymore."
Without another glance, the guards left the room. The woman came over to the cage, grinning maliciously at Lana while she closed the door of the cell again. The magic humming was back.
"I'm going to have a bit of fun with our boy", she said, silkily. "I'm sure you don't mind sharing, do you? Because, you know, he's been mine for so much longer than you can even know him." She snapped her fingers once more, and suddenly Lana could move again.
She sat up, fury burning in her. "You miserable, poisonous viper! Stop that game immediately, or I'll..."
"Silence!" the woman shrieked, pointing her finger at Lana, and suddenly Lana could not hear her own voice. "You will call me mistress, if you call me anything, understand?"
She turned around and slowly moved back to Bishop, a small, cruel smile on her face.
"Now, my little one, we're going to have some fun. Remember old times?" She ran her hand down his cheek.
"I'm not yours", he said.
She retracted her hand and hit him so fast Lana could barely see the movement. But his head jerked back, and she could see the red welts the woman's sharp nails had left behind, and the drops of red blood running down from them.
"I disagree", she said, softly. "You've been mine since I first saw you on the street and knew you for the delicious treat that you were."
Lana could only watch in silent fury as the woman stepped even closer to Bishop, her tongue darting out, slowly drawing a trail from his collarbone, over his neck, and then, going up on her toes, up to his cheek, taking the drops of his blood on the tip, tasting them like they were some delicacy. To Lana's surprise, the tongue was not forked, but small, pink, and dainty.
She saw Bishop shudder and try to draw back, as far as the chain allowed. The woman laughed, delightedly, and licked another drop of blood from his cheek.
"Your blood always tasted so delicious", she said. "It tastes of..." Her eyes narrowed and snapped to Bishop's face. "Actually, it tastes of sorrow, and sadness... and regret?" She spat out. "What is this?"
She turned around, marching to the cell, hands on her hips. "Is that your work? Did you do that to him? Did you destroy the exquisite creature he was?"
Lana just glared at her.
"Oh yes, you can't answer me, can you, poor dear? But don't worry, I'll find out, and if I find this is your fault..."
"She's got nothing to do with it", Bishop's voice interrupted.
"Why, my little one, turning all protective of the kitten?"
"No", he said in a level tone. "It's just the truth. I've never even touched her."
How the hells can he stay so calm, the way that whore treats him?
Lana was so furious, she only wanted to hurl herself at the bitch and claw those malicious black eyes out of the smiling face. It took all her self control not to throw herself at the bars, rattling them in helpless rage.
But there he stood, iron ring round his neck, chained to the wall, red welts on his face where the woman's nails had cut him, and regarded her calmly.
The woman laughed, rapturous. "You mean she's not your lover? Oh, kitten, you've missed a treat. He knows how to make a woman scream, believe me." She made a face. "Or knew, at least. I'm not sure anymore."
She went over to Bishop again, sniffing the air around him. "Yes, I smell it now. Sorrow, and regret. Where's all that bottled up fury gone? All that delicious hate? The simmering rage, the thirst for blood?" She sniffed again. "It's not here anymore! Why?" She sounded devastated.
She must be raving mad!
Lana stared in disbelief, as the woman turned around again, addressing her.
"He used to hate me with such a passion, you know", she said, in a low voice, as if confiding into a friend, the memories bringing a rapt smile onto her face. "You should have seen the bite marks and bruises he always left behind."
She shivered happily with the memories. "He was such a vicious, violent creature. I could sense that in him right away, so I had him picked up and brought to me. He hated that I forced him, and he hated me because I could. Because I could even make him enjoy it. It made him yet more brutal."
She smiled again, that rapt smile. It made Lana feel sick.
That woman is completely off her rockers!
"He was my favourite toy", she continued, still in that low, intimate tone. "I have a lot of playthings, but none so delectably vicious. I had so much fun with him. But then he ran away."
She turned to Bishop again, who still stared at her wordlessly, his jaw clenched.
"Why did you run away, little one? Now I'm going to have to punish you."
She strode over to him, slapping his face. "Answer me! Why did you run away? Was it because of that patrol you slaughtered? Silly boy. You should have come to me. I would have protected you. What are a couple of pawns, if you gain the bishop instead?"
She genuinely wonders why he ran?
Fear began to settle in earnest in Lana's stomach. They were at the mercy of a powerful Luskan Hosttower mage. A powerful Luskan Hosttower mage who was more than one sandwich short of a picnic.
Bishop turned his head back after her slap had make it snap around and stared into the woman's eyes.
"I don't know", he said.
"Don't play games with me, little one. You know what I will do to you if you try that."
"No", he said.
"What do you mean, no? Don't anger me."
"I mean, no, I don't know what you will do. I don't remember. Anything."
Her eyes narrowed, and she sniffed again. "You smell like you tell the truth. How can that be?"
He shrugged. "As I said, I don't remember anything. Anything beyond the last six months."
Lana frowned.
Hold on, six months...?
But the woman had started talking again. "So you're telling me you don't remember me at all?"
He nodded. "That's what I'm saying."
She threw her head back, laughing, thrilled. "Now, isn't that wonderful, my little one? You can discover all the delights we shared anew."
Lana could see Bishop shiver. He did not look happy about the prospect.
"But where are my manners?", she continued. "I should at least introduce myself, if you don't remember. My name is Jaluth. You may call me mistress."
The fear in Lana's stomach solidified into one hard, tight, icy ball. She recognised that name.
Jaluth Alaerth, dreaded Overwizard of the North.
Oh boy, are we in deep shit.
"And now, it's play time, little one."
The woman crushed her lips to his, pressing herself against his body. Bishop seemed to try to melt into the wall, flattening himself against it as far as he could go. Jaluth drew back, her eyes narrowed in anger.
"You're no fun", she said, her voice cracking like a whip. "The old you would have bitten my lip, made me bleed. There's no fight in you, no rage, nothing for me to play with." She slapped his face again, hard this time. "Get angry already!"
But he just stared at her, blood dripping from a split lip. She sighed in frustration, starting to pace.
"I don't like this", she said, matter-of-factly. "I want the old Bishop back. What happened? How did you lose your memories?"
He still stared at her. "I don't know", he said. "I don't remember."
She whipped around, facing him. "Of course not! Hold still!" She reached out with her hands, and he flinched, but she ignored it, putting her fingertips on his forehead, closing her eyes, murmuring softly. Then she slowly slid her fingers backwards, through his short, mahogany hair, over his head and down to his neck, then forwards again, over his temples, touching his skull everywhere.
Lana saw Bishop screw his eyes closed, his hands balled into tight fists, still pressed back against the wall.
Then Jaluth started to smile, delighted. "Oh yes, got you now, you sly bastard.", she said, under her breath, still concentrating. Finally she giggled, a sound raising goose bumps on Lana's skin, and stepped back.
"I sense the touch of our dear friend Garius on you, little one", she said. "It seems he was less than happy with you."
Six months! The fight with Garius! Of course!
"What did he do to me?", Bishop asked, sharply.
"Ah", she purred. "You remember Garius then, little one, but not me? That's poor taste of you."
Bishop's eyes involuntarily went to Lana.
Jaluth followed his gaze. "So the kitten told you about him? The kitten knows Garius." She smiled at Lana, like a cat would smile at a mouse. "And I did notice that the kitten strongly resembles the description of a certain Neverwinter Knight Captain, hmmm? One in whose company you reportedly were to be found, before you betrayed her, as you are wont to do. Did no one warn you about my little one, kitten? His favours can be a little... fickle, if you don't know how to control him. But still you tried to protect him from me. Has he won your heart, kitty? Be careful, he'll break it. He might be a prize, but he's not one to let himself be bound to one woman."
She leaned into Bishop again, licking the blood from his lip. He shivered, and she giggled again.
"And now, kitten, the little one and me are going to find out if there is something left of that delicious creature I knew." She bent down, releasing the end of the chain from the bracket at the floor.
As soon as the chain was loose and he could move, Bishop's hand darted down into his boot, coming back out, holding a wicked looking dagger with a flamed blade. He lashed out with it, catching Jaluth by surprise, cutting her throat with one deep slash.
She made a small noise, her hands going to her throat, blood welling up between her fingers, her eyes wide. Bishop carefully stepped sideways and retreated some steps, his eyes never leaving her, gripping the dagger, his breath going fast.
A wide, catlike smile showed on her face, and she lowered her hands. Bishop gasped in shock as he saw her throat, pristine, untouched, unhurt, if bloody.
"Ah, it seems there still is something of my favourite toy left in you", she purred. "You always liked to cut on me, even though you knew you could not hurt me with your little knifes. But it seemed to vent some of that anger in you. And I always made you lick up the blood you spilled. Want to lick up the blood now, little one?"
Bishop retreated step by step, as she followed him, shaking his head frantically.
"Oh, but you will, little one, you will lick it up. All of it. And I shall cut on you some, as well, since you are being such a naughty boy." She extended her hand, and Lana could feel the magic like something solid as it slammed into Bishop.
He screamed in pain and dropped to his knees.
"Get over to the bed, Bishop, or I will have to punish you even more. As for you..." she turned to Lana, "...why don't you go to sleep." With these words, she took something from a little pouch on her robe and threw it at Lana.
Sand showered around her, and everything went dark.