Gail studied the little castellan as he walked ahead of her and his servants, entering a door at the side of the large audience hall, hands locked behind his back. She noticed with a bit of amusement that his nails were painted a dark blue that matched his coat and hat.
"As you can plainly see, Miss Crain, this castle is a vast stronghold, and every inhabitant is bent to my will. However, it isn't easy keeping up with all of them at once. Best you not stray far, as I certainly would not want you falling prey to one of the plethora of lurking beasts that make their homes here."
Gail gave a light breath of laughter, her eye catching the room through the archway to their left where some such "beast" seamed to be chained to a wall, "Yeah, I hate having roommates, too…"
In a synchronized motion that seemed as if her three captors were one being, the two hooded servants halted and Ramon twirled to face back toward her.
"Your quips are amusing," he smirked, taking a step toward her. "But in my experience, waggishness tends to precede larger behavioral problems. Ones that require swift correcting…"
She shrugged her shoulders in defense, genuine surprise in her wide eyes, "I'm just trying to remain cordial! No one's ever joked with you?"
Ramon's own eyes narrowed, before turning to continue leading their trek through the massive structure, "I find that jokes toward me are rarely cordial, Miss Crain."
"WITH. Not TOWARD… I feel like there's a difference."
Ramon humphed, leading them around a set of stone pillars.
"I'm not planning on pissing off my captor by making him the butt of a joke. I'm not an idiot."
"Well, that's certainly good to hear. Because those who make ME the butt of their jokes are not left with the capacity to laugh for long."
The corners of Gail's mouth turned downward, and she nodded, "Fair enough."
A pair of what looked to be some type of robed monks bowed to the castellan and opened the next set of doors for them. As they entered, Gail took in the grid of pools that surrounded the walkway before them and the reflexions of the torches in the clear water.
"Wow…what's this room for?"
Ramon glanced over his shoulder at the sudden question. He wasn't used to spending any extended amount of time with someone who could hold a conversation…other than Lord Saddler, of course.
"My ancestors were some of the most devout Catholics in all of Spain. So much so, in fact, that they insisted on full immersion baptisms for any residing in the castle," he looked over his shoulder again with a grin, "I made the decision to leave the room untampered with as I find the sound of running water relaxing."
"Damn! And I thought Biltmore Estates was impressive…"
Her flattery hit it's mark and had the desired effect.
"I have had the sacred duty of transforming this estate from its sacrilegious origins into a holy haven of protection. My ancestors were vile heretics, praying to a god who would deny his mercy to those who need it most…"
They ascended a wide set of stairs that brought them to the largest pool where they stopped, and the castellan turned to face Gail and her holders again. Two robed figures on the two raised walkways alongside them began turning cranks that raised their own passage across.
"Los Illuminados provides salvation to all who seek its divine grace. And soon, that will be the entire globe."
Gail's brow furrowed, "I'm guessing you'll be going for less a "go forth and preach the word" approach and more a…"stick your fingers down people's throats and implant parasitic eggs en masse" type of thing…"
"It will be as our gracious Lord Saddler wills it. But not everyone will be so blessed as us. For reasons that are only our Lord's to know, he has deemed you a special case. Like myself, you will retain much of your humanity, your free will and intelligence," he leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his yellow eyes, "but UNLIKE myself, your free will may be overridden should you choose to become unruly."
She considered this as he turned to lead them across the new bridge to the door on the other side, "Well…guess I'll have to behave myself, then…"
Ramon lifted his head, happy that the warning was clear, but also looking forward to the challenge should she NOT choose to behave herself.
As they had exchanged conversation, he noticed the subtle drawl in her voice. One that he could most closely compare to those he remembered hearing once in an American recording of a western radio show when he was young. He remembered laughing at the funny way the old cowboys spoke. Her accent was quite muted by comparison, but he found the sound…interesting.
The next room he led them through was almost stranger than the last; two massive Greek statues hung like stalactites from the vaulted ceiling. Gail wasn't left to marvel for long as they headed up a left side staircase and into the next hall to the next room. Surely they would be at their destination soon. Though, she figured she should count herself lucky that their destination hadn't been the prison in the first room.
Then they passed through that room.
And then the next…
"Sure do get your steps in around here, seems like."
Ramon gave a nod, "Salazar Castle is the keeper of the ancient remnants of las plagas, which expand widely beneath it. There are certainly more rooms than would seem practical, even in a structure warranting such extravagance.
"Of course normally, there would be a quick trolley ride that would take us quite close to our destination, but it is in an unfortunate state of disrepair."
Gail inhaled silently, "Any way I could KNOW what kinda destination we're talkin' about?"
Ramon gave a stern glance over his shoulder before deciding to indulge her, "You will be kept in my personal chambers. You are to be put on strict bed rest, as it will provide the best conditions for your plaga to thrive."
Gail cocked her head, "Then what about you?"
Ramon didn't look back, "WHAT about me?"
"Where do YOU sleep? I mean, I guess I haven't seen the size of your bed. And you're probably small enough to-"
She cut herself off as he made a sound of irritation, with a glare this time.
"I mean, it seems like a bit of an awkward situation, sharing a room."
Ramon opened the next door, and they were outside.
"I won't be needing a bed, as I rarely sleep, Miss Crain."
Gail felt her cheeks grow a little hot at her presumption, "Oh…"
"You will be under close watch in the first stages of your transmogrification, and my own chambers are the most convenient place for that. I spend much of my time nearby, and when I am not there, our Lord's servants will be. So no funny business, bonita."
"So you're telling me I get to lay around in a fancy castle all day while servants wait on me hand and foot?" she raised a brow, "Shit! I should'a joined up a long time ago!"
Ramon and his servants performed their synchronized halt yet again, and he fixed her with a warning look, "This is not a vacation for you, Miss Crain! You will soon be an important part of the most sacred organization mankind will ever encounter in its millennia of existence. You will show your respect."
Her eyes were wide again, "Sorry…"
She sounded sincere enough for his scowl to soften, and they continued alongside what looked to be a garden maze. The corners of his mouth raised to nearly a smile as he shrugged one shoulder. "Though…you will be well taken care of. And the view will leave you wanting for nothing. Yes, we are both…quite lucky."
They reached a door with an hourglass shaped relief in it. With a snap of the little man's fingers, the cloaked creature to their right produced a concrete slab that fit into the indentation, one with a moon, and the door slid up to reveal a massive master bedroom.
As they walked in, Ramon motioned from the verdugo that still held Gail's arm to the side of the bed, "Ponla ahí."
The creature led her to where he had pointed, and to her slight surprise, it left her there unrestrained. She was quite sure that should she attempt an escape, the two hulking creatures could easily neutralize her.
The castellan turned to the other verdugo, "El botiquín, por favor." And with that, the other creature retreated to the door on the other side of the bed.
"Do, please, have a seat, Miss Crain," he motioned to the bed.
She did as requested, and he came to stand in front of her. She noticed that even seated there, she still had to look at just a bit of a downward angle to meet his gaze.
Without warning, he reached to cup her jaw in his palm. She jerked slightly, whether from the unexpected proximity to her face or, more likely, from the memory of those digits cramming themselves down her esophagus. She allowed him to examine her, however, apparently assessing the damage done by her previous, meathead captor.
"My sincerest apologies for the way that that lunkhead of a yanqui has treated you, señorita. Rest assured you will not be subject to such barbarism while in my care."
"Damn decent of you," she gave a slight start as he pulled down the bottom lid of the eye that hadn't been blackened to examine that as well.
"Hmm…too early to tell, I suppose. All in good time."
Gail ruminated on the implication before the red coated verdugo returned with the requested first aid kit. He started by cleaning the blood from her nose, seeing that it didn't seem broken, and that she didn't express any pain at the touch.
He held out a palm, "Your arm, por favor."
She offered him the forearm with the deep cut, and he was surprisingly tender as he cleaned and dressed the wound.
"What in el nombre del Padre did you do to deserve these, querida chica."
She gave an amused exhale, "I think it's up for debate whether I deserved them… Honestly, I just think dude likes knives."
Ramon glanced up from beneath his hat, "Are there more?"
"Only older ones. I'm a fast healer."
"Mm," he hummed with intrigue, "Soon to be even faster. The marks will be but a memory in only hours."
Ramon could have sworn she had the look of wanting to say something, but she kept her thoughts to herself. He ran light fingers over her bandages before releasing her arm.
"I will have my servants draw you a bath, and you may choose from any clothing from the right wardrobe," he motioned to the room from where the verdugo had retrieved the first aid.
She perked at "bath", "A bath sounds INCREDIBLE right now!" she sprung to her feet, "Thanks, Ramon!"
Ramon's eyes widened at the strange leap he felt inside him when she addressed him by his first name. Was that his plaga? Strange… And she was exorbitantly cheerful for someone who had been captured and force-fed a permanently body and mind-altering parasite. Saddler was right; he would need to keep eyes on this one at all times. That was what the zealots were for, after all.
As if reading his thoughts, there was the sound of the door on the opposite side of the room unlocking, and a group of zealots entered the room, two of them carrying a delicately detailed, brass tub.
"I will return tomorrow morning to assess your progress," he joined his guards, stepping out of the then open door, "And do get plenty of bed rest; I wouldn't want to be forced to strap you down."
His smirk was the last thing she saw as the door came down to leave her in the room with the band of busy servants. She looked toward one of them, knowing she wouldn't respond, but speaking to her anyway.
"Bit of a sadist, idn't 'e?"
Spanish Translation:
bonita - beautiful
ponla ahí - put her there
el botiquín - the medical kit
yanqui - yankee
el nombre del Padre - the name of the Father
querida chica - dear girl