Author's Note: So it's been a long time since my last post. Mostly because I've lost the spark. I think my writing has gone downhill a lot. It's not as good as it used to be.

Chapter 21: Bad to Worse

Mike leaned against the old pillow on the bed he'd been using and watched Rose sleeping with her head resting gently on his lap. She'd finally fallen asleep a few hours ago, to which he was grateful. None of them were really getting any sleep. Ginny was still asleep on the next bed with Micky, who'd been asleep for only about an hour. Mike was gently brushing hair out of Rose's face when she stirred. She groaned and her body tensed up. She was having another nightmare.

"Rose, it's ok," Mike whispered softly, but loud enough to pull her out of her sleep. She woke up with a strangled sort of scream and pushed Mike's hands away from her.

"Get off me!" she cried. In a second she realized who he was and allowed her body to relax. "I'm sorry, did I hit you very hard?"

"Not at all," Mike said pulling her close to him. Micky and Ginny had woken up, but only looked at them with sadness. They all knew exactly what her nightmare had been about. Ginny had been having them, too.

"I'm sorry," Rose said again.

"Don't be," Mike said. "It's ok. You didn't do anything wrong." The four of them sat there for a little while longer before they heard footsteps coming towards the large metal door that kept them trapped. All four of them tensed up again, dreading what would happen when the door opened. Mike pulled Rose even closer to him and Micky did the same with Ginny as Robert walked in with Darla.

"Nice to see you're feeling better," Robert sneered at Micky.

"Who are you kidding?" Rose laughed angrily. "You don't give a shit."

"Actually, I do," Robert smiled, sending a chill up Mike's spine. "It means I can move forward."

"Move forward?" Ginny asked gripping Micky's arm tightly as if that would somehow protect them both.

"You two, up against the wall," Robert said to Mike and Rose, ignoring Ginny. Rose was about to protest, but Micky sat up straight and looked at them confidently.

"I'll be fine," Micky said. Mike knew Micky was just urging them to do what Robert asked. Mike knew if they didn't, it would only be worse in the end. So he squeezed Rose's arm and the pair moved to the wall next to the bed. Darla came over immediately and tied their hands firmly behind their backs. At the same time, Robert directed Micky to sit in a chair he'd brought in from the hallway and tied him to it. Ginny was left to stand and watch, unable to do anything. When she was done with Mike and Rose, Darla went over to grab Ginny and hold her back in case she started fighting. That's when Robert felt satisfied they were all sufficiently restrained.

"Now," Robert began standing tall and looking at the four of them. "I think you owe me an explanation."

"For what exactly?" Micky asked.

"How it is that Mike survived," Robert said glaring at Mike. "You can't tell me you haven't spent all this time down here without figuring it out."

"What makes you think we know any more than you do?" Ginny asked.

"Because you know all about that magic little box, sweetheart," Robert sneered.

"Don't you dare call her that," Micky said.

"Or what?" Robert laughed. "In case you hadn't notice, son, I'm in control here."

"We'll see how long that lasts," Micky snapped.

"Cute," Robert smirked. "I think you all know a lot more than you're letting on. The box is made from the same material as the artifact. And since the Gods made the artifacts, it stands the reason the Gods could touch it without it harming them. Am I getting close?" No one said anything so Robert just kept talking. "Now I know that Micky here is a descendant of one of those Gods. I know that because my father was researching your family for generations." Robert turned to Micky and knelt down in front of him.

"That's why you went after Mom?" Rose asked.

"Yes," Robert answered. "My father and I thought she'd be able to lead us to the artifacts. Turns out we were wrong. She didn't even believe in them, let alone know where they were. But I adjusted. I realized if I could take over the Assassins, I could find who DID know where they were. And, after all, I'd already seduced her and had you."

"Don't talk about her," Micky sneered.

"Calm your temper, Micky," Robert said. "Now, I watched you grow up knowing what you were; and your sister, too. I pushed you in your training because I knew you could do better than everyone else. You were stronger, faster, quicker. You were supposed to be. But it always bothered me that each time you were tested, you were on par with Mike. You were supposed to be better than him; by far. But you weren't." Robert shot Mike a scathing glance and paused. "But now...now I'm wondering if you weren't supposed to be better than him. Perhaps Mike is the same as you. Perhaps Mike is part God, too. That way, he could touch the box without it harming him. After all, why would it harm it's master?"

"You're insane, you know that?" Micky said.

"I don't think so," Robert quipped. "I think all four of you are descendents of Gods. Which means all four of you can touch the box. Which means all four of you can open it for me. I don't need to rely on Ginny anymore."

"You are insane if you think any of us would do that," Mike said.

"You'd be surprised what someone can do when pushed to their breaking point," Robert smiled.

"Then you must think us stupid," Mike said. "We aren't. We know what happens when you open that box. We all die anyway. Including everyone else in the world. We aren't going to help you with that."

"Everyone else…" Robert said with a smirk that worried Mike. "You mean like your friends? I wouldn't worry about them."

"Why?" Micky asked. "What did you do?"

"I've already taken care of one of them," Robert laughed; Mike stopped breathing. "The others won't be too hard to kill without William to guard them anymore." Mike felt terrible for feeling a sense of relief was over him. He was devastated to think that William was now dead, but he was at least relieved it wasn't Peter or Davy. If anything happened to either of them, he'd never be able to live with that.

"If you hurt them, I will kill you," Micky said.

"So many threats, boy," Robert said. "You really think you'll be able to harm me? I had fun with your little whore for five years without you even knowing about it."

"Try me," Micky said. "I will slit your throat."

"You're so much like me, it's funny," Robert laughed. "In the end, you'll fail your friends. I know you will. You'll put your own well being before theirs. You'll betray them."

"You're so full of shit, Robert," Rose said. "Micky would never betray us."

"I'm nothing like you," Micky said through gritted teeth.

"Oh really?" Robert smiled at Micky, ignoring everyone else. Robert took something out of a pocket that Mike couldn't really see and moved very close to Micky. "You're my son, after all."

"He's Diana's son," Mike said.

"You share my blood," Robert said pushing his fist into the wound on Micky's shoulder. Micky cried out in pain as blood flowed from his wound. "My blood runs through these veins, Micky."

"Stop it!" Ginny cried. "Leave him alone!"

"I'm nothing like you," Micky repeated.

"Aren't you?" Robert sneered. "You're so full of rage and hate. That's not a very Assassin-like quality. They kill out of need, not vengeance. They aren't brutal. Slitting someone's throat seems pretty brutal to me, don't you think?"

"I'm not an Assassin anymore, am I," Micky retorted. "You made sure of that."

"I had to get you out of my way," Robert answered. He dragged his hand across Micky's chest and Mike now understood what he'd taken out of his pocket was a knife; Micky's chest opened as Robert dragged the blade across. "Once you told me who Ginny's father was, I knew she would be able to find me that box. I needed her. And you, my son, gave me exactly what I'd wanted for years on a silver platter. Like the good little boy you are."

"Shut up!" Ginny said struggling against Darla's grip now. "Micky, don't listen to him!"

"Why do you think you like him so much?" Robert asked, turning to Ginny with a sadistic smile. "All you've ever known is pain and suffering. From me and your father. We cling to what we know. That's why you chose him. You knew he would bring you more pain and suffering in the end."

"That's not true," Ginny said in a low, dangerous tone Mike hadn't heard her take before. "I chose him to escape the pain and suffering. I knew he would love me like no one else ever had. And I knew my mother loved me. I had that. So I did know love. I fell for Micky because I knew he could ease my pain; I knew he'd love me."

"Right," Robert said clearly not believing her.

"Micky would never have willingly allowed any harm to come to her," Rose agreed. "If he'd known what you were doing, he would have done everything to save her. He would die for her."

"And what about you?" Robert said. "He didn't do anything for you, either."

"He didn't know," Rose said firmly.

"How could he not know?" Robert said looking back at Micky. Micky looked almost defeated. His face was weak and pale. Mike was beginning to get scared, thinking Micky was believing this crap. Robert cut Micky again and Micky again cried out in pain. "Your room was right down the hall from hers. Everyone else knew her behavior had changed; they knew something was wrong with her. You turned a blind eye."

"No, he didn't," Mike said. "Micky, don't listen to him. You did know something was wrong with her, just not what. You tried to find out, but she swore to you she was fine."

"You had to have known, Micky," Robert said. "Her room was down the hall. How could you not have seen or heard anything? You just didn't care."

"You gave him sleeping pills so he wouldn't see anything!" Rose said struggling against her bonds. Micky was breathing heavily now and something nagged at Mike. He looked ill. Not like he was in pain, emotionally or physically. He looked sick. Robert dragged the blade across Micky's chest again and began whispering in Micky's ear so the others couldn't hear.

"Stop it!" Ginny said again, fighting against Darla even harder now. "Leave him alone! Micky, don't listen to him!"

"Something's wrong with him," Rose said softly, also realizing that Micky looked sick.

"What did you do to him?" Mike asked, but Robert ignored them all and continued to whisper in Micky's ear.

"You son of a bitch!" Ginny yelled and actually broke free of Darla. She dashed toward Robert who reached out and hit her across the face so hard she collapsed on the ground in front of Micky.

"Stupid girl," Robert said.

"I know what you're doing," Ginny said as she pulled herself back up. "You're trying to mess with his head. It won't work."

"Won't it?" Robert laughed. "Micky's a strong minded young man, yes, but even the strongest minds can be weakened. With a little help, of course." Robert turned the blade over in his hand and it glinted in the light, flashing bright red with Micky's blood.

"What did you do?" Ginny asked.

"An old trick," Robert said. "Tip the blade in a little poison. It works almost instantaneously to start breaking down the system." Fear gripped Mike at the word "poison". Was Robert really trying to kill Micky?

"If you kill us, we won't be able to open your precious box," Mike said.

"Oh, he won't die," Robert said. "The poison isn't lethal in low doses like this."

"What did you give him?" Ginny said glaring at Robert and speaking in the same low tone she had before.

"Ergot," Robert said. Mike didn't know what this was, but by the look on Ginny's face, he knew it wasn't good. She tried to reach Micky again, but Robert stopped her. He grabbed her by the arms and threw her back on the ground in front of Micky. His head was hanging low now, as if he were about to pass out.

"Leave her alone," Rose snapped.

"Bastard!" Ginny snapped and actually spat in Robert's face. Darla freaked out at this and lashed out, kicking Ginny and pushing her back to the ground. Mike's fear grew, however, when Robert actually stopped her. Mike knew Robert wouldn't have done that if he didn't have something worse in his head.

"You know, it's one thing to put images into Micky's head," Robert said softly. "It's another to make him actually experience it." Mike's heart stopped momentarily. He seemed to be somewhere else entirely when Robert pinned Ginny on the ground. He knew what was coming. Suddenly a rush of rage unlike anything Mike had experienced coursed through him. He screamed at Robert to stop what he was about to do and he fought against his ropes as hard as he could. He had to free himself. He couldn't let Robert touch Ginny like that. Especially not in front of Micky. But Micky didn't seem to notice; he sat still in the chair with his head hanging low. Mike thought he saw sparks in Ginny's hand for a split second just as Robert started to rip her clothes away from her body. Mike continued to fight against the ropes, desperately trying to free himself, but he couldn't watch. He turned his head and clenched his eyes tight. He heard Rose cry next to him and felt her bury her own head into his shoulder, not allowing herself to watch either. Mike fought and fought, but he couldn't loosen his bonds. He did everything he could to drown out the grunting sounds Robert was making, but it wasn't enough. He couldn't do anything to stop this. He was useless.