Author's Note:
Thanks to all you have favorite and the new followers to Luxembourg. I feel it necessary to put some severe warnings about this chapter; it is the roughest yet, and not for light reading around innocent eyes. Dug deep into the darkest recesses for this with caution.
Warnings: Rape, violence, psychological and physical torture, murder, etc. This chap has it all, folks.
AW
Elaine stood silently, looking out the window into the darkness stretching over the forest near Castle Borschied as Erik and Sedrick weaved the plan behind her. At the end of their conversation, Sedrick nodded for the final time and leaned forward in his chair, looking towards Elaine.
"Do you think she can do this?" Sedrick asked, in a low whisper. Erik turned to her: his heart ached as he did. She looked so fragile at that moment.
"She is stronger than she seems, Sedrick, but she has been through much," Erik whispered back. "I will speak with her again."
"I believe it is time for you to set the wheels in motion, Sedrick," Elaine said, her voice low and clear. Her resolve was obvious, her focus on the darkness through the glass unwavering. "He must be dealt with." Sedrick nodded solemnly at Erik and exited, careful to maintain the quiet that was permeating the room.
Erik walked towards her slowly. As she turned around, her eyes were glistening, but her jaw was clenched, mirroring the turmoil within. She leaned into his embrace, yet her body was stiff and unyielding.
"You have only to say the word, Elaine," Erik said, pulling her chin up to look at him. His thumb grazed her swollen cheek gently. "I understand your reservation." She shook her head.
"You strengthen me," she said, her eyes looking into his fixedly, quiet conviction in her voice.
Erik pulled the frightened woman against his chest and held her tight. Her arms relaxed, and her hands found their way around his waist. They stopped short as she encountered his weapons. She pulled her hands back with a start, taking note of the knives hanging around his waist. The crimson stain of blood decorated one of the blades.
She leaned her forehead against his chest.
"You have been busy, I see," she said. Erik grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut. He took a deep breath and removed the belt bearing his weapons. He held her again; this time, her arms surrounded him and held him with desperation. He eventually spoke, in a pained tone.
"Elaine, you have been in his bedroom. Is there a place you can wait while I…obtain our information?" She looked up at him, questioningly.
"Yes, there is a small hallway I could go into. But honestly Erik, I do not want to spend any more time than is necessary out of your sight. His men…I do not want even the possibility of facing them alone," she said. He nodded, yet looked away, visibly disturbed. "What is the matter?" She asked.
Erik released his hold on her and backed away. He sat heavily on the bed, his elbows on his knees, his hands grasping his head. Elaine approached him, and placed her soft hand on his. He held her hand tightly for a moment before releasing it. Elaine could feel the anguish in his grasp. He stood up and walked to the place where Elaine was standing moments before, at the window. Glancing out at the dark woods below did not bring comfort or peace. Elaine waited quietly at the bed for his response.
In the woods below, three other men from Capellen waited for his return. The other mercenaries they had encountered and neutralized would attack no one ever again. The remainder of the mercenaries and gypsies that were fouling he castle lands would miss their comrades soon, he knew. Time was growing short.
"Elaine," Erik said, his voice low, "I don't want you to witness what I am capable of doing. Of being."
Elaine looked down to the wounds that the bindings had left on her on her wrists; she traced them slowly with her fingers.
"I feel it is justice, Erik. Now, he will receive that which he deserves." Her bitter words reverberated in his head. They looked at each other intently for a few moments.
"I have killed eight men since my arrival here, yet I feel no remorse. It sickens me to tell you this but I feel I must. Know that I will experience an inordinate amount of satisfaction in divulging this information from Montague." He looked down at his feet. "My demons have reappeared with alarming efficiency, Elaine. This situation has revealed what I really am."
"Without your demons, Erik, I would be plundered in Montague's bed before the next sunrise. You do what you must. I do not care whether it is retribution or revenge," she said.
She walked up to him and held his face in her hands, kissing him deeply. She looked into his eyes as she spoke.
"Once we return to Capellen, I will be proud to show my love for you openly. I was wrong to keep it hidden, Erik. There is no shame in our love."
Sedrick walked towards the monster's bedroom after escorting Elaine to the countess suite. Montague was nowhere to be seen. As he passed through the small hallway, he ran his hand along the wall where the secret entrance was. Several feet behind this area of relatively thin rock, Erik stood waiting. Sedrick was pleasantly surprised that Erik knew about the mechanisms used to slide and turn the heavy stone portals and needed no tutelage on how they worked. A slight touch of wind through the seams in the rock betrayed the hidden hallway behind. He tapped against the wall gently with the blunt end of his dagger. Two small metallic taps were the response.
"It begins." Sedrick said to himself. He took a moment to go over the plans in his head as he walked swiftly through the bedroom into the hall.
Sedrick had to waste very little time convincing the cook to flavor the mercenaries' favorite meal with a potent, sleep-inducing hallucinogen that Erik had provided. The monsters that guarded the castle were eating the food now, all except Montague's personal bodyguards. Sedrick would watch for the two hulking beasts to leave then stand guard outside the door. Elaine would signal to Erik when she was going to Montague.
Her short time in the dungeon had left her covered in grime. Elaine had washed and changed as best she could in the short time allowed her, pulling her hair back. It gave her a more stark, stern appearance that punctuated the now dark mark on her cheek, the result of her previous contact with Montague. She dressed herself in the plainest, lightest colored frock she could find. Her appearance was that of a maiden being led to the sacrifice. She paused for a second at the prescribed location in the hall.
"I go now," she whispered softly, hardly able to keep herself together.
"Strength, Elaine," was Erik's soft, reassuring reply through the stone. She leaned on the cold stone, scraping it with her fingernails as a sob forced its way out of her throat. She pushed away from the wall and continued her journey.
Entering the bedroom of her molester once again, she looked about, the room with a low light shed by few candles. The vile prince's attempt at romance, she surmised. She shuddered with loathing.
"Come, Elaine," she heard Montague say, from the direction of the terrace. One of the central, tall doors was opened. She glanced tentatively towards the door of the room at the two beasts that had dragged her off to the dungeon. One smirked and the other guffawed, exchanging glances and guttural sounds she presumed was their language. She looked away quickly, provoking wicked laughs from them both.
A loud, single word barked from the terrace by their keeper rendered the two hulks quiet.
Slowly, she crossed the room and parted the billowing curtains to enter onto the terrace. Montague was leaning on the banister looking out over the rear of the castle. Many feet below them was the moat and a particularly evil looking patch of brambles. On the meadows and fields beyond, the rolling landscape was interrupted by hastily built shacks and crude tents.
"This I wanted to share with you, Elaine. My bed, my home, even my heart if you proved worthy. But that was before. Now I just want to fuck you and move on, as you so eloquently put it earlier. But I hope that you may yet…"
"I am here, and as I told Sedrick, I would submit to your wishes. You will have my physical self, Montague, nothing more," she interjected. He twisted his face and turned his body towards her.
"I see. Resistance is enticing to me, dear." He strode up to her and slowly released her hair. She felt chills go throughout her body as his fingers touched her, as her hair dropped around her shoulders. He held her face and neck a bit roughly with his large hand, thumb under her chin, angling her face to look up at him. She started to breathe quickly, the panic arising in her chest as she focused at the cold blue eyes studying her. She clasped her arms around her body to stop her hands from shaking.
"I do not want to have to hurt you again. We will have no more of the foolish behavior of this afternoon, understood?" He said in a low voice, stroking her bruised cheek lightly. Elaine struggled to swallow.
"Understood." She said, shakily. She shut her eyes tightly.
"Look at me," he said, his voice low. Her eyes opened and she stared at him. The darkness of his soul permeated the chiseled, handsome features. "The more I enjoy your company, the faster you will see your boy. It is to your benefit to perform well." He released her and returned to the banister, looking down at several drunken mercenaries exiting the castle.
"Lushes, every last one of them," he moaned. "Such a distasteful bunch. But loyal to the cash I offer." He laughed, looking at her with curiosity. "Who are you loyal to, Elaine? Your boy's father?"
"As you already know, he is dead, Montague." Elaine felt a bit of worry within her; no doubt the men below must have partaken of the poisoned vittles by now, as was the plan hatched by Erik and Sedrick. She needed to take Montague away from the terrace.
"I believe that you have not been with anyone else since that little mistake. Do you still hold a candle for your dead lover?"
"I do not wish to speak of this," she said, rubbing her arms, trying to ignore his questions. "Is there any way we could go inside, I feel chilled by the night air," she said, looking at him intently. Montague remained silent for a moment.
"I would not want you to catch your death of cold, my darling, unwilling guest. It would do me no good to have a coughing, sick concubine." He said, waving his hand towards the door. One inside, Montague sat down unceremoniously on one of the chairs by the fire. He had that lecherous look, his gaze creeping over her. He beckoned her with several motions from his index finger.
"My, my, Elaine, you have chosen such an innocent dress. Fit for a virgin's first night. But, alas, as we both know, that you are not. Come, woman. Warm yourself on my lap." He said pointedly, with a devilish little grin.
"Even if I was, it would not dissuade you in your endeavors this night, I assume." She replied, not knowing where she got the nerve to answer. She walked to his side then sat tentatively on his legs. Within seconds his grappling arms surrounded her. She fought back the urge to flee.
"At least your prior experience will make it less painful for you, and hopefully, more exciting for me." He took her face in his hand and covered her mouth with his again, pressing his mouth against hers with surprising tenderness. He kissed her lips and cheeks softly, caressing her neck gently with his hand. "See? I told you, I can be gentle," he whispered.
Elaine, surprised at the mildness, decided she would take whatever respite he gave. She opened her mouth to his kisses in return, not wanting to have her jaw be forced open again. He groaned at her acceptance of his kiss and pulled her against him. His tongue invaded her mouth, and she distracted herself by concentrating on the strong taste of brandy still on his tongue. His scent of alcohol and spice permeated her nostrils. He abandoned her mouth to lay claim to her neck; she clenched her eyes closed, stifling a scream from her throat. A slight sound from the region of the door made her open her eyes again. She slid her arms around his neck, and leaned her head close to his ear.
"I have a request. I will find it easier to…perform for an audience of one," she said. He looked up at her face, his expression one of pleased shock. He then followed her gaze to the bodyguards. He laughed a mischievous laugh, playing with a lock of hair.
"Modest, are we? Don't worry. This is not the type of entertainment I choose to provide them with." He lifted her with minimal effort and deposited her on his darkly adorned bed. She tried in vain to quiet her tremors as he walked to the door, dismissing his agents with a few terse words. The door shut quietly, the bolt sliding home with a metallic scrape and clang. Finally, they were alone.
Montague turned to her, his deep blue eyes glued upon his conquest. Elaine remembered Sedrick's instructions as she watched Montague approach her.
[i]Three minutes, Elaine, three minutes. Keep him at bay for three minutes.[/i]
He removed his shirt swiftly, revealing a muscular, toned physique. His pants hung on his slim waist. Within seconds he was upon her again, kissing her and running his hands down her body, groping her chest through the fabric, then pulling apart her bodice with startling ease. Elaine stifled a yell, for she knew Erik would be waiting for any sound from her to intervene. It was not yet time.
She could not help trying to pull her clothing together with her hands. That displeased him, she could tell, so she grabbed his head and kissed him hard, much to his surprise. She struggled to allow him to run his hands up her legs, her skin rampant with chills, her body tense. As he slid his hands to behind one of her knees, he pulled her leg around his waist, pushing hard against her. Her mind was screaming as she felt his body heat against her skin.
"Montague, do we need to move so quickly?" She managed to say, pushing him away to take a break from his stifling kisses. He looked at her sternly.
"Yes." Her heart sank. Three minutes may just be too long.
Regardless of what he had said, he seemed to slow his endeavors. He caressed her painstakingly slowly, making her nauseated, his mouth roaming over her neck and chest. Eventually, he turned to lay over her, pinning her arms against the bed, maneuvering his hips between her legs, her skirt hiked up to her waist. She looked at him wide eyed, her breath becoming fast and deep with fear.
He shoved his firm arousal, still covered with his pants, hard between her legs. She could hold back no more.
"Stop it, Montague, please!" She said, loudly, starting to cry. "Is this really how you want to have me? Against my will?"
"We have an agreement my dear. And you were doing so well. Cry if you must, but I will have you!" He growled, his blue eyes piercing through her. He pressed his full weight upon her, pushing her arms against the bed, pressing his mouth to hers, his hips against hers roughly. This was the end of his tenderness. She shut her eyes tightly and prayed as the beast took over her body.
It was several long moments before his weight suddenly lifted off of her and his hands released her arms. Elaine gasped and opened her eyes in time to witness Erik's full blown fury.
Montague was being dragged off of her by his neck, his hands reaching for his throat. His face turned cherry red, his eyes wide open with shock. Elaine sat up and looked on, stunned, unable to move or speak
Erik's dark form stood behind him, his face in a terrible scowl, his eyes piercing and wild with rage. He dragged Montague's rather large frame like a rag doll onto the floor and threw him against the far wall, then grabbed him again and threw him down, ramming his head into the stone floor with a sickening thud.
Erik loosened his garrote swiftly, and barely let Montague make a sound before he began beating on him with his fists. Montague's face erupted in blood as his nose and facial bones shattered after each heavy blow. A growl escaped from Erik as Montague tried in vain to escape the assault, a high pitch shriek the only noise uttered. Montague stopped moving.
"Erik! NO!" Elaine yelled, shaking off her paralysis. Erik stopped his fist in mid swing, breathing loudly, his eyes filled with hatred, glued on the bloody heap before him. "Don't kill him!" Elaine warned.
Erik pulled himself back away from Montague with great difficulty, still shaking with anger. He took one look at Elaine's disheveled state and blew up again. He grabbed a rather fragile looking chair like a twig, bashing it against the far wall with such force that it shattered upon impact. She let out a little shriek at the display of anger. The room went silent for a few seconds, the only sounds being Erik's panting and Elaine's quiet sobs.
Despite the din, one came to the bedroom door to rescue the prince.
It took a few minutes for Erik to regain control of his temper. He moved over to the bed, his anger draining as he took Elaine gingerly in his arms. She was trembling ferociously, hardly able to wrap her arms around his neck. She squeezed him tightly and cried into his neck until the shaking stopped. He smoothed her hair and kissed her face gently.
"Are you alright? Did he...?" Erik asked, gently.
"No, he did not," she said, her voice still shaking.
"I am so sorry to you had to go through that, Elaine," he whispered. She nodded.
"I know. But, is he…?" She said, turning her head to look at the body on the floor.
"He is not dead. A man like him can take a lot more. That is what I am counting on." Erik said darkly. Elaine released her hold on Erik and walked over to Montague. Her body convulsed as she looked at his beaten face, the blood still dripping from his nostrils. She reached a shaky hand and laid it on his chest. She gasped with relief.
"He still breathes," she said, turning to Erik.
Erik dragged a sturdy chair into the center of the room and began to tie the rather limp Montague securely into the chair. All four extremities were tied, the arms together behind his back, his legs separately, and a tight tie was lashed around his chest and thighs. Erik removed Montague's boots and stockings.
Elaine maintained her distance, walking around them, watching Erik work. He was quick as he bound his victim, his movements precise and mechanical. A shudder went down her spine.
He has obviously done this before.
He dragged a table before Montague and turned to face Elaine, who was leaning over, picking up something from the floor. Elaine rose and turned to him.
"Erik, what is this?" She asked, holding out her hand. Erik's blood went cold. His deadly lasso lay over her beautiful fingers. He approached her slowly and took it from her, sighing. He reassembled it into its lethal form.
"This is a Punjab garrote, or lasso. It is my most effective weapon." Erik was surprised at how easily the confession flowed from his mouth. She nodded, looking up at him with wide eyes, an expression of fear mixed with curiosity.
"Show me," she said softly. Surprised at the request, Erik paused but a second before turning her around. He stood behind her, maneuvering her delicate, gentle hands into the correct positions for deadly effects.
"Engage this…put it around the neck and pull taut like this. It has a ratchet effect…minimal pressure will occlude part of the circulation from the head and make the person feel as if their head will explode. More pressure will occlude more blood and render the person unconscious in seconds, dead in minutes. Turning your hand and pulling quickly like this… will break the neck and produce a quick kill. Minimal effort is necessary for me, but you will need all your strength to accomplish that. This…will release the pressure at any time." He held her in silence after he finished the explanation.
"Thank you." She said softly. He turned to face the black cabinet that Sedrick had told him about. He shook his head upon seeing the cage-like object on the top.
"I expected him to have one of these." He said, taking it down, knowingly working the contraption. He opened up the cabinet and the inner door and continued to shake his head. "Quite the collection he has." His eyes moved from one shiny metal and leather object to the next in quick succession.
"What are those?" Elaine said, looking over his shoulder at the ominous appearing paraphernalia.
"A collection of torture instruments to rival that which I had at my disposal when it was my profession and duty to use them," he said, his tone cold and detached. Elaine grew silent and backed against the wall. Erik picked up the cage like object and swung it open.
"This is the Branks, otherwise known as the Scolds bridle. This part with spikes goes around the neck to stop the wearer from trying to remove it. This rounded yoke," he said, as he held up what seemed like a lollipop covered in sharp spikes "goes into the mouth to stop the person from talking. But it does not silence screams." Elaine shuddered. Erik looked back at her with concern.
She will not be able to tolerate this session well. I must be quick with this.
"Elaine, could you bring some water and a cloth, please?" He asked. She nodded and walked swiftly to the small door that led to the countess suite.
Erik placed the Branks on the table. He continued, looking through Montague's collection and placed several more morbid appearing pieces on the table before their intended prey. Erik took a rolled up fabric with a black tie out of a pocket of his cloak and placed that on the table as well. He walked to the fire and placed several pokers and the tongs into the fire. Elaine returned with the items she had requested. Erik held her shaking hand as she looked at he metallic objects in the fire. She could only guess the reason for heating up the pokers. Erik's look was stern and distant.
"Please, stand well behind him and try not to make a sound. Do not speak to him. He will say anything, do anything, and promise anything to end this. If he knows you are here, he will torment you, or plead to you, which will be torment enough. Torture brings out the worst in a man. Please, reconsider your decision to be present for this." Elaine stared at him, eyes widened. Still, she shook her head. He sighed and turned to his victim.
Erik took the pitcher and cloth and used it to clean off Montague's face less than gently.
The unfortunate man stirred, moaning. Erik dumped the rest of the water on his head to revive him faster. Montague awoke slowly, blinking, and then growling loudly as any attempt to move was thwarted by restraints. The bloody water dripped from his face, leaving red stripes on his chest.
"What the hell is this?" Montague's voice, now gravelly, questioned. His tone was bitter, without any fear. Erik walked in front of him, turning his face so that the scarred side was the first seen. He had actually shifted the long lock of hair to cover the normal side. Montague lifted his head to look at Erik, shock and disgust on his face. "What kind of demon are you?" Erik glared at him, but did not answer.
Montague's gaze drifted over the table, set with his instruments. He screamed borage of curses and condemnations loudly, bloody spittle flying from his mouth. Erik was unmoved.
"What the hell do you want, you devil creature?" Montague growled, venom thick on his tongue.
"Tell me where Roland Dyson is being kept and you may just survive," Erik commanded.
"Where is that godforsaken whore? That filthy, lying, scheming bitch! She brought you here, didn't she! Where the hell is she? Help! Help!" Montague screamed out in several languages.
Montague grew silent, planting in rage, his blue eyes bloodshot and glued on the dark figure pacing slowly before him. Erik passed a stony glance to the door of the room after a few tense, silent moments.
"Pity. No one seems to have heard you. You are alone, Montague. No one will save you. By the way, thank you in advance for the use of your instruments," Erik said, motioning in a patronizing fashion towards the table. Montague looked around wildly, fear creeping into his face. He craned his head as far as he could to search the room. Elaine cowered, hiding behind a wall, out of his view, she thought. She looked up and realized that Montague had seen her through a mirror. Dread stabbed her as his eyes, filled with rage, widened when he saw her.
"There you are, you damned, stupid bitch! I should have tied you down and fucked every orifice on your body until you bled! Then beat you until you looked like this beast here! Your bastard will die for this! I promise you!" Erik grabbed him by the hair and yanked Montague's head back painfully. Montague spit in Erik's face. Erik wound up and hit him with a backhand. Montague screamed with the pain of the lash on his broken bones.
"You are in no position to make threats!" Erik growled.
"Where did you find this thing, Elaine? He will not help matters, you know, your son will die in the most painful way possible, and you will watch." Montague said, darkly staring at Elaine in the mirror. He turned to Erik.
"What part of hell did you come from? I can pay you more than she or her family will ever. Why are you doing this, for her? She is nothing but a whore!" Erik's patience began to wane. He was itching to inflict some pain on this vile prince.
"This can be fast and merciful if you divulge his location now, or now can be the most painful time of your life," Erik said. "Your choice." Montague glared back at Erik.
"Rot in hell, you beast!" Was the answer.
Erik grabbed a cloth, wedged Montague's mouth open with a metal blade and filled his mouth with the cloth, with just enough space to let him breathe. Erik picked up what looked like a double edged fork attached to a leather collar. He wedged the sharp object between Montague's chin and the notch of the breastbone and attached the collar. Montague snarled and winced as the metal cut into him. Any movement of his head drove the spikes deeper into his chin or chest. Montague growled loudly in pain, his body tensing.
"The Heretic's Fork. One of my favorites." Erik whispered in his ear. He pulled the cloth from Montague's mouth. "Now, where is Roland?"
"I will not tell you! You might as well just kill me! And he will die! I warned you, Elaine! This monster here has ensured the death of your child. If you call off this beast and apologize to me in the most demeaning way possible I may let your son live!" Montague screamed, his eyes glued on the mirrored image of Elaine.
Erik looked over at Elaine, who was sobbing in the corner, eyes covered with her hands. He hoped she would remain where she was, and silent.
"Death is not in your cards at the moment, Montague. But you will beg for it," said Erik. The fright was slowly creeping into Montague's expression. Erik picked up a clawed object from the table and looked at it with feigned curiosity. He walked over to the man strapped in the chair. Erik dragged the instrument across Montague's chest repeatedly and the flesh parted, streaming crimson from the wounds. Montague stifled his scream.
"You keep this Cat's Paw rather sharp," Erik gave a smirk and turned, uncorking a bottle of liquor.
"No…No." Montague babbled, his head shaking violently, his fearful eyes on the dreaded, burning liquid. A tormented, angry scream emerged when Erik poured the strong alcohol over his shredded skin.
Elaine's sobs rose in volume in the corner in response to Montague's wails.
Erik turned to the table again and picked up a wedged piece of wood. He stepped on Montague's foot and slammed one of the wedges underneath the nail of one of his toes. Montague screamed out again. Erik repeated it on the other foot.
"I can keep this up all day, Montague," Erik said, leaning his hand on the man's head to drive in the stake into the soft flesh of his chin. "Now, have you remembered the boy's location?" Montague panted and grunted, saliva and blood streaming from his mouth. He looked at Erik rather clearly.
"You can still go to hell! It figures that someone like you would know how to torture someone." Montague said, voice low and growling.
"What is your excuse? You are just a sick bastard." Erik walked over to the fireplace.
"Oh, admit it, you are enjoying this; I can see it in your eyes. Do you do this instead of fondling yourself, you ugly creature? Does she know how much you enjoy this?"
"Not as much as you do. I see that your toys here are well used," Erik retorted.
Elaine let out an audible gasp from the corner. Erik doubted she could take much more of this. He walked over and picked up the glowing poker, waving it in front of Montague's now fearful expression.
"The boy's location. Now!" Erik shouted at Montague loudly, a growl in his throat. Montague spat at him again. Erik pushed the hot poker closer to to Montague's face, then let it sizzle on his bare shoulder for a moment. Montague's blood curding scream pierced the air.…
"I should have raped you long ago Elaine! I see I wasted my time waiting!" He yelled.
"I have had about enough of your mouth right now, Montague!" Erik said, knowing he had to silence Montague, for a while at least, for Elaine's sake.
He took off the Heretic's fork and put the Branks on Montague. Montague squeezed his mouth shut as Erik tried to put in the mouthpiece.
"You can either open your mouth or I will rip your lips off and break your teeth as I ram it in." Erik said, his stone cold glare showing Montague he was completely serious. Montague opened his mouth and Erik secured the uncomfortable piece of metal in his mouth.
Each time Montague resisted Erik, he used small, clip like instruments to pierce sensitive pieces of skin. Montague winced and growled, his eyes wide with pain,. Erik applied a vice to his left ankle and raked the skin of his shins with razor like implements. Montague frequently shook in his restraints, shaking his head "No!" each time Erik questioned.
Erik was efficient. Because of his refusals to divulge the information, Montague was soon covered in wounds. His skin was decorated with the red streaks of blood and sweat, his head soaked with the blood from bucking against the spikes in the Branks. Within his own head, Erik was beginning to die slowly. At first he had been enjoying the pain he inflicted, but as it went on, it was becoming tiresome.
He shot a quick glance at Elaine. She remained there, her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes staring in horror. As she looked into Erik's eyes, her expression sliced into his heart. Montague was holding out on purpose.
"Please Montague, just tell me where Roland is, I do not want this interrogation to go on…" Elaine said softly from the corner, her voice filled with anguish. "Erik, please…"
Erik growled, flashing a glance her way. She realized quickly that she had made a mistake. Montague looked between them with vague realization. Erik glared at him, the anger seething within coming to his skin. Montague looked at Erik with hatred and nodded his head, mumbling. Erik pulled out the bloody, dripping mouthpiece so that he could speak.
"You are fucking her, aren't you? You are doing this to me because she is letting you fuck her…"
"You should be more concerned with your own hide right now," Erik said. Erik would use her revelation to his advantage.
"And to think, I waited for you while you fucked this wretched carcass? I did not know you were into bestiality, Elaine," Montague spat. Erik pulled in close to Montague's ear and whispered, low and menacing.
"Yes, we are lovers, Montague. These hands have touched her in places you have only dreamed of. It is my name she screams at night. She chooses to be with me, an ugly beast, rather than you. You will never taste her as I have, that I promise you." Erik backed away slowly as Montague glared at him with renewed malice. Erik picked up an object that looked like spiked metal salad thongs.
"And what is this for again…ah, yes I remember…crushing testicles," Erik said, opening and closing the instrument with a loud clang. "I will make sure that you will never have the tools or drive to hurt another woman again." Montague stared at the object after Erik dropped it back on the table. "I'll save this for later." Montague struggled in his bindings.
Montague had forced Erik to progress to horrid instruments of his own invention, created and perfected during his darkest hours in Persia, the Nerve hooks.
"These are my own," He said in a low voice, piercing the skin of the low neck with one of the long, sharp instruments. Erik methodically directed the sharp implement until he saw Montague shudder and jerk and utter a high pitched squeal. He knew that the effect of his probing the nerve leading to the arm was a shot of searing pain down its length. Montague's arm shook uncontrollably. He put in two more in quick succession with the same consequences.
"I have plenty more of these little toys…should I continue? Will you tell us the location of the boy?" Erik growled from behind.
Montague's head dropped forward and he saw him nod his head.
"End this. Tell me the location of the boy." Erik said, in a low voice.
"You son of a bitch," Montague murmured, panting loudly. "Elaine, I thought you were a good woman…how could you let him do this to me?" Montague said, starting to sob. Erik rolled his eyes. Would Montague's harassment of Elaine ever cease? "Come and see what he has done." He growled, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
"No more games, Montague." Erik growled, pulling off the metal headpiece.
"No games. I just want to face her when I tell her where Roland is."
"You do not make the rules here! Tell me now or I will continue!" Erik said, his face in front of the beaten Prince.
"I will face you." She said, standing stiffly. Elaine walked slowly around the chair. She could hardly hold back her sobs when she stood before the tortured man. Montague knew just how to play on Elaine's pity.
"Do you see what you have done?" He said. "Please order him to release me!" Elaine uncovered her face, her expression cold.
"I have little compassion for the man who was about to rape me. We will discuss your release after you tell me where he is!"
"Make him promise to you not to slay me in cold blood, and I will tell you where to find your son." Montague growled.
"Why?" Elaine said.
"I need insurance that my life will not end in this hellion's hands." Montague said, glaring at Erik. "He will not betray a promise to you."
Elaine looked at Erik, who nodded.
"You child is the prisoner of some gypsies at the town Linas." Montague said, his sharp eyes on Elaine.
"What?" Said Elaine. Erik felt an alarm. "That is high in the mountains!" She gasped, looking to the window. Erik strode over to her.
"About how far is this town?" Erik questioned.
"A three hour ride on a fast horse," she said.
"Release me now. You have your information," Montague said. Erik looked at him with a scowl. Elaine turned to Erik.
"I promised to release him once he told," she said.
"Not yet. When the boy is safe in our grasp, you will be freed." Erik said. In all actuality, Erik had no intention of letting him live. Erik slipped a rope fashioned into a noose around Montague's neck, looping the other end of the rope over a high beam.
"What is this? Elaine, what lies do you spew?" Montague protested. Erik undid the lash around Montague's chest, legs and feet quickly as he pulled up Montague to standing by pulling on the rope. Montague gagged and stood up.
"Why are you doing this?" Elaine questioned. Erik looked back at her blankly.
"Our insurance. Your trust in him is admirable given the circumstances, but ill advised, Elaine. Once we know he has told the truth about Roland's whereabouts, he will be released. Until then, he will wait for our return, eagerly." Erik pulled up on the noose.
"You are evil," Montague growled at Erik.
"Step onto the chair. Or be dragged up," Erik warned, pulling hard on the noose. Montague stood with difficulty on the chair. Erik secured the other end of the rope onto the large wooden bed frame. "He will be here until I return."
"You cannot leave me like this…what if I falter, become tired?" Montague said with genuine fear.
"You should have held him captive in a closer location," Erik retorted.
Montague growled as he studied the contraption threatening his life. Elaine and Erik headed to the door to retrieve Sedrick.
"Wait." They heard the defeated man utter. They turned around and stared at him. "He is at the keep at Useldange, in the second tower." He said, his head bending forward.
"You lied to me!" Elaine said, incredulous, approaching Montague. "Is there no bounds of your deceit?" Erik grabbed her arms and pulled her back.
"Let us go, now." Erik said, opening the door. Montague looked on with anger as Sedrick entered, glaring back at him.
"So, you are involved in this betrayal?" Montague growled. Sedrick bolted the door behind him and proceeded to admire Erik's handiwork, walking around the man strung up by the rafters.
"Where are my wife and child?" Sedrick said, holding the tip of his sword to Montague's neck. Sedrick had been listening outside and knew that important bit of information was not yet obtained. Sedrick looked over to Erik and Elaine, motioning to the secret exit in the hallway. Montague glared at Sedrick.
"You stupid fool, how dare you plot against me!"
"Where are they? Speak or I will continue where he left off!" Sedrick warned. Montague scowled his worst scowl.
"Your runt and your whore are dead." Montague snarled, looking at Sedrick, the blackness veiling his countenance.
"What?" Sedrick said, in complete shock. His sturdy frame grew limp and he hobbled to the wall, nearly overcome.
"I watched your boy be beaten to death and I raped your wife until she begged me to end her life. I enjoyed her screams, so I took my time." He said, scowling wickedly.
Elaine started to sob against Erik's chest. Sedrick fell to his knees, the astonishment turning to intense, immeasurable pain forcing itself almost physically from his body. He fell onto hands and knees, tears pushing forth from eyes squeezed closed with anguish. His face turned red with grief and the inability to take a breath. Erik looked on, a hole forming in his chest as he held Elaine against him.
"When?" Sedrick hissed, needing to fall back against the wall, his eyes glued on Montague.
"Weeks ago," Montague said, his voice low.
"All this time, you kept me as your slave, your beast…" Sedrick murmured. He raised his large sword and swung at the prince uttering a stifled yell.
His blade severed the rope that held him to the rafters, pushing Montague off the chair, and onto the floor with a thud. Sedrick bore a look of powerful rage as he approached the fallen Prince slowly, intently. Montague cowered back, crawling against the wall. Montague shot a look towards Erik and Elaine.
"You must keep me alive, until you find your precious little angel," he said, with desperation. Erik pulled Elaine behind him.
"I will not stand in the way of a score that begs to be settled," Erik replied.
Sedrick, now fuming, dropped his sword and pulled his dagger from his belt. Through frenzied tears Sedrick wrestled briefly with Montague and cut the bindings from his hands. Montague stood up with great difficulty, completely confused as Sedrick backed away and kicked the sword to Montague. Sanity drained from Sedrick's wide, aqua-colored eyes.
"I am in the mood to spar today. Pick it up! Fight me!" Sedrick screamed. Sedrick grabbed a spiked mace from the wall and paced like a lion before Montague, who was limping away in pain.
Erik turned with Elaine, leading her out to the terrace. She looked up at him with fear.
"He will kill him!" She said, tears starting to run down her cheeks. "If he is not telling the truth about Roland…"
"He is, Elaine. I am fairly sure Montague would not lie about that twice." The sounds of metal against metal came from the room. "Stay here," he said, leaving her on the terrace before she could utter a word. He did not want her to witness the brutal death he was sure was in store for Montague. Nothing was going to stop Sedrick from exacting his revenge on the one who murdered his wife and child. Erik would make sure of it.
Erik walked around the perimeter of the room as Sedrick rallied against the injured prince, who was holding up the sword weakly, trying in vain to defend himself, to duck under the blows of the mace.
The mace connected with the sword hand, which sent the blade flying, his hand being ripped open by one of the long spikes. Montague screamed the first of many screams.
Without mercy, Sedrick beat Montague methodically; he disabled his extremities, smashing joints and shattering bones into a bloody pulp, one at a time. Then he seemed to loose all restraint and used the mace to inflict mortal damage on his trunk and belly.
In seconds, every fluid ran from Montague's body, his face the death mask of pain. The rage drained from Sedrick as he dealt the final blow to his head, the skull cracking open visibly. Sedrick dropped to his knees before the dead body, this face contorted with silent despair, his arms and body shaking with the effort of his kill.
The vile prince was dead. It did not ease the pain of his loss.
Sedrick released a heart-breaking cry of despair. The room was then gripped in an eerie quiet, punctuated by Sedricks loud, painful inhalations. Sedrick clutched his chest and stood up slowly, the rage on his face returning.
He grabbed the limp, lifeless form and dragged it over to the doors of the terrace. He kicked open the doors and hauled the body up above his head, throwing it over the banister with a loud yell. The disjointed body fluttered in freefall through the air, and then became impaled on the thorns of the brambles below.
For several long moments, Sedrick looked over the banister at the prince, crying out repeatedly. The depths of his despair was so great, his angst filled breaths slowed as he moved closer to the banister. Within his mind, the memories of his Annabel and boy Kevin played over and over. His will to live vanished.
"I want to be with you," was his tortured whisper. He leaned over the terrace.
A soft, cold, shaking hand held his blood splattered wrist.
"No, Sedrick!" Elaine said. "No." She had heard his anguished whisper.
Erik walked closer to them, alarmed. He had no idea what Sedrick would do in his state. Sedrick's gaze turned to Elaine. His face was streaked with tears running through red smudges of blood. The pain in his eyes was immense, but matched the compassion flowing from Elaine's eyes. He halted his suicidal endeavors.
Voices and the clattering of boots on stone rang out beneath them. Erik looked over the banister and saw a good dozen men beneath him. They pointed to the dead body of Montague and up at his terrace shaking fists and uttering guttural threats in their tongue. They entered the castle.
"Montague's men are coming. We must go." Erik said, turning back to the two other people on the terrace. Elaine had eased the distraught man away from the edge and was holding him as he wept.
Sedrick left Elaine's comfort and walked into the bedroom to retrieve his sword but stood still in the center of the room as Erik and Elaine rushed to the entrance of the hidden passageway. Erik halted, looking back. He realized quickly that Sedrick had no intention of coming.
"I will stay here and hold them off as long as possible." Sedrick said, his face blank, his voice stony.
"Please come! There are too many!" Elaine said.
"GO!" Sedrick screamed his tone echoing with finality. He looked at Erik. "Take your woman and leave me," he said bitterly.
Erik grabbed hold of Elaine and hurried her ahead of him. He pushed open the stone wall quickly, dragging her with him. She resisted him, pulling away from Erik once they were in the passageway.
"Erik, we cannot go and leave him here to die! He saved my life!" She pleaded.
"Elaine, he wants to die, can't you see it? He has lost his family! He does not want to feel pain anymore!" Erik said, becoming impatient. "We have to leave soon, to ensure enough time to save Roland!" Elaine held Erik's face between her hands.
"You wanted to die once, too, when you were wallowing in the depths of despair. Remember?" She said. Erik's brow rose with realization. He got lost for a moment in her soft, sad hazel eyes, memories of those sad times and the promise to Elaine that kept him from taking his own life running through his mind.
"Must you try to save everyone?" He said gently, placing his hand on hers.
"Not everyone," She said knowingly. "Please, Erik…" Erik nodded.
"I think I can speak the language he needs to hear now. The language of vengeance."
Erik strode slowly back into the bedroom, taking note of the streaks of blood and gore that led to the terrace. Sedrick was leaning into the fireplace, his face filled with grief, his look distant as he turned to Erik.
"I thought you had gone. Why are you still here?" Sedrick dropped his head.
"The war is not over, soldier." Erik said, commandingly. Sedrick looked up at him through the mists of his despondency.
"The beast is dead. My family is dead. My war is over, and I am but a ghost." Sedrick said, his voice weary. His face contorted with pain once again. "All I see is death. All I want is blood."
"Montague lives on in his deeds, Sedrick. A boy needs to be rescued from the clutches of his evil. If you stay here, you will just waste your considerable talents dying at the hands of vermin such as these. I implore you, come with us to fight. Would that not be the epitome of revenge, Sedrick, to stamp out what remains of his influence? I feel your blood-lust. I am sure there are many who will fall victim to it in Useldange."
Sedrick stood staring at the wall above the fireplace, mulling over Erik's words as well as his anguish filled brain could. The sounds of the approaching mercenaries grew louder.
Sedrick sheathed his sword, and walked briskly towards the small hallway, facing Erik.
"Stay close, I will lead you out of the castle." He mumbled as he walked by Erik.
A small smile played on Erik's lips as he turned to follow.