There was some amazing feedback on the last chapter. Thanks so much!

This chapter has some scenes of violence - I don't know if it's too graphic, but consider this a warning!

oooooooooo

Aramis slowly opened his eyes. His hands were bound and strung up above his head. The floor in front of him spun slightly and caused Aramis to close his eyes, struggling to control the wave of nausea that hit him. The taste of copper in his mouth and the tightness on the side of his case indicated that he was bleeding. He was vaguely aware that his doublet had been removed. He opened his eyes again slowly and steeled himself as the room came into view. He was back. Back in that hated room, that torture chamber from his past. He was back, and there, same as ever stood Charles and his father, both men's eyes aflame with violence and malice. Two faceless guards stood by the door.

"Thank you for joining us," said his father coldly. "The lessons always went so much easier when you were conscious," he whispered cruelly. "Charles has missed you," he continued. "He insists that Rene will make a much better pupil than you were, but it looks like I've grown a bit sentimental in my old age. I said Charles would need to wait until the boy was at least ten." He sighed, "Maybe that's why the King has seen it fit to strip me of my command."

"You won't touch him," said Aramis, hatred dripping from every word.

Charles strode swiftly towards Aramis and began to punch him rapidly in his sides. With his arms bound Aramis had no way to protect himself. He wheezed slightly after the onslaught. The old valet was still strong when his victim was defenceless.

His father tsked. "You could never hold your tongue, could you?" he said, mockingly.

"We'll do better with the boy, master," sneered Charles into the face of Aramis.

In an instant Charles leapt back, hand clutching his face as Aramis landed firm contact with the bridge of the vile man's nose - a move he had picked up from Porthos. Blood spurt between Charles' fingers as he howled, both eyes immediately blackening.

"Impressive," said his father with a glower. "That will be broken for sure."

Charles stood back, whimpering slightly, unable to practice the cruel lessons he preached.

"I was always proud of the violence that lived in you," the General continued. "It's only in these moments that you ever could resemble my son."

"You're a madman," said Aramis. "That's why the King has stripped you of your power. His Majesty doesn't want a madman commanding his troops!" The General slowly began circling Aramis, picking up the lash.

"You're a disgrace. Torturing young boys to sate your own sickness. Ashamed of your own weakness, your lack of honour!" Aramis spat at his father. "I was the one who disavowed you! I was ashamed to be related to something so cruel – to be the son of a monster!" Years of unspoken anger burst forth from his lips. He knew he would pay for his outburst, but he didn't care.

The first whiplash came down and Aramis' whole body tensed. The second blow fell, then the third, then the fourth. On and on went the attack, Aramis struggled to keep his feet, but refused to cry out. Charles sat on the floor in the corner grinning maliciously. The two guards at the door remained emotionless, unaffected.

The blows stopped suddenly and Aramis sagged but remained standing. His shirt, now a map of bloody trails where the whip tore at his flesh.

The General came to stand in front of him. "I will break you before I kill you," he snarled. "You will finally learn obedience. You will beg for the mercy you know will not come and your brothers will not find you. This hope for mercy, this dependence on love, your biggest weaknesses, will be your undoing in the end."

oOo

Athos and Porthos trailed after Annabella as they ran down the halls to a door off of the kitchen. She led them down a dark staircase. Two guards stood waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Porthos and Athos quickly dispatched them with their main gauches. They continued down the underground hallway, stopping at a thick wooden door.

"There's a room at the end of this hallway on the other side of this door," whispered Annabella. "That's where Father would take Aramis for his lessons," she said shivering. Porthos and Athos looked at each other and nodded.

"Annabella, you might want to stay here," said Porthos gently.

"No," she said firmly. "I couldn't help him once. I will not let that happen again."

The glare in her eyes overpowered her trembling voice and brooked no argument. Athos caught her eye, and after a silent exchange he nodded swiftly. Porthos handed Annabella one of Aramis' pistols. The hand than took it was steady.

"Ok," said Porthos, "Here we go!" and with that, the large man hurled himself at the door.

oOo

Loud banging could be heard down the hall. Charles sat upright nervously. Aramis laughed softly and menacingly, earning him a blow from his father.

"Take care of it," the man snapped at Charles who sprang to his feet, the two thugs trailing behind, leaving father and son alone.

Aramis laughed again, his eyes burning like two coals in the darkness. "You're afraid," he said slowly. "You're afraid and alone," he said.

Aramis laughed again, a grim satisfaction stripping the laughter of any humour or warmth.

"Silence," hissed the General, tightening his grip on the whip once more.

"You have spent your whole life demanding obedience, absolute obedience. You cut yourself off from any weakness, any relationships, any human contact. Any allies. And now you are alone."

Two more blows were delivered to Aramis' sides. He hung his head, wheezing heavily but still managed to cough out a laugh. "You thought you were so strong, but without the title, what are you, father?" he said, using that name for the first time in 12 years, full of derision. "You have nothing," he hissed, "You are a weak, sad, and desperate old man. I pity you."

"Silence!" screamed the General, as the sound of the skirmish outside could be heard from within the cell. The General who was typically meticulously dressed was in total disarray. His hair which was usually slicked back fell in front of his eyes. He struck Aramis again and pulled his bloodied hands through his hair.

"You never understood," said Aramis, spitting blood onto the floor, his head rolling between his shoulders. "Strength comes from the heart. It comes from other people," he said weakly but triumphantly, raising his head and managing to take his full weight upon his feet. "It comes from valuing life and from the knowing and the willingness to die for something other than yourself, and knowing that in miraculous situations, there will be others who will be willing to kill and to die for you." he managed to cough. "My brothers are coming."

"Then they will either die for you or watch you die," snarled the General at his son, cold fury in every syllable. He pulled out his pistol and took his dagger into his other hand. Once again, Aramis drew back his head and made hard contact with his father's face. The General stepped back, recovering quickly, blood pouring down his face.

"You will watch them die, you bastard. If you don't bleed out first," he said and plunged the dagger blade into Aramis' side. Aramis grunted as the blade pulled free, blood immediately spilling from his side. "Now, cry for me" whispered the General, eyes locked on his son's.

oOo