Without SindelV, my dear and loyal proofreader, this one would have never been as nicey executed. Having another pair of critical eyes reading the chapters "pre-release" helps a lot! Thank you for that, ma'am!

Many thanks to my reviewers and to the line of followers and favourites that is growing steadily! You are those that always encourage me to keep writing, though I don't plan on dropping the story in the first place. Nevertheless, it feels really good that this gets liked so much, though it is rather an uncommon story.

Here it goes, the thing some of you have been waiting for: a whole chapter, just about Vlokarion and Temira.

Enjoy!

Chapter 14

Vlokarion

"You, human, dare to say that you are not afraid of me? Shard, fetch me my tools..."
— Archon Karon the Nightmare

TOTALLY FREAKED OUT I waited with my master in the throne room for Vlokarion to arrive. Though I knew that the Haemonculus would not tear me to pieces, but rather do quite the opposite to me, it somehow did not help at all. I still tried to figure out how to observe his gruesome work all day, not going insane during it, and then, when I knew what a terrible monster he was, trying to please him the whole night – without being scared witless. As always, I would have to improvise, though I feared that my breaking point would soon be reached.

I had not tried to avert my fate, for I knew that if Haemonculi had set their minds on a specific payment, it was impossible to change them. Additionally, Vlokarion had enough influence in the Dark City, so it would have been unwise to challenge him. Provoking one of the most renowned Haemonculi of all time was an utterly stupid notion.

On the other hand, to make him an ally was wise. This should not be too hard for me, since I knew him already and he seemed to be fond of me – however this was possible. I was not to blow this chance, because if I did, the consequences would be dire for me. If I succeeded in satisfying Vlokarion, the bond between him and the Overlord would be strengthened, which was favourable for Vect and especially for my head staying attached to my body. No pressure here.

It also pained me greatly that I had not been able to say my goodbyes to Lisbeth, because she was still unconscious when we left the quarters. I dreaded what she would have to endure when I was gone, but I also had to be honest to admit that right now I was a bit more worried about myself.

Eventually, Vlokarion entered the throne room, his terrifying silhouette almost floated into the room on his elongated spine, without making a single sound. His mechadendrites underlined his flowing, snake-like movements and reinforced his creepy appearance in combination with his spindly build and loose clothing. His head, which was shrouded in parchment-like skin, looked as if it had been artificially extended on the back; his facial expression and obsidian eyes were perfectly collected. If someone could impersonate the word 'alien', it would be him.

Vlokarion just did a small bow as he had halted in front of the throne and said in a greeting manner, "Overlord."

Vect returned the greeting with a slight nod and said, while he loosened my chain from the throne, "She is all yours. Take her!" He did not bother to mention that I was to be brought back in one piece.

Vlokarion had not to be told twice, came to me, took my chain and said to me, "Come, child! There is much I want to show you."

I stood, flashed a somewhat pinched grin and replied, "Of course, my lord." With this, we left the throne room.

I padded along behind the Haemonculus, still deeply emerged in thought. As we were in the high-speed elevator, which brought us down to the landing platform, Vlokarion said to me, "You are strangely quiet, my child. I remember you to be far more talkative."

I smiled at him shyly and replied, "Well, for one, months in the Overlord's service have taught me to only talk when talked to and, to be honest, I am still trying to figure out how I don't screw this up."

The Haemonculus chuckled softly. "I am sure you will do just fine, as always. Try and calm down a bit, for where we are going, the scent of fear is known all too well." I had no idea what his words meant for me, but I would try and heed his advice.

Thereupon we stepped onto the landing platform, where a flyer was waiting for us.

In that instance, something occurred to me and the impact of the thought was so intense that I had to halt for a second.

I just had figured out a way to maybe, just maybe, face Vlokarion the way he wanted it after spending the day with him. I would have to try and focus on the scientific aspects of his work, pushing all feelings aside. Other races were to the Dark Eldar what lab rats were to humans. I had to look at it this way and accept Vlokarion's profession. This might work.

The Haemonculus, however, misinterpreted my stop and said, slightly irritated, "It's just a flyer, child, no need to freeze in place."

I had to laugh and it still sounded nervous. Then I explained, "No, no, it's absolutely not fear that kept me from walking. I just realised something, this is it, and it's a good thing. I'm sorry I have kept you, my lord."

I sighed in relief as the evil smile, that usually graced Vlokarion's features, returned onto his face and he said, "Yes, this is how I know you, child. Well, then! Let's go!" We boarded the flyer.

Inside, Vlokarion commanded the pilot to take off. Our way led us down in a steep angle, down the unfathomable height of the mighty towers of Corespur, all the way to the underworld of Commorragh.

While we were flying, Vlokarion said to me, "Two things, child. Firstly, if we should come by Rakarth, since I share my spire with him, endure everything silently in his presence, no matter what he does or says to you. Only answer him if he asks you a direct question, be on your edge, most of his questions are rhetorical and to himself. He is a bit out of his mind…"

I had to giggle.

Describing Urien Rakarth as 'a bit out of his mind' was the joke of the century.

Vlokarion had paused as I had giggled and asked, frowning, "What is so amusing, little one?"

Still puffing, I replied, "I would have called the Master Haemonculus something different than 'a bit out of his mind', that is all."

The Haemonculus snorted and replied, "Who am I kidding? He is absolutely insane. Ingenious, but insane." He flashed a lopsided smile, then he continued, "Back to business. I meant what I said. Be extra-careful with him, he tends to punish slaves quite severely when they interrupt his line of thoughts unasked; and believe me, he will not give a damn that you are the slave of the Overlord and you most likely will not survive this undoubtedly lengthy punishment."

"I will sure as hell remember that. Then again, I have learnt to be extra careful," I confirmed.

"Good. And to the second thing…" He produced a small flask from his loose clothes. "I will put one drop of this concoction into each of your eyes. It will make you see in the dark; otherwise, you would be blind in my laboratory. Don't startle, it will be uncomfortable the first few seconds and everything will be quite bright at first, until your brain adjusts."

I nodded and obediently tilted my head backwards, so he could do as he had said. As he did that, I was reminded of his tremendous expertise when he touched me, because it was easily perceptible that he knew perfectly what he was doing, there was no hesitation in the way he handled me.

In a minute the concoction started to work, and I started to gasp in pain. The – until now – dim, red twilight of Commorragh now stung my eyes like a flashlight and I suddenly had acuity in my vision I had almost forgotten, since my brain had already adjusted to the constant, slight blurring of my sight. I closed my eyes, because they were now utterly sensitive.

While I tried to adjust to my enhanced vision, I asked Vlokarion, "Do you see the city like this?"

"Yes and no. In terms of brightness and acuity, yes; however, our eyes still see a bit more, since my kind can see more of the light spectrum than yours," he explained.

"How long will my vision be changed?" I asked.

"Depends on your metabolism, but one dose should suffice for the rest of our time together. I would not want to give it too often to you, since it reprograms your rod cells, as well as your nervous system regarding vision. Permanent changes could occur and may not be favourable for you." His smile turned into a wolfish one. "Besides, I won't mind when you will be blind later on." I returned his smile shyly. I was not sure how I was to survive or manage this.

The deeper we went, the darker it got. At some point, we moved about in utter darkness, only a few metres away from the ground of the city. Though I was able to see in darkness right now, I only caught some glimpses of movement and shadows on the edge of my vision. I was thankful for that.

After a short while, the flyer stopped at another landing platform. Vlokarion shackled my wrists and we got out of the flyer.

The second we went outside, a shield bubble extended around us; it was produced by one of Vlokarion's mechadendrites, as I could see because of the livid glow of the energy field. I looked a bit confused at him; he smiled and explained, "The underworld possesses a different kind of danger than High Commorragh. At the top, it is the political games and nets you have to look out for. On the bottom, you have to be wary of the things that lurk around here, us Haemonculi included." He led me a few steps further, then halted again and said, "Take a closer look – I'm sure they will show themselves." He gave me more space with my chain, so I could explore the rim of the shield bubble. When I was there, I saw something that was utterly disturbing.

The darkness around us was moving.

At first, I did not see it, but the longer I stared into the blackness, the more I saw shadows that swirled beneath shadows.

All of a sudden, a face appeared in front of me.

I was startled so hard that I actually jumped back. I only heard Vlokarion's mocking laughter on the rim of my consciousness, because the creature that just showed itself to me, cast a spell over me. It somewhat was rather a more solid shade amongst shades; I was just able to see a kind-of flickering of a figure, which assumed a certain shape for a second, but only to dissolve at the same time. I caught glimpses of black skin, which was covered with green, glowing runes, patches of white, lifeless skin, which seemed to be some kind of clothing and bilious green, glowing eyes, which showed nothing but bloodlust. I could not truly figure the face of the creature out, since it always took a different shape, but I somehow thought to see the distorted face of a Dark Eldar.

This had to be a Mandrake. I was not surprised that no one wanted to seek a fight with them.

I looked at it for a while, then I stated, "Let me guess – they are only one thing to be wary about around here."

"Exactly. Now come, child, I'd rather not stay too long out here," Vlokarion said and I obeyed, following him closer to the tower we were currently standing in front of.

'Tower' was hardly the correct term for it, since this building wound itself even more downwards. I was not sure whether the dancing shades in here played a trick on my eyes or the building indeed moved like a breathing, living being; I knew that the possibility was there. The spire was built out of black, glistering material; the fashion of the patterns reminded me of entrails and tumorous ulcerations. I felt sick.

Until now, I had thought that High Commorragh was a true nightmare for my senses. Now this belief got corrected. The underworld smelt even worse, the scent of blood was also omnipresent and to make matters worse, it mixed with rot and putrefaction. It was so dark down here that I had a hard time discerning the entrance in front of me and I was not able to make out any other buildings, despite my improved vision. Nevertheless, I was happy that it was this way. Also, a strange whisper was omnipresent, just on the rim of the audible spectrum; I was surprised that I did not hear any screams. I figured that the inhabitants of this part of Commorragh were the reason for the absence of them. Nevertheless, this whispering wore me out.

I wished it instantly back as we entered the tower. In here, the air was filled with terrible screams; agony and horror were easily tastable, for the air was saturated with them. The smell got even worse, because the scent of blood now mixed with those of burnt flesh and inflamed wounds. I had a hard time fighting down the bile that now filled my mouth and controlling my roiling stomach was an even harder task. I halted in my pace, for my mind did not do too well in adjusting to those new horrors, but this time, Vlokarion did not give me time and just pulled me forward. I hurried not to fall.

The Haemonculus lead me through endless corridors and down innumerable stairs. We never saw anybody else, for which I was grateful; just those terrible screams, which could be heard easily all around, showed that possibly Vlokarion's and Rakarth's lackeys did their horrible jobs.

In the end, I was sure that we had descended unto the bottom of the tower.

What put me off severely, was that there had been no sign of traps or puzzles or anything that looked like a warding mechanism. I did not believe that it was that easy to get in here just by walking into the place. I had the dreadful feeling that if I had not been with Vlokarion, I would have been eviscerated before I even had had the chance to enter the tower, let alone scream.

I just added the thought to the collections of secrets I possibly would never uncover.

As we seemingly had climbed down the last set of stairs, finally another Haemonculus crossed our path. Vlokarion hissed something I could not understand, but I figured from his inflexion that it was a curse, and the premonitory look he shot at me warned me who now came our way.

Necromaester of the Prophets of Flesh and so far officially unchallenged Master Haemonculus, Urien Rakarth, looked as if he had arisen from a nightmare. His stance was hunched, for which his stunted spine bore the blame, but it was only one of many that supported his spindly body and he was carried by an anti-grav device. This bony corpus was framed with innumerable mechadendrites and limbs, making them look almost like twisted and broken wings. Each one of those extremities looked different – some were silvery, others atrophied, then again some were highly functional and even sophisticated, showing Rakarth's unique skill in the arts of flesh-crafting. His face – his terrible face – was mounted on his skull with cords made out of leathery flesh, showing an ever-leering grimace, and his obsidian eyes glowed with pure madness. He seemed to mumble something to himself – if it meant anything, which was unlikely, possibly only he could comprehend the meaning of the words.

He was an unfathomably great and unspeakably cruel mind, but he was also utterly engulfed in insanity.

I gulped as Vlokarion led me ahead. A few steps in front of Rakarth we halted and Vlokarion nodded a greeting to his colleague. I looked to it that I bowed.

It had been a while since I had dreaded somebody that much around here. I knew I was in danger, because Rakarth was extremely irrational and it was unfathomable what ideas he might cook up in this mad head of his.

With a voice that reminded me of the scratching of fingernails over a blackboard – yes, it was that screeching and sharp and his multiple vocal chords only added to that horrifying notion – the Master Haemonculus said, "Ah, Vlokarion!" Only now did he notice me, because this insane stare of his black eyes fell unto me. Rakarth leant down and close to me – too close for my taste, but I did not dare to budge an inch – and he croaked, "And what do we have here?"

My heart almost stopped, as one of the limbs on his right side, which actually had a functional hand, shot out and laid itself gently upon my chin – he bore long and sharp blades attached to his fingers; a Scissorhand. Rakarth made me turn my head so he could take a closer look at me. I did not dare to do anything but follow his lead, since I could feel, though his touch was perfectly delicate and he did not hurt me, how terribly sharp the blades were.

After a while, he made a musing sound and muttered, "Hmm… isn't this Vect's newest duckling? What is it doing here? Was it disobedient?"

Vlokarion started to say carefully, "Urien, she…"

He was cut off mid-sentence, as the Master Haemonculus wheeled around and hissed at him, now with a completely different voice; it sounded strong and sharp as his blades, "Do you mind not interrupting when I am having a talk with the duckling here?"

I was surprised as Vlokarion let out a resigned sigh and replied, "Of course not. By all means, go ahead!"

It did not seem as if Rakarth truly seemed to care whether Vlokarion voiced any resistance, but rather turned his attention back to me and continued contemplating, now again with his cackling voice, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Too immaculate for disobedience. How exciting! What a riddle!" Rakarth truly seemed to be delighted.

I only could stare at him in perfect bewilderment, barely keeping my jaw from dropping, because I was utterly shocked at this madman I now had in front of me. 'Batshit crazy' did not even start covering this.

Rakarth eyed me from all sides for a little longer and then, again in a completely different voice – it was velvety and low-pitched this time – he cooed, "Tell me, duckling: why are you here?"

I had to gather myself to be able to answer him. The slow narrowing of his eyes warned me that my time was running out and I pushed myself to say, "I am here because of Maester Vlokarion's bidding. He asked for me for one day and night, to observe his work and to serve him, Master Haemonculus."

Rakarth started giggling, strangely his giggle reminded me of the one of a schoolgirl that just had something unsavoury whispered into her ear, and he responded, again in his cackling voice, "Oh, how formal our little duckling is! I like it; I really, really like it! Maybe one day the duckling will come around to play with me, hmm? Yes, yes, yes, one day we will play and oh, the duckling will like it." I smiled at him in an utterly tormented and horrified fashion; he was not disturbed by this, because he patted my cheek and using his velvety voice, he cooed along, "Have fun, duckling. I am sure that you will enjoy what dear Vlokarion can give you." I shivered as he passed me and stroked my hair with the blades of his Scissorhand as he did.

Only as he was out of sight, Vlokarion said with a lowered voice, "Well done, my child. You handled him pretty well."

I looked at him, my eyes still widened in fear and bewilderment and I said, "That was… something else. Could we just go? I might start screaming if I stay a second longer." I almost held my breath because I was that tense.

Without commenting my fear, Vlokarion led me forward, deeper into the bowels of the tower. After a short while, we came to a door, which Vlokarion opened through barely touching the material. It glided sideways without a sound and we stepped through it. As the door closed behind us, Vlokarion took off my manacles and said solemnly, "Welcome to my home and laboratory!" With these words, he slithered a bit sidewards so I could take a look at his realm.

The vast room was unexpectedly spacious and clean. It reminded me somewhat of Vlokarion's laboratory on Chu'uk's ship. Everything was held in black; a part of the room was separated from the rest by some walls, which were only about three metres high – I should possibly mention here that the room was very high; I estimated it was about six metres.

It was utterly dominated by a special kind of table, apparently being a mixture of surgical table and torturing rack, made out of clean metal, but also bearing shackles and its foot seemed to be quite flexible; it stood in the centre of the room. Beside it was a whole arrangement of tables and boxes; all of the tables were laid with numerous, sickening devices. I did not have to ask what they were made and here for. Above the table also some chains and hooks were to be found, apparently there to bind someone there. Around and above this table, numerous containers could be seen; to me, they looked like coffins made out of glass. I figured that the Dark Eldar that were to be healed or rejuvenated were put in there. Their bodies would be regenerated due to the suffering of the unlucky bastard that would be strapped down to the torture rack. Since the rest of the room was littered with some other racks, cages and strange devices, which were arranged in a fashion that gave them a strange and disturbing alignment to the central table, I figured that often enough not only one creature was to be tortured in here.

The only portion of the room that was not part of this arrangement was the leftmost corner of it. This section was the aforementioned one that was separated from the rest by those low walls. Since some entries, which did not possess doors, were left out on the walls, I could see what was in this section. It seemed to be the scientific part of the room and again I recognised some of the devices there.

I thought that the room also summarised fairly well what the tasks of a Haemonculus were and how much time to each task was dedicated. Three quarters were dedicated to torture, one quarter to science. It summed the profession of a Haemonculus up quite well.

After I had dealt with the creepy arrangement of the room, my next mental test was at hand, when several Grotesques came to us from several sections of the room. They were not much more than drooling, insane and twisted… things, which had been sane creatures a long time ago. Through the skilled hand of a Haemonculus and possibly years of mind- and body-breaking torture, they had turned into… this. They heeded every command of their master and followed his every bidding without asking. In accordance to how they were 'made', they were a terrible sight to behold. I was grateful that they did not smell as bad as they looked. Interestingly enough, Vlokarion's chamber was quite sterile in terms of smell. This helped my stomach relax a bit.

The Haemonculus gave his minions orders – possibly preparations for today's schedule – and they vanished as quickly as they had appeared, though their gaits were scuffling without exception and they seemed incredibly slow; yet somehow they were quite quick. One's mind was tricked by those things.

I only realised as they were gone that I had drawn backwards and now stood with my back against the wall. I also only felt now that I was almost hyperventilating; everything around here unsettled me vastly. My palms were wet with sweat, as well as my forehead and my heart pounded that heavily in my chest I thought it would rip my ribs apart.

As Vlokarion looked at me I tried to calm down with all my might, forced a tormented smile onto my features and explained, "It's a bit much to take in. Give me a minute, please!"

With surprising patience, he nodded and said, "Come with me. I will show you to a room that might help you with calming down."

I swallowed and obeyed him. He led me through another door, which led out of the room in the scientific section. Behind it were Vlokarion's quarters.

As it was expected from a Haemonculus, his quarters were minimalistic, yet they once more underlined his profession. In here, again a small laboratory could be found, along with another rack. I figured that if someone was brought in here without having my distinctive purpose, they would feel the worst things of them all. What truly surprised me was that also a bed could be found in there; I knew that Haemonculi did not have to sleep; therefore, I was somewhat puzzled why he even possessed one. Then again, it was also all too well possible that he only had it brought in here for what he had in mind with me. I shivered at the thought. Also, another door led into another room, I guessed it was the bathroom, since Haemonculi also still possessed some certain needs. I was not sure whether they even ate and, therefore, needed a toilet, but I figured that an occasional shower was also due for them, though Vlokarion seemed to be strangely without any metabolism at all. Who knew what intense modifications he had gone through and how little actually was left from the living, breathing and feeling being he once must have been?

I drew my thoughts with all my might away from that and asked about something that puzzled me, "Don't you have any Wracks?"

Vlokarion chuckled and then answered, "Oh, I do, but currently I have sent them on errands or they do their own missions, trying to impress me and to convince me to make them a Haemonculus. Currently, they fail. They need more time; they are too young."

This confirmed some theories I had had. Wracks, who were Dark Eldar that gave themselves into the hands of the Haemonculi to get modified, either out of boredom or out of necessity, often turned out to be apprentices to the Haemonculus who had worked on them. If they did well enough and impressed their master with some acts of particular cruelty or devastation time and again, a Haemonculus might deign to make one of his apprentices one of his own kind. How this was done, or what it took for a Dark Eldar to become a Haemonculus, was not known; if someone in Commorragh could keep secrets in an absolute manner, it were the Haemonculi. The only two things that were sure about this act were that it involved unspeakable and possibly mind-breaking pain and that every Coven had their own ritual for this ascension, which also explained the difference in their specialities.

I decided to put all my luck on one card and said, "Would you mind leaving me alone for some minutes? I need to meditate and calm down a bit." I dearly hoped that he did not mind.

I could not help a relieved sigh as Vlokarion started to smile again and said, "As your original teacher, it makes me proud to see that you have truly honoured the knowledge I have taught you, indubitably ensuring your survival until now. Very well, my child, you may have some time to meditate. I need you to be calm. In the meantime, I will prepare everything for today's task." He turned to slither out of the room, but halted again in the doorway and added, "If you feel the need to freshen yourself, don't hesitate to use my bathroom." Then he left me alone.

I took a deep breath the minute he left me and dropped with a sound of desperation onto the bed. Focusing deeply on my breathing, I assumed an Indian style sitting, closed my eyes and started to meditate. I did not let my mind wander, but kept it in check with the darkness before my eyes, trying to find tranquillity in the depth of my breaths.

You are a scientist. He is a scientist. Act upon it.

I half-opened my eyes again and wondered why it had taken me so long to come to this conclusion. Of course, I was aware that it would not be that easy, with focusing on that alone, but it would make things a lot less emotional for me. Emotion was something that could destroy me if I let it happen, though I was aware that I would not be able to block it out entirely.

Nevertheless, I would try. At this point, I had come too far to back down now.

I let out a low hum, drawing it out as long as my breath supported it and until I felt dizzy. I was far from being entirely collected, but it would have to suffice. Keeping Vlokarion waiting was hardly an option.

Therefore, I got up, feeling better and walked determined towards the door again, back into Vlokarion's laboratory.

As the door slid open, I saw that he was alone again, right now having a look at a variety of instruments and concoctions that apparently had been laid out for him besides the central torture rack, on a metal table. Also, a quite high chair was now standing beside the rack and it too bore shackles. The rack was still empty.

I dreaded that this chair was meant for me.

I neared the Master Haemonculus again, stopped in respectful distance and said, "Maester, I am at your service. Thank you for giving me some time."

Vlokarion looked up and at me, his ancient eyes transfixing me, then he nodded and said, "Good, good! I see that you are much calmer than before. I like the fact that you truly know how to use the tools you have been given by now. Come here, child, let's get you all set for the show!"

I obeyed and came to his side. The second I did, I let out a surprised gasp, because Vlokarion seized me with his numerous mechadendrites and, as I had feared, placed me onto the chair. The nature of it left me sitting with loosely crossed legs, but my ankles got nailed in place by metal shackles that closed themselves automatically around them, and my wrists got locked in a similar manner between my legs. Luckily, the shackles were not too tight and gave me a bit of freedom of movement, so my blood flow would not be blocked.

Nevertheless, I looked at Vlokarion in confusion. He said, and somehow, he sounded strangely sincere with that, "Forgive me for the shackles, my child, but I have to be sure that you are not trying to cover your ears or advert your eyes. You have to see, witnessing when I myself lay hand onto a slave for torture, it is a rare event and it is a kind of art that is seldom done by my own hands. Usually, my grotesques carry out my instructions. But for this special day, in which you will join me, observing my works, I decided to show you my expertise by myself. You better feel honoured, other clients have to pay tremendous amounts to witness what you are allowed to witness today."

I knew that what he said was true, but I had to keep myself from telling him that said clients relished what he was about to do, not were forced to watch it. However, I, of course, was wise enough not to tell him this, for I was sure that I would severely anger him with this. Haemonculi were proud specimen and once their slowly-arisen anger was invoked, it was hard to quench their thirst for blood. The target of their anger inevitably suffered dire consequences in every way.

Therefore, I just nodded and said, "So, you just want me to observe, is that correct?"

Vlokarion let his fingers dance absently over his torture instruments, then said, "Yes. And don't disrupt my work. Keep quiet. I don't like being disrupted whilst working."

I again nodded and replied, "Of course, Maester. Nobody likes that." Nevertheless, I encountered another facet of Vlokarion now. He seemed to be more... determined and set upon certain things the minute we had entered his laboratory. However, it made sense. This was his place of ultimate power and he would not be questioned around here. I had to be careful.

I was ripped out of my pondering, as a secret door at the far end of the room opened up. Through it came two grotesques that led a human man in their mid. He was barely clothed, the last remains of his clothes hung in rags on his body. Physically, he seemed to be quite sturdy and strong, still, but I could easily see on his face that he was scared out of his skull. I could not blame him for that.

As the realisation hit him what was about to happen to him, he started to struggle in the vice-like grip of the two grotesques and rallied verbally against his fate. The two monsters beside him just dragged him along, he was by far not strong enough to match against their altered physique.

It scared me that I did not find my mind shaken by that in any way. I should have been shocked at this terrible fear I was seeing and the realisation that he also knew all too well what would be happening to him, but somehow, I felt empty inside.

Terribly empty.

What the hell was happening to me?

I watched somehow passive as they stripped him of the last remains of his clothes and forced him down on the torture rack.

Vlokarion looked him over shortly, then hissed with a relishing tone, "Oh yes, this one will do nicely, his heartbeat is sturdy and strong. See, child? This is why I keep my subjects well-fed."

I could just nod.

Somehow, Vlokarion's words had put me back on track with my feelings. My stomach grew cold and I felt myself shivering. Maybe just now the realisation hit me what I was about to experience.

For a while, as Vlokarion made his preparations, checking his newly-donned Scissorhands and sorting his tools and concoctions, the man cursed him vividly with all the vocabulary he possessed. The Haemonculus did not mind at all and let him be.

Then the prisoner got aware of my presence and his desperation showed again.

"Help me!" the man pleaded with me.

Obligated and desperate to say something, though it was obvious, I answered, "I can't!"

That tipped the Maester off a bit. Vlokarion wheeled around, made a hissing sound, grabbed the man by his hair and spat at him, "Eyes on me! If you dare to let them wander again, I might see it fit to remove them. Your attention should be focused on me and me alone; the girl won't help you." Then the Haemonculus turned to me and my eyes widened as he let me feel one of the blades of his left Scissorhand at my throat. He hissed at me, "And you, hold your noise! You are here to observe, not to talk. Disrupt me once more and I will punish you, without letting your master know that I did. Believe me, it will still be a punishment fit for screaming."

I had never been so afraid of Vlokarion, since he had never shown me this utter dominant and cruel side of his, though I had been aware that it was there. I gulped and replied, utterly submissive, "Of course, Maester!"

This seemed to be enough for him, because he drew his blade away from me again and focused on the poor torture slave.

The hours to come should make me wonder who was worse in his own way: Vect or Vlokarion.

I decided for myself that I would run from both of them if I ever got the chance.

After witnessing hours and hours of torture, though I did not know the human that had been the unlucky bastard to end under Vlokarion's blades, my mind was not only profoundly shaken, but rather torn asunder by the things I had been forced to witness.

I was sure that I would never forget those terrible screams, heart-breaking pleas and mind-breaking submission I had had to witness from Vlokarion's victim. I had never seen someone torn so much apart in such a skilled fashion and I had never known the abyss minds could be pushed into, the harder they got tried and destroyed. I had known that it was possible to break someone, to make them do anything just to escape the pain, but until now, I had never understood what it had meant.

Now I did, and I wished that I never had.

The thing that frightened me the most was that I had understood it. This had been more than torture; it was a twisted form of art. I saw that there was a method behind this madness, a plan to this cruelty. Yes, as mind-wrecking as it sounded, Vlokarion was an artist, but the canvas he used to paint on was a living and breathing one, his paint was blood and his brush was a scalpel.

I jumped what little I could in my shackles, as Vlokarion said to me, "You see it, don't you?"

I could just nod silently, feeling utterly sick and feeble, and I felt how hard I trembled. I was not sure if I threw up if I opened my mouth right now.

The Haemonculus nodded and I let out an unbelieving, yet relieved gasp, as he started to loosen my bindings. While he did, he said, "Good. I had hoped that you would." As he was done unshackling me, he added, "Just remember, what I have shown you is one of the essences my race builds upon. Understand it, and you will truly see what it means to be a True Eldar. The knowledge will help you grow even better into your role and will make you serve even better, ensuring your prolonged survival. If you don't want to end up like this, you should start to adjust your mind to those things, for at some point, you will witness them on a regular basis. Now, go, and give yourself some time to process! I'll need some time here still and I want you to gather yourself in the meantime." He smiled terribly and I flinched as he laid one hand upon my cheek, which was impossibly clean, considering the mess he had produced. "You did well, child."

I still only nodded again and then fled him, into his quarters. Luckily, he let me be.

In his quarters, I sat on the bed, shaking, staring into nothingness, tears running down my cheeks. I did not utter a single sound, though I would have loved to scream all the horror and terror I felt, out, yet, I could not. What was happening to me? Why did I see their point to this and why did I understand his craft so well? I really, really should not be able to follow this twisted, sick line of thoughts.

Yet, I did.

With stuttering breath, because I was trembling so hard, I tried to calm myself down, scraping the last remains of restraint, decency and humanity that were left in me, together. I told myself repeatedly that I was better than the rest of the humans around here, for I was in the position I was and I was successful with it and I refused to break, no matter what they threw at me. I remembered how much I had wanted to be here, in Commorragh, back in this distant, past life I had had, I remembered how much I had hated my old life and told myself with all my might that I was apparently special around here, something I had always longed for in my old life and that I would earn even more prestige around here, the harder I tried to understand the Dark Eldar.

And I told myself that I would be the first human to truly do it.

I was special, I knew I was. And I did no longer question that.

I had seen it when Lisbeth had entered the game. This was how humans usually fared around here, being reluctant, fighting senselessly and ultimately, destroying themselves by clinging to their old selves, their old lives, their... humanity.

That, or they were simply not important enough to even get a chance.

Somehow, it hurt to admit it, but I was drifting away from my humanity; and the distant, but not nearly enough frightening aspect of it was that I wanted it.

Somehow, the thought of yet again having a goal besides surviving, encouraged me greatly. I was aware that I was just pushing what I had seen the past hours away into the darkest corner of my mind, behind this thick wall I had erected in it to seal all the horror away. Still, I waited for the moment where it would crack open and where I would just break, fade and go insane.

But today was not that day.

I had a goal and I would reach it. And if reaching it meant to let myself be fucked mentally and physically by this monster out there, that just had tortured a human being into insanity in just some hours, effortlessly, mercilessly, emotionlessly and then killed said being, so it would be.

I would come out on top of this, no matter what. That I was set upon.

I now was strong enough to close my eyes, to push that images that had burnt themselves into my retinas away and to welcome the warm darkness, breathing deeply, finding my focus once again. Slowly, my trembling subsided and even slower, my mind calmed down again, though it still was like a profoundly beaten-up child, curling up and whining.

Far too soon, Vlokarion joined me.

Instantly, my fear hit me again, I fought my trembling as hard as I could. Nervous, heart pounding and very unsure of myself, I looked at Vlokarion, and as he came to a halt in front of me, I asked, "So, how do you want this to go?"

Vlokarion looked at me, apparently confused, and blinked a few times, seemingly processing my question in this insane, yet genius mind of his. "How I want what to go?"

I replied, now also puzzled by his question, pointing at the bed, "Well… this. I assume you want to spend the night with me? In every sense of the meaning?"

At first, the Haemonculus frowned. Then, slowly, his face turned into a smiling grimace as he started to laugh wholeheartedly. It was a terrible, bloodcurdling laughter and it got my hackles up. It took Vlokarion quite a while until he was able to calm down and then he said, still panting, "Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no! Apparently, my meaning was misinterpreted!" He snorted, still highly amused. "No, child, I have no intention of sleeping with you." He sniggered. "I have no interest in such things, not even with a Lhamaean, though I have heard that they could make one feel young again. No, my child, the time where I was sexually active has long passed, the things that excite me now would be deadly or at least unspeakably torturous for you. No – I just want to lie with you, feel your body, your warmth, your touch, maybe your kiss… depends on how you feel to me. I want to feel… appreciated. No, that's not the word, there is another one for it… oh, what was it, what was it…?"

"Loved?" I tried to help him out.

"Yes, loved! That's the one!" he burst out.

This just made so clear how alien Haemonculi were to all the other Dark Eldar. They tended to forget what love meant, hell, they even forgot the word, though it existed in their language; however, the meaning of it was not the same as in the human language.

Then again, it was known that most ancient Dark Eldar forgot about it, yet, Vlokarion was the first one around here to show that kind of alienness.

I sighed in utter relief, a lot of pressure and stress now off my shoulders, though I still felt sick and profoundly shaken when I dared to think about the past hours. I smiled at him and said, "I have to be honest here, Maester: everyone thought that you wanted to sleep with me and though the thought was odd for me, I had accepted my fate. Still, up to this point, I was not sure how to manage this. But to make you feel loved and appreciated, this I can do." I was surprised how calm and confident I sounded with this, because I still remembered very clearly what he had shown while the torture session. I would never forget this face of utter satisfaction and joy, his body shaking and shivering in anticipation and excitement for every bloodcurdling scream.

Vlokarion chuckled. "I still find the thought of me sleeping with you hilarious. Ah, little one, you are not ready for this!"

"Actually, this is exactly what I had thought," I said, still smiling. It felt to me as if that smile was pinned onto my face. I feared that if I altered it, I would start screaming.

Nevertheless, I was so happy that this had turned out this way.

He nodded in approval, then he came to me and laid his left hand upon my cheek. Vlokarion said, "Undress, lie down and relax, child. I will be with you shortly." With these words, he left for the bathroom.

I almost started laughing hysterically as he had left.

"Relax."

That was a good one.

He made me wait for some time. I made sure in the meantime that I did as he had bidden me. I just laid my clothes beside the bed on the floor, since I did not find a better place for them. Also, I looked to it that I pre-warmed the bed for him, though I was still somewhat tense. I did not have to sleep with him, no, but making him feeling loved still was a stunt I was not sure how I should pull.

Then he came back.

My heart skipped a beat as I saw that he was naked.

I had never seen skin so pale and so parchment-like. He was ancient, it was apparent with his body. Though he was spindly, so much that his bones could be seen at some points, it somehow fitted him and his wiry musculature just added to the picture. I knew that he was much stronger than he looked. What scared me was that these bony, long fingers would touch me soon in a manner that would make them feel possibly quite awkward. His still attached mechadendrites and spine framed his frail body, like twisted wings, and I could see his muscles work as he slithered towards the bed.

With a lopsided smile, he gently sat down beside me and looked down at me, his gaze piercing mine intensely. Seeing my apparent dismay, he said, "Relax, child. I will not hurt you, if you do as I please."

I shivered as he laid his hand upon my cheek, then gently running his bony fingers down my face, over my tense jaw, along my neck and between my breasts, resting it there. He closed his eyes and said, "Oh, you are so tense and afraid, I can feel it myself. Just listen to your heartbeat – almost as fierce and desperate as those that I am about to torture." He shook his head. "Apparently I have misjudged you. I had thought you stronger than this. What a disappointment."

Vlokarion moved to get out of bed, his anger and disappointment apparent, but I said, "Wait! Please, Maester, wait!"

Why was this all of a sudden so damn hard for me? We had already discerned that he would not sleep with me, so why the hell was I now so afraid to cuddle with him?

He halted and looked at me over his shoulder. I gave myself a push, took a deep breath, sat up and then slid my arms around him from behind, giving him a gentle hug. It was the first time our bodies touched so greatly – his felt cool and smooth, yet I could feel every single muscle, sinew and bone of it. There was no soft spot on this body and his skin almost felt like wax. The mechadendrites that were connected to his protruding spine also were disturbing for me, as their cold metal and dead flesh touched me. I heard them moving as I had my ear against his body and between his shoulder blades, but I noticed that I neither heard a heartbeat nor breathing. I swallowed the fear down with all my might, since I just got reminded that I did not know a single thing about the physiology of Haemonculi and how alien they were.

With eyes closed, I said, "Please… forgive my weakness! Lie down again, I will give you what you desire and I will give it with all my heart."

He did not move for some moments and fear crept up again in me, the fear that I might have spoilt the moment too much. Then he took my wrists, turned my palms upwards and I shivered as he gave me a gentle kiss on each of them. His lips felt raw and slender, I was not sure if kissing them would be pleasant. As he was done, he said, while he stroked my palms with his thumbs, "Alright, child. I will give you a second chance, since you are so young and because I am aware that I have strained you quite a lot. However, if you dare to fail me again, I will let your master know that you have failed and then I am sure that you are mine to punish."

He let go of my wrists and turned around again, looming over me like an angel of death with his broken-wings-mechadendrites. I pulled myself together once more, knelt, laid my hands gently upon his bony and sunken cheeks and then tenderly kissed him.

I had been right – his lips were not too pleasant to kiss. Their rawness made it somewhat awkward and also his spindly stature was disturbing for me; touching his body did not bring me any comfort. I shivered hard as he ran his bony fingers utterly gently down my spine. I gasped whilst kissing him, as I felt his numerous mechadendrites touch me – metallic and fleshy alike – as they took me into a truly strangely feeling embrace.

After a while of tender kissing, I drew away again, he let me, I laid down on the bed, covering myself with the blanket and gently patting the space beside me. "Please, come here, Maester! Tenderness needs a lot of bodily contact and warmth. Let me warm you!"

He nodded and laid himself in one fluent movement beside me. I bid him to rest his elongated head on my shoulder and I gently embraced it and kissed his cortex. Touching his waxy skin with my lips also felt strange, but I told myself that I better got used to it for some time. My heart was still beating fast, but I got calmer the longer our bodies touched.

As that happened, he let out a satisfied hum. "Good to see that I haven't misjudged you after all. Apparently, I gave you too little time to process." He shifted his position a bit, carefully laying one bony hand between my breasts again. "Does this make you feel uncomfortable?"

The question hit me quite unexpectedly. I sniggered a bit nervously, then said, "No, Maester. I am used to touches like that by now. And I am used to a lot more, too."

Vlokarion made a contemplative sound. "Hmm, I see. So, you would say, without your gathered experiences, it would make you feel uncomfortable?"

I was not sure by now whether his interest was sincere, or if he just played me nicely. However, I decided to play along, which was, undoubtedly, for my best, and answered, "Yes, without any doubt."

He only acknowledged my words with a pensive hum.

We lay like this for a while, he running his fingertips over my body, staring at me, apparently silently measuring my reactions, and I stroked his head and cheek gently, kissing him occasionally onto his forehead and cortex.

After a while, Vlokarion said, "This might be entertaining for a bit, but there has to be more to human love than that! Are you lying to me, child?" His inflexion grew dangerous.

I jumped a bit at that, he smiled at my accelerated heartbeat, and I hurried to explain, "No, Maester, I would never dare! This is but one facet of it. Physically, of course, there would be intercourse, for example, but we already established that going that way would not work. Mentally, you have to consider a lot, lot more. I take it that the concept of unconditional love is alien to you?"

His eyes narrowed, I made haste with continuing, "It means that you trust one individual with all your heart and soul. You know from that one that you could fall and he or she would catch you, no matter how hard it would be. You not only trust each other, you need each other and taking one individual away would mortally hurt the other. This would be true, unconditional love. It works similar in friendships, but the feelings are not that strong and no romance is involved."

I had expected that Vlokarion would not understand this one bit. However, the utterly confused look on his face was just priceless. He pondered my words for a while intensely, then he shook his head and replied, "Why, by the Muses, would one want to have that? Why would you want this kind of vulnerability? It could be so easily used against you!"

I sighed. "Yes, of course, you are right with that. But still, it is one of the most beautiful things to have."

His forehead drawn to a frown, he closed his eyes, apparently intensely pondering my words. Then, slowly, and to my great dismay, an evil smile graced his features. "What a strange, yet indeed highly interesting concept! I still can't claim that I understand it, nevertheless, thank you for pointing that out to me, I am sure I will put it to good use!"

Oh, the malice in this words! The torturer was back once more!

I had the terrible feeling that I just worsened some fates around here.

Of course, Vlokarion saw my dismay. "Oh, don't feel guilty, little one, if you had not told me, someone else would have! Besides, you are here for exactly that – to unravel the mysteries of human love to me. So, is there anything else you can show me? I liked the kiss you gave me before quite much... I just started to get the hang of it again, it has been such a long time since I kissed someone, longer than you could even imagine..."

I figured it was time that I stopped talking; therefore, I turned onto my right side, laid my arms around his shoulders and put my mouth unto his.

Again, the raw sensation of his lips unsettled me a bit. As I kissed him, this time I felt that he was not used to it and I needed to guide him a lot. I combined my kisses with gentle strokes on his back and face, and in return, he hugged me gently, again also with some of his mechadendrites, and he used them to tenderly stroke me. Goose-bumps were again imminent with that treatment, the mixture of flesh and metal on my skin felt quite intense. Though I needed to work a lot with my mouth, since he really seemed to be inexperienced, or, as to his own account, only slowly remembering his technique, I felt that I enjoyed it the more the longer we kissed. I had never imagined that I would get to feel so much tenderness from this monster, who had, just an hour or so ago, tortured and killed another being.

I shook the thought off, right now, there was no time for me to ponder this.

Then, the relief washed over me again; I was so happy that he had not prepared some kind of exquisite, sexual torture for me here, because I was sure that I would have snapped at that. Also, it moved me greatly that I was something really special to him, so special that he just wanted to be cuddled by me and not to scream for him. I was sure that this occasion was extremely rare, if not even unique in this city.

I was unique in this city.

And with great shame, I started to cry silently. I could not hold my emotions back any longer.

Vlokarion, of course, sensed my tears, drew his mouth away from me and looked at me in apparent confusion. He tilted his head and asked, "Why do you cry?"

I smiled at him, tears still flowing down my face, and answered with breaking voice, "Out of relief and honour."

The Haemonculus frowned. "I have seen a lot of tears in my time, but never out of those reasons. Explain, child!"

Therefore, I continued, wiping the tears off my cheeks, fighting for my composure, "You see, I am really happy that you don't want to sleep with me, because, to be honest, I was not sure how I should have done it without going insane. Though my status is as low as can be, I still value my life and sanity. Also, it makes me feel incredibly honoured that you chose me for this task, to make you feel loved and appreciated, because it confirms my suspicion that I am something special, though I am just a slave."

Vlokarion started to laugh.

Now it was my turn with being confused.

The Haemonculus took a while to calm down again, then he managed to say, "Child, though you have proven your wits time and again, you sometimes need a surprisingly long time to manage to understand certain things. Do you really think that you would have managed to survive one solar year around here, being one of the youngest personal slaves the Overlord had ever had, if you were not indeed something special?"

"But, without your training..." I started.

However, he cut me off this time. "Yes, yes, it surely helped you along, but in the end, the best training does not change the fact whether an individual is made for the position or not, whether it has the aptitude for it. You do, and though you often enough hate what you have to do, you obey and push all those unpleasant feelings aside, just to... serve. Not solely serve, but rather serve in the wanted and right manner. And this, child, is a quality that is inexplicably rare in slaves. This is what made you survive so barely scathed. This, and the fact that you don't taste and smell like humans normally do. You are a break for everyone's senses, I can assure you of that."

My jaw had started to drop with his words. He had told me the same things Vect had already told me and the impact of them now hit me in the face like a hammer.

This just confirmed that Vect had not lied about me being different in more than one way.

At this point I did not no longer think about the possibility that both lied to me.

His next words shook me, "You, my dear, were born to be a slave, as it seems."

This was not a very charming statement, but the longer I let it sink in, the more I understood that it was, in this case, actually a compliment. And a huge one at that.

I looked utterly confused at Vlokarion, as he jumped out of bed with a happy chuckle. As he stood, he turned halfway around and explained, "I have to take notes of what we are doing here. After all, all of this serves a purpose." Somehow almost shyly, which now was unbelievably strange, he added, "Does this disrupt the moment for you?"

I smiled sympathetically and answered, "No, not at all! After all, I know that a scientist has to take his notes."

The Haemonculus smiled and said, while he slithered to the desk in his quarters, "I tend to forget that you once had a scientific profession. This makes things a lot easier with you." At the desk, he took out a notebook, bound in what looked like soft skin, not leather, and took some notes, actually writing with his hand. After he was done, he slithered back to the bed, laid the notebook and pen onto the nightstand and lay down beside me once more.

Unexpectedly, he took my head between his bony hands and started to kiss me again, now with much more initiative form his side. It did not take long until he French-kissed me.

His tongue felt utterly strange, because it was hard, pointy and also felt somehow bony. I concentrated very much on this kiss, not able to tear my thoughts away from it, since his tongue felt so alien as it caressed mine. Vlokarion was, as it seemed to be normal with Dark Eldar males, quite dominant, did not let me have a lot of freedom now, quite contrary to what had transpired whilst the first, longer kiss, and he just took what he wanted. I could handle this a lot better than the thing before, since I was used to being used. It was strange, but it felt like he was hungry for this kiss, caressing my body with his hands and mechadendrites in a more demanding manner than before, but never crossing that fine line between mere tenderness and arousal. I thought that he possibly also knew very well where he could touch me without arousing me. If there was someone that knew each anatomy perfectly, it had to be a Master Haemonculus. I returned the kiss as passionately as I could, obediently giving him what he desired, yet not entirely enjoying it, since it was so peculiar.

However, it seemed to be enough for Vlokarion.

After a while of just kissing, he drew away from me again, then he whispered softly, "Very well, child, you served me nicely. Now, I want you to wind down and go to sleep; it was a long day and you have to be exhausted. Don't mind me, I will lie beside you and watch and analyse you as you sleep, maybe touching you a bit. Tomorrow, when you wake up, I want you to share some more tenderness with me and then I will bring you back to your master. I am sure that he will be pleased to hear that you have served me well. Sleep now, child, you are safe here!"

I nodded, bade him a good night and curled up on the left side.

"What is it actually about this 'good night' thing you humans are saying?" he asked me after my good night wish.

"I guess it comes from the fact that with sleeping, there is always a chance of nightmares for my kind, and you bid those, who you appreciate, a good night with sweet dreams, since no one likes nightmares."

As I voiced these words, I realised that I never had had a nightmare as long as I had been around here. It was really strange, as much as my mind had been torn asunder, I should have woken up screaming a lot of times. Yet, I never had. I tried to ignore the thought and be content with it, but somehow, I now kept it in mind.

Maybe I was more stressed out than admitted, because it was known that if a person experienced enough of a trauma, the subconscious did not deal with it through nightmares, or the dreaming stopped entirely.

I hoped that there was another, more esoteric reason in my case for it.

Again, Vlokarion took notes of that.

I did not mind, for he was right, I was exhausted. As I relaxed mind and body, I felt that I actually enjoyed it as he softly stroked my hair and skin, while I gently drifted away into a deep slumber...

Well, I do hope you enjoyed this chapter.

I hope that Temira's mental changes and twists become more apparent with it and also how strange and alien Haemonculi are.
And, most of all, I do hope I was able to service the Vlokarion fandom accordingly. ;)

Read and review, please!

Over 50 official followers, 40 faves, approximately 200 regular readers, and just 3 reviews per chapter? Come on, guys, I believe in you, you can do better! ;)

Chapter 15 will take a while. I have a general plan, but it will take me a lot of time to figure out the details. And remember: each review is a big encouragement and makes me write faster. ;P