Torture

I'd rather be betrayed a thousand times than be a traitor once.

Torture

When Rolo got home, I took a good look for myself. After staring at him for half a minute or so, he raised his eyebrows. There was simply nothing different about him. What difference had it made to him that they had performed this fancy ritual?

Livius drank his tea absentmindedly, watching me. I could feel his gaze on me, though I ignored it - I had felt it so often that it would have been annoying to pay attention to him all the time. The Sorcerer Lord seemed to be paying particular attention to me - though I would rather have him not.

"Shay, can we talk for a moment?" he poked his head towards the living room.

I nodded and walked out with him. He didn't glare at Livius, he didn't try to talk me out of working with the mage, and he didn't even throw a tantrum.

I closed the door. "I thought you'd need more persuasion."

"This is a golden opportunity," he said, his voice ringing with tension, "We may have the Sorcerer Lord in our debt."

Another nod.

"I just wanted to tell you to be careful," he said suddenly, "It seems too simple, as if someone had planned in advance that the button should be owned by my family. It's also possible that the Sorcerer Lord is playing a trick on us and it's all a trap."

I nodded. "I know, I won't let him out of my sight."

"Don't trust him! Even if we team up with him," at this point he pursed his lips, "he's not one of us."

Another nod, and we started for the front door.

"I'll be back in three hours," he said "I need to prepare some stuff."

I had a very bad feeling. I had a very, very bad feeling.

"Hey."

The kid turned back before stepping out and raised an eyebrow.

"Watch your back! And if you're not at the doorstep in three hours, I'm coming after you," I warned.

He smiled slightly and very graciously did not remind me that I don't know where his hideout was - haha as if he could keep secrets from an informant. After that, he started walking slowly again and soon disappeared from my sight.

"Simon," I whispered to myself and the ghost materialized almost immediately beside me. "Don't lose sight of him even for a moment."

The spirit merely nodded and disappeared. That calmed me down a little.

I shuffled back into the kitchen where the mage was still sipping tea from a cup.

When he saw me, Alex thrust a mug into my hand. Immediately, the unmistakable scent of soothing tea wafted into my nostrils. Where's my cocoa, mate?

(...)

Rolo was late.

Of course, Livius shrugged his shoulders saying to give him time. Alex agreed, so in the end, I didn't go after the kid. Around the four-hour mark, I got tired of waiting and jumped up.

"Whatever you say, I'm going after him," I declared.

Simon didn't appear before me, perhaps because he didn't want to appear in front of the others, or perhaps because he didn't have the strength. Still, I immediately felt that shaky, almost nervous touch on my wrist. That single touch had the power to turn my world inside out again.

Rolo had stepped out of the darkness behind the hidden door and was just beginning to close it back. Only to find the shadow of a dark, pointy hooded figure looming over him. Even if he himself had not been able to dodge the attack in time, Simon had pushed him hard. Rolo's eyes widened in shock, but he focused his attention on the dark-robed mages.

"Hm," one of the mages mused, staring at the spot where Rolo had been standing moments before. The parquet floor was scorched black. "A lucky one?"

A few of the mages collapsed and Rolo's eyes suddenly sparkled with understanding. His eyes flashed with a fierce light as he drew a bottle from his pocket and threw it at the magicians.

"Flamma maxima," he whispered to himself, and suddenly huge flames erupted, engulfing the whole house.

For a moment everything was covered in red, scorching light. I could almost feel the heat of the flames on my skin and the stinging taste of smoke in my mouth. Without a moment's hesitation, Rolo took flight. Yet, despite the mighty and noble flames, I knew he could not escape. I pressed my lips into a sharp line.

Rolo really didn't get far when he heard it. He heard the sound that most resembled the final death cry of a banshee. He had just enough time to look back in disbelief. His eyes widened, and the pale blue light of magic glinted in them. Then the lightning-like attack struck hard against Rolo's body.

I will never forget that anguished cry. I will never forget the pungent aroma of burnt flesh and skin that made my stomach churn. I'll never forget the way Rolo fell limp, almost crushed to the ground. I will never forgive them.

I wanted to close my eyes, but I didn't. I clenched my hands into fists, my claws digging into my skin. I watched helplessly as the mage tortured Rolo to the limit. His screams rang in my ears and his writhing, quivering form burned into my eyes. My mouth filled with a bitter taste that did not go away even as the memory faded before my eyes.

Without a word, I started for the door.

"Shay, where are you going?" Alex took my hand.

"To the Circle," I thundered, "If I catch them, I'll kill them all! All of them!"

"Do you even know who you're talking about?" he growled "And you think you can win alone?!"

"They've got Rolo, Alex," I looked up at him.

I don't know if it was the coldness of my eyes or what I was saying that frightened him most at that moment. In any case, my single glance drowned out the unnecessary questions. He did not ask me what had happened or how I knew. There was no time for that. He was tense, he was worried, but I didn't care at that moment. He didn't know, he didn't see what happened to Rolo.

"Don't go alone," he asked.

"I don't know where you want to go, but I think we can save time if I pinpoint your friend's exact location," Livius said, "and then we can go."

I stared at the mage for a long second, then nodded slowly.

(...)

Rolo woke up to the sound of water being poured over him. Then the first thing he felt was the rope on his hands. He opened his eyes, but the bright light kept him from seeing for seconds as his eyes searched unfocused for his opponent. Then the next moment his vision cleared and his gaze settled on the hooded figure. Then slowly, very slowly, he ran his gaze around the musty cell.

"Where is the button?" asked the hooded man, in his rasping voice, "Who are you and who are your comrades?"

Rolo made no reply, even turning his head away in protest. He felt his hair being grabbed and his head forcibly turned back towards the masked man.

"Answer me when I ask you!" the mage growled.

The next second he was slapped so hard that he fell over in his chair. His whole face burned from the powerful palm, but he wouldn't have hissed for the world. He glanced at the other mage, who was absentmindedly leaning against the wall in the corner. He didn't speak, and Rolo couldn't see his face through the hood, but he recognized him immediately. He recognized the magic that had not long before gone right to his bones and filled his body with agony.

He was pulled up off the ground and the chair was set upright again.

"Speak, boy," the mighty mage thundered, leaning into the Rolo's face.

But Rolo remained stubbornly silent. The monstrosity roared and kicked the chair, causing Rolo to fall backward with it. He was pulled off the ground again.

"This is your last chance to speak," the dark mage thundered.

"This is your last chance to let me go," Rolo replied softly, as the monstrosity laughed.

His insane and cruel laughter made Rolo want to shudder, but he steeled himself.

"You think you're doing anything by keeping quiet?" the magician asked absently. "Do you think torture is the only way to get what I want?"

Rolo remained silent again, and the mage's lips curved into a cruel smile. He held out his hand to Rolo, but stopped before he could reach him. Instead, hesitantly, he reached for his neck.

Rolo watched with widened eyes as a wound opened out of nowhere on the mage's neck. It was only a moment, and the movement was so swift that there was no way to avoid it. The mighty mage fell to his knees and then sprawled on the ground. His throat had been slit - he suffered for moments afterward, gasping and drowning in his own blood.

The next moment, the other mage leaped aside from an unseen attack and then grabbed the air. The tomb-like silence of the cell was broken by an anguished growl, then the illusion was shattered and Rolo's eyes immediately flicked to Alex's kneeling form before him.

The mage laughed and kicked Alex in his stomach. Alex's body trembled slightly and he tried in vain to move, each time he tried he groaned in pain.

Rolo's eyes darkened. And then he murmured the magic word so quietly that it might have gone unnoticed by the others. The laughing mage, however, must have sensed the change, for he closed his mouth without a sound and looked at the boy in disbelief.

Rolo's eyes sparkled. They almost glowed with the magic that had gathered in them. In the next moment, the magician's body was crushed to the ground by some unknown force.

Alex was still a little dazed.

"Quickly," hissed Rolo, "I won't be able to hold him down for long!"

Alex tightened his grip on the dagger in his hand and jumped up in one swift movement. Without any hesitation, he stabbed through the dark mage's chest.

Then, ignoring the corpse, he immediately set to work to free Rolo. The kid himself lowered his head, panting hard, and almost collapsed on Alex's chest when the ropes no longer held him. Without a word, Alex got him on his back and started running.

Simon let go of my hand and it was only then that I calmed down.

In just a few minutes Alex and Rolo arrived. Rolo summoned all his strength to crane his neck and look up. His eyes widened.

Glass shards lay on the floor, the windows smashed. The place was filled with the smell of blood and death. Everywhere lay twisted, mutilated, broken bodies, laced with garnet-red blood. There was only one person in the vast room.

I looked down at the tiny, broken body. Rolo didn't seem able to move, yet there was an indescribable calm in his eyes. Only then did he finally allow his consciousness to be swallowed up by the merciful darkness.

I took one more look at the vast room and then started towards the wolf. First as a hunter, then as a monster, I learned that there are times when killing is necessary. Without any pity or sympathy. And sometimes, you even crave it.

(...)

What I needed most at that moment cannot be put into words. Only in a glass.

For a few moments, I just watched the fire in the fireplace. The dance of the yellowish-blue tongues of flame, the powdered sugar-like, greyish-white ash scattered on the burnt wood logs, and the embers pulsing with reddish light. If you look at the embers for a long time, you get the feeling of them being alive. The mysterious pulsation that pours out its light and warmth is like that elusive thing that keeps us alive.

The door closed softly.

"How is he?" I asked without turning away from the fire.

The doctor sighed deeply. "He'll live."

I nodded.

"What have you got yourselves into now?" he asked, though I couldn't hear any curiosity in his voice, more a tired resignation.

I left him without an answer.

"That child was tortured, Shaytan," he said darkly, "He had so much electricity run through his body that his nervous system got completely confused."

"Thank you for taking care of him," I stood up and started for the door.

The fae took the hint immediately. Before stepping out the door, he gave me one last disapproving look. I returned to Rolo's room and looked at the boy for a moment. Although his breathing was even, he frowned painfully.

I stepped over to him and dampened a cloth, then laid it on the boy's forehead. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand, but with a force I wouldn't have seen coming. His eyes were misty for a moment, frightened, then he finally realized where he was. He glanced around, then his gaze settled on me.

"What happened?"

"You're safe," I replied instead.

He nodded slowly and then tried to sit up, but he didn't manage the movement very well. I gently pushed his shoulder back onto the pillow.

For a moment he remained silent and stubbornly grabbed his quilt.

"I'm..." he started a while after. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" I asked and sat down.

Rolo couldn't look into my eyes. In that old basement, there was something he didn't want us to know about. There was a secret he would rather put himself into harm's way than to show us. He decided to go alone no matter how dangerous it was. Maybe he thought that the enemy wouldn't even know of his existence... but didn't matter anymore.

"Don't apologize," I sighed.

He looked up at me, surprised.

"I know you are smart. You thought that choice was the best in that given situation," I explained. "What saddens me is that putting yourself in danger was a better choice than involving me. This is my failure as the packheart."

"Don't say this, Shay," he asked pleading as if my words hurt him.

"However," I continued. "Next time I will ensure that you consider a different choice as the best one."

He pursed his lips into a sharp line as his eyes filled with tears.

"Ask for my help, dummy" I smiled. "I will always help you out."

I ruffled his hair and for the first time, he didn't complain about it, just nodded slowly under the weight of my hand. This touching moment was shattered by the Sorcerer Lord.

Suddenly a small pouch landed on the quilt. Livius closed the door behind him. Rolo looked up at the mage with round eyes.

"It's yours, isn't it?" he said with a grin.

The kitten nodded slightly.

"Well, where did you hide the button?" asked Livius, no doubt already looking through the contents of the tiny pouch.

Rolo finally muttered a magic word. Livius's eyes widened almost in disbelief. I thought he was trying to call the button into his hand.

For a moment, it seemed as if he was going to cover my pretty brown blanket with the contents of his stomach, but in the end, he merely spat a tiny button into the palm of his hand.

"You used magic to make it impossible to trace," the Sorcerer Lord declared, tiny sparks of wonder blooming in his eyes as he did so.

Rolo merely nodded slightly and dropped the button into my hand. Ew.

"Let's let him rest a while," suggested Livius, and poked his head towards the door.

I gave Rolo a threatening look. "Don't you dare get out of bed!"

"You don't have to worry about that," he replied with a weak grin, "I can't even move."

I followed the magician and stepped out of the room, fitting the door soundlessly into place. I settled back in front of the fire and stared at the flames.

"What are you going to do?" asked Livius.

Instead of answering, I immediately tried to grind the tiny little relic into powder with the palm of my hand. I was not surprised that I failed. Instead, I handed it to Livius.

"I don't know yet," I said disinterestedly, "How do we find the fourth amulet?"

"The fourth is an earring with a ruby inlay," the magician remarked, "But the Master lost it on the way."

As he shared this information with me, he conjured up a picture of the jewel so that I would have a rough idea of what it looked like.

"What?", I snapped, "What do you mean he lost it?"

Liv shrugged. "The Master has never been known for being organized..."

"Then he could be anywhere in the world!"

The Sorcerer Lord nodded reluctantly. "This one will be the hardest to find. But don't worry about this. I will handle that."

I nervously tapped my foot as I thought, then suddenly looked up at the tiny magician again.

"I suppose you have your own tools," I said, and he nodded, "I'll try to gather intel about the necromancer and see what I can find."