Escape From The Dungeons

I knew I had no chance against them; maybe I would have had one had I been alone, but not with her to protect. And anyway, I had to play their game, so when my brother told me to follow him, I naturally accepted. I had no doubt Kyrie would be here as well. They had always been such partners in crime!
I felt proud of her when she didn’t falter as Kyrie dragged her to the wall. Others would have already screamed, called to me for help – all in vain. Incubus and Kyrie were not the worse of their kind and until now, they had always managed to get away from those unpleasant meetings with their hands rather clean – mostly because someone else was doing the dirty job for them. All in all, we could have fared worse, but then I wouldn’t have played the same game if it hadn’t been between Incubus, Kyrie and me.
Kyrie’s usual banter left me entirely indifferent, except when I wondered if Incubus had managed to get closer to her during the ten years I had supposedly been dead. I thought of asking her if she had missed me, but Incubus would not appreciate it and, for the moment, I needed to be on his good side.
I changed my mind as soon as I heard his ridiculous statement:
“She’s for me.”
Had he thus learnt nothing? My answer was pure bravado, though I had several elements that tended to prove I might be right. After all, ten years afterwards, Kyrie still preferred me to Incubus and Vesper – Apprentice Oillider, I reminded myself with an internal frown – had apparently not disliked the casual touches of my hand as I was freeing her from her chains – even though I hadn’t planned it.
I moved toward her and, though I kept my face carefully blank, I let some pleading creep in my eyes. Please pretend… She seemed mesmerised, her eyes locked to mine. Play along and I can save you. It’s easy, just pretend. I leaned toward her, my lips touching hers, giving her time to adapt, for I could feel her stiffness even as she was trying to look eager.
Thinking her to be ready, I deepened the kiss and almost stared at the quality of her act. It was as if she couldn’t get enough of me. I wasn’t touching her at all – rules, rules, rules – but she was trying to change that. Gingerly, I put my hand on her hip, using every bit of self-control I ever had to avoid crushing her in my arms and kiss her senseless. As I released her, she kissed me again immediately, harming herself to get closer to me. Oh Genoese… Someone end this sweet torture… Even though I knew it was only an act, I had a hard time calming myself down, keeping a cool control. Fortunately a part of my mind analysed the situation properly and thus I pushed her against the wall to relieve her from the chains hold on her.
Indulging a moment in her fake willingness, I kissed her jaw, her throat, both glad and ashamed that she was offering herself to me with soft moans. I knew I had to stop soon so I carefully slid my usual mask back on my face and stepped back. Her protest almost made me step forward but my will had an iron grip on my muscles. Instead I trailed my finger on her jaw and smiled. The look in her eyes was so real that I wondered if, maybe, it hadn’t been an act… but then it turned to shame and she closed her eyelids. I went back to my chair, knowing I wouldn’t be able to look again at her in the quiet rooms of the Sanctuary.
But the game wasn’t over yet. Incubus stood up and made his way to her. I drove my nails in the flesh of my palms; he had no rights to touch her, let alone kiss her! But you have no rights, either, huh? That didn’t stop you though, you cradle-snatcher! Even so it was a delectable pleasure to see her reaction – disgust, horror – at Incubus’s attempt. I couldn’t resist a little taunting:
“Satisfied, Incubus?”
Of course he wasn’t. Incubus had never accepted the fact that his pet monster – brother – could succeed where he couldn’t. Kyrie had a smug smile that I still couldn’t understand after all these years. She refused him but didn’t want him to find solace anywhere else.
Incubus’s eyes were glowing with anger as he turned toward me.
“Are you still one of us?”
Long hiss. I knew for quite a long time that it meant danger. He was going to break rules – lots of them.
“As I have been always, even after you tried to kill me.”
There. Let him remember what was his last mistake – at least, the last one I was aware of.
“Can you prove it?”
A challenge. I shrugged, carelessly, easily. I was innocent, nothing to hide. Someone can whisper to me he knew everything, I’ll wait for the tale. There isn’t any. When you don’t have friends, you don’t say anything to anyone. Don’t trust anyone, they always end up betraying you. Or you them. Whatever.
In a heartbeat, Incubus and Kyrie were on me and I tried not to struggle. They chained me near her, so close that I could feel her warm breath on my arm. The manacles on my wrists were tight but the chains were long enough for me to move around her.
“We’ll see your loyalty tomorrow morning, Invictus,” said Incubus.
A caress on my cheek from Kyrie and five words:
“Do not fail me, brother.”
They left us alone. I understood their plan and raged inside. Night was coming only too soon and there she was, at my mercy…
“Do not talk,” I whispered to her, already twisting my wrists in their manacles. “They are listening and I wouldn’t want to spoil your beautiful act. You were perfect.”
Perfect. The word sounded again in my ears. Yes, she had been so perfect that she had almost fooled me – and she would have fooled me had I not known it was an act. She shrugged at my words.
“Survival skills,” she muttered. “Nothing compared to yours.”
The arrow was poisoned and it hit, but it was a game of survival and I was among the survivors. She had the right to be angry with me; after all, I had taken advantage of the situation – though she could have fared far worse. But she would… if I didn’t manage to get us out of here on time. Night was close. I had maybe three hours till full darkness. I shook my head, calling myself a fool. I had to free her first. Twisting my arms in a painful lock, I began my work on her chains. My limbs were hurting, a reminder of time passing by and of night to come.
Soft clicks were all I heard at the beginning, but then my heightening senses heard her breath – a warmth my neck was already aware of – the rustling of her clothes as she shifted foot, the move of my fingers in the air, gripping the metallic links and brushing against the soft skin of her wrists. My fingertips discovered the bruises on the tender skin, bruises my eyes had already seen, bruises that I knew of before even seeing them; Kyrie was ruthless, especially with someone who could appear like a rival. Then my nose picked her smell, tingled with fear, but yet the very essence of her… Vesper…
I hadn’t noticed that I had spoken aloud until her eyes locked with mine.
“Yes, Master Invictus?”
I hated that name, especially when I could see the flickering green of her gaze filled with… trust? Genoese, what did I do for her to trust me? You kissed her and thoroughly enjoyed it, old man. Maybe that’s the answer? I would have slapped this sneering part of my mind. Then, just before I totally lost myself in her eyes, I remembered I was supposed to free her – the very reason why my fingers were on her wrists – and that betraying her childlike trust wouldn’t be a good thing. After all, I had come for her.
I looked back at her wrists and resumed my work on her chains. The pain in my back was getting close to unbearable and I knew I had to hurry. It seemed that in her haste to get my Apprentice off the way, Kyrie had forgotten some basic principles, such as I knew almost all their ways to tie someone up and thus could untie them, with or without being free myself. Kyrie had a way to twist and click the chains that was as tortured as her mind, yet it was one of my favourite patterns. Once I had recognised it, I was back on familiar tracks. One last twist and she was free. I stepped back, pulling on my own chains, so that she could slip between the wall and me. Immediately after, I started on my chains.
“Wait for me. I’ll be able to help you find your way,” I said gruffly.
It didn’t come out as expected. Politeness seemed lost on me whenever she was near and I didn’t like it. I glanced quickly at her and was rather surprised by the hurt in her eyes. She opened her mouth but closed it before saying anything. How could you think she would leave you here? Or rather, how could you think she could think of leaving you here? Or… well, never mind. After all, you’re her only hope and she knows it, no way to deny it. Only too true, old man. You are useful.
The chains in my wrists were a mix between Incubus and Kyrie’s methods. Though the result was unexpected, it didn’t take me long to free myself – pain notwithstanding. I turned toward her, her eyes full of question she would not ask.
“Come,” I said, holding my hand to her, remembering in time the wound on her arm.
“Isn’t it… too easy?” she asked timidly, reaching to take my hand.
Pain shot through my back, invading my legs, and I scowled, barely repressing a shout. She stepped back, wondering what she did wrong. Time. Time was running short, we had to hurry. I grabbed her left arm and started running.
Only a few steps and I knew I made the wrong decision. Her legs were too sore still, though she could walk. Mumbling an apology or something, I threw her on my shoulder and kept running. It was hardly comfortable for her, but we had no other choice. I remembered her question.
“Too easy? No, this place is mine. I know it better than they ever will.”
If the stones don’t know me by now, it’s not because I didn’t try. I had spent more time in the dungeons than anyone should ever have, but after all, it had been my haven for a long time.
I felt she was tense; not because of me, but because she feared something would happen. She was scared of Incubus and Kyrie – as everyone should be. My heightened senses picked so many details and my brain translated it in an absolute knowledge of her. They picked something else too; obviously, Incubus and Kyrie knew I would escape – they knew me well – and laid some traps for me. I quickly understood that they were trying to lead me somewhere, but whenever I accept to play a game, it has to be under my rules and I wasn’t going to walk into a trap. Not with her.
I turned around, almost went back to where we started and used a hidden stair in a dark corner. Darkness had always been my ally. I took her in my arms – the stair was narrow and I didn’t want to hurt her – and carefully hid my surprise as she circled my neck with her arms. Downstairs, there was something she had not expected. Or maybe should I say someone. Liquid dark eyes looked at us and she clasped me tighter with a soft cry of surprise. I let her slid on the ground, an arm still around her waist, and held out a hand to the newcomer.
“Hello, boy,” I murmured softly. “Missed me?”
He breathed on my hand and nuzzled my chest before snorting.
“I know, wrong time to come,” I whispered affectionately. “Take care of her?”
I lifted her on his back and my faithful horse danced away nervously.
“Go straight, don’t stop,” I said, my voice now strained. “When you see light, wait for me.”
“What’s his name?” she called as he was already taking her away.
“He has no name.”
I shrugged carelessly. Now I was again surrounded by my comfortable darkness and I could breathe. I leaned forward, my hands on my knees, and I moved my shoulders to get rid of the knots in them. Pain shot again through me and I growled. I had to start moving before it was too late.
I didn’t run, I flew through the galleries, carefully avoiding the large path she had taken. I had the night to overrun and the exhaustion, while making the whole thing even more unbearable, would calm me for the rest of the time. The excruciating pain was not yet here, but it would come in time. Genoese, how I hated what I was!
I knew the path better than Kyrie and Incubus though they had driven me away from it. Even so, after all this time, it was still mine. She was already at the end of it, waiting for me, her hand on the horse’s back. I slowed down before reaching her, recovering my composure, willing the coming madness to hide behind a smooth mask of dark, cold eyes and a smirking smile.
“Where are we going?” she asked, quite successful at hiding her own pain – but not to eyes as expert as mine.
“I suggest we go see my mother.”

I was again in his arms, the feeling of safety filling me once again despite our precarious situation. I wanted to understand but first, I wanted to be far from them. I was trying to put together the pieces I had and the result had nothing to do with the man I called my Master, the man I thought I knew. Then he put me on the horse and left me alone in the darkness. I wasn’t used to ride but it seemed that the horse was as clever as his master. Sometimes, when I thought I was on the verge of falling, it was as if he was moving fluidly beneath me and he could continue to run as if nothing had happened, my balance restored. As I had no imagination for names, I called him Night Wing and he seemed to like it enough.
He stopped as we reached a light. It was the end of the dungeons – or so I thought – though it didn’t look like the outside. I slid down, keeping a hand on Night Wind’s back so I wouldn’t fall, and I looked around. It was not yet night but there wasn’t much time left. I wondered where my Master was and why he hadn’t come with me. Obviously Night Wind was strong enough to carry us both.
Contrary to what I thought, I didn’t have to wait long for him to arrive. He was tired yet full of a nervous energy. His usual cool black eyes were shining strangely in the light of dusk and once again I thought I saw speckles of gold dancing in them. I envied him. Nothing could take him down, while I was ready to lie down and let pain send my mind into oblivion. But I wouldn’t; I would be strong, for him.
“Where are we going?”
“I suggest we go see my mother,” he said blandly.
I had a hard time suppressing my shock. His mother. Of course, he had to have a mother. What was I thinking? That he had been created from nothing, already adult, by a mad scientist? Oh, I knew some of the rumours at the Sanctuary said so, but I never believed them. Yet I never thought of the simple fact that he had a mother. He has a brother, remember? And what did the Kyrie girl say at the end? ‘Brother’? Vesper, you’re in a bad situation.
He was leaving the dungeons and I followed him gingerly. He had not offered me assistance and I was strangely grateful of it. I was walking with Night Wind, who nervously did his best to stay away from his master, though he kept following him faithfully. I realised then that we were outside; the dungeons had given way to a thick forest and, straight forward, nestled among huge dark trees, was a mansion.
A tall woman opened the door. She looked at him then, calmly, turned her eyes to me and I felt like I would sink in the ground.
“It’s the first time you bring a girl home,” she said without bothering with greetings.
I reaffirmed my grasp on Night Wind’s mane. That was hardly the welcome I had expected. I had the distinct impression that he was embarrassed – and, in a certain way, it was priceless.
“Mother, please,” he growled. “This is not the time.”
“It’s never the time with you,” she replied imperturbably.
I grinned shamelessly at his flushed face.
“Exactly!” he snapped. “And right now is precisely the moment I would not have chosen for such a subject! Mother, she’s hurt and needs rest.”
“Indeed. For once, you made an accurate statement. Follow me.”
He sighed.
“Meet my infuriating mother, Lucia Bella Notte Invictus. Mother, this is Vesper Oillider, one of my Apprentices. Can you send someone to take care of the horse?”
I patted Night Wind’s neck and told him goodbye. The door closed behind us and I half-wanted to scream and rush outside. The only thing that made me stay – apart from me being unable to run anyway – was that his mother had said I was the first girl he had brought here. It was oddly reassuring. Had she said ‘Another girl again?’ I would have expected the worse… Yet it would mean I was the only one he had managed to rescue. Or… Get a grip, Vesper. You’re turning crazy. I flashed a bright smile when she asked me if I wanted some tea.
“Yes, please.”
He groaned.
“Mother… She’s hurt and we’re running out of time.”
“We always have time for tea and I can see she’s wounded. What happened?”
“The usual happened.”
She became very still.
“Did they do anything to you?” she asked carefully.
He shook his head.
“Not physically, no…”
Was I dreaming or did I see a shiver shake his now still frame?
“As for her, unless Kyrie changed drastically, she probably has injuries hidden under her clothes. The one on her arm was previous to the… encounter.”
“Kyrie never learns; she’s too stubborn for her own good,” she said dryly.
“I would rather say, for the others’ own good.”
“That too. She should know by now that she should give up on you.”
“If you ever manage to convince her of that, I’ll be forever in your debt.”
“You already are.”
Their argument was only half-hearted. Their minds were obviously elsewhere. I accepted the cup of tea she gave me and drank it in one gulp – it was warm without being hot. Then she moved by my side and unwrapped the dirty bandages around my right arm. She scowled.
“What happened?”
“I fell down with a boiling pot and burnt a passing cat,” I replied with a straight face.
That got a chuckle from my Master.
“Sturm?”
“I have no idea, mother. Apprentice Oillider doesn’t let me in her secrets.”
“Come upstairs. We need to take care of all this.”
I obeyed meekly, the events catching with me and now willing to lie down and sleep my heart’s content.

As usual, I felt better when mother took things in charge. I followed her lead, only stopping to retrieve balms and bandages – if I had any experience of Kyrie’s ministrations, she would need them. Apprentice Oillider’s wits about her arm had surprised and amused me. She couldn’t be too hurt if she was still able to joke. Or else, what a girl she was!
When I reached the room I knew mother would have given her, she was already out of her clothes. I could see things I had missed in the darkness of the dungeons.
“It seems Kyrie made some… progress,” mother commented dryly.
“If she could make them in sanity, it would be most welcome.”
We quickly became too absorbed in our task to continue our dark banter. We were both qualified to treat the wounds, since mother was used to treat mine. The patient was looking at the ceiling, her eyes unfocused, and not a sound came out. Her lack of reaction worried me but I didn’t say a word. After all, I used to act the same way after such encounters.
“She’s in shock,” mother said as she was cleaning a nasty gash in her side.
“I guessed as much.”
Finally all the wounds were treated and bandaged.
“Child, there’s a tray of food on the wooden chest. Eat it all and leave it in your room. It will be collected tomorrow morning. Go to sleep and under no condition do leave your room before morning. Bolt securely the door and leave it so, even if we come pounding on it.”
“Yes, madam.”
“Call me Lucia, child. Good night.”
“Good night, Lucia, Master Invictus.”
I replied with a grunt. She didn’t realise the seriousness of what we were telling her. She simply nodded and moved automatically to the tray, her face closed as not to show the pain of her multiple injuries. I was impressed in spite of myself on how she had lasted so long without complaining – except telling me she couldn’t walk. If I had known, I wouldn’t have had her ride the horse but I would have carried her all the way, keeping my own problems at bay.
Mother and I were back in the lounge and I watched her drink another cup of tea.
“Orange?” I asked casually.
She shrugged. Strange how she could be the well-bred lady with other people and then revert to herself as soon as she was alone with me. Sometimes her unconditional trust in me made me ill at ease.
“Many damages?”
“Some memories awakened. It had to happen sooner or later anyway.”
“What happened?”
I told her what I knew, though I could easily guess what had befallen to Apprentice Oillider while I wasn’t there.
“Did Kyrie touch you at all?”
“Her hand in my hair – as usual – and then a caress on my cheek before leaving.”
She came to me and looked at the top of my head, parting my hair. I knew what she would find there, a dirty red scar, quite similar to those I had on my body, but not as nicely healed.
“It doesn’t look like she touched it at all.”
“She must be losing her touch,” I said humourlessly.
“She’s off practice, except if she uses Incubus.”
I shook my head. Kyrie loathed Incubus and toyed with him. The display I had witnessed in the dungeons – Incubus kissing a prisoner – had been only at my intention. I still couldn’t believe I hadn’t recognised Kyrie then – but then I hadn’t been really expecting another prisoner.
“Time for us to go,” mother said. “I will see you tomorrow.”
I nodded and walked to the rooms I used when I was home. I entered the little room hidden behind a heavy velvet curtain, pulled the grid behind me, locked it and threw the key away. Now I had only to wait. The other door would open with the first sunbeams, as it had always done.

She was here, smiling, and I wanted to go away, for each move of hers was hurting me, hurting so badly that I wanted to scream but my lips were sealed. When she stopped, he stepped forward and the nightmare went further… His hands were on me, his laugh ringing in my ears and I would have begged for mercy, for death, for her to come back and torture me again if only it could make him stop… I opened my mouth to scream but the only sound I could hear was his terrible laugh… again and again…
I sat brutally, my mouth opened in a silent scream. A nightmare, it was just a nightmare. I was in a bed and the sun was already up. A vague memory of Lucia’s words came back to me and I knew I could leave the oppressive room. Without thinking any longer, I went out of bed, put on a dressing gown I found on an armchair – put here at my intention? – and ventured outside the room. My feet were leading me, guided by a strange urgency, retracing a path I had no memory of, and I realised where I was going only when I entered the room where he was. My sanity. He turned his head to look at me, put down his steaming cup and stood up.
He looked as if he hadn’t slept for too long. Maybe he had spent the night here in case I needed something. No, it couldn’t be, since Lucia had told me not to leave the room. Then maybe he had gone back to the dungeons and he didn’t want me to panic were I not to find him. I went straight to him, pulled his arms around me and wrapped mine around his waist. Right now, if Lucia had come in, I wouldn’t have cared. I was single-minded: I wanted to be in his arms, to feel again the safety his embrace only could provide. Perfection was near; I breathed in his warmth and familiar scent – like rocks basked in sunlight and a touch of wilderness. I shifted a bit, tucked my head under his chin and closed my eyes, sighing in contentment. Now I was safe.

I was drinking hot tea, trying to recover from the exhausting day and even more exhausting night and hoping to forget the pain plaguing my body when I felt someone entering the room. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. I looked toward the door and she was there, her hair still sleep-tousled. I put down my cup and stood up.
“Apprentice Oillider?” I asked, breaking the silence.
She obviously didn’t hear me and started toward me. My mind went blank. Kyrie coming toward me, smiling smugly, her hips swaying seductively… No, it wasn’t Kyrie, but she looked so intent, so focused…
She circled her waist with my arms, not noticing my stiffness. I was bewildered by my own lack of responsiveness, especially when she slipped her arms around me. I held my breath, my mind refusing to process what my senses told me. Then she moved, leaning closer in my arms, her hands light on my back. The memory hit me again.
Kyrie against me, her hands roaming on my back, her face nuzzling my neck, and I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak… My mind was blank; I wanted to push her away but I couldn’t, couldn’t even scream… And then, later, Incubus’s tortures to punish me of the attentions I didn’t even like and I submitting almost gladly to them, hoping that blood could wash away what soap and water could not…
I tried to reason myself. She was not Kyrie, yet… I didn’t like contact. I could carry someone as long as I was focused on the necessity of it. But there, I knew of no necessity… Oh, Genoese, what is she doing, reviving the nightmares and memories I’ve tried so hard to bury and forget? And then Kyrie’s voice in my head: ‘You will never forget me, Sturm, never… Your memory of me is burnt in your flesh.’ She was so right. Though my mind knew that the one in my arms wasn’t Kyrie, my body reacted as if she was. There was a wall between my thoughts and my muscles, forbidding any communication. Then I registered something: she was trembling against me, yet she was not clutching to me. Her embrace was still loose, contrary to Kyrie’s… I started to breathe again: she wanted comfort. My fears returned to their darkness and my arms closed carefully on her, my hand gently caressing her back. She drew in a shaky breath.
“He’s laughing, laughing, and I can’t make him stop, I can’t scream…”
Another wave of memories hit me. Mind blank, no sound coming out of my mouth, had she snapped my vocal cords? What has she done to my voice? Helpless, powerless to stop it…
No. My rational mind took over. This is not happening. She’s having the same nightmares as you do, something you can relate to. You can help her. I snapped out of my trance. True enough, she was cradled in my arms, yet unsure to the point she would not cling to me for dear life.
“Hush,” I murmured, turning my voice to velvet. “Everything’s fine now. He’s not here, I won’t let him come near you again, I promise.”
She nodded against my chest and I forced her gently to take a step back.
“Is there a memory that makes you feel safe?”
She nodded again, her eyes red and swollen with tears.
“Then, whenever the nightmares come, try to think of this memory. It should help to keep them at bay.”
“And if it doesn’t?” she asked, looking down at the floor.
“Ah, well… Is this memory of yours reproducible?”
Nod. She was still avoiding my eyes. What was her memory?
“Then reproduce it,” I said, shrugging.
She stepped forward, slipped her arms around me and laid her head on my chest.
“Don’t push me away then,” she mumbled.
What? No, it couldn’t be, not me, not me.
“I beg your pardon, Apprentice Oillider?”
I inwardly cringed at my coldness. Genoese, the girl had been through Incubus and Kyrie’s tortures and nightmares and I couldn’t even find some sympathy for her!
“Your embrace makes me feel safe,” she said, tucking again her head under my chin. “When you came, the nightmares receded and you kept them at bay–”
“You mean I played an horrible game designed to turn him mad rather than seductive and that we were fortunate enough that they fell for it,” I commented rather dryly. “Though I have to admit your performance was brilliant.”
“You don’t understand!” she exclaimed, obviously frustrated, looking up at me. “I couldn’t have acted for the life of me! I tried, yes, at the very beginning, but it was so bad a blind man would have noticed something was amiss! But then, you made me feel worthwhile with just the barest touch of your lips, when I thought I was unclean and good for nothing because of him. I thought I could never stand anyone’s touch or proximity but as soon as you came, I was practically yearning for you!”
I was stunned – to say the least. She looked away, refusing to meet my eyes.
“You… you didn’t act.”
“No,” she confirmed, red as peony, glancing down. “All I did was pure instinct.”
It had all been genuine. Her reaction to my touch, her revulsion for Incubus… Genoese, it was too much for me… Mother was sleeping, if not I would have sent for her and ask her to take care of the girl. But I was reduced to my own means and, after a day facing Incubus and Kyrie and a sleepless night, my wits were not at their usual sharpness.
“Care for some tea?”
The casual question took her off guard.
“Y-yes,” she answered as I stepped out of her embrace and fetched her a cup.
“Mother should awake soon.”
“Does she protect you from them?” she asked, curling her hands around the hot cup.
“What do you mean?”
“They… Incubus and Kyrie, they are your siblings, aren’t they? Does Lucia hide your presence from them when they come?”
“They don’t know about her. She’s not my biological mother. She’s my mother in life. She saved my life countless times.”
“How’s your mother then?”
I considered my answer for a moment, then said:
“Like Kyrie.”
She shuddered, as everybody should have when hearing the understatement. Irae was worse than Kyrie and Incubus together.