The Sorcerer's Lullaby [boyxboy]

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen (Luka)

I had been emerged into a peaceful sleep for a couple hours when it happened.

My nightmares came flooding back, ripping and tearing apart any barriers that the medication had created. I could feel the pain of it making my temples throb, but there was nothing I could do as I found myself standing at the gallows, the noose wrapping around my throat as my eyes darted up to see Naosia staring down at me.

He rose, giving his cruel, hate-filled speech that stung me to the core.

No. No, this isn't Naosia talking.

Naosia wouldn't say this. He had no choice. Someone was controlling him. That was the only explanation. And my nightmare pressed further on as Naosia stopped in the middle of his speech, very unlike the real memory. Naosia looked down at me, tears suddenly flowing down his cheeks as my eyes widened.

"Luka.... My Ruruka... Help me..." He pleaded, his expression heartwrenching. My whole body ached, my chest especially as I started to take a step forward, but the executioner pulled the lever and I choked, falling through the hole in the floor. The noose became taut and the rough rope clenched into my throat, cutting off my air. I choked and gasped for breath, but no air came in. I writhed and squirmed before I managed to peer up, seeing the rope slowly breaking.

I gasped in desperation, kicking and writhing until the robe snapped and I fell down. I waited to hit the hot sand, but I didn't. I fell into a dark abyss that engulfed me completely until I hit the floor on my knees, gasping in pain.

I blinked a few times, but everything remained black. My hands were still strung behind my back, but this time, it was something stronger than leather straps. It felt like dark leather cuffs with chains linked between them. Another chain ran up behind me and to a leather collar around my throat, keeping my head thrown back and my body bent in a horribly uncomfortable position. It didn't take long before the stretch of leather came over my skin and I writhed.

No!

Damn it! I had finally gotten rest and now it was ruined!

"Quit whimpering," Ash's voice scolded me gruffly, the sound of his boots scuffing on the floor around me, "You'll be fed tomorrow... Funny, even with that suit on, I can see your ribs. One, two, three..." His fingers poked each of the ribs that threatened to rip through my skin and suit. I whimpered past the ball gag that was still pierced to my tongue. Ash laughed and I felt his hand run through my hair before grabbing a handful of it.

The next thing I felt was his knee jamming into my face, followed by a loud crack that made me scream past the gag in my mouth. Pain exploded in my face, centering in at my nose. I whimpered loudly, breathing hard. Ash snickered and I felt his fingers grab my nose, making me cry out in pain before he snapped it back into place, causing my cry to turn into a loud, pained scream.

I tried to make pleas past the gag, but nothing audible escaped. Just bloody babble.

And as I sat there, pleading and only being beaten in return....

I began to realize that if Naosia was telling the truth, this was how he felt.

Someone was controlling him and he had to watch and feel everything.

Only in my case, I knew who was controlling me and I knew that it was for a reason. And I didn't regret giving Kasper the ability to live for eternity. He deserved to live forever with Gavin, even at my expense.

I kept trying to tell myself that, but Kasper's thoughts were intercepting mine, causing me to sob in pain as Ash ground his foot against my groin, sending bolts of agony through my stomach. I writhed, jerking at the chained cuffs and trying to speak past the pierced gag, but it was all in vain.