Invisible String - A Sebastian Sallow Story

Chapter XXVIII

When she came back to consciousness she could feel her arms tied above her head, feet dangling off the floor as she was strung up from a structure in the camp they discovered not far from Feldcroft. Looking down she saw her shirt had been torn to shreds and she shivered feeling the cool air around her. It was then she realized she was soaking wet, and that water had been thrown at her.

"She's awake boss" a voice called behind her and she heard a tent flap raise before footsteps made their way closer to her. She couldn't see what was going on, but she could tell it wouldn't be good.

She closed her eyes, waiting for another blow to be landed upon her body. All she could remember after Poppy left was being surrounded, hit with a variety of hexes and curses before she blacked out. She had never felt the torture curse used on her before, however Sebastian had taught it to her one evening in the undercroft, in the unlikely even she may need it some day. They shared a similar mindset that despite being dark magic, hiding from it in the educational sphere was dangerous. One should always know what they are up against.

Feeling it used against her however, despite Sebastian's best efforts to help educate her, were worse than she could ever have imagined. In fact, even now she could feel its lingering effects on her body. The way it coursed through her bloodstream like lightning, burning every single part of her body from within.

Not feeling another curse she opened her eyes, seeing the cold steel eyes of Victor Rookwood staring directly into her own as she screamed, the sound muffled by a cloth gag, frightened at how close he was. She struggled against the restraints holding her as he chuckled, seeing her distressed.

"Come now, there's no need for that. You aren't breaking free. Save your energy girl... you will need it." He explained as he cupped her cheek in mocking comfort and she tried to move her face away from his hand.

"Have you no curiosity about why this camp exists? It appears you have learned about the curse affecting the Sallow girl, but you have no idea as to why... I thought you would like to know seeing as you have become close to that boy... What is his name again? The tall one with the dark hair and all the freckles... charming young man. I would hate for him to get caught in the crossfire of this wouldn't you..." he threatened with a smug look in his eye as he brought a gloved hand up to the cloth tied around her mouth, releasing it as she sucked in a fresh breath of air. Her eyes had already welled up with tears at the thought of Rookwood hurting Sebastian and she made no attempts to stop them from spilling out as he stared directly into her eyes with a grin.

Walking away to a table to the right of where she was strung up, he grabbed a small tankard, bringing it close to her lips, allowing her to drink water. At first she was apprehensive, not sure what it may contain, but the more she thought about it, if they wanted her dead they would've already killed her.

"Why her?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper with her failing strength as Victor removed the tankard and his aggressiveness returned, as he pulled her hair back so his lips were level with her ear.

"I will ask the questions." Taking a step back he circled her, and she couldn't help but feel exposed, having only a camisole covering most of her modesty as her main shirt had been torn on her frame. Victor stopped directly in front of her again, looking her over as a curious gaze took to his face.

"It appears I have the information you want, and you have the power I deserve ," he explained, removing the gloves from his right hand before proceeding to the left.

"You are working with Ranrok-" she started but he stopped her.

" Not anymore ." he hissed. She recalled the last time she had seen him. The same day that Lodgok had died. Victor and Ranrok had been fighting, and vaguely she remembered seeing Rookwood blast a curse at the goblin before she brought the cavern in on itself to destroy the drill Ranrok had been building.