Page 29 of Elemental Hope
“I don’t care what Symeon, or the Octis Coven, do to me if it means we can save Evrain. I just want him back, so tell me what I need to do.”
“Fine. It’s getting late.”
Shadow yowled her agreement then retreated to the armchair next to the fire with a green-eyed stare at Gregory. Gregory flicked his fingers, sparking the wood in the hearth into a renewed blaze. Dominic could have sworn the cat nodded before settling into the chair.
“Do you have what you need to brew some agrimony into a strong tea?” Gregory asked.
“Sure. I think there’s some dried leaves in the herb cupboard. I just need to steep it in boiling water for an hour or two. It’s a fairly potent herb so it won’t take too long. But even if I can get near Evrain, how will I be able to smuggle him a drink?”
“I think we’ll need to be a little more subtle than that.” Gregory smiled. “You go ahead and brew that tea. Let me worry about how to get it into Evrain. In the meantime, would you mind heading into town and finding some takeout, Nathaniel? Coryn can go with you.”
It told Dominic a lot that Gregory would entrust Nathaniel with Coryn’s safety.
“Sure.” Nathaniel pushed his chair back then stood. “We’ll do a bit of scouting around at the same time. Check to see if there’s anyone, or anything, lurking in the undergrowth.” He licked his lips as if relishing the idea of finding something. Or maybe it was just the anticipation of food.
Chapter nine
Evrain’s first awareness when he regained consciousness was of pain. Unrelenting, agonizing pain. Every inch of his body seemed to burn with the after-effects of whatever Symeon had done to him. Evrain imagined the punishment must have continued long after he’d blacked out. His first attempt to open his eyes resulted in daggers of light stabbing into his head. He clamped his lids shut and attempted to unscramble his thoughts. Gradually his mind registered that the ache in his wrists and forearms was more severe than the burning along his thigh. Against his better judgment, he forced his eyes open again. Everything was white and for a moment he thought his sight had been damaged. He blinked a few times, eyes watering, and gradually made out a few details. The space he was in was white. All he could see was white. The walls, ceiling and floor were all the same color, almost merging together. The brightness hurt his eyes.
He concentrated on the shadows that marked out corners and gradually the room took shape. It wasn’t large, just a cube roughly ten feet on each side. The surfaces had a slight sheen, reflecting the light from glowing panels set in the ceiling. Evrain attempted to feel his surroundings through his power but got nothing. He was still blocked.
He tilted his head back, which told him that Symeon’s collar was still around his neck. His arms were stretched above his head, his wrists bound with plastic cable ties, which in turn were linked to a length of thick nylon rope, attached to a plastic eyelet in the ceiling. His arms were streaked with blood from where the ties had cut into his skin. The red was almost a relief amidst all the white that surrounded him. As he moved, his body twisted a little. His bare feet were only just touching the floor and all his weight was hanging from his arms. It was excruciatingly painful and he realized that he must have been hanging for some time, though there was no way of telling how long. His watch and clothes were gone, replaced by a white nylon jumpsuit of sorts. The sleeves were cut off so his arms were bare. It could have been worse. They, whoevertheywere, could have stripped him naked. They’d left him his dignity, but he did wonder how long that would last.Someonehad taken his clothes and put him in the overalls. He didn’t enjoy the idea that members of the Octis Coven may have seen him in all his glory.
You deserve this, you idiot, how could you be so fucking stupid?A range of curses flashed through Evrain’s head. He’d been complacent and Symeon Malus had taken full advantage. He prayed that Dominic was still safe. Gregory was going to be furious and rightly so.
There were no windows, no door, no air vents and no plausible means of escape from his clinical prison that Evrain could detect. The air was cool but not cold so he knew that there had to be some form of temperature control. He also guessed thatsomeone was probably watching him but that any instruments or cameras were placed well out of his view or behind concealment spells.
He jerked his arms hard, testing the robustness of the bindings around his wrists, but only succeeded in making the plastic dig even further into his flesh. He moaned as his body swung helplessly from side to side while he attempted to regain his balance on his toes. A warm trickle of fresh blood slid down one arm. It was somewhat ironic that the Coven was after his blood and here he was, donating freely.
Gregory had warned him that the Octis Coven was not to be taken lightly. Their resources were all too apparent in the prison they’d created for him. They understood that an elemental warlock would not be able to take advantage of his power without access to natural resources, collared or not. Even the air in the claustrophobic space was recycled, though Evrain suspected he might be able to manipulate it anyway. The precautions seemed extreme considering the blocking collar around his neck. Someone wanted him to suffer.
As he hung there, helpless, he tried to focus his mind on something other than the pain he was in. He had to fight down a rising sense of panic. His captivity had been planned with care and he could see no obvious way out—even if he hadn’t been suspended like a fish on a hook. Octis had gone to great deal of trouble to contain him. It made sense that they must also understand that for him to channel, Dominic would have to be close by. They would need to take Dominic as well. Evrain’s head ached viciously and the edges of his vision began to close in. His last thought before the darkness claimed him again was of Dominic and the danger that he must be in.
Evrain’s second journey back into the light was accompanied by the gloating sound of Symeon’s voice—though the manhimself was not present, his rasping tones filled the room. Evrain had the feeling Symeon had been talking for a while. He was glad he’d missed at least some of his monologue.
“How are you feeling, Evrain? Uncomfortable, I hope.”
Evrain ignored the taunting and remained silent. Discomfort did not begin to describe the pain he was in. He wondered if he would ever feel his arms again. As a practitioner of bondage he was very aware of the dangers of misplaced knots and pressure against arteries and nerves. He doubted anyone would have checked when they were suspending him.
“I’m sure you would like the pain to end, though I myself would prefer that it continue as long as possible.” Symeon’s cackle lived up to the stereotype of every evil villain ever created. It made Evrain remember a horror movie marathon he and Dominic had enjoyed one night. Vincent Price and Peter Cushing had nothing on Symeon Malus.
“It’s just a matter of time and I will have that pretty little boyfriend of yours to play with again. I made him very beautiful, didn’t I? Do you think of me every time you fuck him?”
Evrain did not give Symeon the satisfaction of a reaction, though it was all he could do to maintain a blank expression. Instead he ran through all the ways it might be possible for Symeon to die—slowly and painfully.
“There’s no escape for you, Evrain. Your cell has been very carefully designed. These bitches want you badly. They’ll bleed you dry and I’ll laugh while they do it.” He paused, presumably for effect. “What, no witty come back, no sharp retort? I’m disappointed in you.”
Not as much as I’m disappointed in myself.
“I’ve waited patiently for this. You must have known that I would take my revenge for what you and the aging excuse for a warlock, Gregory, did to me that day in Inkcap Glade. The twoof you were lucky. I killed your grandmother easily enough. A whelp like you is hardly a worthy challenge.”
Evrain had to hide his shock that Symeon had admitted to Agatha’s murder with such nonchalance. He’d suspected it, of course, though he still didn’t know how Symeon had managed it. The confirmation of his suspicions turned his blood to ice.
“You know, seeing you helpless like this will fuel my wet dreams for months to come.” Symeon’s conversational tone was sickening. “I’ll be thinking of you when I fuck Damon’s useless ass. After I’ve given him the whipping he deserves, of course.”
Evrain moaned at the unwanted picture that invaded his mind. “Christ, Symeon, can’t you just torture me in a more traditional way? Get the electrodes out or something, but don’t subject to me to thoughts of you and Damon together, that’s just too cruel.” Evrain hoped Damon was still safe with Nathaniel.
“Fuck you, Evrain. Say what you will, this time the last word will be mine.”
