...My scream echoed in the dark room, my mind still tormented by pain and confusion. The vision of Naboru, his relentless cruelty, and the inflicted tortures had broken me. But now, he was gone, and silence settled around me. I waited, counting the seconds, the minutes, the hours. The noises had finally died down. No more footsteps, no more whispers, no more imminent terror. Only the oppressive silence. I tried to gather my thoughts.
"I… I have to… I have to get out… I will get out…"
I stammered, my voice barely audible and hoarse.
I then summoned what remained of my strength, focusing on my power, a final attempt to free myself.
"Acies Ferrum… Acies Ferrum…"
I murmured, repeating the name of my power. I felt the weak energy pulsing within me.
My vision blurred, shards of steel beginning to materialize around me, glittering in the darkness.
"Acies Ferrum…"
I repeated, my voice trembling, fighting against overwhelming fatigue. Sharp pieces of steel formed, floating in the air like blades ready to strike.
"Acies Ferrum…"
I used all of my remaining strength to guide the blades to my bonds, the steel pieces precisely cutting the ropes.
The ties loosened, but every movement was an ordeal. My body trembled, my muscles protesting with every effort.
"Acies… Ferrum…"
I continued, my breath labored, the taste of vomit still fresh in my mouth, an acidic burn fueling my determination.
The blades finally cut through the last of the bonds, and I fell heavily to the ground, free but exhausted. I lay there for a moment, sprawled on the cold floor, breathing heavily. "Ume… Ume… I have to… make you suffer…" I whispered, my voice barely a breath. My determination was fueled by the desire to return the suffering inflicted by Naboru. I slowly rose from the cold, hard floor, my muscles tearing with every movement. Every fiber of my being was now focused on a single goal: finding Naboru, confronting him, and giving back everything he had put me through, and my plan was to go through Ume, my own servant who seemed to have a strong connection with that monster.I gathered my strength and moved through the silent house, my heavy steps echoing on the wooden planks. Each step was a horror, each staircase a torment, but nothing could stop me now. My thoughts were darkened by anger, by physical and mental pain, but also by an unprecedented rage. The floor above seemed like a mountain to climb. My legs trembled under the weight of exhaustion, my hands gripping the railing firmly to maintain my precarious balance.
"Ume…"
I murmured again, like a mantra that reinforced my resolve.
"I will have my revenge…"
I felt my bones cracking under the pressure, every movement costing me unbearable pain. Using my power, Acies Ferrum, I made steel spikes burst from within my own bones, creating an internal exoskeleton to support my broken body. Arriving in front of Ume's room, I tried to open the door with nonexistent strength. The wood creaked under my efforts. I entered the room with determination, my eyes searching for Ume in the darkness. She was there, lying on her bed, looking fragile and vulnerable. Without hesitation, I rushed towards her, my hands closing around her shoulders, pinning her firmly against the mattress. She started under my sudden grip, her eyes widening in fear and surprise.
"Let me go!"
she cried, trying in vain to struggle under my weight.
"It's your fault you're suffering today! You allowed all of this!"
I spat, my voice hoarse and filled with hatred.
"You won't just suffer for me, but for everything you allowed to happen!"
My fingers tightened around her neck, more a gesture of menace than strangulation, forcing her to face the truth.
"Acies Ferrum,"
I murmured, releasing my power. Steel spikes burst from my fingers, sinking into the tender flesh of her neck. Ume screamed, a cry of pure pain, as the metal pierced her throat, preventing any chance of speech.
"Do you feel that?"
I whispered, my eyes gleaming with a mad light.
"It's the taste of your own betrayal. Every spike, every drop of blood is a reminder of what you caused."
Ume struggled beneath me, her eyes pleading for a mercy I could no longer grant. Her blood ran down my hand, warm and sticky, as I maintained my grip, savoring every moment of her suffering. I stayed like that, looking into her eyes, watching the terror and pain dance in her pupils.
"Do you see what you made me do? This is all your fault. Every drop, every piece was a choice you made. Now, you must face the consequences."
She choked, her desperate attempts to breathe producing only horrible gurgling sounds. I felt her struggle weaken under my iron grip, but I couldn't let go. Not yet.
"This is just the beginning of your punishment,"
I murmured, my voice low and menacing. My free hand slowly traced a cold line along her arm, then her side.
"You will understand what it means to truly suffer."
With a sudden movement, I grabbed the collar of her dress, pulling violently to tear the delicate fabric. Ume let out a strangled cry, her eyes filling with tears.
"No, stop, please…grant me your pity..."
she begged, but her words were muffled by pain and fear.
"pity?"
I repeated with icy mockery.
« The pity is a luxury you do not deserve. »
I continued to tear her clothes, the shreds of fabric falling to the floor like dead leaves. I paused for a moment, observing her exposed and trembling body.
"You hurt me, Ume. Now, it's your turn to suffer. I will treat you like an object, just as you did to me."
With deliberate brutality, I slid my hand along her stomach, feeling each spasm of terror under my palm.
"You will pay for everything you made me endure,"
I murmured, my voice turning into a threatening growl.
Ume was now sobbing, her tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
"No… no, please…"
she implored, her voice broken by fear.
"No one can hear you,"
I replied coldly.
"No one will come to save you."
I brought my face closer to hers, our breaths mingling in a cruel and intimate exchange.
"You are mine, Ume. Completely mine."
I felt an unhealthy excitement rising within me, fueled by her terror.
"Are you afraid, aren't you?"
I whispered, my warm breath against her skin.
"You should be scared. Because what I am going to do to you… no one has ever prepared you for this. It's a shame because if you had accepted my advances, you wouldn't be so terrified."
My hand moved down further, reaching the hem of her undergarment.
"I will show you what real pain is, Ume. I will break you, reduce you to pieces."
Suddenly, the door burst open with a crash, revealing Naboru. His face was devoid of emotion, a mask of coldness and determination. His left arm hung at his side, completely destroyed, the bone shattered into pieces, an injury I hadn't known about before. I looked up at him, a mocking sneer distorting my lips.
"Look who it is,"
I spat, my voice trembling with rage and contempt.
"You arrive just in time to see your precious Ume in the worst of situations."
Naboru advanced slowly, each step resounding heavily in the room. His eyes were fixed on me, but I could sense the rage boiling beneath his calm surface.
"What are you going to do, Naboru?"
I continued, my voice growing louder, more venomous.
"It's your fault she's here, that she has to endure this. If you hadn't ruined everything, none of this would have happened."
I paused and then resumed with a triumphant tone.
"Look what you made me do, Naboru,"
I relished his pain, but I couldn't provoke the enraged expression I desired on Naboru's face, so I continued.
"Look at her, Naboru. Look closely at what you caused."
I straightened slightly, my hands still gripping Ume, my gaze defying Naboru's.
"Do you want to save her?"
I asked, a glint of madness in my eyes.
"Too late. It's because of you she's here, because of your actions she has to suffer. Yes, Naboru,"
I continued, my voice dripping with contempt,
"do you realize? She will suffer because you weren't strong enough to protect us. This is all your fault. Every scream, every tear, it's all your fault."
I saw a spark of something in his eyes, a glimmer that made me shiver despite myself. Naboru stopped a few steps away from me, his gaze hardening even more. I could see the tension in his body, a tension ready to explode.
"You will have to live with this, Naboru,"
I murmured, my voice a venomous hiss.
"Every time she screams, every time she cries, you will know it's because of you."
☆*: .｡.Naboru. .｡: *☆
I continued to walk calmly, my steps heavy and determined. Ignoring his words, I approached him and gently lifted his hand from Ume's neck, freeing her from his grip. Lysandros let out a roar of rage, but I ignored him, leaning towards Ume to caress her cheek.
"I'm sorry,"
I murmured to Ume, my gaze resting softly on her.
"I'm sorry for everything you have endured."
Ume's eyes filled with tears, her trembling hands touching my dead arm.
"Naboru, your arm..."
I shook my head slightly, refusing to let the pain overwhelm me.
"It's not important now. Ume, do you still have the Sanalith Fragmentheal?"
She nodded, her fingers frantically searching her pocket to pull out a small, shining crystal.
"Yes, I have it… I… I'll use it to heal you!"
I placed my one good hand over hers, looking at her intently.
"No, Ume. You've been strong until now. I'm sorry, this is not going to be pleasant, but to save you, you have to jump out the window, haha..."
I decided to keep a light tone to soften the blow of my announcement, despite the harsh truth I was telling her.
"I will sacrifice myself so you can live. It's the best for both of us, isn't it?"
She shook her head violently, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"No, Naboru! I can't abandon you! I don't want to!"
Before she could say anything else, Lysandros, mad with rage, lunged at us. Without wasting a second, I grabbed her with my only good arm and carried her to the window. In a desperate move, I pushed her through, shouting,
"Use the Sanalith Fragmentheal as soon as you hit the ground! It will save you!"
Her heart-wrenching screams mingled with the sound of shattering glass as she fell, her body disappearing into the darkness of the night. Lysandros screamed in fury, charging at me with incredible violence. But all that mattered now was that Ume had a chance to survive.
Facing Lysandros, I murmured to myself,
"Goodbye, Ume, you were... a wonderful encounter. I loved getting to know you…"
To be continued...