Shit… what do I do? Timothy is panicking… shit… he’s terrified… and with good reason.

  Timothy: “What did you do?”

  He went to step forward to help Andy but I drew my knife and pointed it towards his neck.

  Dwynfel: “Stay where you are.”

  Damecus started to undress Andy’s unconscious body.

  Timothy: “Look… if you want the girls, take them. I won’t stop you, but please, don’t hurt me.”

  Damecus: “Do not worry. We will be taking the females. Whether we hurt you on the other hand… that depends on you.”

  I could see the fear in Timothy’s eyes. He genuinely thinks this is the end for him. And what the hell is Damecus doing? Why is he undressing that guy?

  Damecus: “Now, Timothy, if you would be so kind as to get undressed.”

  Timothy: “What?”

  Damecus: Clothes off, all of them, now!”

  Timothy yelped before complying with Damecus’ demand. It is very disconcerting… standing here… watching this diminutive fat man crying while slowly getting undressed. What he has put these girls through is a thousand times worse… but this still unnerves me… and I still do not see where Damecus is going with this.

  He folded his clothes carefully as he went and when he was done, he just stood there… his cheeks moist from the tears.

  Damecus: “Now… let the females out of the cages.”

  Timothy walked over, picked up the keys from the floor, opened both of the doors and gestured for the two women to step forwards.

  Damecus: “Tell me their names.”

  Timothy: “Huh?”

  Damecus: “Their names… before you stripped them of their humanity… what were their names?”

  Timothy: “Umm… Greta and Mable.”

  Damecus: “Now, give your clothes to Greta. These ladies look cold.”

  Ah… right… that’s what the undressing was about. Thank fuck for that. Timothy handed his clothes to Greta without question, before stepping back to the corner of the room where he had previously stood.

  Damecus picked Andy’s clothes off the floor and proceeded to hand them to Mable.

  Damecus: “I appreciate that it must be rather unnerving to end up in the care of the likes of us, but rest assured that we mean you no harm. Now, I do apologise for this, ladies. But if you would be so kind as to pop outside and put these clothes on. We shall continue with your emancipation in but a moment. I am afraid that I need to ask this man a few more questions and I fear it would be unseemly for ladies such as yourselves to be present.”

  They both nodded and left without question. Timothy is sweating now… like… an ungodly amount of sweat… it doesn’t seem natural… I genuinely think the man might have a heart attack at this rate.

  Damecus proceed to drag Andy’s body over to one of the cages. He propped him up in a sitting position against the bars inside. He then took the pipe out of his mouth and proceeded to empty the still burning ashes out of his pipe into the cut on Andy’s eyebrow. The man winced in pain.

  Damecus: “Ah… good… you are not unconscious.”

  He proceeded to place his pipe in a little holder on his belt before removing a small vial from a pouch. He placed the vial on the ground next to Andy. He then placed his foot on Andy’s abdomen.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Damecus: “That means you can feel this!”

  He then bent down, grabbed Andy’s testicles, and ripped them clean off. Andy screamed loudly and Damecus instantly pulled the cork out of the vial and poured it into Andy’s mouth. Seconds later Andy passed out, for real this time. Damecus slapped him a few times to make sure.

  Dwynfel: “Damecus… what the hell? You promised that you wouldn’t kill anyone!”

  Damecus: “That was a healing potion. His parts will not grow back, but it will stop the bleeding and keep him alive. Now if he gets out of this at court, he will certainly not be unscathed.”

  Timothy: “Oh gods… please… please… please don’t hurt me… please… I never hurt those girls… I never… I’m just the accountant… I manage the finances… please…”

  Damecus: “You knew of the incarceration of these women, yet you did nothing. Do not think that your lack of active involvement absolves you of blame.”

  Timothy: “I’m sorry… if we had known you had any connection to these women then we would have never…”

  Damecus: “We have no connection to these women.”

  Timothy: “Then why are you here?”

  Damecus: “We simply came here for a little… chat. A chat that I am hoping will provide us with certain information.”

  Timothy’s breathing got heavier… he leaned against the wall in an attempt to steady his breathing… but if anything, it is getting progressively worse.

  Damecus emptied Andy’s testicles out of the scrotum, before proceeding to crush each of them under the heel of his foot. He then placed the skin in the little pouch from which he got the vial earlier.

  Damecus: “When I am done with all this, I am going to tan that skin and stitch it into a little coin purse that I will gift to poor Mable, who is standing outside of that door. Then whenever she is haunted by the memory of what occurred here, she can get some comfort from knowing that there was at least some justice… little though it may be. Now… unless you wish for me to gift Greta a matching purse… I suggest you answer my next question very clearly.”

  Fucking hell Damecus… I am beyond glad he is on my side. Seriously… pissing him off does not end well for anyone.

  Timothy: “What is it you wish to know?”

  Damecus: “I simply wish to know your boss’ name.”

  Timothy: “I can’t tell you that.”

  Timothy hung his head… his tears dropping to the floor.

  Damecus: “Oh, I rather think that you can.”

  Timothy: “I can’t… if I tell you, then they won’t just kill me… they’ll kill my family… they’ll kill my son… please…”

  Damecus darted towards Timothy. In an instant he held him by the throat… he lifted Timothy’s feet off the ground and pressed him firmly against the wall. Timothy coughed and spluttered as he clawed at Damecus’ hand, trying to catch some breath.

  Damecus: “This is what is going to happen. You are going to tell me what I wish to know. Then I am going to seek out your employer and brutally murder him, as well as anybody who stands in my way. Nobody will come for your family, as they will all be dead. If you do not tell me what I wish to know then I am going to tear off your arms and legs…

  He gripped tighter with his hand… Timothy’s face started to turn a horrid shade of purple.

  Damecus: “…but do not worry, I will not let you die. I know how to keep people alive. I shall carry your limbless body around in a little papoose. I shall make you my pet. You will eat nothing but the scraps that I discard. In addition, I shall make sure that everybody knows what you have done and your family will feel nothing but shame when they hear your name.”

  He loosened his grip and gently placed Timothy down on the ground once more. Timothy collapsed onto all fours, coughing and dribbling.

  Damecus: “I shall give you a moment to catch your breath and consider your answer…”

  Damecus sat down on the floor in front of the exasperated man. As soon as Timothy had stopped coughing, Damecus simply looked at him. The look was enough… Timothy did not wait for the question to be asked again.

  Timothy: “Vox… Conrad Vox.”

  Damecus: “Thank you. Things are much easier when you cooperate?”