“Right you are, Master.” The man with the set of keys hurried forwards and fumbled, looking for the correct one. While Forsythe sighed impatiently the door unlocked and the guard with the large bat stepped into the cell and approached me. I barely had time to react for I had not expected it. With one sweeping blow the bat came crashing down on my legs. I cried out in pain and tried to move away but the shackles made it horribly difficult to escape. Next the bat came down swiftly upon my ribs and the pain that followed seared through my whole body. I cried out and stifled a sob. Broken ribs. Again.
“Make one move when the Master enters, and it will be the last thing you do, disgusting human.” The guard hissed at me, spraying my face with spit.
“I’m not-” I began defensively yet my punishment for uttering a single syllable came swiftly and the bat came crashing down upon my ribs. I cried out in pain again and lay in a heap on the floor. I figured that he had broken at least two ribs. Tears welling in my eyes, my shin and ribs throbbing angrily, I lay perfectly still as the guard retreated and made way for Sebastian Forsythe.
The older man stepped forwards and stared down at me, though I did not look him in the face. Curled in a ball, and shying away I tried to pretend that I no longer existed. Non existence had to be better than what lay ahead. Yet somewhere in the back of my mind I realised that I was not as scared of dying as I’d originally thought. Now that the time had come, all of my fear seemed to have been replaced with hopelessness. Had I really given up so easy?
“So.” Forsythe said as though he had finally gotten the better of me, “So.”
“So what?” I hissed, yet I instantly regretted it. The guard with the bat shot forwards and kicked me in the stomach. Coughing and spluttering I forced myself to look up at Forsythe who was nothing more than a black silhouette against the light shining through the trap door.
“You only managed to elude escape for a mere twenty four hours.” He said, his tone rather disappointed, “I expected better.”
I had learnt by now to keep my mouth shut, as much as I wanted to talk back, I knew it would only result in more pain.
“You deserve this, you know.” Forsythe continued, now pacing before me, “You thought you could fool us? We are far superior to your kind.”
I thought perhaps that Sebastian Forsythe had lost the plot. I hadn’t the slightest idea what he was going on about.
“First you tricked the blind Power-Seer into believing that you are one of us. I have been saying for years that he has lost his touch. Next you hoodwink Charles into letting you into my manor, and we foolishly take you in. And then what do we do? Pay you for your ‘services’ like you were actually one of us.”
My mind buzzed. This was not making sense one bit. I wanted to talk, to ask to have this whole fiasco explained to me.
Forsythe continued, “Once you had infiltrated the manor as an equal and gained the households trust you decided it was time to make a little profit, did you?” He sneered, “Thought you’d go sneaking around and thieve my prized possessions?”
“No!” I gasped, without thinking.
The guard made to move forwards once again but Sebastian held up a hand to stop him.
“Wait.” He said sharply before turning back to me, “What did you say?”
I pressed my lips together tightly and wondered why my heart hadn’t exploded out of my chest in fear. If only they would give me enough time to explain, then perhaps Forsythe would understand. Did he not have the Power to uncover lies?
“You’ve made a mistake.” I whispered almost inaudibly. Scared as I was to speak, things needed to be said – to be cleared up. There was obviously some kind of confusion. They made it sound like I was some sort of … criminal.
“We’ve made a mistake, have we?” Forsythe sneered, yet I could detect uncertainty in his voice. Did he detect the truth in mine?
“I don’t know who you think I am,” I whispered quickly, sitting up now, “But I swear that I haven’t hoodwinked anyone. I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
The guard stepped forwards and slapped me across the face. I tasted blood almost instantly.
“Filth.” The guard hissed, spraying me with spit, “Funny though, Master.”
“What is funny?” Forsythe said impatiently.
“Never seen one who could talk before.” The guard replied, stepping back.
“Surely it is heard of.”
The guard shrugged, “Well they could have secret groups. Organisations that we don’t know about. You know? Plotting to take over again.”
“Don’t be daft, Porter.” Forsythe sighed, “All humans are currently enslaved. There are no wild ones.”
“Human?” I blurted before I could stop myself, “You think I’m human? No!” I cried out as the guard Porter raised his hand to me.
“Stop.” Forsythe commanded.
Porter lowered his hand and other guard shuffled on the spot uncomfortably.
“You say that you are not human, do you?” Forsythe directed at me, “Look me in the eyes and tell me you are not human.” He challenged.
Forsythe knelt beside me and I forced myself to squint into his cold, dark eyes.
“I’m not human.” I said sincerely, “I’m a Fire Mage.”
He sneered. He could obviously tell I wasn’t lying, though it seemed he was determined to make me suffer for ruining his private little collection.
“Prove it.” He hissed.
My heart dropped.