a
shiver of fear through her as he said this he looked seriously angry, but as
soon as he stopped a huge grin covered his face.
“Troy, why don't you take the healer out of here while we get
the information. If you hear screams you'll know that they made the right choice
and tried to resist.” This came out so menacing that Kate knew she'd probably
have wet herself if she were one of those men.
That was the point after all. The carrot and the stick.
Troy motioned to Kate to follow him and got all the way
outside the door before he started laughing. They walked for a minute, down the
mall before he stopped.
“Oh, it's really not funny... I mean, Zack can just pull the
information from their heads, so they won't have to be tortured anyway, but I'm
betting that they cooperate a lot more easily now. He really will torture
them if they don't though... He's really serious about keeping the bargains he
makes. You were right, they have to die and they deserve it. If you knew
half of what they've done... well, let's just say I don't think you would have
left them in there alive if you really knew, and leave it at that.”
He hugged her then, just stopping, standing in front of the
dark store front of Beautiful Plus, wrapping her up in his arms tightly. He
didn't let go for a long time. Finally she pulled back just enough to see that
he had tears in his eyes, which he wiped away, making a light sniffling sound.
She started to ask what the problem might be, but he held out a hand stopping
her.
“Stuff, you know? I've seen a lot more than I ever thought I
would of some really crappy things over the last few months. I've done
things... Those men, the ones you healed? I did that to them. They wouldn't
talk and Zack wasn't there. So I tortured them. I can still hear them screaming
in my head. I killed... I killed four of their friends, Kaitlyn. By myself. I
don't know what I'm becoming... I mean, when I'm in a fight, it's like I can't
help myself, a rage comes over me and I just do it , I just do whatever I
have to and don't stop. Beatrice had to drag me off of the one that died when
she got there with Zack... I mean, am I so bad that Demons have to come
and rein me in now? Fuck. Just... fuck.”
He didn't cry anymore, so they started walking again, not
having any real destination in mind. Every place was closed that they would
have normally gone, including the Alede embassy, which masqueraded as a plus
sized women's clothing store. It was a shame, since there was a shower in the
back and Troy could use one. The armor he'd worn may be magic, but it didn't
seem to be very cool inside. He smelled hot still, like sweat and blood. Rage
and emotions too complicated for her nose to understand. The only other showers
in the building were in the gym where Hilda worked as both a trainer and the
front desk person during the day. At night the front desk was manned by Birk,
one of the largest of the Trolleinkein at the mall. Kate made up her mind and
pulled Troy in that direction.
Inside the door Birk actually smiled when he saw them, from
where he sat behind the chrome and glass front desk. The chair he used, more
like a stool with no back, had thick legs and would have made her feel like a
tiny child if she'd tried to sit in it.
“Troy friend! Have you come to work out then? I'm not your
regular trainer, but I have your schedule here, if you seek some extra work...
And you bring Kaitlyn the K'slyphou! I thought you were off at the place of
learning until the warm season came, though it pleases me to see you!” He
walked around the desk, hesitated for a moment then gave her a hug.
She smiled up at the big man, realizing that he'd covertly
sniffed her before moving that close. Troy seemed to get what this meant and
his eyes went wide. Of course he would get it, living so closely with
Hilda, they shared a room and everything, even though Trolleinkein didn't need
to sleep.
Laughing, Kate explained the emergency, not even bothering
shiver of fear through her as he said this he looked seriously angry, but as
soon as he stopped a huge grin covered his face.
“Troy, why don't you take the healer out of here while we get
the information. If you hear screams you'll know that they made the right choice
and tried to resist.” This came out so menacing that Kate knew she'd probably
have wet herself if she were one of those men.
That was the point after all. The carrot and the stick.
Troy motioned to Kate to follow him and got all the way
outside the door before he started laughing. They walked for a minute, down the
mall before he stopped.
“Oh, it's really not funny... I mean, Zack can just pull the
information from their heads, so they won't have to be tortured anyway, but I'm
betting that they cooperate a lot more easily now. He really will torture
them if they don't though... He's really serious about keeping the bargains he
makes. You were right, they have to die and they deserve it. If you knew
half of what they've done... well, let's just say I don't think you would have
left them in there alive if you really knew, and leave it at that.”
He hugged her then, just stopping, standing in front of the
dark store front of Beautiful Plus, wrapping her up in his arms tightly. He
didn't let go for a long time. Finally she pulled back just enough to see that
he had tears in his eyes, which he wiped away, making a light sniffling sound.
She started to ask what the problem might be, but he held out a hand stopping
her.
“Stuff, you know? I've seen a lot more than I ever thought I
would of some really crappy things over the last few months. I've done
things... Those men, the ones you healed? I did that to them. They wouldn't
talk and Zack wasn't there. So I tortured them. I can still hear them screaming
in my head. I killed... I killed four of their friends, Kaitlyn. By myself. I
don't know what I'm becoming... I mean, when I'm in a fight, it's like I can't
help myself, a rage comes over me and I just do it , I just do whatever I
have to and don't stop. Beatrice had to drag me off of the one that died when
she got there with Zack... I mean, am I so bad that Demons have to come
and rein me in now? Fuck. Just... fuck.”
He didn't cry anymore, so they started walking again, not
having any real destination in mind. Every place was closed that they would
have normally gone, including the Alede embassy, which masqueraded as a plus
sized women's clothing store. It was a shame, since there was a shower in the
back and Troy could use one. The armor he'd worn may be magic, but it didn't
seem to be very cool inside. He smelled hot still, like sweat and blood. Rage
and emotions too complicated for her nose to understand. The only other showers
in the building were in the gym where Hilda worked as both a trainer and the
front desk person during the day. At night the front desk was manned by Birk,
one of the largest of the Trolleinkein at the mall. Kate made up her mind and
pulled Troy in that direction.
Inside the door Birk actually smiled when he saw them, from
where he sat behind the chrome and glass front desk. The chair he used, more
like a stool with no back, had thick legs and would have made her feel like a
tiny child if she'd tried to sit in it.
“Troy friend! Have you come to work out then? I'm not your
regular trainer, but I have your schedule here, if you seek some extra work...
And you bring Kaitlyn the K'slyphou! I thought you were off at the place of
learning until the warm season came, though it pleases me to see you!” He
walked around the desk, hesitated for a moment then gave her a hug.
She smiled up at the big man, realizing that he'd covertly
sniffed her before moving that close. Troy seemed to get what this meant and
his eyes went wide. Of course he would get it, living so closely with
Hilda, they shared a room and everything, even though Trolleinkein didn't need
to sleep.
Laughing, Kate explained the emergency, not even bothering
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