#its the cries for mercy and waning hope and tearful terror

[cherrytraveller]

sorry that i've deprived you all of a wip preview, anyway; deity-fies your local bad future mystic magic nuke

[kats-randomology]

Fortune's Isle drabble-- The Offering

He awoke feeling groggy and slightly nauseated, like he was sick or something....but that wasn't right, he didn't just "get sick". That was rarer than a blue moon.

"....ugggh...wha happen..."

He moaned, moving to rub at his eyes that didn't want to stay open-- and found his arms refusing to move, accompanied by rattling and metal grating against stone. He started at the noise, and craned his head back to figure out what the heck was going on.

Heavy chains linked to cuffs around his arms and to the large stone slab he found himself laying on. 

Well that definitely wasn't right. 

Sudden movement made him jump, and he found two figures standing over him. The two villagers from before....

"Uh yeah, hey, I don't know what's going on here but it would be greatly appreciated if you'd nix the chains....and the creepy altar....and you know what the entire room while you're at it."

"Silence." The man snapped as he adjusted his robes. 

"Excuse you?! Don't you 'silence' me, I have a right to be angry here now unchain me before I really get upset--!"

The man clamped a hand over his mouth, cutting him off and reducing his shouts to muffled grunts as he attempted to shake it off, and he glanced at the woman with an exasperated frown.

"Told you we should've gagged him." he muttered.

"Oh shut up and let's get on with it."

The woman stepped away from the altar, dropping to one knee and bowing her heads, and spoke in a quiet, reverent tone. 

"Our exalted one, the god of fortune, we seek your presence once more..."

The candles in the room flickered, before suddenly flaring up in a large plume of emerald fire. A figure became visible, though the back light kept them from being fully seen. The only feature he could make out were the yellow eyes fixated on him as they approached. The man released him, and quickly stepped away, falling to a bow as well.

"We have retrieved the mortal you requested, my lord, as our offering for your works."

The figure moved closer, giving a soft laugh; and then they spoke.

"Indeed you have."

Gladstone's movements abruptly halted.

He knew that voice, he knew it, but that wasn't possible. He'd been banished to another realm, beyond theirs, he'd SEEN him go, he couldn't be--

A snap, and the flames died down, giving him full view of the imposing figure-- though he already knew who it would be. Despite every fiber of his being desperately hoping for it not to be true.

Liu Hai stood over him, sneering at the utter panic and dawning terror in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Gladstone," he asked, leaning over him and grabbing his jaw, "you were so full of fire a moment ago. Where did it all go, then?"

Gladstone flinched at the contact, pressing into the table in an attempt to get some space between them as he tried to jerk his head free. Liu Hai's sneer widened, sharpened teeth flashing in the firelight, inches from his face.

"It's been a while, hasn't it? I do hope you've been enjoying yourself on this little chunk of isolated paradise..."

"Y-you, but....get away from me...!"

More panicked shouts came as he thrashed against the stone, and Liu Hai stepped back, watching his struggles with an amused smirk. He shifted his gaze to the two villagers then, who awaited his response with eager faces. 

"You've done well."

"Oh, good, good, thank you," the woman said with a relieved grin, "so you'll continue helping us, right?"

He waved at them dismissively, turning back to the struggling goose beside him.

"Yes, yes, I'll continue helping your little fields flourish, but for right now, you know the rules."

The man nodded, placing a hand on her shoulder and moving them towards the doors.

"Yes, of course, we'll leave you in peace. Come along, Mary..."

Gladstone watched them go, panic ever increasing as the doors shut.

"Wait wait, don't do this you can't leave me with him, wait...!"

He couldn't be left alone here, not with him, not like this-- well not ever, really, but especially not like this. No weapons, no method of escape, he couldn't even move--

He was well and truly at his mercy; and he doubted Liu Hai had much to give.

He flinched as the spirit leaned against the altar, resting his arms on it in a casual manner.

"So, I suppose you're wondering how and and what I'm doing here?"

Uneasy but ready to grasp at anything that delayed this, he merely nodded, anxiously swallowing as he toyed with a few strands of his hair.

"Well, it was some time after you and your family uprooted my little operation; the people of this island summoned me, begging for my aid in their failing crops and economies. Of course, that was rather difficult since someone cost me a majority of my power,"

His humor briefly vanished, eyes sharp enough to make him wince.

"But, we worked out a lovely deal; they find me decently lucky folks, lure them to the island, and offer them to me as payment for my services. In exchange, I get easy meals to restore my power. But, all the easy meals in the world won't compare to what I can get from you. An endless source of luck, all in one person; but of course, I couldn't hope to contain you without enough magic. So I had to wait, bide my time until I had enough power back, but that's fine, after all,"

The hand tightened, forcing his head to the side as Liu Hai leaned in closer. Gladstone's blood ran ice cold at the sinister grin splitting his face.

"I've had plenty of time to consider my ideas for you..."

A whimper slipped out, and Liu Hai snickered as he patted his head, before straightening and stepping around to the head of the altar. Hands rested on either side of his head as Liu Hai leaned over him, smirking, and licking his lips.

"But I do have obligations to uphold, and I've waited long enough to taste your luck once more, so we should get started."

At this, Gladstone's fight returned full force, thrashing wildly against the stone, chains rattling, feet kicking and panicked cries growing louder.

"No, no no get away...!"

 Liu Hai's voice was calm as he undid his vest.

"Settle down..."

But either he ignored the suggestion, or didn't hear.

His breath was going in and out at a worrying pace, chest rising and falling like a malfunctioning oil rig. He jerked at his arms, despite knowing they wouldn't budge, feet scrabbling against the stone frantically for freedom; his vision was going blurry, and even with his frantic breathing he couldn't seem to get enough in, felt like his heart was in his throat. 

He couldn't do this again, not again, the pain, the burning, the tearing, the nausea-- he needed to get out of here, but he couldn't move, he couldn't breathe, he couldn't breathe--

Hands suddenly grabbed his head in a firm hold, forcing it back so he was staring up at Liu Hai. His face was calm, almost pitying as he leaned down.

"Calm down, Gladstone..."

He couldn't offer a response, only give him a watery, confused, wide-eyed stare. Liu Hai gave a soft smile, it could almost pass for caring, as his thumbs rubbed small circles against his head, as if to offer some comfort. 

"You need to settle yourself before you give yourself a heart attack. We both know full well I'm going to hurt you; right now though, I'm only taking what I need to replenish myself and continue rejuvenating the island's crop fields, so there's no reason to have an episode."

The statement didn't help much in settling his thoughts, as was evident by his continued wheezing and hiccupped sobs. Liu Hai quietly shushed him as he moved away, approaching the side of the altar. He placed a careful hand on him, as if to keep him steady-- and quickly pulled back as a foot flew at him in a wild retort. 

"GET OFF-- GET AWAY, GET AWAY FROM ME....!"

The hysterical shout was cut short as a hand grabbed his leg, and jerked him down, drawing the chains on his arms painfully taught. Liu Hai's calm face had been replaced with a heavy scowl as he leaned over him.

"Kick me, I break your legs. Bite me, I weld your beak shut. Punch me, and I will break your fingers one by one. Do we have an understanding?"

Shaking, he could only nod in response; Liu Hai returned his hand to his stomach, while the other rested on his head, and he hovered over his chest. A sneer found it's way to his face as he met the terrified gaze.

"I'll make this fast."

And dagger-like teeth sank in.

A scream tore through the dim room, echoing down the stone halls.

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He didn't know how much time had passed; all he knew was how much everything hurt. His entire being was burning, screaming in pain. But he'd long lost the energy to struggle, limbs too heavy to move, and the weight on top of him kept him effectively immobile.

He couldn't do much of anything at this point, other than an occasional moan. 

His thoughts were a hazy, sticky mess, slow to form, and not lasting long enough for him to use. Just pain, pain and growing nausea that came from these sessions. 

The teeth suddenly and slowly dislodged, drawing another longer whine, and Liu Hai drew back with a content sigh.

"Marvelous..."

Gladstone didn't respond, simply letting his head fall back with another moan. The burning was starting to wane, leaving behind a hollow chill in its wake. His chest was still throbbing with pain.

He could hear and feel Liu Hai moving around, fixing his clothes, rebuttoning his vest, as if all was well. A hand cupped his face, and he forced his eyes open despite his exhaustion. Liu Hai observed him with a quirked smile. 

"Get some rest, my pet, you'll need it..."

Gladstone stared for a moment, thoughts slow to form, before finally he was able to mumble out a response. So quiet, Liu Hai had to lean in to hear him.

"Lemme go......please...please I can't do this again, please just let me go..."

Liu Hai chuckled, rubbing his head in an almost affectionate manner, before pressing closer to hiss in his ear. 

"Never again."

He pulled away then, walking towards the doors.

"I'll have a meal sent in later, for now, just get some rest."

He glanced back, wearing a sinister smile.

"I'll check on you afterwards, see how you're doing; pleasant dreams..."

And then he was gone, leaving only green whisps of smoke in his wake. 

Gladstone was left to himself, lost in his hazy and fading thoughts. Through the mess, the only clear ideas were the dulling pain and the chill spreading to the rest of his body. And the overwhelming terror.

He was trapped here on this island; worse than the House, at least there he'd had free reign, he could walk about, enjoy himself. And had opportunities to get an SOS out.

Here though, here he had nothing. Only this room, this table, at the mercy of a vengeful demon who clearly had been planning this for a while. Every detail, every possibility.

Every horrid idea for revenge.

He was alone with a monster, and there were no pleasant outcomes for him.