Dozens of lit candles ignite the large bathroom, scattered in an organized manner about to room to maximize the illumination. In the center of the room is a wooden table which Jacob is sitting upon, with Eira, Fiona, and the Archman standing around him.
"The mood lighting feels a bit macabre." Jacob comments as he undoes the buttons on his white shirt and removes it. "Can't we just open a fenêtre?"
"Afraid not." The Archman replies as he pulls several surgical instruments out of his cloth sack, setting them on the table in an orderly fashion.
Jacob looks down at the growing collection of sharp implements and utensils, many of which were completely unrecognizable.
He wasn't sure whether he should be relieved or concerned by their lack of familiarity.
"Don't worry, you'll be asleep the whole time." The Archman says, continuing to pull medical implements out of the sack.
"That's precisely pourquoi I'm worried." Jacob retorts, pulling his shirt off his shoulders and tossing it aside.
"I'll be keeping an oeil on him." Fiona reassures, shooting a glance at the Archman which could be interpreted as either infatuation or hostility, perhaps both. "If Jacob doesn't walk out of this chambre, then neither will you."
"He won't be walking for a little while." The Archman quips, not bothering to look up from his bag.
"You know what I mean." Fiona says tersely.
"How long will it take?" Jacob asks, deciding to remove his boots as well.
"About an hour." The Archman takes the needle and syringe from the table and starts to connect them into a single instrument. He continues to assemble the appliance from muscle memory as he turns to Eira.
"It would go faster with some assistance, however."
"What?" Eira straightens her posture, now that she's suddenly become the center of attention.
"Since you're so adamant about making yourself useful, would you like to aid me?" The Archman twists the chamber of the syringe into place, securing it to the needle and setting it down.
"I...I've never done anything like this before. Is that really wise?" Eira pulls at the collar around her neck, a nervous tick which she is beginning to adopt after being leashed for nearly a month.
"You would just be following my instructions." The Archman explains.
"Well..." Eira looks away to take on the appearance of being deep in thought, despite her mind being entirely blank.
"I'll do it." Fiona encroaches, so she is on the opposite side of the Archman as Eira.
"You will?" The Archman inquires, his interest neither piqued nor dulled.
"It makes more sense. De plus, I think Jacob would prefer it that way." Fiona reasons, pointing towards Jacob.
"Vraiment? With your clumsy fingers-" Jacob is interrupted by a well-placed kick to his shin from Fiona, which goes largely unnoticed beneath the table.
"Garce..." Jacob grumbles as he leans over to rub his shin, but quickly decides against it, since it exacerbates the aching pain in his abdomen.
"Alright, put these on." The Archman takes a pair of leather gloves from his cloth bag and hands them to Fiona, who puts them on eagerly.
"Come on, then." The Archman takes the chain attached to Eira's collar and pulls it with enough force to take her attention.
YOU ARE READING
The Archman
RomanceWhile departing for London to meet with her fiancé, Eira Pryce finds herself taken captive by a living legend, the fabled pirate known only as the Archman. As it turns out, the fables may not have been so accurate in their portrayal of this mythic f...
