He's a Mess of a Man

Book Two ~ Chapter Seven

Slowly, feeling returned to Leviathan's limbs. He tried to wiggle his hands and feet. "Awake already? Such fascinating resilience!" laughed the Quaestor Valdemar. Leviathan laid on one of the medical gurneys with Valdemar looming over him. Leather straps holding his limbs.

"Levi?! Oh, thank goodness you're alive!" Lucio was strapped to another gurney to Leviathan's right. Mercedes and Melchior paced a frantic circle around the two. Each time they tried to get closer, they'd recoil in fear from Valdemar.

"Now that you're both nice and stationary-"

"YOU SICK BASTARD!" yelled Lucio, "I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU FOR THIS!!" he thrashed and struggled but the leather restraints held him fast.

Valdemar barely seemed to notice. All of their attention was fixed on Leviathan. "And what about you? Will you struggle in futility? Or are you willing to accept your fate?"

Leviathan glared daggers up at Valdemar. "No. I refuse to give you the satisfaction of seeing my fear."

"I do wonder if your face will get stuck that way." Valdemar picked up a pair of freshly cleaned needle-sharp pliers, "Unfortunately, all of your running about wasted precious time. Alas, I can only properly study one of you. But which one..?"

Lucio's eyes widened, "You mean... you're not just gonna kill us..?"

Valdemar laughed. The sound scraped along the walls like thousands of rattling bones. "Just killing you would be such a waste! So much science undone! So much data lost!" the Quaestor hummed, "I think I'll let the two of you choose who stays with me and who walks free. That seems fair, doesn't it?" They regarded each of them in turn, sharp teeth gleaming in the dark.

Lucio met Leviathan's gaze across the gap between their gurneys, unshed tears gleaming in his eyes, "Leviathan... I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"Shh, it's okay," Leviathan gave a reassuring smile, "This isn't over. Valdemar will pay for this." With utmost venom, he looked back at Valdemar. Lucio chuckled, some of the panic in his aura vanished.

Valdemar leaned forward, eyes bright over their steepled fingers, "Oh, is this what they call heartwarming? Do your fleshy little hearts really grow warmer?" They shrugged lightly, "I'll find out soon enough." Valdemar brandished the pliers and hovered them inches from Leviathan's chest.

Lucio thrashed violently, straining with all his might to get at Valdemar, "Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP! LEMME GO AND FIGHT ME FAIR AND SQUARE!"

The gurney teetered. Valdemar firmly planted a boot on the side, holding it in place, "How annoying. At least Leviathan doesn't yap like you and your mutts."

"Don't you dare talk about my babies like that! I'LL-!" With a strangled gasp, Lucio's voice cut off. His lips moved, but no sound came out.

"Ahh, finally. Blessed quiet. Since Lucio won't be talking any time soon, I suppose the decision falls to you, Leviathan." Valdemar pulled up a stool and sat next to him, idly clicking the pliers, "I suggest freeing yourself. Little Lucio may seem fond of you, but he's not the self-sacrificing type. If you catch my meaning." Lucio could be heard still struggling against his bonds. He couldn't make a sound, but Leviathan distinctly saw his lips form his name. "Take your time. Think it over. After all, you're going nowhere fast."

The dungeon seemed to shrink around Leviathan with every passing second. "This has to be a nightmare..." he thought, "Soon I'll wake up, safe and sound with my Julius. Or someone will burst in to rescue us!" However, Leviathan never woke, and no one came.

Valdemar tsked softly, pretending to check an invisible watch on their wrist, "Time's ticking, Leviathan. Free yourself or free Lucio. Or if you really are paralyzed by indecision, I would love to have both of you as research subjects." Very slowly, almost gently, Valdemar rested the edge of their bone saw on Leviathan's chest. The sharp, gleaming points barely pressing against his skin. "For my part, I'd prefer that you stay, Levi. You're such a fascinating specimen. Think of all the science we could do together." Out of the corner of his eye, Leviathan could see Lucio furiously shaking his head as much as his restraints could allow. "But it isn't my choice. Do make up your mind before I change mine..."

"I con't leave Lucio at Valdemar's mercy in this terrible place..." Summoning up all his courage, Leviathan met and held Quaestor Valdemar's cool gaze, "Free Lucio. I'll stay here."

"Leviathan, no!" cried Lucio, the words suddenly bursting from his lips. He bolted upright as soon as Valdemar released him, rushing to Leviathan's side. He seized his hand in his, trembling from head to toe, "Why would you-?! I can't- You can't- I won't let you!"

"Sentiment. How revolting. Dear Leviathan's been ever so kind," said Valdemar, "Better take advantage of it while you can, Lucio."

"You twisted BASTARD!" yelled Lucio, "I'LL TEAR YOU TO PIECES FOR THIS! I'LL-" Valdemar casually tilted the bone saw, threatening Leviathan's throat. Lucio made an odd, choked sob. His fingers went slack, slipping through Leviathan's. "Levi, I..."

"Go, Lucio." Despite his pounding heart, Leviathan's words sounded sure and steady. He even managed another reassuring smile.

"Levi... I... I'll come back. I'll rescue you, I promise..." Lucio backed out of the dungeon, his eyes never leaving Leviathan's. Mercedes dashed after him, tail between her legs. Melchior stayed. He paced a circle around the gurney, his blood red eye fixed on Leviathan.

Meanwhile, Valdemar was busy with a tray full of gleaming, sharp tools, "Please relax, Leviathan. It makes the work cleaner. And I am so looking forward to it." They minutely examined a long scalpel, flicked some nonexistent dust off the tip, and set it back down.

"They're... enjoying this. Taking their time... toying with me.."

"Oh, listen to me, waxing nostalgic. But why shouldn't I?" Valdemar sighed dreamily, "In all my millennia of existence, I have never had a subject quite like you."

"What do you mean..?"

"Why, didn't you know?" Valdemar pressed their fingers to Leviathan's wrist, their touch was ice-cold and unyielding even through the gloves. "You, of course, are nothing special. Just another little mortal like all the rest. But this body is one of a kind. How else could you be so powerful, hm?" Leviathan shuddered in his restraints. A clock tower tolled somewhere in the palace above the two. Leviathan's teeth rattled in his head. The bone saw clattered from Valdemar's hand, "Already? And I was just about to get started," they sighed, "Alas, it can't be helped. Please stay where you are, Levi. I'll be out for just a moment." They picked up their mask and marched out of the dungeon without so much as a backward glance.

Leviathan waited until he could no longer hear the Quaestor's footsteps. But no matter how hard he struggled, the gurney's straps wouldn't yield. Melchior bounded to Leviathan's side, resting his head on his hand. "I don't suppose you know how to undo these straps." Melchior stared at Leviathan blankly in between licking his fingers. Leviathan sighed, "Guess not." Leviathan searched his brain for any ideas on how to get out of the restraints, "My shield spell can generate tremendous force when broken... maybe that would blow the straps apart? Then again, it's not a pleasant prospect. I could just as easily shatter my own bones. I'm certainly not going to wait for Valdemar though." Leviathan took a deep breath, mustering as much magic as he could. The second bell toll rattled the walls. Melchior's terrified yelp stopped short, his whole form suspended in midair. The world seemed to fade into the distance. The straps binding Leviathan felt like nothing. He tried to stand, but up and down didn't exist anymore.