The Assassin of Madness

Chapter 12

This chapter has a couple of 'whump' warnings (Serious torture/injury) Nothing graphic, I wouldn't do that to you guys.  but if it bothers you, skimming is your friend in this chap

Rose followed the Emperor along, blocking out the sound of Jack shouting at the Doctor behind them.  She didn't know what he was doing, but it was something that was obviously made Jack upset. 

"Come along, Rose, really," the Emperor said, sounding irritated.  Rose flexed her hands against the handcuffs, making them jingle slightly.  The group was quiet at they ascended the stairs back to the main palace.  Rose tried to take in everything on the way up, since she hadn't been conscious the first time on the way down.  

She was afraid to speak about anything, but the Emperor kept looking over his shoulder at her, acting as though she was prisoner.  Of course, she was.  Though, she found that odd, when she'd been an honored guest just that morning.  

"I think you will observe a meeting between myself and some of the people who agreed to assist me.  You could still be in their place, Rose."  The Emperor said. 

"I won't," Rose said bravely, "I can't condone what you're doing."

He looked at her again over his shoulder.  "I didn't ask you to," he told her.  She felt an odd chill run through her at the words, something that put rocks in her stomach. 

Guards got closer to her as the Emperor led them to a conference room, as stark white as anything else in the house.  Rose noticed that their prison was one of the only rooms or things not white.  She wondered if it was a status symbol and decided to ask the Doctor about it when she got back. 

The conference room was almost blinding, but the carpet was light green, making things just a little different.  A drink was set out at every seat at the table, the epitome of hospitality.  Rose immediately assumed that hospitality would not be extended to her and stood still, not moving to go any particular direction.

"Oh, guards, won't you take Rose to her seat?" The Emperor suggested.  

A guard grabbed Rose roughly by the shoulder and she cried out, feeling on her arm where a bruise would most certainly form.  Before she could protest any more, the guard threw her into the corner of the room, her head hitting the wall.  Reaching up, she touched her head and felt blood already beginning to mat her hair.  She whimpered at the touch of pain that shot through her when she connected with her skin. 

"Oh, come on, Simmons," The Emperor groaned.  "You're going to get her blood on the walls."

Rose felt her vision blur and immediately thought she had a concussion.  Perhaps it was that on top of getting hit in the head earlier.  Either way, was her head really that sensitive?  She winced again as she tested her head again.   

The Emperor offered her a cool glance.  "Are you alright, Rose?"

She considered wiping the blood from her fingers and onto the crisp, clean wall, just to prove a point, but decided against it.  She couldn't take any chances at this point, she was very sure that her life was on the line now.  Instead, she carefully rested an uninjured part of her head against the wall, closing her eyes against the blurring of her vision.  

"Now, the visitors will be here any minute, so make sure Rose is seen and not heard, please."  

"You didn't say I'd get hurt," Rose said. 

"I never meant for you to," the Emperor said defensively, "That was my guards injuring you.  I didn't do anything.  Now," He held his hand out at Rose, his attitude expectant, and a guard pulled a gold, large handkerchief out of his pocket.  He approached Rose and started to gag her with it. She fought against him, shooting her feet out to stop him, but earned a smack on the jaw for her efforts.  Her vision blurred again and that distraction was enough time for him to tie the gag into her mouth.  She bit his hand on the way out of her mouth, just to feel as though she were in some sort of control.  She regretted it the second she did it, knowing she'd probably just done herself in, but the guard only let out a hiss of pain and stepped back, trying to get away from her.  He sent her a dirty look.