Bathing in Blood

Bathing in Blood - Part 9

Anna was anxious to make the girl pay for her insults. But Elizabeth showed no sign of moving the girl to the torture chamber.

"Anna?"

"Yes, Elizabeth?"

"I think we should play a game."

"Is that so, Elizabeth?"

"Yes. A game to lighten the mood. What do you suggest?"

Anna tapped her fingers on her chin. "Hangman?" she suggested with a sly grin.

"No, no, silly. A real game. Not a torture game."

Anna's face fell slightly. "Oh."

Elizabeth sat down on the upholstered lounge chair that sat in the room. "Let me see now, let me see. How about... no, that won't do. Perhaps...? Mm, no. Certainly not." After another minute of thinking, she clapped her hands. "Yes, I know! Let's play cat and mouse, shall we? Do you know how to play, Natalia?"

The girl had been quiet for the last five minutes. She was kneeling on the floor, silent tears dripping on the carpet, but she didn't dare make a sound. She shook her head when Elizabeth asked her the question.

"No? Very well, I'll explain it to you. In the game of cat and mouse, you are the mouse and Anna and I will be the cats. We let you loose in the dungeon, and you must run and hide. We shall give you a minute to hide. When you have hidden, we come and look for you, and if we can find you in five minutes you lose. If you can evade us for that long, you win."

Natalia licked her lips nervously. "May I ask you a question, Madame?"

"Yes."

"Am I allowed to run from you?"

Elizabeth pondered this for a moment. "What do you think, Anna?"

"It would certainly make it more entertaining."

"I agree! Yes, Natalia, you are allowed to run. But, you know... I have an idea that could make the game even more exciting."

Anna raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued. "Yes, Elizabeth?"

"Why don't we raise the stakes?" She stood up at walked over to Natalia. Taking the girl's chin in her hand, she tilted her head to the side. "How about this: if you win, I'll let you go."

Natalia was suddenly paying attention. Her eyes glimmered with the prospects; freedom. Anna could tell that she definitely was not keen on staying. But neither was Elizabeth keen on letting her go, Anna knew quite well. They had been waiting for a new victim for ages and Anna couldn't think of setting the girl free. What was Elizabeth planning?

"Would you like that? To play, in the hopes of being set free?"

Natalia nodded quickly. Then she paused, opening her mouth to speak. "Madame," she said softly, "what happens if I lose?" She seemed like she didn't really want to know the answer.

Elizabeth smiled. "Well, pet, if you don't win, I shall kill you."

Natalia shuddered.

"Of course, if you choose not to play, I'll kill you anyway. So this is an opportunity that would be in your best interest to take."

"I understand, Madame. I – I wish to play."

"Wonderful!" Elizabeth clapped her hands together. "Anna, is there anything else you suggest that we do before we play?"

Anna began to fidget a bit. "Elizabeth, we haven't even done anything to the girl yet... she is still very much intact."

"Your point being?"

"I thought we could have a bit more fun with her this night."

Natalia could tell what Anna was implying; torture. She squeaked in fear, slowly shuffling away from the two women.

"You are suggesting torture?"

Anna nodded.

"I'm afraid that won't happen tonight, Anna."

"What? But I thought we could—"

"No."

"But she called you a—"

"I said no, Anna! I am too tired, simply too tired! If we torture her harshly I shall be up all night from excitement, and then I will have bags under my eyes in the morn, and my darling Ferenc is coming home and I must look my best. No, torture will not do. Nor will anything of that severity, we shall simply have to catch the girl, kill her, complete the ritual and draw the bath."

Anna pursed her lips. Elizabeth was agitated, and although she was itching to hear the screams of pain, she knew better than to keep on pressing the Countess. She nodded obediently. Then she walked over to Natalia and hissed in her ear.

"You're lucky, pet. If it were up to me you would be dangling from the ceiling by your ankles."

"Anna, that is enough. We need the girl to focus for our game. Now, Natalia," she turned to her victim, "we will send you back to Addy to prepare for our little goose chase. You want to look your best for your final moments, don't you?"

"U-unless I win, you mean," she half-whispered.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, surprised at the girl's newfound courage. "Yes, unless you win. Now go, and when you return the game will begin."

Merry Christmas everyone! My gift to you, two updates, as I forgot yesterday's! Enjoy and I hope you are all having a wonderful holiday!