The Stigma (by Koltin Scott)

Chap. VI

"Inflict not on an enemy every injury in your power, for he may afterwards become your friend."

–Moslih Eddin Saadi
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Elizabeth

I woke up to a bright light, and strapped in a chair. Only one man sat in front of the light. Great, a classic interrogation. After a chillingly long moment of silence he spoke,

"Do you know who I am Ms. Wayne?"

"I," I blurted, "am not Ms. Wayne."

"I," he said, annoyed at my stupid interruption, "am the Third Dragon."

I grew cold, staring, I began to go pale, losing the ability to think clearly. The third highest criminal in the Dragoons. This guy has a body count about as long as my phone number. He spoke again before I could rally my thoughts.

"It appears," he added with disdain and then continued, "'Ms. Wayne', that the Black Baron owed us a new amount of protection money."

I could feel his smile, "YOU would have ruined any such negotiations. I can't argue that the contempt in his face was sincere and I noticed the grief in his eyes as he brought you to me like a sacrifice before angry gods."

I looked left and right frantically trying to think.

"Ms. Wayne?"

He said softly and it brought my gaze back to his.

"When you answer all of my questions, remember this: power is respect."

I tried to think on this confusing chain of events but then I was electrocuted. The pain shot through my body like it was dipped into acid and pulled out with the speed of lightning.

"What were you doing in the slum district of Austin last night!?"

I recovered from the shocks and said,

"Last night?! There's no way I could have been transported to Europe in one day!"

I was shocked in the chair and I heard a voice whisper: "Teleportation." When the shocking ended I tried to think of what that voice was as the man continued,

"We got our best shipper," he pronounced his name in such a way that I knew it was fake, "'Teleportadox' to bring you here. If I wanted him to kidnap the president all I have to do, is speak. You forget that the world has evolved. Now answer my question!"

I tried to think but the only thing that would come to my mind is the words: power is respect. Then it hit me and I laughed. I could tell that the man scowled,

"Do you mock me?!"

"Why do you honor me with your presence? I bet it's awfully odd for the Third Dragon to interrogate normal prisoners."

Much of my hope vanished from me when his smile reflected back at me.

"The Dragoons respect power," he stood up and got close behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders, hissing in my ears, "but I respect beauty."

"I," through grit teeth, "respect reality."

He hesitated a moment and that whisper returned with a hint of worry: "Clever."

"I guarantee you that I am real, but I admire your cleverness of figuring out about this evolved world."

I thought, "cleverness"?

"Okay," I faked, "okay!"

He gripped me by the hair and pulled my head back, "Tell me!"