The Monarch - Book 4

The Torture Room

Timber takes them to an ally way and walks to the end of it, opening a trap door. "Down here." Bridgette shakes her head and holds to Alek.

Alek stops walking and looks sharply. "And what's down there?"

He glares "My home. Used to be a torture chamber but now it's where I stay." He hops down.

Alek glances to Bridgette, nodding lightly as if trying to reassure her that he would keep her safe. He jumps down after Timber, landing on his feet and turning for Bridgette.

She jumps down a bit shaky and looks around. The room is full or torture machines and Timber lays on a table. "Home sweet home."

Alek frowns, his arm around Bridgette's waist to steady her. "This is quite unsettling... how did you find this?"

"Heard screaming and found tortured souls down here. Got curious and watched. Decided they had enough and took out the puppets torturing them, and took it for my own." Bridgette looks uncomfortable and gulps, staying silent.

"Hm..." Alek pauses, stuck on the fact that he had sympathy for the tortured souls. He bit his tongue, realizing he probably just got bored and wanted a place. "It suits you."

Timber glares "You would think that." Bridgette looks at Alek and feels uncomfortable at how cruel he is being.

Alek bites his cheek, wanting to see the best in Timber, but after believing Percy and being back in another torture room, he was struggling to keep himself together at all. Not only that, he hadn't been sleeping.

Bridgette looks worried "Alek... you should sleep..."

Alek holds to his arm lightly. "I'm fine. Although," he smirked lightly. "I guess I can't say I'll sleep when I'm dead." He laughs at his own joke lightly.

Bridgette doesn't laugh and looks him in the eyes. Timber glares. "... Sleep.... Boy...."

Alek clenches his jaw, his eyes set on Timber. "...Fine." Alek looks to Bridgette, his eyes serious and his hand on her shoulder. "If anything happens, anything at all, wake me up. Promise me you will."

She nods "I promise!" She sits down next to him and holds her knees to her chest. Timber looks at her and shakes his head, turning to some torture machines.

Alek nods lightly, his mind worried. He rests his head on her shoulder, closing his eyes with difficulty, wanting to keep an eye out, but knowing Bridgette wouldn't approve. He falls asleep soon after, restless and tense.

He wakes up to the sound of Bridgette and timber speaking to each other in low voices.
"He is acting different..."
"So you understand what I'm saying."
"I don't know... maybe? I don't want to think of him like that."
"I'm only speaking the truth my dear, the underworld changes people."
"It changed you even."
"And you as well. You're starting to regret your decision with Alek, I can see it."
"..." there is silence.

Alek listens, his face pulls down slightly in a nervous frown. He holds it back, trying to figure out what was going on.

Timber looks at Bridgette who is sitting against the wall, still holding her knees to her chest.
"... Bridgette you can't ignore the truth... He is different..."
She nods slowly.
"I don't know what to think about him anymore... it's almost as if... He isn't Alek..."
Timber pauses.
"And me?"
She looks at him and her eyes slit. "You're the same to me."
He nods once and looks away "I thought as much..."
Except Bridgette looks hesitant.

Alek shifts slightly, almost as if signaling he was awake, or at least waking.

Timber looks at him but Bridgette looks away, her stomach churning. "Ah... look who's awake..."

Alek stretches his legs, still sitting. He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Greetings..."

Bridgette looks at him and speaks in a soft voice "Sleep well?"

"Relatively." Alek smiles lightly, although he was anything but glad. "I've gotten too used to the castle beds."

"I'd except you to..." Timber grumbles, making some food on a torture table. Bridgette nods to Alek and looks away, saying no more.

Alek bites his cheek, tired of being angry. "What are you making?"

"Salad." He replies blankly "Nothing else to make down here." He continues cutting veggies and Bridgette watches.

"Do you..." he hesitates. He rephrases the question. "I can help if needed..."

Timber shakes his head "No. It's just a salad, I'm sure I can handle it." Bridgette looks at Alek "... I-is death coming?"

"I... don't know. If he is we would have to find somewhere to meet him." He bites his tongue, wishing he could make his mother's cookies, they always helped him think. He sighs. "I'm sure it will work."

She nods and Timber passes out small plates of salad "Actually, Death can find you if he wants. Which is why I emphasize the fact I didn't mess up your plan." Bridgette digs into the salad, starved.

Alek pokes at the salad before slowly eating it.

Bridgette looks surprised that he's eating food that isn't his own. She smiles a bit to herself and continues eating.
Timber frowns and eyes Alek.

Alek keeps quiet, thinking over what he would say to Maxim. He finishes saying it for the fourth time in his head. "Bridgette, I never did thank you for coming to the festival... thank you..." he says quietly before eating another bit.

She looks at him surprised and blinks a few times. She blushes lightly and smiles "Oh... it was no problem! I secretly wanted to go anyway..." Timber looks down at his food, clenching his jaw as he picks at it.

"Well... thank you." Alek smiles lightly, remembering her under the willow. He finishes his salad, not wanting to swallow it because he wanted to put cashews in it, although he did, setting the bowl aside.

Bridgette looks at the food and holds her stomach, her plate empty. "C-can I..." Timber gives her his bowl and stands up. Bridgette smiles and begins eating, happy to have some food.

Alek glances at Timber, his eyes studying him. He sighs. "...I'm sorry... I suppose."  He looks back to the floor.

Timber stops. "... I'm guessing that wasn't for me..."

"Take it or leave it. I shouldn't have..." he sighs. "Acted as I have..."

His expression softens and he nods. "I'm glad you realized your mistake." He sits down and twirls his knife in his fingers. Bridgette looks at Alek and smiles a bit.

"I never said it was a mistake." Alek says, shrugging one shoulder. "But it wasn't right, and I'm sorry." He cringes while saying it, but he means it.

"Alright. You've made your point. Thanks." Timber glares at him and grips his knife. Bridgette smiles more at Alek, relaxing a bit now that he was calm.

Alek runs a hand through his hair. "I wonder how long we have until Death comes... honestly, I'm curious about whether or not it's worth it to get the sins... I don't even know if we could find a way to get them out..."

Timber stands up "I'll go search for him." He and Bridgette exchange a glance for a moment before she looks away quickly. Timber sighs and leaves.

******

A/N: .... Love I'm sorry but as much as I love Alek and Bridgette I ship Timber and Bridgette in the end game. DON'T HATE ME.