Luminous

Part 1

"Give us the Americans and then we'll stop!" Solomon Coop barked loudly over the cries of James Delaney's — well they weren't quite sure what to call you. His whore? You, a relatively short girl, stood in the corner, yanking your arms harshly to attempt to pry yourself away from the vice grips of the soldiers that securely held you. It took two men to keep you still and they were barely managing. For such a small human, they were a bit surprised at your strength.

"Shut her up!" Coop pointed to the men clad in red uniforms. One of the guards lifted his hand, cupping it over your chapped lips to silence your aggravating pleas for them to stop hurting James. "If you know what's good for you, you'll stop." The man hissed against your ear, knee digging into your thigh to quieten you. His breath wreaked of whiskey and you wondered silently if he'd downed a bottle right before the arrest of your beloved James. You closed your watery eyes, but nobody paid any mind to the tears that escaped.

James Keziah Delaney, the only person in the world that had ever cared about you, was strapped to the table, not even two feet away, face shielded with a cloth as they dumped water on him. You watched as he shook desperately beneath the restraints, but something told you that you were panicking more than he was. "Please." Your muffled words filled the palm of the guard's hand. "Let him go!" Sinking your teeth roughly into the flesh of the man's thick finger, your teeth opened the skin and he drew back quickly as blood oozed from the wound. "Bitch!" Instinctively pushing your small form to the floor, he instantly regretted doing this when it gave you the advantage to pounce toward James.

You couldn't do much, seeing as there were 4 men surrounding the body of the love of your life, but you had to try. Your dainty figure was slim enough to avoid the grasps between two men as they darted for you. Determined to put a stop to James' suffering, you shoved the bucket of water out of the man's beefy hands, cowering only slightly beneath his heated gaze. He growled as it fell to the floor, water sloshing along the walls and then the ground. Your fingers curled in the soaked fabric that was no doubt suffocating James. Yanking it off, you threw the material to the corner, ears twitching at the sound of the thud it made. Your nimble fingers grazed his damp features, then stubble covered cheeks for only a second, peering down at him from upside down, before a large man, twice your size, hoisted you up and away from the table. "Ah ah." He warned.

"Why the hell is she even here?" One of the watchmen spoke up, annoyed that he was the one who had to clean up everything this damn girl knocked over. Adjusting the fallen bucket with a sigh, his eyes lifted to the older man in the corner. "Because she's his weakness. If we can't crack him through torture, surely he'll give in when we use her." The wicked smile that pulled at Coop's lips made a soldier by the door straighten. Delaney had better start talking.

"You hurt her and.." James' voice was weak and raspy. It was hardly audible, but your ears didn't miss a word he said, waiting for him to continue to speak. He never did. Coop approached the table, tsking beneath his breath in disappointment. "Do you have a brain, son? If so, I'd start using it." Directing his eyes to you as you once again wiggled to get free, he heaved a quiet sigh. "Sit him up and bring her closer."

Snapping his fingers, he watched impatiently as one of the men dragged your desperate body toward James, halting you directly in front of him. A guard began to undo the belts from James' wrists and situate him on a very small, uncomfortable looking chair. The metal's seat creaked loudly beneath the man's heavyweight. "Strap him down." Coop demanded, but one of the more quiet watchmen spoke up. "Sir, he's rather feeble."

James' arms were limp, dangling uselessly at his sides as he watched them guide you toward him, ceasing their movements when you were stood between his spread legs. "James..." Coop moved his hand to your parted lips, pressing two fingers against your plump mouth to silence you. "Don't speak." His hand was rough as it slid along your side to your curvy hip. "What'll it be James? You give us the names and the locations or I'll have my way with her."