Tangle (BWWM)

Chapter 26- Games

Pain.

Blinding, white, hot pain... those were the only words she could describe the burning sensations that danced across her skin. Gideon's blade had carved a wicked path across her chest, shoulder to shoulder, just under her collarbone. The sharp edge of the dagger cut through the straps of her dress, causing the fabric to fall from her and began exposing her strapless bra-cupped bosom. Desperately, Gabrielle tried pulling her hands up to conceal her newly exposed body but failed against the restraints that tied her to the chair. The pain of the embarrassment, however, was only second to the searing pain that followed the demonic dagger.

Her flesh felt like it was being eaten away by acid; the sweltering discomfort seemed to spread from the wound outward, setting her entire torso ablaze. The blood-curdling scream she released did nothing to alleviate the pain. It seemed to make it worse, even. Eventually, it was near unbearable, causing her to double over as far as her restraints would allow, a heavy stream of tears flowing down her face.

Over the sound of her own sobbing, she could hear Gideon's malevolent cackling. The bastard was enjoying this! She could only hope that Vincent would come and return what he'd dished out tenfold.

Vincent... where the hell was he? He was the reason she was involved in this in the first place. Had he even noticed she was gone?

He's still probably at the party fawning over what's her face while you're here suffering on his behalf...

What... what were those voices echoing in her head?

He's not coming to save you... you threw yourself at him, and he used you. Now look where you are! Forgotten... Nothing but a common whore for him.

Gabrielle shook her head violently, trying to clear her mind of the invasive thoughts. Sitting up, she yanked again at the restraints. No use... She had to get out of there as soon as possible. She had no idea what was happening, but she was sure it had something to do with the damned demon.

Gideon now stood in front of the portrait of his beloved on the table. "My Love, does this please you?" she heard him mumble to no one in particular, his voice raspy and trembling. "It's all for you, Caroline... all for you. Her soul for yours. Their suffering for ours!" He kneeled in front of the table and held the portrait gently in his hands, cradling it as if it were the woman herself. "I will make him pay, and your soul will be finally at rest."

Teeth still clenched in pain, she observed her surroundings. There had to be something she could use to escape! But alas, Gideon was intelligent enough not to leave anything of real use lying around near her... Her frustration was building again when she noticed something.

Her restraints! They started to loosen. Gazing around the room, she could see no obvious reason why— Wait... was that Jacques?

Squinting her hardest, she confirmed that the blonde man indeed stood in the farthest corner away from them. He was squatting beside a table, signaling Gabrielle to stay quiet and act natural. She was about to nod and turn back when suddenly, he began waving frantically. Before she could react, she felt Gideon violently grab her by the throat and squeeze.

Forgetting that she was supposed to be tied to a chair, her hands shot up to claw at his vice grip, effectively giving herself away. "How did you release yourself?!" he shouted before pausing to peer about the quiet ballroom. "Dragonoff is here, eh? Show yourself!" Growling angrily when only silence returned, he yanked Gabrielle out of the chair by the neck and slashed her once more with the gnarly blade, this time across her right shoulder. Gabrielle cried out in pain, her futile attempts at escape growing gradually more frantic.

"Gideon!" Vincent shouted, slamming open the doors and coming into the room, but froze in surprise. The scene before him was one that he'd not expected. Instead of his natural form, Gideon was in Dredger's body. God dammit, he thought. This would make the situation all the more complicated... he would definitely have to rethink his strategy now, lest he kill or gravely injure the innocent human.