A Little Less Sixteen Candles... Continued

Spencer Receives His Punishment

In his office, William Beckett sat back in his chair, fingers interlaced as he held his hands close to his chest. It was hardly an opportunity to celebrate; he hadn't achieved anything even close to what he wanted. Pete, although still his prisoner, was no longer under his control and could not be forced to help him destroy the other Coven Leaders. Added to that and the vampire hunters had escaped, as had the girl. It was beyond frustrating. He had planned everything so carefully and one by one his carefully laid and executed plans had been derailed by incompetence, treachery or sheer dumb luck in the hunters' favour. Beneath his calm exterior, Beckett was seething. He had been humiliated and not just in front of his own Coven, but to the other coven leaders too. He had boasted of his triumph too early and now he had nothing. No... not quite nothing. He had Pete and he would pay dearly for what had happened. He would suffer, his friends would suffer and yes, he would have the girl too and he would turn her in front of her beloved Joe. The anger welled up from deep within him as he caught sight of Spencer, still lying immobile on the floor. The one who had caused the bulk of his plans to fail lay awaiting his final punishment, still held firmly by the strands of energy Beckett had formed around him prior to Pete's escape attempt. Rising from his chair, Beckett strode purposely over to the helpless traitor.

"So, Spencer," Beckett glowered at him, "I guess you're mostly recovered from the fight with Pete now, aren't you?"

Spencer could do nothing except stare up in fear of what Beckett had planned for him.

"That will seem like a picnic compared with what I'm going to do to you now," he sneered. "And the best bit, is that while you'll remain immobile, you will feel every agonising kick, blow and cut both physically and mentally. Actually, no, that's not the best bit... the best bit is that this isn't even your punishment! That's still to come!"

Spencer's eyes widened as he tried, without success, to call out in protest. Lifting him from the floor and holding him in mid-air with only the power of his mind, Beckett began a savage attack on his former Second.

"Master William," Mike interrupted, contacting Beckett telepathically. "I have Pete fully secured in the dungeon. I'll bring the keys to you now."
"No," Beckett replied as he induced a feeling of intense heat over every inch of Spencer's pain-racked body. "I'll be there in ten minutes with another prisoner."
"Very well, Master, I'll wait for you here."

*

Mike stared down at Pete, a cruel sneer forming on his face. Still with his hands manacled behind him, Pete sat on the floor, a thick clasp fastened around his neck with its chain pulling him back hard against the wall. His knees bent for support, offered little comfort against the close fitting shackles around his ankles.

"You really thought you could escape?" Mike laughed at Pete's defiant expression. Shaking his head, he continued. "No, there was never any chance of that?"
"Really?" Pete growled. "You had no idea where we were or where we were headed."
"Ah, but your little friend's mistake cost you dearly and now," Mike grinned in return referring to Andrea speaking within earshot of him as they searched for the renegade pair. "Now, I'm in high favour with Master William."
"In favour?" Pete laughed. "You don't seriously believe that Beckett will make you his Second do you?"
"Why not?" Mike raised an eyebrow arrogantly. "Spencer's crashed from a great height, and now, after capturing you, I'm the obvious choice. And in just under ten minutes, you'll see for yourself!"
"You're deluding yourself." Pete shook his head and chuckled to himself.

Mike's eyes narrowed as Pete mocked him, his anger growing with each passing second. Finally stepping forward, the furious vampire swung a tightly clenched fist into Pete's jaw. To Mike's initial pleasure, Pete's laughter stopped instantly and he moved in for another blow to the chained prisoner. With a satisfied gleam in his eyes, Pete's head snapped up as he drew back his legs and ploughed them with all the force he could muster into Mike's chest. Tumbling backwards, Mike cursed himself for falling for the trick, but as he hit the floor, he saw that there was more to Pete's plan than he first realised.