The Long Road to Ruin Ch. 37-39

He walked around the front of the standing X then looked her straight in the eyes. "Shiloh, such a curious name, were you one of the hordes of peasants named for the deceased princess of Betancuria?"

Shiloh's eyes doubled in size momentarily at the mention of her title before she looked away. She schooled her features into hard lines and vowed to give nothing away. She sent a mental plea for help to Bastian, but found that lifeline utterly silent. She knew then that despite the souls she'd gifted him in the past few days; her Lord had chosen this moment to forsake her, to pay her back for defying his order. Foul oaths vile enough to singe the ears of a dockside whore flowed torrentially from her lips.

"Obviously you're far too common to have any other qualities a princess might? Most certainly a princess wouldn't dirty her lips and assault the ears of others with such language," he taunted then circled around to her backside. She couldn't see where he went, but heard him pick up something from the table.

Nervous apprehension zinged through her then settled in the pit of her stomach. She licked her lips and closed her eyes. This was it. This moment was what all the foreplay had been leading up to. This was the climax of her torment, the culmination of Arto's vengeance against her.

Vengeance...

She sucked several deep breaths in, holding each for tense seconds for releasing them raggedly.

Vengeance...

Though, she was on the receiving end this time. She gulped, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat. His heavy footsteps echoed in her ears as he neared her. Her skin quivered and jumped as his hand touched it, scraping across a burn mark. She hissed in pain.

Then he moved back in front of her. Arto flashed a cruel caricature of a smile as he lifted something into view. Something long and coiled. Shiloh observed it appeared to be made of leather. Her body trembled when she realized just what it was.

With calm deliberation, Arto unrolled the bullwhip in his hand. This one was not any ordinary bullwhip, though. At its end, instead of the simple knot found on most bullwhips, there were nine leather thongs; each of them was tipped with a tiny metal rasp. The rasps were designed to leave deep welts when swung lightly, painful welts that would continue to sting sometimes for days. When a prisoner had the misfortune of being lashed by Arto Benthur it became an extension of his arm, swung with all the force he could muster, and those rasps left deep, bleeding grooves upon human flesh.

Shiloh's eyes went wide with fright. One name lingered on her lips, it ghosted from her lips. "Bastian..." Pure panic flooded her voice.

Though Shiloh could not see his face, she could sense his purpose growing dark. The thought struck panic in her heart as she knew things were about to get worse.

Her panic was justified as the first stroke fell suddenly, full force, directly across the small of her back. A distinct 'CRACK' followed immediately by a distinct high pitched scream as Shiloh was subjected to more pain than she had felt in a long, long time. Blow after brutal blow fell on her as the whip danced then snaked through the air, always ending up on her indefensible body. Pain exploded through Shiloh's body, then her mind. Her world became pain. Shiloh could not help it; she screamed and writhed under the blows, then danced and screamed, her flesh writhing, jiggling under the force. Near the end, a brief period passed where she stepped outside her body, watching in horror then fascination as Arto continued to carve her back into a grid of ever finer bloody squares, coaxing forth copious amounts of blood.

So much blood...

A black void engulfed her. Her body sagged against the post.

Pure rage was flickering through Arto's mind as he watched her body go limp. He hadn't extracted enough vengeance from her. The wretched piece of filth had brought forth weakness that he hadn't let out in his many years and he didn't like it.

His thoughts turned to her condition, "Since it would seem you can no longer provide me with the information I require, I will at least have the satisfaction of knowing you will never reveal my weakness, for now I am going to finish you."

The sound of a clearing throat halted Arto's next strike. He turned in the direction of the sound. "You'll kill her if you keep that up," the older man with graying hair and heavily decorated armor spoke up. "We need information. She knows things and we need to know what those things are. Take her down and heal her up. Get her ready to be questioned. This time I will be present."

Arto saluted his superior sharply. "Yes sir, General Beckett, sir." He then watched as the General left the room. Arto took her down then called forth his second-in-command. "Take her back to her cell. Heal her."

"Yes, sir!"

Arto turned away for a moment then drew in a deep breath. He glanced back at his prisoner. Rage still filled him, pumping violently through his veins. Never before had torturing someone brought these emotions out. Shiloh's body was being hauled back to her cell. Arto thought to himself, "I hope she doesn't provide us the information we desire. Then I will be able to finish the slut off and my secret will be safe for all time."

O.O

Shiloh groaned then rolled off her stomach onto her back. She let out a cry of pain as the stone floor scraped her tender flesh. Despite the fact they gave her some healing potions, her entire body ached. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she gave in to the hopelessness of her situation. She was doomed to spend the short remainder of her miserable days in Dhorn custody, left to die at the hands of her worst enemies.

She cursed Arto Benthur. Cursed him to the same horrid death he had in store for her. She dreamed he'd come to that end at the hands of Vico. Despite everything that had occurred between them, she knew deep in her heart the blackguard would avenge her death. He'd extract as much pain and torment on Arto as he had inflicted on her. Beyond the door, she heard a few noises. "Fuck..." she murmured, knowing they'd returned for her. "Be strong. Don't give in to them."

Then the door swung open. Shiloh's jaw dropped to the floor when she realized who stood before her, "Tarleth! How?"

"Sorry it took us so long to find out where you'd been taken, but we came as soon as we could. Come with me. We haven't much time!"

"Help me walk," Shiloh struggled to her feet. Tarleth wrapped her arm around Shiloh's waist and aided her escape. Down a corridor they headed before meeting up with several others who were part of the rescue party.

Before them a fight raged on. Several of the guild members traded blows with a few Dhorn soldiers, but one by one, the Dhorn fell. Then a familiar face stepped forth then lifted Shiloh into his arms. She beamed a smile at him, "Mando!"

"Shiloh, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" The brown haired male quipped as he carried her out of the bowels of the Dhorn Headquarters then into a storage room where she found a familiar crate. He set her down long enough for her to gather the few belongings that hadn't been torn to shreds. None of her clothing survived but her low heels and her new dagger rested upon a black square of fabric. She picked it up and tossed it to the floor, opening the portable hole fully. Digging into it she removed a dress then pulled it over her naked body. "I'm ready to go, but you'll have to help me."

Mando lifted her back into his arms, then allowed everyone to duck through the concealed door which opened to a lonely dark corridor. He followed it before negotiating a flight of stairs which led to another corridor and a wrought iron gate.

Beyond the gate was an abandoned sewer, one rarely used anymore because of its connection to the Dhorn Headquarters.

Once they made it through the gate, Mando stopped long enough to take a head count. He knew a few were missing. One or two had fallen during the fight with the Dhorn. They'd given their lives so Shiloh might be rescued. "Who's missing besides Jax and Alaric?"

"Rafe," one of the females spoke up.

"Tarleth is still missing too."

"Damn," Mando cursed. "Go on ahead. I'll wait for her. Take Shiloh with you."

Mando handed Shiloh off to a burly thug she later learned went by the sole name of Ghost. He carried her to the end of the room before she glanced up and caught sight of Tarleth being held against the iron bars by Arto. She screamed then wriggled out of Ghost's embrace. She staggered back to Mando and glared at Arto.

"Let her go, you impotent prick!" Shiloh screamed.

"Tsk tsk... what did I tell you about such language?" Arto slammed Tarleth's limp body against the bars, eliciting a loud groan of pain from her. He turned her ever so slightly to reveal his sword buried deep in her back. "Sooner or later, Shiloh, we will meet again, then you will share her fate."

He wrenched the sword from her back then jammed the sharp point into her throat. Blood bubbled out of her neck, her mouth, and her nose. Her threw her to the floor then watched while she drowned by her own blood.

"Oh yes, you will share her fate. I will never stop hunting you, little whore. When I catch you, there will be no escape. You will beg for death long before I grant it."

Shiloh spat at him, arcing it through the air, then watched as it splattered upon his face. "Not if I kill you first," she vowed. "You will die; on my oath, swift death upon you."

Mando grabbed her by the waist then dragged her away from the bars. She could still hear Arto's tirade as his guardsman battered the gate in effort to break through it. She and Mando crossed a rickety plank bridge which connected with another sewer corridor. He quickly located a cleverly hidden door then urged her through it before closing it behind them. Then he led her down a winding passageway which ended with a ladder. He coaxed her to climb, helping her with a boost here and there.

Shiloh stopped then rested against a wall. Sobs broke her as she gave into the despair that plagued her. Mando turned back to her. "We can't stop now, Shiloh. Tarleth's death will have been in vain if we allow them to catch us. We have but a little further to go before we make it back to the main sewers. From there, I've been instructed to take you to Master Nathan."

She nodded then wiped the tears from her eyes. Once again, Mando lifted and carried her, the rest of the way, back to the Bear Pit. The common room was dark as they entered. He climbed the two sets of stairs then entered Nathan's office.

The older man hopped up from behind his desk, rushing over to Shiloh. Mando handed her into Nathan's care then stepped back to await orders. The normally emotionless crime boss wore a haggard expression on his hard face. "You gave us a scare, Shiloh. What happened at Tony's?"

Shiloh shook her head then tried to squirm from his arms. Nathan placed her gently into one of the chairs and knelt before her. "I need to know, Shiloh."

She licked her lips. "I can't tell you what happened once the Dhorn attacked, but I can tell you that... I... I killed Tony." She saw anger blossom in Nathan's eyes. "Don't be mad at me. It was in self defense. Tony invited me over for a party, but really so he could rape then humiliate me for choosing Essex over him."

Nathan nodded, "Anything else?"

Shiloh shook her head, "I tried to run away. I tried to make it to the sewers, but the Dhorn caught me. Also I witnessed a battle between the Dhorn and a group of black clad defenders I didn't recognize. I didn't know if they were part of The Family or not, but when I was being carried away, I saw Cata. I had hoped she would have alerted you."

"She did then nearly got herself killed in the process. She entered Tony's house. That's when she realized it was a set up. Those black clad defenders were all part of a greater scheme. One Tony was involved in. He had planned a double cross with the Sargovian Underground. They're no better than cutthroat smugglers who sought to usurp control of my organization. They failed."

"Essex?" Shiloh choked on his name.

Nathan shook his head. "Fear not, he's not one of them. He's loyal to me."

A sigh of relief washed over her then she changed the subject. "Jax, Rafe, Alaric, and Tarleth all died because of me."

Nathan lightly touched her shoulder. "Their deaths are not your fault. They knew what they were getting into when they accepted the mission. Don't dwell on it. This is the reason we fight the Dhorn. We all know how valuable you are to us. One day they will be gone then we'll place you upon your throne. I know in my heart that you will make a good Queen, one we'll all be proud to serve."

"Arto Benthur tried to make me talk, but for all the torture he reaped upon me, he learned little from me." Nothing besides my name, but not who I truly am.

"I want you to head back to your apartment. I need you to lay low for a while. We'll make arrangements for your meals, but you are not to show your face in public. I'm going to keep Mando and Jacia here with me. We're going to spread our people out as a precaution so if the Dhorn do discover one of our safehouses, it'll reduce the chance of them taking us out en masse. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Nathan. I won't be the reason they annihilate us," she replied solemnly.

"Good. Now Mando, if you would be so kind, take Shiloh home and make sure she is settled in comfortably."

Mando grinned then lifted her from her chair. "My pleasure," he quipped and wagged his eyebrows. The combined chuckles of many could be heard throughout the otherwise silent building, as if an omen to come.

Out through the rain Mando dashed until he reached the building that housed Shiloh's apartment. He carried her inside then accepted the key she offered him, unlocking her door. He climbed a short stairwell, crossing the living room until he came to her bedroom. Then he gently rested her upon her soft bed.

Shiloh sighed. She had thought she'd never see this place again. Part of her had feared what she might find when she returned. She knew she wouldn't find Rhys. That thought pierced her heart. Obviously he hadn't moved his oversized bed in, either. Perhaps it was for the best. She gazed up at Mando, who stood eyeing her curiously. "Will you help me out of my clothes, and perhaps into a bath?"

"I can do that," Mando grinned. "What man in his right mind wouldn't?"

She cracked a small smile then allowed him to undress her. "Am I scarred?"

He shook his head, "Not visibly."

She nodded, understanding what he meant. "Stay with me tonight. Hold me. Help me through the nightmares."

"Shiloh..."

She sighed deeply then pushed herself up on her elbows before sitting upright. Her hand snaked out and caressed his cheek. "Please, I don't want to be alone." Her eyes pleaded with him, as shiny tears filled them.

Mando nodded. "Wouldn't you rather have someone else comfort you?"

The dam holding back the flood broke and tears poured down her rosy cheeks. "I have no one else," she confessed. "Not Vico, Essex, or Rhys...they're all out of reach, but you are here."

"Shiloh, it's not that I don't find you attractive because you are the single most beautiful woman I've ever met, but I can't. There is someone special in my life and if she found out I've been unfaithful, she would delight in making both of us suffer long painful deaths."

"Oh..." Shiloh sighed, "Who is she?"

Mando cracked a wide smile at her then lifted her from the bed. He carried her to the small room that served as both a kitchen and bathing area. He filled her tub with warm water then set her in it. Shiloh hissed as the heat engulfed her flesh. She flashed an exasperated look at him, "Who?!?!?!"

Mando grinned at her, "Jacia."

A startled look crossed Shiloh's face and her mouth gaped open. "Nuh-uh... no way!"

"Yes, Shiloh, why do you think Nathan would keep her and I at the Bear Pit? I thought you would have figured it out."

"She doesn't seem like your type or that you would be hers. If I would have guessed, I would've pegged Vico as her type. I would've thought that Cynn or Tarleth would be yours."

"Stranger than fiction it would seem," he quipped before he walked away.

It was the last time Shiloh saw Mando...

O.O

To be continued...