Moments laterPrendergrass walked in.
‘Good you’reawake and I presume that Serenity has done a exceptional job andhealed you up nicely. If you’re in any pain I can get her backagain.’
‘I can’tbelieve you.’ she said bitterly.
‘I’ve beentortured half to death with countless things that creep and crawland bite all night and you act as if I’ve sprained an ankle orsomething similar.’
‘An excellentrecovery.’ replied the wizard.
‘You might liketo know that one of the guards tried to force himself on you lastnight against my instructions and your hidden tattoo killed him. Idon’t think they’ll try that again. Many women would be totalmental wrecks at this stage. I’d have to wipe their memories orthey’d go mad. You are obviously made of sterner stuff. I’mpleased. Do you think that you can survive another night?’
‘What? You mustbe joking?’ replied Miranda appalled at the thought.
‘No, I’m quiteserious.’ said Prendergrass.
‘You are adruidess. We know from past experience that your type is tough andresistant to creepy crawlies. You probably consider them yourmindless little friends and don’t blame them for last night’sdiscomfort. You showed that you have no phobias about them at all.Unfortunately, you have not convinced the guards that you are aboutto crack.’
‘You must lastanother night, pretend to go mad and you’re safe. If you like I canblock out the memory of last night but you will still have all therest of your memory. Tonight I can give you a drug that willconfuse your senses and dull the pain if you wish.’
‘How about youunblock my shape change ability release me and let me make a runfor it instead.’
‘No, I cannotdo that. You might try to hurt Lord Darkmantle and I cannotknowingly allow that. I am doing more for you than I have ever donefor anyone else. Please trust me.’
The word‘knowingly’ stood out in the conversation to Miranda. He could notknowingly allow her to do something that might harm the Lord.
‘LordDarkmantle must have some type of magic control on him.’ shethought.
‘He can’t tellme because he swore not to tell anyone but he has given me a clueto his predicament. He might be telling me the truth.’
‘Okay. Ibelieve that you want to help.’ said Miranda.
‘Get me someswamp safronium leaves, it will dull the pain but keep my sensesalert, and some milky sogwort, it’ll protect my insides. I don’twant you to erase any memory of these deeds. I want to rememberevery face that I see torturing me to ensure that I kill every lastone of the bastards.’
‘Now, now. Talkof vengeance is a poor idea. That only will convince the guardsthat you haven’t cracked under their torment. You must act likeyou’re going mad, then you might have convinced them.
Four Newmanguards called in to collect her and dragged her back to the tortureroom. She was again force fed with the horrible swill andrestrained on the stone bench in front of the leering statue. Shedizzily looked at the pink recently healed areas on her naked bodyin the mirror above her head and wondered what torments the madwhisperer had in mind this time.
She didn’t havelong to wait. The mist cloud flowed out of the mouth of the leeringstatue and floated over to her head and began whispering how muchit had enjoyed the previous night and was fully looking forward tothis session.
‘You willnotice a small difference in the platform you are on tonight.’ Andit began laughing hysterically.
‘I have had theplatform covered in black rock that will block the magic of yourtattoo. You can no longer call on your goddess. This time you areall mine. Scream as much as you like. It’s music to my ears.Hehehaha.’
Mirandastrained against the restraints and vowed to kill every one of theguards slowly and painfully when she got the chance.
The mist turnedinto a Newman male head with small fluttering wings where its earsshould have been. It flew around her with the deranged look in itseyes and the horrible leer.
‘Now what wouldyou enjoy first. Perhaps we should kiss and be lovers.’ Itwhispered and it flew down onto her face pressing its lips againsthers and then slithered its slimy tongue into her mouth and downher throat. She gagged and tried to bite it but it was tough asbark. It moved it up and down and around in a disgusting way in hermouth giving off a revolting taste as she struggled to cough itout.
Finally it flewbackwards, hovering only two hand spans from her face dangling itstongue, which looked black and scaly like a snake but covered insores. She was instantly sick and vomited all over her neck andchest.
‘Ah. Youmustn’t do that.’ It whispered.
‘We will needto feed you some more of our lovely food. But before that maybe wecan have some fun elsewhere.’ and it slowly flew backwards awayfrom her face making licking movements with its revolting tongueand watching the fear on her face.
Mirandascreamed for the Lady to protect her but this time nothinghappened. It fluttered down landing just below her navel and pokedthe revolting tongue into her navel and wriggled it.
‘Does thisdelight you my princesssss.’
She writhed andscreamed and hurled obscenities at it. It flew back to her face andwhispered.
‘Do wantanother kiss my love. No. Maybe something even better. Somethingdeep and soft and delicious.’ Then moved its tongue in and out itsmouth with a slurping sound and while rolling its eyes and startedflying backwards towards her navel again.
She closed herteary eyes, concentrated all her will and imagined a bear in hermind and shouted to it.
‘I need you mylove. I need you right now. Tain my love! Please hear me! I needyou now. Come to me! Save me!’
Through hereyelids she saw a green glow. She opened her eyes and saw a glowinggreen passion flower floating over her that transformed into a ballof clay the size of an orange like the one Aquitain had. It hoveredabove her chest as if waiting for a command.
She imagined itwas a dagger with green flame enveloping the blade and she sent itplunging into the floating head between its tormented eyes. Thehead split into two halves and they reformed as two flying heads.Both heads gloated at her and laughed and poked out horribletongues. She
