After what could have been seconds or hours, I finally pull myself out of my dark reverie. I have to keep myself together. This whole town is against me, and soon the lawyer will be here to read Donaveux's will. But before he, and all of the rat's this town sired, arrive, there's something I need to do. 

I start to walk through my childhood home quickly and with purpose. Once I arrive in the library, I head towards the farthest back shelf and pull a book labeled Divine Demons; Honor is Above All. 

The bookshelf slides to the side to reveal a dimly lit passage. I smile slightly to myself thinking of the first time Donaveux shared this with me. The first of many family secrets he imparted upon me. I immediately darken at the thought. He still had so much to teach me. So much that he hadn't shared with me, claiming that I was "too young." 

Feeling more livid than before, I stormed through the dark halls until I came to a large, steel door. Smiling darkly, I type my code and wait while the door takes its sweet time unlocking. Meanwhile, I take the time to shove my anger and hatred into the back of my mind. Once the door unlocks, I saunter in.

Inside, the man who killed my cousins was chained to the wall, looking defiantly at me. Oh, how that would soon change, I smirk to myself.

I lean against the door frame and say, "Afternoon, doll. How are you enjoying your stay at Hotel Hell so far?"

He returns with a chuckle, "Hotel Hell, aye? What could dainty little flower like you know about hell? And I've been so comfy here, I may reconsider killing you once I get outta here!"

I grab his chin and force him to look me in the eyes.

"Oh, darling, we haven't even begun! I just wanted you to know that this is your hell and you will be begging for me to send you there long before I am done. Anything to say before we start, love?"

He smirked and was starting to say something that I already know was going to be arrogant and imbecilic, when I gave him an uppercut to the jaw, effectively shutting him up.

I leaned in and whisper in his ear, "That was for speaking out of turn. Don't make that mistake again."

Walking over to a cupboard stationed next to the cell door, I made sure he can see everything inside. Everything from whips to brands is present here, and I can almost feel the anxiousness rolling off of the man. However, it's not fear. Not yet at least. 

"So..." I half turn towards my prisoner and pour false cheerfulness into my voice, "since this is your first time, I'll let you choose what we start with! Taser, whip, or heat "therapy."" 

As I expected, he laughed. 

"You think this is the first time being tortured?! That's was one of the most important parts of my training!"

I patiently waited while he had his moment. "But you've never been tortured by me. I'm offended that you would even assume that I'm anything like your previous torturers!" I fake pouted before chuckling darkly.

"Tick tock, darling. Choose or I'll choose for you!"

"Give me the taser, sweet cheeks. You'll see how much I can take!"

Oh, he would regret saying that...

"If you say so!" 

I grab the "taser" I had mentioned and walk over to him. I had hoped that he would pick this sweet little devil. It's honestly the worst of the three. It looks like a normal taser that you would just touch someone with, but it has three nasty looking needles, or knives if I'm being honest, inside it that shoot out once contact is made. This way the electric pulse will go straight into the victim's blood stream. He won't know what hit him.

Without giving any warning, I stab the device into his leg. His smirk instantly disappeared as he screamed out.

He was in pure agony. Not pain, agony.

I remove my "taser" and asked in a sickly sweet voice, "What was that you were saying about training? I would have expected you to have a higher pain tolerance. This wasn't even at fifty percent power! I wonder what you'll sound like at a hundred..." 

And then I hit him again with my own personal electroshock therapy.

~ 2 hours later ~

Blood was puddled on the floor around the man's feet while he hung limp from his chains. 

I put away the knife I had been using while my barely conscious prisoner groaned in pain. This really had been exactly what I needed to let my anger out. Tomorrow I'd get answers now that he knows at least the surface of what I am capable of. 

I waltz over to him and grab his chin again. I chuckle darkly, "Happy birthday to me. I get a dead cousin and a torture toy."

I walk out, slamming the cell door behind me. As I walk back to the library, I whisper to myself,

"Happy birthday to me..."