Chapter 17 | What is Breakable
Ripper, now well awake after the sedation had worn off, fought against his restraints. He knew it was no use considering he'd been in this position many times before. There was always a thought in the back of his head that maybe this time things would be different. Maybe, just maybe, he could break the bindings chaining him down to the table. He could run from this place, run into the fresh of the night and keep going until he'd forgotten about them all.
The creaking of the door was a grim reminder that that was just a fever dream. His medications combine with struggling had caused him to sweat a great deal. Add in the fact that he hadn't bathed in over a week and he was a proper mess. His scarlet hair was matted down to his glistening face. Closing his eyes, he tried to ignore the sight of the warden's cruel glare.
"You continue to amaze me, Ripper." Jasper spoke as he walked around the table, "One moment your choking your problems, the next you're tuning them out. I'd call you bipolar but that's not what this is, is it? No, no," He clicked his tongue a few times, "You've got a mind consumed by denial. It's poisonous, you know. You commit crimes, then you have to tune the world out to deny you ever did them. That's not the way the world works, I'm afraid."
"What did he do this time?" Beau asked tiredly.
"Tried to choke out Ryan, going on about things he never did." Jasper hit his cane on the ground angrily, "I thought you'd sorted his memory out."
"I thought I had too, but that's the problem with spirits from the past. When they rise again, they bring with them a slew of disorientation for patients like this. Ripper, please, look at me." The doctor asked as politely as he could. Considering he had less hatred for Beau than Jasper, he complied and the doctor continued, "You are not remembering the past as it happened. There are things you remember of your family that aren't true. You'll be seeing more of them soon, so please keep this in mind and try not to kill anymore of them."
His eyes narrowed and muttered, "More?"
Beau nodded, "Yes, more. Your brothers, Felix and Cecil, and your parents are at the manor now. If you behave yourself in coming days, I'll allow them to see you. I have to be certain you won't hurt them again though."
"The best way to teach someone not to burn others is to show them what the flame feels like." Jasper stated.
He sighed, "Unfortunately, that seems to be the only method getting through to him for a long period of time. Try not to be too harsh on him. We'll need him soon."
The warden placed his hand gently on Ripper's face, turning his head towards him. "I can't make any promises. He's grown such a tolerance to the pain I'm afraid I'll have to strengthen my methods."
"He's weak as is. I have other patients to tend to, so I can't monitor you, but I truly hope you respect my wishes. He is my patient, after all."
"A patient you wouldn't have if I hadn't hired you." Jasper replied, "Don't worry. I don't have much time to discipline him anyways. I'd like to get a good night's rest soon."
Beau silently gritted his teeth. He couldn't argue with the man who'd given him a proper job, a place to stay, and ground to stand on. Now, his career had grown enough he could leave this place if he wanted to. Unfortunately, there was a heart buried his suit jacket. The other two doctors were not equip to handle his patients, nor did he want to leave them.
Vampires will always heal as so long as they're not near their expiration date. Yes, believe it or not, they're not immortal. Though they don't change on the outside, vampires do age on the inside. Most couldn't last any longer than a thousand years and that in itself was a feat. Typically a vampire lived to see six hundred. Some, like Deacon, were held in high honors for living longer than five hundred years.
The replenishing skin of a vamp wasn't good in the hands of a mad man. Jasper did, in truth, have his sanity but no one said he wasn't sadistic. Using a heated wipe, he struck Ripper's bare chest over and over. He went on about how the vampire had never learned and never will. Out of any patients, he'd ended up in this room the most. It wasn't his fault, or at least that's what he told himself as tears rimmed his eyes.
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Nerved by having to walk through the eerie halls of Rest Point, Angela was starting to shake. She could hear the whispers of the witch, the growls of lust and hisses of hunger from the demons. Not to mention the cries of a bloody haired vampire coming from one of the locked rooms. Accompanied by the issues of the night, she'd found herself rather unsteady by the time she reached her destination.
At the end of the ward laid a very sturdy door. It was meant to keep out the darkest of shadows and the most powerful means of light. Hesitantly, she raised the knocker, pounding it on the door three times. After their first sweep of the facility, Jasper changed their orders. No longer were Angela or Shae to find the missing patient. It was apparently more important to tend to the guests.
Shae opened the door to see the maid standing there with a silver platter carrying tea. He stepped aside to allow her in, asking, "Have they found him yet?"
Angela set the tea set down on the barrel acting as a table beside Emerson. The armory did indeed house their weapons, but it'd also been fashioned into a bedroom and living space for protecting valuable people. The fireplace was warming to his aching heart but he feared there'd be no real solution for his agony.
"No. I'm sorry. The others are still looking. Finch suggested I bring some tea, to help you sleep." She said.
Emerson raised the tea cup to his lips and took a small sip. As he placed it back on the saucer, he replied, "You may be in more need of it than me. Something is upsetting you greatly."
"It's nothing you should worry about, Sir. After all, the problems of a mere servant shouldn't concern a nobleman." She answered as if the words were programmed into her.
"I'm not in the mood for Jasper's games that he makes you play. I may be heartbroken but I'm not a child. Spit it out, already." His lack of patience only scared her more. Emerson wasn't known to ever be negative. Prior to tonight, many would've thought it was impossible for him to be so troubled.
"It's a combination of things, Sir. The noises the inmates in this ward make when I walk by their doors, that's what's gotten me shaken. The rest, though, you're aware of."
"I don't believe we're aware of who's missing." Remington asked. He'd remained even quieter than his brother, with less of an appetite. All he did was watch the steam of his tea without touching it.
"Yuki, he's one of the inmates. He's truly harmless but it's for that reason that I worry so much. I do apologize for avoiding the subject prior but my Lord requested it to be kept quiet." Shae explained.
He gripped the arm of his chair tightly, "I'd appreciate it if he stopped treating us like precious little china dolls that would break if one bad word was uttering in front of us."
"Please, do forgive him. He is only trying to keep your best interests in mind."
"No, no," Emerson laughed darkly, "You've served that man long enough to know the only interests he cares about protecting are his own. He is keeping us in the dark for a reason. I just haven't figured out what it is yet."
The two servants couldn't muster up the proper response. They too had felt they were being pushed away from the truth. Although, currently, it felt like even Jasper may be at a loss. Apperently the man would much rather spend his time torturing a broken soul than pursuing Sebastian and Maria's killer. Rather odd behavior, but who were they to question their leader?
Through the thick walls, they all became alarmed to hear a scream from somewhere in the house. Panic set in for Shae the most out of fear something had happened to the love of his life. He reminded himself to keep a level head. After all, his orders were to protect the elder elves at any cost. Not to go after stray yells in the house.
"Go see what that was, please." He instructed Angela.
She nodded to her superior, "Yes, Sir."
The familiar slipped out through the door quickly. Shae made sure to close and lock it behind him. He had to do his job first and foremost, even if that meant neglecting what he loved the most.
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Predictions as to who screamed? c:
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