He instructed the guards outside to chain me up before he left. I resisted and gave one a black eye, but in the end, they were both much larger than me and I was no match for them. I was force to my knees and held in place by chains on either wrist, attached to the walls. I yanked on them experimentally, but they were strong. Too strong for me.

I sighed and sat back on my heels as best I could to relieve the bruising on my knees. My eyes shifted to one of the guards. "You know, I could sit in a chair." I said.

He ignored me and I sighed. Then the door opened again and I looked up to see Lunas entering the room once again. My stomach dropped when I saw who he was dragging along beside him. I jerked on the chains. "Vlad-"

"So, Jasper. We're all gathered here, just like you wanted." Lunas said. "I've done my part, now it's your turn."

Vlad's eyes were sunk in, indicating he hadn't eaten in a while, but something was wrong. He wouldn't meet my eyes. I tried to see his face more clearly, but he was turned away. Lunas stood between us, smiling down at me. "Last chance to redeem yourself." He told me.

I looked up at him pressing my lips closed in a firm line. He sighed and turned back to Vlad. "I guess it's up to you now."

When Vlad didn't respond, he waved to the guards. I didn't understand until my back erupted with pain. I shouted as a whip sliced through ny shirt and into the skin my back.

"No!" Vlad rushed towards me, but Lunas grabbed his arms and held him still. "Let go!"

"Are you going to tell me what I need to know?" Lunas asked.

I screamed again as the whip landed for the second time, twisting in my restraints. Vlad tried to get at me again, but to no avail. "Please! Don't hurt him!"

The whip came down several more times, boots also colliding with my stomach, and by the end of it I was too numb to feel the blood soaking my shirt and dribbling down my chin. Lunas whispered in Vlad's ear. "How about now?" He asked.

I coughed and spit blood on the floor, looking up at Lunas. "He... can't tell you what he doesn't... know." I ground every silable with my hate.

Lunas looked at me. "I take it that means you know."

I dropped my eyes, taking a shaky breath. "And if I say I do?"

Lunas let go of Vlad and he rushed towards me, dropping to his knees. He cupped my face in his hands and scanned my eyes. "Are you okay? Oh, my God, you're bleeding really bad."

I leaned into his shoulder gratefully as I nodded. "This is nothing. I-" I hissed in pain. "I've had worse." Vlad didn't look reassured.

"Very heartwarming." Lunas cut in. "But I need my answers."

Vlad stood up and turned a glare on him. "He's had enough-"

Lunas walked straight up to Vlad, causing him to falter in his words. He grabbed Vlad's chin and yanked his face close. "I suggest you watch your time with me. I can kill him any time I like."

Vlad held his ground, but remained silent. Lunas nodded in muted appreciation at he obedience, and let go of his face. Then he took a deep, calming breath. "It seems you two are close. Friends... Hmph. Maybe. But it seems more like..."

As he tilted his head at Vlad, my teeth clenched. "What are you-"

"You're together." Lunas said. As my breath shallowed, Vlad's hand on my shoulder tensed and he swallowed. Lunas knew he'd hit the nail on the head. He ran a finger down Vlad's cheek. "Oh, my. My, my, my. Isn't this special."

Vlad gasped as Lunas grabbed him by the neck and backed him into the wall. Vlad was too weak to fight back. I knew that as well as Lunas did. He glanced back at my warning gaze with a smirk. "This won't hurt him. I promise." Then he turned his attention back to Vlad. Vlad looked away as Lunas pressed his face into Vlad's neck.

"Don't you dare." I tried to stand up, but the guards shoved me back down, holding me in place.

Lunas snickered as Vlad's hands scratched at his wrist. "Remember, Vladimir, this can all stop. Your fate lies at the hands of your boyfriend." He whispered.

Vlad looked past Lunas to me and he shook his head. "Don't..." He mouthed.

He didn't want me to tell, but I couldn't let this happen to him. "No... Vlad..."

He bit his lip and I saw his legs tremble beneath him. Then his eyes flew wide and he suddenly shouted, jerking back. Lunas pulled his hips forward, glancing at me as he kissed over the bite he'd just made.

"Stop it!" Again, I tried to stand and was pushed down. 

Vlad whimpered as Lunas pressed his knee between his legs. "You're pretty cute, you know. I'm not surprised he fell for you." Lunas told him. "I'd be more than happy to keep you company. Maybe when I get what I want, we can share a room. Or a bed."

His hand slipped down Vlad's pants and he kissed him. I yanked on the chains, but the guards held my shoulders. "Stop it! Don't touch him!" 

Lunas pulled Vlad around so that he was holding him from behind, putting Vlad on display. My anger flared as Lunas' free hand slowly unbuttoned Vlad's jeans. "Isn't he pretty, Jasper?" He cooed. "He's perfect."

Vlad's eyes closed and he turned his face away in disgust. I could only watch helplessly as his fingers worked step by step, and still, Vlad shook his head. Everytime I opened my mouth, his eyes begged me not to. Finally, I dropped my head forward in defeat, refusing to watch any longer.

When Lunas saw this, his hand stopped. He sighed heavily. "Loyal to the end, I suppose." He said. "I can respect that, though it does put a damper on things a bit."

He released Vlad who sank to the floor, exhausted. "I was hoping I could persuade you before it came to this, but I see that won't be the case." He said. "I will give you one hour. If I don't have my answer by then, you're useless to me."

He nelt down and lifted Vlad's chin so he could see his face properly. "I suggest you get him talking before that, or you'll never see each other again." He said. He made Vlad look at me. "Think about it."

Then he got to his feet and left. The guards unchained me and I braced my hands against the floor to keep from collapsing. Once they too were gone, the room became eerily silent. When I got the courage to raise my eyes, I saw Vlad. He was shaking, arms wrapped around himself as a the only form of shield he could manage.

So broken, so ashamed, though it should've been me who was ashamed for letting him endure that. Before I realized it, I crawled over to him, pulling him into my chest protectively. "I am... so sorry. I am so so sorry." I whispered.

He leaned into me, hugging me tighter. For a while neither of us said anything. We just sat in silence. I combed his tangled hair gently and when Vlad's trembling finally began to lessen, I asked, "Have they hurt you?"

"No..." He said softly. "They haven't."

After a few more seconds of silence, I asked, "Are you okay?"

He shifted his eyes away, but not before I saw the glassy look reflected in them. "I'm fine..." He said calmly. Then, before I could press him, "I'm fine, but... I... I can still feel his hands on me."

I rested my chin on the top of his head. "I'm sorry. I wanted to stop it-"

"No." He cut me off. "I'm glad you didn't. What they want that information for... It's dangerous." He looked up at me, desperate. "You can't tell them. Jasper, please. Whatever happens... If you know, don't tell them."

"Hey, hey. It's okay." I calmed his frantic babbling by holding his face in my hands. He looked really freaked out and it made my heart ache. "It's gonna be okay."

He shook his head, but remained silent. I frowned. "Vlad?"

"I'm sorry." He blurted. "I-" He pushed me away. "This is all my fault."

"What are you talking about?" I asked. He wouldn't look at me. I grabbed his shoulders and turned him towards me. "Listen to me. None of this is your fault. Okay? None of this."

He shook his head again. "I told them who you were. They, they threatened my family and I just-... I couldn't think."

"Vlad," I said, looking him in the eye. "They were already looking for me, I would've been found eventually." I smiled at him. "You're family is much more important."

For a moment he didn't look convinced, but then he dropped his eyes and nodded. I lifted his chin. "I'll get us out of this. I swear."

He looked broken as he murmured, "I don't see how..."

His eyes were dull and defeated as he stared at me, waiting. I pursed my lips. "Come here." I said, and pulled him into a hug.

He was wrong. This wasn't his fault, but he was definitely paying the price for it. As I rubbed his back, I vowed to keep him safe. No matter what.

*******

Hey everyone! Sorry this is so late. You wouldn't believe the trouble I had writing this. I was really stuck for a while. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! AS ALWAYS, VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, AND STAY AWESOME!

-Nekoco