I found myself in a sad ruin; the bright red glow of fire offered my only company. I gripped a gemstone around my neck furiously until blood dripped from my hand. What cruel creature was I? How have I suffered such eternal damnation? I was bound to it, and it to me. That stone I held, ravanously drinking my mortal blood. It burned like holding hot coal, but I could not force myself to release it. I was bound to it again. Like a babe to it's mother. A lover to his betrothed. It called me by name. Only it knew my true name. And only I knew its name.

***

Thunder sounded and the air grew cool. Invictus rested a bit before picking up a needle and jabbing it through his own flesh. He pulled the string tight, fastening the black leather to his skin. So much blood, he idley thought.
He winced, feeling the pain, his cheeks burning, his eyes watering. Such a mortal curse he felt, and yet it was something to rejoice in.
He felt something. His heart pound, his muscles clench. It was something.
His curse and gift.
He leaned back against the wall when he had finished, closing his eyes. He let the rain fall and wash the trace of red away.
He was tired...
But soon the stone would call it's quota again.

Gene slipped slowly out of her window, taking painstaking measures to not be heard. The young woman had gotten used to sneaking out, her nurse usually falling asleep quickly. Then she was free to go and see Daniel for a few hours and still get home with time to sleep plenty.
She smiled as she dropped from the last possible hand hold and landed gracefully on the ground. But she quickly stumbled back, seeing the strange man sitting in the rain. Gene pushed her hood back just a little to get a good look at him. A lot of what was dripping off him was much darker than the rain should have been. He was hurt.
"Sir..." Gene murmured quietly. "Sir are you alright?"

Invictus's eyes shot open, glowing pure white. He slowly looked up at the girl and gripped the wall, standing up. Blood dripped from his sewn skin. A few stiches pulled. He rested a hand on his sword hunched over, some bone skulls swayed to the motion and clanked together.

He was faster then the lightning that crackled in the sky. A firm hand gripped her shoulder and pulled her off.
He didn't deserve her pity. He hated her for the concern.
There really wasn't anything she could do as he dragged her through the heavy wooden double doors into an old fort.
It was damp and the sound of wind whisped through. His boots scuffed against hard stone.
He tossed her on the stone slab and strapped her on with force.

Gene screamed the instant he grabbed her, and tried to get out of his grasp. "Let me go!" she shouted. "Stop!" When he started strapping her down, tears streamed down her cheeks. "What are you doing?" She sobbed, trying to struggle, but without any success. "Stop. Please... stop."

Invictus leaned over her, his white hair flowing past his shoulders and he studied her. "Mortal mortal. What would you do to keep your life? What would you do to avoid the knife? Sleep is the gift that awaits, it baits the breath of butchery and bile." He spat. "Whine they always beg. Swine they always peg thier sorrows on I! I who save them I who bore them! The father of all, the son of all!"
He pushed off the slab. "Beg for your life all you wish. I'll give you a life you would never wish. So beg."

Gene sobbed, watching him, confused and terrified out of her mind. "Wait... please!" she cried. "Please. Wh... why are you... doing this?"

Invictus walked away a bit. "You think I do this? You think it is me?" He turned back and approached her. "Please....please don't blame me." He pushed himself off the slab again and grabbed a knife. "BEG MORTAL!"

Gene's eyes went wide, unable to look away from the knife. But for all his shouting, all that escaped her was a few sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks in torrents. She wanted to scream, to make him stop, but she was too scared to utter another word.

"No?" Invictus tilted his head. "Are you braver then you look or simply a speechless coward?!" He raised his knife above her stomach. "Beg your values. Beg like the weak mortals. Trade everything. Give me everything in exchange for your life."

Gene swallowed, shaking. "I... I don't... have an...anything," she whispered, still sobbing. She glanced at him with tear blurred eyes.

"Nothing?" Invictus whispered, turning his head quickly and down. He put the knife beside her on the table. "Many offer their body and soul. Like they claim to own such a thing." He hovered over her and smiled slightly. "Not you."
He backed away and turned, leaving the room, closing the doors behind him and locking them.
Leaving her there...

Gene watched him leave, and sniffed again. She pulled against the straps that held her there, whimpering, but finally gave up. She shivered, only in a night gown under her cloak, and wet from the rain. She just lay there, crying, too afraid to fall asleep or call out for help.

Invictus sat in a chair, staring into the ornate fire place. He fiddled with the stone. "Always something different....Can I keep her?"
He nodded slowly.
"Always something different...I've waited for her. So long I have waited..."
He closed his eyes and sunk down.

***

The fires has burn out in the prison room, and Invictus opened the door early the next morning letting some light in. He stepped in slowly, see the girl still on the table. He tugged at her ankle restaints and they fell loose, and he did the same for her wrists. He eyed the knife he had left beside her on the table, before glancing back to her in silence.

Gene looked up at him, still awake. Her breathing had quickened the instant he'd entered the room, but she stayed quiet, still terrified and half frozen. She was shaking, her eyes still watery, and she didn't dare move, even though he'd loosened her bonds.

Invictus raised his eyebrows and picked up the knife. She had made no move for it.
"You're afraid." he said softly. "Too afraid to use the knife?" He shook his head. "Why?"