Bilgewater Baptism

Caedes watched with a dispassionate gaze as Delaeni's frail form convulsed and gasped for air, the raw desperation in her every breath – not quite music to his ears but he could scarcely deny the satisfaction the noises gave to him. The sight of her weak, shivering body evoked nothing within him but a cold, simmering irritation. Pleasure wasn’t exactly his thing, when it came to matters like this. Necessity, sure. But this had not been out of necessity. It had been an impulse. Powerful, fleeting, lingering. He could see the flicker of hope in her eyes as she sought something from him, some semblance of mercy or understanding, but he offered none. What was mercy to her? Not being killed, while she suffers far worse just to continue on breathing?

“What does it feel like, Delaeni?” Caedes said, his voice a low, menacing rumble that barely concealed his annoyance. “To have your every breath be by the grace of someone else?” He bent down, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized her pitiful form curled at his feet. Cowardly sow. He could see the tremors wracking her body, the raw fear etched into her features, and for a brief moment, he wondered what it would take to break her spirit completely. Her vulnerability might have evoked pity in another, but in Caedes, it only fed his contempt. Poor, unfortunate girl, but where were her scars? The long, ragged, ugly stories of her weakness? The thought made his ears flatten, lips upturning as he bared his teeth in anger.

“Delaeni,” He sneered, a cruel smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Behind him, his tail lashed harshly as he battled with the urge to touch her meek form. To do what? He was struggling to come up with an answer. Frustration wracked his entire frame, musculature trembling beneath ruined hide. And for all her miserable life, she did not look as tattered as he. “If you think showing me your weakness will earn you leniency, you're mistaken. It only proves how undeserving you are of it.” He reached down, roughly grabbing her chin and forcing her to look up at him, her face mere inches from his. Emeralds blazing, searching her gaze for something more. Something he so badly wanted to see.