Voltaire walks back into the room and strolls to Bex body watching him. Reaching to take the eye contraptions out. As he does, he watches Bex “what a mess you found yourself in.” He says looking around. As his wounds knit back together and he found himself whole again Bex sucked in a sharp breath as he snapped back to consciousness. It took a second before he realized he could blink, and another second to register Voltaire in front of him.
“You said you needed a word with me?” He asked softly.
Voltaire nods “yes, i realized this is not the most inopportune time, but how would you like your soul back? I want the book back…I’ll sell you, your soul for it.” talking to bex as if the shifter is not in his living nightmare held against his will.
“My soul won’t do me much good if they kill me permanently or if Wagner’s boss gets his way about hive minding me. Ugh… I know, I know. Big picture.” He started to think for a moment that Stahs would be happy if he got his soul back, then he remembered Stahs shoving him at Wagner. Smiling as he was dragged away. “I don’t need freedom or my soul at this point… there’s nothing to go back to even if I did escape.” He murmured sullenly “Take the book and give me my soul if you want…” He didn’t know what good it would do him but he agreed anyway.
Voltaire tilts his head “wow who killed your spirit kid?” Pacing around the room. “You dont need your freedom or soul? What would Stahs think?”he asked.
“Who hasn’t at this point?” Bex gave as much of a shrug as he could from his bound position. His throat felt tight as fresh tears welled up at the question about Stahs. He hadn’t registered what Wagner had said to Azazel earlier, nor the lack of any kind of connection he should’ve felt when he was turned over by Stahs, too distressed by his current predicament. “Clearly he wouldn’t give a shit… he’s the one that returned me to this place.” He pinched his eyes shut, unable to stop himself from sobbing.
Voltaire stared at bex “god you look like puppy that got curb stomped after being abandoned.” He state “what he said no to the soul bond?” He ask trying to get gears moving.
“I feel like one…” He whimpered, feeling completely devastated. At the question he shook his head. “No.. he did accept.. I’m not sure I understand why if he was just going to turn me in.”
Voltaire pinched his nose “you know this for certain….the bond told you?” He ask.
Voltaire’s next question gave him pause. Forced him to stop wallowing in grief to introspect. He closed his eyes, trying to focus on the bond, the memories and emotions, finding nothing that lined up with his very recent experience. “It.. it wasn’t him.. oh my god. It wasn’t him.” He exhaled, giving a sob of relief.
Voltaire shook his head “whats the point of a bond if you are going to waste it.” He sighs. “Any rate your soul for the book yes?” He ask.
“Sorry, a little hard to think clearly when waking up in my literal worst nightmare.” He chuckled a bit hoarsely from his sobbing. “Yes. Soul. Book. Right. It’s a deal.” He agreed. He couldn’t let Wagner and the others know he knew it wasn’t really Stahs. He’d have to keep up the act and look for every opportunity to escape.
Voltaire nods “ok good. Then its a deal and you have your soul back” he told him. “Now you just have to survive this. You did it once.” He told him.
“Right. Well Stahs will be pleased about that if I make it out of here.” Bex gave a weak chuckle. “He was none too pleased about me selling it in the first place. But I’m grateful you gave me the chance to soul bond with him, thank you.” He added sincerely. He then nodded at his words. “Right. Just have to survive. If I can handle 864 years of this shit I can take a little more.” He said with conviction.
Voltaire looks at bex “yes but now you have Virus to go through….and Azazel Wagner boss.” He told him. “Play your cards right.”
Bex nodded, “I’ll do my best. Let’s just hope I can get through this and not fuck it up worse than I already have.” He knew he’d have to be extremely cautious if he wanted to make it out of this alive and with his mind intact.
Voltaire smirked ” I’d be more worried for Stahs then you.” He told him. Moving out of the room now.
“Gee thanks, way to stress a guy out.” Bex rolled his eyes as Voltaire headed out of the room. It occurred to Bex, as nice as it was to be able to close his eyes, it might not end well if they thought he’d taken them out himself. He’d have to hope they’d buy the excuse that someone took them out while he was regenerating. Deciding to rest while he could, Bex closed his eyes. He prayed Stahs would be okay. He wasn’t sure he could sleep, but he could at least rest his eyes. After a while he opened his eyes once more, looking around the room. He wasn’t sure if the waiting or the torture was worse.
Azazel walks into the room with a few interns.” Set everything up.” He ordered “must have it ready whem wagner returns with Virus..” he cackled. Looking at bex, he walk to him “24….such a waste on wagner. No matter I’ll take you to my lab.”
Hearing footsteps Bex did his best to make himself look reasonably defeated and broken. Even if he knew it wasn’t Stahs now, it was still easy enough to get emotional remembering his capture. As intens bustled about getting the room ready Bex looked to Azazel with a mix of fear and hate with fresh tears spilling down his face. He didn’t answer, uncertain what he would do if he snapped at him like he wanted to.
Azazel strokes bex cheek and chuckles then snaps finger “no no i want the chair next to 24. I saw how Virus looked at him. I want to see if just the mere sight will induce violence. Also prepare the combat room. Im curious who win a fight.” Bex wished he could recoil from his touch but the straps kept him in place as he stroked his cheek. Bex listened as he gave orders to the interns, watching as they rushed about to follow Azazel’s orders, dreading what was to come. Azazel would move about “what is taking wagner so long. ” he started typing in his tablet. “Seems he thinks he can test me….yes i think he needs to be back as my intern…hes proven he can’t handle his own lab.” Talking to himself as he tapped his foot waiting. Bex carefully listened to every word. He’d need to pay attention, to think, if he wanted to get out of this place alive.
Azazel pace some “get a third chair ready ” he told an intern. He looks to Bex “its so hard to find obedient interns…sometimes you have to remind them whose incharge.” Smirking as he give a chuckle. Bex arched a brow at Azazel’s orders to the intern and words to him.
“You plan to experiment on Wagner.” He said, a statement rather than a question.
Azazel laughed “I plan to punish him. He knows how things are done, we don’t drag our feet.” He told bex ” it seems letting him run his own lab has gotten to his head. I need to remind him…hes mine.”
“I see.” Bex said in a neutral tone. He needed to bide his time. Hopefully Azazel could prove a decent distraction for Wagner and his lovers. If they focused on each other he might be able to find a moment to slip loose.