Chapter Six
Just before dawn Bane and Bastain entered the playroom. Everyone else was asked to stay away from there and wait until they finally had what they needed.
When the door shut, Sheba looked at James. “Tell me you got eyes and ears in that room.”
James nodded then asked, “Do you really want to listen to them torture him? It might get very graphic.”
“If it gets too bad, we can always shut it off, right?” Ari suggested.
James just shook his head and engaged the sound system. Sheba reached over and adjusted the sound. One of the PCs had the playroom on its screen though, so they could now hear and see it.
On the screen, Dominic shook his head and stared at both men. “Who are you?” he asked while looking back and forth at them.
Bastian raised his pointer finger and pressed it to his lips. “I’m someone who listens to confessions. I’m not religious, I’m just curious.”
Bane looked over at Bastian. “Clever wording.”
Bastian smiled and his face looked serene whenever he did that. He did not have a harsh expression, like his compatriot did. Now, he motioned his head to his compatriot. “You see, the man next to me doesn’t do that. He gets confessions by force.”
Dominic scoffed. “What confession?”
“The one where you tell me why you came to Yuri Anatoly’s hotel.”
Dominic scoffed. “I don’t have to tell you shit.”
“Now is that any way to talk to your priest?” Bastain asked softly.
Now Dominic stilled as he slowly raised his gaze to stare at Bastian.
Bastian clasped a silver chain around his neck between his graceful fingers and lifted his silver cross out from under his dress shirt.
Dominic stared at it then looked up at Bastian’s face. “You cannot be him.”
Bastian let out a breath as his expression remained blank. “Do not worry. Before we are through, I will show you my ID.”
Bane laughed. “He will do exactly that but it might make your eyes bleed.”
Dominic flicked his gaze over at Bane. “And if he’s the Priest then you are?”
Bane laughed. “The devil maybe?”
Dominic looked back and forth at the men. Only now he seemed hesitant and a little afraid. “What do you want?”
“We told you,” Bastian replied. “First question is what were your dealings with LaDonna Rinc?”
“Why do you care?” Dominic spat.
Bane stepped closer. “We ask the questions, asshole.”
Dominic shrugged. “Just deals. She deals with a lot of things.”
Bastain and Bane stared at him.
“What?” Dominic asked. “I answered the question. So can I go now?”
Bane tilted his head back and laughed.
Dominic looked angry now. “What is so damned funny?”
“Man, you are,” Bane replied then went over to a cabinet along the wall. “Your visit is gonna be a while. I mean what kind of hosts would we be if we just kicked you out now?”
“You specifically asked for her. You were there at the hotel to retrieve LaDonna Rinc,” Bastian stated.
“So?” Dominic retorted.
“Do you make deals for LaDonna or with her?” Bastian asked as he reached into his pocket and grabbed a pair of plastic gloves.
“I’m not answering anymore questions, assholes,” he snapped.
Bane stepped closer and smiled. “I was hoping you would say that. And I thank you ahead of time for the fun we are about to have. Truly, you did not let me down, Dominic.” He handed Bastian an odd-looking tool. It looked sort of like snub-nosed scissors but thicker and sharper.
Dominic stared at them both.
“Did ya notice that you are missing your shoes and socks?” Bane asked Dominic.
The man’s confused gaze flicked to the tool then down at his feet. He was tied down on a chair and he couldn’t move at all. He seemed to finally understand what they proposed to do. “You are both insane!”
Bastian stepped closer as did Bane.
“Um, yeah we are,” Bane replied. “Because only the insane could do what we are about to do, I suppose.” He stepped behind the chair to hold it down. “See, we had to figure out what extra appendage or body part you did not need.”
Bastian snapped a surgical glove on each hand then moved in and knelt in front of the chair.
“W-what?” Dominic asked.
“It looks like he is in prayer, doesn’t it?” Bane asked aloud. “And did I forget to mention that the Priest doubles as a nail artist?” He shrugged. “Well, in any case...he is quite talented at it.”
The screaming started as blood ran across the floor in rivulets.
It cost Dominic one toenail per question unanswered. Sort of Truth or Toenail rather than dare.
Bane then said in between the sobs released by Dominic after he lost four toenails, “Did I say your eyes would bleed? I suppose I misspoke...Pardon the error.”
Dominic then told them everything as he wept. Even things they never asked about. His flippant attitude was gone and he had been reduced to a blubbering, weeping child.
Some of the VIM group waited in the living room for the two men to come out. No one said a word as they waited.
Finally, the door opened. Bane and Bastian stepped into the room.
Bane looked around and saw their faces.
Orin wasn’t even present. Cane had earbuds on as he tapped on his laptop and did not look up.
Ari and Sheba looked a bit pale as they avoided Bane and Bastian’s gaze.
Bane looked over at James and sighed. “How long did you let them listen?”
“Too long,” James muttered. “I tried to warn them. I really did.”
“Come on, we need to speak to Sergi,” Bastian muttered. “We have more information to give him. Information he’ll have to verify before he presents it to his Council.”
Bane, Bastian and James went to the hotel.
Ari, Cane and Sheeba went on a hunting trip.
Orrin got busy building a bomb weapon of sorts.