The Hanged Man
A Torture Chamber in Aprodisia, Day Unknown A.F

"I don't know, Cyp..." Circe fretted, pacing frantically across the white marble floors of her room. "It's so much to do... There's not enough time."

I watched her, reclining comfortably on her bed. I sunk into the thick mattress as if it were the ocean. Circe's plush quilt rippled like waves each time I shifted. "You'll be okay," I repeated for what must have been the fortieth time within the last twenty minutes.

"How can you keep saying that?" she demanded. Her pacing ceased as she fixed me with her piercing turquoise gaze. Although Circe's eyes were the same color as any true Atlantian, sometimes I could swear the shade shifted with her moods. The colors churned when she was nervous, grew stormy when she was angered, and sparkled when she was pleased. It was as if the very surface of the sea was captured in her irises.

            ~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~

My head swirled violently. All I was aware of was a loud hacking, and a blinding whiteness. As icy water passed my numb lips, my vision cleared. Groaning, my cheek met the hard rim of a large tub. I panted as water dripped down my nose, trickling from my hair. Blinking deliriously, I struggled to regain my jagged breaths.   

"That's it," Myra giggled from behind me. "Catch your breath before you go back in the tub."

"What do you want from me?" I growled, voice hoarse. I glared up at the twins murderously.

Melville smiled. "Exactly this. For you to fear, and suffer, and fight, and finally, break."

"Back in you go!" Myra squealed gleefully as she pushed sharply on the back of my head, forcing my face towards the water.

I strained against her, thrusting my neck backwards. I bucked furiously, but my arms were bound behind my back with the rope from the hilt of my sword. After Shehm, my scraggly-bearded false brother, had confiscated the blade, I'd snatched the bit of cord in hopes of using it as a weapon. I didn't want to be marched towards the unknown completely empty handed. Now the twins I had hoped to use the rope against were using it against me, binding me in place while they shoved my head below water.

Freezing water stung my eyes as I thrashed below the surface. I clenched my jaw, trying to keep a hold of any oxygen I had. I heard only the water rushing around my ears. Moments passed like eternities. My chest burned and my vision swirled. My lips quivered, then parted, water rushing down my throat like the darkness pouring into my eyes.

            ~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~

"How can you keep saying everything will be okay? The coronation is in one month!" Circe exclaimed, resuming her pacing. "I have to visit Mister Tabolmon about the feast afterwards. Lyolla offered to do it, but with so much food being requested, I wanted to do it in person. Plus, Lyolla is so busy preparing my gown, I couldn't ask anything else of her. I want to apologize to the guards forced to patrol during the festivities. I need to approve the decorations with Madame Angelique, and Captain Lucille wants me to meet with her to check the progress of the stained glass window. I need to insure that preparations are made so that all shopkeepers and laborers can have that day off, and I want to verify the capacity of the Main Hall again. I know I already checked last week, but I got more confirmations and I don't want the people over crowded. Oh, and I haven't even started planning my speech!" 

I chuckled lightly, reaching over Circe's favorite pillow. It was a pink and orange cushion in the shape of a starfish. It was the only object on her bed that wasn't a shade of blue. A different jewel in a sea of similarity. A pearl hidden in an oyster's shell. "Come here, Pearl." I leaned over the edge of the bed, wrapping my arms around her waist.

"Cyp!" Circe squealed in protest, legs flailing out from under her as I yanked her onto the bed. "I need to work."

"Yeah, but you weren't working. You were panicking," I stated, letting my arm linger on her waist a few moments before letting her go, only when I was confident she'd remain sitting. "If you're not going to be working, you might as well be relaxing with me."

"Easy for you to say," Circe grumbled. She crossed her arms and wrinkled her nose, but leaned lightly against my shoulder.

             ~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~

I was hacking again. Water burst out of my mouth, mercifully being replaced by delicious air. I gulped it down greedily, desperate for every breath.

"You're going to damn well kill me if you keep this up." I coughed weakly, eyes sliding shut with exhaustion. I'd lost count of how many times the twins had forced my head below water, depriving me of oxygen until my lungs nearly burst. "Then you won't have anyone to torture."

"Don't worry." Myra ran her fingers across my neck. Her touch had previously been freezing, but after being dunked in that icy tub so many times, her hand was warm. "We won't kill you, dear. Not until you stop being so fun to play with."

"But if we did," Melville added, "We'd just go get your pretty little Empress. We've already finished with Fauna, and we're working on The Magician now."

Before my waterlogged mind could fully digest their words, the Nōachs forced my face back into the water. I didn't struggle any longer. I didn't have the strength. I didn't want to die. I didn't think anything they could do to me would ever make me wish for death, but if I did... at least I'd reunite with Circe. As my vision faded, her musical voice trickled into my ears.

       ~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~

"How can I sit here with you when there's so much to be done?" Circe asked.

"Well, we know you'd just love to get back to sitting here with me." I chuckled, leaning back on the bed until I sunk into the sea of pillows and blankets. I patted the space on the mattress beside me, but Circe remained seated straight. I was lucky she'd agreed to sit with me at all.

"Will you get to your point already, Cyp?" she huffed, fidgeting with her overflowing frantic energy. "I'm supposed to meet with Captain Lucille about the stained glass in about five minutes."

"I cancelled that," I replied. At Circe's widened eyes I smirked. "My point is that you need a break."

"Even if I had a chance for a break, now you wrecked it!" she exclaimed, jumping up sharply. "I have to reschedule that and apologize to Lucille for your poor judgement. You can't just cancel a meeting because you want me to sit down."  

"I canceled it, because I already dealt with it this morning." Laughing at Circe's dumbfounded expression, I sat up just long enough to drag her down with me. "Honestly, do you have that little faith in me?"

"You could have still checked with me," she grumbled, her dark curls spread out across her starfish pillow.

"What?" I grinned at her. "Am I not allowed to do anything without her majesty's permission?"

Circe wrinkled her nose. "You know it's not like that. I just don't want to let anyone down."

"I know, Pearl." I nodded. Circe wanted nothing but to do right by the city. "But I also know that everyone knows you can do this. Including your parents. But that doesn't mean anyone expects you to do it alone. Everyone is here for you. I'm here for you."

"Cyp..." she mumbled, looking at me seriously. "If I tell you something, do you promise not to judge me? I might be crazy, but if you think I am, don't just walk out on me, okay?"

"I promise." My mind roamed to the pearl ring I had purchased earlier that day, buried in the bottom of my drawers. I'd never quite expected to give it to her. I had no reason to believe Circe returned my feelings, but when I visited Lucille and spotted the beautiful ring she had crafted, I couldn't resist. It was wishful thinking, but I couldn't help but wonder if Circe might have some feelings for me.

"This sounds crazy... I know it does." Although my gaze was riveted on her face, Circe's eyes were fixed on the ceiling. "But... I sort of... it's been like this for awhile now, ever since my parents died... but they're getting stronger."

"What are, Pearl?" Could it be? I'd told myself that I'd only risk our friendship if I had some proof Circe felt the same as I did. If she was trying to tell me... I'd show her that ring as soon as I could find the right moment.

"I've just been... I keep hearing..." Circe closed her eyes slowly. "Nevermind. This isn't a good idea."

I sighed. Not a good idea. Of course. Circe was married to her kingdom. Still, even if Circe thought it might not have been a good idea, that didn't mean she was completely without feelings. What else could she have been trying to tell me?

       ~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~

"Well, this is certainly growing dull. Wouldn't you agree, dearest?" Melville asked as I panted helplessly, limp before them.

"I certainly do, Mel." Myra nodded, nudging my side with her foot. I glared at her murderously, but I was far too weak to move. "Honestly, he's only blacked out twentyfour times, and we only held him under thirtysix times. He's already done struggling? I would have expected more from the Hanged Man?"

"But how could you, really?" Melville snorted. "Our Lord Uncanny hasn't shown any glimmer of power. Are we sure he even is the Hanged Man?"

"You saw his Tableau just as clearly as I did," Myra stated. "He's either too ignorante, or too cowardly."

"Whatever the reason-" Melville produced a small, silver razor blade from his pocket. I grit my teeth to keep from yelling as he dragged it across my forearm, leaving a thin trail of red in its wake- "I shouldn't have been able to even break his skin."

"What in hell are you freaks blabbering about?" I demanded, enfusing all the rage I could muster into my voice.

The Nōachs only laughed. Myra rested her chin on her brother's shoulder. "Can I tell him, love? It's so fun to see their eyes when they realize they might have been able to escape."

Melville pursed his lips in consideration. "I don't see why not. His abilities can't work on us anyway, not with The First at a safe distance. And we still have means of killing him."

"Oh, goodie!" she stood on her tiptoes, kissing Melville's cheek before turning to me. "You see, Hanged Man, you can create a dome around you and other Arcana. From within this dome, your skin can't be penetrated by anything at all. Even The Empress's claws, one of the sharpests weapons on this earth, would graze your flesh harmlessly."

"And should an Arcana wander into your dome," Melville added, "your aura will flip their Card, bringing on their reverse persona. They will strengthen you, and you can bend them to your will. Even outside your dome, you can still feed off them, in a way, syphoning some of their strength into yourself."

Ayesha had told me that The Fool called me Cyphon. Had he known what I could do this entire time? Damn you, Matto. You could have mentioned that! "And why tell me this when I can just syphon your strength? You're Arcana, aren't you? I can just syphon you."

"Syphon us," Myra giggled. "Does that sound grammatically correct to you, Mel?"

"So much for the esteemed Atlantis schools." Melville chuckled, shrugging lightly. "The Lovers are Arcana, but you can't take our strength, nor can you control us."

"Why not?" I asked. If there was a chance they'd return me to that cell before they killed me, I wanted any information I could get. Even if I might not live long enough to use it, perhaps Ayesha and the others could.

"Because to control us you'd need to be close enough to get us under your dome," Melville answered. 

Myra leaned casually against her brother. "As for syphoning our strength, it wouldn't work on us, but we'll let you figure out that bit on your own. Under you go."

They shoved me sharply into the freezing water. After the moments of rest, I'd regained some of my strength. That was part of the reason I'd tried to keep the Nōachs talking for so long. While they bickered and teased, I remained out of the tub, savouring every breath I was allowed.

I jerked back and forth furiously, attempting to fling myself backwards. Both twins pushed against me, until once again my mind went black.

       ~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~

"How did the meeting go?" Circe inquired, undoubtably attempting to change the subject from whatever it was she'd wanted to tell me.

"It went great," I answered. "Lucy's stained glass is looking fantastic. I'm glad I went for you. She wants to unveil her masterpiece after the coronation, and I think it should be a surprise. Only Lucy and I have seen it. Hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of approving it for you."

"Anything Captain Lucille makes is gorgeous." Circe shrugged lightly, shifting her waterfall of hair. "It's undoubtedly fantastic."

"It is," I agreed. "I've never served someone with such skill in the arts or in combat. Lucy can beat anyone with a knife, or with a paint brush."

Circe nodded slowly, pursing her lips. "I always thought the two of you would make an excellent couple."

I frowned deeply. While Lucille was beautiful, an excellent warrior and friend, she'd never be anything more than a friend in my eyes. My Captain happened to be the only person who knew my feelings for Circe.

If Circe was telling me to pursue Lucille, did that mean she truly felt nothing for me?

"I'm grateful for your help, Cyp," Circe sighed, "but you only bought me about twenty minutes before I have to meet with Mister Tabolmon. This would have been so much easier for my parents. They were able to split the work between the two of them."

"I can do some of it," I offered.

"I've always handled meetings in person, and I don't plan on stopping that any time soon. It's only fair that the people receive a direct conference with a member of the royal family, and I'm the only one," she argued.

You don't have to be the only one...

"I can handle it," I insisted.

"You have your own job, you know," Circe reminded.

"Which is to keep you safe," I stated. "It's a bit counterproductive if I let you work yourself to death, now isn't it? I'm taking half of your responsibilities."

Circe furrowed her brow. I knew she wanted to argue, but she finally consented. "Fine."

"Thank you." That nagging voice in the back of my mind grumbled in frustration. What's the point of doing all this for her? It isn't as if she'll ever see.

I ignored the voice. It hadn't been the first one I'd heard in the last month or so, but I dismissed them. It was just mindless whisperings. "Honestly, Pearl, what would you do without me?"

Circe chuckled lightly. "If you left, I'd probably drown."

       ~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~

I spat the water out with a heaving cough, letting my cheek rest on the rim of the tub.

"Honestly, you should be thanking us," Melville informed.

"My brother is right," Myra agreed, "what with Death approaching. The Reaper rides, tracking The Empress."

Melville grinned cruelly. "And when the Endless Knight finds her, you'll all be wishing we had killed you. We're doing you a favor. This way, you'll never meet Death."

I growled softly. I hadn't a clue what they meant, but I certainly didn't like the sound of it.

"I'm curious, Hanged Man." Myra tilted her head. "Have you figured out why we torture you in this way?"

"Because you're a pair of twisted freaks?" I grated.

"Well, yes," Melville acknowledged. "But also, did you not claim that your beloved drowned without you?"

"Feel what she felt," Myra urged, grinning maliciously. "Feel your lungs burn, holding on for dear life. Feel the helplessness as consciousness leaves you. Feel the cold, pulling the life from your being. Feel the terror build in your chest as your lips begin to quiver. Feel the strain in your throat as you struggle to keep air in the lungs that grow heavier and heavier. See the darkness creep into your wide eyes until it finally consumes you."

My heart lurched. Circe felt all of this. My muscles tensed with a need to make these twins suffer.

"This is your last time, darling," Myra purred. "You're getting rather dull."

Before I could torture them as they'd tortured me for what must have been days, Melville wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, forcing me back into the icy tub, and my face broke the surface of what was sure to become my watery grave.

((Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long. My internet went down and I only just got someone to come work on it. I'll be back to completely active in a few days.
Anyway, I hope you liked this look into Cyprian's head. I felt like I couldn't avoid this chapter, because it reveals quite a bit about The Hanged Man's powers that Ayesha wouldn't know. Sorry to those who dislike POV changes.))