★ THE BOLTER ★
THE TEST... WENT QUITE WELL

it was a yes. She wanted it. She wanted him. Unimaginable, but she wanted this terrible person. Maybe because he was the only one who could touch her, or because, well maybe he was just what she wanted. "Turn around," he said, as assertive as ever. And Nerina did. She let him turn her around. She let herself be pressed against the cold laboratory wall. She even liked it. She liked his style.

He easily removed his clothes. A hand groped her ass and gave it a playful slap. She was so sure he was grinning at the way she moaned so sweetly at the action.

She could feel his tip teasing the wet slit of her pussy. "You wouldn't mind if I ran hard, would you?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer. Before she could even breathe in response, he was already plunged inside her. Completely in her hole.

"God, you're tight... so wet, just the way I fucking like it," he set a steady but rough pace. His hands gripped her hips as he pulled back to meet each of his thrusts.

His hand dropped down to trace small circles on her clit with his fingers, giving it a fair amount of attention as well. "Cum on my cock for me."

She bit her lip to muffle her increasingly loud whimpers. Zanik scoffed, grabbing her by the neck. "Let me hear you." He pulled it out, grabbed her shoulders and turned her back to him. "I want to see you." He reached under her butt, lifted her up and as if by magic she wrapped her legs around him.

Zandik entered her again, looking into her eyes, and she couldn't stop herself from moaning. He pushed harder and harder into her, a rough moan came from him, which only drove her crazier. Nerina clung to his back, digging her fingernails into his skin. "Oh fuck, I do like it!"

A dull laugh escaped him and he took the chance to engrave a few memories on her collarbone. She leaned her head back against the wall and let him continue to thrust into her. It felt good, unbelievably good!

"You precious little thing, i ask a last time, do you want a little more?"

Nerina could no longer think clearly. She simply nodded. "Yes!" She could feel him grinning against her skin. "Please."

"Awe you begging for me?" Zandik looked at her. "How could i ever refuse that." He took her hand and helped her to her feet. He grinned, it was a dangerous grin. But Nerina couldn't resist.

Zandik pulled her behind him to a chair that she had been sitting on for the past few weeks. "Sit down."

She did what he said. Without even thinking about it.

He walked around the chair and without warning he tied a cloth around her eyes. He took her hands, put them behind her back and bandaged them. Nerina could no longer move. Did that bother her? No, absolutely not.

She could feel his presence. How he walked around her. His fingers stroked her skin until he suddenly pulled on her long black hair. His lips on her right ear. "You are mine. I do what I want now."

His voice gave her goosebumps. Good goosebumps.

She heard something jingling and then she felt the cold metal on her skin. "Do you like pain?" whispered Zandik. "Did it hurt when I sucked on your wound?"

"I-it felt good."

"What exactly, my love?"

Nerina swallowed hard. "The pain."

A rough, deep laugh came from him and then he cut into her arm. It was a sharp, small cut. She felt blood flowing down her arm, just a little. It was warm and then his warm touch followed. She felt him licking it, oh he was crazy, sucking on the cut and Archons she loved it!

He had knelt down in front of her. His hands rested on her knees. Then a second cut. On her right thigh. He licked the blood away. He kissed the spot and ran the tip of the knife up her leg. Nerina winced.

"I won't hurt you," he said softly and deeply as he made the third cut. It was on the inside of her left thigh. He sucked on it there too, licking the blood away. His grip on her knee tightened and then he pushed her knees apart. "Spread your legs for me." She couldn't resist, even if she wanted to.

Zandik's kisses became rougher, more intense. He bit her skin. Several times and each time she had to moan. Each time her moan became louder. And she felt his triumphant grin. His bites moved further up, to her dripping center.

"Zan-" she wanted to say his name, then she felt his tongue between her legs. Nerina moaned again, loudly.

"Yes, say my name." He continued sucking, kissing her between her legs and then a fourth cut. Her shin and beneath the pain, the pleasure, a loud sigh came from her. "Say. My. Name." He emphasized each word.

Zandik let go of her legs. He kissed and bit his way up her face, to her lips. He kissed her, pulled off her blindfold. "Say my name," he repeated.

He pushed another finger inside her and she rolled her eyes in satisfaction. She had to grin. "Zandik," she almost whispered his name.

"Cum for me." He pushed two more fingers inside, hard and fast. He nibbled on her neck again. "Nerina, cum for me."

Zandik reached for his knife again, ran it along her neck, she found it embarrassing, but the cool knife, the pain and his voice saying her name over and over made her come over his finger. He grinned triumphant.

Zandik's voice, low and edged with amusement, cut through the quiet. "Was that the test you meant?"

Her lips curved into a faint, almost wistful smile. "It was," she murmured, her voice softer now. "That was the test." She turned her head toward him, waiting for a reaction that hadn't yet come.

His eyes, sharp and calculating as ever, remained fixed on her, studying every shift of her expression as though dissecting a delicate specimen. "I know I already told you," he said, his voice dropping to a rare softness. "But I don't want you to die."

The words were almost tender, but she felt the weight behind them, a strange tension that neither soothed nor comforted her. She closed her eyes for a long moment, as if letting the truth sink in, then opened them again, the weight of her thoughts pressing heavily on her chest.

"You say that now." Her voice was quiet, steady despite the emotions swirling beneath it. "But even if I survive the pain, even if I endure it all, I won't be anything special to you afterward." She swallowed, her throat tightening. "The only reason you find me interesting - the only reason I matter to you - is because of this curse."

Her words hung between them, sharp as a blade, cutting through the fragile intimacy they had shared. She felt it settle there, an unspoken truth neither of them had dared to voice before. And yet, even as she spoke, a part of her wanted to believe there was more. Something beyond the curse. Beyond the experiment. Beyond the fascination that made her a subject rather than a person.

But she couldn't afford hope. Not now.

Then he spoke, his voice quiet but unwavering, the sharpness of his usual tone tempered into something softer - for her, and only her. "You underestimate me, Nerina."

He shifted closer, his eyes narrowing just enough to hold her gaze captive. "Yes, your curse drew my attention. Yes, I studied you because of it. I won't deny that." He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her wrist, his touch deliberate but uncharacteristically gentle. He untied her bonds. "But I've seen more of you than the curse. Your mind. Your resolve. The way you fight to keep going, even when every moment is agony. I don't admire you because of your suffering. I admire you because you endure it - because you choose to endure it."

He paused, his lips curling into a faint, almost reluctant smile. "Don't assume I'm blind to the rest of you just because I was drawn in by the part that defies explanation. You are more than an experiment to me, Nerina. You always have been."

His fingers tightened, just slightly, as if anchoring her to the truth of his words. "And if surviving the curse changes you, so be it. I don't want you to be special because of it. I want you to be alive. That's what matters to me."

Her breath hitched at his words, her heart pounding harder with each one. She stared at him, her mind racing to catch up with the rare softness he allowed her to see. "You..." Her voice trembled, her guard slipping. "You say that now, but when the curse is gone -"

"Nerina." His tone, firm but still gentle, cut her off. His hand remained on her wrist, his thumb brushing her pulse, a silent reminder of her mortality, of her fragility. "If I didn't... if I didn't care about you-" the word seemed to catch in his throat, as if it cost him something to say, "I'd have done things differently. A long time ago." His eyes held hers, the weight of his words settling in the silence that followed.

She clenched her jaw, the emotions swirling inside her too complicated to name. "I don't know if I believe you," she whispered. "Not completely."

"Then don't." His smirk returned, a flicker of familiar arrogance softened by the warmth in his eyes. "Not yet. I'm a patient man."

A soft laugh escaped her despite herself, her lips curving into a faint, wry smile. "Patient? You?" She raised an eyebrow, the skepticism in her tone cutting through the tension.

He chuckled, low and deliberate, his gaze never leaving hers. "You're right," he admitted, his voice dipping with a teasing edge. "I'm not waiting years for you to figure this out." His smirk deepened, a spark of challenge flickering in his eyes. "But I don't need years. I can convince you another way."

Oh she was sure he could do it. He had just done it. And if he was willing to be so... intimate with her again, well then he definitely couldn't find her repulsive.

She inhaled deeply, letting her resolve solidify in her chest. "Alright," she murmured, her voice steadier now, a faint glimmer of her old determination returning. "Let's start the experiment."

Zandik's eyes flashed with sharp interest, and he gave a small, satisfied nod. Without another word, he stood and moved across the room, his steps purposeful and precise. She watched him, her gaze following every deliberate movement as he prepared the chair in the center of his laboratory.

It was made of dark, cold metal, reinforced and unyielding. Straps hung from the armrests and the footrests, ready to bind her wrists and ankles in place. Each buckle gleamed under the low light, polished with a precision that spoke to his meticulous care.

Beside the chair, a tray held four slender glass phials filled with a strange, dark liquid. The substance shimmered faintly, shifting between hues like something alive, something dangerous. Her stomach twisted as she imagined the burning, searing pain it would bring.

He adjusted the straps with calm efficiency, testing their strength before turning his attention to the vials. As he handled them, his fingers were steady, almost reverent, as if holding something sacred. There was no hesitation in him.

Zandik stepped back, his work complete. He surveyed the chair one last time, ensuring everything was in place, before turning to face her. His expression was unreadable, but the intensity in his gaze was unmistakable.

"Alright," he said, his voice steady, his tone more clinical now. "Time to begin."

He motioned toward the chair, his eyes locking onto hers. "You'll need to sit down. I'm going to restrain your wrists and ankles. You can't move, Nerina. Not once we begin. The procedure must remain uninterrupted, or it could have... unintended consequences." His gaze flickered to the restraints, then back to her. "We can't risk it."

Her chest tightened as she nodded and slowly made her way to the chair, the weight of the situation settling in with every step. She lowered herself into it, the cold metal biting into her skin, and felt the straps brush against her arms and legs as he approached her.

Zandik moved with calm precision, strapping her hands and feet securely to the chair. The restraints were tight, but not uncomfortable - they were meant for control, not harm. Still, the tightness of them sent a shiver down her spine. She wasn't sure if it was from the cold or from the reality of what was about to happen.

"These will keep you in place," he explained, his voice now softer but no less focused. "I'll be injecting the liquid into your body through small needles placed at your wrist and ankle joints. Four in total. Each will release the fluid directly into your bloodstream. It will hurt - you'll feel it spread through your body, like you're burning from the inside out. But you have to endure it. You cannot fight it."

He moved to the table, where the four vials sat, each one containing a different shimmering, dark liquid. Zandik picked up one of the vials, turning it slowly in his hand as he spoke. "Your body will heat up. You might feel as if you're on fire - it's the fluid interacting with your system, triggering a reaction. But you must endure."

He set the vial back down and reached for another object - a glass container filled with a liquid that bubbled ominously. It hissed as it shifted within the glass, sending strange ripples across the surface.

"You'll drink this after the procedure. The fluid needs to be consumed quickly, or it'll lose its potency. I'll be here the entire time, Nerina." His gaze softened, but his resolve didn't waver. "You can do this."

He waited for her response, watching her intently, before continuing. "Are you ready?"

Nerina nodded, her heart pounding in her chest, the uncertainty and fear still swirling inside her. But she steadied her breath and focused, trying to push everything else aside. She had made her choice, and there was no going back now.

Zandik gave a single, approving nod before stepping closer. His fingers moved with practiced ease as he adjusted the first needle, positioning it at the soft skin of her wrist. The cool touch of the needle's tip against her skin sent a shiver through her, but she stayed still, her muscles taut with anticipation.

The first needle punctured her skin, and she winced, a sharp breath escaping her. The fluid was injected with swift precision, and immediately, she felt a wave of heat rush through her veins. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced - an internal fire igniting from the inside out, spreading rapidly through her body.

Zandik moved quickly to her other wrist, repeating the process, and then to her ankles, securing the needles in place. As the last one was injected, the pain intensified, overwhelming her senses as the burning sensation roared through her. It was as if her blood itself was set alight.

She fought against the urge to scream, clenching her jaw as the heat coursed through her. Sweat began to bead on her forehead, and her body tensed as the pain surged, relentless and cruel.

Zandik stood back, watching her carefully, his eyes sharp but compassionate, as if he were waiting for her to break. But Nerina wouldn't give in. Not now.

Her voice was barely a whisper, strained but resolute. "It burns."

"I know," he replied softly. "But you can endure this. It will pass."

The heat inside her intensified, radiating outward, suffocating her. Her chest heaved as she fought for breath, but the fire seemed to press against her from all sides. The pain was relentless, overwhelming, and as the burning spread through her, she couldn't hold back any longer. She screamed, a sound torn from deep within her as her body arched against the restraints, desperate to escape the unbearable heat.

Each breath felt like a battle, each second stretching longer than the last. The world around her seemed to distort, edges blurring as the pain overwhelmed her senses. Her vision began to swim, dark spots creeping into her sight, and a cold, dizzying fog started to claim her thoughts. The fiery agony pressed so intensely, she felt as though she was slipping away - as if her very consciousness was being consumed by the flames.

And then, through the haze of pain, she heard it. His voice, cutting through the madness like a lifeline.

"Nerina." Zandik moved toward her again, taking the bubbling glass in his hand. "Drink this," he instructed, his voice calm but firm. "You must do it quickly."

Nerina's mind was slipping further, each breath harder to take, each moment more distant than the last. Her vision blurred, the room around her spinning as if she were caught in some dizzying, endless vortex. She could feel her limbs growing heavier, and her body seemed to refuse her command to move. The glass, the bubbling liquid - it was all a distant thought now, just out of reach.

Her hand trembled, but it couldn't reach the glass. It felt like a far-off dream, a task too large for her fading mind.

"Nerina."

Zandik's voice cut through her daze, sharper this time, but she couldn't respond. She felt him move closer, heard him near her ear, but the words blurred into the growing fog in her mind.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp, painful force against her cheek. The sting of it cut through her haze like a jolt of cold water. Her eyes snapped open, wide with shock, and she gasped, trying to focus. The world around her was still spinning, but she could see him now - his features sharp and clear against the confusion.

Without hesitation, Zandik took the glass from her trembling hands and pressed it to her lips. "Drink this," he ordered, his voice cold, but there was something more behind it. "Quickly."

Her eyes met his, filled with desperation and a tearful, silent plea. She felt so weak, so close to losing herself completely, but his hand was firm as he tilted the glass, forcing her to drink.

The liquid burned as it went down her throat, but the sensation was nothing compared to the fiery agony she had felt before. Zandik didn't pull away, his hand firm against her mouth, pressing softly but insistently.

"Swallow it," he commanded, his voice steady despite the circumstances. "Swallow it, Nerina."

With her eyes filled with unshed tears, Nerina stared up at him, her body trembling. The fight inside her felt almost gone, but she obeyed. She swallowed, the bitter liquid crawling down her throat. Her chest tightened, her breath still ragged, but she did it.

The moment the liquid hit her stomach, the burning sensation intensified, not from the heat, but from something deeper. Her vision blurred as her body trembled violently, her chest heaving with each breath. Then, a strange, sickening pressure filled her head, and before she could comprehend what was happening, blood-no, not blood-poured from her eyes, ears, and mouth.

It was dark and thick, more like ink than anything else, swirling with an unnatural energy. Her body convulsed slightly as the fluid leaked from every orifice, staining her skin with its eerie, viscous darkness. The curse that had long been bound to her began to break free, writhing like something alive within her.

Zandik's movements were swift and practiced as he retrieved a cloth, dabbing it against her skin to catch the flowing liquid. He worked quickly, gathering what he could without hesitation, his eyes intent on the task at hand, his expression focused. Each time he touched her skin, a faint shiver seemed to pass through her, as if her very essence was fighting against the release of the curse.

When he was done, he stepped back, his gaze lingering on the mess that now surrounded her. Her skin was pale, her breathing ragged, but he seemed unfazed by the sight, even as he watched the last of the dark liquid drip from her lips.

Zandik's voice broke the silence, softer than before, a rare tenderness in his tone. "Is everything... alright, Nerina?"

She could feel the exhaustion threatening to swallow her whole, and the weight of his words pressed on her chest like a heavy stone. She didn't respond immediately, her eyes glazed and distant. The sensation of the curse lifting, of it leaving her body, left her feeling raw, exposed-vulnerable.

He repeated the question, his voice still gentle but with a trace of concern. "Nerina, is everything alright?"

"I... I can't see," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't see anything."