David Wise - Tales of Ravenloft

Reluctantly, I withdrew my hands. Bluebeard smoothed his clothing and silently gestured me to return to my seat. I did so shakily, rubbing my strained knuckles and watching Bluebeard as he leaned against his desk, one calfskin-booted leg crossing the other.

"Your point, Bluebeard?" I said shortly. "I am in no mood for any more of your civilities."

"My point is one that you have overlooked, sir," he drawled," and that is that perhaps Lorel wants to stay here with me."

I pressed my lips together. "Then I shall discover that for myself, Bluebeard. Let me see her!"

Bluebeard held up one hand, the rings twinkling in the candlelight. "Not so fast, Lord Henredon. You've accused me of being a murderer. Whether my wife leaves with you or no, you are likely to spread falsities about me. I cannot have that."

I bit my inner lip, and my brows drew together. I shook my head impatiently. "If Lorel chooses to leave with me, or if she convinces me that she is truly happy here, then, . despite my better judgment, I shall leave. Either way, I give you my word I shall never speak of you to anyone. "My eyes narrowed as I looked at the man lounging so casually before me.

"Oh, I believe that you say you would never speak of me, Henredon, but what do you offer by way of security? Why should I believe you?" His voice held a tinge of smugness that infuriated my already jangled nerves.

"Because I am a gentleman, and I give you my word," I said firmly.

"But I need more than that, Henredon. I need security."

"My word, Bluebeard," I replied coldly," is my bond. It is security enough."

The man laughed outright at that.

I leaped to my feet. "Call Lorel to us here, now, and let us settle this! I give you my oath, I shall never mention — "

"How?" Bluebeard snapped. The single syllable boomed through the room. "How can you give me that oath, Henredon?" This time it was he who grabbed me; one massive red hand clutched at my throat. His grip tightened as he pulled upward on my neck, as if he were trying to wrench my head from my body. He almost pulled me off my feet, and I realized I had sadly underestimated the strength of the man. "How will you give me that oath, Henredon? How can I trust that you will not speak — to someone, someday?"

I gasped through clenched teeth, my hands struggling to pull aside the vise on my throat," My word, Bluebeard!"

"Your word is not enough, Henredon!" Bluebeard shouted. His eyes bulged, almost matching the quality of his pockmarked nose and fleshy cheeks. "/want your tongue!"

"My — my tongue?" I managed to gasp. I could not breathe, and my vision was fading. "What. . foul enchantment —? "

"No magic, my friend! Give me your tongue, or you shall never see Lorel again!" Vicious glee swelled his voice.

From somewhere within me I found the strength to struggle against the behemoth who held me. My hands circled over two fingers and bent them backward. A little more, I encouraged myself, and then —

Roughly my wrists were grabbed from behind and yanked away from Bluebeard's hands. The manservant brutally twisted my arms in their sockets, and together he and Bluebeard threw me back into my chair.

Bluebeard's thick hand now clenched my jaw. I winced in pain. "What say you, Henredon?" the man crowed. "Give me your tongue and you shall see your sister this night. If she wishes to leave with you, by dawn, then so be it. I'll even annul the marriage and you can have the trollop for yourself!" He sneered, and little flecks of spittle spattered his fleshy lips. "You've lusted after her all these years — what's the loss of your tongue to attain your heart's desire? Nothing less will I take, Henredon — nothing else will vouchsafe your word with me!"

The man's hand tightened, and I looked into those dark eyes boring into mine with such ferocity. Thoughts ran rampant through my fevered mind. I was a scholar; how could I exist without speaking? But then to the fore rose the thought of my beloved Lorel lying with this — this abomination, and I could not abide the vision.

"Yes," I croaked breathlessly. Fear gave way to anger, and I raged at him," Yes! Take my tongue, you loathsome, ill-bred cur! Anything for Lorel — "

Bluebeard roared," Enough!" He slammed my head against the marble top of a nearby table, sending the piece crashing to the floor. Blood trickled into my eyes, and for a moment I was blessedly dazed.

He wrenched open my jaw, and terror struck me. Despite my intentions, instinct overrode me and, bucking and kicking, I writhed beneath his and his manservant's hands. I freed one hand and struck at Bluebeard, but the hand was too soon restrained — I was no match for the two of them. Bluebeard forced his monstrous paw inside my mouth. I felt his fingers curl around my tongue, one descending down my throat. Bile and blood gurgled in my mouth, and from somewhere deep inside me — from a place I had no idea existed before this moment — a shriek of absolute, primal terror welled up within me.

I screamed without stop. The sound filled the room, blocking out everything, all thought, all emotion, even all sensation, until. . there came the faint sound of something else — something so repulsive, so violently revolting I felt madness caress me at the sound of it. I screamed again to hide from that sound, but I could not: it followed me deeper, into that tiny part of myself in which I tried to hide and shield my soul. That sound followed me and perverted anything of me that had remained sane.

It was the sound of my tongue being ripped from its roots: the thin, shredding noises as muscle and tissue gave way under Bluebeard's insistence.

My scream turned into some misbegotten gargle, and above the noise I made I could hear the madman's laugh of malevolent triumph as he held above him the bloodied pulp that remained of my tongue. And as I collapsed into a hazy swoon, I thought I heard him say," Your sister is in the adjoining room, Henredon. Be gone at dawn and your lives are yours. If not, they're mine to torment still more." He paused, then added casually," For now, though, I think my man should try to stanch that blood. . "

Truculent laughter filled my ears, and at that point I knew no more.

How long I lay unconscious I do not know. I awoke some time later in a sick and pain-racked haze. In desperation, I stumbled to my feet in the near darkness. My host and his servant were gone, and they had left me with but a single candle, not quite gutted in its holder. I put my hands to my face, then a low moan issued without volition from my throat and I was forced to swallow the blood that threatened to choke me. But I could spare no thought for my condition. My beloved Lorel could be my only focus — my only salvation from the atrocity Bluebeard had committed upon me — and I had to find her.

Vaguely I recalled those half words I had heard before my faint. I fumbled for my watch fob, but couldn't find it in my weakened state. Haltingly, I picked up the candlestick and looked toward the mantel, but there was no timepiece there either. I longed for a clock to tell me how much time I might have in which to find Lorel. Although I knew the night must be old indeed, I didn't doubt that Lorel would leave immediately with me. Despite what Bluebeard had done to me, my sister would see me and know instantly that I had come for her. She and I would leave this accursed castle, and I could converse with her with pen and paper at a calmer date. I had only to find her now, and all would be well.

I faltered toward the side door, recalling something Bluebeard had said about an adjoining room. I stumbled past the overturned furniture and broken bric-a-brac and nearly dropped the candlestick. At the door, I was overcome by a wave of delirium, and I stopped to lean against the cool ebon wood. I marshaled my forces. Now was not the time to stop; now was not the time to succumb in defeat. I swallowed reflexively, the gesture filling me with pain and horror. I had risked so much and given more; everything would be worth it to rescue my beloved Lorel. With renewed determination, I opened the door.