Topic: Of the Ways of Toture...

Cara deWinters

Date: 2008-02-25 13:22 EST
She smiled and nodded to the gentleman that sat across from her. ?I look forward to that piece showing up at the estates.?

?It?s been a pleasure, Dutchess.?

?Perhaps, but I shall have to see to that, now won?t I?? Her chuckle was soft, husky, and it sent a shiver up the man?s spine as she stood from the table. ?Have a good afternoon, Mr. Belwerth.? She turned, and nodded to the butler that held the door open for her, and she made her way to the awaiting Bentley.

?Let us take a trip to the museum, Dominiq. I believe that I would like to see where this newest attraction might be able to be displayed, as well as talk to Dr. Burns about a few more items that we will soon be acquiring.?

?As you say, ma?am. There, too, is the matter of the horse purchase later this afternoon from Mrs. Franklin. That is to take place at 4:00pm.? Dominiq droned on, as if he had done this a million times. In truth, he had and there was nothing else he would want to do. He had his freedom, which was more than he had a few years ago, and yet, he didn?t want to be anywhere else except at the Dutchesses side.

?Thank you, Dominiq. Let us hurry then so that we are not late.?

?Yes ma?am.? The door was closed, and he stepped around the vehicle and settled himself behind the wheel, making their way the few hours to the city and the museum.

The time had given her a moment to reflect on the piece she had just acquired. It had been some time since she had seen a piece that reflected the mindset of the one who created it.

This one, in particular, was not so much a difference from the classic Iron Maiden, but the spikes were shorter to where just enough would scratch up against the skin. On each end of those spikes were many tiny barbs, where upon a simple glance it looked as if the spikes had been rubbed with a hard file, but on closer inspection, one could see that each barb was deliberately cut into those spikes, and in that crevice on each barb there was a small well that could hold a small drop of substance.

After doing some research, and digging into the item?s history, she found that that well often held a small drop of poison. That poison was often used to slowly kill the intended victim by whatever means that poison was meant to by scratching and barely piercing the skin just enough to get the toxin within.

There were some documents stating that there could be screaming heard for months on end.

Cara deWinters

Date: 2008-02-29 15:26 EST
She lifted the tea cup and look a sip, nodding at the taste then took a longer drink.

?Very tasteful, Mr. Hughes. I will have to make a note to garner some of this blend for my personal coffer.?

?I can offer you some, if you would like, Dutchess, to tide you over until that comes around.? His voice was a bit shaky, and he was quick to try and please her.

This brought a hidden smile to her lips. It was always best to keep the upper hand, and there was no better way than to drop in unannounced, and tell the lord of the house he had something she desired.

?That would be lovely, thank you.? Again, she lifted the cup to take a sip, watching him as he tried not to fidget over the rim of that cup.

Finally, he couldn?t take the silence anymore and there was a shaky clearing of his throat. ?Uhh.. umm.. excuse me, Dutchess. What can I do for you?? His hands continued their small bit of trembling, though he did his best to try and school them.

She set the cup back to the saucer and looked the man in his eyes, that coy smile playing on her lips. That sent another gulp rolling down his throat and chills running through the man, and his small semblance of control vanished as his hands began to shake in full. ?I am to understand that you have something, of a unique quality, within your family tomes.? She could see his mind working feverously in trying to figure out what it was that she meant. She chuckled softly to her self, letting it roll within for a bit before she let him off the hook. ?I believe it is something that was created, in truth, by your great-grand father. A remarkable man, and a remarkable mind to think of such a device.?

Hughes? smile seemed to relax a moment as she finally spoke her mind, and then it seemed to completely drop as his mind began to contemplate what she would want with that?device. ?Umm? Dutchess? Why do you inquire of that thing? That thing hasn?t been used in years, not since my grandfather?s time at least. My family feels that it should have never been made, but we cannot find a means of destroying it, and we have tried many different ways like melting it and even the few blacksmiths we can find that would come near the thing to try and pound it??

His rambling drew on her nerves and she held up a hand, halting his staggering performance of keeping his family name clean. ?I am not here to make accusations, Mr. Hughes. I know full well your dislike of it, and that is why I have come. I am here to take it off your hands.?

?What? Why? It has been in my family since my great-grandfather! We could not so easily part with something such as it! It is part of our family history!?

Her smile drew again and she once more held her hand to silence the man. ?Was it not just a few moments ago that you said that your family felt it should have never been made? That it should be destroyed?? His hesitant nod came, but it didn?t mean much to her. She came for the device, and she would leave with it, by his means or hers. ?Then consider it now unmade, at least as far as your family is concerned.? Her voice turned a bit harder, and that smile drew into one of business. ?Bring me the item.?

There was a weary sigh that came from Mr. Hughes, but he nodded, and rang for one of his servants. ?Bring me the chest from the library.? The servant?s expression was one of mixed horror and fear, but he didn?t hesitate. He even could be considered running.

?So, Mr. Hughes, tell me of how this device was used. I have heard of it and read of it on my own, but I wish to hear it from the family who created it.?

His shaking hands lifted a flask from one of his inner pockets and proceeded to knock back the entire contents of it before he capped it and put it back. His voice came out softly, as if to speak aloud of it would bring about great evil. ?Dutchess deWinters, the device,? no, if we are to speak of it, let us call it by it?s name. The ?inverted piano? was created by my great-grandfather in order to bring about the confessions of deeds done against the family, typically by those of the lower cast. You see, he was a great lover of music, and played the piano quite well, as you know. Well, after he lost use of his left hand when one of the servants fell on the lid of the piano, he created the device to, uhh.. punish the man.?

She nodded and lifted her cup once more, taking a sip as the servant who had been sent to fetch the thing returned with the iron-clad chest and set it to the table. Once the gentleman was gone, she looked to Mr. Hughes. ?Continue.?

He lifted a key, and slid the cord from around his neck and set it to the lock in the chest, and lifted the lid. He didn?t touch it, but turned it so that she could have a full view of the item. ?He found that the teeth can make music, of their own accord, if they are stuck right. He then had made enough small steel hammers made that each tooth would be fitted, and attached to them pieces of the piano wire, which in turn, were attached to the felt keyboard as you see it. It was made so that only one hand could work it, so the device has that strap, there, where it would not move of shift while during his.. uhh, arrangement. Once it was forced in the mouth and strapped in, the, umm, victim would be strapped down so that they couldn?t move, and he would work the keys. However, instead of his fingers striking ivory, the steel hammers did such.?

She listened as he told his families deepest secret, though within, she had knew it already. But still, it was always good to let those who thought big of themselves know that there were always skeletons in the closet, and they would come out to play some day. ?Mr. Hughes, how many were administered by this device??

It was almost comical, seeing the sweat suddenly appear and try and make its way down his balding head, though a shaking hand came up wiping it away with a delicate handkerchief. ?Uhh, I would take a guess, you understand. Umm, around twenty.?

She drew that smile again, and leveled her eyes on him once more, and no matter of whipping could keep the sweat at bay any longer. ?Two hundred and sixty four.?

She nodded and smiled, setting aside the tea cup. ?Thank you, Mr. Hughes. Dominiq??

Dominiq came forward and closed the lid to the chest, then lifted it, setting it under one arm. ?Shall we, ma?am??

She smiled and nodded to the man who was now soaked in his own suit. ?Have a good afternoon, Mr. Hughes.? Turning then, she stepped from the office and made her way down the steps.

?Ma?am??

?Yes, Dominiq??

?What is your interest in these types of items??

?A bit of a forward question for you, Dominiq.?

?Yes ma?am. Forgive me.?

She chuckled. ?There is nothing to forgive, Dominiq. I was asked to retrieve some items for the museum. What better way than to pay a visit to those who feel they have stepped above themselves and remind them of their history??

There was a smile that could briefly be seen on Dominiq?s lips. ?Yes ma?am.?