The Demon's Torment

"Hold him down!" Jasper ordered.

Sebastian began to thrash violently. Holding back sobs Victoria put all her strength into holding down one of his arms as Nicholas held down his feet.

Victoria didn't know if she could take much more. For days she'd watched her demon suffer and each hour the pain increased. Sebastian shouted in agony, sweat beading over his brow.

She could hear his heart beating rapidly as his body seized. The attacks were coming more frequently now and he'd grown delirious, calling out for her. It broke her heart, her eyes red and swollen from her tears.

His hand jerked from her grasp. She hissed as his claws sliced across her chest and leaving deep scratches. Crying she clasped his arm against her, ignoring the pain.

Desperately she wanted to take away his pain. She couldn't stand to see him like this. It was torture to watch him suffer. Each attack was a knife in her heart. If she lost him...her breath hitched, it would be like losing part of her soul. She couldn't bare it.

Sebastian gasped for breath, another bellow of pain on his lips. Then he went limp as his heart stopped.

Victoria stared down at his prone body in shock. No! This can't happen. "Sebastian!" she shouted, shaking him. "Wake up."

He didn't respond, his body lying still on the bed as blood streaked from his eyes and mouth.

Clasping his face she begged him, "Wake up, please."

"Victoria." Nicholas clasped a hand over her shoulder. "Leave him."

"No!" she turned on him, shoving against his chest. "He's not dead." He couldn't die. She wouldn't allow it. Turning back to Sebastian she pounded on his chest. "Wake up, god damn you!"

Sebastian jerked, sucking in a gasping breath. She sobbed with relief as his heart began to beat once more. She kissed his cheeks and nose, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head against his shoulder.

"You only prolonging the inevitable," Jasper warned her softly.

"I won't let him die." Leaning up and disregarding her own wounds she quickly cleaned away the blood from his eyes and mouth, wiping at her tears with the sleeve of her sweater.

Shaking his head Jasper informed her grimly, "The pain will only increase. I fear his body can't take much more."

"There must be a way to stop this?" she asked.

"Charles has been searching everywhere. This poison is very rare. It comes from a plant unique to our realm. I don't know of anyone in this world that could create an antidote."

Hitching her chin Victoria said firmly, "I want to go to Vincent."

Nicholas scowled. "That is not an option, Victoria."

"He's going to die!" she cried in frustration. Several times she'd wanted to seek out Vincent and agree to whatever the hell he wanted just to get Sebastian the antidote. Each time they stopped her. Nicholas had even taken her teleportation amulet. "I can't just stand here and watch him suffer."

"He wouldn't want that," Jasper said. "He would rather die."

Taking Sebastian's hand she sniffed. "It's my choice." Stroking her fingertips over his forehead she murmured, "I'll do whatever it takes."

Jasper patted her back gently. "You're not thinking clearly. You need to rest."

"No." Victoria shook her head. "I want to stay."

"You're no good to him like this. There will be time before the next attack. We will stay with him."

Victoria wanted to argue but didn't have the energy. "Alright. But only for a few hours."

She struggled to stand, loath to leave him. Reaching the door she glanced one last time at Sebastian and headed to the bedroom across the hall. She'd been using it temporarily for showers and quick naps whenever Jasper or Nicholas forced her away.

Shutting the door she leaned against it weakly as Jasper's words sank in. This poison was going to kill Sebastian, she knew it. Clenching her fists she gritted her teeth in frustration.

She had to find a way to save him, she couldn't just stand by and let this happen. If that meant letting the Legion take her then so be it. But how to escape and find Shaw? Without her amulet she was trapped, stuck here watching as Sebastian suffered and wasted away.

A cold chill settled over her. What would she do without her demon? In such a short time she'd grown irrevocably attached to him. She felt a deep connection with Sebastian and had from the very beginning, as if she'd just been waiting her whole life to find him.

The thought of never waking up again with his warm body wrapped around her own made her heart ache painfully. How could she go on never hearing his warm rumble or without the feel of his lips?

Deep down she knew she couldn't, the loss would be devastating. I'm falling in love with him. And now she was going to watch him die. She'd never felt so helpless.

Dropping her head into her hands she cried silently, her shoulders shaking with each sob.

"My, you are upset," a soft female voice mused.

She jumped, her head snapping upward.

A strange beautiful woman stood before her, tapping her chin thoughtfully. Long blonde hair curled about her face as her silver eyes gleamed in the light. "Perhaps you are in love with the demon?"

Wiping at her tears she asked shakily, "Who are you?"

"I am Levina the Ever Watchful," she proclaimed proudly.

Victoria felt immediate rage. "It's you!" She stalked towards the woman, her fists clenched.

"Now, now," Levina took a step back, waving her hands in front of her. "No need for violence." Giving her a warning look she said, "Besides, taking on a mystic would be unwise."

Gritting her teeth Victoria just stopped herself from slapping the other woman. "What do you want?"

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing really, I just thought you might like to have this..." She held up a hand, dangling a small vial.

Victoria frowned. "What is it?"

Levina smiled. "Only the antidote for your poor demon."

Victoria gasped, reaching forward to snatch the vial away.

Levina drew back, holding it just out of reach. "I will give this to you, halfling. But remember, you owe me one."

What did that mean? "I don't care, just give it to me." Grinning, the sorceress deposited the vial into her hand. Victoria clutched it to her chest, her heart hammering. "How do I know it will work?"

"Oh, it will work," Levina reassured her. "The one who created it is the most gifted alchemist there is," she added under her breath, "even if she is an accident waiting to happen."

Victoria raised her brows. "Why are you helping him?"

"I have my reasons."

She scowled as she felt a surge of possessiveness. "Are you still in love with him?"

The mystic laughed. "Oh, god no. To be honest I never really loved him. But unfortunately he did use me and I was rather vengeful in those days."

"Why should I trust you?"

"Let's just say as a fellow Ascended I have a keen interest in his recovery." Smoothing her hands over her white dress Levina announced happily, "Well, my job here is done."

"Wait!" Even though she desperately wanted to go to Sebastian there was one more thing she needed to ask. "What about his curse? Can't you...can't you break it?"

Levina blinked. "Why would you want me to do that?"

"He hates his demonic form-"

"But you don't," the sorceress interrupted. Levina's silver eyes assessed her with interest. "From what I've seen I'd say you enjoy his form very much."

Victoria felt her face burn even as shock and anger shot through her. "Did you...were you watching us?"

Levina shrugged. "They do call me the Ever Watchful. Besides, I get bored." At Victoria's shocked expression she waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I only watched once or twice. I've since moved on."

This woman is completely insane... "So you won't break his curse?"

Levina tisked. "Sebastian's demonic form is a part of him, the sooner he learns to accept that the better. Even if I did wish to help him my talent is in casting curses, the last time I tried to remove one-" she broke off with a shudder. "Let's just say there were extra pieces."

Victoria's jaw dropped. "Can you at least tell me how to break it?"

"I cannot," she stated cheerily. "But not to worry, you are already well on your way."

******

Sebastian groaned. The pain in his body was agony. It felt as if he burned from the inside out and his bones were shattering all at once. The poison raked over him, blurring the days and nights. He couldn't move or speak, his mind in a dark haze.

He knew it was only a matter of time before it killed him.

The pain began to build again. No more. He couldn't stand anymore. He fought against it, struggling to return to consciousness.

Dimly he was aware of something hard pressed against his lips, followed by a cool liquid. Coughing he swallowed it down, sighing as it soothed his parched throat. Then he slipped back under once again. He just caught a woman's soft voice whispering above him.

Victoria...

That bastard had come for Victoria. He needed to stop him. He couldn't let Vincent take away his female. He should have killed him, if Victoria hadn't stopped him...

Sebastian struggled to comprehend, his mind clouded with pain and confusion. He replayed the scene with the Vincent over and over in his mind. Victoria pleading for him not to kill the wolf, physically trying to stop him!

Had she looked upon that bastard with love? In his mind he could see it, could see her fawning over the handsome hunter, whispering sweet words in his ear.

Had they planned this all along? What could she possibly gain by deceiving him? But why else would she have stopped him? He should have known it was too good to be true. She doesn't want me.

The agony and grief nearly overwhelmed him. He wanted to roar his pain to the sky but could only suffer in silent torment.

The time they had spent together seemed like a distant dream. He'd never known such happiness. Even if Victoria never grew to love him Sebastian would have been content as long as she stayed by his side.

And all that time she'd wanted another! Victoria had been playing him for a fool. He couldn't stand the thought of it.

The halfling had deceived him, made him believe she wanted him! She'd made him feel emotions he could never admit too.

Hurt at her betrayal tore at his soul. I'll never forgive her.

AN: Sebastian may be a bit delirious...wonder what will happen when he wakes up!