It wasn't Sevik's words that caused Claire to feel a cold chill sweep through her. It was the confidence in his tone. What did he mean she already had?

Did he know about the fight that had driven her to leave the house to begin with? Is that what he was referring to, or was it something else? Had something happened to Alek after she'd left?

Had he done something?

Sevik didn't seem to be in any hurry to supply any answers.

"I don't understand," she said at last.

He was silent for some time, simply sitting there watching her with a smug smile on his face.

"You will," he replied with a casual shrug. "For now, tell me what you know about Alek."

This time it was Claire who sat in silence, staring at him in open rebellion.

"This show of defiance is dreadfully boring, Claire. It doesn't suit you," Sevik replied, the smile fading from his face. "At the risk of sounding cliche, my dear, we can do this the hard way, or the easy way. You'd be foolish to assume I wouldn't enjoy twisting and breaking you - mind, body and soul - to accomplish my goals. As I've already explained - you are nothing. No one will miss you when you are gone. If you do one useful thing in your pitiful life, let it be this. Tell me what you know about Aleksandr Drosselmeyer."

Claire didn't believe for a moment that no one would miss her. Alek might claim it had all been a mistake, but she knew if something happened to her he would care.

She also had no doubt that this man would easily follow through on his threats. She could see the gleam of desire in his eyes when he spoke of breaking her, but even knowing that didn't sway her.

She couldn't bring herself to speak, she wouldn't speak.

Claire did not know much about Alek to start with, and she doubted what little she did know would prove useful to Sevik. What she did know for sure was that betraying Alek, in any capacity, was not an option.

"I'm going to give you one more chance to cooperate," Sevik warned, a devious smile twisting its way onto his face once more. His posture straightened and his feet came to rest against the floor causing a ploom of dust to puff up around his boots before settling once more. He leaned towards her, his gaze unwavering. "Please, Claire, give me a reason to hurt you."

A gleam in the darkness caught her eye and Claire saw that Sevik had produced a thin blade which he now held between his fingers. Her heart lodged itself in her throat and she had to force herself to breathe.

As the silence stretched on, Sevik finally shrugged and rose to his feet. He walked towards her slowly, dragging the tip of the knife across the rough wooden surface of the table. His steps were deliberately slow and Claire knew he was taunting her. The sound of the knife tip scraping across the table sent unpleasant chills dancing up and down the length of her spine. She began to imagine all the awful things he could do with that blade and she felt her resolve waver.

He paused in front of her, the blade hovering inches from her face.

"Do you think he'll still want you after I destroy that pretty face?" Sevik asked quietly. His question struck her as sincere, as though he truly wondered what the end result would be. He brought the blade to rest against her cheek and Claire flinched at the unexpected coolness. She closed her eyes, waiting for the first cut.

"Your loyalty is admirable, Claire, but grossly misplaced."

He pulled the tip of the blade along her skin with just enough pressure to keep her aware of its presence, but not enough to break the skin. "Do you think Alek will come for you? Do you think he will save you? Or maybe... Draz? Boy is quite smitten, though I don't see why."

"Yes, he'll find me," Claire managed at last, the words escaping in an angry gasp.

"You really are a stupid girl. There's no need for Alek to find you," Sevik chuckled. "He already knows where you are. I've already tried to barter with him for your life. Alek refused my terms. He didn't even hesitate to turn them down and walk away. That is the nature of the man you are protecting. Selfish and unfeeling, so willing to sacrifice those around him for his own personal gain."

Claire felt like her heart was being squeezed and she considered, just for a moment, that Sevik might be telling the truth. She had no idea how long she'd been unconscious, she had no idea what might have transpired during that time. I need you to trust me to keep that promise. These words, which seemed to have been spoken a life time before, acted as an anchor for Claire.

"You're lying," Claire shot back, her voice trembling with mounting anger and simmering fear. She hadn't meant to shout, but the words had bubbled out of her before she could stop herself. Sevik smiled and retracted the blade. He hooked his finger beneath her chin and tilted her head back until their eyes met.

"Look me in the eye, and tell me again that I am lying," Sevik declared quietly. "I do not need to lie to you, Claire. You know as well as I do that there is no place for you here. You know as well as I do that Alek doesn't want you here. He wants to send you away because he's tired of dealing with a weak, pitiful girl like you."

"How... how do you know all of that?" Claire managed at last, her mind whirling.

"I know so much more than you can possibly fathom," Sevik said.

"You don't know everything though, do you," Claire countered. "If you did, you wouldn't need me."

Sevik's smirk faded slightly and his eyes narrowed.

"Answer my questions, and I will answer all of yours, I will even help you return to your world," Sevik replied. "Tell me what Aleksandr took from your world, and where it is hidden. Did he put it somewhere in that house of his? It'd take some time to get past the defenses, but it wouldn't be impossible."

"No," Claire said, unwilling to give in. He had given her an unintentional clue. It wasn't Alek he wanted information on, it was the bag and whatever it contained. She found herself more grateful than ever that she hadn't opened it up.

No matter how much he tortured her, she wouldn't be able to betray Alek.

"Very well," Sevik replied.

Then he struck her.

The blow came unexpectedly and with enough force that it nearly sent Claire toppling backwards. Fortunately, the chair remained upright. Claire suspected that if it had gone over, Sevik would have left her that way. As a result of the back hand, Claire's cheek felt like it was on fire and the tangy sweet taste of blood filled her mouth. She felt tears burning in the corners of her eyes but refused to let them fall. She didn't want to give Sevik the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

"Tell me," he said and Claire felt the sharp tip of the knife against her skin once more. This time it was pressed just beneath her collar bone.

"No," she gasped between sharp stabs of pain which radiated from the side of her face. Her cheek would bruise, of that she was certain. If she survived the encounter that is.

"No? I'm getting tired of hearing that answer, Claire," Sevik said just before a sharp burning sensation prickled across her skin. The blade cut into her, leaving a thin line of crimson inches below her throat.

"Did I ever tell you, Claire? Red is my favorite color," Sevik declared. For a moment he seemed to lose himself in thought. "I think you'd look lovely dressed in red, Claire. Satin, no, silk. Red silk..."

He cut her again, deeper this time, drawing forth a sharp gasp which wormed its way past Claire's lips despite her best efforts to restrain it.

"Isn't this fun?" Sevik mused. "How many times can I cut you before you beg me to stop? What is Alek up to? What did he take from your world? Who is he reporting to?"

"I'm from out of town," she stated, her voice strained. "I'm visiting an aunt."

"What?" Sevik said, clearly confused by her response.

"I'm from out of town," Claire repeated, remembering what Alek had said when they'd first arrived. If anyone were to bring up her origins, she was to be as vague as possible. "I'm in Avala visiting an aunt."

The knife bit into her skin again, but this time she more prepared for it and she didn't cry out. As the blade drew away, she could feel something warm and wet running down down her shoulder.

"I assure you, Claire, I can withstand more of this than you," Sevik warned. He sounded almost gleeful. "Perhaps you need more incentive." He brought the knife, now stained at the tip with her blood, back up towards her face. This time he rested it on the curve of her cheek just below her eye.

"You only need one, right?" he cooed thoughtfully. "Yes, I do believe you can manage with only one. What is Alek hiding?"

Before Claire could say anything, a loud shout from overhead drew both of their attention upwards. Dust and dirt sprinkled down around them as heavy footfalls slammed down on the rickety floor of the room above.

The sounds faded and Sevik turned back towards Claire and smiled. "Where were-"

Another pained yell and a loud series of bangs had Sevik reeling back in frustration. Something crashed and Claire thought she heard the sound of glass shattering. More debris sprinkled down around them.

Sevik turned towards the stairs, his hands balled into tight fists of rage. "What the hell is going on up there?"

There was one final bang and then silence.

Sevik waited a moment longer and sighed. "Idiots. It's so hard to find good help these days..."

Once more he turned and angled his eyes towards Claire. The hungry, predatory gleam in his gaze made Claire tremble despite her attempts at remaining passive.

She found herself pulling against her restraints again as though hoping they'd grown loose over the duration of the 'conversation'.

"I apologize for the interruption. Shall we continue? I believe you were just about to tell me-"

The sound of footsteps descending into the basement caused both of them to turn their attention once again to the far wall. Sevik muttered a string of curses under his breath and withdrew the knife as a figure came into view, shroud in deep shadow.

"I told you not to interrupt me, what the hell do you want?"

"I believe you have something that belongs to me," the voice that drifted through the darkness caused Claire's heart to sing. "I've come to take her back."