Consequences

[Riva Carle (R)]

I had kissed Aleron goodbye jut outside the Night Court, returning to Gentian alone thinking I would have a better chance of entering unnoticed that way.

I slipped in the front door only to be confronted by Octavier. "Where were you?" he asked, causing me to flinch at the rage in his voice. A sharp pain bloomed in my head at the intensity of his emotions.

"I was out… with a friend," I told him, feeling afraid of him for the first time ever.

"Don't lie to me Riva," he hissed. "You may have gifts no one understands, but you are not the only one here who can see the truth. In fact, I had to use some of those people last night to try and find you since you disappeared without telling anyone."

"I didn't think anyone would notice…" I said, cringing back even further.

"No Riva, you just didn't think at all. You are a fully fledged member of this House now and it is time that you started acting like it. I am tired of you thinking none of the rules apply to you," he said, stepping forward and snatching me by the arm. "It is time you learned what happens when adepts disobey the very simple rules. You reek of sex, and since I know there was no contract for you last night, that means there is yet another rule you have broken."

I was too terrified to speak, all I could do was try and break his grasp, but it was futile. He turned and looked at his Second, who had been waiting off to the side.

"Gather the other adepts, and bring the whip," he said, dragging me out to the courtyard.

[Riva Carle (R)]

Somewhere between the door of the courtyard and the whipping post, the shock wore off and I began to struggle.

"No, no, no," I said, futilely trying to find purchase with my feet against the cobblestones. "Please, no… I'm sorry, I won't.. please no." I tugged hard against his grip on my arm but it was to no use.

The whipping post loomed like the edge of a precipice in front of me. it wasn't the fact that I was being punished, it was the manner in which it was to happen. The pain would be incredible and it terrified me.

"You will learn your place," was all Octavier said as he dragged me up onto the dais.

Adepts had begun filing in to the courtyard, I could feel the waves of their shock and horror. I looked up at Octavier, pleading with him to stop, and for a moment I saw something that wasn't rage in his eyes, but nearly as quick it was gone again.

"If you are fond of that dress I suggest you remove it," he said. "I don't expect it would survive."

Images of Aleron flashed through my mind, and I knew that I could handle losing this gift he had given me too. I nodded, removing the dress awkwardly as Octavier changed his grip to allow me to remove it completely.

He spun my now naked body around and lifted my wrists above my head, shackling them to the post. I was sobbing so hard I could barely hear him as he said.

"Now we wait until everyone is here."

[Vivien nó Gentian(D)]

I joined a stream of adepts heading for the courtyard – not the one with the fountain where I splashed, or the sun-drenched lawn, but the one with the bare flags, the dais and the whipping post. I found myself next to my friendly neighbourhood nemesis, Celeste; I think perhaps I had sought her out deliberately for the comfort of a familiar face. We stood in the half-circle, our shoulders light touching. She didn’t look at me but I think we were glad to be together.

I was not the only adept to stifle a gasp as Octavier, having cast off his usual languor as if it was little more than a shadow of a self we did not know, dragged a girl towards the post. It took me little more than a moment to recognise the adept I had spoken with in Octavier’s private garden, the one who had told me Plaisir loved me, and who had frightened me with her too-knowing eyes and who I had avoided ever since.

“But … but … why …” I whispered, half-closing my eyes to the brutal business on the dais. I had never seen anyone naked for reasons other than pleasure before.

“What’s she done?” demanded Celeste, who is braver than I could be.

[Riva Carle (R)]

My forehead was resting against the post, and I was too terrified to realize I was drawing support from part of the device holding me here. I wanted to be gone, to turn in to a puff of dust and blow away, or just melt into the ground. Anything but this, anything… anything ….anything…

There was a scrape of boots and Octavier's voice rang out across courtyard, startling me and making me jerk at the shackles. "Riva no Gentian," he proclaimed. "For constant disregard of the rules of this House, for sneaking out, for putting yourself about your House and your service, and for engaging in sexual encounters outside of an assignation contract you are sentenced to three lashes."

I could hear the gasp of the assembled crowd even over my sobs. Octavier moved from my sight and I felt a new wave of panic rise inside me. I felt like I was going to be sick with terror.

There was a noise behind me like slither and hiss of a thousand snakes, and then I knew only pain as the lash sliced across my back. I screamed in agony, my vision a burst of red and white anguish.

[Vivien nó Gentian(D)]

Some of the other adepts flinched and some openly wept.

I covered my eyes with my hands so that I didn’t have to see, but I could still hear – the sharp whistle of the whip through the air, the resounding crack, and her screams.

I know some of the other houses can be harsh … but not dreamy Gentian, surely?
And everyone broke the rules. It was almost expected. We were always sneaking off for some reason or another. Perhaps I wouldn’t be too sorry to leave after all.

Celeste stood beside me, impassive, watching, the pressure of her shoulder warm against mine.

[Riva Carle (R)]

I knew the second and third lashes fell only from the immense increase in the pain, I was too lost to notice the actual lashes. My entire body felt as if it were coming apart, the agony ripping me apart and tearing me asunder.

My throat was so raw from screaming that I wasn't making sounds anymore, and I was too weak to shy away when I felt a presence beside me. through my pain glazed vision I saw it was not Octavier, but his Second, a look of sorrow and agony painting his own features. Carefully he released my wrists and held me so I wouldn't fall. The world tilted sickeningly and then I knew no more as the blackness claimed me.

[Vivien nó Gentian(D)]

As soon as it was over, I fled.

I didn’t even stay long enough to see what happened, or if she was all right … I just ran away.