Amethiel grins.
Once Amethiel was alone, and the monster obediently allowed himself to be chained to the wall, Amethiel immediately prepared himself for what was to come.
"I'm not sure if I've already told you." Amethiel hovers his hand just over the monster's body, fascinated. "But my name is Amethiel." He introduces himself.
He notices the monster watching him with curious eyes and looks up to meet its gaze.
"You can refer to me as Master, though," Amethiel says, slowly reaching his hands closer to the monster's torso.
He moved slowly, careful with every motion.
Amethiel wanted to see if the monster would react negatively, even though he already knew it was, more or less, docile.
But Amethiel wasn't a self-deemed genius if he didn't think ahead multiple times.
Amethiel has learned that some monsters are smart enough to seem docile as a natural way to catch their prey.
'I learned that the hard way.' Amethiel glances at one of the cages containing his monsters, but one monster specifically.
His Riftane Stag.
A majestic stag, mane appearing to tear through reality, antlers distorting light.
One of his specimens was actually a threat, dangerous even behind bars.
But of course, he had it handled one way or another.
'But that silly old thing isn't what's important right now.'
"Okay, big boy," Amethiel says with a smile. "Let's see how much potential you have."
Amethiel paused just before beginning.
'Right. Before I forget.'
He glanced at the monster, still exactly where he left it: chained, quiet, and watching.
"Don't move," Amethiel said absently, even though he already knew the creature wouldn't.
Still, giving orders felt natural. Amethiel had always liked telling things what to do.
Instead of reaching for his tools, Amethiel turned and walked over to the tall cabinet that lined the laboratory wall. He opened it and began scanning the neatly arranged sleeves inside.
Round discs.
'Vinyls… or whatever they're called.'
He had received the vinyls as a gift two years earlier. At first, he dismissed them as ridiculous, but now he recognized their usefulness in the laboratory.
Amethiel hummed softly as he flipped through them.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then he stopped.
"Ah. There you are."
He selected a black record, examined the sleeve, and then carefully placed it onto the phonograph. With a gentle touch, he lowered the needle, which landed with a soft crackle.
A melody filled the room.
The music was sweet and haunting, lingering in the air.
The kind that curled through the air like perfume.
Amethiel smiled.
"You know, I love this song."
The music grew as the first lyrics drifted through the lab.
"Hold my hand and walk with me,
Through the dark where no one sees.
If I bleed, then bleed with me,
Love was never meant to be free."
The moment the lyrics began, the monsters in their cages fell silent.
Amethiel noticed immediately.
Of course they did. He had trained them well enough to understand what this song meant.
It meant he was about to really begin.
Amethiel slipped on his gloves.
The leather of his gloves creaked as he pulled them tight over his fingers. Amethiel flexed his hands once to test the fit, then pushed the tray of instruments closer to his workspace.
Metal glinted beneath the dim lights.
"Stay with me inside the cage,
I'll write your name on every page.
If you run, I'll break your wings,
Love is crueler than it seems."
'Charming.'
Amethiel reached down and picked up a scalpel, turning it slowly between his fingers as the music continued.
He always liked starting small.
Small cuts revealed the most interesting reactions.
"Let's begin with something simple," Amethiel murmured.
He stepped closer.
The monster's glowing chest faintly illuminated the room, soft green light slipping through the cracks in its strange, fused body.
Stepping forward, Amethiel extended his hand toward the creature's chest.
His gloved hand rested gently on the creature's chest, testing its texture and warmth through the faint glow.
It was warm, almost alive under his palm.
'Interesting.'
So this creature was warm-blooded.
That alone already made it unusual.
The light beneath the surface pulsed slowly against his palm.
'Fascinating.'
The monster didn't move.
It simply watched him.
"If you tremble, I will stay,
If you cry, I'll look away.
Tie your heart and give it to me,
Love is just captivity."
Amethiel lifted the scalpel.
He traced the blade lightly across the glowing surface of the monster's chest.
Slow.
He observed every twitch.
He watched carefully.
The creature's red eyes followed the movement of his hand. There was no fear. No aggression.
Only quiet attention.
'Still nothing?' Amethiel wondered, growing more curious. Even now, there was no sign of tension. What was hiding behind that calm? He searched for the smallest sign. Did the creature hide pain, or had it simply given up?
He pressed the scalpel's edge a little deeper into the glowing chest, waiting for a reaction.
'It's almost like you're used to this.'
The music hummed softly behind them.
"Say my name like it's a prayer,
Even if I'm not playing fair.
Break your bones against my door,
You'll be mine forevermore."
"Perhaps this isn't painful enough for you," Amethiel mused aloud, tilting his head to study the creature. He observed its face closely, curiosity brightening his eyes. "You really are extraordinary."
With cautious intent, Amethiel applied more pressure to the scalpel against the glowing surface.
The scalpel pierced through the glowing surface with a soft, wet sound.
Warm light flickered beneath the blade.
Amethiel exhaled slowly.
"There we go."
His eyes shone with fascination as he watched for the reaction.
But the monster did not cry out.
Instead, its mouth opened.
"Ma… Ma…"
Amethiel paused.
The song continued behind him.
"If you bleed, then bleed for me,
Chains are just another key.
Love is cruel, but love is true,
Once you're mine, I'll keep you too."
"Is that the sound you make?" Amethiel murmured.
He leaned closer, studying the creature's face.
"It almost sounds like you're saying, Mama."
He continued working with the scalpel.
Blood began to flow slowly from the incision.
And still the monster didn't resist.
If anything, it simply looked curious.
"Mas… Ma…"
Amethiel finally looked up.
"Wait…"
The creature's lips moved again.
"As… ter…"
Amethiel's eyes widened.
"You're not making random sounds," he whispered.
His pulse quickened.
"You… are you trying to speak?"