Corvus knew the man was a fool, but still they were more disappointed in Adrian than they expected to be. Looking down on the bloodied face of their previous employer, they flicked the needle of a syringe in their hand, then inserted it into one of Adrian’s bulging veins.
“I’m trying to help you,” they said. A frown marred their features as the man began to groan and strain against his bonds. “If you keep pissing Vos’iin off he’s going to start taking fingers. Fuck’s sake, he nearly broke your nose again.” They dabbed at his face with a wet cloth then, taking Adrian’s hateful glare in stride. With a deeply reddish pink cloth in hand, Corvus washed it out in the bowl beside them. Now the water reflected the same shade.
They shook their head and continued to clean the blood off the man.
“You know that he killed your new side piece, right?” That got a response out of Adrian, though Corvus only hovered their free hand over the cloth in his mouth. “Short fuse on that one. If he cuts your tongue out for his personal collection there won’t be much I can do.”
The response was more controlled this time. Removing the gag, Corvus prepared to reapply it the moment Adrian started screaming.
“What the hell are you doing with him then?” Adrian asked through a swallow. Corvus gave him some water though they were reserved with the amount. It looked like their solution was taking effect rather quickly.
It would make him far easier to deal with. Quiet, and a little more malleable.
“If it were up to me I would have done all this myself, but Vos’iin got roped in. The real question is why the lady would think Vos could be trusted when his victim is the one we want.” Corvus glanced towards the closed door. On the other side their familiar sat sentinel. “Not that it matters much to me. This is all good fun.”
“Fucking me up is good fun?” Adrian sneered. Another trickle of blood oozed out from his left nostril.
Corvus smirked, “very much so. You’ve been useful for my experiments.” They placed a thumb coyly on their bottom lip. “How do you feel? Relaxed?”
Adrian sucked his teeth then turned away.
Rolling their eyes, Corvus supposed that this was still preferable. They took the bowl out to the enclosed backyard and fed the ailing grass. On their way back inside, their shoulder bumped into another, and Vos’iin pushed them back against the doorway.
Not amused, Corvus merely responded with a dead look of their own.
“What? I hope you know I don’t have the kind of hole you’re looking for.” They said, noticing the immediate displeasure on Vos’iin’s face. The elf slapped their palm into the wall beside their head and then leaned in. Their noses were nearly touching.
“Don’t fuck with me,” Vos’iin demanded through a growl. “All of this bullshit is starting to piss me off. Keep him quiet or I cripple the fucker.”
“Gods, what did I do to deserve even a moment of your miserable existence?” They hissed, then blinked upon hearing a sound from Adrian’s room. It sounded like something moved.
They both heard it, and Vos’iin was quick to investigate. There was a dagger held at the ready in his hand.
Corvus wondered if the elf initially intended it for them.
Nothing was out of sorts in the room. At least, not at first. While their companion inspected the ropes, Corvus looked to the instruments they had left in the room. One of the syringes was missing.
“Fuck—“
Just as they turned, Adrian had Vos’iin in the crook of his elbow and administered the entire solution within the syringe directly into Vos’iin’s neck. Elbowing his assailant, the elf pulled out the instrument, which broke the needle in his neck and elicited a pained look from Corvus as they separated the two.
Ethereal appendages reached out from below to restrain the duo. Adrian was already limp, his eyes glassy, as Corvus’s serum finally took effect. Vos’iin followed soon after.
“Dammit, why are you so fucking annoying?” Corvus hissed. “Guess your daddy really did teach you a thing or two.” They placed the two down gently, then checked Vos’iin for his pulse. It was a bit slow but would improve in a few hours. With the help of their previously summoned hands, they dragged Vos’iin into another room then returned to tie Adrian back up.
This time they would ensure the man couldn’t escape.
Later, while in the process of brewing another serum, their familiar warned them that Vos’iin was creeping over. A big exasperated sigh was necessary. Really, a drink was warranted in this case, though Corvus had no desire to be even slightly inebriated around the elf.
“Did you untie that fucker?” Vos’iin shouted while slamming the door open. Expecting this outburst, Corvus was silently thankful that they paused their work. With a look bereft of emotion, they turned to Vos’iin while keeping their arm draped over the back of the chair.
“No, you idiot. That guy is literally the Adrian Giarmund. You know, son of Reaver Giarmund?”
Vos’iin began to walk over. Before he could reach them, the sorcerer grabbed Vos’iin with another summoned appendage. They did not otherwise react.
“He can escape from all sorts of situations. Now he can hardly move, so calm down.” They turned back to the table, though Vos’iin wrenched themselves out of their grip. He did not provoke them further. “I’ll keep drugging him.”
“What the hell was that shit?” Vos’iin returned to the door. “Never seen more vivid nightmares.”
Corvus smiled to themselves, “a simple concoction. I certainly hope Adrian enjoys them.”