Interlude
Why is it so chilly in here, she thought groggily as she regained consciousness. Did Dirk leave the window open again?
"Oh, you're up. Pity. I wanted to wake you myself."
The sound of that oily voice snapped Daphne back to reality. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, it quickly became obvious where she was.
"It can't be!" cried the Princess, horrified by the sight of Malthius approaching her with a hot poker. "Dirk rescued me! I was safe at home!"
"Look around you, my dear," chuckled the sadistic Count. "Do you really think you've been rescued?"
Daphne let out a sob of despair. It was true. The rescue, her reunion with her husband, family, and friends; all of it had been a dream.
"Unfortunately, I was a little too
enthusiastic
with the whip. I'm afraid I'll have to cauterize your wounded soles to stop the bleeding."
Before she could protest, Malthius touched the poker to the bloody bottoms of her feet. It was the most intense, burning pain she had ever experienced!
"AAAIIIIEEEEE!"
Suddenly, Malthius looked oddly worried.
"Daphne! It's okay!," he cried and began to gently shake her by the shoulder.
"OH MY GOOOD! IT BURNS!"
"DAPHNE
.....................
"
..WAKE UP!"
Daphne's eyes flew open. She was no longer in the Count's torture chamber, but her own bed. And, of course, it wasn't Malthius leaning over her, looking at her with such concern.
"Daphne, are you okay?"
She sat up, covered in sweat.
"I had the nightmare again, Dirk."
"I know. That's why I woke you," he sighed, putting his arm around her.
"I'm a real pain to sleep with these days, aren't I?"
Dirk looked into her eyes.
"No you're not, Daphne. We'll get through this."
"You're going to look for him again tomorrow, aren't you?," she asked as she began drifting back to sleep.
"Yes, of course."
"Just remember," she began dreamily, "you're not a murderer
" and she drifted off.
He knew what she meant. They had had several conversations about this subject before. She wanted him to bring in Malthius alive to show that good was stronger than evil. Her father, however, gave him license to kill the son of a bitch on sight, which was his own instinct. Looking back on the events of the last few weeks made it very hard to follow his wife's advice. He held her close as he tried to get back to sleep himself, ready to face nightmares of his own.