I Bet You'd Be Doin' Like Me, and it Ain't So Bad [NSFW - Violence]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj3spHfTHGo

He had called him again, just like he had the night before, and the night before that.  The boy was so weak-willed it was almost a non-challenge, boring in its own way.  Yet, there was a certain pleasure in breaking one so innocent; like stripping the leaves from a fresh sapling with one's fingertips in a single motion.

Some called him extreme in his ways, others who were just as deranged as him; they just lacked the guts.  The ambition.  He knew what he needed to succeed.  An apprentice, yes.  The boy was of course, a trial run.  He didn't expect the idiot to last a month.  Practice makes perfect, though.  Without a few rats to break, he may damage his true prize; once he found it, that is.

The boy had no talent for the arcane, but that wasn't an issue.  A steady diet of demon's blood could help him along, if just through the first few phases.  After that he could use him as a rat for his new rat.  How efficient!

Bilius walked over to the boy, who was chained to the basement wall, struggling in vain.  He had to admit, as stupid as the boy was he did at least attempt to fight back.  Oh, it was so much more fun when the rats were active.

Clutching the shard which held a piece of the boy's soul he kneeled before him like a parent would to a child, speaking in a calm, yet mocking voice.

"Settle down, settle down."

The boy kicked at him, sending himself off-balance and onto the stone floor.  Scrambling to his hands he lunged out again, the chains holding him back.

Bilius sighed.  So stupid, he thought to himself.  As he held the shard it pulsed with a bright, hateful energy.  Closing his eyes he concentrated on the necessary things to dominate the sheep.

The boy froze in place, flattening himself on the ground.  His eyes darted about in every direction, though the rest of his body seemed frozen.

"Now, I am going to teach you something.  Pay attention," Bilius said with a sneer, holding the pulsating shard to where the boy could see it. 

"Do you know how to hate, boy?"

The disgusted glare which came back from the young man indicated that he did indeed have a firm grasp on the idea of hatred.

"Good, good!  At least you know something, eh?  Now, I want you to look at me and think about how much you hate me right now.  I bet you do, huh?"

The boy's stare showed that he had complied, full of a burning desire to harm.

"Oh ho!  I think we can do better than that!  Do you know what you did last night?  You were quite efficient," Bilius sneered.

The boy was now breathing in ragged gasps, all his energy seemingly focused on wanting to tear Bilius apart.

"I sent you on an errand.  One I would normally take care of myself.  Of course, why have slaves and not use them?  Yes, anyway, in my line of work I have others who would like take my secrets.  I am much like a cook, so many family recipes in my head..."

Bilius chuckled.  It sounded hollow and without joy.

"There was this young man, a bit older than you, I think.  He has been sticking his nose in my business for quite a while now, becoming a real thorn in my side.  You took care of him rather well with that knife.  I hope his family can find a way to bury him, disemboweled and all.  It was a real mess, but you seemed to enjoy it!"

The boy seemed to be fighting against the shard's hold, shaking and pushing himself from the ground in very small increments.

"Oh, regretting it now?  The way you looked when you saw the light go from his eyes, you were as giddy as a schoolgirl!"

Now on his knees, the boy was trying to rise; his teeth grinding together in agony.

"What are you going to do about it?  You're all chained up!  How can you get to me when I'm over here?"

He hoped the boy would succeed, even though it would mean pain for him.  Still, if he could train this simpleton he could train anyone or anything.  The possibilities were endless.

The boy was looking right into his eyes.  He was sure that if the brute weren't bound he would've already killed him.

"ARGH!"

Bilius stumbled back, clutching his chest.  The boy had done it, he had actually done it!

Still chained to the wall, the boy continued to stare Bilius down, nothing but malice in his expression.  He fought against the chains like a rabid dog, as if unaware his struggle was futile.

A wave of pain shot over Bilius's shoulder.  The old man clutched it, doubling over.  It was going wrong, all wrong!  The boy wasn't supposed to be able to get this far yet.  How had he?

A grating noise echoed through the basement.  The chains were twisting against each other as the boy struggled, warping.

Bilius's heart jumped in his burning chest.  The demon's blood!  It must have been too much.  Why did he have to take the easy route?  Why couldn't he have just worked with the boy?

A loud snap signaled the breaking of one of the chains.  The boy's right arm shot out at Bilius's neck, gripping it like a vice.  The boy looked simply deranged, his face now contorted into a sick grin.

Bilius stared up in horror, knowing it was too late.  The rat had won, gnawing its way through his maze.  At least his last experiment was a success!

Pop.

It only took a few seconds for the old man to die, his windpipe crushed.

Joss was euphoric.  He tossed the corpse of his wood-be captor aside as if it were a ragdoll.  He felt so full of life!  All he knew was that he wanted more of this good feeling.  It could never end, or he would be lost.  He knew he would be.

He bent down to pick up the shard which contained a small piece of his soul before stomping up the stairs to rummage through Billius's possessions.  He grabbed whatever looked useful, a few vials here, a book or two there, and handful of the whispering shards.  This time they felt so pleasant, as if encouraging him.  He shivered; ecstatic.