Crack! Shewinced as a whip descended on her back, sending bolts of pain up herspine. She opened her eyes and saw that she was in a large, roundroom. Her body was suspended in mid-air, with chains around herwrists and ankles, splaying her out in an 'X' shape. Her clotheswhere ripped in numerous places, and she couldn't turn her headenough to see who was wielding the whip.
“Lookat me,” the hoarse voice of Scott Summers called out, as hestepped into view.
“Scott...”Emma began to say, only for her former lover to smack her across theface.
“Isaid look,” he growled as he slapped her again, “not talk,bitch.”
“ScottI-” he cut her off once more by punching her jaw. That hurt, likehell. And in order to avoid more pain, she tried to go into herdiamond form. But, for some reason, she was unable to. Scott seemedto realize this, and smirked as he grabbed the back of her headroughly. He brought his fist into contact with her nose, breaking itbefore a newcomer's voice cut him off.
“Stop!”a crisp, clear, female voice shouted as the body it belonged tostepped into view. Emma's heart dropped as she realized it was Esme,one of her recently resurrected daughters. She was wearing a blackimitation of Emma's old White Queen outfit. Only this one was muchmore revealing, and not quite as pristine as the Black Queen's was.“It's my turn,” she hissed before slapping Emma's side.
“Andmine,” Sophie said as she stepped into view, wearing a red outfit.She kicked Emma with her stiletto shoes, drawing blood as she did so.“This bitch needs to pay.”
“Forevery-” Esme growled as she raked her nails across Emma's cheek.
“-minutethat-” Sophie grunted as she drove her knee into Emma's stomach.
“-shedidn't-” Esme struck Emma's chin.
“-lookfor us!” Sophie finished as she kicked Emma's forehead.
******
“Soit's a deal?” Jean asked as she leaned against the wall of thelounge. Opposite her, Sophie and Esme Cuckoo sat on the couch, whileLaura and Jubilee stood in the corners. The room was dimly lit, andthe blinds where drawn for Jubilee's sake.
“No,”the twins replied coldly.
“Excuseme?” Jean replied, raising her eyebrow as she spoke.
“Publichumiliation,” the twins said in unison. “Or nothing. We want herto suffer. And shewill,” they continued with a deadly smirk, “or we'll go straightto the professor. And expose you.”
“Ineed a gesture of goodwill first,” Jean said plainly, “adown-payment on your loyalty, if you will.”
“Done,”the twins said, after exchanging a single glance.