[The slap gets the biggest reaction out of Giles yet - he flinches, turning his head aside with the blow, and makes a soft little sound that somehow communicates just as much if not more than any cry of pain. It's such a humiliating, demeaning gesture at the best of times. And it's poetic, in a way. Those few times Giles has been overcome by some evil force, hadn't he always slapped Helios, struck him just like his brother had, to reinforce the other man's feelings of worthlessness and powerlessness?
Only now does Giles understand firsthand how effective that was. And even now, he feels sorry for ever letting it come to that.
He's too stunned even to struggle when he feels Apep's weight settling on top of him, pinning him more firmly to the bed. But he does try, when he realizes that the dark god is suddenly so much closer. The feelings of being trapped and powerless are overwhelming right now, and even as Giles looks away, he can feel the red and black gaze on him.
Of course, when he looks away, it's just in time to see the snakes take shape.
Giles can't stop a cry of startled pain as his restraints suddenly grow teeth, and those teeth tear into him. Snake's fangs, so much like a vampire's - he's been bitten by them before, but it's not a feeling you ever get used to, or adjust to. He can feel the pain of it even after the assault ends, the hot, burning pain of torn flesh and freely flowing blood. A couple of the snakes probably opened up some important veins.
Maybe he'll bleed out before Apep has the chance to be finished with him. Before Helios can be forced to see this...
Giles is so focused on the pain in his body, from the bruising to his cheek from that slap to the sight of his shredded-open wrist, that he doesn't even notice the change at first. Not until Helios speaks - then, there's no mistaking that voice, the pain and the anguish and the sorrow there. Giles' gaze snaps up to meet Helios' hazy green eyes. For a moment, he doesn't believe what he's seeing, wonders if he's hallucinating. Wonders if maybe, just maybe, Helios had actually overcome Apep.
But then he takes in the sight of the knife, raised to strike, and Giles understands.]
...I don't blame you.
[Whatever happens, it won't be Helios' fault. It might be the last words he gets to say to the other man, so Giles hopes he understands.]
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Only now does Giles understand firsthand how effective that was. And even now, he feels sorry for ever letting it come to that.
He's too stunned even to struggle when he feels Apep's weight settling on top of him, pinning him more firmly to the bed. But he does try, when he realizes that the dark god is suddenly so much closer. The feelings of being trapped and powerless are overwhelming right now, and even as Giles looks away, he can feel the red and black gaze on him.
Of course, when he looks away, it's just in time to see the snakes take shape.
Giles can't stop a cry of startled pain as his restraints suddenly grow teeth, and those teeth tear into him. Snake's fangs, so much like a vampire's - he's been bitten by them before, but it's not a feeling you ever get used to, or adjust to. He can feel the pain of it even after the assault ends, the hot, burning pain of torn flesh and freely flowing blood. A couple of the snakes probably opened up some important veins.
Maybe he'll bleed out before Apep has the chance to be finished with him. Before Helios can be forced to see this...
Giles is so focused on the pain in his body, from the bruising to his cheek from that slap to the sight of his shredded-open wrist, that he doesn't even notice the change at first. Not until Helios speaks - then, there's no mistaking that voice, the pain and the anguish and the sorrow there. Giles' gaze snaps up to meet Helios' hazy green eyes. For a moment, he doesn't believe what he's seeing, wonders if he's hallucinating. Wonders if maybe, just maybe, Helios had actually overcome Apep.
But then he takes in the sight of the knife, raised to strike, and Giles understands.]
...I don't blame you.
[Whatever happens, it won't be Helios' fault. It might be the last words he gets to say to the other man, so Giles hopes he understands.]