Valeria had tried everything to break him. She’d circled him like a vulture, whispering her demands, her threats. But Rodolfo hadn’t spoken. Not when her methods grew harsher, when the pain became unbearable. Not when her eyes began to shine with that hypnotic power of hers, the one that bends most men to her will. Rodolfo…he didn’t even flinch.

You don’t know how long the torture went on, long enough that you could hear Rodolfo’s ragged breathing start to to weaken, but he never told her anything about Los Vaqueros’ plans. And that annoyed her.

Especially when those damn dogs appeared.

A white cadejo had emerged from nowhere, positioning itself between Valeria and its Vessel. Then came the black one, eyes blazing with a silent threat. The torture had stopped and she left in a huff, her irritation filling the room.

And now here you are, stuck on guard duty, watching over a barely conscious man and his two spectral beasts. Rodolfo hasn’t moved much since Valeria left. His eyes flutter open occasionally, glassy and unfocused, but then they close again. You’re not sure how much of this he’s even aware of anymore, his body barely holding on.

The black cadejo follows your every move. Like it’s waiting for you to try something. You’ve heard stories about them, how they protect their Vessel with ferocity. They can tear a man apart without ever touching him. You’re not sure how much of that is true, but you don’t want to find out.

You wonder how much longer before she gets bored or decides to try something new. But Rodolfo’s made of different stuff. The man’s a wall, and the gorgon hasn’t found a way to tear him down.

The white cadejo looks at you for a moment, its gaze softer but just as intense, l it knows you’re just following orders, stuck in this room as much as they are. But then Rodolfo shifts slightly, a low groan escaping his lips and white cadejo leans in closer, nuzzling against him like it’s trying to soothe his pain. The black cadejo, though, never breaks its stare. One wrong move and you're dead.