I allowed myself to be brought before the Mistress and took a seat next to her. First I needed to find out exactly what she had planned. I had a last resort option if things got bad so I decided to see where she was going with this.

"Please help the others fetch the 'gift'."

Olma nodded once before heading out of the room. We were alone again. I looked at the objects that were on the table, Alessia's knife, a golden key much like the one I gave to Art but more intricate, with delicate floral patterns in the body and shaft of the key. The one that I couldn't take my eyes off of was something I had never seen before, it was some sort of smooth stone bangle or collar. It was bright green marbled with red hues that seemed to shift with time, etched on the inside was unknown writing that I swore I recognised from somewhere but my memory failed me. One end had a hinge to allow the stone loop to open, while the other had a locking clasp. Something about it didn't sit right with me, it seemed ominous or perhaps dubious? I didn't have the words to describe the feeling. All I knew is that it wasn't good.

"Interested in these? You should be, they are part of a game I'd like to play. I want you to give yourself to me, body and soul and I want it done willingly. You're no better than an animal but even animals have their uses. Beasts of burden, livestock, guards but I've found a use for you as a pet."

I was sick of her already, she had dropped all subtlety and when I looked at her eyes they were disdainful. The temptation to reach out and grab the knife was great but I held back. In this position, I couldn't do much before I was frozen, so I waited.

"Tell me what do you want more than anything? Olma says it's revenge. What if I could give you that Hmmm? What would you give to avenge your dear friend? Alessia was it?"

She whispered. I knew she had dug around but hearing her utter that name made my blood boil. Seeing my reaction she smiled.

"Hit a sore spot did I? Don't worry, I'll be more gentle. Dear Olma is bringing Jon up here as we speak. I hear he put up quite the fight for a backwater drunkard, arresting him was no simple feat."

She got me.

"Do you know what happened to Alessia?"

I needed closure, I needed to know if she was truly gone. I couldn't be at peace without that knowledge.

"Her body was never found, the guards assume that an animal must have gotten to it–"

"HER. The animals must have gotten to her."

It? Like some nameless thing? She was a person.

"Touchy aren't we? Even animals can mourn so I can't say I blame you."

She was trying her best to get under my skin, trying to make me angry, to make me impulsive. I was easier to manipulate that way. There were three quick knocks on the door before Olma's voice called out,

"Mistress. We've brought him."

"Enter!"

There he was, Jon was shackled and being dragged forwards by two unknown women led by Olma. The two people I hated most in this world were now in the same room. I knew that I needed to stay calm and rational but I couldn't hold back the inferno of rage that engulfed my heart.

"What did you do to her!"

But Jon was silent.

"Where's Alessia!"

But still no response.

"You've got a choice, little rose. I'll let you gut him."

Her poisonous words finally found the weakness in my mind and seeped deep into my thoughts. He was defenceless, I could cut him apart without resistance and make him feel my wrath. I would easily throw my freedom away if it meant that I could finally be rid of his existence.

"But if you don't, I'll let the kids live here like royalty without a care in the world. They'll have nothing to fear for the rest of their lives."

Everything was a game to her, she loved every second of my mental torture as I wrestled with my inner demons trying to regain control.

"That collar on the table, do you know what it is? It's a slave collar, probably the greatest contribution the humanoid races made to the world. Extremely illegal and more expensive than you could imagine, that runic magic really is something. Once that collar closes around the neck it can't be removed without killing its host. It was specially designed to combat humans, it cuts off our connection to our blade and forces loyalty to the owner of its master ring. It's only legal use is for stopping the most dangerous criminals.

Put that collar on and I'll let you kill that man."

If it were just my life at stake I would have jumped at the chance but I couldn't knowingly sacrifice the kids just for my selfishness. If I chose to forgo my revenge they would be allowed the honour of being caged here until they died. I knew what I must do, be a distraction,

"Why would I want to kill Jon? I think he's a good, honest man. I have nothing but respec–"

Olma didn't disappoint, her screaming guandao manifested instantly as she sped across the room like lightning. I made my move as her whole body stopped mid-sprint. I snatched the collar from the table and bent it back trying to snap the hinge, the metal warped and bowed a little before I too was stopped in place.

"Well now, that was truly unexpected."

I focused on my muscles as much as I could but even though my movement was better there was no strength behind it. I couldn't finish breaking the collar.

"If I had been a tad slower you might have succeeded."

She gloatingly scoffed. She reached in front of me slowly and attempted to pluck the collar from my grasp but looked surprised when it didn't budge. She tugged harder and tried twisting it from my grasp but with the way I was holding the collar, there was no way to wiggle it free. I felt her slip a hand up my sleeve and massage my forearm.

"What has Olma been feeding you? You've got some lovely muscles hidden away, don't you? I'd like to see them up close later but first I need to fix this little mess."

For the first time, I saw the Mistress not in control of a situation. She stood up and paced around while chewing on one of her long red nails before snapping her attention to the two women with Jon.

"Haley! Go and fetch help to restrain Olma. She's useless when she's like this. Now!"

Even while frozen Olma radiated killing intent, as far as she was concerned I was the only thing that mattered at that moment.

"Sasha! Keep a good eye on that man, his blade is a physical enhancer. If he so much as twitches, subdue him."

The Mistress barked orders with none of the sultry subtexts that she usually exhibited. It was a while before a group of five women were brought back to pick up Olma's paralysed body.

"Gather anyone who isn't busy to help keep her locked up until she calms down."

It didn't take long for only four of us to be left in the room. The Mistress continued her pacing while she thought. I wondered why she didn't just kill me or the kids but it was like she had heard my thoughts, she strutted up to me.

"I've kept my word to the letter, haven't I? The mongrels were fed, bathed, clothed and treated nicely during their stay right? I never go back on a promise. So listen well because you will have only one chance.

You can put on that collar and every child will go free, I will not chase them. As far as I would be concerned they no longer exist. I'll even throw in an extra to show my generosity, your purity will be safe until your twentieth birthday. You're too young to truly excite me anyway."

She walked right up to me and crouched down to eye level, pressing her nose against mine. Her piercing glare delved deep into my very being but when I looked back, I saw no soul reflected in her eyes. Just two black pinpricks in oceans of blue. For just a moment I caught a glimpse of the monster within and it terrified me.

"But if that collar breaks I will bring each child before you and slaughter them one by one and there among the blood and viscera you will be mine. If that collar breaks then I guarantee you will be the sole survivor."

I was shaken to my core. The paralysis was lifted but I was still frozen, not by her power but by fear. Fear of having seen the true nature of someone who had fully cast aside their humanity. I felt like she believed the worth of the collar far exceeded the value of every one of our lives. If the collar was so precious maybe I could accomplish both my goals at once.

"On two conditions."

"You're not in the position to be making demands."

"If I break this collar then we both lose. Even if you killed everyone in the building it wouldn't replace this collar would it?"

Her patience was running thin. It was plain to see. She tapped her foot and gestured with an open palm for me to keep speaking.

"I want to see Jon's blade to confirm his guilt and I want no one to interfere with my decision on how to handle him. If everything else you said remains true I'll put on the collar."

"That's all? Deal."

It may not have seemed like much to her but I'd achieved what I wanted. I protected the kids and had the chance to put Alessia at ease. My freedom was a small price to pay. There was just one thing,

"How do I know you won't go back on your word?"

I was still wary, the instant the collar was locked I would be a slave.

"I can hold up half of my bargain now. For the other half, you will need to trust me. Sasha! Release Jon's shackles and allow him to manifest."

The burly miner held up his wrists and Sasha dutifully unshackled them. Jon had a stare that seemed to go straight through me, past the walls and endlessly into the distance. Eventually, he held out a hand and in a flash of shattering light his blade manifested. It was a battered cleaver of tremendous thickness, it more resembled a block of metal than a weapon. The wordless song that droned out of the blade had a steady rhythm and seemed to have one extremely low note that occurred regularly. It fit a miner perfectly, the steady drone paired well with the image of striking rock to its beat.

I made sure that my grip on the collar was tight before closing my eyes and singing. I slipped my voice into the workman's hum as yellow orbs populated my vision.