Daniel could see a smoulder in her eyes. It was the same look of disgust she usually gave him, but it was changed somehow. She was looking at him chained to a cross of wood, at her mercy. She was enjoying this.

The crop struck again, this time closer to his hand. “Do you understand? That was a direct question. Not rhetorical. Recognise it and respond."

"Yes,"

The crop struck the wood again. "Yes, what?"

"Yes, Amber!"

The crop this time struck his abdomen. Daniel could see the absolute glee in her eyes. The pain was searing, and he cried out at the suddenness of it. He remembered then what Bitty had said. "Yes, mistress!"

Amber's face softened a marginal amount. "Better. What do I have here at my mercy? A thing to play with. A toy. Beg me for mercy! Beg!"

Suddenly, a look of complete horror crossed her face, and she collapsed. “I can't! I can't!"

Bitty clapped her hands. “Everyone out! Now!" When no one moved, she screeched. “Get the fuck out! Now!"

Everyone stood and scurried out. Watching a gnome screech at you with such elastic skin was unnerving. You could see almost right down her throat when she screamed.

Daniel, meanwhile, was watching Amber. She was sobbing and had her arms wrapped around her. Bitty knelt beside her.

"Tell him. Tell him everything. Don't hold back. Do it for Amy. For Jasmine. For you. But tell him what you told me. You aren't the same.

You know this. Trust him for once. Trust me."

Amber nodded.

Bitty stood and walked out of the room.

Daniel realised it was just him and Amber in the room now. He was completely at her mercy. He felt his nut sack tighten and draw his balls deep inside him.

Amber stayed on the floor for a long time. Daniel shivered with the cool of the room. She had stopped crying and simply lay crumpled to the floor, looking down.

Daniel tried to speak, couldn't and cleared his throat. "Amber. Talk to me, please."

She said nothing.

"Something bad happened to you. You saw your mom raped. Is that right?"

He saw Amber nod her head a fraction.

“A-and your mom raped someone. Right? A spell caster?"

Amber looked up then. "Not just any spell caster. It was the same one my mom had raped. Gwydion's spell caster. M-my father. When I realised Gwydion was the same one from back then, it was really hard.

I had never known her name or how she looked. When it became clear...