The Collar

            The collar had been placed around my neck only yesterday.  It felt like it was choking the life out of me.  I lay myself upon the bed and just tried to breathe.  The room was covered in deep crimson and maroon as if blood had been splashed all over with pleasure.  It was adorned with gold and jewels, all sparkling in the cheery sunlight that came through the window to mock my pain.  There was far worse, however, than that which I tried to blind my eyes to.  “Just breathe,” I whispered to myself while choking upon the stench that filled the room.  It scented of many meetings, and from what I could scent, most were not welcomed.  I buried my face into my multi-colored fur, which was absolutely filthy from the chase the day before.  My long black hair was filled with dirt and the stench of him.  He had hardly touched me; however, his magiK stank of him.

            Stale tears stained my cheeks, and fresh ones warned of returning.  The collar pained my soul; the little shine chiming each time I moved from the magiK that had been placed upon it.  My tail curled between my legs as I tried, again, to think of a way to get this despicable magiK off me.  The only ability I had that would help me out of this magiK was my changling abilities; however, no matter how I transformed, the collar always shaped itself so I could not get it off.  I stared at the tapestry that hung on the wall of stone; colorful and reminiscent of joy I had never experienced.

            A knock at the door came and I tensed my muscles for ready.  As soon as the door opened, I bolted, knocking the woman over with her tray full of food.  I heard the clatter and her cries of fright, but ignored them I did.  I just ran.  I knew not the way out, but it mattered not.  All I wanted was to be free again.  The doors!  The doors were my way out.  Faster I ran.

            Two paces too slow and I fell to the ground with the hated man atop me.  “Too slow, my dear,” he hissed into my ear.  I could smell the fresh wine upon his breath, and his scent reeked of unspeakable deeds.  I could smell all he had been with in the past year, and it sickened me.  My ears pinned back as I tried to avoid scenting the one above me.

            Several of his house snickered and sneered at my ill-attempt at escape, while several servants lowered their heads or blinked sadly.  I gazed up at the servants, my eyes pleading.  Would none of them help me?  The floor was cold beneath my body and I smelled the free air leaking in through the open windows.  So close.

            Hopelessness was already setting in.  Never had I even been in such a thing as a building.  I fought tears and let a growl come from my throat without inhibitions.  My tail stiffened and my ears pinned as I glared up into those bright blue eyes.  My right front paw lifted and I sliced open his shoulder with a cry of rage.  I was released!  I rose to get to the door, but I soon found pain flowing through every part of my body.  I fell; curled up on the floor.  I opened my mouth, but no noise escaped; instead, I gave a scream in my native tongue of the mind, causing several cries from those around me.  As I hit the sharpest note, I was suddenly released from the hold.

            Slowly, I opened my eyes to find the accursed man,…Danon…,  rising to his feet.  Holding his shoulder, he glared at me, his eyes full of wrath.  “Back to the room,” he whispered, his voice quivering with anger.

            Gradually rising to my feet, I saw the horrified looks of all that were gathered in the hall.  Somehow, this only promoted what I wished to do.  Defiance was what settled in my mind, and it was what my spirit wished.  The growl grew again in my throat, as I answered, “No.”

            The pain returned again, and I fell flat on my face.  My claws extended and dug into the stone with a screech as I tried to cope with the insane amount of agony.  Will it not end?  Again, I gave a cry to all those in the room; however, my own pain blinded me so that I could not give notice to those around me.  Even with my screams, the pulsing sting ran throughout my body, from the tip of my calico ears to my curled tail.  When I finally ran out of will, my cry stopped and so did the pain.

            I saw colors I never knew existed in patches, blinding my sight as I looked to the accursed man who hoped to lock me away for his own.  To do what I could not be sure, but I had a good idea; rumors of him from other creatures, like myself, said he liked to torture us.  His magiK was too strong.  Nobody ever escaped; they were released, and by that time, their spirit was dead to the world.  I would escape though; I had to.  My thoughts were jumbled by the hatred and the need to be freed from this terrible place.  Trapped within walls of stone.

            This time he did not speak aloud, but directly to my mind; my native tongue.  I fell as soon as the sound of his thoughts reached my mind; my body, spirit, and mind all weak from the attacks of his magiK.  ::To the room.  Now.::

            I tried to raise my head, but the ringing in my sensitive cat ears rendered my equilibrium useless, and the pain that still wracked through my body, as an afterthought, was too much.  I greeted the darkness, hoping that it would bring some sign of hope.

His Offer

            I awoke in the room of crimson and maroon with my head panging and my muscles quivering.  My ears heard somebody beside me, and I let out a snarl.  The person, apparently a woman, ran out, but was sure to lock the door behind her.  After she left, silence ensued and worsened my temperament.  His scent wisped under the door before he was anywhere near the room.  My ears perked to his movements, and with each confident step he took, my growl grew louder.  It pained me to even make this sound, but I did not care.  The door opened slowly as Danon entered in all his splendor; his fingers adorned with rings, and his body covered in crimson velvet.  He approached leisurely, my growl turned to a snarl as he came to the bedside; however, he had called my bluff.  He knew I could not move.  He sat comfortably beside me on the bed and ran his fingers through my hair.  My snarl had already lost its power from the pain and turned to a light growl.  “Good kitty,” he spoke with a lofty kind of tone.

            I pulled away quickly and hissed at his hand, but my head seemed to explode in pain.  I saw the colors dancing before my eyes, once again; following, my head fell onto the cushioned bed, and I tried not to cry while he remained present.

            “Come now, Shinara,” he smiled.  “Don’t be angry with me.  It’ll be better here.  You’ll have warmth and food,” he paused before he finished his sentence, running his fingers over my tail, which lay limp away from my body.  “And companionship.”

            “Companionship I do not want,” I mumbled into the soft blankets.  My nose picked up the scent of some other female creature on his fingertips.  Stench.

            “Oh, but you need it.  Everybody does,” he said, as I felt his eyes study my form.

            “Need it I do not.  Alone I would rather be,” my words came out in pathetic whimpers.

            “I can take that pain away,” he whispered into my sensitive calico ear, as he leaned over my body.  “Just as I can give pain, I can heal it.”

            “With your magiKs I want nothing to do with!” I snapped.  I felt the collar tighten just slightly, but then it released.

            “And we really must do something with your clothes; the lack of them,” he continued calmly.

            “Fine I am.  No clothes do I need.”

            “Come now, change so you are human,” he ordered in a quiet voice.

            “No,” I answered, pulling my tail back toward my body.

            He breathed hot on the back of my neck as he spoke with agitation, “Do it.”

            “Make me you cannot.”  To my surprise, no pain came, but he still breathed hot upon my neck.

            “I’ll give you something if you do,” he spoke, his breath no longer on my neck.

            “Offer me nothing.  Nothing will make me do anything for you.”  Still, no pain came.  My muscles tensed as I waited.  Something he would inflict within this interview; he wanted his way no matter what.

            “There must be something I can give you,” he continued, his voice becoming sweeter.

            I felt myself cringe as his voice began dripping honey.  “Nothing.”  His weight left the bed and I heard his footsteps go to the door.  I raised my eyes as he left.

            “There is always something, girl.  And I will find it.”

Talo

            I was still locked in this hated room.  It was had only been two days now, but with each passing moment, I felt myself fall closer into despair.  There was nothing in this room that would satisfy me in any way.  My ears flattened and my tail twitched in irritation.  Aches still ran through my body with certain movement; however, my head no longer exploded in colors.  This, at the very least, made things better.  A familiar scent came to my nose, not of Danon, of somebody else.  The door unlocked, but it was not opened.  My tail tapped irritably, as I stared at the door made of some sweet-smelling wood.  ::Just come in.::  My mind voice rumbled with my irritation.  There was a long silence of hesitation, but I could still smell him standing there.  The door opened with a creak, very slowly, but he still did not enter.  I stared at the door, my tail tapping with a bit more frequency.  His one foot slowly entered, and then the next; his tabby paws landing cautiously.  He gazed up at me with his vine colored eyes, filled with, what I could tell, was regret.

            ::You how are?:: he asked in our native tongue, his voice timid.

            ::Fine I am.:: my voice more snide than anything as I gazed down at him from my place upon the crimson bed.

            He came closer, his steps a little more firm as I say this.  His ears are still lowered, as is his orange striped tail as he comes to the edge of the bed.  ::Glad I am to hear.  Worried about you I was.::

            ::Save it!:: I snapped.

            He visibly recoiled when I said it.  He stared up at me, his eyes beginning to water.  ::Mean for it to happen I did not.::  He hopped onto the bed and stared at me, as if waiting for me to do something.

            I blinked at him, not moving a muscle.  I wanted to hiss and spit at him, but somehow, I did not feel the need to.  Perhaps his guilt was enough.  ::Set me up you did.::

            He nodded slowly and his ears fell.  He turned onto his back, leaving his belly fully exposed to me.  It was not in a playful manner; it was serious.  ::I did.  Me will you kill.::

            My pupils narrowed as I stared at the soft fur of his belly.  Beneath were his insides: one slash with my claws and he would die of blood loss before even Danon would notice.  It was the thought of Danon that made me reject the thought, however.  My pupils widened again as I glared down at him.  ::Up will you get.::  If I had to live, he would suffer with me.  Although my claws dug in with frustration because I passed up the opportunity, I was happy with the decision.

            His eyes opened slowly, as he turned onto his belly carefully.  ::Sure you are?::

            His question was foolish to me as I looked away from his green eyes, once again looking to the high window: the barred window.  The room I had arrived in had now become my lavishly adorned prison.  I idly swatted at a string of pearls that hung down from the canopy above.  I noted a few rubies that were strung in to break up the white.  Danon loved the color red; I was certain it was for both blood and lust.  ::Be allowed in here you should not.  Know not does he that we may further our attraction.::  I stopped and looked at him.  It was not until now that I took note of the magiK that had just recently been placed about his neck.  Just as mine, it glowed softly; however, his did not sound when he made movement.  ::This done when was it?::

            He shook his head as he looked at me with half-lidded eyes.  His tail lay limp between his legs and his ears lowered further than they were even before.  ::After you came.::  He leapt to his feet and jumped down to the ground, his tail raised high and his ears perked as if he had heard some kind of demon.  Without a word, he raced out of the room, not even bothering to close the door behind him.

            Only a few moments later, I found his fear was well founded as Danon walked in.  He gave me an appraising look as he took a few steps in.  I turned back over to my belly, dismissing the string I had been toying with just before and glared at him.  I stared into his eyes, my ears twitching, and my tail swishing back and forth.  His eyes continued to study me as I glared.  Today he was not dressed in his usual fashion; no adornments on his fingers nor about his neck.  His clothing was not the deep purple or red that he normally took pride in; it was instead a loose brown doublet.

            A growl came from my throat and I snapped aloud, rising just a bit from my pose.  “What is it you want?”

            “Manners!” he snapped back sending a jolt of pain directly to my ears.

            I shook my head furiously as the high sound pierced my ears.  It was short.  That, at least, I was thankful for.  I glared up at him in my daze, his bright blue eyes shining down at me in reflection of the sun that shined through the barred window.  That hated window.

            A malicious smile spread across his face as he slammed the door shut behind him.  “Now.  We shall try this again.”