cont. from docks: - The Castle Under the Swamp

The king in Yellow makes his way towards the swamp carrying her easily.

"Do you wish to speak of this, pet?" He whispers silently in her ear.

English fully failing her "She she she said to go away....", with a soft childs voice. "I was good...." distraught but in Spanish. Her body shaking from the barrage of emotions and the inability to cope with it all.

He pets her head gently and nods as he walks.

"I suspected she might. You were not meant for the outside world, pet. It will..." he sighs softly. "It will always disappoint you. Born and bred, you were always meant to serve me."

She holds tightly onto him, afraid he will be leaving her, and she fights from agreeing with her. A last ditch effort that he can feel her asleep in his arms, as all her will is gone.

He soothes and whispers quietly to her as he walks.

"Only for me, pet. You were bred only for me. The world is...unfulfilling. It has failed you and will again. But if you ask for chains, pet, to go with your collar, you will know I cannot leave you or banish you from my home. Chains to match your pretty collar."

Trying to shake her head no, but not having the energy or will to do so. She looks up and over at him, huge green eyes rimmed in red, and tears start to fall again. Unable to say no to him, not wanting to at this moment either, but so weary and in so much emotional pain.

He whispers quietly to her, "You know I speak truth. You have been dismissed by your friends, abandoned by lovers, abused by those of station. Who here has treated you better then I?"

She closes her eyes, whispering "None.", knowing some where in the logical part of her mind what is next.

The King in Yellow nods, "Yes. Who has taken you in and given protection and asked for only loyalty? Who were you born to serve, pet?"

With a defeated tone "You." but said.

"Good girl."

She stays curled into him, then looking up at him with an anticipatory look, but calm the shaking has stopped. She still has the tears down her cheeks, but she seems to only have eyes for him.

"You want my leash, don't you pet? To be chained to me so that you are certain of forever having a place."

He produces a fine link, mesh leash from the side opposite her and shows her.

She sees the leash, then nods slowly at him, and waits for him to attach it.

The leash snaps into place quietly and the latch promptly disappears.

The other side is clicked onto his belt. The sensation rippling through the metal is being owned completely. Good or bad, it doesn't say. Just... clearly the sense of being property.

She watches as the latch disappears, then closes her eyes, so tired and yet so safe. She curls in tighter trying to hold on to the calm being around him creates.

He carries her the rest of the way home in silence, petting her quietly and overall quite pleased with himself.

She is sound asleep when he reaches home.