The room was cold. My teeth chattered against one another, no matter how much I tried to control them. It wouldn’t help. If he found out I was starting to get comfortable, he would just find a way to make it worse.

The room was empty, save for a toilet and a metal bed, complete with lumpy pillow and blanket. My ankle was heavy, tied to the wall by a metal shackle and chain. The metal looped against my skin was another way to keep me freezing. I could only thank my lucky star that I hadn’t gotten frostbite—even if he’d probably be happy if that happened.

I shivered under the thread-bare blanket, trying not to think about everything that had happened, groaning as my head pounded from the abuse of last night. Or at least that was what my guess for the time. The cell had no windows. I couldn’t know how many hours had passed, whether I slept properly or not. There was nothing, and my power wasn’t helpful in those kinds of things, either. It could only give information about the future, rather than anything that could actually help me.

I probably should have tried to remember the questions he asked, the numbers I had given him, as nails were run through my brain, but I shrank deeper into the blanket instead, remembering his words and the way it tightened all around me.

“You’re better off not remembering. I don’t need you to remember—I don’t need you for anything but your power. I could ensure that, you know? You won’t know anything else, everything a blur until it’s time for you to answer…”

Chronos had connections. He knew people who could do exactly that.. He might still change his mind, turn me into something mindless that could only give him numbers when asked. No thoughts behind my eyes, just an empty doll save for the access to my power.

I found ways to distract myself, barely listening except to tell him the answer to his questions. 80.43%. 21.36%. 63.70%. I didn’t know what the numbers meant, what questions they correlated to. So they were useless, despite the numbers being seared into my mind.

Maybe it would be easier to just stay like that forever. Not thinking at all until there was a reason to start again. After all, I couldn’t see any way to leave this place. I buried my face in the lumpy pillow, asking if I had a chance to be free, to not be shackled one way or another.

The pain made me wince, barbed wire being dragged across my soft, sensitive brain. It snagged and hooked, and yet I endured. Anything to find the answer.

0.82%

I wanted to laugh and choke on the numbers. Not even one percent.

But then again, I didn’t have anyone who would save me. There were my parents, but they had probably given up on me, considering how long I had been here, in the cell. I couldn’t muster any will to feel sad about how I was lost to them—or just be happy that they no longer need to take care of me. He would keep me alive. A tool to tell him how his ventures would go, whether it was against rival gangs, or the government, or whoever else had offended his watchful eye.I retreated into my mind, letting my eyes close. I knew what would happen next if I kept spiraling. I would think about how stuck I was, buried beneath his desires. There was no end for me, no escape, except to become a robot that would pump out numbers, no matter how much it hurt.

Shackled, restrained, given nothing but threats. My thoughts circled around them again and again. He was repugnant. Who knew if he had anyone else? Other prisoners in other rooms? Maybe there was someone who would give him all the information he needed.

The two of us would be great together. Working in tandem, exactly as he dictated.

The hopelessness swirled, infecting my thoughts. Any attempts to fight only resulted in pain, in more efficient ways to break me. He had let me run away once. Just once.

Even then, I couldn’t escape his prying eyes. He captured me within the hour. I shuddered, remembering the way he smiled as I was dragged back into his limousine, hands cuffed behind my back. “Don’t you see? I have eyes everywhere, Miss Fallweather. You shouldn’t have done that.”

He smiled, too wide and too full of teeth. He didn’t push any further, but it was enough. I never tried again. There hadn’t been any punishment that time, but I was certain that next time would be different. If it happened again… he’d make sure it was the last time.

There was a soft rustling sound from the far end of the cell. I tilted my head to hear it better, searching for anything that could have made it. I froze, silent and still. It couldn’t have been me making that sound. It had to be something else. Someone else.

There was another rustle, and my breath caught in my throat. It sounded like ruffling clothes, quiet enough I’d never be able to hear it through the thick walls and iron doors. It couldn’t have come from outside my cell.

I slowly opened my eyes, peeking through the eyelashes. My heart caught in my throat. The shadows at the end of the room drew together. Merging. Melding. They stretched, mixing and combining and linking together, until they formed into a person, dark and undefined. A living silhouette.

Before I could open my mouth, the shadows changed. No longer a dark shape, no longer a silhouette. It was a human. A real, flesh and glory human.

I jerked up on the bed, letting the blanket fall and the cold seep into my clothes. I didn’t know what to do. My mouth hung open as I stared in shock at Umbra, one of the greatest heroes in the world. Not the greatest,  like Cavalier or Oracle or Talon, but she was up there. One of the heroes they called when a problem was too big for the core group alone.

She was standing in the middle of the cell, comfortable and relaxed, as if she was right where she belonged. Her outfit was a cat-suit, dark and tight-fitting, with a few sleek gray lines mixed in. There was armor too, hidden beneath the taut fabric it wouldn’t be too obvious. She wore a dark mask with pale yellow lens to complement her blonde hair. She stared into me, and I shivered from more than the cold, shifting anxiously beneath her watchful eye.

For the first time since that day in the limousine, warmth filled my chest. I sat up straighter as I watched her. She watched me back, tilting her head slightly as she appraised me impassively.

My mouth was too dry to speak, too dry for me to try and beg for mercy or forgiveness. I held tight to the tiny scrap of hope I’d found, hidden so deep I hadn’t even known it existed until that exact moment.

“Are you… here? Are you really here?” I rasped. I held out my hand to see if I could touch her, or if she was just a mirage. She stepped forward and took my hand in hers. It was so warm. My chest tightened. My throat closed up. I did my best to hold back the tears pooling in my eyes. Once I started crying, I wouldn’t be able to stop.

“Indeed.” She said, voice smooth and sophisticated. “I’m real.” She tried her best to look friendly, smiling as she moved toward me, but her smile was a bit too wide, like it was her first time making that expression. Uncanny. Something about it sent a shiver down my spine. I did my best to ignore it. She moved closer, looming over me as she pressed a soft hand against my cheek. Electricity arced through my body, flowing from wherever she touched me, down my legs and to the tips of my toes. My stomach flipped as she looked down at me, half of her face hidden by a mask. 

“Are you ready?” She whispered.

I gave her a stiff nod, and she moved even closer, gently wrapping her arms around me and lifting me from the bed. I flushed as she held me close, enveloping me completely. The pressure didn’t make me panic. It was comfortable. Cozy.

Warm.

My eyes fluttered closed, and all the tension fled my body as I relaxed for the first time in months.

“Please. Relax. We can talk properly after we get you out of here.” She hummed, her voice kinder, softer, better than any I’d heard in years. It felt like my mind had been wrapped in a warm blanket, and it was all I could do to mumble a response. “Hold tight, no matter what happens.”

Shadows enveloped the two of us, and I suddenly learned how it felt to be swallowed whole, to have cavernous jaws close around me as I tumbled deeper into darkness.

The shadows surrounded me. Umbra surrounded me. I could feel her everywhere, in everything, every single part of the environment under her complete control.

I found myself relaxing further into her embrace, despite the fact she could have killed me easily, or maybe because of that. She could have twisted my spine or neck into knots with only a thought. Whatever happened to me… it wasn’t up to me right now.

It was surprisingly easy to let go. It was surprisingly easy to put my life in her hands.

Consciousness greeted me with a soft, throbbing pain near the front of my skull. A symptom of me overusing my power. My body ached. I moaned softly and tried to keep myself from waking up. What was the point. It was just another day of Chronos using me. Another day of him demanding me rattle off numbers and sheepishly bow my head. Sleep was better. Dreams were better.

I forced myself to rise before too long, knowing better than to oversleep. Chronos didn’t care if I had a pounding headache. He didn’t care if my body was so sore I could barely move. In fact, he might’ve enjoyed it. As long as I could speak clearly enough to answer his questions, he didn’t care what happened to me.  The last time I tried to stay in bed, he ordered his mercenaries to drag me toward the showers, where they’d roughly scrubbed me down before bringing me back to my cell. Not that Chronos cared about my cleanliness, of course. He just preferred to avoid any ‘offending odors’, as he called them.

I wasn’t ready to face that humiliation again. Not today. I opened my eyes and inhaled sharply. This was not my cell. It looked like my cell. All the same amenities—the slightly cordoned off area for a bathroom and toilet, with a sink outside. A place to drink water, as well as clean myself. It was almost exactly the same, with one notable exception. A bookshelf. Filled with actual books. It wasn’t full by any means, but there were more than twenty from my cursory examination.

I shook on the bed, too afraid to move. Chronos may have moved me somewhere else, but I knew better than to trust it. Somehow I knew he’d punish me the moment I tried to examine the books closer. It had to be another test. Always another test.

There was never any Umbra, there was no one coming to save me. Maybe he’d staged that too. I wanted to laugh or cry or scream, but I knew better. He’d probably placed hidden cameras in my new cell too, just to see how I’d react to his ‘generosity’. He’d told me time and time again I had no use for being ‘smart’. Which meant I had no use for books. No use for entertainment. No use for comfort. All I needed was to be able to understand his questions. . He’d told me before that if I ever got it into my head that I could disobey him—he had options to handle me.

I didn’t want to be handled. Just thinking about it made my blood run cold. I whimpered softly and trembled on the bed, blinking away the few tears that had formed in the corners of my eyes. 

Best not to just ignore it. The books. The new cell. The fake Umbra. I couldn’t stop myself from hoping. No matter how much I tried, I’d always get those bits of warmth in my chest, tiny embers fighting against the cold. I did my best to smother them.

Chronos had broken me long ago, had crushed any trace of hope I had left. If he found out I’d started hoping again, he’d do his best to fix it.

I stood from my bed and cleaned myself as best I could, doing my best to ignore any differences in my accomodations. Better soap and shampoo than he’d ever given me before. Before now, he’d never given me anything other than the generic brand ‘Four in one’. These were nicer.. Nothing expensive. Just usable. Still more than what I had.

When I was done, I sat on the bed and waited. I didn’t dare to touch the books, even if I wanted to have something to help stave off the boredom that had started to crop up. This probably was another sick test of his, wanting to see what I would do if given an incentive, something I would love but not given permission yet.

I just needed to be patient and good.

I breathed and let my mind settle down. I stayed there on the bed, waiting, knowing that he would come soon enough.

There wasn’t any noise, but the few shadows in the room coalesced together when I wasn’t looking. I did my best to smother the little flare of hope in my chest, to kill that thought that said this wasn’t just a dream.

Umbra appeared before I could blink, stepping from the shadows, calm and confident.  The shadows wrapped around her as she strode forward, forming a cloak of darkness to emphasize her skin-tight bodysuit even more. That, along with the half face mask, modeled after some kind of owl or other nocturnal animal, gave her a presence so intimidating that just looking at her sucked the air from my lungs. She stepped toward me, so light I could barely hear her footsteps, like she was floating just off the ground and only bothering to put her foot down whenever it was convenient.

I bit my lip as she slowly reached up to remove her mask, revealing a plain face—still beautiful, without a doubt—but… this was someone I might’ve seen just walking on the street. Someone normal. The total opposite of the intimidating figure she’d been just moments ago. Soft cheek bones were framed by bright blonde hair, and her eyes almost seemed to shine as she smiled down at me.

I couldn’t help but stare.

The truth of my situation hit me all at once. I blinked, willing the image to disappear, willing the hope to kill itself. My throat caught. My vision blurred.

It was real.

I tried so hard to keep my composure, but bit by bit, I fell apart, clutching the blanket to my chest and realizing for the first time just how soft it was. Chronos would’ve never given me something so soft. Never. Not in a million years.

It was real.

“You’re safe now, Diane.” The woman smiled down at me. A genuine smile, nothing like the condescending smirks and sneers of my former ‘owner’. “You’re safe. You’ll never see the inside of that cell again.”

It was real.

There were few moments during my imprisonment that I’d let myself feel hope. Day by day, any dreams of rescue were ground away by the constant pressure, the constant discomfort, the constant pain. It had been so long since I’d smiled. Even in the darkest moments, I still had a few sparks of hope stored away, despite my best efforts, but none of it compared to the warmth forming in my chest as Umbra smiled at me.

She stepped closer, and gently held my face in her hand, rubbing a soft thumb against my cheek. I leaned into the touch automatically, letting the warmth spread through me, from my cheek down to the tips of my toes.

Warmth.

Touch.

When was the last time someone had touched me? I couldn’t remember. I strange, hoarse braying filled the tiny room, and it took several seconds for me to realize the noise was coming from me.

Laughter.

I was laughing.

When was the last time someone had touched me? When was the last time I’d laughed? When was the last time I’d felt so warm?

“Thank you…” I said quickly, reaching up to grab her wrist, holding the hand closer. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” I chanted, over and over again as tears rolled down my face. “Thank you.” I struggled to catch my breath, wobbling in place as my knees buckled. The only thing keeping me upright was her. “Y-you won’t…” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You won’t let him take me again?” I felt like I knew the answer, but even still…

I needed to know. Needed to hear it.Umbra smiled patiently, her icy blue eyes locked on mine. “Of course.” She said with a chuckle. “No one’s going to hurt you. I promise.” The woman whispered. Her hand was so warm. It was so soft. I let out a shaky breath as I drifted closer, her words washing over me. “It’s okay.” She purred, eyes sparkling. “I’ll keep you safe. That’s what heroes do, right?”

“Right.” I gave a stiff nod, leaning even closer as her words spun around me. Her touch was so warm, I wanted nothing more than to melt onto her.

I flushed as Umbra’s rescue came back to me. It was… embarrassing, to say the least, but somehow, as long as she was touching me, as long as she was keeping me so warm… I just couldn’t bring myself to care. 

We stood together, totally silent, totally still, like she was waiting for me to make the first move. Waiting for me to get my bearings. Slowly, I came back to myself, pushing away from her and standing a little straighter. “U-um…” I said, voice wavering. “Umbra, thank you for—”

“Miss Selena.” She corrected immediately, pulling her hand away from my cheek. It was so cold without that warm hand pressing against me.

“R-right. Selena, thank you—”

“Miss Selena.” She corrected again, her voice suddenly cold.

My heart caught in my chest as she pulled her palm even further away. “Miss Selena.” I said in a blind panic, desperate for the warmth to return.

It did, a few moments later, the soft palm rubbing against my cheek as I relaxed all at once. The hero was smiling again. It looked different than before—a few more teeth—but I relaxed at the sight anyway.

My mouth went dry, though I wasn’t sure exactly why. It was a reasonable request. She had saved me, so what was the harm in asking for a little politeness? But, why did my stomach feel like a pit had formed within it? As if shards of ice stabbed me deep inside.

“Okay, Miss Selena.” I finally said, not willing to really fight her, not in this inconsequential thing. I had been forced to be polite to people who didn’t deserve it, so if someone like Selena, who was a hero, wanted me to call her like that? That was her right.

I continued to ignore the churn in my stomach, the uncomfortable feeling constantly growing within it.

Especially as she lifted her hand up and gently ran her fingers across my hair. All kind and carefully done, but I kept myself uncomfortably still as she touched where she wanted. “Good girl.” She praised, sending warmth to melt the ice in my stomach.

There was nothing wrong with the hero, despite all the jagged feelings forming all within my insides. The hope I had moments ago was being whittled away even as I tried to tightly hold onto them. Perhaps I should be asking her a different question, something that would be more important to what I wanted.

“You’ll… let me go, right?” I said, even as the fact the room had no other ways to get out other than with her shadows pressed onto me. She was the only key, as I didn’t have any super strength or anything, to be able to break the walls. Or teleport. Sometimes I wished I had those kinds of powers, something more straightforward than what I had… But in the end, I only had my precognition.

The answer came a beat too slow, as if she had needed some time to formulate it in her head. “Of course. We just need some time.” Her smile now took its own life as I looked, making me feel incredibly uncomfortable as I waited for her to, perhaps, explain what she meant.

But she was better than I was in waiting. I looked away from her, even as I finally looked back to my power to give me the answer—of how safe I would be from Chronos, as long as I was with Selena. That she wouldn’t give me back to him…

The 95.03% chance that formed in my head upon that question was a relief, really. Maybe she took her time to answer because she was considering everything. So the bad feeling forming in my stomach surely was just… my overactive imagination. After all, I had been in Chronos’ basement for a long while now, and I was probably just jumping at shadows.

“Thank you, Miss Selena.” I whispered, leaning a little harder against her touch.

I enjoyed the way she touched me back, the way she felt so solid against me—it was all so wonderful.

Selena was a hero. Umbra was one of the best. I had never heard of her doing anything wrong whatsoever—in fact, I was certain that she once had criticized the League of Heroes for a decision that had gone wrong because they had tried to rescue the hostages in haste instead of thinking it all over again.

It wasn’t a wrong decision—just that they had ended up hurrying too much and, so, missed an important clue. The cost to human lives and buildings were terrible, and I had watched the news with wide eyes when I was merely a teen.

There were flurries of activities from every part of the globe right after, and many countries restricted the League as well to act in their soil unless given permission by the leaders.

And one of the most important was a few heroes—ones that weren’t part of the Leagues but still doing heroic things all the same, criticized them. Not condemning, but saying that they had been too loose at times, or too strict at other times. It was complicated, and many people had a different opinion one way or another.

Umbra was one of the leading ones, and considering her background of a global hero who didn’t join in the League of Heroes—she was listened to. There weren’t any scandals about her as well, so… she had to be one of the good ones.

I didn’t ask her anything more, letting myself be lulled back to sleep from her body’s warmth.

Maybe the room was suspicious, but that had to be me, who was at fault. After all, everyone knew Umbra was a hero, including myself.

Maybe a day had passed. Without any clocks, I couldn’t have been certain of it. But I hadn’t done much, not really. More sleep on the bed and looking at the bookshelves. I was almost certain that I was still hallucinating, and I would wake up anytime soon. But when Selena had appeared again, this time with food in hand, I couldn’t help but be a little excited. The scent of warm, freshly cooked egg filled the room, and despite not being hungry just yet—I felt more certain that everything was real.

She was wearing something comfortable, even if it looked sleek enough to be worn to an office if she worked there. I couldn’t really imagine her doing that kind of mundane work, and yet that was the atmosphere she fostered around her.

“I hope you’re hungry now, Dian.” Her tone made my stomach flip nervously, and her smile still sent a skitter of anxiety inside my body. It wasn’t a question. She had been saying it as a statement, and without thinking too much—I gave her a nod.

Approving nod, and I continued to ignore the warmth forming because of that.

She placed the bowl down, and one of the shadows in the room formed upwards until there was a pillar right beneath it. A mundane and yet incredible use of her power, because she wasn’t really paying attention to it. Perhaps not her power, but more of her ability to multitask and focus on one without losing her focus on another.

“But before you are allowed to eat…” My stomach churned again, the allow part within the sentence making me wonder of what she wanted me to do. Then she pulled out a collar out of her shadow, and my heart stopped, while my eyes had widened in surprise.

It didn’t look terribly fancy, but the way she held it—there had to be something more to it. After all, it looked solid, instead of the usual ones made out of leather. Selena was looking at me with expectations. Not even questioning whether I want to or not, but an offer, one I could reject.

I should.

She wouldn’t starve me, right?

But her words, the way she looked at me—I didn’t dare test her.

“You will be a good girl for me, won’t you?” Her hand caressed the collar carefully, even as she had a dangerous look in her eyes whenever she looked at me. “This will help you be one.”

“I…” I started, feeling the dryness within my mouth as I stared and stared into the item. I couldn’t glean anything with merely my sight, merely the little context clues I could have gathered from Selena’s words and behavior.

There was only one answer she expected, one reply that she would be okay with. Maybe I could have said no at any other time, but the scent of the warm food was tempting. And I didn’t want to face what Selena would have said or do if I rejected her. So without any other choice, I gave her the only reply I could have given. "Okay, Miss Selena.”

“Good girl.” She breathed out, the word easily wrapping up around me as I lifted my head so she would have an easy access straight to my neck.

The collar felt a little cold as she wrapped it around the neck, even if the metal bits quickly warmed up the moment it touched my skin. Strangely, the collar fitted incredibly well, despite the fact it didn’t have any sort of flexibility like how it usually had with leather-made ones. Her fingers brushed against me for a moment as she checked it, drying my throat further—but she didn’t do anything further. Merely letting me go, and allowing my heart to finally slow down, even if just a little bit.

“Can I… get the food now?” I whispered a little hoarsely, my throat feeling a little scratchy. Probably because I hadn't drunk anything for some time, and I didn’t think there was any place to grab some water from.

She looked at me again for a moment, as if merely opening my mouth without prompting was the wrong move altogether. I shouldn’t back down, and yet—Shivers ran across my spine at the thought of rebelling, even if what I had done was merely questioning her.

I avoided her gaze, looking down and murmuring my apology. One I had complicated feelings on. Some parts of me hated that I did it, another part told me that it was the best way. After all, I had disappointed Selena, and that wasn’t the way I wanted to be. That voice was too alike Chronos’, if I was honest.

“Good girl, you understand what you have done wrong. You really are smart, aren’t you?” She praised me—and this time, the warmth I felt wasn’t only from my reaction to her words.

It was as if I had just forgotten everything for a moment, all except for the happiness her condescending praise wrought within my body. I gasped, even as my whole body shuddered in pleasure. My brain too was all fuzzed up, especially as Selena’s hand roamed slightly over my body. Touching more personal places, like my stomach and hips.

Whenever I allowed it, whenever I let my body relax against her caress—it felt as if I was being rewarded for it. The fog easily swallowed my thoughts, before I should have wondered what was happening. All I could care of was feeling even more goodness that wrapped all around my body.

I didn’t know how long I was like that, merely existing in the present—until Selena stopped touching me, and my first instinct was to whine at the fact she took away her fingers.

“You’ll feel it again if you listen well. As long as you are a good girl… then you don’t have to worry.” She reassured me, even with my mind all fritzed up, unable to think of anything except for the words she had just said. It was hard to really understand, but I felt like I understood what she meant.

The fog was slowly going away, no longer swallowing all of my brain after a few moments. I missed it, even if I knew I shouldn’t. The feeling of no thoughts inside of me, just pure goodness and pleasure… I couldn’t help but wanting more of it. Just letting myself relax and drown within it. I couldn’t help but rub my thighs together a little, feeling my bare skin against one another—I let out a soft moan, wanting her to touch me again.

But she didn’t.

She picked the bowl of food instead, looking at it with consideration for a moment before picking a decision not long after.

“It is time for you to get your reward.” She said, all the while holding a spoon of the food.

I stared at her, paralyzed at the uncertainty of what I should do next. It was my reward, so I should have accepted, opening my mouth obediently and everything. And yet, the thought of doing it in such a childish way—my stomach churned.

She let the spoon hang there for a few seconds longer, waiting for me to pick whichever decision she would then do. Until she suddenly spoke, and I realized that things could go worse, so, so easily.

“You’ll only have two choices at this moment, pet.” She murmured, still standing and towering over me as she said that. I felt chill as I watched her as she let the shadows kept the bowl again, her feet stepping forward so she was now, closer. So close that her body pressed against mine. The warmth was a beckoning, but I knew it was better to keep my mind at this moment, no matter how much I wished I could just close my eyes and relax against her. “First, you eat this with my help—or you can eat it on your own, of course.”

Danger glinted in her eyes as she waited for me to pick the two choices. The latter was, of course, really attractive to me. A choice that would finally give me back some personal autonomy that had been steadily eroded until I had nothing.

“What… will happen if I pick the latter?” I whispered, hoping that maybe this would be the right choice.

I knew I had said the wrong thing when the glimmer in her eyes dimmed, and my stomach dipped. But she still answered me, because despite everything, Umbra was still good and not doing anything bad like I thought she would be. She wasn’t like Chronos, and I should stop trying to see her the same way.

“Your body is still weak from the imprisonment by Chronos, so it’s better if you don’t need to use your hand for eating.” She started, and I nodded in agreement. My hands were still trembling occasionally, and they weren’t as responsive when I tried to flex them. Selena continued without really stopping, taking out something else out of her shadows—and my breath caught as I realized what she was showing.

A pet bowl. Not stainless steel, at least—but it was still not something for human. I couldn’t find any words, feeling so stunned that I was unable to do anything beyond staying incredibly still as my head buzzed with the meaning of this.

“So, which will it be?” Her question shook me out of my stupor, and the uncomfortable feelings increased. “Unless you wanted me to pick for you.”

That. That would be bad. Right? I couldn’t just accept her turning me into something lesser than human—but, my mind couldn’t shake it away. That I wasn’t exactly one. After all, considering the way Chronos handled me, telling me of what to do and everything else—was I a human?

After all, humans were supposed to have rights, and considering how little I had them, perhaps…

I should accept it, tell her that I would like the bowl. Just a little autonomy for myself. And yet, when I opened my mouth to speak, I couldn’t help but pick the other side. “You can feed me.” I whispered, my mouth feeling so dry as I let loose the words.

“Good girl.” She whispered with a smile, and I couldn’t help but moan at the pleasure that raked across my body. As if she had gently caressed my skin all over—I knew that didn’t happen physically, but mentally… it was the same.

All I could do was shudder and sit obediently, especially as Selena started to feed me.

The food and egg tasted incredible on my tongue, and the warmth Selena gave to me was the best seasoning I could have asked for.

It was only after Selena left that I felt as if I had gone too far. How I had given up too much, all for merely a bowl of food. One that was filling my stomach so comfortably right now, and yet—I should refuse Selena next time. I tried to convince myself of that, and yet I knew I would fail when Selena was in front of me again, asking me the same question.

I tried to hold onto that resolve as time passed, as I was fed by Selena’s hands over and over again. It wasn’t easy to keep doing that, as the disappointment within the hero was immeasurable and without compare. Maybe I could… try the other choice. After so long of eating obediently off her hand, maybe I should try something new.

With that decision made, I finally moved to the bookshelf and picked one of the books to read through. It had been so long since I had last done this, doing something I could enjoy—when did I last picked a book, even? I couldn’t even remember what I had last read, except for the slides Chronos had prepared for me so he could give me his questions.

After all, Chronos had decreed I existed only for his advantage, so anything that would make me less bored, anything that could become food for my brain—they were forbidden. And yet, Selena had given me this. Just another sign of how good the hero was. Chronos couldn’t compare, even if right now I was being kept in the same kind of place.

The words felt like they were sliding away from my mind, and eventually I became too frustrated to continue. I placed them away, not wishing to see it, despite the guilt feeling forming in my chest. I had missed reading a book, and yet it felt as if my mind couldn’t do it anymore. My stomach twisted again, and I tried to find anything else I could do, until—

The shadows were wriggling again, moving and combining with each other in fascinating ways. I could spend forever just watching it, if I was honest. It only took a few moments for the silhouette to unravel and form Selena once more.

“You have done well, Dian.” More praises, more warmth for me.

I couldn’t help but enjoy and yearn for more, especially as she caressed my cheeks, her hands lingering longer than it should be. Fire razed beneath my skin, want bubbling within my stomach. I let myself relax, eyes closing as I reveled in the attention she gave me. Her touch continued for a while longer, and despite a part of me frowning at the way I was behaving, it wasn’t anywhere enough for me to ask her to stop. Why would anything feeling this good be bad?

“You seem like you have something you want to talk about.”

It took me a moment before realizing she was asking me a question. Maybe more than a moment, even. My mind was fully submerged within the usual wonderful fog by now, one I associated with both Selena and when I was eating the food she had given me. There had to be something about it that caused this fuzziness all over my brain, but at this moment, I couldn’t think of anything.

I merely smiled brightly at her, nuzzling her hand as she continued her touch, slipping under my clothes wherever she wished. But I still had to try answering her question, and that was harder than I thought it would be—it would be easy, if my mind was at full capacity. Instead, what I felt right now was how much everything was hidden inside my mind, and it took me so long to finally find the answer.

Mainly through thinking that I had decided on something… and that when I opened my eyes,  Selena had started to prepare for the bowl of food she would usually feed me with. Seeing that was what finally allowed me to remember my personal decision. “Mmnn… want to try the dog bowl…”

Selena stopped for a moment, before she turned to look at me once more. There was delight, excitement burning within her eyes as she grinned, her expression sending shivers through my spine. She wanted this, she knew what this meant. Understanding that she had further dig her claws into me—and I was thanking her for it.

My past self would hate my current one so much, especially at the way I so easily let Selena took control of everything. Not daring to even go against anything she wished—and yet at the same time, I couldn’t help but love it. Yearn for her to take over more and more until there was nothing else for me except for Selena. Let me forget everything else, for they had no use.

Her movements were deft and speedy, and soon enough she had moved all my food into a dog bowl. She placed it right in front of me, on the floor, instead of anywhere on the table. That was where a dog’s should be, and there were warm feelings in my chest, for some reason.

There were something wrong about the position, one I couldn’t seem to grasp clearly despite feeling the uncomfortableness so, so clearly. I blinked at her, tilting my head slightly from my position below her—and she merely caressed my cheek again, smiling at the way I happily leaned against her.

Even now, I knew there was something wrong at the back of my head, that I shouldn’t be doing any of this. At the same time, I couldn’t help but relax, the worry being hidden under so many layers I couldn’t even try to grasp it, if I wanted it. There was no reason to though, especially not when Selena was in front of me with full of smiles and praises ready on her tongue, as long as I obeyed her.

“Go on now, pet. Eat your food from the bowl, happy and secure in the knowledge that this time… you are doing it properly.” She whispered, her fingers moving to comb my hair, allowing me to feel the way they slid smoothly across. It was wonderful, and despite my wishes for her to not let my hair go—she did end up doing so.

The bowl was shoved back to the front of my eyes again, and I could finally smell it again—the freshly cooked vegetables and meat with egg and rice made me so incredibly hungry. I immediately put my face toward the bowl, and starting to eat as fast as I could. Especially when the flavor was just so excellent against my tongue.

Listening to Selena praising me—even if I needed a few reminders to not lift my hands up at all, her words gaining harsher tone to remind me that I was only allowed to eat with my mouth—was wonderful.

“You are such a good pet, Dian.”

“You are listening so, so well. You are doing good.”

“Good girl.”

The fog and fuzziness in my mind grew stronger with every mouthful, her sentences seemingly losing its distinction between one word and the next. All I could grasp now was more of her tone, and my instinctive understanding of what she meant.

Praises. Scolding. Questions—all of those were the most important part to understand Selena. The rest didn’t matter, or if it did—they could all be placed under one of the three parts.

“So… how likely is the Crow’s Nest going to have a comeback in the next three years, if I assassinated their leader?”

“64.23%.” I didn’t really understand her words, not exactly. But the numbers popped up so clearly in my head, and my mouth moved to answer Selena before I could have thought to stop myself.

But there wasn’t any reason to, especially as Selena smiled and petted my head again, letting me continue eating without any other interference.

All I could feel right now was happiness and wonder, though, feeling so glad that I wasn’t being asked to do anything else. I could, but I had no reason to.

Selena was asking me those questions so she could be a better hero, and so I was more than happy to answer it for her—besides, eating the food allowed me to stop thinking for a while, anyway.

I let myself fell into the fog, happily turning my mind off.

“It’s time for your food.” Selena said, pointing me toward the dog bowl on the floor.

Any other day, I would have crawled right there, happily chowing down on her cooking as she asked me various questions. That was an easier way of life, and a part of me questioned why I was even trying to fight it. There was no reason to, especially with the kindness Selena bestowed on me.

But the constant fog, the way my words felt like they were ground down to be simple and easy—I felt, no. I knew something was off. And the only thing I could do, was to hold onto my mind when it was still working.

I hadn't drank anything ever since the fog was clearing away, and by now I was mostly lucid. My throat was so incredibly parched, but that was fine. Alright, even. I could withstand it, as long as I would get what I want. That was to get some answers out of Selena for now, asking her and telling her that I needed to go out already. How long had I stayed here, under her whispers, merely basking in her question and care?

“No. Not now.” I whispered, feeling the scratch on my throat even if it was merely for that little words.

I was still on the bed, not lying down on it, but—sitting. The act of being a little bit more human, instead of lying down, or even sitting down on the floor… That helped to allow me to hold on to my little bits of humanity. One that had been shaved away until they weren’t there anymore, and I had to personally find bits of it someway or another.

It didn’t matter, because right now all I could see was the way Selena was frozen. The only reaction she seemed to give was how her pupils were completely blown wide, and she didn’t move. Not even her fingers were twitching, and those were one of the easiest signs I could check. Anything moving was easy, but anything else… With my mind still in a bad condition, I wasn’t able to check for any other sign.

Finally, with deliberate movement, Selena walked close toward me, her hand gripping my chin to lift my head up. I had no choice but to do so, looking straight into her eyes. My stomach flipped at the way there were anger burning in the back of her eyes, at how dare I disobeyed her.

The payment was great, but to give up at this point was even worse possibilities. So, despite the churn in my stomach, I shook my head, barely holding on to my will.

“Pet…what kind of silly notions are you on now? Didn’t I give you nourishment and care you so desperately need? Saved you from Chronos?” She whispered, still gentle. Giving me a chance, one singular chance to give up this silliness and just tell her yes. “Do you wish for me to just feed you with my hand, perhaps? You missed it, to just lie there and being cared of?”

That wasn’t a wrong stance to have. If I was honest, following the biggest voice within myself, I would have said yes right then. But this wasn’t about myself, or at least, not only myself. It was about others, people I cared for who were beyond the confines of these walls. And weren’t it convenient for Selena, that I really had no way out unless she deemed it was okay?

No door, no windows. The only way out and in were only through the shadows… I could only hope that her heroic feelings would give her some sympathies to me. That keeping me here wasn’t the right thing to do.

“I… I want to go out. Please.” I whispered, more scratchiness and pain out of my throat. But I had said the words, giving her the pleading words that always seemed to excite her. She liked it when I was pliant to her, but she loved it when I had begged, the more I debased myself the better. And when I was in that other state of mind… it was always so, so easy. Even now, I wanted to apologize and get the food already. Just let myself be drowned within her touch, her power.

It would be the easiest thing to do in my life. And that was the only thing I couldn’t do. So, so hard to hold onto my conviction. It was easier to just follow the flow, to obey and getting praises out of it. No more need to think—and wasn’t that how I lived under Chronos as well? Maybe it was worse, with the way he treated me. But I had done the same, I had turned off my mind just to avoid the pain.

If I wanted to be better… I had no choice but to face it. Face Selena and ask her to please let me go. She could use me anywhere else, and I would still answer to her—but not this way.

And yet, as she loomed over me, her eyes hard and unforgiving, I didn’t know how long until she broke me down even further. “I see now.” Her whispers were loud in the silent room, and I couldn’t help but notice the churn in my stomach. The anxiety managed to pierce through the little fog I had, and I had to gulp down the saliva forming in my mouth. It hurt all the way down, but that was better than nothing. “You are being a bad girl.”

I flinched, and that gave all the momentum toward Selena. There was nothing I could do to grasp back the reins, and I shrunk down as Selena continued her words, each of them said to hurt me.

“Do you, perhaps, prefer to go back to be under Chronos? Someone who doesn’t care for you, merely looking you more as a toy than anything else…” Her words were reasonable, tone gentle as if she was merely telling me neutral things, and not something that would irrevocably change my life.

I shook my head immediately, refusing to accept her words. They still nipped at me, my imagination running wild at the possible thoughts of what might Chronos did—because I had run away from him. He would be worse, because that was how he was. A petty man who desired to drag me down until I broke.

Not daring to look at Selena at this time, I questioned my power. How likely would Chronos punish me if I ended up under his hand, under his control again?

99.27%

The numbers didn’t lie. So I had to stay, to be under Selena again—and that meant I had to obey. And yet, Selena hadn’t moved yet, hadn’t given me any permission of any sort to fight against her.

Even this little rebellion was incredibly taxing to me, my mind constantly telling me I needed to be good. That to obey was the greatest thing I could do in my life—and who else should I follow, than Selena? The hero who had saved me. Who had ensured I was safe and stable, who had given me bliss, and most importantly… listened to me.

She didn’t like this line of questioning, but she was careful to ensure I really wished for it. That was why she waited before giving me a true answer.

Her hand gently petted my head, reinforcing my kneeling position, pushing my mind into a more obedient mindset so easily. “I understand.” She started, and for a moment, I could feel elation within my chest—a warm hope, pure happiness flooding my veins. I looked toward her face, just to see what she was feeling. This time, she looked sad, incredibly so. As if my choices were a hard one for her to do. “But you don’t know all the danger, pet—no, Dian.”

A pang of sadness passed through my chest at her fix, as if using my name already sounded wrong if it came from her mouth. I did prefer the way she affectionately called me with those type of nicknames—it felt as if she would protect me, no matter what.

After all, what reason would she have to want me around her, if not for those connections? I placed my head closer toward her thigh, resting against her body, strong and muscled—and I could feel the minute relaxation as she continued to run her fingers across my hair.

“Releasing you is plausible, it is what I’m aiming to do even if it’s hard—but you know how deep Chronos’ hold have over the government, over the local populace. He had his connection towards the local representative, the local forces… even some of the capes, I’m sure.”

The more words Selena had said, the more my stomach twisted. The previous hope that formed were slowly stamped over, and I was reminded again of my previous state—of when Selena wasn’t with me.

A keening, panicked and asking for reassurance slipped out of my throat, my eyes squeezing shut as I grabbed onto Selena’s pants. “Stop.” I whispered, tightly holding onto her. The only reason I didn’t end up crying was the fact she was there, next to me, and I could feel her warmth. The strength beneath her skin, deep within her muscles. Corded steel, all within her flesh.

“I understand if you wish to go back to him though. After all, I can’t be protecting you every hour of the day like you are now, within my place, my secret base.” Her words continued to be gentle, worming their way into my mind, burrowing and telling me how right she was—that if anyone else knew of me, it would just be a matter of time until Chronos found me again.

After all, he did the same before. I turned to my power again, ignoring the slight pinch at the edge of my nerves. The furthest, the ones on the edges that connect to the nerves outside my brain.

95.36%

Too high. She wasn’t lying. The truth was there—unless Selena knew how to obfuscate my power? I didn’t think so, though. If she did, she would have ensured I found out even worse things, worse possibilities. Not letting me just picking or asking whatever I wanted.

I whimpered, even as Selena soothed me. At how kind she was, despite the fact I had thrown her kindness right to her face.

“Do you get it now? How everything I did… it was just to protect you. Try to ask your power again, at how likely he’ll catch you if you followed me. Obeying all of my words and listen to me. After all, I just wish to protect and care for you.” She gently pushed me, and I couldn’t help but try doing what she had asked. I knew I would do the same, even if my head was pounding—and it wasn’t right now.

So I asked, and the numbers—

3.13%

That low? Just… obeying. Just letting go of my pride and ignoring every other possibilities. After all, I just needed to focus, and listen to what Selena wanted me to act.

“It’s low, isn’t it? Shows that I’m doing my best, didn’t I? That your best place is right by my side.”

I slowly nodded, even if I shouldn’t. Because my power wouldn’t lie, because the only way to stay safe was to be with Selena.

“Yes… Mistress.” I whispered, knowing she preferred it when I placed her higher than I was. That being obedient was the better course of action.

“Good girl, now eat your food properly.” She said, putting steel back into her tone. Her eyes watched me with expectations, especially as she placed it right in front of my face again.

The dog bowl. Full of food, even if no longer hot because of how long we had been talking—but that was a small price to pay. I lowered my head, and slowly eat it. Just taking my time to take each bite, chewing and swallowing it down.

The taste was sharp, and yet not hiding any sort of bitterness at the back of my tongue. Not drugs, then maybe. Who knew, maybe she knew someone who was able to hide away any sort of drug flavors beneath the ingredients themselves. With every bite I did, I could feel the fog at the edge of my mind coming back—slowly covering and swallowing every thought I had.

Merely a small payment. I welcomed it, finding and enjoying the heat pooling within my lower stomach.

This was better than knowing the choices I had picked.

Selena had been teaching me how to serve her better, ever since then. The fogs helped, covering any part of me that thought I should try to fight her—because there was no reason to. Especially not with Selena standing above me, her smile sharper than it should be.

Maybe it should have been making me scared, but all I felt was the wonderfulness of her touch—especially as she taught me to keep myself knelt. Or on all fours. It should be demeaning, but her words sounded so right in my head.

“You are just my beloved pet, aren’t you?”

I shook my head on that question once, and the punishment—I whimpered, remembering the way Selena’s shadows pressed all over me. Not with warmth, like when she first saved me. But cold and digging under my skin.

I couldn’t. I couldn’t fight against that—

“Yes, Mistress.” I said them so easily now, the words stumbling out without issues. My chest didn’t tighten, there wasn’t a worry in the back of my head that I had been lying—because I was telling the truth.

“Good girl.” She praised, sending warmth across my head and chest the moment I heard them. If I could have purred, I would surely constantly make the noise, especially when she ran her hand through my hair.

So condescending and yet… I could feel my body starting to warm up again, excited by the way she treated me. Especially as she stood up, letting her already tall body loom over my kneeling form, and I looked up at her as if she were a Goddess.

I didn’t say a word, waiting for her to do what she wanted out of me—she would usually do these physical things before moving on. Leaving me wanting, lost within the pink fog of my own arousal, and yet unable to do anything about that. I could have tried, my fingers and hands straying downwards to where I knew I would feel good at—

“No, pet. I haven’t even commanded you to do anything. Not yet.” She rebuked, not anywhere as harsh as she could be, but it was enough to leave me chastised.

I bowed my head, hunching my body slightly in an attempt to hide myself. The way my body had immediately churned the moment I heard her objection—I didn’t want to feel it again. Nor did I want to feel any extra punishments she might deem good to do to myself if I had been bad.

“S-sorry, Mistress.” I whimpered out, shutting my eyes close because she wouldn’t do more… right?

She caressed my cheeks, kneeling down in front of me—and for a moment, I felt an incredible confusion right in front of my face. It felt so wrong to have her in the same position as mine, with the same height as well. She should be looming over me, ensuring she was bigger and taller, and I was unable to do anything else but whimper below her. But she spoke, and I knew better than to think like that.

“It’s okay, I know what you can do.” Her voice continued to be wonderful, full of warmth and approval I wanted to gain. It slipped so easily from my ears and curled inside my brain, allowing the fog to submerge my mind further—and making it hard to think critically. There was no reason for it though, after all, I only needed to understand numbers, at most. Anything else? Selena would handle it.

She stood back up, walking a few meters to the bed on the corner of the room before sitting right there. “Crawl here, my little pet. My seer.” Her voice was rough by now, an excitement running underneath her words.

I could feel my own body mirroring her response, the uncomfortable churn becoming arousal that made me pant right then and there on the floor. There were no thoughts within me to even try to fight—I immediately started to move toward her, my hands and knees going across the floor without an issue. There were a few pains from crawling across the tiled floor, but what mattered was Selena.

The way her smile grew, the way she approved how much I was debasing myself. Arousal stirred further in the pit of my stomach, a few of them already soaking the panties I wore. I had a feeling what would happen soon, and that meant I could just let myself sink further—and let Selena further the control she had over my mind and body.

When I was finally in front of her, she finally motioned for me to come up a little bit. For my head to be between her legs, so I could smell the scent of her musk—her own arousal. I couldn’t help my own excitement, the way my body joined her for this. I inhaled more of Selena, licking my lips slightly as my eyes widened from everything.

My throat felt dry, my heart beating so fast within my chest as I waited. Patiently, much akin to a trained dog. I should feel insulted at my own comparison, and yet—all it felt was more arousal. More heat within my stomach. Blood rushed to my cheeks, reddening them as I rubbed my thighs together, the arousal slowly climbing higher and higher despite Selena not doing anything.

I knew she wouldn’t. She wanted me to wait, because I was a good girl. That was what she was training me to become, and I didn’t think I wanted to be anything else… right?

That line of thought felt wrong, as if I had placed the wrong rail. And yet before I could have done anything else, thinking of something else…

“Lick, pet. Show me how good you can be.” She whispered, her own excitement showing up. Slightly hoarse and yet sending shivers down my spine.

I leaned forward, tongue immediately going toward her entrance—and when I finally tasted her again, all I could think was that it was ambrosia. Pure pleasure ran through my body, making me moan as I licked her more—following Selena’s own wishes. Her hands gripped my head as I licked and tasted more, trying my best to find more and better ways so Selena could reach her peak, her orgasm.

That was what I was useful for, the few things I was useful for, even.

“Good girl, continue now.” She moaned, gasping out slightly while dragging me deeper into her, nearly suffocating me with the way her thighs tightened around my head.

I did it with even more relish, with the intent of making it feel even better for her. I didn’t know how long I was like that, just licking and sucking, finding enjoyment in the way her body quivered, or the way Selena moaned and gasped her pleasure. Everytime she felt good, I could feel the way my body lighted up the same way. The pleasure burning even deeper within my body and nerves.

Fog had long since fully subsuming my thoughts, leaving me barely able to think except to make Selena reach her orgasm. My other hand was reaching down too, wanting to give myself more pleasure, not merely the mirror of Selena’s own.

But Selena stopped my hand, and I didn’t try anymore. No punishment, no snarls of anger—so I let the little anxiety be eaten by the fog as well, and continued my focus on making Selena feel better. Feel even more—her legs were tightening further, and I eagerly dived stronger into her muff.

Everything was Selena. Her scent, her arousal, her musk. My mouth and chin were completely stained with her juices as well, It was all so, so much. There was nothing else I could do except lick and suck, my mouth moving towards Selena’s clit so she would reach her peak even easier—

She tensed, and I knew she would be cumming soon.

I redoubled my effort, doing it even stronger—and she pulled me deeper, making me unable to breathe even as I sucked just a little harder—and she came, right on my face.

The very act made me cum as well, even without me touching my body or hole at all. I stiffened, moaning loudly against her muff as I experienced pure pleasure. As if it had been injected straight onto my nerves, my mind so completely shutdown by everything.

Of course, Selena relaxed her hold on me soon after, and I could breathe again—and all I could do was lean my head against her thigh. Feeling the way she gently ran her hand through my hair, even as I stayed down there, kneeling. The fog was so wonderful to stay in now, and I let my eyes close.

Just focusing on the way Selena felt, on the warmth slowly spreading toward my body with every touch she gave to me.

“Good girl. You have been really great, so far…” Selena whispered, praising me and making my cheeks flush, my body becoming excited again from what she was saying. “We’ll have to make you even better… and you’ll be an even better pet. Isn’t that nice?”

“Yes, Mistress.” This time, the words came out so much easier, being written so deeply within myself.

I knew she would break me down further, changing me more than the little things she had done to me so far. Not only the fog to take everything, she wished to do more toward me. Hook herself deeper and deeper into my deepest psyche—until I was nothing except what she wanted me to be. How much further did she need to go? I wasn’t sure, but I had nothing else except for desire for that outcome.

Maybe she had finished it, after all.

I didn’t know, and I would wait eagerly for that day to come.

She finally brought me elsewhere, after that. After how much I obeyed, how happy I was to be under her—Selena’s house.

A quaint little place, placed somewhere… I actually didn’t know. Close to a city, even if I didn’t know which. Considering Selena’s teleportations… she could live anywhere, really. But there was no reason to look outside. I only did it when Selena was lying on her couch, motioning for me to sit on the special pillow she placed on the floor right next to her. That was where I could look straight through the window, right to the oft-silent road outside.

But most of my focus was always on Selena. My heart felt full from happiness whenever I sat there, on the pillow, my head leaning to the couch so she had it in easy reach, if she wanted to caress my face. Or even just petting my head. Love filled my chest whenever she did it, no matter how she did.

“Such a wonderful girl.”

“You are a great pet.”

“Sweet and obedient, that’s what I want out of my pet.”

I soaked in those praises, always thirsty for more of them, and yet knew I couldn’t ask for them—only when she wanted to gift it to me. After all, that was her prerogative to do so. I always shudder, pleasure overwhelming and shorting my mind when she said those.

Whenever Selena left, I was left to be able to do whatever I wished in the house—not locked in a room or anything. So, I did the best thing a pet could do for her owner. I knelt on the corridor, waiting and letting my mind go empty, to be patient, so I would be there right at the time she came home.

She petted my hair, touching and caressing my body, stomach or even anywhere lower—she loved the fact I stayed. That I was being good and waited for her to be there.

Of course, sometimes she said silly things as well, ones that weren’t related to the praises she would heap onto me. Her words were full of happiness as usual, but it wasn’t filled with the usual condescension she usually had.

“Oh my… I didn’t realize I have left the door wide open. It’s a good thing you didn’t escape, pet.”

Escape? Escape from what?

I couldn’t help but tilt my head with those questions rattling in my head, and Selena laughed—before kissing my forehead.

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

And so I didn’t, my mind back to merely adoring her, happy to think of Selena.

My Mistress. My owner, forever and ever.