“This is wrong, and you know it, Diane!” urged the voice of Consciousness, pure as crystal. “You can still stop what you’re doing… do so now before it’s too late!”

He sat in front of her, mouth agape, slightly drooping shoulders and eyes lost in the motion of the precious stone, registering nothing but specks of green. His semi-catatonic state was a proof she was doing things right but a part of her continued to criticize her actions, talking about guilt and even sin, tormenting her resolve.

“Because it’s fun…” cooed another familiar presence, all her feelings of Lust, Power, and Ambition brought to life in a distinct personality. “Because there’s no greater pleasure in life than the one that comes from capturing one’s mind, spirit, soul or any other word you use to describe a person’s essence and then be able to say it out loud: It belongs to me now! I own it! That’s why you’re doing this, isn’t it, Diane? You want to control him completely and just thinking about it makes you all wet and tingly inside… You’re so close, now… finish the job! Take what’s rightfully yours!”

Diane crossed and uncrossed her legs three times in a row as she felt the fluids of sexual rapture building underneath her leather skirt. Thoughts intertwined and fought battles of semantics inside her mind until the clash ended when she realized this:

“That’s my girl!” hummed her superior manifestation. The time of innuendos had come and gone and what once had been a pristine ego was now but a fleeting memory, a million of shattered pieces under the weight of temptation.