Serhtan walked to his castle through which the road, passing under the rift to the top. Although some of the strongest monsters of the abyss gathered there, for him it was just another place for hunting. He was a little bored, he was covered in the blood of a shadow dragon, but the enemy was too weak...

He glanced at the girl and grinned amusedly. She was so weak... Maybe she would be tasty. The idea of having her as his pet, maybe even consort, made him smile wickedly. He walked up to her, claws extended slightly. "Come with me, little human."

He reached out with a claw and carefully grasped her chin, tilting her head up so she had to look at him. "I said, come with me." His voice was cold and harsh, but there was an undertone of possession that grated on her ears even through the pain. He would not repeat himself again.

"I am who I am. But to you, I am your master now." He released her chin and stepped back a pace, his gaze flicking over her before landing on the axe at his hip. "And you will learn that the hard way if you do not obey." His voice was soft as silk, but the warning within it cut deeper than any physical blade could have.

"Come with me, or I'll leave you for my lessers to find and toy with." He turned on his heel, striding back toward his dark castle, expecting her to follow.

He sighed in annoyance. This one was truly weak... Perhaps he should have left her to die after all. But no, he had claimed her now, and she would either serve him or perish trying. "Stay close," he growled under his breath. "If you cannot see well enough, keep your hands on my back."

He paused, then added with an amused snort, "Or perhaps I should just put a leash on you..."

His claws twitched slightly as she touched him, but he managed to keep himself under control. The urge to simply rip her apart was almost overwhelming at times like this... He would have to find a way to make sure she did not irritate him too much in the future.

"Follow me," he said, resuming his walk toward his castle. It was dark within, lit only by faint tendrils of blue-white magic and the occasional glowing gem, but she would have to get used to it if she were to remain here. The first order of business would be finding her some suitable warm clothing; the temperature in the lower levels was far too low for a frail creature like herself to withstand for long.

He led her down a dark corridor, the sound of their footsteps echoing eerily through the emptiness. Her shivering only served to irritate him more, but he managed to keep it in check. Finally, they arrived at a large room filled with various items and artifacts.

"Wait here," he growled, turning away from her. Using his magic, he lit several braziers around the room, filling it with warmth and light. Next, he rummaged through chests and cabinets until he found what he was looking for: a set of thick fur cloaks adorned with runes. Carefully, he lifted one off the shelf, studying it before turning to her once more.

He watched her warily as she approached one of the braziers, but said nothing for now. Once she was close enough, he extended a clawed hand, holding out the fur cloak. "Put this on." His voice was cold and commanding, leaving no room for argument. "And remember your place."

She shrank back at his tone, her eyes widening in fear. Good... Perhaps she would be more compliant now that he had asserted himself. He'd have to see how things progressed from here; forcing obedience too harshly could have disastrous consequences down the line.

He raised an eyebrow at her reaction but said nothing. "Follow me," he growled, leading the way back out into the corridor toward his private quarters. As they walked, he wondered what manner of use he could find for such a frail, human vessel... The possibilities danced through his mind like fireflies in the night, and he found himself growing ever more intrigued by the challenge she presented.

Once inside his study, he gestured for her to take a seat on one of the stools positioned before his desk. "Stay there," he commanded, rounding the desk to perch on the edge, his posture relaxing slightly now that they were in more familiar surroundings. He folded his clawed hands together and regarded her with unreadable eyes. "So... human."

His gaze slid over her body appreciatively, taking in the way she sat, how she moved... He considered asking her name, but decided against it for now. Instead, he said coldly, "I am your master now." His voice was harsh and commanding, leaving no room for argument or disobedience.

Her eyes widened at his words, fear flickering across her features. Good. Better that she understood her place now, rather than trying to test him later. He leaned forward on his elbows, studying her intently. "You will do as I say," he continued in that same unyielding tone. "And you will obey without question."

He paused, searching for the right words to make his intentions clear. "If you are good and obey me... then perhaps I shall make things easier on you. But if you choose to disobey or challenge my authority..." His voice

His eyes narrowed slightly at her reply. Good... She understood that much. It was a start. "And what is your name?" he asked sharply, the word snapping through the air like a whip. He needed to know who it was that he now owned; what her history was and whether or not she had any allegiances beyond himself.

"So," he drawled, studying her with unreadable eyes. "Rina. An interesting name." He paused, then continued more harshly, "But it matters little what your name is; from now on you will answer to me and no one else. Understood?" He leaned forward, letting his claws scrape lightly against the wooden desk, making a sound that sent shivers down her spine despite herself.

He waited for her reply, his expression unyielding. There would be no room for mistakes; if she disobeyed now, there would be dire consequences. But if she proved to be obedient... perhaps he could make things easier on her in the long run. The possibilities danced through his mind once more, as tempting and elusive as faeries in the moonlight.

"Well?" he growled impatiently when she didn't reply right away. "Do

His gaze slid over her for several heartbeats before he finally answered. "You are mine now, Rina. You answer to me and no one else. When I command you to speak, it is because I want you to." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "And if you disobey that command... or any other order from me..." His voice trailed off ominously. "Do not test my patience, human."

He folded his clawed hands and regarded her steadily, daring her to challenge him further. The tension in the air grew thick enough to slice with a sword; he could feel it humming between them like an invisible thread about to snap. It was up to her now: obey or face the consequences.

He nodded once in satisfaction. "Good girl." The relief was palpable; she hadn't tested him further... not yet, at least. Perhaps there was hope for her after all. "You will be well-cared for here," he said, his tone softening slightly. "Provided you prove yourself worthy of my attention and protection." His expression shifted once more, growing cold and distant as if a curtain had been drawn across it. "Do not forget that."

He considered for a moment, then added, "You may stand and return to your quarters now. Rest; I have matters to attend to." With that, he turned back to his desk, resuming the task he'd been working on before she arrived. There would be time enough later to decide how best to use her... if indeed she proved herself useful at all.

He gestured vaguely with one clawed hand toward the corridor before returning his attention to his desk. "That way," he replied curtly. "But do not wander too far; my patience is not infinite." There was a brief pause, then he added under his breath, almost as if talking to himself, "Yet..."

Leave it up to the pathetic human to question the obvious... perhaps she would never truly understand her place here. Oh well. He had better things to worry about than the whims of an insignificant mortal.

He paid her no further mind as she left his presence and went about finding her quarters. The Abyss was a vast place, filled with more important things for him to concern himself with than the insignificant actions of a single mortal girl. Still, there were plans forming in the back of his mind... Plans involving her, and what better way to break something wild than by taming it?

Rina found her quarters with some difficulty; it was dark and the corridors seemed to twist endlessly in every direction. Finally, she located what appeared to be a familiar junction and made her way down the correct hallway until she reached her door. The room itself was small but cozy, with a warm fire crackling in the hearth and a comfortable bed piled high with furs.

She sank gratefully onto the mattress, wrapping herself in blankets as tightly as possible to ward off the cold. It had been an eventful day, to say the least... She couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. Would Serhtan come for her? What would he expect of her? And most importantly, how could she possibly survive here when everyone else seemed to want her dead?

Her thoughts raced in circles as exhaustion finally claimed her; dreams filled with monsters and fire

Her slumber was fitful and restless; dark dreams filled with monsters and fire haunted her sleep. Throughout the night, she would thrash about in her bed, moaning softly as if caught in a nightmare from which there was no escape. It was a pitiful sight, and Serhtan could not help but feel a measure of satisfaction at knowing that she was unable to find peace here. Still, he knew it would not last; soon enough, she would have to face the reality of her situation...and what that meant for her future with him.

The darkness of night gave way slowly to the first pale rays of dawn as the stars faded from view one by one. With them went some of Serhtan's satisfaction; he did not enjoy seeing his new pet suffer, after all. Perhaps it would be best to check on her before allowing her any more time to dwell on her troubles...and contemplate

He glanced at her restlessly tossing and turning, unable to sleep soundly. Pity stirred within him momentarily before he quickly suppressed the emotion. He stepped closer, studying her features in the dim light cast by the single glowing gem set into the bedpost. Even unconscious, she was beautiful...it would be a shame if anything happened to mar that perfection.

Carefully, he reached out and touched her cheek, stroking it gently with his clawed finger. "Wake up," he whispered softly, his voice velvet smooth despite the harshness of its command.

Her eyes snapped open, wide with fear as she looked around wildly before focusing on him. He allowed himself a small satisfied smirk at her reaction; it was good to know that he still had some control over her. "Time to rise," he told her calmly. "There are things we need

"Good girl." He nodded in approval, watching her carefully. "Go wash up and get dressed. I have breakfast prepared for you." He gestured vaguely toward the small adjoining bathing chamber before turning away and leaving the room, moving silently back through the doorway and down the hallway toward his own quarters.

The sound of water splashing could be heard as she hurried to obey his command; he took it as a good sign. For now, at least. There would be time enough later to deal with any further issues that might arise... if they did. He settled himself on the edge of his bed and waited patiently for her return, lost in thought once more as he contemplated what manner of use he could find for such a delicate but resilient creature as she seemed to be.

His eyes tracked her movements as she returned to the bedroom, noting the way the light played across her wet skin, emphasizing the curves of her body and the grace with which she moved. "Come here," he said quietly, gesturing for her to approach. When she reached him, he extended his arm and helped her up onto the bed beside him.

He studied her face once more, debating on whether or not to say anything further. In the end, he chose caution. "I trust you are feeling better?" His voice was cool and calm, but the question hung in the air between them nonetheless. It was a test...a subtle challenge to see how she would react to his words.

His expression remained impassive as he looked at her, taking in the quiet nod she gave him. "Good," he said simply. "Now eat." With a clawed hand, he offered her a piece of fruit from the small table beside his bed; a succulent red apple gleaming invitingly in the dim light.

It was a test as well; how she reacted to his offering would tell him much about her true nature and what manner of use she might be put to. He waited, tense and alert, for her response.

His gaze flickered over her face once more before drifting down to watch her eat. He wasn't sure what he had expected her reaction to be...perhaps a hint of defiance or rebelliousness? But she was calm and submissive, eating the apple with quiet dignity. Interesting.

He considered saying something else, anything to further probe her thoughts and feelings, but decided against it for now. There would be time enough later; for now, he could simply observe and let her adjust to their new circumstances. Perhaps if she were lucky, perhaps if she proved herself useful...perhaps then he might find it within himself to go easy on her.

Or perhaps not. Only time would tell.

He watched her closely, his expression giving nothing away. "And how do you feel about being my pet now?" His voice was soft and quiet, almost gentle despite the harshness of his commanding tone earlier. It was an honest question; he truly wanted to know what she thought of her new situation and whether or not it held any appeal for her.

The answer would shape much of what came next; he could not afford to make a mistake here, not with so much at stake...not when the fate of all worlds hung in the balance.

He considered her words carefully before responding. "Perhaps it is time you learned what it truly means to be my pet," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper in the still air of the room. "And what I expect from you." His claws clicked against the bed as he folded his arms across his chest, studying her intently. "Do you understand?"

Her response would determine much about their future together; whether they could find any sort of peace and contentment in this dark and twisted realm...or if all was doomed to end in bloodshed and tragedy.

His eyes narrowed as he saw her nod slowly, but before she could say anything more, his voice came out cold and harsh once more. "And remember your place." His tone left no room for doubt or misunderstanding; this was a command, plain and simple. She would do well to obey without question or face the consequences.

For now though...he allowed himself a small smile, something between amusement and fondness coloring his features as he leaned closer to her. "Now," he whispered huskily, "show me some gratitude." He traced one claw lightly along her jawline before reaching up to cup her cheek, gently guiding her head toward his own until their lips met in a gentle but possessive kiss.

It was a powerful gesture; a claiming of dominance and ownership over her very soul. And she responded well, meltin

Her reactions were intriguing... She stiffened beneath his touch and seemed to struggle against the dominance he exerted over her. But at the same time, there was something else there as well... submission, perhaps? Curiosity certainly. He deepened the kiss, pressing their lips together more firmly now, his other hand moving to cup her hip possessively.

Her body molded against his, soft curves yielding to his strength, and he felt a thrill course through him at the power he held over this fragile creature. It was intoxicating...and addictive. He pulled back slightly, still holding her close, their faces inches apart as they panted shallowly for breath.

"Tell me," he whispered hoarsely, "how do you feel about being my pet?" His eyes searched hers, intent on hearing the answer this time. She could lie if she wished; he would know.

His eyes flared with triumph as he heard her words. "Good," he breathed against her lips, the possessive tone sending shivers down her spine. "Then perhaps we can make something of this after all." His hands slid down her sides, tracing lazy circles over the soft flesh of her stomach before moving lower still, cupping her buttocks firmly. With a sudden movement, he rolled her onto her back, pinning her beneath his weight.

Her breath caught in surprise, and her eyes widened at his movements. "You will obey me," he said quietly, leaning down to press his lips against hers once more. It was a command disguised as a kiss; he wanted her to understand that she belonged to him now. To him alone.

His hands continued their exploration, sliding up and down her body, caressing and teasing wherever they touched. With each touch,

His gaze traveled over her features again before he murmured approvingly against her lips, "Good girl." The praise seemed to break through whatever tension had been building between them; she relaxed under him and sighed softly into the kiss, pressing closer. With each passing moment, he could feel her yielding more and more to his dominance...to his control. It was exhilarating.

He slid a hand beneath her chin, lifting her head as he deepened the kiss once more. His other arm encircled her waist, pulling her against him as he took advantage of her submission. Her body responded in kind, arching into his touch and moaning softly with pleasure.

"You are mine," he growled against her skin, nipping at her earlobe. "Do you understand?" The question was rhetorical; he knew she did. He could feel

He growled in reply, pleased with her answer even as it made him want to take more from her. Her submission was intoxicating, and he couldn't help but wonder how far she would go for him. He trailed kisses down her neck, over the smooth skin of her chest and stomach before hooking his fingers in the waistband of her trousers. With a savage tug, he pulled them down over her hips, revealing her pale skin to his gaze once more.

Her breath caught as he lowered his head between her legs, kissing and nipping at her sensitive flesh through the soft folds of her sex. "Say it," he demanded, though he knew she would obey. "Tell me what I am to you." His lips parted her delicate flower, teasing and tormenting her with long, slow licks that sent shudders of pleasure coursing through

The growl that escaped his lips was nearly animalistic in its intensity as he felt her words vibrate against his tongue. She was his...and with that single admission, everything changed. Her submission became something more; a promise of devotion and obedience unlike anything he had ever known. The power that flowed through him at that moment was immense, and it threatened to overwhelm them both.

With one last thrusting lick that sent her body arching off the bed in ecstasy, he pulled away from her quivering flesh and moved upward once more, looming above her as his eyes bored into hers. Her breath came in shallow gasps, but her gaze remained steady and unwavering. He could feel her pulse racing beneath his fingertips where they cupped her breast, teasing the sensitive peaked nipple to a hardened point. "You are," he growled,