Master I was in the throne room as I waited for everyone to join me there. Only a few knew what was about to happen. Sadragon and Ashur were well aware of what was going to happen to Pierre. I could tell that my ruling had bothered Sadragon but he was quick to mask it before anyone could tell. The second Pierre entered the woods, Sadragon was quick to mutter mate. I knew what Pierre meant to him. Pierre was destined to be Sadragon’s spouse. This was the one reason why I chose not to sell Pierre; the second was his nature as a killer. However, this alone would not excuse Pierre from his punishment. When I give an order, it is to be obeyed without question. Pierre was brought in without any struggle. So much so that Sadragon and Ashur did not have to drag him in like so many others. His facial expression told me he knew what he had done and he was ready for his punishment. Pierre was directed to the centre of the room. As my youngest son readied the whip. Dipping the whole whip up to the handle in a special blended oil. The oil placed on the skin has a warm sensation that spreads across the body, harmless by itself. Yet if the oil enters an open wound it stings and intensifies spreading across the body and causing more pain. Normally the first offence of disobedience that comes from a trainee is only fifteen lashes, yet between Sadragon’s and my jealousy of Pierre’s and Merna’s relationship, I have decided that he will be whipped until he passes out from the pain. Sadragon knew of my plans. In the beginning, I knew he wanted to object, but then he was quick to shut his mouth once he saw Merna strolling into my throne room. ‘Pierre needs to learn!’ These were the thoughts I could hear in Sadragon’s mind. His jealousy was clear. His last lover decided to betray him. For that, he ripped his head off with such animosity that even Ashur was impressed. All of the mages, serfs, hunters and pleasures were piled into the throne room with the exclusion of those still in the cells. I glanced around the room to ensure that all eyes were on me. “I am the only one who commands here no other!” My words were bouncing off the walls with power and command. I could not help but notice many dropping their heads. Except for one female, Merna glanced around the area observing everything. She was nervous. I did not have to tell her why everyone was there. Nor did I have to tell her what was going to happen. The whip on the table was visible for all to see. ‘Please do not do this!’ I could hear Merna repeating like it was her new mentor. “One thousand, two hundred and twenty-two … you know why you are here?” I directed my question to Pierre.Pierre showed no hint of fear, “Yes Master!” “Kudiya ready the whip!” I glanced at my youngest son. I glanced at Pierre, “you will be whipped until you pass out.” I happened to look at Merna, fear and shock spread across her face. I saw what was playing in her mind. Even though she knew beforehand what was going to happen, she still responded with shock. Or was this her determination to lose all common sense for one individual? All common sense that this woman had slipped away as she ran out in front of Pierre who was already on his knees preparing himself for his punishment. “It is not Pierre’s fault, if it was not for me he would not have disobeyed.” Merna declared to everyone in the room. “You are claiming you were the one who instigated the interactions that transpired?” I questioned her. Giving Merna the chance to back out of what she was implying. “Yes!” She boldly lied. ‘Your playing a dangerous game little hybrid!’ I used my mind to speak to Merna. ‘This is not a game, I will not allow you to harm my brother.’ She held her head high. The love she held for Pierre sparked my jealousy. ‘He is not your brother!’ I reminded her. ‘Not by blood but he is the brother I should have had. Loyal, honest and trustful. That makes him my brother!’ I spotted the pendant around Merna’s neck, my sister's words echoing in my mind. “You would take one thousand two hundred and twenty-two’s punishment?” “Yes!” Merna’s head was held high. She was behaving like a brat, stubborn and defiant. “Merna … shut the fuck up! I know what I am doing!” Pierre hissed at Merna. Merna glanced at Pierre, giving him a silent message. Her attention was quickly brought back to me, “yes I am willing to take the punishment.” She held her head even higher. ‘He was there for me when no one else was. When I was ready to die, he showed me that the hardest thing was not death but living. Now it is my turn to protect him … from you!’ She sent a mental message to me. Her eyes were determined. Loyalty being her strong suit, I knew she would not back down. “Get the paddle!” I directed my order to Kudiya. “The paddle?” Kudiya repeated what I had said but in a questionable way. ‘do not question me boy!’ I sent a link to my son. My jealousy was building. Their relationship was something I would not stand for. I stared at Sadragon, understanding his thoughts. Dragons are fearlessly protective of what is theirs, jealousy brings out the worst in our beings. Merna and Pierre were about to learn this lesson. Merna thought that she could take his punishment, which she did not realize as that now the punishment would be harsher than it would have been if she had not interfered. “Hands on the table!” I ordered Merna. I was careful not to utter her name. Unlike the other human borns, I did not give her a number. Yet if I used her name that would show favouritism. This could be devastating to me if my enemies found out I found my favourite of all species. “Merna … You fool, you have no idea what you are doing!” Pierre yelled as he was being dragged away from Merna. As Kudiya came back with the paddle, Merna prepared herself for her punishment. Pierre was held back by Sadragon and two other hunters. He screamed at Merna to recant her claims. While Puabi strolled in with her mate.Puabi This was the first time I was able to see the human born that the Master had called his consort. She was pleasing to the eyes. I would have enjoyed showing her how to move that body of hers. She had curves in all of the right places. Then again watching her walk to the table, I could tell she knew how to move her body in all the right ways. Looking into her eyes you could see that she has a lot of spirit, I could see the appeal that the Master has for her. There is also something else about her, I had listened to Anatu screaming about how she could not get this hybrid to eat. That she had never come across any human born so uncooperative as her. That is when I noticed the pendant around her neck. That was not just any ordinary jewellery, that was a gift from an original. Glancing at the Master he was looking at her in a way that I only saw once in my life. The first time I saw him and his first consort … his wife, before my father decided to doom the whole family and killed his wife and unborn child. ‘He loves her … even if he will not say it or admit it, Chaos loves Merna!’ I was very young and uneducated in the ways of the universe, but even I can tell when someone fancies another. This will only bring out the beast in him. A shiver ran down my spine. I am well aware of what the Master is capable of doing. Chaos is going to paddle her until she bends. Judging by Merna, she is not going to go down that easily. Merna - violence I placed my hands on the table as I had been told. I knew the Master could not bleed me, my mother told me this. Yet she warned me that there were other ways of punishment that she could not protect me from. While I was in Chaos’s domain, she could not fully protect me, she could only advise me what to do. ‘How much would a paddle hurt?’ I thought to myself as I glared at the Master with bitterness. ‘I will not let you hurt my brother!’ I hissed hoping that he would hear my thoughts. If the Master did he did not change his demeanour. All I could see in his eyes was jealousy and anger. ‘What the hell did he have to be jealous of?’ I thought as I met him with equal rage. ‘Lying will cost you, little hybrid!’ The Master hissed in my mind. The one called Kudiya was behind me. “Take off the dress!” The Master ordered.Roughly the dress that I had put on before the meeting with the Master’s siblings had been roughly taken off by Kudiya. I was left standing with only the white garments. I was waiting for those garments to be taken off. Baring flesh to others did not bother me, it was only skin. Yet it did not come, the garment remained on my body. ‘I did not lie! If Pierre did not see me, he would not have spoken … hence it is my fault!’ My logic may have been different than his, but it still was my terminology, and I was not incorrect this time. “Hands back on the table and legs apart.” The Master's voice boomed through the room. Without question, I did as I was told. I readied myself for the first strike. “How many?” Kudiya asked The Master smirked, “until it can no longer stand!” I did not miss him trying to dehumanize me. This was a personal sting towards me. The first strike hurt like a mother fucker. I had bitten the inside of my mouth from uttering a sound. I was not going to allow this bastard the joy of hearing me scream. If there is anything I figured out with my travels is that this kind thrives off pain and suffering. And I would not allow them to know the truth. ‘What do you think you're going to accomplish with this action?’ I sent a message to Chaos as I prepared myself for the paddle. ‘You will learn your place!’ He hissed at me, not once daring to take his eyes off of me. Matching his energy, ‘I know my place!’ Hollering in my mind, ‘I am the master here not you!’ By the time Kudiya had paddled my ass five times Pierre was screaming bloody murder until someone silenced him. How? I am sure that the Master had something to do with that. All I did was keep my stare on the Master. The yelling match that Chaos and I had to go on in our heads continued as Kudayi paddled my arse! Hissing, ‘If you have not forgotten, I am my own master. I bow to no man, woman, god or goddess … not even you as an original can control me! I will never be yours!’ I glared daggers at the Master. Growling, ‘You are in my domain and will do as I say!’ ‘You can not make me do anything!’ The bullheadedness came out of me.‘You will never leave here!’ He countered. ‘I will find the doorway and leave … it is just a matter of time!’ I informed the arrogant dragon. It happened fast, no one but I saw it, and uneasiness appeared in his eyes. Was he scared that I could find the portal and leave? That would mean that I would be the first individual that had defied him and won. Chaos has never experienced failure on a level that would tarnish his reputation of being a ruthless ruler. Game score ‘three Chaos, one for me!’ Kudiya counted out loud ten. In the background, I swore I could hear Camile sniffling. Yet I refused to utter a sound. I would never admit it out loud, yet the Master didn’t know how much I enjoyed pain … well certain pains. So much so that sometimes just so that I knew I was still alive, I would cause pain to myself. All Kudiya was doing was reaffirming that I was indeed still living. My hands were on the edge of the table, arms were stiff when Kudiya struck me even harder than the other times. I could tell that the lack of display of pain was starting to bother him. He was starting to lose control of his actions. I could hear someone in the background mutter that they would have loved to break me. ‘Have fun with that thought!’ I spoke out loud in my mind. ‘It takes millions of years to shape a mountain, even longer for the elements to break pieces of it apart!’ The Master matched my demeanour, ‘what do you mean by that little hybrid?’ ‘I have no idea what you are asking?’ I was truthful; his question was wide open for interpretation. He repeated what I had thought beforehand. ‘Have fun with that thought?’ I gave him a sideways grin, ‘they would love to break me, you would love to break me … I have thicker skin than the others!’ If Chaos’ eyes might have got even darker, it was as if all the light in the room was being sucked in. That is when my facial expression changed. Not because of the pain inflicted on me, but at the thought of saying too much. ‘Shit!’ I muttered to myself as the realization was setting in. I felt moisture building up slipping from the folds of my lady parts. I would have laughed so hard if it were the juices of arousal but it was not. I watched as the Master’s nose started to wrinkle. Yet I knew he would keep to his words. My punishment would continue until I passed out from pain. With each strike, I could feel the moisture rolling down my legs. I had a choice to fake the pain and save myself from embarrassment or continue. At fifteen strikes my ass was numb only my hands feel the strain from the weight that I was putting them through. It was too late, I could tell that the Master was sniffing the air as he stomped behind me. Raising the garment he had a full view of my indefinitely red ass and blood going down my leg. Fresh blood was nearing both of my ankles and dripping on the floor. I could not suppress the pressure in my chest, I started to laugh, “What? Scared of a little bit of blood?” oh I was playing with fire, but I have always liked fire. I loved how it would kiss my skin leaving a sting and making me beg for more. “Hand me the paddle!” The Master ordered Kudiya. With one strike, I found my body moving forward and the air in my lungs being pushed out of me. With coldness in the Master’s voice “Twenty!” ‘Is that all?’ I questioned as the darkness consumed my sight and I fell into darkness.