Sighing again, Callista shook her head a little. "In all honesty, that isn't the only reason why I want to go back. Violet, I just can't help but think he might have a kinder side and I want to see if maybe I can find it." Once the words left her, a horrified and shamed look crossed Callista's face. The man had enslaved her, and yet there she was running right back to him instead of trying to get away. "It's stupid, and I'm insane for wanting to go back but I can't help it." Well now someone else knew how she felt. He'd probably think she was crazy too.

Chuckling a little, Nereus smiled as the fox's lips captured his own again. Hands dropping from where they had been and to Lily's hips, Nereus then tried to think about what to do next. He'd never been so unsure before! So instead of messing up what was happening, he let Lily take control. Pressing himself against the smaller man, the white haired knight moaned and groaned lightly upon feeling the other's hands roaming. He never imagined this could feel so nice, and so fulfilling. In fact, this was the first time Nereus felt so close to anyone at all ... Since the war anyway.

"A kind person wouldn't treat people the way Violet does. I've had kind masters in the past, and I've had ones that were far crueler than Violet could ever dream of being. I don't think you or anyone can change Violet." It wasn't crazy though, it was nice to know that Callista saw some glimmer of kindness in Violet, but Talis just didn't believe there really was any there. The mage was just fooling herself. "It's not stupid, it takes a strong person to see kindness in cruelty, but I still don't think you can change him."

"I just think he needs a friend. And I don't want to change him, I just want to try and find what I think is already there." Buried very deep inside that man, there had to be the reason for his cruelty. As the horse kept moving forward, Callista lifted her hand to her neck and sighed. "Even if it doesn't happen, there's is the other reason why I want to go back too. We haven't really talked much before this, but I've always admired you from a distance. Now that I have a chance to help you, I won't miss it." Even if it meant going back to a life of slavery.

"A friend? I'm not sure he knows what the word means." He shook his head a little, and kicked the horse into a gallop. They were going back, there really was no reason for him to delay their journey any longer. They would get there eventually, might as well make it sooner than later. "I'm not worth it, I'm not worth your admiration or your help." Talis truly felt that way, he had done so little to help himself, he really didn't deserve to have someone else put themself back in a bad situation just because they might be able to help him.

She chose to remain silent now as the wind made her hair fly behind her. She was glad for the coat covering her. Glancing down she realized that one of them was Talis's. It brought a small smile to her face, despite the fact that they were returning into captivity. At least she would have a friend. That made any situation bearable.

Talis was silent the rest of the ride back as well. Urging the horse to go faster. Soon Violet's estate was in sight, and Talis steered the horse towards the stable. Slowing it down to a walk, before stopping it completely. A guard had stepped in front of the beast. Now that it was stopped another came forward to grab it's halter while more men came towards them. Roughly they would grab Callista and Talis, pulling them off the horse and towards Violet's estate, though to different doors. Talis was to be taken to the dungeon like basement, and Callista was being dragged up to Violet's room. Talis struggled a little, but otherwise didn't resist as he was dragged away.

Violet's hands were clasped behind his back, his broken nose had been fixed as soon as he had returned by one of his weaker slave mages. He paced across the floor of his room. His guards had explicit orders that both Lily and Callista were to be brought before him upon Talis return, and if the dragon didn't come back with both, then whichever one he did bring back would be brought to him. Of course Violet expected that if Talis only brought one of his pets back, it would be Lily. Even so, the dragon would still be punished for breaking his nose. That punishment would be worse though once Violet learned that Talis had brought only the mage back. The door of his room was wide open, waiting for his guards to bring his pets to him.

Dread filled her as they entered Violet's home. As the guards dragged Callista from the horse's back she had to fight hard not to blast them away from her with her magic. She was free, uncollared, and could do whatever she wanted! Though that would be very counter productive. The enormity of what she was doing finally hit her as she watched Talis being taken away over her shoulder.

Shoved and dragged along, Callista stumbled a bit as she was pushed into Violet's room. Seeing him pacing the way he was made fear quaver trough the young woman. Her blue eyes were wide as she trembled, though the thought of what she'd said earlier stiffened her spine. She was tired of letting Violet step all over her, and she was free for the moment and had full use of her powers.

The guards had closed the door after depositing Callista in Violet's room. Violet was angry, very angry. Lily wasn't with Callista, but at least he had his mage. He came towards her, his hand drawing back as if he were going to slap her. Violet hesitated, his anger only grew, and that hand came down to roughly grab her chin and tilt her head back. "How dare you remove your collar, slave! I'm good to you. I feed you, clothe you, give you a warm place to sleep and this is how you repay me? By assaulting me, running away and removing your collar?" He let go of her chin and shoved her against the nearby wall. His hands on her shoulders and he squeezed them a bit hard. "I will not be defied! You will obey me unconditionally!" He captured her lips with his, but it was not a sweet kiss. He pressed hard against her, kissing her with force, and biting her bottom lip hard.

Taking a deep breath, she stared straight into Violet's eyes defiantly, even when he started began throwing his angry words her way. A small surprised squeak left her when he pushed her against the wall and began kissing her. Surprising herself, Callista nibbled lightly at his lips in return and pulled back slightly. "I know what you did for me, and I'm grateful but ... I missed being free." She realized just how much she'd missed it now that her new found freedom was going to be taken away. By her own choice of course, but it was still going to be gone. Water welled up at the corner of her eyes, though the tears didn't fall. Her arms had come up of their own accord to envelope the blond man in a hug. It was hesitant, and uncertain, but the action was still there.

Violet was taken by surprise just a bit when she nibbled at his lips and hugged him. She should have been pulling away, or fighting back somehow. Ah well, whatever. He pulled away from her and grasped her wrist tightly, he yanked her towards the bed and then practically threw her onto it. "You belong to me. You will always belong to me!" In moments he was on top of her, ripping and tearing her clothes. Violet's intent was obvious and when he leaned down and bit hard onto her collar bone it seemed obvious that he wouldn't be gentle about it at all.

She'd not been too surprised when he pulled her to the bed. Callista had seen what the man did to Violet every night, and it wasn't pretty. Eyes hardening when he bit her, she decided that he needed to see how it felt like. Muttering under her breath quickly, she created a spell so that Violet would feel all the pain he inflicted upon her as his own. She wondered how he would react to that, and steeled herself for the consequences.

Violet's hands roamed as he nibbled and licked gently at the place he bit before moving to the other side and biting the opposite collarbone just as hard. Violet flinched and pulled back almost immediately, one of his hands coming up to rub at his own collarbone. The only explanation his mind jumped to was that she had cast a spell, of course if anything happened, he would blame it on her casting a spell. She was a mage after all, and her collar was gone, which meant she could use her magic more freely than before. His eyes were hard with fury, and he drew his hand back, striking her cheek with an open handed smack. Violet winced himself and growled dangerously. "Remove the spell now, wench! You will obey me!"

A little surprise flitted trough her when Violet was gentle with her, though her own anger returned with his next actions. With hard eyes, she lifted herself up to her elbows and regarded him seriously. Yes, her cheek smarted and her collarbones hurt, but she was used to that. It was about time Violet learned what it was like too. "No, I refuse. I don't need to obey you anymore and my name is Callista not wench." She couldn't ever remember being like this before, not even before her capture. Callista had been the shy one, the reclusive one, but now ... Now she was tired of it, so she'd decided to change while she could.

Violet grit his teeth and glared at her. He would teach her what her place was, and if he couldn't hurt her without hurting himself, he could do other things to her. When she lifted up onto her elbows, he shoved her back down on the bed. Covering her body with his own. "You belong to me, my pet. My little slave, my little whore." As if to emphasize that last word, Violet pressed his entire body over hers. Nothing would stop him now, and he might even be a little more gentler than he intended, if only because of that spell she had placed. Still, even if she wouldn't be his completely, at least right now her body would be. He brought one hand up and placed it over her lips. "If I can't punish you, then I will just have to punish another slave in your place. Perhaps it will be Talis, he's already downstairs awaiting punishment." He spoke the words in her ear, speaking them with a tone that seemed to suggest he really wouldn't mind inflicting extra pain upon the dragon, then he nipped one of her earlobes almost gently.

"I'm not your slave anymore. I could have run far away when I had the chance, but I came back. Do you want to know why?" The words were spoken a little softly despite the situation. She remembered just yesterday morning what had happened. He'd done something to make the guards back off, probably for selfish reasons, but he'd done so all the same. "Because I was stupid enough to think that there was good in you, and you just needed a friend for it to come out. Guess I was wrong. You're nothing more then a coward who hides behind a mask of cruelty." In an odd echo of one of Violet's actions, the blue eyed woman reached up to tug lightly at his hair. She was a little sad now, and very worried about Talis. So she was trying to get Violet's focus on her, and her alone. Hopefully it worked.

Violet laughed at her. He laughed at her silly words, because that's what they were. Silly. "How stupid. You came back because you wouldn't know what to do without a master to order you around." When she tugged at his hair, he smacked her hand away. "I have friends, powerful, rich friends. Your place is beneath me, you are a slave, not a friend. You are just something for me to play with, to use, to break and throw away once you've been broken beyond repair. I may be a coward, but what does that matter, I have power! People tremble at the mere mention of my name!" He pressed his body hard against hers, trapping her on the bed as he worked to unfasten his pants. He would have her body, and he would have it now. No matter what she said.

She thought he was the broken one, he just couldn't see it. Even when Callista knew what was coming, she still held on to some sliver of belief that there was something other then this cruel man in Violet. "No one will mourn you when you die, they'll rejoice. I on the other hand, people will miss me, and cry tears of sorrow for my passing. You may think you have everything, but you're life is empty of the most important thing of all." Closing her eyes briefly, Callista let out a sigh. Her whole body trembled, but for some strange reason she felt completely calm. She would surprise him , since nothing else seemed to work with Violet. Pulling up what tattered tender feelings she had for the man, Callista managed to reach up and capture his lips with her own. Tenderly, gently and sweetly the young mage tried to convey what he was missing and what he was breaking to Violet. It was probably a futile attempt, but it was the only chance Callista had left.

Violet shook his head. "What does that matter? Who cares if people cry or miss me when I'm dead. I'll be dead, what good will it do me? I'm not dead though, so I intend on enjoying my empty life." He was ready now, to take her body. It did surprise him when she kissed him, but what did that matter anyway? Her body was moments away from being his, and she was trembling. He kissed back, he wasn't gentle, but he wasn't rough. A mix of in between, his hands going to her hips as he lifted her lower body slightly.

Tears began falling from her eyes as the deed was done. More so because she felt horrible for Violet's sake then for anything else. Pulling her lips from his and turning her head to the side, Callista sniffled a little. "But I care. I wouldn't have come back if I didn't." She was such a horrid person for caring even a bit for him! "And it matters because... because there's so much more to life and I keep wishing that I could help you see that, but you'll never change and nothing I say will ever be able to get trough to that black heart of yours." There, it was all out. The real reason why she'd wanted to come back and why she'd endured so much at his hands while serving him devotedly without trying to escape until there was a true need. Tears falling even harder now, she lifted her arms to pull Violet close and proceeded to nuzzle and kiss his neck lightly. It was probably the only chance she had of ever acting in such a way.

Violet was done talking, and he only half listened to what Callista said anyway. Honestly, the man was thinking of how to punish Talis. Perhaps he could make Callista watch as well. She was crying though, and that almost made him smile. When she pulled him close, it didn't surprise him, he let her nuzzle and kiss his neck for a few moments and then he was done with her. Violet pulled away from her, grabbing her wrist and yanking her off the bed, dragging her to the door that connected his room to hers, he yanked it open and shoved her in. "We'll play some more later, my little whore. Right now I need to oversee Talis' punishment." He slammed the door behind her, locking it.

Violet quickly changed clothes, black pants and a black shirt. Then he stepped out of his room and into the hallway. He paused in front of Callista's door, and checked to make sure it was locked. Then he made his way down to where Talis was.

Stumbling as she was yanked around unceremoniously, Callista tumbled to the floor of her room. Letting tears fall, she then wiped them away and stood. Talis ... Shaking her head, the blue eyed woman grabbed whatever clothing came to hand and casually blasted her door open. She was pissed. It was time for someone to truly learn his lesson, and perhaps set Talis free in the process. Just because she cared for Violet didn't mean she would allow him to harm others still while she could stop him.

Rushing downstairs to where she knew Violet headed, the young mage formulated a plan in her mind. Catching sight of the blond man, Callista reached out with her magic and pushed. Pushed all the feelings she felt into his mind. That was only the beginning, and didn't take very much effort. While that happened, she was searching for that fang and also creating a spell that would immerse Violet with more pain then could probably endure. She was truly sick and tired of being his plaything, his toy. Though hurting him would hurt her, she was ready to do so because it was the only way of stopping such a monster and of freeing everyone from his control.

The last thing Violet had expected was for Callista to be out of her room. He had just assumed that because she was a female, she would sit in her room and cry. He was completely caught off guard by her magic when it pushed feelings into him. He staggered and stumbled, the onslaught of all those feelings confused and dazed him. He leaned against the wall, almost doubled over with one hand on his head as he tried desperately to sort himself out. Then the pain started, his entire being seemed to be drenched in the pain. It was unbearable, his lips parting to scream, but before the sound could escaped him, Violet fell in a crumpled heap to the floor. Unconscious. The fang that gave Violet so much power over Talis was kept in a room in the attic, the fang it self in a velvety bag, that velvety bag sat neatly inside a locked box, and that locked box sat inside of another locked box. Both boxes were locked with magic, as well as locks requiring a physical key or two of course the physical keys were on Violet, in his pocket.

Talis was in one of the rooms in the basement that had been specifically made for punishing Violet's unruly pets. Chains dangled from the ceiling and Talis wrists were shackled to those chains. They were so high up that Talis feet dangled half a foot from the floor, his entire body being held up by nothing but those chains. The shackles biting hard into his wrists, and his shoulder's ache and felt as if they would rip right out of their sockets if gravity didn't stop trying to pull him back down to the floor. Talis wore nothing now except for his black skirt, long slits up both sides and his body was already bruised all over except his face. Four guards were guarding him, though mostly they were taking turns at beating him like a pinata with wooden batons. Of course, that wasn't the real punishment, the real punishing wouldn't happen until Violet came down there.

She had cancelled the spell which linked their pain moments before her spell had hit Violet full force. Seeing him in such pain made tears fall from her eyes and broke her heart, but Callista shook her head and marched over to the man. Rummaging trough his pockets she found his keys. After smoothing Violet's hair away and spelling him into a healing sleep, the young woman stood and walked away like nothing had happened. Talis's freedom was upstairs, and she had to get that fang as soon as possible. Callista didn't rush, but walked casually the whole way. No one became suspicious of her, even uncollared as she was.

Once in the attic, the young woman ran to the boxes and began to carefully unravel the spells binging it closed while unlocking the physical keys. It took tremendous power and mental energy, but she managed. With adrenalin and determination pushing her forward, Callista managed to somehow find her way back downstairs. The fang was pulsing in her hand, almost guiding her to it's true owner. The guards didn't stand a chance against Callista, even in her weakened state. They fell unconscious to the floor, hit by a spell of sleep.

The young woman moved towards the imprisoned dragon and carefully undid the locks binding him she did her best to ease his fall with the minimum of magic she could use. There was no way Talis could escape without at least some healing. Placing her hands upon him and leaning heavily against the dark haired man, Callista murmured soft words to commence the spell. As it was, her mind was completely wide open to Talis. Everything she had done, all the things she felt including the conflicting emotions that had been haunting her about him and Violet ... It was all laid bare as she used what strength she had left to heal him. Callista somehow managed to stay conscious, but there was no way she could move.

Talis was a little startled when the guards fell asleep and a bit surprised to see Callista. He could feel it, as well. His fang, it called to him. Talis shook his head lightly, lips parting to speak, but Callista was already freeing him and softening his fall. He stood on unsteady legs, that became steadier as she leaned against him and healed him. He wrapped his arms around her, as her mind bore everything to him. Talis shuddered lightly, and lifted her, holding her close. They had to get out of here quickly before more guards saw them. It wouldn't be too difficult, maybe. Most of the guards were asleep anyway due to it being so late. Still a few were up and guarding Violet's estate.

Talis whispered comforting words to Callista as he carried her from the room. He knew though, Violet would probably hunt them again. That man didn't respond to being treated like this by slaves very well. Still they definitely needed to get out of there before Violet woke back up. The dragon made his way up the stairs, taking specific corridors that he knew wouldn't have guards posted there at this time of night, until he finally made his way outside. Talis shivered, barefoot and shirtless he clutched Callista to his body for extra warmth. The stable boy was asleep, and Talis didn't waste time with saddling a horse. He lifted Callista onto one of the horses, and then mounted it behind her. His arms went around her and he grabbed hold of the horses mane. Moments later, they were riding at breakneck speeds away from Violet's estate.

She was crying again, and clinging weakly to Talis. Callista needed warmth and comfort after everything she'd been trough. Consciously though, there was no way the young woman would acknowledge such a thing as Talis carried her away. It was so difficult. She had to accept the fact that someone she had wanted to give her heart to only saw her as a possession, nothing more then a toy to play with and break at will.

Cold seeped slowly into her body, only to be warmed by both Talis and the horse he'd placed her upon. The mage still clutched the all important fang in her fist tightly. Her blue eyes closed as they raced away into the distance, despite the fact that her mind was still working and completely alert. "You were right..." mumbled Callista weakly.