The Caravan

[kindaemissary]

BY REPLACING FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN WITH CURIOSITY,

WE OPEN OURSELVES UP TO AN INFINITE STREAM OF POSSIBILTY

Close to one hundred years ago, a catastrophe bestilled itself upon the United States. After a chemical reaction worse than Chernobyl, radiation affected a large selection of the earth's living populations. This created a rift between the humans primarily, and large problems started to arise between those who were not and who were affected. Being affected by this powerful radiation caused people to gain unnatural abilities - abilities that were not normally seen in the real world. The gap of difference between humans with and without these abilities increased rapidly as the Pures (humans without these "defects") believed that the radiation was a curse and something to be feared. The Pures caged and imprisoned most of the Corrupts (humans with these "defects"), selling them into slavery and killing them for sport.


After many years of impatience and practiced compliance, Corrupts are gathering their strength and numbers and working to overtake the capital, Anthem. One hundred mile West of Anthem lies Death Valley, which is now a dead forest known for its eerie qualities and immense heat. The Corrupts are hiding out there, tucked into safety, waiting for the time to strike.


Our story is of two young Corrupts on their journey to freedom, running from their owner in the dead of night towards salvation. They have heard of the safe haven in Death Valley, even though it is only rumors, but continue on their quest for liberty and emancipation. Threatened with their own demise, these two must work together to survive in the longest expedition they will ever have to take.

 

[Mobius]

Marley had been up since before the first crack of dawn,what was required of her.She had gotten used to it,but she couldn't help but yawn here and there,like right then.The hours always went by slowly and today had been another long day.Wake up,get ready,quickly straighten her room,get her orders,and get on with her day.It was the same thing every day and it had gotten so mundane that the hours just crawled on by.It wasn't like she was "friends" with any of the many other slaves her master had.She couldn't risk it.It was so easy to lose something in this environment.The master could just snap and order the death of the person causing him to snap.Besides,everybody just thought she was emotionally shot and not worth their time.It wasn't kiek she ever smiled,but then again,who did here?There was no reason to smile.The master was a brutal,horrid beast with no appreciation for what his Corrupts did for him.It was sick and she wished she could do something about it.However,she crossed him once and still has the scars on her shoulder blades to show for it.


Right now,Marley was responding to her master's call again.She wasn't sure what he wanted,but she hoped it would be something easy to accomplish.Normally when he asked for her it was to wait on something for him.Whether it was to fetch him a platter prepared for him by his immense kitchen staff or to run out a cramp in his foot,she was the one to do it.Soon enough,she had travelled down the elaborate hallway that held all of his personal rooms,like his bedroom,lounge,library (he had too many books to count),study...the drift has been established.She took in a breath before she turned the golden polished knob and opened the door to his study,where he had told her to go to over the intercom."You called,Master?" She said timidly as she poked her head around the halfway opened door.


Master Edward Krane was situated in a rather comfortable looking black leather desk chair,scrolling through things on his high-tech,and might I add very expensive,computer.He was the owner of one of the most valuable software companies in the States and was currently reading over the monthly report."Yes,I did," he told his slave as he turned the swivel chair so he was facing her.He put his fingertips together in a way like a mastermind might and looked her up and down."I plan on working straight through lunch.Bring it to me here right away," he ordered,his trademark sly tone coming out in full command force.Then he waved the girl off and spun the chair again so he was facing his desk.As he ran a hand over his well-groomed,short cut blonde hair,he placed his free hand onto a button over a small black hump of a gadget that looked like a very modern alarm clock,but with speaker holes."Send in the new one," he ordered into it before leaning back in his chair with a smirk.He heard this one had fire and he couldn't wait to put it out.


Meanwhile,Marley had come completely into the room and listened to her order.She gave a nod to her master,bowing as he had requested previously.Then she headed out,not catching what he said into the speaker since that one was specifically set so that only his guards would hear it in their walkie talkie things.Work.He doesn't know what work is, she thought as she headed down the stairs to the kitchen,which was on a lower floor of the many floored mansion she was forced to live in.While she wished she wasn't a slave so that she could enjoy all of the luxuries,she herself would rather to just have a quant little house with a happy family and exactly what they needed.However,she knew that that wasn't possible so it would just have to remain a dream.

 

[kindaemissary]

Edward Kane seemed like a joke. He seemed like an asshole that simply wanted to take over the world without any thought in mind to what he wanted to do with it. He was a bug beyond bugs, evil to the core, and practically the devil in the flesh. Donovan had heard so many things about his new master in the car ride towards his new "home" he wasn't sure what was real anymore. For all he knew, Kane could be kind, but considering all of the things the driver and the guard were telling him he figured that that was the least from the truth.


He had been in the car for hours - hands cuffed together behind his back and a gag taped into his mouth. As much as he knew that he brought it upon himself, he hated to be known as the "slave with spite". Sure, he was angry. Who wouldn't be? He had a perfectly good life where none of this nonsense touched him and in one day his entire life was stripped away - no home, no family, no rights. He had less freedom than a dog on a leash.


Someday, he wouldn't have to deal with this. Whether the reign of Pures was over, he somehow left the prison he was sent to, or he died, he would finally be free. Free from the burden that came with generations upon generations of Corrupts in his family. The same genetic mutation that left his parents free and him a slave for the rest of his existence. He knew that they didn't believe in all of this mumbo jumbo, but it was hard to keep telling himself that none of this mattered in the long run. It was hard to convince himself that he was worthy of being loved through all of this nonsense. So many people told him day-in and day-out that he was worthless and nothing more than dirt. That he was less than the roach crunched by the sole of someone's boot. That all he was good for was complaining, and that no one would ever care what he had to say. It was most difficult to keep believing in himself when everytime he got a new master, and they thought that they could break him. They weren't kind because they had been told that he was one of the worst - something to want but also something to fear. He wouldn't admit it, but he did break. A little at a time, at least. Not noticeable to anyone but himself, but when he noticed that he wanted to give in to escape everything, he knew he had to pull himself together. No way would he let some big money asshole get the best of him. He wouldn't give up.


He was thrown from the vehicle when the car parked into a dark garage, and he landed in the arms of a very muscular man on the other side. This was all routine. They'd rough him up a bit before getting to the master, the master would nod politely dismissing them, and then he would begin to talk about how he would be the one to break Donovan. How he would be the first person to get his attitude in check. The man yanked him from where his arms were cuffed together and pulled him up the stairs into the house. It was dark and somewhat unfurnished, so he had an idea that this was where he kept the slaves. Otherwise, what would the area be for? Not the master, of course.


Donovan realized that the house was big as the man dragged him up flights of stairs. He twisted his ankle a bit due to all the yanking, but he wasn't complaining. He couldn't, honestly. His mouth was still taped shut. The upstairs of the house was extravagant. Everything was beautiful, if Donovan's opinion mattered. Most of the mansions he had been in before had random furniture everywhere, as if the owner could afford the house but not new chairs. Here? Everything was polished, sleek, and glorious. There was art on all of the walls, clean porcelain tile on the floor, and a smell so good throughout the building that it was obviously cleaned more than once a day.


Being thrown out of his trance, Donovan tripped forward with a shove into a new room. The man still had a hold on his bound wrists, so when he fell to the ground, his arms were still in the same position. He felt a twinge of pain come from his shoulder blades, but he wouldn't cry. He wasn't about to cry.


"This is it," the man holding him said. Donovan glanced up and behind him to see his face, but turned back to face the floor after a few seconds. It wasn't worth it. It would be better to wait on getting beat than jumping right to it. And considering the master would most likely get to it as soon as the guard left, it might be better to seem relaxed now. It was too early to make a fuss. Looking up towards the center of the room, Donovan noticed that the chair hadn't turned around. He saw no face. Just fine combed and short cut blond hair. It was nice to know that he wanted to separate himself from the slaves, which is what Donovan figured that he was doing. Either a way, he was glad that he didn't have to look at another man that thought he was going to break Donovan's heart. It got exhausting after a while when none of them even made a dent.


After a moment of silence, the master dismissed the guard, and Donovan was pushed to the ground. His cheek hit the tile hard, and he already feel a bruise forming. Being stuck in these situations for years, he was prone to bruising. Since it happened so often, his body probably figured that it was normal. He struggled to sit up, but finally managed to get onto his backside, mouth still taped shut and hands still cuffed behind him. It wasn't comfortable, but he wasn't going to let this man humiliate him just yet. He glared, even though the man wasn't facing him.


He could tell that this was going to be a long day.

 

[Mobius]

Edward sat in his chair,staring at the computer screen with a smirk on his face,anticipating the arrive of his new slave too much to continue work until he had met the thing in person.He had been watching him pop up at the sales for a while,wanting him more and more at each one.This time he finally gave in and purchased himself a new toy.Of course he wasn't there to buy him.He had sent his most trusted guards to do that.His guards were much like a group of right hand men and he had way more important matters to give his time to.Besides,the sale that this boy popped up at this time was definitely one he did not want to be seen at.While most Pures had it well,some just didn't care about personal appearance or how they conducted themselves.Definitely not the place he,Mr. Edward Krane,wanted to be seen at.The press would light up and be all over him.However,they wouldn't care if his guards were seen at a place like that.


I'll get through that thick head of his, Edward thought as a sinister smile curled on his lips.Never had he ever met a Corrupt that he couldn't get to break and this time would be no different,he was positive about it.For a while,he thought about all of the slaves he had broken over the years.It caused him to chuckle.Oh,all of those pathetic souls who thought they could survive being a rebel around him.Unlike many Pures,when he met a Corrupt who refused to accept their life,he didn't sell them off to the next unsuspecting slob.He wouldn't let them off that easily.He enjoyed crushing their spirits.Why would he miss that fun?The looks on their sorry,pathetic faces,the sounds of their cracking voices.It all was just too enjoyable.Yes,it was true that he was a sadist.Whether it was crushing a slave or,in another sense of the word,crushing any idiotic business that attempted to compete against him.Oh,it all was just too fun!Now he would get to enjoy himself even more with this new one who was bound to be a good time.Why else would he have been put up in auctions and private sales how many times?


Yes,Edward did his research on this one.Any potential purchase that really peaks his interest he has to dig deep in available information.That was how he knew it had to be his spirit that brought him back to the sales stage.His former owners,for the most part,were credible people.Some he had even worked with for one reason or another.The fact that he had a nice little attitude to go along with him have him the final push and he dumped the money this time.When he bid,he always liked to show his superior pocket strings and went high enough to scare the opposing bidders away.Half the time bidders gave up when they realized just who was bidding against them.Oh,the looks on their faces!This whole thing was just to enjoyable for the man.


Do not take him the wrong way,however.Edward was a smart man with a brilliant mind.He wrote the first code for his business up and that was what exploded his business into an empire.A rich,billion-dollar empire.He had been rolling in green ever since.Since he had no wife or even a girlfriend,he splurged on things for himself and spared no expense in his home,his slaves,and things of enjoyment for himself.If you have money,you might as well use it.Plus,the bragging rights are worth it tenfold.Granted,it made a lot of people hate him,but who cares?He has enough money to buy things to keep him happy until he is well in his grave.Who needed friends?


Finally,a guard brought Edward's purchase to him and for a while,he just sat there and listened,a smirk on his face.Oh,how he would enjoy this.With a quick flick of his hand,he dismissed the guard so that it was just himself and the new slave in his elaborate study filled with valuable art,comfortable plush furniture,and heavy curtains that have a Romanian flare to them.Not to mention the electronics and books scattered on every piece of furniture possible.For a long time,he just say there,the room being so quiet that he could hear the breaths of the Corrupt.Finally,when he could wait no longer,he slowly turned the chair so he was facing the boy and crossed his leg in that manly fashion."Ah,finally...I'be been dying you up for a while," he said in a snake-like fashion,the usual sly tone taking on an almost bloodthirsty sound."I hear you have a bit of fire in you," he added,slowly rising from the chair and sauntering over to the boy on the floor.


With a smirk,Edward took in the appearance of his slave.He would be capable of the work he required of his slaves;the upkeep of his mansion,being ready at his beck and call,and cooking.As well as other oddball chores and things he could come up with.Then he knelt down in an Idian squat sort of way and peeled the tape off gently,taking the gag out.Why was he being gentle?To lull him into a false sense of security."Now,let me hear you speak...tell me your name," he ordered with an eyebrow raised and an amused smirk on his face.

 

[kindaemissary]

When Kane rose from his chair and sauntered towards him, Donovan got his first good look at the man. He had a guess from his hair and his dress that he was attractive, but when the boy saw Kane's face for the first time he understood how someone so evil had so much power. When you were beautiful, people often assumed that you were nice and kind and all other forms of the word. They didn't begin to think of the destruction that a single being could bring to the world. Especially with men like Edward Kane. He was attractive, beautiful even, but had the heart of a demon. The way his eyes crunched together as he smirked down at Donovan made sure that he knew that he was in for a treat.


Kane yanked the gag out of his mouth after slowly pulling back the tape. Donovan stretched his jaw slowly, hearing it crack from being forced shut for such a long period of time. He didn't want to give in so easily, but he knew that if was safer to start out small. He wanted to spit on him, to reach his head forward and slam their skulls together, even with his hands buckled behind his back. But that wasn't the best idea. He was new here. He had to start small, slow, and careful.


"Donovan," he muttered. He wasn't going to give Kane anything more than the bare minimum, and before he knew it he would be giving him even less. Donovan knew that he had power here - not as much as Kane, nowhere near in comparison, but if Kane wanted spite, he would give him spite. Just not yet.


The young man knew how to get to people, and it was going to be hard to get to someone like Kane. He had no soul, and he barely had purpose. Donovan had the ability to get to him just as much as Kane had that power over him. He just hoped that after awhile he'd be on the market again, being thrusted into some new man's home. God knows that Donovan had enough experience pleasing his owners - they all sought to that.


Kane was different. He had an ominous aura around him that made him just want to throw up. Something so sinister that it radiated evil. Donovan wasn't a fan, and so far, it didn't seem like Kane was a fan of him either.

 

[Mobius]

Edward locked his gaze with his slave's as he waited for a response.That fire's there...I can feel it,let alone see it...those eyes,they reak of defiance.Think I'll fall for any trick?l,big?Think again, he thought as his smirk grew.Until he got an answer,he stayed crouched down by him,still not breaking the stare.Establishing dominance in any way possible was key if anybody planned on getting a slave to submit,whether they be like the fellow he now owned or somebody with less fight...say Marley,for example.Without showing them their master's place and their own,an endeavor would not be successful.He'd done this all before and knew exactly how to work it.It all ended up working in the end.Once they see that there was no hope,no reason to fight,they give in.They always do.What's the sense in getting beaten senseless when there is nothing to fight for?It puts the thinking in them that the only thing in their life,their only purpose,is to serve their master.He would write a book about the breaking of a slave if he wanted everybody to know his way of thinking.He would make a mint off of it,but he was already making enough money.


"Donovan,eh?" Edward stated slowly,as if examining the name as he spoke it.After that,he gave a nod of his head,hit his knees with his open palms,and stood up.With no destination in mind,he strode across the room,looking at random objects and picking up smaller ones to examine them."Tell me,Donovan,what do you see?" He asked,raising an eyebrow as he looked back at his slave lying there on the floor,so helpless and prone.Prone.Oh,how he loved that word and when he could get somebody into that state.It made his job much easier and it also made intimidating people much more of a quicker process.His eyes trained on the Corrupt for a while before he looked back at his computer and pressed a key to send the program away.He would pick that back up later.


(Sorry it's short.It's all I have time for.)

 

[kindaemissary]

When Kane removed himself from the floor, Donovan held back at scoff to his arrogance. This man thought that he had a young boy playing right into his trap, but Donovan wasn't stupid. He had been through this countless times before, and it seemed so far that Kane didn't really have a clue at to what he was doing. He had all of the confidence and the stride to take over the world, but he didn't have the power that he thought he did. He needed something more to even make a dent at Donovan's perseverance, and at this rate, it would take a long time before anything he did would even amount to torture in the eyes of Donovan. Kane was a insect. A beetle that simply needed to be crushed. Donovan only hoped that he would have the chance to do it.


"Wasted money," he replied honestly. Most likely Kane would not be expecting an answer so trivial and so obvious. Hopefully, the comment made him angry, but Donovan knew that there was going to have to be more work into getting Edward Kane to back off, or even better, sell him to market. "You have a lot of possessions to show your wealth, but it isn't working for you. Nowadays people are investing. Slave-trades, medication, the food industry. By the amount of crap you have laying around house - art, sculptures, slaves that you don't really need - it's obvious you haven't thought about long term." He pushed his arms back and felt his back crack. With the cuffs, it was hard to move and he was cramping up, but this wasn't a time for complaining. "Someday, I'm going to die. The art on your walls is going to be worthless before you even know it. All your little trinkets and toys are a waste. If you were smarter, you'd be saving. Maybe buy a business, a couple stores, an entire company. Then you'd have the money to spend so carelessly. From what I've heard, you're not at that state economically yet."


Donovan's voice remained level as he spoke, but he was worried. Some people didn't overlook the attitude and started in on the beating right away. He wasn't sure what Kane would do, but he had idea that whatever reaction he got from him in the long run wouldn't be pretty. Surely not as pretty as his face.

 

[Mobius]

Edward raised an eyebrow at the reply he got from the little Corrupt whose words meant less than the dirt that the tech mogul's expensive shoes crushed with every step he took outside.That was what he wanted to hear.It could open up so many things.Many,many things.Somehow,he figured,that that small statement would not be the last from the boy on the topic."I thought you would say that," he got in before Donovan began to speak again.Figuring he should get comfy for this one.


As Edward listened to the boy,he tapped his index and middle fingers against his temple,his head resting in his hand.It was a good statement,but it didn't phase him as far as making him guilty.It just made him angrier and angrier and,if there was one personality trait that stood out the most about him,it was his temper.It mimicked a volcano's eruption when it was egged on to the point of being unleashed.Not a small eruption on some unknown island in the middle of nowhere.Picture,if it could happen,Mt. Everest erupting.Yes,that was the best way to describe the temper Mr. Krane had.When the Corrupt finished speaking,he waved his head back and forth in a way that could be considered like he was evaluating the speech.His face was a bit flushed,like how they normally got when he lost it,but he held back his anger and fury until the right time so Donovan would learn to expect the unexpected."Good point," he commented through gritted teeth,trying to keep his voice level."But,tell me this...what name is on the back of this tablet...or this computer?" As he mentioned the technology,he picked it up or turned the computer monitor."I'll answer that for you since Imm feeling generous: Krane Technology Corp.That's right.I,Edward T. Krane own the most valuable technology business in the world," he ground out,his anger beginning to show.


Slowly,in a manner similar to before yet much more threatening,Edward stood up from his chair and made his way over to Donovan.He bent down enough to where he could grab the boy and roughly took a firm hold of the collar of his shirt."Friends?I don't need friends.Money might not buy happiness for everyone,but it does for me.I don't need my worthless freak show of a slave to lie here and tell me about what I should be doing with my life because I have managed perfectly up to this point and as long as people keep running to my stores for the latest generation,my life will stay this way..." He paused for a sinister moment,"But yours?Whatever you thought was a nightmare is now a daydream...your life is the new nightmare." And at that,he went over to his desk which by it had a whip and a few other items like that.However,he did not grab them.No,he went for the knife he always kept on his desk.


(Do you think I should have Markey step in in the next post?)

 

[kindaemissary]

Donovan should have waited a little longer before making such statements, he decided, when Krane pulled out the tablet and showed him the name. Now the younger man looked like the fool, not even knowing that Krane at entire corporation in his hands. With the added fact that Krane was getting more and more angry by the second, Donovan regretted saying anything at all. Most people didn't let what Donovan said get to them, at least not for awhile, but it seemed like Krane would give in to any reason that would allow him to lash out and take control over a situation. Donovan had been through this before, even if it wasn't always so soon. Krane would do whatever he could to prove his control and power to the younger man no matter what lengths it took to do it.


As Krane grabbed his shirt and tightened his fist in the collar, Donovan felt his heart start to race. He couldn't stop it, not even after going through it time and time again. It was a rush, it honestly was, but a terrifying one at that. If that was Krane warning him that he was going to die at this house, then Donovan needed to think again. He got this far without too many problems, and he didn't want it to all go flying out the window with a single man. No! He couldn't just lay there and getting the beating of a lifetime.


Krane pushed him back down as he went over towards his desk, grabbing something. He saw the knife if Krane's hand as he turned back to face Donovan, and the younger man felt his heart tense up in his chest. This isn't good, Donovan told himself. I can't just sit here and let him cut me up. But what else was he supposed to do? He was handcuffed behind his back and laying in a position where he couldn't even get himself up. "You think you're going to scare me?" he mocked. He almost sighed of relief when his voice came out level. "If you think you're going to scare me with a knife, you're going to need to think again. I've been through this before, you know. Cut here and there. I've even been shot a couple of times. You don't scare me."

 

[Mobius]

Krane narrowed his eyes into sinister slits as he began towards Donovan.He meant business in everything he did and he never,ever bluffed.When he wanted to do something,he did it and he didn't waste time in doing it either.He was swift to the point of surprising when he wanted to be.However,in cases like this,he liked his victim to think about what was going to happen.Where would the fun be if it wasn't clear what was coming to them?And Krane was never merciful.Not to anyone,especially not a Corrupt.Actions had consequences and he would dish out the consequences no matter what.Often times he did take it overboard.One time he gave fifteen lashes to somebody who dropped a tray on his bedroom floor,spilling its edible contents into his lavish plush carpet.To him it seemed fitting,but to others a more lenient punishment would have been fine since it was an accident.This with Donovan,however,was not an accident,so there was nothing to argue about.


As Edward made his way over to the boy on the floor,his little medium to carve bloody art into,he twirled the knife skillfully in his hand and around his fingers.Somebody who wasn't Krane might have been nervous or even afraid to try something like what he was doing,but by now Edward was a very skilled knife wielder.His steps were slow and drawn out,like a calm breath in the middle of a good dream.His expression was nothing like a good dream,however.It showed his anger,his disgust,and also his burning desire to teach Donovan a lesson.It was evil to the last drop of the word and he rather enjoyed it.While the Corrupt said nothing he could do could phase him,Edward knew better.He knew that everybody had a fear,everybody had the capability to be intimidated and forced to shiver,and everybody had a breaking point.The others just hadn't found this person's yet.It was there,though,he had no doubt about it and he planned on discovering it real soon.


Once over by Donovan's side again,Edward smirked and chuckled a deep,bone chilling chuckle."Well,boy,you'll be wishing those bullets killed you when I'm done with you," he told him,every word the truth in his mind.Once he got going,I mean really going,with that anger of his,he had a hard time holding himself back.This situation would most likely be the same.After that,he crouched down and pointed the tip of the blade at Donovan's side,right above the hip.He looked at the spit as if examining it for quite a long time,the tip close to touching the body but not quite there.Once he decided it was a good enough choice,he pushed the blade in and slowly,heartlessly,yet quick enough to easily cut,ran it upwards towards the socket of his arms.

~

​

Marley had been held up at the kitchen.The Corrupts there,as well as the hired professional chef,had not expected the master to want his lunch in that way and had completely prepared it for a meal at the table and some of the food had already been taken out there.The chef,who was Frenchier than French,had said every curse word in the French dictionary while redoing everything and setting it up for Marley to take it to his boss on a rather ornate silver tray.Now she was carefully trying to climb the stairs without losing anything on the tray,including the glass of highly stainable wine.Couldn't have just given me two trays and I could've brought them up one at a time...noooo,that would be too easy, she thought sarcastically as she climbed the final stair and set foot on the floor of the master's "personal" floor.


Marley was still being one hundred percent careful as she made her way down the hallway.The floor was still a bit slippery from the cleaning an hour ago,but she couldn't help but be amused by the fact that she could see her reflection in it.For some reason,she always got nervous when preparing to approach the master.He intimidated her for many reasons and she knew what he was capable of.However,she managed to stay normally calm as she opened the door to where she had last seen him,the mistake the one slave had made when delivering a midnight snack to his bedroom screaming in her mind.However,what she seen,made her gasp out loud.


Master Krane was utilizing his knife not on fruit like it had been given him to,but on a person she had never seen before.It turned her stomach and made her wish she didn't have to worry about the stupid lunch for the sadistic man.However,all she could do was stare,stunned at the sight she was seeing.


Edward had finished making a nice mess out of Donovan's side and was now working on his stomach.When Marley came in,he looked towards her and stood up,spinning his bloody knife around."On the desk," he ordered calmly like nothing was going on.


Marley gulped,feeling herself shaking terribly as she walked over to where his desk was,her gaze directed towards Donovan.What did he do?Who is he? she thought as she looked towards the desk and quickly made it over to it,setting the tray down."M-Master...he won't make it without help..." She said,her voice barely above a whisper,and the way he was eying the boy made her realize he hadn't heard her.

 

[kindaemissary]

It was terrifying enough to be in the same room as someone like Krane, but as he walked towards Donovan, the younger man's pace quickened and he felt himself start to sweat more than he ever had in a situation like this. It was not normal for him to be so unaccustomed to the torture, mentally and physically, that came with being a slave, and he tended to be quite alright with being torn apart in whatever way his owner decided, but with Krane it was different. The older man wasn't doing this because he wanted to instill discipline or because he wanted to show Donovan who was in charge. He was doing it because he felt a rush. He was doing it because he wanted to.


The knife dug into the hip and sliced right up the left side of his torso. He cried out for a moment before he bit down against his tongue, piercing the flesh between his teeth. Krane was right; he wished he had been shot. This cut - this carving - would not be going away anytime soon. Krane was making a mess of his skin by using it as a canvas, and Donovan only wanted to wail. He wanted to sob until it ended, but he knew that he couldn't. He kept his jaw clenched and stared heavily up at Krane, trying to keep his eyes and discomfort under his control.


Krane moved his knife onto Donovan's stomach, and the younger man didn't realize how much blood he was actually losing until he felt himself getting light-headed. No one had ever gone as far as making him pass out on the first day - at least not from blood loss. One of the first times, when he was much younger, someone had knocked Donovan unconscious, but it was not as deliberately as this. This was a form of power and much less a form of torture.


Donovan did not sense the girl in the room until Krane pulled away and spoke towards her, giving her directions. He eyed her uneasily but looked away quickly, keeping his eyes on his new owner. They stared at each other, and when the girl spoke again, Krane ignored her. Donovan's heart race had increased rapidly, and he started breathing heavily. He wanted to claw at his throat from the lack of air, but it was no use. With his hands behind his back, there was no grasping.


"S-She's right," Donovan muttered after a moment of stilled silence. He kept his eyes on Krane and leveled his breathing as best as he could with the lack of control he was experiencing. "If- If your point of buying me was to kill me, you're going to succeed." He took another deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to stay conscious. He could feel blood pooling out from his side and abdomen. "Otherwise, I'm going to need a clean canvas. I can't do that myself."

 

[Mobius]

Edward glared at Donovan as he spoke the first time,but it did hit him that he didn't necessarily want to kill him...yet,and he might accomplish that if the Corrupt wasn't taken care of.His eyes narrowed as he pondered over what to do,slowly turning his knife in his hands.His gaze watched the stained blade while his thoughts were elsewhere.It occasionally caught a strong enough ray of light to cause it to reflect it and the light gave it an even more menacing appearance.I really do not want to lose such an investment...or the satisfaction of seeing him give in, he thought as he stopped turning the blade.His eyes remained on it,however,as he continued to think about it.Finally,he turned his attention to Donovan again.His gaze was almost snake-like and he felt a bit of disgust rise in him as he finally made up his mind.Turning his attention to the girl,he pointed the Kings towards her and said menacingly,"Fine...do what you need to and find me when you're done." Then he went over to the tray,replaced the knife with the wine glass,and took a sip before heading out to reel back in his private library.


Marley didn't take her eyes off of the master as he contemplated what to do.She chewed on her tongue,rather worried for the poor soul on the floor.Things like this bothered her,whether she enjoyed people's company or not.It wasn't right and nobody in a position like hers or worse deserved to be treated like that no matter what.Finally,the verdict came,but she jumped slightly due to the knife being pointed in her direction.She gave a quick nod and stammered a surprised,yet quiet,"Y-Yes,sir." Her attention switched from Krane to Donovan once the vicious man left the room and,since she was a little nervous to speak out loud to him,she thought to him instead,"Just cooperate..." She figured he would,but she knew there was a chance he wouldn't accept her help.After that,she turned and took the knife,trying to wipe off some of the blood.She went over to him and knelt down,gently taking his arm and moving him gently so she could cut the ropes around his wrists."I have to get the medical kit," she told him as she stood back up,heading towards the door.She looked over her shoulder at him for a minute before heading out and towards the stairs.


Sadly,despite his multitude of...random,rather unnecessary rooms,Edward had no such thing as a medical room or a medic on the premise.Marley was no doctor or nurse,but she hoped she would be able to help the new guy.She went down the stairs and rushed to the slave quarters.There was,surprisingly,a well-stocked first aid kit in one of the closets and she was familiar with everything in it.She ignored any questions or looks from other people as she made her way to and opened the storage closer that kept the kit safe.She huffed as she had to hunt for it once she reached her destination,but the moment she found it,she hustled back the way she came.What am I going to do?He'll probably need them to be stitched...maybe not, she thought as she climbed the stairs again.It didn't take her long to make it back to where she left Donovan,and as she came into the room she opened up the kit to begin figuring it out.

 

[kindaemissary]

Donovan could feel the tension in the air as Krane watched him, obviously internally debating over which was a better decision. Donovan could only hope that the one that he made actually benefitted him and didn't turn into an absolute slaughter. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe Krane really wanted to torture and kill him all in one day, leaving his personal office into a blood-soaked battle ground. It was getting a lot harder to breathe as time went on, but after a while Krane spoke up.


A giant weight was lifted off Donovan's chest as Krane deposited the knife onto the tray, grabbed his glass of alcohol, and left the room. It was almost like being free again aside from the fact that Donovan knew it wasn't going to last. He looked over towards the girl who practically saved him and frowned when he heard her in his mind. She might have saved him, but that was not okay. The only person that needed to be in there was him, and he definitely didn't want someone getting around, no matter if they were Corrupt or not. She still worked for Krane, and that wasn't a positively defined trait as of yet. He nodded towards her as she spoke to him, kept his mouth shut, and tried to keep his breathing under control. His throat kept constricting, even though he got it to open back up a couple of times, and before he realized it she was out the door, heading for medical supplies.


He hadn't met very many slaves, despite being traded and traded again through the slavery rings for years. He had barely come across any which such will, excluding himself. She seemed determined to help him even if that was against the will of her master, and it had been a while since Donovan had witnessed anything even familiar to it in another human being. Compassion was hard to come by these days, even within the Corrupt circles. Everyone was worried about themselves, Donovan included. He might have been troublesome and strong-willed, but he never put someone else's safety above his own. That was ridiculous.


Getting himself into a sitting position that would give her more leverage, Donovan was finally able to breathe without choking on his own lungs. There was a lot of blood from his side, and less from his abdomen, but everything hurt. Everywhere hurt. As much as he hated to admit it, Krane was right: he would have rather been shot a hundred times than to deal with this. His hands were still cuffed to his back, so it was hard to get into a position where it would be equally helpful for her and him, but he made do. He spread his palms out as used them as leverage to the highest extent as he could.


When the girl came back into the room, Donovan's eyes flashed towards her. She began searching through a first aid kit before she did anything else, and that was nice, knowing that she wasn't joking. If it had all been a ploy Donovan didn't know what he would have done. He opened his mouth, wanting to thank her, but maybe he shouldn't. If she had talked to him through his mind, maybe there was a reason that she didn't do it aloud. And if she could read minds, then that would solve part of his confusion, but he didn't know if it was going to be that easy.


"I shouldn't have riled him up," he muttered quietly after a moment. If anyone could hear him other than hear, they would have had to have supersonic ears. Without knowing if speaking was a good idea, it was the best he could do. "Thank you. For aiding me."

 

[Mobius]

Marley sighed as she knelt down beside him,eyes still glued on the kit as she continued to try to figure out what she should do about his injuries.Oh,if only she could have taken a crash course.She was so afraid of messing up and ruining the areas where he had been practically maimed.She wouldn't be able to live with herself,knowing the way she hung onto things.However,he needed help and she was the best he was going to get.She could not let her worries get to her.She would do just fine...she hoped.


As Marley pulled out a cleaning cloth and some cleanser,she glanced to where his arms were and realized his hands were still tied."Sorry...I forgot them," she thought,forgetting to reply to his statements for a while.She got up and went for the knife Krane left.Carefully,she picked it up and wiped some of the blood off with the napkin that had been brought along with the lunch.It was one of the fancy cloth ones...whoever was doing the laundry would hate her.Oh,well.The blood stain kinda came close to the red color of the napkin so maybe they wouldn't notice.As she turned back to him,she blushed slightly in embarrassment to forget to respond to him.This time,even if she was uncomfortable with it,she spoke to him with her voice,her hazel gaze directed at the dark wood floor,"It probably wasn't the best decision...and you're welcome.I couldn't just let him have at you and you wouldn't survive without help." By the time she finished talking,she was kneeling by him again.With a careful motion,she cut the ropes around his wrists.


Then Marley looked at what she had taken out.She needed to wipe up the good around the area before she went about cleaning it.With a sigh,she ran a hand through her hair."I need to get a towel from Master's bathroom...can you take your shirt off while I get it?" She decided to speak again,her voice coming out quiet and soft.Without waiting for an answer,she stood up and headed to the door again.She would need to be careful to sneak into Krane's bedroom,which his bathroom was connected to.Don't let him be in there, she thought as she entered the hallway and headed up it to the imposing door smack dab in the dead end.She twidled her fingers nervously as she made her way over,knowing what could happen if she was caught sneaking around in the master's bedroom.He wouldn't miss the towel,but she'd be mad if he seen her taking it.

 

[kindaemissary]

Donovan was more than thankful for the help the girl was offering him. Aside form estate nurses, he had never been helped in renewing his health since he had been sold into slavery for the first time. He almost forgot that some people were still human, even through times such as these. When she cut his hands apart, he stretched them out and gave himself more leverage, which gave her more space on his stomach and side to side to work. Without considering the aching pain he was experiencing due to Krane, he was feeling a little free. Maybe it was just the fact that his hands were upbound, but it was nice to feel like he had more of a chance at making his own choices. He wasn't being dragged around on someone else's will. He watched her stand from the ground and leave the room, and if Donovan wasn't so injured, he would have got up and left. He didn't know how far he would have got even if he was healed, but it was a chance.


He pulled the shirt off of him as carefully as he could, and once it was off he pressed it against his bleeding side. For now, without the towel, he was going to keep bleeding profusely. Until she came back, the soft cotton would have to work. He would press harder, but with a lack of blood and an increasing lack of oxygen, it was hard to put too much effort into anything.


When the girl came back into the bedroom with a towel, Donovan sighed of relief. He didn't know what he was expecting, but he was glad to know that she was telling him the truth. He wasn't used to hearing honesty, so maybe it was just weird that she was telling him what she was doing. Normally, things were going the other way. Normally he was the one checking in. The girl seemed nervous, more so than she was before she left. "If it means anything to you, I very much appreciate this." His breathing was getting better, but still a little uncontrolled. It was taking conscious decisions for him to keep taking oxygen. "If the tables are ever turned, I hope that I'll be able to help you. Pay you back." He sucked in a harsh breath and went silent for a moment, focusing hard on breathing. Donovan nodded twice, knowing that they were probably thinking the same thing. Maybe not. "I'll shut up now and let you work."

 

[Mobius]

Marley hoped that he wasn't creeped out by the fact that she had used her power to communicate with him.It was just habit when she got nervous,because when she was nervous her voice always seemed to falter in some way.It just made her feel more uncomfortable and didn't end well.No matter what her thoughts,when "speaking" to somebody through her mind,were smooth and unaffected by her emotions.At least in that case,her thoughts were practically controlled by how she felt.However,it might be an easier situation for her,it probably freaked him out at least the first time.She would have to try to keep her nerves out of it and just talk out loud like a normal human being.The again,she wasn't a normal human being now,was she?Not in the eyes of the Pures anyways.


Marley glanced at his face for a moment when he started to talk,but other than that her eyes inspected his wounds.The shirt could only do so much and she hoped that her attempt with the towel would end better.She was still convinced they would need stitching,but she wasn't sure if the kit had anything for that and there would be no convincing Krane to take him to have it done or to have a doctor come to do it.When he finished speaking,she looked at him again,shaking her head gently."No...it's not bothering me...I'm just figuring this out..." She told him softly,her voice barely above a whisper.Communicating was not her thing."And you don't have to repay me,I'm not doing this to get anything in return," she added before she turned her attention back to his insane cuts.


With a deep breath,she took the white towel,pretty sure the person stuck washing it would scream for bloody murder at the sight of it."I'm sorry if this hurts..." She told him before she gently began to wipe some of the blood from the wound on his side.She sighed as it seemed to not make a dent and she opened the towel more and pressed it against what she could of the long wound.It was a good thing the sight of blood didn't affect her in any way.That would have been bad.However,the sight of the injuries did turn her stomach in concern for him,so to take her mind off of the sick feeling in her stomach,she looked at him once again and asked,"What's your name?" She would have to know,since being able to address him correctly would be crucial if they were going to be able to communicate.

 

[kindaemissary]

Donovan nodded when she assured him that he wasn't being a nuisance. He liked it better when she talked aside from thinking to him through his mind, but that was only because he was used to having privacy. Albeit it was a small amount of privacy, but with someone lurking inside his head he felt more of a prisoner than he ever had anywhere else. He wondered if that was one of the reasons why Krane had her around - maybe she could read minds and tell him things, remain the number one slave on his list. If there was any way that he could make his mind invisible he would, but he wasn't even sure how far her ability reached. Maybe it wasn't even telepathy. He had no idea.


He glanced towards her as she moved the t-shirt against his skin and replaced it with the towel and then looked back towards the rest of the room. Eye contact established dominance in a conversation, but he wasn't ready to make any. Even though she wasn't looking at his face, if she turned, he would have looked away quickly. It was better to not look at all. "Donovan," he answered. Even if he didn't tell her she would figure out eventually; whether from Krane or her mind-reading skill.


"What about you?" he asked then, glancing back towards the girl's face before looking away. He watched as she looked his wounds, wincing once in a while as she wiped away the blood. It could take weeks to recover, and that was being optimistic. Krane probably wouldn't go a day without giving him the sharp end of the stick, and if he ended up like this everytime, he wasn't going to last so long. "Do you think I'll make it, doctor?"

 

[Mobius]

Marley sighed as she continued to press the towel against his sliced up side.She hoped she would be able to help him and not do the opposite.She was just going by instinct and instinct told her he would need something more.However,she got a little bit of confidence instilled in her as she pulled the towel away slightly and seen the bleeding was stopping.That was a good sign...right?Maybe he wouldn't need the stitches she thought he would need.However,he wouldn't be able to do much until it was past being able to bleed from being provoked by movement and Krane would most likely not give him that chance.


As Marley spoke to him again,she moved the towel to the cut on his stomach,"I'm Marley..." She then worked on keeping the towel firmly pressed against his body.She was more careful with this one,though,because it was his stomach and she knew pressure against it couldn't feel too good.The cut on his stomach wasn't as long as the one on his side and wasn't as deep,either.Krane knew the risks of going too far with a weapon like that against an area like that.Perhals he did have some sort of mind when he lost his temper.Because of it,the bleeding wasn't as bad and she got it under control quicker.Once she removed the towel from the cut,she answered his next question,"Yes,you'll just have to be careful with how you move."


Then Marley set the towel to the side and took a cleaning cloth and the bottle of cleanser."It's bound to get infected unless it's cleaned,though.I guess you can handle pain,so..." She told him somewhat slowly.Before he could object,she had some cleanser poured onto the cloth and the cloth gently dabbed against his side.She was as gentle as being thorough could be and she felt terrible that she was probably bringing him more pain,but it had to be disinfected or he'd be in even more pain and a major risk of,well,bad things.To try to get both her mind and his off of what she was doing,she asked,"What's your power?" She was genuinely curious.It always interested her how their powers compared with their personalities and she wondered if his matched up.Well,she really didn't know about his personality yet,so she really wouldn't be able to do any comparing,but it was fun to find out what other people could do.

 

[kindaemissary]

Donovan inhaled sharply as the girl, Marley, added the the cleaner to his skin. It was a sharp shock and intensely painful, but he knew that she was right. Without cleaning it, it would most definitely get infected, and that would probably hurt more than getting stabbed did. The wound ached, but it would be better getting it over with now instead of dealing with it later on an even worse level.


When she asked him about his ability, he was pleasantly surprised. After all of the time that he had moved and moved again from house and house again, no one aside from his owners had even cared to ask him. They just wanted something that could do a few tricks, and Donovan had never experiencing someone wanting to know just because of natural curiosity. No one had ever wanted to know just because. There was always a reason, and normally that reason wasn't pretty. "You know," he said, and he shrugged his shoulder on his good side, but he still winced. "Just invisibility. Not a big deal. I've had a couple buyers get me just so I could freak out their other slaves. Maybe a neighbor or two." He winced again, this time due to the cleaner.


"And yours?" he asked, and he raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I've heard you in my head, but what else? What exactly can you do? Can you read my mind?" He had a lot of questions, but it might have only seemed like a lot to him because of the fact that none of his ever got answered.

 

[Mobius]

Marley felt terrible as she gently cleaned the slice on his side.She knew she was bringing him more pain and she didn't like that at all.Hopefully he understood that this pain was better than what he would be in if she didn't put him through this.It could get really bad and she did not want that to happen even if it hurt to high heaven right then.Master really takes things too far sometimes, she thought with a slight shake of her head and a sigh.


Marley raised an eyebrow when Donovan told her his power.Invisibility always intrigued her and she only grew more curious to it now that she was able to talk to somebody with the ability to do it."Oh,me?" She questioned when he asked her what her power was."Telekinesis...nothing great.I can communicate through thoughts,like you know,and lift certain things with my mind,but nothing too big or I get a bad headache," she answered him,shrugging afterwards.


After thoroughly cleansing the cut on his side,Markey moved to the one on his stomach.She got a new cloth and poured fresh cleansed on it before she began to gently work on the cut,hoping he would be able to handle the feeling on his stomach like he did with his side."So...what's it feel like when you're invisible?" She asked curiously,not taking her eyes off of her work,however she was rather eager to find out.

 

[kindaemissary]

"So you can't read my mind?" Donovan asked, and he moved his left arm to give her a better view of his side. It looked better now that she was cleaning it, and he was less worried about the wound than he was before, but it still hurt like hell. He wondered if Krane did things like this often or if it was just Donovan that set him off. If he treated all his other slaves like this, there was going to be a lot of damaged people to sift through before he found one that he could talk to.


One of the main reasons that he was sold and sold again was because he had too much of a mind of his own for someone to properly own him. He had too many thoughts and ideas, and in a slave, those weren't appealing qualities. In the house two before this, he had convinced another slave that the best thing for them to do was to escape, and it turned about to be the exact opposite. Oliver, the other slave, was now dead, and Donovan had ended up with a broken leg after that.


He looked up at her question and glanced around before looking back at her. "I don't know," he started, and then he cleared his throat. "It's kind of the same when I'm visible, but more free. It feels like since no one can see me, they can't touch me either. Like there's a barrier separating us that finally makes me better than them."


Donovan glanced towards the door that Krane walked into and took a long deep breath. "The only reason they have us at a lower class is because we scare them. We're more powerful, and it makes them afraid of us." He shook his head and sighed. "It's stupid really, but we can't exactly do anything about it. It'll be like this until someone comes along and cares about it enough to change everything, and until them we're screwed."

 

[Mobius]

"I...guess? Marley replied slowly as if she was thinking about it herself."I don't know....it's strange...I can hear your thoughts when I'm using my mind to communicate with you,but only when I'm doing that...Right now,I can't tell what you're thinking,but I'm going to guess you're weirded out.I don't really understand how it works...but if you were to think something towards me now,I would hear it.It only works if I can see you or we're in close range of each other,though," She answered with more substance.It confused her and she didn't like that she couldn't understand exactly how her power worked,but it worked for her because,as mentioned before,talking with her mouth could be a challenge at times for her.Maybe it was getting okay now because she was focused on tending to his injuries rather than just talking.When she really thought about what she was saying was when she had trouble.


After repeating the process Marley used for cleaning his side's wound,she set the bloody cloth aside,planning to throw them out once she was finished.Then she began to look through the kit,wondering what she should do.The bleeding had stopped considerably and the only reason it was still going was most likely due to her cleaning it,the touch aggravating it into spilling more.There were two options on the table: use the gauze and rap practically his entire torso or stitch them up with a medical needle and thread she had found in the kit (most likely smuggled in there).While she didn't like the idea of having to stitch him up,she figured it would probably be the best way to go...but he'd most likely have a nasty scar.


As he answered her question,Marley looked at him,allowing her worries to sort of go away for a minute as she listened to him.She bet it felt just like he described and for a moment she a bed to experience it for herself.Why must I have a boring power like this? she wondered before she took the gauze in one hand and the roll of thread in the other.Showing the contents of her hands to Donovan,she let out a deep breath and said,"So...not to change the subject,but you have two options and I'm going to let you pick.I can either rap the gauze over the areas affected and you can hope the bleeding stops or I can...t-try to stitch them up and you wouldn't have to worry about that." She hated how her voice caught on the word "try",but she knew it was the truth.She wouldn't be able to do it perfect and she wasn't sure she would be able to do it at all,but she would try if he wanted her to do that.

 

[kindaemissary]

Donovan listened to her and thought about his own ability for a moment. He wondered if having something that mentally affected him would be different than a physically-developed power. Marley had a thought-based power, and maybe that affected her differently than Donovan's invisibility affected him. When he got stressed or over used his power, he got really bad back aches and arm and leg cramps, but he didn't always think that was because of the invisibility. Up until a couple months ago, he thought he was developed acute arthritis, but it turns out that it only happened when he was overusing his power. Since then, he only used it when he had to, and that seemed to be only when his owners wanted a show.


He listened to the question and zoned back in to the conversation, looking down at his wound before thinking too hard about the question. He wasn't sure. If he allowed Marley to stitch him up, it could end up worse than it was already. She didn't seem like she knew how to do it from the way she was asking. On the other hand, it would stop more chances of infection from spreading and he would lose less blood. It seemed like a lose-lose situation, and he really didn't want to have to make a decision.


"It might be better just to wrap it up. If I'm safe, I won't have a reason for it to reopen, and it'll be fine." He looked back down at the wound and sighed, knowing his was making a stupid choice either way. "Wouldn't it be helpful to have a useful power like accelerated healing, but no. Gotta have something that isn't useful in day-to-day life." Donovan sighed and looked back up at Marley. "If I decide that I want you to stitch it up later for some reason, could you do that? I can try it this way, and if it doesn't work out, can I come to you again?"

 

[Mobius]

(I'm so sorry...we ended up talking while my color set which we never do xD .Now I'm shopping,but I will reply more tonight!I apologize.I am normally much more active than this.)


Marley began to wonder if it was easy for Donovan to use his power like it was for her or if it took a lot for him to do it.She could use hers easily,she didn't even need to think about it,reallyWell,the communication one.The levitating objects took some concentration.She had to pay for overusing her power just like him,only for her it is major headaches and fatigue.She learned the first time to not strain herself,it wasn't worth it.,An average conversation wouldn't cause it,but if she got angry or worked up,she'd be swiping Advil from Master Krane's personal medicine cabinet.If she tried to lift something too large or used the power for too long she also would get hit with the headaches and lightheadedness.It wasn't worth it.


While Marley waited for his answer,she watched him casually.She wondered what he was truly like.Was he really the rebel that caused all of this to happen or was there something more to him?He seemed like a decent guy,but that could be by force to not make her mad so he wouldn't lose her help.Either way,she was glad he was being nice for that time.It made things much more easy and maybe even a little less stressful.


"Good choice..." Marley breathed almost silently,not wanting him to hear.She was relieved he didn't want her to try and stitch him up.She didn't want to ruin him.At his next statement,she gave him a nod.At that,she set the needle and thread back in the kit and unwrapped some gauze."You'll just have to sit up for me if you can..." She added softly as she looked back at him,her gaze gentle.Her compassion for him could be seen clearly in her expression.She shocked herself.Normally she kept her nose out of it and didn't let her feelings get in the way of her actions,but this time she felt like she just had to help him.She couldn't let him like that.

 

[kindaemissary]

(Oh jeez it's okay I totally didn't even come on last night because I completely blanked. I normally don't drink soda and I'm drinking mountain dew and I can feel the caffeine in my brain. It's a crazy feeling and my mind is like NOBONOPAOGOAYNAHR but I will write and write and write and get this done and dude I have so many ideas about everything and just woah)


Donovan sat up and let Marley do what she needed to in order to patch him up. The gauze wouldn't heal him, but hopefully time would. He moved his torso as she helped him, and he couldn't help but think about things. She might have done this multiple times before, or maybe this was the first time she actually witnessed Krane torturing someone. He wondered if when she got to this house if Krane did something similar to her. She seemed more together than Donovan did, and she could probably control herself more than he could, but that might just be because of lifestyle. Donovan didn't grow up being a slave. He was thrown into this a couple years ago, and he was just supposed to accept it, and that wasn't okay.


"Do you use your power a lot?" he asked after a moment, and he looked around the room at all of the artwork on the walls. It was obvious that Krane was affluent, but it took a personal look to know that he was jerk. More than a jerk, actually. Donovan didn't know why he was giving Krane the time of day in the first place, so he turned back to Marley. He wondered what her parents were like, and he felt sad. He missed his as much as he didn't want to admit it. That would give his owner's more things to use against him, and he didn't want that. He shook his head and thought back to his question. "Can you use it on command?" he asked. "Or is something you have to prepare yourself for? Does Krane even allow you to use your powers?"