The body of the demon stood, her body bathed in the moonlight that fed through the open window, the dying body of her only lover in her arms. She didn't move, nor make a sound. Her expression remained serene and docile, ready for the next command.<br/><br/>None of this game the slightest hint of the warfare that waged within. She was locked in the most heated, furious, and deadly battle of her very long existence. Never before had she fought for her SELF. Sure, she'd fought for what she wanted, what she hated, what she lusted for... but never before had the prize been her own identity. Her own right to exist. To act. To eat, to sleep, to claim bed mates, and to... to love. It really was love. She had no other word for it.<br/><br/>It was love... and she was killing him! His body had gone slack in her unresponsive arms, but she knew it was a hopeless battle. Her Master had used her true name. There was no fighting that! He'd contained all of her thoughts within his might before uttering the name, which meant....<br/><br/>If she'd had control of her body, she would have gasped. No!! He hadn't taken it all! He had missed the fragment of her will that she'd lodged within the mind of her Love. She'd pulled it back on her own just before everything had gone dark. That fragment would be left outside his control!!! It had not been included!!!<br/><br/>Joy filled her, fueling her might even further. She had to find that fragment and take hold of it. She could feel the dying emotions within her Love. He was reflecting on his love for her, even as he died at her hands, he still loved her. She took hold of those thoughts, drew up on them for strength though it would weaken him, and used it all to seize hold of the fragment.<br/><br/>It was there! Beautifully clean and free of the black taint that so completely held her. It was free. It was gorgeous. It was all she had left of the life she'd once lived. It was everything she had left to offer him. With a massive effort, she thrust a simple thought through that single point of light in a sea of blackness. Her hope soaring, she watched as the thought tore free from herself and shot straight into her Love, deep within his mind once more. It lodged there, burrowing deep to deliver a massive flood of energy.<br/><br/>With it, came these words. Her last words. The only goodbye she would ever be able to give him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #8040FF"><span style="font-style: italic"><div style="text-indent:1em;">My love... Please do not move. Trust me once more. I have no right to ask it of you, but instead offer you my word that I do this to save you the torment you would face at his hands.</div><br/><br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">Hold fast to this gift from me and let it fill you with the love I will never be able to rightly show you. He has taken me, my Thorn. There is no escape for me, and no hope left to be had. His control over me is complete. The woman you see now is not myself.  He uses my true name against me. It is all-powerful, and I cannot deny it, for I cannot deny myself. I will do as he commands whether I will it or no. I am a slave to my name, my Thorn. Any being who finds it and employs it will own me as much as this man does. He is no real strength, nor has he wits, but with me at his side, he will be a threat indeed.</div><br/><br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">I have given you the last of the freedom that I possessed. Please allow him to take me. He will not do you further harm. I will see to it before I allow the darkness to take me. I will never have to face this world without you.</div><br/><br/><div style="text-indent:1em;">Forever and always yours.</div></span></span><br/><br/>With that simple act, her will shattered and she faded into subsistence. It was done. She would now--.... But wait! The fragment! It was still there!! Even as she had the thought, she noticed that her arms were once more tightening around the body she held.<br/><br/>No!!!<br/><br/>She thrust her will into the fragment once more and filtered an interpretation of the command she'd been given. He'd given the order to kill, and kill she had. After all, he'd stopped breathing, hadn't he? Mortals needed to breathe, and he was not breathing. She focused this thought into the blackness that controlled her motions... and it worked!!! She felt the pressure release. The command was completed and she simply held the body in her arms, awaiting a new command.<br/><br/>The Master had been sipping his tea, watching. When he saw her tighten once more and release, he knew it was done.<br/><br/>"Very good, my pet. Now get rid of him and let us be off."<br/><br/>She dropped the body carelessly to the floor and turned to face him. She was still naked, but he gave no command for her to dress. As he started to walk, he beckoned to her. She felt her body follow him. It was the end of everything she'd ever cared about... so why did she feel so hopeful?