Bryn stood silent for a moment, his lips twisting into a smile at Midnight's words. His hand opened to the side, and from a rack near the fireplace, a cane spun through the air to his hand. It was clearly made of bone, though its origin was questionable. Bryn held it by a large blood-red gem that topped it, and pointed the  tapered end toward Midnight.<br/><br/>"By my will alone, you live," said Bryn, "you have already lost, Alicorn. If you think you have nothing left to lose, you will discover you are very wrong."<br/><br/>The cane crackled with energy for a moment, Bryn's hand seemingly pouring bolts of lightning into it. The tip and sides of the cane sent out an arc that touched the floor every few seconds, and scorched it.<br/><br/>Bryn took a step forward, that sent him much father than it should have, until Bryn, in one step had gone from standing in front of Midnight, to beside his shoulder. Bryn's cane came down across the Alicorn's back, the strike barely containing enough force to sting. The shock that the hit produced was much, much worse. Electricity, pure power surged into Midnight, with a deafening crack, as though the swipe had come at the speed of sound.<br/><br/>"You will not escape me," he said, somewhat out of context, "and you will serve me."<br/><br/>He cast the rod aside, whatever power it had disappearing the moment it left his hand to roll across the floor. He pushed Midnight over onto his back with his foot, and then pushed his legs apart, his hand going down to wrap Midnight's long hair around his hand, as he knelt down between his legs.<br/><br/>"Say it again!" commanded Bryn, yelling loud enough to drown out Lyra's song for a moment.