When I awoke Demon was by my side. "Catherine I'm so very glad that your ok. You had me scared for a while."

"What happened?" I asked confused.

"You don't remember?" Demon asked concerned.

"The last thing I remember was being told by Dathan that I was going to be punished for disobeying the rules."

"Yes, well, you don't have to worry about either one of my sons anymore." Demon replied pushing the hair out of my eyes.

"What do you mean?" I asked worriedly.

"I have disowned them. They are no longer family as far as I'm concerned. What they did was unforgivable." Demon replied. "Catherine, I'm going to make you a promise ok? From now on I am not going to treat you like a slave. However, this is a privilege and it can be taken away should you ever do anything to cause me to loose faith in you do you understand?" Demon asked.

"Yes Mastea." I replied.

Demon was true to his word he became as good a master, as good a man, as anyone could know. His complete change in behavior shocked everyone including himself. "I'm getting too close to this kid. Next thing you know people will be saying that I've gone soft." Demon muttered to himself.

A few months later Demon ran into his sons. "Well, well, well, if it isn't our old man. I hear the kid's made you gone soft. I told you she'd be more trouble then she was worth. So, what brings you to our neck of the woods? It's no place for a soft hearted man such as yourself."

Dathan said with a smirk. Demon glared at his son but did not reply. "See what did I tell you boys? Demon Cruix the second most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy has gone soft." Dathan replied.

Demon didn't reply instead he chose to ignore Dathan. "Bar tender another drink!" Demon bellowed.

"Wow, your actually at a bar? Does your little girl know about this? I bet she will scold you should she find out. One might think your the slave and she's the master the way she has you wrapped around her little finger." Dathan mocked.

Demon glared at Dathan angrily. "What's your problem Dathan?"

"What's my problem? You chose a good for nothing little brat over your own sons! That's my problem!" Dathan replied with a growl.

Demon smiled "don't tell me your still sulking about that. Your a big baby, you know that Dathan? Still acting like a spoiled little child. Catherine is more mature then you are and she's only four." Demon replied with a laugh.

"Tell me, how is the little brat? I mean, your precious little thing?" Dathan asked mockingly.

Demon didn't reply instead he just sipped his drink and paid the bar tender and rose to leave. "Where are you going? Don't tell me you have to rush home to your little girl. Come on, stay and have a few drinks on us. Bar tender, an order of dragon firewater for my friend. No, wait, bantha milk is probably your speed now a days." Dathan mocked winking at his friends.

"Your trying my patience Dathan. Do us both a favor and leave before I loose my temper." Demon replied.

"Ooh the mighty Demon is going to lose his temper. I'm so scared." Dathan replied rolling his eyes. Demon responded by shattering his glass in his hands in warning but Dathan only laughed and punched Demon directly in his eye.

"Wow, you really have gone soft. The old Demon would have not only blocked my punch but would have shot me for even daring to mock you. What's the matter, Demon? Too kind and gentle to fight back?" Dathan replied with a laugh. " Come on boys lets leave the old softy to drink his bantha milk."

After they left Demon sighed . "Dathan was right I am going soft. Catherine has got to go." Yet he knew deep down inside that selling me would be wrong not to mention that it would break my heart. "It has to be done. I have to get rid of her to prove to myself that I am still as cruel and evil a man as the day that I purchased her." Taking one last swig of his glass of alcohol he turned and headed towards home. "Catherine we need to talk."

"Wes daddy?"

"Don't call me that. I am not your father and you are not my daughter." Demon replied.

"Have me done something to displease you daddy?"

"I said don't call me that!" Demon replied with a growl his eyes flashing in anger.

"Me sowwy."

"To answer your question no you did nothing wrong. It is high time that we stop living in this fantasy world and return to reality. In allowing you to call me Daddy and treating you as family, I have been mocked by my fellow bounty hunters. I have been labeled a weakling. I am not weak, I am not gentle, I am not kind hearted. It is high time I remind people of how cruel I really can be starting with you."

"Things will return to the way they were. No more of this mushy daddy garbage! Your my property and that's all you ever will be." Demon kept his word he returned to his life of women, gambling and drinking. Going from girlfriend to girlfriend and often blaming me if the relationship failed.

However, I was thankful to have a Master like Demon. While he no longer allowed me to call him daddy he still treated me as if I was the most valuable thing he owned. He never whipped me like other masters did their slaves. He would yell often raise his hand in warning to watch my behavior but he never hit me.