My feet moved swiftly as I lead Christine to Cade's cell. My hands were trembling as I unlocked the door.

The boy was sitting in the corner playing with a twig that had probably been debris in the construction of the construction of the dungeon, and when the door creaked open he finally noticed Christine and me.

"What do you want?" he asked trying to sound brave, but only sounding like a young child.

"I'm giving you a cellmate." I replied nudging Christine to go in.

"I don't want to go in there, Eric." she told me.

I kissed her forehead reassuringly and gently pushed her inside without a second thought.

"Remember that this is only temporary my angel. Once you forget about Raoul you can live the life of a royal."

I glanced over at Cade and glared.

"Try something, and I'll hang you faster than you blink."

Cade gulped and backed up further in the corner. I gave out a cruel laugh. I missed seeing people so frightened by my presence. It brought me great joy.

"Please you're scaring him." Christine scolded me going over to Cade to calm him down.

"That is the point Christine!" I chuckled, "I will be back with your dinners for this evening."

I exited the dungeon and made my way down the halls humming a merry and cheerful tune. My Christine was starting to see that I was the only thing she needed, and that Raoul was slipping away fast. There was a pitstop before making my way to the kitchen. I needed to check on the fop.

Dreading each step I took, I made it to the laboratory. The doors opened immediately letting me in. The walls and floor was a bright white tile. Beakers, test tubes, graphs, and charts crowding the granite table tops.

"You've returned..." a low voice whispered.

I whipped my head towards the voice to see the biggest rodent of them all still in his cage, like a good rat should be.

"Be thankful that I did not let you rot down here." I sneered.

"You are going to kill me anyway, so what's the point of living at all?"

This man was pitiful, sad even. He had truly given up all hope of seeing the light of day again.

"How is Christine?"

"She is doing just fine now that she is in her rightful place." I snipped.

He was my worst enemy, what can I say?

"I am just glad that she is okay." he sighed fixing himself into a more comfortable position, "You do realize though that she will be miserable?"

"She will never be disappointed or sorrowful when she's with me! She belongs to me not you, rat!"

"I am just telling you that if you really want her to love you, then let her have a taste of freedom. That way during that, if the results go in your favor then add some more bites of freedom until you cannot give any more."

I looked at Raoul with one eyebrow raised. Was he really giving me advice about my relationship with Christine? Sure I did not need his assistance, but the fop was giving it to me on a silver platter! Was this going to change the way I saw him?

Never!

"Too much freedom can lead to her escaping my clutches while I sit around foolishly letting her have more and more advantages!" I shouted at him, "Your mind tricks will never make me think more of you. I am too clever to be roused!"

"Yes you are way too smart for me." Raoul rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Fool..."

"What did you say rat?" I growled coming close to the cage slamming my fist against the metal, making a dent in the bars.

"Nothing!" he squeaked and I laughed in amusement.

"That's what I thought."

Before walking out the door I scowled at Raoul and added in a little punishment.

"No food tonight for your pesky mouth."

Then I turned and walked into the kitchen looking around in the pantry for a suitable dinner item. None of the food specialties could suffice, until I saw just the thing.

Two good size baguettes were on the top shelf and I laid them both on two separate silver trays. Then, grabbed two glasses from the cabinet and filled them with some water.

As I headed back into the dungeon, I peered at the cell I had put the two in. To my surprise, the door was wide open and Cade and Christine were nowhere to be seen.

My hands let go of the trays, and the glasses shattered on the rocky pavement into millions of pieces.

"Christine!" I roared running around the castle halls searching everywhere like a maniac.

Rage was boiling inside of me. How could she do this to me? I was her master! I owned her! When I found the two, Cade was going to be hanged immediately, and Christine would have to be punished for her little escape attempt!

Many devilish possibilities entered my mind, but my mind sorted through the ones that would physically injure or harm my angel.

My train of thought was stopped as I heard quiet whispering, and I stepped back towards the hallway door, pressing my ear up against it.

"He'll come back for me he just has to."

A wicked grin appeared on my face. I had found my Christine. I flung open the door and she jumped back in fright, and she looked as though she'd seen a ghost.

"Why Christine? Why would you run away from me?" I demanded an answer for her actions.

"I-I had to...to find Raoul." She stuttered.

I growled loudly and gritted my teeth in anger.

"Wrong answer!" I replied grabbing Christine's arm forcefully and dragging her back to the dungeon.

All her pleads and begs were useless to me. My mind was made up on the punishment. All that needed to be done was have it executed.

I threw her fragile body in a cell and slammed the door shut making sure to lock it.

"As punishment for your foolishness, at dusk tomorrow, you will watch your lover die..."