Ok, this is sort of off topic, but next time you decide to read anything Red Queen related, listen to You'll Be Back from Hamilton. Remind you of anyone? Anyway, enjoy this chapter! 😈

I feel empty. Despair and anger has hallowed me out. Everyday is the same. Maven always drags me to his boring court deliberations, that I don't even pay attention to. Why bother? No one can get me now. And I'm stuck. At the deliberations I'm always sitting on the ground with the collar attached to my neck. I always felt like a toy, a pet to him and this just makes it physical. I spend the entire time glaring at Evangeline. She doesn't ever spare me a glance. Not that I mind, plenty of slivers stare at the pet's new collar. One less makes me feel a little better. Maven's Nymph queen, Iris sits next to me as well. And I feel her gaze most of all.

At breakfast Maven has both me and Iris. Iris opposite him and me sitting on the ground. This morning is no different. Maven loops his chain around his chair and Iris primly sits down.
"So, Iris, how are you settling in?"
"As well as can be expected King Maven." She dips her head in deference. She is a far cry from Evangeline Samos, with rage that came out in metal spikes. She is as eloquent and serene as water. An obvious difference compares to Maven. They're made for each other. I laugh out loud, my first sign of joy in weeks. Both Maven and Iris look at me. Iris stares questioningly, while Maven frowns. He knows me all too well.

"Something funny Miss Barrow?" I bow my head in mock courtesy.

"Nothing, your majesty," I say mockingly. Already I feel better. Not cured of the emotional grief, but starting to heal. I need to stab him I as I have been stabbed. Bruise him like I have been bruised. Because he is a monster and no one shows a monster mercy. Maven growls deep in his throat.

"Iris, would you be so kind as to tell the court we shall not meet today?" He phrases it like a question but it is clearly an order.

"Of course." Iris responds, sashaying from the room. As soon as she leaves, he hauls me up.

"Mare...."

"What is it your, majesty?", I say feigning ignorance, "I thought even pets have emotions." He growls again and I enjoy myself.

Then, he smirks.
"How would you like to visit an old friend or two?"

Maven drags me through the dudgeon, Sentinels in tow. We take a passage that I've never seen before and end up near cells. In one I see Julian.

"Julian." I breathe. I rush toward him, only to be jerked back by Maven.

"Sit." That infuriating word. It reminds me that here, I am not human. I glare at him, refusing to move. He sighs and drags me back. I stumble and land on the floor. "Stay, Mare." He leers at Julian. "So nice to see your pupil again, isn't it? Although last time wasn't very pleasant, was it?" He gestures to a window and I see the bowl of bones. No doubt he watched me kill Cal. I feel a sting of guilt, though I had no choice. "And to think, Sara is here too. Just like old times, when a cut sent you fleeing." Those words cut like knives. I remember the day I met Sara, and saw Julian and Sara interact with Maven. They despise each other. They glare at Maven. Then Julian breaks first.

"Mare, what an unusual collar. The color is unique, is it not?" Unlike the Slivers in court, Julian isn't teasing but hinting. Telling me to read between the lines. His eyes dart behind me. I turn. And then I see her. Cameron. Bleeding. Into, cement? Then it hits me. This is how to make silent stone. I reach my collar and see it is red. Of course! When I first saw the collar I assumed, it was just silent stone tinted red to mock me. But no. Of course that's why it feels extra hard to breathe. I make eye contact with Julian and he nods. Maven glowers  at Julian and then, inexplicably, smiles.

"Well done Julian. Looks like you taught Mare another lesson." He sounds joyful, and lighthearted. Then he turns cold. "And now it's my turn to teach you a lesson. Guards." The Sentinels wrench open the door, and drag Sara out. Julian lets out a strangled cry. He knows what's going to happen to Sara and whatever it is, it isn't pleasant. Feeling desperate, I beg.

"Please, Maven don't. Please don't hurt her. Don't do this to Julian!" He pushes me aside and I hit the ground weakly, weeping and begging. He ignores me. I am dragged across the ground still begging, struggling to get up. I hear Julian's screams in a distance. When Maven abandons me in my room, I wonder, why is it always because of me? Why does everyone I love end up with scars and bruises? Even when I have no more power than a pet, they get cut up. Torn apart. Destroyed.

With these thoughts, I break. I did what I promised myself to never do. I am a broken pet for the demon king of Norta.