☆Sammie's POV☆

Sammie gawked at Samuel's flames. Since when could he do that? She tried to build up more flames but found herself tired after her last attack. Her flames, this time, were much weaker.

He threw his flames, not at her, but her feet. Stumbling back, she landed on her ass. He took this chance to rush her, pinning her to the ground. His eyes looking into hers as his grip tightened on her arms. Samuel smiled.

"Did you think you could get away with that?" He asks. "Nope, I need to punish you somehow now."

Sammie's breath hitched. He set flames to her arms. The burning making her scream in a way she never had in her life. Why did it burn her, and not him?

The world wasn't fair.

When he let her go she clutched onto her arm, sobbing. The pain was unbearable, this is what it felt to be on fire.

This is what it felt like to burn alive.

He pulled out more pink goop, and started using it on her new burns. He didn't make eye contact.

"My mother and father told me that the souls just wander in outer space," He said, as if nothing happened.

Sammie said nothing. She didn't care about souls, and just wanted to leave. She didn't know why Samuel was bringing it up, but it made her a little better, in an strange way. If he was talking about random things like this then he wasn't hurting her, or her loved ones. It almost felt familiar. It felt like things going back to normal. Before all this magic happened.

He turned to look at her, his face was uncharacteristically somber. "They just circle around, not knowing what to do. They never really go anywhere."

Sammie kept her face blank of any expression, and just clung on to her knees.

∆Samuel's POV∆

This is wonderful!

This was probably the first time Sammie fought back in her whole life. It was the first time she fought him, but he was sure she never fought for anything, ever! She truly was the best toy. Definitely his favorite toy.

"Come closer Samitch, I wanna get a better look at you," he said, beckoning her closer. She obeyed, like always. "That last attack really hurt, I'm so proud of you."

Her eyes still looking straight ahead into something Samuel didn't see. It upset him that she wouldn't look at him. Was he dressed weird today or-?

"Uh," Sammie started, uneasily. "Thank you?"

Samuel hummed. He wondered if his favorite toy had gotten over her little tantrum already. She seemed mad, and standoffish. Well, as long as she did as she was told, he didn't see the harm in letting her cop an attitude now and then. In fact, it was downright adorable.

"If it's about this morning, don't worry about it, sweetheart. I know how roomies can be. Mine used to get me into all sorts of trouble, you know," he chuckled, running his hands over her shoulders.

He trailed his fingers down her spine. He had to admit that she was much more appealing as a tsundere. Sammie didn't pull away, but shuddered lightly. For a moment, though he'd forgotten what he was going to say next.

Samuel turned his attention away from Sammie. Looking around the burnt out clearing they always met at. He noted a bird fly into a hole in the tall tree.

"Go on, samitch," he said, pointing. "Hit that hole exactly."

Sammie went tense, was she really not going to listen to him? "I can't."

"Samantha," he said, without tenderness. He he grabbed her arm, making her aim it at the tree. "Hit it now or you face the consequences, understand?" He gave her arm a small squeeze.

Sammie nodded, not able to meet his eyes. She was trembling like a leaf. He was eating this all up. Time for this favorite toy to learned who owned her.

Summoning her magic, she yelled as loud as she could. Birds flew out of the trees as her flame hit the tree. She probably hoped that she didn't hurt any. What a weakling.

"Are yo-are you angry at me?" Her shaking had yet to subside. His smile returned.

He laughed. "Oh, Samitch! There's no need for me to be angry!" He pulled Sammie a half step closer. "You just need to learn to never say no to me."

He said it so simply. She nodded, reluctantly.

"I know you're hurting," she quietly muttered. "I know you suffered things you didn't deserve, and I can't imagine what you went through. B-but we have to stop. Please, if you're my friend.."

She looked up, searching his face for something Samuel was certain she wouldn't find. Her eyes earnest, and open. His favorite toy was trying to worm her way out of spending time with him. He gripped her arm tighter.

"Please.."

Samuel felt he could have laughed himself to death right then. Sammie was such a spoiled child, she never had to deal with hardship. Always putting her faith in precisely the wrong people. He was going to remedy that flaw even if it got them both killed. He laughed, making her stumble. His grip on her arm tightened, keeping her on feet.

"You still have much to learn, and I'm going to teach you." He said seriously, not breaking eye contact with her. His green eyes made her uncomfortable.

"Please," Sammie whispered, desperately pulling against his hand, her voice edging on hysteria. "I don't want to do this anymore. I c-can't do this!"

"You don't say no to me!" Samuel yelled, throwing her down on the ground. "On your feet, now! And ready your magic," he hissed. "It's time to train."

She pushed himself up, and got up unsteadily off the ground.

"Good," Sammie said, preparing his own opening attack. "Now remember, Samantha: for your life."

Sammie had improved a greatly. Her fire hit their target every time. She had grown stronger, and she threw them aggressively faster than ever. She was strong, but not strong enough.

Anyone but Samuel would have been dead by now. He was still surprised that he could absorb her magic. Seems he still had the connection even though she has been reborn.

He was enjoying the feel of magic again. It was just like old times, much to his delight. It made for an easy to play with his most favorite toy. It's not like he had anything to fear from the her magic, not really. He was like a glow-in-the-dark sticker. He could absorb her light, and glow with it for some time after. She was more like a lighter, she could create light as long as she had magic in her. But she could still get badly burned.

For every hit she landed on him, he would return it threefold, forcing Sammie into constant motion. Anytime she stopped, she risked getting burnt. She redirected any attacks that she couldn't avoid. She start creating waves of magic, and flames along the ground like walls.

More than once, Samuel took a hard hit. He never felt so proud. Ironically, the faster Sammie moved, the slow her attacks came. She was unable to keep up her stamina any longer.

Struggling between using magic, and running finally got to be too much. After two hours, she collapsed. In time, she would adjust and be able to take it. Now though, she was spent.

Now on all fours, she attempted to get up. Only to fail.

"Get up," Samuel demanded, creating a small flame, his magic dying down. He threw it straight at her face.

She barely managed to roll out of the way in time. She forced herself to her feet with a loud grunt of effort, flinging a pathetic flame Samuel's direction.

Samuel's shirt was in tatters. He giggled in delight as Sammie struggled to stay up. He roared laughter when he felt his shirt flat out fall off his body on to the ground. Oh, but this was perfect! His favorite toy was much stronger than before. He took a step forward, and ended up face planting. His mason jar filled with pink healing goop fell out.

The short girl ran bounded over to him, babbling apologies, and skidded to a halt at his side. He felt the warm prickle of a healing pink oilment spreading over the worst of his wounds. Her concerned expression, making his heart flip. His eyes widened, no it must be the excitement of the battle. He looked up, and smiled at her.

Oh, Sammie, such a sweetheart.

"So, uh," he said, "what exactly are you doing?"

"I'm sorry!" She sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "I swear, I didn't mean to- It wasn't suppose to-"

Samuel groaned in disgust. Just when she got cool, she went back to her annoying dumb self.

"Dumbass! Why the fuck did you stop attacking?" He yelled.

She stared up at him, not understanding why he was so upset. "Yo-you were hurt! I had to sto- I had to hea-!"

"Did I give you permission to?!" Samuel stood tall, his chest covered in bruises, and splinters. "Did you really think you could best me?"

Sammie raised her hands up in that gesture of pleading submission that never failed to annoy him. So much for her being for his favorite toy. "Please," she said, "You're hurt. Y-you can't ask me to-"

"You would stop denying me?! I know what I want!" He yelled, and lifting her by her shirt. Since he stood at six feet verses her five three, her legs dangled.

"You're really trying my patience tonight, Mary," he said, so full fury he didn't notice the name he called her. She barely noticed. "You're forgetting your lessons."

Before she knew what was happening, he tossed her aside. Her big brown eyes stared up at him, full of terror. Mindlessly, she crawled back like the pathetic brat she was. It reminded him of the dumb people in horror movies, who fall but won't get up.

"Please," she pleaded, stuck repeating that same stupid plea over and over. "Please, please..."

Restraint.

As much as he wanted to stab her or burn her alive right now. It'd be pointless. He, unfortunately, needed her alive, healthy and happy. Well, happy was debatable.

"I think you need a refresher," he said, reigning his anger back. His voice now surprisingly neutral. "You need some course correction, sweetheart. Get on your knees now. I don't want you to fall and hurt yourself."

Confusion was clear on her face, but out of fear she went with it. She looked down, and obediently sunking to her knees. Blushing slightly as she thought of something perverted. No. That's not that he wants.

"Give me your arm."

Shocked, Sammie hesitantly lifted her right arm. He grabbed it in his iron grip, his other hand held her down by the shoulder. He could feel her trembling under his touch, her flesh so soft.

For a moment, he simply stroked her forearm, as though comforting a nervous puppy before a visit to the vet. A puppy that needed much more training. He felt the magic seeping out of his body, he had to hurry before he ran out of magic.

"Don't struggle, okay?" he stated, as gently as he could. "I'm going to burn your arm."

"No!" She screeched, and attempted to pull away, but exhaustion made it difficult to put up much of a fight despite her frenzy. "No, no, stop it now, no plea-"

"You keep saying no to me, samitch." His grip tightened, his face gave nothing away. The next thing he heard was her screams. Drowning out any second thoughts he had. He needed her to remember who her owner was. She was his toy. His alone.

"Noooo, noooooo, stop it!"

"Stop saying that word to me, Samantha." Samuel watched as she fought hard to free her hand. He couldn't put much strength into it anymore anyway. His magic ran dry.

He let her go, letting her fall back. She was shaking, and bawling like a child. Pathetic. As disgusting as she was, she was still his favorite toy.

Sammie clung to her arm, sobbing incoherently. It was really burnt up. Turning away, she curled into a fetal position on her side instinctively to shield the injury with the rest of her body.

"A real magic soul wouldn't cry about such a small burn," he yelled, over the whimpers and loud sobbing. "But, don't worry sweetheart, I won't tell a anyone."

He let her cry it out for a few minutes. Let her really feel the pain, so she understood what he wanted from her. What he demanded. Maybe this had been a good thing, in the long run. Sammie clearly had a lot of built up emotions, and the like. Now she can get all out of her system. Crying was healthy, right? He definitely read that somewhere. Maybe google?

At least, he certainly felt better.

"Now that you learned your lesson," he chirped happily. "Let's start your training tomorrow night, okay?"

Her sobs could still be heard. He sighed heavily.

"I know that sounds bad right now, but you can do anything you set your mind to," he beamed. Getting the jar of goop out, he paused. What was he doing?

Using goop now beat his purpose. He didn't want her in too much pain though, or she might hate him.

"I believe in you, and once you hit the peak of magic," he went on, reaching out to stroke her head. "We will start actual combat skills, you know I'm good at that."

He took a moment to appreciate her weeping. His favorite toy, damaged and crying, lying on the ground at his feet. It was heady stuff.

He was sure that Sammie would come back from this better than ever. What didn't kill you can only make you stronger, or so the saying goes.

"I'm going to make you all-powerful, Samitch," he whispered, brushing a lock of her black hair behind her ear. She was in too much pain to even flinch.

"You'll thank me later, sweetheart."