The Dolorosa leaned into the scrub brush. Mindfang had unchained her and locked her in, leaving her alone with the orders of making the cabin spotless. The Dolorosa had followed those orders, distracting herself with folding clothes and dusting walls. She'd changed from Mindfang's dress into the tan ragged thing Mindfang had given her. It covered almost as little as the other dress, but at least she didn't have to worry about dirtying it.

In the silence, her mind wandered, drifting to places she didn't want it to go. Her life before. . .where had it gone? She missed it, more than she ever imagined. Her cozy hive that she shared with Kankri, the warmth of her children when she wrapped her arms around them. Kankri, Mituna, Meulin. She loved then all. She resented their suffering more than her own. She'd cried until she couldn't make the tears come any more. Now she was hollow, filled with an emptiness she feared would never again be filled. She finished up her work, trying futilely to distract her self. She didn't want her mistress to see her vulnerable, but when Mindfang returned, she was sitting on the floor, her cheeks wet with jade tears.

"Now, now. What ever is the matter?" asked Mindfang, walking over to her and crouching in front of her, wiping her tears away. "I must say, you look lovely in tears, but I hate to see you upset." She put her hand on the Dolorosa's shoulder. "Tell me, what's wrong?"

"It's of no importance, mistress." Said the Dolorosa, looking at the floor. "Just. . .dwelling on the past. It's a useless, silly thing to do." The words stung as they came out, but she knew she had to say them.

Mindfang ran her hand through the Dolorosa's ratted hair. "That's right. You've learned quickly, dearest. Now I have something to cheer you up. I got the finest one I could find." She stood, and reached into her pocket, producing a soft, shiny black leather collar with rounded metal studs. "What do you think?"

The Dolorosa inspected the restraint, a hard lump forming in her throat. To her it was just another tool to humiliate her, and she wasn't sure what to say.

Mindfang put a hand on her hip. "Don't be like that, love. This is a privilege, a status symbol. Most masters would never spend this much on a slave unless they were especially favored. You'll get respect from this."

The Dolorosa hadn't thought of it that way, but she was still hesitant to trust it. "Thank-you mistress." She stated flatly, saying what was expected of her.

"You're welcome. Now let me put this on you."

The Dolorosa raised her chin and let Mindfang slip the cool, stiff collar around her neck, buckling it in the front, just loose enough so she could slip a few fingers in between the collar and the Dolorosa's skin.

"Don't mess with that." ordered Mindfang, standing up and looking the Dolorosa over. "Now isn't that lovely?"

The Dolorosa looked away. "Yes, mistress."

Mindfang frowned. "Come, sit with me, love."

The Dolorosa looked up upon hearing the tone of her voice. It was. . .almost disappointed. She stood and joined Mindfang on the small, finely made couch.

"I do not usually admit to these kinds of things," started Mindfang, "but for once I am unsure of how to feel. You, love, make me unsure of how to feel."

The Dolorosa tensed. What was that supposed to mean?

"I want you to be submissive, but I also want you to trust me. . .to enjoy my company. Restrictions are necessary to keep you controlled, and yet, I want you to feel comfortable speaking freely. If I ask, will you just, show me how you really are? Speak freely?"

The Dolorosa stared at her in surprise, noting the look of conflict on her face. "There will be no repercussions in doing so, regardless of what I say?"

"None, but if I tell you to stop, I expect you to."

"Of course." She straightened up, trying to bring back the dignified composure of her old self. "It's true. I detest being a slave. I want my Signless back. I want my entire little family back. I was happy with my life, comfortable with what I was, and now I'm stuck trying to figure things out again. . .and I can't figure out you, Mindfang. What am I to you? A sex slave? An object with no meaning to my worried and tears? I tool to stir up jealously in your kismesis? Or am I more than that? You insult me and sweet talk me. I don't know what to think."

By now her heart was pounding. She glanced over at Mindfang, expecting anger, but she looked more somber than anything.

"I'll be honest with you. My original intent was to use you as an object to provoke Duelscar's jealousy, and pleasure me at the same time, but. . .I've grown fond of you. I. . .want you as more of a lover than a slave, and if I could, I'd free you and give you a new title, dress up nicely, and we'd be together. . .if only you reciprocated my feelings."

"What's stopping you?" Inquired the Dolorosa. "If you bade me to be your lover, I could not refuse."

"Because slavery was a sentence by the subjugglators for you, so I cannot free you, even if I wanted to, and I don't want our love to be false. . .I wish to earn your affection. Even a caged bird could grow to love her master, don't you think?"

The Dolorosa balled her fists. "You can't expect me to love you after how you've treated me." She muttered.

"I've taken care of you!" Snapped Mindfang, but she stopped herself, sighing. "I just. . .don't know how to behave in this situation. I always know, but this time I don't. You, captivate me. Please. . ." She took the Dolorosa's hand and looked her in the eyes. "Please say you'll try. It will drive me mad otherwise."

The Dolorosa looked at her, and her gaze softened at Mindfang's desperate face. She couldn't help but feel sorry for her, and she really was beautiful. . .not all that bad. "Alright." She said, finger her fingers interlacing with Mindfang's. "I'll try, for you."

o0o0o0o0

That night, the Dolorosa laid in bed next to Mindfang, still awake though her mistress had fallen asleep. She felt stupid. She'd try? What was she thinking? She couldn't do that, not with how Mindfang was. Yet, she felt confused. She wasn't quite sure why. Her heart pounded when she thought of Mindfang. Her cheeks flushed. It was almost like she was developing red feelings for her, and yet she knew in her head that didn't hold any affection for Mindfang. It was like something had taken hold of her thoughts, manipulating her to think this way.

Manipulating.

That had to be it. She had heard of Mindfang's psychic abilities, the power she had over people. There was no other explanation. How could she? How could she lie about something like that? The Dolorosa felt herself getting worked up again. She was angry at herself for falling for it. She hated Mindfang even more now.

She tried to calm down, but when she looked over at Mindfang's sleeping form, a dangerous dryness retured to her throat. She was thirsty, so thirsty. She hadn't had a drop of blood in years. It would give her strength, and Mindfang deserved it. No. She couldn't. She was better than that. . .and yet Kankri had freely borne his neck for her before, out of concern and love. She needed this, and what would the punishment matter? She was doomed to hurt regardless, why not get some pleasure first?

Decided, she approached Mindfang, quivering, panting, her mouth watering. She pulled close to her mistress, softly kissing her neck, careful not to wake her. Her heart raced as she felt her jaws unhinge before snapping shut, her fangs digging and burying themselves deep and tight into soft, pale flesh.