"Let me go!" I screamed as the stupid attendant Elysia tried to grab me when Tivan finally unlocked the cage with a unique amethyst key.

I lunged out at her, jumping on top of her and hollering. "Bitch!"

Tivan was behind me in a millisecond, restraining me from the blue girl.

He sighed loudly. "Enough of this foolishness."

I stopped fighting her and Elysia looked grateful that Tivan intervened on her behalf.

"Casablanca, please." Tivan continued in a very weary voice. "I have set you free, perhaps we can put our differences aside and speak about this as reasonable adults, my jewel?"

I frowned at Tivan but nodded reluctantly.

He smiled. "Excellent, my dear. We shall discuss this over breakfast."

The three of us made our way to the dining hall. Tivan had a seat at the head of a long formal table and I sat across from his seat.

Tivan sighed, lighting his smoking leaves and exhaled from his lungs. "Now, I shall tell you why you are so special to me."

"Why then?" I asked anxiously.

Tivan paused before answering me. "You are the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe. Your power is to control the infinity gauntlet."

"How could it be me? I am telling you, you have the wrong person. There has to be a mistake." I objected furiously.

The surprise in Tivan's eyes was quick and then it disappeared altogether. "It is you. I do not make mistakes, Casablanca."

"Yes you do."

"Excuse me, my dear?" Tivan questioned me, a slight hint of anger in his voice.

"You fucked up. I'm not who you think I am. You're wrong about everything." I stated bluntly.

Tivan was growing very intolerant. He took a deep breath, looking me squarely in the eyes. "You have no concept of how important you are."

"I told you. I'm nothing. You're an incompetent failure if you believe that."

At that moment Elysia chose to disgrace us with her awful presence. I hated her with the fire of a thousand suns.

She set our silver breakfast trays down in front of us and walked swiftly away.

The Collector eyed me with great offense written on his face. "You are attempting to unleash my temper, Cassie. You do not want to view me in that light. I am a most cruel and terrible man when I am angry."

"You are a fool, Tivan and I wish I never had the displeasure of meeting you. I don't know why you couldn't just tell me the truth about why I am here instead of blatantly lying to me."

Tivan sighed deeply. A long, anguishing sigh that seemed to stretch on. I suppose it was the only thing he could do to keep from completely going off on me.

"Cassie..." His usually cheerful voice crackled with unmasking sorrow and regret. "I was quite fond of you before this moment. I was fond of you every time you insulted me. But no more..."

Tivan stood boldly, his dark eyes still piercing me throughout to the depths of my soul.

He sighed painfully, putting out his smoking leaves. "Get out of my sight."