Disclaimer: I don't own anything you've seen in the movies.

Warning: Violent interlude. Not too bad.

Chapter 10

The Lord Marshal was delighted to catch the Purifier off guard. He entered his chambers to find the man carrying Anya towards the sofa. He held her with such care. Zhylaw saw the concern and compassion in the man's expression and he watched it vanish in an instant. The Purifier's cool mask rose hastily, but he was not quick enough. Zhylaw saw what he needed to and he was more than pleased.

The Lord Marshal then turned his attention to the girl. No evidence of Zhylaw's punishment remained except perhaps her shaky legs. He was pleased, however, when she shrank from his touch, fear momentarily evident in her eyes. His eyes took in the new clothing she wore and the skin it revealed. He was not lying to the Purifier when he complimented him on his choice of garments. They flattered the tiny woman.

The Lord Marshal dismissed the Purifier. The man left without a backward glance at the girl he had so carefully helped to the chair. It was undoubtedly a show for the Lord Marshal's benefit.

The doors closed behind the Purifier and Zhylaw was at last alone with his pet. He moved to her side and sat down on the couch beside her. He could tell that she was fighting to control her fear. He had been worried his punishment would break her and he'd find that she was not so worthy of his esteem. Zhylaw was pleased her courage had not abandoned her so easily.

"I want to see your back." Zhylaw reached out toward her.

Anya's eyes filled with anger at the Lord Marshal's words. She had no desire to give in to his wishes but she knew it was not a request. In any case, she did not have the strength to stop him. She turned angry eyes toward him but did not reply.

Anya turned her head and looked directly at him, the same look in her eyes that made him loose control the previous night. It brought a smile to his lips. He placed a hand on the hem of her shirt and slid it up her back. He did not avert his eyes from hers and she did not try to stop him. Zhylaw marveled at her restraint. He turned his gaze to her exposed back. Not a mark to show for his impressive work, only a few fading lines on her lower back. They would be gone in an hour.

"The Purifier has done an impressive job." He ran fingertips across her smooth skin, raising goose bumps as they passed. "Beautiful."

Anya pulled her shirt back down angrily. Zhylaw returned his gaze to her and graced her with a devious smile. He stood, moved towards the bar, and played with the keypad there.

"I have already ordered us dinner. It should arrive at any moment. Would you like a drink tonight?" He turned to her but received only a head shake in response. Zhylaw poured himself a glass. Before he could return to the sitting room the door chimed. Zhylaw allowed his servants entry and watched them as they quickly set the table. They bowed to their Lord and exited quickly, as they always did. Zhylaw moved to the dining table. "Come, sit." He spoke to Anya without looking at her.

Anya made no motion to stand, nor did she respond to his words. She could not sit with this man, not after last night. So she sat, looking at her hands.

Zhylaw immediately marked her lack of response. She said nothing and made no move to join him. Zhylaw returned his attention fully to Anya. He approached her casually.

"You do not wish to sit with me tonight, little one?" he asked in a mocking tone. Zhylaw stood above her with his arms crossed, waiting for her reply.

"Answer me!" He shouted the words at her and they echoed strangely in the high ceilinged room.

Anya was startled by the Lord Marshal's raised voice and jumped in her seat. She looked up at him, struggling to control her fear as she stood. Her head barely reached his shoulder but she met his gaze evenly. "I will not sit with you." The words come out perfectly controlled. They impressed both Anya and the man before her.

"No?" he reached out to grasp her arm but she jerked away violently and took a step away from him.

Zhylaw smiled, "Where do you think you will go? You can not escape me, Anya. You are mine."

His arm snaked out at lightning speed. Anya seemed to feel his hand on her before his arm even moved. She pulled away but could not break his hold. Her free arm knocked into something on the corner table that went crashing to the ground and shattered into a million tiny pieces.

The sound of an object breaking drew Zhylaw's attention away from the girl. One of his priceless pieces from his many conquests landed on the stone floor and shattered. Zhylaw loved his trophies. He always took something of great importance to the people that he conquered. The ceramic statue was from Exion 6. It had been a great battle, his first as Lord Marshal, and the piece meant a great deal to him; so much so, he kept it here in his chambers instead of the public gallery. Cold fury gripped him at the loss of something so sacred.

Zhylaw's hand flew on its own and landed in a fierce backhand to Anya's face. She went sprawling to the ground, cutting herself on the broken ceramic shards.

Anya hit the floor; her hand flying to her face. It felt as if her head was going to explode. She stared up at the Lord Marshal and saw him looking down at the broken pieces. Suddenly, he rounded on Anya and she felt his booted foot make contact with her stomach.

"You will pay for this," he snarled grabbing Anya by the hair and lifting her back to her feet. He twisted his hand in her hair and pulled her face up to meet his, pressing her firmly against him. "That statue was priceless. I took it from the first world I ever converted." He struck her across the face again and she fell back onto the low couch, dazed.

Anya attempted to rise but Zhylaw punched her once more. The blow landed on the side of her ribs and there was an audible crack. Each breath Anya took was painful and the blows kept coming. She tried to make herself as small as possible her arms raised to protect her head, but it was no use. Zhylaw shouted angrily at her but Anya could not decipher the meaning of his words. Blessedly, Zhylaw's fist met the back of Anya's skull and she lost consciousness.