One week later

Kalika once more ventured down to Zidane's cell, just to reaffirm the commitment she had made to her mother. I'm not going to let that happen again! She screamed to herself, I won't let him get to me. He isn't worthy of my affection, nor is he worthy of the wretched life he is living. He deserves to die! She screamed inwardly.

She threw open the door to Zidane's cell.

The genome had been left untouched, helplessly entangled in his bonds, breathing harshly and labored. He was blindfolded and gagged, and was in a very critical condition. Kalika knew that if he didn't get medical attention quickly, he'd die.

She actually smiled at that fact, watching as Zidane struggled for each shallow breath, fighting against the tautness in his chest to get the life-giving oxygen to his exhausted lungs.

The table he was bound to was slick with his blood. His wrists were bleeding, as well as his untended back, and many other open wounds added to the scarlet shirt he wore.

"Please…" he cried. It made Kalika jump. She thought he had been unconscious. She stared at him for a moment, confusion slipping over her normally cold expression. Grabbing the tiniest bit of rationale she could, she shouted, "Guard? Bring him to my quarters." She decided she'd deal with him there.

I0I0I0I0I

Lying upon her bed, in a long flowing white silk night gown, Kalika waited for her prize. Her bed covers and sheets were scarlet, made from only the best quality satin. She had up sheer curtains around her bed. She basked in her royal luxury for a moment, enjoying the feeling of being in control of all.

The door opened.

Just as she had asked, Zidane was brought in, bound, gagged, and blindfolded, thrown to the ground at the foot of her bed. She gazed at him for a moment, a cruel smile flickering across her face for a moment. He's mine… she thought, and he knows it.

Kalika pulled back the sheers for a moment, staring down into the helpless genome's face. Vulnerable because of the blindfold, he said nothing; though she knew he sensed her presence.

"Why hello there," she whispered in a patronizing voice, leaning forward and touching his ear with her lips before adding, "my love." She felt him quiver in fear. She smiled in satisfaction. "Why do you quake, my love?" she asked, touching the back of his neck. He said nothing, merely whimpered his response. "I want an answer," she said, only without the patronizing voice. It sounded more like a threat to Zidane. "Oh, that's right," she whispered, once more in that overwhelming, patronizing voice. Zidane felt the gag being removed. He fell into desperate gasps, for he had been deprived of sucking a deep breath for so very long.

She let him lay on the ground for a moment before hauling him up by his throat. She stared at him for a moment. "Why do you quake, my love?" she asked once more.

"Please…Your Highness…I am afraid," he whispered between desperate gasps for breath. "And why on earth would you be afraid?" at that, Zidane turned away in fear. She growled, throwing him to the ground where he stayed, motionless.

She stared at him for a moment, before hauling back to kick him. She kicked him very hard, so hard that he rolled over in pain, his mouth open, but no cry escaping his lips. But for some reason, Kalika paused.

He was so helpless, so quiet. He said nothing as she drew back again, though she knew he sensed it coming. She kicked him again. Falling into a fit of coughing, the genome coughed up blood…a lot of blood. Kalika pulled off of him for a moment, simply watching him cough terribly, neither falling to his side in pure compassion nor laughing sadistically.

She merely watched him coldly, as if watching as a bird eats seed. She regarded him coolly before walking away to sit upon her bed.

At length, Zidane's coughing ceased.

"Please…Your Highness….what do you want from me?" he asked in such a pleading tone that Kalika was almost moved to pity.

Almost.

She slipped over to his side. Into his ear she whispered, "Your spirit." Zidane sighed. "You want to break me, don't you?" Kalika gave herself over to chuckle softly. "I want you broken before I kill you…I want you to see how hopeless it really is before I have you executed."

With nothing else to ask, "How shall I die?" Kalika smiled, and then laughed. Zidane cringed at her laughter. She leaned forward, her moist lips tickling his ear. "Slowly and painfully, to say the least. It's what mother would have wanted."

"May I have one request?" Kalika snorted. "Why should I give you a request?" she asked indifferently. "Please…" was Zidane's only reply.

"Go on." Kalika growled.

"May I spend one night with Dagger before you kill me?" She growled audibly. He flinched as if she had bitten him. "Please, it's all I ask for…please…"

"Fine," Kalika whispered. "One night."

"Guard?" she asked, "Take him to Queen Garnet's quarters. Bind him, blindfold him. Treat him like he is her slave. Is that clear?" The guard nodded before grabbing Zidane by his bound wrists and carrying him off.

AN/ Awww…one last night with his lover….sniffles