"It's mine", a much softer voice murmurs, "Why should I give it away?"
This voice doesn't have a lot in common with the tortured, screechy voice in the cave. It sounds far healthier and a lot happier. Content with itself. This voice still has a life, a family and friends. It still has a choice.
What will the voice choose?
It's not an easy choice. And no one knows what path the it will take, because the treasure has already reached with its dark, subtle fingers for the voice's heart. It has poisoned its mind with images of absolute power and its soul with a deep, aching desire.
The voice can't give it away easily. You can hear it. The possessive edge, the hard undertones. The voice is serious when it says "No". It's not joking anymore. It's not lighthearted. Somehow it knows that this decision will influence everything, but oh, the voice can't know how far its actions will reach. And it doesn't really care as it holds the gem protectively to its heart.
There had been a plan to leave it. It seemed logically at that point. But now the voice falters, because really, it could just keep it, this small thing. No harm will be done. This friend of the voice, he's being too dramatic, he's just jealous, it concludes. It is harsh now, annoyed and angry. What does its friend think he is to order it around like that? It has just changed its mind. Nothing special.
The voice will do as it pleases, because the treasure came to it and it doesn't intend to leave this magical, unique piece of metal behind.
"My precious", it whispers softly and doesn't notice how its friend grows alarmed by its utterance. "Yes, my own precious."
One part left. (When it's finished I'll post it again in one chapter.)