Chapter Twenty-five

Neal was about to wake naturally when a sudden alarming acrid scent caused his heart to slam painfully against his ribs. Sucking for breath the stimulating effects of the smelling salts added heavily to Neal's general panic as he tried to defend himself from the toxic odor only to discover his wrists tied firmly behind his back. Biting down on the silk that was tied between his teeth he yanked at the restraints keeping his ankles together as well. Laying on his back on the floor of the large walk in closet he attempting to sit up when a heavy pressure on his chest quickly pinned him back to the carpet.

"Stay down."

Still in full fight or flight mode and unable to do either Neal automatically tried to sit forward only to be forced back again. Neal looked up at Taylor who was stepping on his chest to keep him still. Barring his teeth aggressively at Taylor Neal snarled a curse at him through the gag.

"Calm down. I just want to talk."

Neal glared up at Taylor spitefully.

"I know, I know, you were perfectly willing to talk to me before I drugged and hogtied you." Taylor admitted. "I apologize for the need for this."

Before Neal could try and retort through the cloth Taylor leaned more of his weight on him as he bent forward. Fighting to breathe under the man's weight bearing down on him Neal was about to try and buck him off when Taylor reached out and undid the knot that was keeping the gag in place. Pulling the tie free that he'd taken to use as a makeshift restraint to keep him quiet Taylor eased back slightly allowing Neal to breath easier.

"Get off of me!" Neal demanded.

"Only if you're going to behave."

"And if I don't?" Neal asked defiantly. "What are you going to do about it?"

Taylor studied Neal for a moment before removing his foot off his captive. Not interested in remaining in the vulnerable position of laying on the floor Neal struggled to back up a few feet before awkwardly sitting up with his back against the drawers that were set in the wall of the large closet. Neal tugged at the bindings once more but it only served to pull the knots tighter. Neal ground his teeth in frustration at himself for being so easily caught.

"Neal..."

"We trusted you!" Neal spat angrily at Taylor. "What happened to you being tired of fixing your patients only to leave them in the hands of monsters? What do you think is going to happen now? They are going to kill him! Lead the authorities here and Peter is going right back to the Market, we both know he will never survive it!"

"I haven't called any authorities."

"If you're not turning me in then what is this all about?"

"I want to like you, Neal, I really do." Taylor answered evasively.

"Our relationship is not off to a great start." Neal replied sourly. "What do you want?"

"It's a harsh world and the one with the most power set the terms of the engagement so I decided to shifted the balance in my favor. Besides, it's good for every Master to experience a moment or two of helplessness, gives them a new perspective."

"I'm not anyone's 'Master'."

"You showed me a piece of paper that says otherwise the last time I was here. Even if your real name isn't 'Nick Halden' it's clear that you use that name and had every intention of passing Peter off as belonging to you."

"I...I didn't know any better. It was a mistake..."

"You carved that mistake into Peter's flesh in permanent ink."

"What other options did I have?" Neal demanded defensively. "Return him to an owner determined to beat him to death? Abandon him at a Market designed to destroy what little sense of soul he has left? Leave him completely unregistered and risk not even having a chance of fooling someone that he is legal? What other options did he have for that matter? Peter and I are in an absolutely un-winable situation!"

"So you do understand what you've gotten yourself into." Taylor nodded approvingly.

"I never asked for any of this!"

"Neither did he."

"That's not my fault, I've been doing the best I can for him. What more do you want from me?"

"I want proof of your commitment."

"All I can give you is my word."

"A word is all I need, but a very specific one. How's your Latin?"

"What?" Neal asked confused.

"You feel that tightness around your neck?"

Neal hadn't noticed, he was so used to wearing a tie that the pressure had gone completely undetected until Taylor had pointed it out. He swallowed hard to confirm that there was something wrapped around his throat. Realizing what it probably was Neal's blood turned to ice.

"You collared me?" Neal asked in disbelief.

"I did." Taylor nodded. "You can't expect to know where Peter is coming from if you haven't seen where he's been."

"This is your test? You're going to zap me with a collar?"

"It is much more than a 'zap', but no, I'm not going to do it. You are."

"Are you out of your mind?" Neal asked seriously.

"The passcode can be set to anything, but there is a universal code that works on all of them." Taylor explained, ignoring Neal's question. "The universal code is Latin for 'obey', do you know it?"

"Yes, but..." Neal tugged at his wrists again. "Is this something you've tried yourself?"

"Yes, I have. Single most painful experience of my life. It was years ago, but I will *never* forget it. They should never have been invented let alone legalized. Collars are torture, plain and simple."

"And you're okay with torturing me?" Neal asked desperately.

"I don't like it, but it's a surefire way to know your loyalties." Taylor explained. "I can guarantee you no amount of monetary gain is worth suffering a lash from a collar. So if your plans for Peter are strictly finical I highly suggest you give in right now. You will have nightmares for months if you do this."

"What exactly are my options here?"

"Set off the collar, I'll let you go, and Peter can stay. Or I can drug you again, cut you free, and I'll take Peter so you won't have to worry about being responsible for him ever again. You can go back to whatever your old life was."

"He will never survive the move," Neal protested "he can barely make it across the room and back."

"You let me worry about that."

"What does Peter want?" Neal stalled. "Shouldn't he have a say in all of this?"

"It's 'any port in a storm' for him right now, provided you prove that you can be trusted. If he wants to leave under his own power later we will cross that bridge when we come to it. But I'm not leaving him here if I can't rely on you."

"Please, don't do this, you'll kill him if you try to move him now."

"So stop me."

Neal closed his eyes briefly in frustration. He didn't have any doubt about the power of the collar, his heart was pounding just thinking about it. He'd witnessed first hand the mere threat of it drive Peter straight to madness. However, as much as he feared the pain he knew it would only be temporary. Letting Taylor try to take Peter to another part of the city now could very well be the death of him. Although he'd only known Peter for a few days he couldn't take that risk, he'd never forgive himself even if he never learned what happened to him. Having made his decision Neal weld his eyes shut and took a deep breath.

"Pareo..."

Neal braced himself for whatever was going to happen next. It took him a moment to realize that nothing happened. Figuring he just gotten the passcode wrong he opened his eyes he and looked up at Taylor who was smiling at him. Neal jerked back when Taylor stepped up and crouched down in front of him. With his heart still racing Neal tried to lean back when Taylor reached out, but he was already backed up against the dresser that was sunk into the wall. Taylor hooked his finger into the band around Neal's throat and pulled. The slip knot he'd tied easily came free and revealed it to just be another one of Neal's highjacked ties.

"I wouldn't use a collar even on my worst enemy," Taylor explained "let alone a potential friend."

"You and I are *not* friends." Neal snarled.

"That's fine. I only really care about what you'll do for Peter, it doesn't matter how you feel about me. He needs you more than I do."

"You are insane. I was never the threat here."

"Never? You didn't use him at all before you noticed he was sick? It never once occurred to you that he could raise your social status just by being yours? Help you open doors that would normally be closed to you?"

Neal fell silent remembering not only using Peter to get invited into some important offices but also having him basically double as a hat rack while he waited. He'd felt terrible when they had returned home and Peter had automatically stepped forward to take his hat feeling like the menial was something he had to do for him even in private.

"I thought so." Taylor said noting Neal's silence. "Not that I'm anywhere near innocent myself."

"So what give you the right to judge me?"

"The same thing that gives humans the 'right' to own Animula: having the upper hand."

"That is no excuse."

"I know, but it doesn't change the fact that the powerful make the rules."

"I passed your test, now let me go."

"You're right, for what it's worth: I'm sorry for all of this. I only did it to protect Peter."

"He's safe with me." Neal assured.

"I can see that." Taylor smiled as he reached out to untie Neal's ankles. "I came here to save him, clearly I'm too late."

"Too late?"

"He's already been rescued."