Kathy got to her knees and bowed her head as Miko had instructed. This was not like any of the humiliations she had subjected herself to in the past. No matter how much control Stein, and Cordelia, and Richie seemed to have over her, she always knew that if things got too bad she could walk away. Occasionally she had been a bit afraid, but the fear she felt now was, she thought, like that of a small trapped animal waiting for something even more terrifying and more painful than the trap.
The sight, and smell, and touch, and taste of Abul were all abhorrent, but it was in his voice she felt his undisguised hatred of her, his desire to make her suffer. His commanding voice told her that he knew with absolute certainty she could not leave, and that now, tonight at least, she was his. He kne
