It’s not like you haven’t been wearing more revealing clothing on the stage Isla, I remind myself.

Then I put it on.

It fits almost perfectly, though it could be let out an inch or two. Or three. The dress is a pale blue. It is sleeveless with a low cut neckline.

My breasts spill out over the top, and my nipples are barely covered.

“I hope there are napkins at dinner.”

There is another knock at the door and I keep my hand over my chest as I hurry to the door.

What now?

“I’m here to escort you to dinner.”

I take a step back, away from Calix, whose yellow eyes gleam eerily in the gloom of the dark passageway.

“Oh – okay.” I stutter as he looks at me up and down, approvingly.

He leans in then, and instead of kissing me, which is what I expected, he licks my cheek.

I can’t hide the shiver of disgust, but instead of taking offense, Calix just laughs almost delightedly.

Then he grabs me by the waist and pulls me out of the doorway.

He still smells of stale alcohol.

I’m still disgusted by him. I would have expected more from a man who lives in a manor such as this.

I see more of the house that I am living in as Calix drags me along behind him.

It is filled with opulent furniture, and like his clothes, it is decorated with the best of everything.

It screams of wealth and the sight of it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I used to starve. But it doesn't matter. The dark elves must have their pretty little things.

A sudden surge of hatred washes over me, almost knocking me off my feet.

There are a group of people – dark elves – in the dining room when we arrive.

I am slightly flustered, and I know that my cheeks must be red when Calix and I walk in.

I run my hand through my hair again, as I look around the room.

This is where it all ends, a dark voice in my head says, and I almost laugh out loud at the gloom of it all.

I know that this is the end for me.

Calix will use me up until there is nothing left.

I’m surprised that he even let me attend dinner with his family.

But I quickly realize something.

I’m just here to piss them off.

“Mother.” Calix bows to the older woman in the room. “This is Isla, my slave.”