Page 32 of Monster's Property

“So you’re going to obey me. Whatever I tell you to do, you’ll do it.”

She says nothing as I fly forward, picking up speed.

“Understood?”

I bring myself up to height. When I am level with the clifftops and the clouds float visibly within range, I sigh.

It is not my wish to break her. I wish she’d stop being difficult and give me what I want, but if she won’t comply, I have no other choice.

I drop her again. She screams again. I catch her again.

“You’ll speak when spoken to, won’t you?”

She nods, readily and with enthusiasm.

It’s a good response, but it’s still not what I’m looking for.

I loosen my grip on her.

“Okay! I’ll do it!”

I let loose another finger.

“You’ll do it,what?”

She tries to understand what I want, but only looks upon me with confusion.

“I’ll do it, sir?”

I shake my head.

“No. I’m not feeling like much of asir.”

I drop her again. Not wanting to prolong this more than necessary, I catch her a few feet from where I let go of her.

I’m glad my reflexes are strong today. This could be disastrous if I made an error. And I can’t fix her death.

“Did you think of what to call me while you were falling?”

Her face is wet with tears. She’s sobbing uncontrollably.

“I’ll do it,master?”

For a minute, I don’t say anything. It’s fun hearing her heart do acrobatics.

“Yes, I like that,” I say finally.

The sigh of relief she breathes is exhilarating. I wonder why it comforts me.

“OrlordorPelielare fine, too.”

“Thank you, master,” she says. “You are merciful.”

She speaks, but I still don’t feel that she’s being genuine.

“You have not forgotten why you ended up in this predicament, have you?”

She hesitates.

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