Well, I have to say that while I've probably never been safer in all my life, this isn't what I expected.. He has collared me. And I don't call him Nemesio anymore unless he gives me permission to.

I now call him "Master."

He has Collared me; and on this collar, is a loop where he can attach a leash. A leash! I balked about that but he grinned at me, a very wicked grin, and wouldn't hear of my protests.

Will he be a cruel Master? Or will he treat me in that pampered way that that old man treats his girl on the Island? I'm far prettier than she, I know that back home, the ugly slavegirls were used for drudgery and only the prettiest used ..in other ways.

*She finds herself lapsing in thought, idly caressing the length of chain, and considers asking him to buy her a grand golden collar, she saw those in the window of that store not long ago. She loves jewelry, and now a slave, thinks that his initials should be carved more ornately. For both of them, she wants only the best. For her to wear, and for him to have his initials emblazoned only on quality..then she shudders, remembering one of her father's slaves that asked for 'only the finest looking sign of ownership.'..that snooty slave had her owner's initials branded and seared on her bottom. She shakes the thought, decides not to ask..well not yet anyway.. and goes back to her secret writing*

He's moving his things here, to keep a better eye on his "Property". Me. A slave I am now, I have to ask him for permission to go to the Registrar's and update my documents with them from "Citizen" to "Property of Nemesio Canales." Anyone else's father would die, seeing their free daughter enslaved. Mine would approve in this case, and give Nemesio free reign to watch over me as he sees fit. My father always trusted Nemesio. "Canales is admirable, answering only unto himself, but a fine Knight in this man's Empire", he said many times.

*Her fingers run over the clamp on her throat* I must admit, that even with this reduced, humble position in life, I do feel safe and protected. While it's restricting, there is something arousing about it. The cold steel on my warm flesh..or being 'owned' by him? Of course the laundry is not appealing. Maybe I'll find a way to send it out to Ros and back before he even knows of it. I can make this wor--

*Hearing the front door close and the sound of his footsteps, butterflies rise in her stomach as she throws the journal in the hole, kicks sand over it and pretends to fold clothes. She doesn't do a very good job folding, because this is all new to her. "Slave," he calls, and she abandons the back room, forgetting to put the inkwell back on the high shelf, running to greet him. "Yes, Nemes--Master?"

Journal Entry, 17 January, Cipriana{NC}, formerly Lady Cipriana Vyras.

*Although Morte is weary from last eve's melee, he decides to write his log anyway. He reaches his left hand out towards the quill pen, grasps it, and begins to write*

My life came close to the end last eve...perhaps things were taken too far.

After Lord Neo arrived at the pleasuredome, he invited Khal and I to what should have been a "friendly" spar. However, to call our fighting a "spar" is an understatement. To begin with, Neo tried a cheap tactic and attacked me before we could even start this "spar" properly. I knew from that moment that this was not going to be a spar, but rather a bloodbath melee. However, my rage had taken the best of me.

Near the middle of our match, Khal lost consciousness, leaving Neo and I to finish the match. Rosalyn tried to interfere, and Eyas threw daggers at Neo to stop him, but we were blinded with rage. As I began to lose consciousness from my heavy wounds, I decided to call the match to a halt...not exactly a forfeit, but rather a realization of the meaning behind Eyas's and Rosalyn's actions.

*Morte glances at his severly scarred, magic-casting right hand, the one part of him that proves Eyas and Ros to be correct. After groaning quietly from the pain it still provides, he returns to writing his log. Fortunately, Morte happens to be left handed, or else the log would be impossible to write.*

Ros was kind enough to heal all of us afterwards. She must be weary, for healing does take a painful toll on the caster.

Although several people argued over this "spar" afterwards, I believe that this was actually good for me. I have not battled for a long while, and I cannot let my skills wither away now. My brother Marcus is still out there...he may be avoiding me now, but when his health returns to normal, he will become a threat once again...only this time, he won't escape me.

*Morte places the quill pen into the ink bottle, and walks out onto the deck of the Demonshadow, gazing at the night sky, and thinking of the near future.*

Captain's Log, 17 January, Morte Geist.

Dear Journal,
The events of the last few days have left me puzzled. Chastity made a few comments, that I thought were strange, as if she was hiding something, mabye something that could hurt me possibly. I am not sure. I may have just taken something the wrong way. I sure hope I'm right. I hope things are the same between us. Just the other day I met Xanthia. She's a lot like me and we have a lot in common. I also wish to talk to her again.Well journal, wish me luck.

Journal Entry, 17 January, Eden Arcane.

*sits at his usual writing table, a clean parchment lying ready and almost begging to be written upon. after dipping the point of his pen into the jar of ink and wiping off the excess on the rim, he puts it to the paper and begins to write*

A "spar" ensued the other day between Khalidan, Neo, and Morte. It would seem though, that both Khal and Neo have awkward ideas of just what a spar is. After watching a melee where Neo nearly lopped off Morte's right hand, and drove as much of his blade up into Khal's rib cage as he could, I found that Neo's style of sparring is more than a little disturbing. I have not said anything before, but after the fight was over, I told Neo just what I thought. There is no need to perform such actions in a spar, and not even a need for bloodshed. His justification for stabbing up to the hilt and cleaving heads? It's better to fight that way so you can be prepared for anything that comes up. This way, you'll be prepared to fight just like that. I think Neo has forgotten that those he spars with are not monsters. He also seems to think that because he doesn't kill in his spars, it's alright to fight in that style. It only takes one off balance swing towards any area to kill, and when aiming for the head and heart, it's not hard to kill someone, accidently or not.

Ros had healed them all after the fight, and I know that her head was aching...but I had enough with being considerate all the time. I continued the argue until the please reached my ears, after which I attempted to isolate myself from the patrons to calm down...and Demas walks in, and attempts to put something in my drink. I wouldn't put it pass him to have tried to put something everyone's drink, not just mine. I caught him doing this and threw the flagon at him, warning him not to try and slip anything in my drink again. He must be blind and deaf, as usually when someone who is sitting in the shadows alone, his back turned on the room, yells backa warning, one would think that he does not want to be bothered. Demas continued to pester me. I told him to leave me alone. He continued, I warned him one last time, I dunnae take kindly to repeating myself so oft. He walked out, uttering an insult towards me. What was it? Oh yeah, "You ass, you don't know anything about true pain."

Words dunnae usually get to me, but these did, assumptions about people when ye know hardly anything about them anger and frustrate me. I didn't warn Demas once more. I gave him what he asked for, a dagger in the back. He turned on me and readied his bow, and Char, Ros and Neo, seeing this, stepped in front of me. As though I need protection. I stepped out of their shielding and told Demas...if he wants to kill me, he had better make his shot a good one...or he wouldn't be able to make another. Neo smashed his bow before he got the chance. After telling them I didn't need to be protected, my support let me be. Khalidan stood against me, demanding I stand down. Stand down? And let his brother's idiocy go unpunished? If his own brother won't teach him, he'll learn the hard way, from me if it need be. Xanthia interrupted this one, telling us all to quiet down. After ignoring her she made it her point to tell me I was rude, as though I didn't know. I told her the truth, to meddle in affairs you know nothing about is foolish. She slapped me. The confrontation ended there, with Char telling thia to back down, andKhal leaving because he won't get into a confrontation that involves a woman. One thing that continues to amaze me....thia expected me to fight her to the death after interferring...Tired of assumptions I've had enough of, I exploded with anger, my first time since arriving on the isle...I left the dome, and went off to think, to reflect, to calm down. I said some unflattering things to Char when I let my temper get the best of me...I felt it necessary to apologize after I calmed down...

Only one thing still gets me...I'm assumed to be a common cuthroat...and a street idiot...after about 2 to 3 months of living here, spending much of my time in the dome, I thought many would know better....but what can I expect? I'm supposed to be used to betrayal, and taunts of the like...but...well a dagger in the back still hurts more than one in the gut. I will write more some other time, journal.

Log Entry, 17 January, Eyas...the "Night" Hawk

*signs his name and stands with sigh, leaving the pen and parchment on the table before donning his cloak, and stepping out of his room and into the night air*

::sits in his main room writing in his journal::

Journal,
This day of January, 18th is the day I turn 201! So far it has been a good day and nothing has went wrong. I ventured out to the dome and the usual gang was there, Khal, Eyas, Ros, Morte, and I. We had a cake fight and it was ALL over the place! I bet if Alterio had walked in before we cleaned it up he would've blew up!! *laughs* Well journal, tis time I go out and do my daily routines...

Journal Entry, 18 January, (Lord)~Neo~

::stands and steps out::

Dear Journal,
Oh my. I have done it again. I stepped in uninvited and will probably catch hell for it later. Ah well, here's what happened. I walked into the Dome, I was in a fairly good mood and yes as usual, Eyas and Khal and Ros and Char were there. Now I had no intention of anything but getting something to drink and then heading back for the night. BUT they were fighting ... again. And yeah,well, it occurred to me that I had had enough of arguing, so, well, I snapped.

I stepped between Eyas and Khalidan. I knew Khal wouldnt hit me or fight me, I dont know Eyas, he was an unknown factor, so I reasoned I should be prepared for the worst and so, my attitude became extreme. I actually convinced him I would have fought him till I died. .. I wonder if I would have. Oh probably. I slapped him. that seemed to get his attention. And Char's too. I really had no problem with Char. Heck, I have no problem with Eyas or Khalidan, either for that matter.

I just wanted quiet. Yes it was unconventional to pursue 'quiet' in this way. But be that as it may, they all stepped back. Eyas called me a fool.

I guess he's right.

I dont know what is happening with me. Somedays I feel pretty good. Other times I feel dismal. And I dont dream anymore.

Ah well, so be it... More later perhaps.

Journal Entry, 18 January, Xanthia