The door to Alex’s cell suddenly opens with a bang and he sees Overseer Elicyne standing just outside the doorway. He gives Alex a disdainful look before declaring. “Your punishment for destroying valuable merchandise has been decided and it’s to be executed straight away.” A guard moves into sight and indicates that Alex is to leave the cell.

As Alex tries to compose himself he rises from the floor and exits the cell. He sees four guards waiting all of whom have swords and pistols strapped to their sides. The guards are wearing armor with blue and yellow highlights rather than the usual blue and red. He recognizes the colors as those of Sir Folliun’s guards and feels apprehensive. Two guards briskly follow Overseer Elicyne and a guard behind Alex gives him a push to move after the first two. Alex stumbles, but quickly recovers his balance.

They move along a wide corridor and shortly after exit the building into the night-time air. Alex slows to allow his eyes to adjust to the darkness and gets another rough jolt in the back to keep moving. He’s startled when the two guards in front switch on lights embedded in their armor and after a brief pause, the two behind him do the same. They are surrounded by light that allows them to see at least ten meters in all directions.

The Overseer strides energetically across an open area towards a tall building in the distance, which is surrounded by flickering lights. The guards increase their pace and Alex has to speed up to avoid getting shoved. As he strides along he starts focusing on feeling the prana around the group as it flows around his body. He perceives multiple different alien types, almost like different bitter or sour smells. He begins to slightly vary his position and distinguishes that there are different types of prana surrounding each of the people in front of him.

They eventually approach a high hedge and stride through an arch decorated with a flowering plant of some kind. As Alex passes under the arch he detects a more agreeable type of prana without the sour or bitter effects but can’t place where it’s from. They emerge to the light cast by large braziers arranged around the garden giving off both illumination and warmth. As they stride down a wide path, with formal gardens laid out on each side, he realizes that when he nears other plants there is a similar pleasing sense to the prana.

Ahead Overseer Elicyne briskly strides up a short flight of steps and through a large open doorway followed closely by everyone else. They enter a large corridor with rows of flaming torches lining the walls, offering scant light and causing shadows to flicker. Immediately Alex notices a large crystal chandelier swaying slowly back and forth high in the air ahead of them. As he is led closer he sees that it is lit by a multitude of candles and he also detects a sweet smell in the air. They finally arrive at a scene of utter wickedness. There are people by the score, many sporting masks decorated in bold colors with lavish splashes of gold and silver which cover their faces entirely. Everyone is draped in robes that does little to cover their modesty and which will undoubtedly be discarded as the night progresses.

A crowd is in a circle, focusing on a space in the middle of the room where two figures are fighting. On the left side, there appears to be a bar that stretches the width of the room. On the right side, slaves are lined up and seem to be one of the main attractions at the event. From the center of the crowd comes a rhythmic pounding and then they suddenly burst into both cheering and hooting. Despite the ruckus, everyone seems to be in good spirits except for the two figures fighting.

As the candles flicker overhead the light reflects off the crystal chandelier creating a rippling disco ball lighting effect. Looking over the heads of the crowd, Alex notices a raised platform and a large throne-like chair in the middle. Lounging on the chair is Sir Folliun with slaves crouching to each side, one holding a tray with food and another a tray holding a large goblet. As he watches greetings are offered by many figures as they briefly approach the seat of honor. There is a large amount of shoulder slapping for all those who are acknowledged from those gathered at the foot of the platform.

Alex discerns strange music amid the cheers and traces the sound to a collection of musicians, hidden from sight by a screen, at the far end of the hall behind the raised platform. Alex also couldn’t identify the smells in the air, but they were similar to lavender and a form of incense. They were being emitted by the candles in the chandelier and also by others placed at various intervals around the room. He stood idle with the guards by the door, feeling the changes in the music and observing the excitement of the people in the center of the room. He kept his gaze lowered trying not to make eye contact with anyone present, whilst also keeping his eyes open. As the music came to a brief pause, he tilts his head slightly and notices Sir Folliun staring in his direction and he feels a shiver run down his spine.

The music picks up again with the unusual melody drifting through the party atmosphere, and it seems to be influencing the people in the room more than it should. Alex watches as an Elven woman weaves her way through the crowd of drunken men and slaves. She only hesitates to dodge a lunge or twist from a grasp. She passes another woman with a whip held at the ready out to the side, but eventually, she gets to what she is aiming for and slips onto the arm of the high chair next to Sir Folliun. He lifts the woman’s hand before pressing it to his lips as she smiles coyly and lets her hand linger. However, Sir Folliun never stops watching the two figures fight in front of him.

There is a roar from the crowd and the gathering at the bottom of the podium begin clapping eagerly. The people start to disperse with purses exchanging hands as they move towards the bar or the slaves. Alex gazes to the center of the room and sees two men, one standing over the prone form of another. Alex recognizes the standing man as the Elven slave and as he quickly glances at the prone form and identifies it as one of the human slaves. Two guards break clear of the crowd approaching the pair and one holds out his hand to the elf who removes his gauntlets and hands them over without protest. The second guard indicates for the elf to move to the back of the room, all the while his hand never leaves the pommel of his sword.

Other slaves rush from the side of the room with two picking up the body from the floor and dragging it away while others begin to mop up the blood splatters. Sir Folliun leans into the woman sat next to him and they exchange a few whispered comments and she laughs. After everything has been cleared Sir Folliun stands and pulls the woman to her feet by her hand. The woman seems confused, then realizes what he wants and smiles before moving gracefully as he leads her out onto the dance floor. She seems to revel in all of the envious gazes. Her feet glide effortlessly across the tiles, but her eyes were slitted and constantly flickering around the room, suspicious of everyone. Alex discretely gazes around and all eyes in the room are following the couple including the overseers and his guards. Sir Folliun does not seem to sense the woman’s uneasiness, and guides their path through the crowd at the bottom of the podium, closer to the now empty space.

The music had dwindled as a result of the fight finishing. Sir Folliun continues to hold the woman’s hand while they stand in the center of the room then proclaims as he looks around. “Letting loose at a party never killed anybody. Let’s all celebrate a job well done. Musicians play. It’s time to dance.”

The music commences again with more vigor and Sir Folliun raises a hand, which the woman mirrors and their palms touch. This repeats with the other hand and they begin an intricate set of footwork that makes their bodies almost touch. He leans towards her as she turns her face away as his breath brushes her cheek and he towers over her. They move in a circular motion and he grasps both of her hands, and then begins to spin her in intricate patterns. Those watching could sense the heat radiating between them, their bodies begin to glisten with the slick sweat that glides down their skin. They continue to dance and their bodies merge as they move with the rhythm of the music. Soon their breaths become ragged as each dance move makes them more breathless. They finish the dance with Sir Folliun spinning the woman to her knees in front of him.

There is an eruption of frantic cheers and clapping. When Alex looks around everyone is celebrating the spectacle with many raising their drinks in salute. He doesn’t see any person not lauding the performance. He looks over the crowd at the slaves stood at the side of the dance floor and as his gaze passes the doors to the outside of the hall he spots several dark figures as they dart past an open doorway.

Sir Folliun raises his hands reveling in the applause and adoration. He lets it continue for a few moments before announcing. “We’ve still got more entertainment for you to enjoy before this party is over. Raise your glasses to the star attraction for your evening’s amusement. ” He then points in the direction of Alex and this is followed by more cheering. Alex is then propelled forward by one of the guards launching forward and striking him in the back. He tries to regain his balance and staggers forward half a dozen steps before he sprawls across the floor.

Sir Folliun looks down at him with a sincere smile, his eyes promised nothing but pain, then he pronounces. “You have been invited to this party as the main event. I’m sure you will endeavor to provide the entertainment my guests crave.” Alex hears the rattle of chains as slaves effortlessly push a large post that appears to be gliding across the ground. He does not hear the approach of Sir Folliun until he speaks. “I don’t want to repeat past mistakes. I have contemplated what I should do when it comes to you. I’ve decided that as I can’t have you then I’ll have to ensure no one else can either. It’s all your own fault that I’ve been driven to this. This is what you have forced me to do. I will just have to take my pleasure in watching your life ebb away tonight.”

The post is heaved into the center of the room and then Sir Folliun waves his hand and it’s encompassed in a red glow as it suddenly hits the floor with a loud crash. Alex returns his gaze to the post and realizes that there is a woman already secured there.

The woman babbles, in a voice that could barely be heard, “Please don’t hurt me anymore…. Just let me die.” It is a half-hearted sound little more a whimper, not words meant for the man who stood in front of her. It is a sound that Alex is surprised he heard above the bustle of the other people partying and even more so as it’s in English.

The shimmering lights of the chandelier lent her shredded back a lustrous sheen and illuminated her despondent face. As Alex’s eyes met hers, he found her gaze mesmerizing, as she fought the pain that flashed briefly across her face. Her slim body shakes in fear and her piercing blue eyes widening in panic beneath her shoulder-length blond hair as Sir Folliun approaches.

Sir Folliun begins to talk in a whimsical voice. “The Yegella estate has an excellent reputation for ensuring their merchandise gives clients the pleasure of an encounter with an exotic doll. I think the term doll is an apt description for their product. And that was her destined status in life until I intervened. She might have been treated better when she was sold as she is incredibly expensive. But she took my eye and I’ve always wondered about Terra human desires and where they are on the exotic scale.”

It’s just then as she is gazing hopelessly at the floor, she reacts to the comments, and she looks up murmuring in English. “I’m better off dead…”

Sir Folliun continues to stare at the woman, her gaze locks with his, while she hangs there silently. The response to the interruption is hidden in the depths of his eyes, which flash with anger. After a brief pause, he continues utterly indifferent. “Good little dolls are there to be seen and willingly provide anything desired.” He rests his hands on the shoulders of the woman as he speaks. “Nice dolls exist to be obedient decorations, giving their all to provide pleasure.” He moves his hands to her neck gently caressing her neck. “For someone of my position anything you want, you can just make it yours. It’s all for the taking.” He begins to squeeze her neck and the woman thrashes around furiously now ranting and raving. This is different from a gentle embrace. It’s like he is clinging on, almost as if he’s unwilling to let her go and needed to hold on to stop himself from being pulled away. As if in a trance and delirious with fever he announces. “All good things must come to an end. You will be remembered for this unforgettable display.”

Alex is furious at having to watch the woman as she chokes and sputters. Her eyes bulging and her face turning bright red as she tries to breathe but can’t. He tries to rush forward, but the collar around his neck busts with excruciating pain and he falls to the floor.

Eventually, the woman stops moving and Sir Folliun slowly peels his hands from around her neck and comes out of his trance. He waits while a female slave approaches and kneels offering a cloth visibly shaking. He pauses before taking the offered cloth, as she is about to get up, he says in an unexpectedly tender voice, “You will be remembered for your beauty.” As the woman hangs limply shackled to the post, he laughs raucously. “What a wonderful sight. What a striking spectacle. You’ve turned into something even more beautiful,” Sir Folliun declares as he moves away from the dead woman.

Alex finds the sight of the dead woman distressing. She has no dignity with being so scared that she wet herself. Her face now relaxes in death and she is unable to feel the pain from the mass of bleeding flesh that is her back, torn away and slowly oozing blood down her sides and onto the floor. He observes, there is markedly less noise from the people partying since the whipping post made its appearance. He watches as three slaves hurry towards the woman and unshackle her from the post and one carries her away in his arms. Then two of the guards reach down and grab Alex by his arms and they drag him forward. Overseer Elicyne moves directly into Alex’s line of sight on the other side of the post. He's holding the device that controls Alex's collar, and he presses a button.