It was a bit chilled outside as the two walked the path indicated on the map. Even at dusk the path was not that easy to transverse. That wasn?t the worst of it. Even as they moved through the forest, there were strange noises ? perhaps they were designed to intimidate or scare off intruders. The two walking through weren?t intruders. They weren?t even lost ? as far as they could tell.

They were invited; Invited by the man that had single-handedly saved their business, their life?s blood. He told them that it was an investment that can only help the city and realm. Reluctant at first, Bryce was not any happier about the new deal that had saved the station than he was now that the backer ? now owner of the station ? had first approached him about the new show that gave the station a shot of life in the arm. Slowly though after that first show, it somehow managed to go from ?backer? to ?owner?. He had managed to manipulate himself into a position over the board of directors to the point that Bryce had acknowledged he was now just a puppet figure in his own company.

Still, he was cordially invited to this man?s house. He had yet to formally meet him. He just knew who he was. Paul Waverly, however had more information in effect to know that the man was not someone to cross in any way shape or form. But the station was booming now. The new shows, the money poured into the station from sources that in the end Paul had told Bryce ?You really don?t want to know.? The two of them walked down the path, looking up to see the pending black towers sticking up through the deranged and warped trees that seemed utterly lifeless.

None of this, none of what had happened at the station ? even the shows ? were nothing compared to getting the invite from the man to join him at his home. It seemed so much more than just a tower as they approached the center one. Paul and Bryce exchanged looks for a moment before they turned to the door once more. Paul raised his arm and knocked. The second knock barely sounded before the doors opened.

The marble floor was clean and polished so that light reflections could be seen on it. The pillars reached up at least 2 stories while the central staircase was wide. In her formal black and red uniform, lani stood before the two men. ?Good evening, gentlemen. My Master is expecting you.? Her voice was sweet, delicious ? like honey poured into your ear. Her appearance was captivating and a light scent of perfume drifted on the air passing between her and them. Whatever her appearance, whatever her duties ? she was meant to please. lani said nothing as she lead the men through the hall passed several closed doors till another double set was reached. lani motioned them in gently with a slow movement of her arm, gesturing them into the dining room.

?Gentlemen, my Master wishes you to know that while he is running a few minutes behind schedule I have been instructed to begin serving dinner and to provide you with whatever other comforts you would care for until his return.? Lani said as two other girls dressed similarly to lani pulled out chairs on either side of the head of the table. The dining room looked like a dining hall. It was large and spectacular. Lani caught the glance of one of the gentleman ? she believed it was Paul Waverly ? looking around. ?Have you seen something out of place, sir?? She grew a little concerned ? she had beaten two slaves nearly to death when it took them all day to get it just to this level of clean. Of course, they would never know that.

?N-no!? Paul said quickly. ?Its just, I have never seen anything like this in my entire life!? He finished as he set down in the offered chair. The girl behind him was stronger than she looked as she pushed the chair with him in it to the proper distance from the table.

The other girl helping Bryce Morrington smiled sweetly at him as she helped him sit. He nodded and offered a gentle smile towards her. He shook his head slowly, more to himself realizing that he would never get a woman like the three that were present. Beauty beyond the words he could think to say. In this state, they were more beautiful than the girls that he had seen at the Black Light shop. He didn?t understand how it happened ? and wasn?t sure he wanted to know.

But the man they were ?invited? to spend dinner with, the one that saved their business, was not a man to be trifled with.

Bryce followed Paul as he stood up, smiling to their host. ?Lord Travanix,? Paul started, ?Thank you so much for your invitation.? Travanix nodded in greeting to each of them as he passed by them slowly. Lani quietly followed behind Travanix as he walked the length of the table towards the head.
Bryce was quiet as he watched the man walk. Travanix finally sat down; lani pushing in the chair behind him then took the cane and set it to the side within easy reach. The guests sat down after the host had settled himself. Bryce was quiet still even as Paul and Travanix began to discuss politics and personal matters. Bryce just continued to eat the meat ? at least he would get something good out of this visit.

Soon, the dinner conversation began to turn towards conversation. Sometime during dinner lani had brought out only a tall silver mug full of some black fluid and presented it to Travanix ? Not just served it, but presented it! She approached his chair and dropped to her knees on the marble floor and offered up the mug with a lowered gaze and waited until he took it from her! Bryce could hardly watch the scene.
?Mr. Morrington, I have been meaning to ask you how things are going at your office these days. I do not get out as much as I would like to your office. I hear however that the ratings are doing better and the company is getting more advertising dollars. How do you feel about all of this?? There was a strange kind of smile on the lips of Travanix as he spoke to Bryce: Like Bryce was being examined from the inside out.

?Everything is well, Lord Travanix.? There was some hesitation in Bryce?s voice. He couldn?t help it ? the man made him nervous. How he knew things he shouldn?t know, how he acted ? something was not right about this man. Tonight was just the clutching witness he needed to get himself out of the deal with the devil. ?Our teams are continuing to work hard on the different projects you have suggested, checking to see if they are viable options?? Bryce didn?t dare speak more when he saw the smile disappear from Travanix?s lips.

??Viable options??? Travanix repeated. ?Exactly what do you mean by ?viable options??. I did not give you a research project, Mr. Morrington, I gave you and your teams assignements to complete. Two of those projects should already begin shooting.? Travanix paused as he looked at Paul who was looking steadily at his dinner plate. Travanix looked back to Morrington. ?Make sure you quickly change the focus of those teams and get them back on track, understood??

Bryce couldn?t help but gulp. Those dark auburn eyes of that man were vile, cold and piercing. He could only nod. ?A-as you wish, Lord Travanix.?

He couldn?t take his head away, he jumped up, pushing the chair back. As he did, his eyes caught sight of the ?meat.? She had on her makeup ? done posthumously. She looked beautiful ? if in fact she had still been living, or had her head on her shoulders. He couldn?t believe it at all. Her body had been carved up like a turkey. He felt his stomach begin to rumble and he tried to hold it back. Not only had he eaten his wife?s flesh, but he liked it ? even asking for more!

He turned, grasping the edge of the table and looked at it, but the image of the woman he had loved planted on a tray surrounded by garnishments was etched in his mind. He couldn?t shake it, even though his entire body was shaking. He looked up to the auburn eyes of the man who was responsible for doing this and watched as he chuckled darkly and slowly. ?Something wrong with your meal?? Travanix asked simply. The cane moved to the hand of the man as he stood up ? He was the devil!

?How?how could you do this to her!? Bryce asked as he tried to pull himself up.

Travanix smiled as he walked around the corner of the table, lani slipping back to the side, the dome still in hand. ?Actually, Mr. Morrington. I did not do this to your ex-wife.?

Bryce shook his head in disbelief. ?Tell me then, how did this happen!? His senses coming back to him somewhat, his anger starting to override the urge to vomit.

Travanix only smiled wider and stood next to the slave girl holding the tray steady. He reached over with his free hand and pushed the chin of the girl up slightly. ?Your youngest daughter is a wonderful chef.?

Bryce pondered for only a heartbeat before he looked up to the girl ? it was his youngest daughter indeed! His heart pounded at his chest. He couldn?t speak anymore; the pain in his arm was becoming harder. ?Mon?ster..? He said as he fell backwards. It wasn?t a full on heart attack ? it should have been, but it wasn?t. He was still breathing, still thinking. But the pain was so real. He?d felt it before, he knew what it was!

The dark form released the girl?s chin and lani lead her back into the kitchen, smirking to herself as her Master enjoyed the turn of events.

?Morrington,? Travanix began, ?You are living on thin ice in so many ways. I know what you have been doing at the station, how you have been working to sabotage many of my efforts, many of my projects. You have made inquiries into others to see if they will sale their stake in the business so you can buy it back and get away from them.? Travanix took a step and then dropped the pad of the cane down on to the wrist of the left arm. ?You have made mistakes, Mr. Morrington. Mistakes that have cost you terribly. Your youngest is mine now. Your oldest will be mine within twenty-four standard hours. I was more than prepared to leave your family alone, Morrington. But you seemed to think that you could out play me in a game you have no idea what the rules are.?

Travanix leaned down, looking at the man as he suffered and yet still lived. ?Understand that you will live to serve me in whatever way I tell you to serve. If I want to show mass beheadings on your station ? You will show it until I tell you not to. On paper you own the station, you are the head manager. But, you are my puppet.? To demonstrate it, Travanix pointed to one hand with his free one and caused Bryce?s arm to move around and around in a small circle. ?You are alive because I am not done with you yet.?

Travanix moved away, walking with his cane back to his chair. ?lani, get this fool patched up, and get him back to work.? Setting back in his chair, and looking at Paul who was looking at Travanix. ?There is money to be made, do you not agree, Mr. Waverly??