…“Tell me and tell me straight. Do you think that someone like me, could ever give someone like you the time of day?” Nigel asks with a furrowed brow and twisted tongue while thrusting a finger towards Catherine.

“I-I-I, I don’t understand the question,” Catherine stammers, as she looks around the room and the others as they stare on in petrified fear, before she turns her eyes back to Nigel, as he sits cross-legged at the head of the table.

He slams a fist onto the table. “DON’T LOOK TO THE OTHERS FOR HELP, AS THEY ARE ALL LOOKING OUT FOR THEMSVELE AND NOT YOU!” he spits. “NOW ANSWER MY QUESTION! DO YOU THINK SOMEONE LIKE YOU, WOULD EVER BE WORTH THE TIME OF DAY, FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME?”

“I-I-I, I think w-we are a-a-all created e-e-equl..” But she doesn’t get to finish her words, as he leaps across the table and slaps her powerfully across the cheek, knocking her to the ground.

“WE ARE NOT EQUAL! WE ARE NOT THE SAME! I AM YOUR RULER, AND YOU WILL BOW DOWN AND OBEY!” he bellows, as he draws his blade free from its scabbard, and arches the sword high into the air. “NOW, FACE YOUR PUNISHMENT!” he spits.

“Can I interrupt,” a voice says, drawing eyes to the doorway, where a long blonde haired man stands leaning against the doorway….