Jame was bored. Not of hurting Morgan, but of the test. Everything he’d had planned–only another three tasks, anyway–had been toned down. Little things like breaking a finger rather than the sort of vicious cruelty or finessed agony Jame had inflicted in the initial week of Morgan’s captivity. Morgan had succumbed easier than he’d expected and Jame had always felt contempt for those who had no appreciation for subtlety, but the rest of the test would be tiresome if it continued on in the same fashion. His pet wouldn’t be aware of any change in plans if he cut the test short. Going the other direction in changing plans, making the test harsher and more difficult, that would mess with more than just the test. He didn’t plan on breaking Morgan to pieces. Not yet, at least. And Genevieve would be upset with him, which would be irritating. When she got sulky, he couldn’t punish her in the same manner he would’ve before. That would risk his daughter’s wellbeing, and he wasn’t going to allow Genevieve’s disrespectful judgement of his decisions to influence her ability to take care of Alanna. It was simpler and more efficient to avoid that line of actions unless it had a motive more than impulsive boredom. Jame was better than impulsive behaviors, anyway. “You’re fortunate you managed to pass the test, pet,” Jame told him. “If you had failed I would have broken the rest of your fingers and left them unsplinted. Because of that, the supplies for splinting your finger aren’t in here.” Jame rose and opened the door, stepping into the hallway. “Follow me,” he added as an afterthought. He wouldn’t be so cruel as to trick Morgan into following him without permission, or to punish him for failing to follow an order not given. Not today, at least. Jame pressed open the bookshelf that separated the hallway from the rest of the basement and, trusting that Morgan would follow him and not pay much attention to the rest of the basement or try to get away, opened the door to Morgan’s new room without looking back. The room had a fullsized bed, currently covered in only a plastic fitted sheet, carpeted flooring, and shelves built into the wall.
The test was far simpler than Morgan had anticipated. He felt an uncommon swell of pride, when his master said he passed.
Morgan wasn’t sure if he should walk or crawl as Jame hadn’t specified, but asking would be speaking out of turn. He took a chance and walked, taking tentative steps, eyes locked on Jame. When he entered, Morgan gasped and his eyes began to water yet again. It was so much more than he’d had before.
“Sit on the bed,” Jame instructed. The bed frame set the mattress at about mid thigh height. He removed the splinting supplies from the otherwise empty shelving and turned back to Morgan. He set the supplies on the headboard, which was about a foot thick with three cabinets set into it. Without particular gentleness, though enough care to not further damage the joint, Jame took Morgan’s hand. Although Jame had never cared to tend Clarissa’s wounds, when Genevieve came around, he’d learned the necessary first aid to keep her in good condition. This skill was obvious now, as he splinted Morgan's finger.














