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And then something stopped Chris completely. "My my," said a voice, cold as distant shores, "I do wonder what precisely it is you are doing with my child. I will give you five seconds to put down my son, and then you will go very far away before I hurt you." Black had returned, not that she had ever been gone in the first place, but she had finally seen fit to intervene in the situation. It was quite clear where Merroth had learned some of his tactics. Merroth was not happy to see Black, but he did feel the rush of panic in his hearts slow slightly.

Black said coldly to the departing Chris, "You lay one finger on Tenebras again and you may not live to regret it. Remember that." Then she turned her attention to Merroth.

Merroth lay sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily. His hearts were still pounding, an overwhelming noise only he could hear. He felt something lift him up and then he was pressed against the wall. Not Black directly, just a wave of gravity. "You should be more careful, Merroth," she said lightly. "Next time I may not waste my time protecting you." The pressure on Merroth's chest released and he sat down with his back at the wall, staring at the floor. He knew it, had his proof now. Black would protect him, because in her mind, only she had the right to hurt him.

Which, in a way, gave him total impunity when it came to hurting others. Merroth did not smile at the revelation. Some part of him meant what he had said to Christian. Black walked back to her post of silent observation, waving away the attentions of one of the daycare workers. Merroth looked at the remnants of the xylophone. He did not want to have to rely on Black's rescue again. Next time, he would take care of Christian by himself.

If, he noted, Christian was foolish enough to try. Merroth finally smiled, a quiet smile of relief. He was going to show them all, Christian and Black and everyone else. He was greater than they were. Somehow, someday, he would make them pay and they would call him master.