As Alexi told his story, Erik's mind went into overdrive, to the point that he was only absentmindedly scrubbing the human's back. [i]Vinkta, Vin for short. He had a good future going for him. Could have been the next Leader one day. But you screwed that royal. Half of the officers probably think him a traitor now. Usually, breaking is so easy to notice that no one has ever tried to use it to turn one of our own into a spy. We've lost good people and good information because breaking was used as an interrogation tool, but we have never had someone return and act as one of us without noticing what was going on. I don't know how we could have figured it out. If he comes back to us after giving the antidote, it will be up to Nirale to decide what to do with him. Nirale is a good and fair man though. If he believes the story, he will likely allow him to stay, but keep him away from any sensitive information. He will be able to help, do chores, eat, and live, but he will be barred from serving as a Resistance fighter, and he will be watched. It's not going to be easy for him to go back, and I'm not sure that he will.[/i] 

Though he was still thinking, he continued listening to Alexi's story. It was humiliating. The lord almost made it sound easy. Looking back on the moment the tranq dart had hit his back, the look of sheer surprise.... he'd been careful, but he had not expected the ambush. [i]I should have been paying more attention. I should have been watching my own back a lot more carefully. It seemed like such an easy run. Hell, the slavers... their actors, were putting on a good show. One or two even seemed drunk. It's my fault. If I'd been less overconfident, if I'd been less willing to trust Vin's information.[/i] 

He noticed the human tense up as he got out of the bath, looking like he was about to faint. Remembering his “job,” Erik grabbed his arm to steady him, until he seemed alright and able to walk on his own. The last thing either of them needed was for him to fall and break something. He even helped the other man sit down on the side of the pool, taking care to make sure that he did not slip.	

It had taken all of his will to keep calm and let the eccentric billionaire finish his story, as he walked into the hot tub and submerged itself in the pleasantly warm water. He would never admit it, but he could get used to this life of luxury, even as a prisoner in a gilded cage. Now that they were in the hot tub, he finally got to speak. He did notice that Alexi had been trying to make him feel better about the whole thing. It was kind, if misguided, for him to try, so the vampire started there.

“Thanks for trying to make me feel better, Alexi. But nothing you say is going to change the fact that I'm here, with a collar around my neck, basically at your mercy. And, more importantly, nothing is going to change the fact that I failed them. What happened to the others? The ones who were captured besides me in that raid? Do you know the names of the people the police department sold them to? Many of them are probably being broken as we speak. All for your damn whims. And I've failed them as their leader and their comrade,” Erik began, his voice slowly rising with frustration.

“And why was all of this so important anyway?! There were other ways to distribute your antidote. Why do you want me bound to you so badly? Why did you choose me, of all the rebel leaders you apparently could have brought here?” he asked, breathing deeply to try and calm himself as his eyes already began to glow. Looking down, he unclenched his fists and tried to relax in the warm water. [i]I have to stay calm. I cannot let my anger get the better of me, not now that I'm finally getting some goddamn answers.[/i]