Erik's bloodlust was satisfied, so he was better able to control his emotions now. Still, anger had always been a close companion for him, and it threatened to rage against him now. For about ten seconds, he just sat there, seeming to fume, eyes glowing and face screwed up in indignation. [i]I still could be being tricked here. It could all be an act, and look at me, dressed as a slave, chained up, and now being asked to wear a fucking collar?! But then... why go to all this trouble? The sadistic amusement of it? And... for some reason, I still think he's sincere, if incredibly odd.[/i]

When he finally spoke, his voice only carried a small fraction of the fury that had rage inside him only seconds before. It was calm and rational, but in its own way, more terrifying than if he had been screaming. Dark red eyes met Alexi's, seeming to bore straight through them.

“You know, human, it would be a lot easier for me to trust you if you would actually reveal what your great plan is. And it would certainly help if you would stop treating me like a fucking slave while you insist that you are trying to end slavery. And yet, despite all of that, despite the fact that I'm completely insane for trusting you, I still am trying to. I told you that I would become your puppet if it meant ending this nightmare for my people, and that offer still stands. You have shown your sincerity by your actions, despite the fact that you still refuse to simply explain yourself. So maybe I'm insane for allowing this, but yes, I'll wear the damn collar. Some minute amount of freedom is better than none. But know this, Alexi, if I find that you are lying to me, that somehow this is all just a cruelly elaborate trick, then I will take great pleasure in killing you.”

Joseph silently finished the stitches, choosing not to respond to the younger vampire's threat. He would die protecting his master, but he could also understand Erik's anger. Besides, Master Alexi could hold his own without his servant's help.