She tried to hold her head high as she walked down the stone corridor. Her footsteps echoed, announcing her presence in the deserted hall of the boarding school. She noticed an uneasy rhythm to her walk, no doubt a sign of fear. Of course she had every right to be afraid. Niam would likely kill her for her transgression. Well, he went by Midnight here. They were all stripped of their names. It was the first thing they stole from a person before trying to remove all of their humanity.

Deirdre had never heard her name called in school. She'd been dubbed Dragonfly. Her mother thought it less gruesome than the other alternatives. Somehow her mother made her special with that name.

Midnight's room was a few feet further. Deirdre felt her breath catch in her throat as his door came into view. She hated going into that place. Midnight was a sadistic bastard in every part of his life, especially with his women. Thankfully she wasn't of an appropriate age or she might face a worse punishment than death. She already had the body of an adult, but her age saved her from Midnight's games. He played horrible games.

"Come in, Dragonfly." The door flung open before she touched it.

"Yes, sir."

The teachers all had apartments in the main building. Each decorated it to their specific tastes. Midnight's was adorned, as always, with women. They flocked to him, finding him handsome, charismatic, or perhaps it was the allure of his power that made them want to degrade themselves. A myriad of flesh, naked, writhing, filled her vision. Midnight stood in front, a smile plastered on his sharp features. Clearly he'd been enjoying himself before her arrival. One woman lay on the floor. Her backside was crossed with red stripes, blood oozing from the wounds. Midnight still held the whip in his hand. It dangled limply and Deirdre wondered if he also didn't stay a bit limp unless blood was shed.

She stepped through the threshold and felt a pulse of power or perhaps it was her imagination. She couldn't be sure any more. The only facts before her were that Midnight still held a whip in his hand and she really didn't want to be there.

"Come further inside."

Deirdre cleared the door and listened to it slam shut behind her. No one touched it. At Stone House, unusual occurrences were the norm. Magic wasn't a thing of games but a show of dark arts put on display for pupils.

On the few occasions she was permitted to leave the building, she found the outside world strange and dull. Right now she could use a little of the dull. Normal people didn't have orgies or hold whips. In the outside world drums didn't signify a sacrifice. Homes had punishments that didn't leave scars.

"You performed poorly." His voice was sharp, loud in the small space.

She didn't speak. Speaking out of turn would decrease her chances of surviving this ordeal. As it was, her transgression would be very costly.

"Why did you spare Machine?" His lips set in a hard line, looking like a gash of red on his pale face.

"Killing him seemed to be a waste. He could always be trained to do better. Perhaps a gifted teacher such as yourself could help him."

"Look at me."