Broken
AUTHOR: Trace

*Disclaimer and other nifties in the Prologue:

Chapter Eight:

    I was in Jean-Claude's bed, half-asleep, when I heard voices in the
hallway.
    "It has finally happened?" Asher's voice.
    "Ouí," Jean-Claude said.
    "If you take advantage of her weakness, I will forget the oath I swore to
you,Jean-Claude," Asher said.
    I heard Jean-Claude give a strained laugh. "You love her,Asher.Perhaps as
much as I and Monsieur Zeeman."
    "I would be a fool not to,Jean-Claude. If you use her vulnerability to
turn her into a true,obedient servant, it will break her mind. And I will
kill you," Asher told him.
    Jean-Claude was silent for a moment. "Thank you,mon ami. For protecting
her from me when I cannot."
    "You are welcome. I mean what I say. I would see you dead before I let
you break her."
    "I know,Asher I knew when she charmed you into not bleeding her before
the Council that you would end up protecting her. I would like one favor from
you, mon ami," Jean-Claude's voice was mild, and sounded almost tired.
    "What favor?"
    "If it comes to killing me to protect her, make her yours. Do not allow
our bon to drag her into my grave," Jean-Claude said."If I die, I trust no
one but you with her life."
    "I will not let her die,Jean-Claude.And I hope it does not come to taking
your life. But I will do what is necessary,"Asher said.
    As if my life wasn't strange enough,Jean-Claude had Asher ready to kill
him to protect me.
    Why wasn't anything in my life simple? No answer to that.

Broken: Part IX