She realized that shehad been extremely fortunate in having attracted a wealthy sorceresslike Charisma, even if it meant that she had to surrender som... of theindependence and autonomy that she so highly prized and even if itmeant that she had to subject herself to Charisma's degrading andabusive sexual proclivities. Although such treatment was dehumanizingand demeaning, it was a small price to pay for the luxury of heraccommodations and the privilege of Charisma's company. Tiffany wassoon as. From there, he was able to find where that wall met another wall, and then the same again. In the fourth wall, there was an opening, and what felt like a set of stone stairs leading up. Setting his teeth, he forced his body into motion, climbing the stairs on all fours, not daring to stand for fear of a tumble that would surely break his frail body.He climbed for what felt like hours upon hours, the unforgiving stone stairs seeming to stretch upward for eternity, wearing away the dry skin on. On top of that, Taylor wasn’t a big fan of meetings in plush offices. It wasn’t something active duty sergeants had to deal with very often in the army, and his post-army life had been less formal than even that. This was more the environment that Whitaker was familiar with, than he was.Not that he didn’t want to be here. He’d meant it when he told Kara he already thought of her as his family. It surprised him how quickly he’d grown to care for the young woman. Some of it was their experiences. ‘I could make Ralph think I have stabbed you. This piece of plastic that looks like a pool of blood, sticks to your neck and holds the dagger,’ he said. ‘Like this. I’m unbuckling your hands so you are free to move as soon as you wish, but the plan is for your neck to look as though it’s bleeding. Before we do this you must tell me, does Ralph have a weak heart? I do not want him to die of shock.’ ‘No,’ she said. ‘No, don’t do this. I don’t need that much proof and I don’t want to shock him. I.