#snapdragon posts

“Less interesting than yours, from the sounds of it. Just one client emergency in the morning, she needed a diagnostic code to get her insurance to cover our sessions.” Astrid shrugged the shoulder he wasn’t resting against, taking care not to jostle him. “I’m glad my defences kept that guy out of your head. It makes me feel better knowing you’re safe from that sort of thing.”

Kolt gave a content sound, smiling at the familiar taste of Astrid’s hot chocolate. The sugar was already doing wonders for his energy levels as he downed the mug. “It was definitely an interesting day. But what about you? Didn’t you do anything fun?”

Astrid shrugged. “Just trying to make the most of my day off, really. Speaking of which…” Her tail wrapped around the empty mug, lifting it easily from his hands and setting it aside. “Did you want to try out that thing I mentioned this morning?”

Kolt’s eyes lit up, bouncing in his seat like a child as she scratched his chin affectionately. “I’ve been thinking about it all day, I can’t wait!”

“Very good.” Astrid smiled, heart warmed by how eager he was to try it. “Settle down then, darling.”

Kolt felt a wave of calm wash over him as she said that, eyes trained on her fully as she moved to stand in front of him. As he watched, her eyes began to glow pink, the swirling patterns on her hood following suit soon after. The colour was familiar to him. As was the feeling of his conscious thoughts slipping away one by one, leaving his head nice and empty for her. His brain was her personal playground when he was like this, able to put him under with barely a word and reorganise his brain to suit her whims. It was this control, the years of practice and work she’d put into making his mind an impenetrable fortress for herself alone, that had kept him safe from the attack on his mind earlier that day.

Astrid let her tail coil around his legs as she gazed into his eyes, voice starting to speak slowly and seductively as she worked. “Good boy. Go on, let that mind go blank for me. It’s mine, you’re merely the keeper of it. Your brain and your thoughts belong to me. So let all those thoughts drift away, let me fill your head with something far more worthwhile. With thoughts that will help you better serve me. Because you love to serve me.”

It was easier than breathing, letting his mind go blank for her. All that was left was glowing pink swirls and her smooth voice slithering into his ears and making a home in his brain. In her brain. Because it had belonged to her for a long time now and they both knew it. And what bliss it was. The feeling of peace that washed over Kolt every time she put him into a trance. The deep trust he had developed for her that made it so easy to let go and let her take over, knowing she’d only ever do things to his brain that they both wanted.

“Look at you, so brainless and empty, all ready for me to fill you with my own thoughts and ideas.” Astrid laughed affectionately, the tip of her tail flickering teasingly against his stomach. “Really, I’ve got more control of your brain than you do! It’s cute. How eager you are for me to take over. How much you enjoy letting me control you. It’s so sweet.”

Wave after wave of mindless bliss rolled over Kolt at her words as he sank deeper and deeper into a trance. It was so intense, so relaxing and pleasurable, that one could easily confuse it with one of her suggestions making him feel so wholly at peace. But while she may have used a suggestion to amplify the feeling somewhat, the joy of being hypnotised was all his own. After a long day of making quick decisions and fighting crime, it was the height of pleasure to return home and not have to think about anything at all. To have someone he trusted do all the thinking for him.

“Now,” Astrid smiled as she watched him slip into a deep trance, her tail sliding up his legs to slowly undo his pants. She watched his cock appear slowly as she stripped him just enough to reach it, tail winding around it. “It’s time for you to learn that this cock belongs to me. Just like your mind, it’s mine to control.”

Kolt groaned softly in pleasure as her tail squeezed around his cock with every emphasis. “Yours. All yours.” He agreed.

“Just like your mind, it is only yours because it serves me, because I’m allowing you to use it. It may get hard when you’re turned on, it may feel good when you touch it…” Her tail undulated around it, almost stroking it along with the squeezes. “But it’s mine. It’s all mine, my property. And you wouldn’t use my property without asking now, would you?”

Kolt shook his head, a soft whimper of pleasure slipping from his lips as he felt her tail stroking him. “No, never!”

“Good boy.” She cooed softly. “Such a good boy. You’d only use your cock with my permission, because it’s my cock, really. And when you get my permission, you use it how I tell you to. Isn’t that right?”

Kolt nodded. “Yes.”

“Very good. Listen, darling.” Astrid watched his ears prick up at the phrase, ready to take in her suggestions. “Your cock gets hard when I want it to. It gets soft when I want it to. It reacts exactly how I want, and I can keep it in whatever state I please. All it takes is a simple hand motion.” She gave a flick of her finger, as though coaxing him to rise, though only his cock obeyed the command. “Up. And down.” She reversed the motion, feeling his cock get soft in her tail’s grip. “And if I really want, I can leave you somewhere in between. Half-hard for me, no matter how good I make you feel.” She gave another motion, feeling his body react exactly as she’d described.

It was wonderful, how easy he was to control. She’d turned his mind into her own little toy. Like clay, something she could shape as she pleased. She would need to cement the suggestions into his brain if she wanted them to work out of trance, but the fact that his body responded to her wishes so quickly… She couldn’t help the warm feeling of love that bloomed in her chest as she watched her handsome fox’s dazed stare directed at her hood and eyes, his mind open for her and his body ready for whatever command she gave it.

“Now, just like your brain, your cock is mine.” Astrid began again, ready to move onto the rest of her suggestion. “Sometimes, I give you control of it. That doesn’t mean it’s yours, it just means that I’m trusting you to be a good boy and take care of my property for me. When I tell you that the cock’s yours, you have control of it. It’s still mine, and you’ll remember that. You’ll remember the suggestions I’ve given you, you’ll remember all the things I can do to you. But it’ll be under your control, and you will be able to talk freely about your true feelings about my suggestions. It’ll be under your control, but it’ll still be mine.”

“Always yours.” Kolt’s voice was soft and adoring, like she was a goddess choosing him for her holiest of missions. “Always yours.”

“Very good.” Astrid smiled, fingers carding through his fur again as he leaned into the touch. “Now, when I need control of your cock, I’ll remind you that the cock’s mine. It’s mine, it belongs to me. You’ll know deep down that it belongs to me, but you won’t remember consciously what I’ve done. You won’t remember my commands or that I can use your cock at will. You will believe it to be yours. But it’s still mine. And your body will react to my commands. My hand motions.” She raised her finger, feeling his cock get hard. She lowered it and felt his cock get soft. She smiled. “Good boy.”

Kolt felt his chest warm at the praise, pleased that he could make her happy. It was all he wanted. He was hers, and his job was to make her happy. He enjoyed it more than anything, being her mindless servant, there for her to control. Knowing she would take good care of him, like he was her prized toy. Her words sunk into his brain as she repeated the suggestions over and over. He found himself repeating them in his head, the words bouncing around, almost echoing in his empty mind.

“When the cock’s yours, you remember everything. You are in control. When the cock’s mine, you remember none of my suggestions, but your body reacts to them. I am in control. Your body will react to the motion of my finger. Hard, soft, half-hard. No matter what happens, no matter if you’d normally get hard or soft from something, it’ll stay the way I’ve put it until I say otherwise. Because your cock is all mine, and I control it. Just like I control your brain. All because you want me to.” Astrid’s hood glowed bright, the swirling pattern helping push the suggestions deeper into Kolt’s psyche.

“I want you to.” Kolt agreed with a content sigh, enjoying feeling her words press into his brain and become his own, taking over something deep inside him to let her have more control than he did.

“Good boy. Listen, darling.” His ears pricked up again, ready for another command. “When I take you out of this trance, the cock’s mine. It will react to nothing but my commands. I’ll control it, and you won’t even notice or remember because it simply feels so natural for your cock to belong to me. You’ll still have those suggestions I’ve given you. When I say the cock’s yours, you’ll remember everything and be in control again. And if you ever hear me say the cock’s mine, those suggestions will kick in again. You’ll forget everything, your body will respond only to me, and I’ll be in control. Wake up, darling.”

Kolt blinked, thoughts returning to his head as Astrid’s glow faded. His heart raced a bit, knowing she’d been inside his head again. He wondered what she’d put in there this time, but he knew there was no way he’d find out unless she wanted him to. It was one of the many things he loved about her hypnotising him. It really solidified the idea that she had more control over his brain than he did, and he wouldn’t want it any other way.

“How do you feel?” Astrid asked, curling up on the couch beside him as her tail continued to absentmindedly pulse around his cock.

“Good.” Kolt nodded slowly, brain still working at half speed.

“Can you answer some questions for me, darling?” Astrid asked, a slight laugh in her tone as she uttered the command that would make him answer honestly. “Who does your cock belong to?”

“It belongs to you.” Kolt answered immediately, knowing deep in his heart that that was the truth.

“And would you use it without permission?” Astrid’s finger lifted and fell, her eyes trained on his cock as it obeyed her every command.

“No.” Kolt shook his head, almost appalled by the very idea. He hardly seemed to notice that his cock was out, let alone reacting to her. “Of course not, it belongs to you. I’d only ever use it with your permission, and only in ways you wanted me to.”

“Very good. The cock’s yours.” Astrid’s smile widened as she watched the dawning understanding cross Kolt’s face. “So, can you answer some questions for me, darling?”

Kolt blinked and nodded, smiling a bit as he felt the suggestion work. “Yes.”

“How do you feel about it? Is it what you were hoping for?” She looked hopeful, but made sure to place a soothing hand on his thigh so he knew she wouldn’t be upset if he didn’t like it.

Kolt nodded, beaming. “It’s perfect! Absolutely perfect. It’s really hot that you can control me like that, I love it so much.”

“Good, I’m glad.” Astrid kissed the top of his head with a hum. “The cock’s mine.”

Kolt’s gaze went blank for a moment as the memories retreated too far into his brain to retrieve without her command. He shook his head to clear the feeling away, laughing softly. He didn’t know what she’d made him forget, but he knew her well enough to know it was something. “You did it again, didn’t you?” He teased, nudging her lightly. “Made me remember everything and then forget it?”

Astrid giggled and shrugged, lifting her finger lightly. “Well, I need to make sure you’re happy with what I’ve done to that lovely brain of yours. Well, that lovely brain of mine. Now, if you’re up for it, I’d love to get the chance to use my cock.”

Kolt felt his cheeks grow warm and his cock grow hard, nodding his head. He felt her take his hand, tail unwinding from around him so they could both stand and she could lead him to the bedroom. “Of course, anything you want. It’s your cock, after all.”

Kolt let her usher him into what looked like a living room. There were a couple of couches, a table and chairs, and even a little kitchenette in the corner where a grizzled old rabbit was pouring himself a cup of coffee. A smiling frog with a distant look in her eyes was playing cards at the table with a brooding cow. Watching them from the couch was a panther with what looked to be black wings blending into his fur. It took a moment of staring for Kolt to realise that the wings were attached to him by straps.

“Hey, everyone!” Mya clapped her hands once to get everyone’s attention. “The new guy’s here! Everyone, this is Kolt!” There were a few scattered greetings, and Mya dragged him over to the panther first. “This is Dizzy, he can fly and he’s got super strength!”

Kolt waved with a grin. “Hey. I’m Kolt, I make force fields. And…” He formed one around himself, lifting into the air to hover for a moment before setting himself back down. “Maybe we should have a race some time?”

“Sick! I’m down for a race.” Dizzy hopped up to inspect Kolt, walking in a slow circle around him with an appraising hum. “Yeah, you’ve got the hero look down. Janus picked well.”

Kolt glanced around. “Which one’s Janus?”

“Oh.” Dizzy laughed and shook his head. “He’s not here right now, I’m sure he’ll be along soon to show you around. Janus is very trustworthy. If he’s not here to greet you, there’s a reason for it. He probably wants you to get used to the team first. We’re like a family here.”

The phrase tickled something in the back of Kolt’s brain, but he brushed it off, letting Mya lead him over to the card players. “This is Lily and Jasmine.” She gestured to the frog and cow respectively. “Lily can see the future and Jasmine controls the weather.”

Lily gave a smile and a slight nod of greeting. “Lovely to meet you. We’re all very happy here. I’m sure you will be too.”

Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Oh, ignore her. She says weird stuff. I think seeing the future kinda makes it hard to hold a normal conversation. Too much going on in her head…” She shook her own head before laughing. “Anyway, you met Dizzy already, right? Never let him fly you anywhere. There’s a reason he’s called Dizzy.”

“Hey, just because you don’t like doing barrel rolls…” Dizzy defended himself with a huff.

“No one but you likes it.” Jasmine scoffed and shook her head, turning her attention back to Kolt. “Anyway, welcome to the team.”

“Thanks!” Kolt beamed. “I’m excited to work with you all!”

“We are too.” Lily smiled warmly. “We’re like a family here. I think you’ll fit right in!”

Mya pointed over to the rabbit who was brooding in the corner, sipping at his coffee with a scowl. “That’s Blue. Ice powers. Don’t bother him unless you have to. And never before he’s had his coffee. Dizzy tried once…” She shivered a bit at the memory. “Just… don’t do it.”

Kolt nodded. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. So, when do I get to meet Janus?”

“Oh,” Mya waved a hand dismissively. “Soon, probably. Don’t worry, Janus is very trustworthy.”

Kolt’s brows furrowed. “You know, Dizzy said that exact same thing earlier…”

Mya blinked, looking confused for a moment before shrugging. “Must be a coincidence. My thoughts are all my own. I just think Janus is wonderful, and I always trust him to do the right thing. He’s the reason I’m a hero now, after all! I love it here. I never want to leave.”

Kolt’s expression softened at how genuine and starstruck Mya seemed when talking about Janus. He knew this sort of thing well, younger heroes idolising older ones. It was very common and always very sweet. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Wait with us, I’m sure he’ll come round soon to show you around.” Dizzy patted the couch.

Kolt sat down, watching the game of cards. It wasn’t a game he’d seen before, but he could tell by the way that Jasmine was huffing and slamming her cards down every so often that Lily was winning. It wasn’t surprising, everyone knew not to play cards with someone who could see the future. Though Lily didn’t seem the type to use her powers for something like cheating at cards.

“Double or nothing?” Lily gave a demure smile, seemingly oblivious to how angry Jasmine was getting.

Jasmine growled, but nodded. “Fine.”

Dizzy seemed to notice Kolt’s look of confusion and shrugged. “They do this a lot. You get used to it.”

“If it makes her so mad, why doesn’t she stop playing?” Kolt asked.

Jasmine turned to look at him for a moment with a frown. “Because one day I will win my money back. Besides, I’m not mad. We’re all very happy here.”

The phrase seemed a little out of place coming out of her mouth, but Kolt brushed it off with a shrug when Dizzy laughed. “You got any more cheesy slogans for the new guy?”

“It’s not a slogan.” Jasmine glared at him. “My thoughts are all my own.”

Kolt shifted nervously. She was the second person to say that exact thing… He didn’t have much time to think about it more, the door opening and another naga entering the room. He was much bigger than Mya, his presence commanding. It was clear from the way the rest of the heroes sat up straighter and stared reverently at him that he was Janus. Mya waved him over excitedly, tail twitching once more.

“Janus, look! Kolt’s here!” She seemed more than a little awestruck by him, grinning like a fool when his gaze turned to her.

He made his way over slowly, appraising Kolt with a small nod. “Good to see you again. I’m glad you decided to join us. How about I show you around? This place can be a little… disorienting.”

Kolt gave a slight laugh and nodded, standing up. “Yeah, I’ll probably get lost in all these hallways a lot.” He admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “All the doors look the same.”

“Don’t worry.” Janus gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and Kolt could feel the barely restrained strength behind it. He’d heard a lot about Janus, super strong, fast, and durable. He was an impressive hero, and everyone wanted the chance to work with him. “You get used to it. And we’ll all make sure to help you adjust to being part of the team.”

Kolt felt reassured by Janus’ presence, nodding in agreement and following him back into the winding, identical halls. Janus showed him a glimpse into each room as they went by, explaining a bit about how everything worked. There were bedrooms for all the team members—the five he’d met today were just the ones currently on call, the team was large and very quickly growing—a few kitchens and plenty of bathrooms. There were storage rooms for equipment, different rooms specially designed for people to practice with different weapons and powers. There were debriefing rooms, security rooms, rooms full of files on known threats… It was a lot to take in, but Janus assured Kolt that he would get used to it soon enough.

“You can ask anyone for help if you need it. Everyone is like a family on our team. Sure, there’s an argument here or there, but in the end, we always help each other.” Janus smiled warmly at Kolt. “After all, we all just want to do what’s best. That’s what being a hero is all about, right?”

Kolt nodded in agreement. “That’s why I got into the business. I want to help as many people as I can.”

“That’s very admirable.” Janus nodded. “You’ll do well with us. We want to make the world a better place, together. Now, let me show you to the most important room in the base. The programming room.”

“Is that where you hack into things?” Kolt asked, curiously.

Janus gave a vague smile and a shrug. “You could certainly say that…”

Kolt wasn’t entirely sure why the programming room would be the most important, but he trusted Janus would explain more when they arrived. He wasn’t sure how many different hallways they’d turned down, or how many of them connected to each other. It was confusing and disorienting, walking through the halls. He tried to focus on Janus’ words instead, listening to him talk about camaraderie and teamwork, much like every other team leader he’d had before.

Janus stopped in front of a yellow door, the only one that Kolt had seen so far that didn’t look like all the others. He opened the door, ushering Kolt into the room. Far from the computers he’d been expecting from a place called the “programming room,” all that was inside was a single overhead light and a chair. Janus closed the door behind them both, gesturing for Kolt to take a seat. Perhaps this was some kind of initiation? It wouldn’t be the first time he’d been interrogated or otherwise tested before being trusted by a team.

“Now.” Janus pressed a button on the wall when Kolt sat down, metal shackles coming out of the chair to restrain him. “I want to show you what this room is for. The programming room. Or, more accurately, the reprogramming room. You asked earlier if we do hacking in here. And we do. But a very different kind of hacking.”

Kolt struggled against the shackles as Janus took his watch from him. “What are you doing?”

“I can’t have you getting out of that chair before you’re ready to join the team. Don’t bother trying to use your powers either, those shackles won’t let you.” Janus stood in front of Kolt, eyes swirling slightly. Kolt found himself unable to look away, Janus’ gaze too intense to break. “Relax, Kolt. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m just going to talk to you. And you’ll listen to me, and understand what we do here.”

Kolt felt the naga’s words sink slowly into his brain, his body relaxing as soon as he was told to. Janus didn’t seem to be making any moves to touch him, merely staring into his eyes with those hypnotic swirling irises of his. Kolt wasn’t sure what was happening, but he felt like he should sit and listen to what Janus had to say.

“Now, we’re going to talk a little bit, alright? I want you to keep looking into my eyes. I need to know that I can trust you. I’m sure you understand. I can’t just let anyone come in here and join us, I need to make sure you have the right intentions. That you’re not going to ruin everything we’ve worked for.”

Kolt gave an understanding nod, keeping eye contact with Janus. So far, everything he was saying sounded reasonable. Though Kolt was struggling to focus on the meaning of his words, distracted by the rhythmic undulating colours in Janus’ eyes. “Yeah, I get it. Not everyone who says they want to be a hero really does.”

“Exactly. Not everyone is here for the right reasons.” Janus gave a soft sigh. “It’s a shame, really. Our goal here is very noble. But you seem like the kind of guy I can trust. So, we’re just going to chat for a little bit, I’ll teach you some of the things you need to know, I’ll tell you more about what we do here… and then, if all goes well, you’ll be working with us properly in no time! You’ll be part of the team.”

Kolt smiled at the thought of being part of the team. Sure, they were all a bit strange, but they seemed nice enough. Except for Blue, who he would be sure to stay away from. “What do you need me to do to prove you can trust me?”

“Nothing at all.” Janus assured him. “All you have to do is look into my eyes and listen to my voice. Can you do that for me?”

Kolt nodded, focusing back on his eyes and feeling himself growing sleepy. “I can do that.”

“Remember, you need to look into my eyes the whole time. I need to make sure I can trust you. Now, tell me what you see when you look into my eyes.”

Kolt tried to shake off the sleepy feeling and focus again. “They’re changing colour. They’re… blue and green… and orange… and red…” It was like watching technicoloured ocean waves, overlapping and washing over each other.

“How do they make you feel?”

Kolt’s brow furrowed. “Tired. I feel tired. And calm. And… like my head is full of mashed potatoes.”

Janus gave a soft laugh. “Well, that’s alright. Just let that feeling wash over you. You don’t need to think, you just need to listen and understand. And you need to keep looking into my eyes, no matter how tired they make you feel. Do you understand?”

Kolt nodded. His head felt too full of fluff to fit any thoughts into it, and his eyes felt so heavy he wasn’t sure how he was managing to keep them open. But he did, still staring into the naga’s hypnotic eyes. “I understand.”

“Don’t try to fight the feeling. You’re tired, let yourself rest. Relax, you don’t need to use any energy to listen to me. You don’t need to think about my words too hard, just listen to them and you’ll understand, I promise. Don’t think, just listen. Can you do that for me?”

Kolt nodded.

“Good. Good. It’s okay, Kolt. You’re safe here.” Janus assured him, watching the fox’s eyes glaze over slowly and his head start to droop. The longer he stared into Janus’ eyes, the heavier his head felt and the more the naga’s words sank into his brain without resistance. “Repeat after me: Janus is trustworthy.”

Kolt blinked slowly and nodded. “Janus is trustworthy.”

“Good. Very good. Janus is trustworthy. I want you to remember that. To keep it in mind. If you think of questioning me, if you hear someone else question me, just remember… Nagas are stronger than you. We’re superior to you. We’re better than you, so you can trust us. Janus is trustworthy. Janus is trustworthy. You can trust me.”

Kolt’s voice was a soft mumble, his head still nodding along slowly. “Janus is trustworthy.”

“Very good. Janus is trustworthy. I trust Janus. That’s how you feel, you feel deep down that you can trust me. That you should listen to me, trust me, follow me. Because as a naga, I’m better than you. I’m your superior. You feel like you can trust me. Because you can, Janus is trustworthy. Now, say it: I trust Janus.”

“I trust Janus. Janus is trustworthy.”

“Good, good. I trust Janus. Janus is trustworthy. Now, let’s talk about the team. You’ll be very happy here, on my team. You’ll get along great with everyone! We all get along well. We’re like a family here. Can you say that? We’re like a family here.”

“We’re like a family here.” Kolt repeated obediently.

“We’re like a family here. You love us like your family. You think of us as family. If someone wants to hurt us, you defend us like your family. You support our goals, you love us, like your family. We’re like a family here. Do you understand?”

“We’re like a family here.”

“Good. We’re like a family here. And Janus is in charge of this family, as the superior being. You can trust nagas. You can trust me. Janus is trustworthy. I can trust Janus.”

“We’re like a family here. Janus is trustworthy. I can trust Janus.” The more Kolt heard and repeated the phrases, the more they sunk into his brain. He felt, deep inside, that it was true. They were like a family there. Everyone had greeted him so kindly; he was part of their family now. And he could trust Janus to lead their family in the right direction. Janus was so strong and superior to himself. He could trust nagas.

“Do you remember how you felt when I agreed to let you join us? How happy you were? And how happy you were when you met the team? Do you remember how happy the team were? We’re all very happy here. Who wouldn’t be happy, working for a naga? We’re like a family here. We’re all very happy here. Do you understand?” Janus moved closer, keeping his eyes locked with Kolt’s.

“We’re like a family here. We’re all very happy here.” Kolt repeated, feeling warmth spread through his chest as he thought about his team. No, his family. He was very happy there.

“We’re all very happy here. We’re like a family here. You feel like you’re part of the family, and that makes you happy. Being with your family makes you so happy. You trust us, you care about us. And we care about you. You’re safe here. You’re under our protection. The protection of stronger beings. I’m safe here. Remember that whenever you worry. I’m safe here.”

“I’m safe here.” Kolt gave a smile, feeling the last remaining tension seep from his shoulders. He was safe there.

“I’m safe here. You’re safe here, you’re happy here, you’ve found a family here. Why would you ever want to leave? Would you ever want to leave?” Janus asked.

Kolt shook his head, the movement sluggish and lazy. “No…”

“I never want to leave.” Janus was pleased by how well Kolt was taking the suggestions, the mantras ingraining themselves in his brain with ease. “I never want to leave. Why would you want to leave your family? Why would you want to stop serving those better than you? You’re safe here, you’re happy here. I never want to leave.”

“I never want to leave.” Kolt agreed, voice monotonous as he internalised the mantras.

“I never want to leave. Remember that. Remember everything we’ve talked about. Everything we’ve agreed on together. Janus is trustworthy. I trust Janus. We’re like a family here. We’re all very happy here. I’m safe here. I never want to leave. I never want to leave. I’m safe here. We’re all very happy here. We’re like a family here. I trust Janus. Janus is trustworthy.”

Janus repeated the mantras over and over again, watching as Kolt slowly began to mumble the phrases along with him. The two of them repeated the mantras over and over and over, Kolt’s eyes never straying from those swirling irises that captivated him so much. Slowly, Janus stopped saying the mantras. Kolt continued to mumble them to himself, body swaying back and forth as much as it could in the shackles.

“Kolt?” Janus interrupted him once he was sure the mantras had stuck. “Now we need to talk about our mission here. You’re dedicated to our mission, right? You want to make your family happy and help us achieve our goals?”

Kolt nodded. “We’re like a family here. I trust Janus.”

“Very good.” Janus gave a nod of approval. “You’re part of the family, so you want to help the family, right? The family is much bigger than you realise. There are many of us, who share a goal. You want to share our goal too, right?”

Kolt nodded. “We’re like a family here. I never want to leave.”

“Good. Because what we do here isn’t quite what you think. You’re part of our family now, so I can tell you, we’re here to bring back an ancient tradition. A very ancient tradition. Do you know any history?” Janus paused for a moment, a smile coming to his face when Kolt didn’t respond, too busy gazing into his eyes. Good. He was deep enough under hypnosis to not fight back. “Many thousands of years ago, naga ruled this part of the world. Our empire was extensive. We controlled everything. You see, naga have a power. One many no longer know about. We’re able to control people, to hypnotise them. I’ve been trying to teach Mya, to unlock her hidden power, but I need to train her first. Teach her about her people. For now, she’s as brainwashed as all the rest. As brainwashed as you’ll be by the time I’m done with you. How does that make you feel?”

“I trust Janus. I’m safe here.” Kolt replied, the mantras still echoing in his head.

“Perfect. You’re going to be part of our family. We’re a very big family, much bigger than just this team. And all over the world. You’re part of our family, and you’ll help us bring back the naga empire, to take over the world. You’ll be part of that empire, as a lovely brainwashed helper. You’ll be serving your superiors, because you know deep down that we’re better than you. That you’re here to serve us. Do you want that? Do you want to be part of our family?”

Kolt nodded, eyes still drooping and movements still sluggish. “We’re like a family here. I never want to leave.”

“Good. Now, let’s teach you one final phrase, okay? We don’t want anyone to know about this. Not even you. Janus can be trusted, but you can’t. You’re not as strong as a naga, you can’t be trusted to remember any of this. So you’re going to have to be good and forget it all for me, okay? Can you do that?”

Kolt nodded again. “I trust Janus.”

“Good. Janus is trustworthy. Now, whenever you wonder why you want to help me, why you’re agreeing to things, why you’re thinking or saying things, I need you to say ‘My thoughts are all my own.’ Okay? My thoughts are all my own. No one has told you how to feel. No one has told you to trust me, or that you’re happy here, or that we’re a family and you never want to leave. My thoughts are all my own. You’ve decided to trust and help us of your own free will. You believe all of these things. You believe them because deep down you know it’s the right thing. You know reviving the naga empire is the right thing to do. It’s the good thing to do. My thoughts are all my own. Can you say that?”

“My thoughts are all my own.” Kolt repeated, the mantras sinking deep into his brain until they really did feel like they were his own thoughts. “My thoughts are all my own.”

“Very good. My thoughts are all my own. And what thoughts are those?”

“Janus is trustworthy. I trust Janus. We’re like a family here. We’re all very happy here. I’m safe here. I never want to leave. My thoughts are all my own.”

“Wonderful.” Janus pressed the button on the wall, releasing Kolt. “Remember, I trust Janus. I trust Janus. That’s the most important thing.”

Kolt nodded. “I trust Janus.”

Janus finally broke the eye contact, his irises no longer changing colour. Kolt blinked a few times, his thoughts coming back to him, though he couldn’t recall anything that had happened since stepping into the room. Janus patted his shoulder gently. “That was a good talk. I think we can trust you. You’ll be a very good addition to our team. Now, Mya should be waiting just outside to show you to your room. Good luck. And welcome to the family.”

Kolt smiled, heading for the door and stopping for just a moment. “Thank you.”

“So, what happened in there?” Mya asked excitedly, tail flicking as Kolt slipped out of the yellow door. “The walls and doors in this place are way too thick to hear through.”

Kolt’s brow furrowed slightly as he tried to remember what had happened. He remembered Janus showing him around, telling him all about the base, leading him into a yellow room to talk… they must have spoken in there. But he wasn’t sure what about. I’m safe here, a voice in his head reminded him, calming him instantly. “I don’t remember.” He shrugged it off. “But it’s fine. I trust Janus.”

“How many people d’ya think we saved today?” Mya’s tail pooled into a coil on the couch beside Kolt and she nestled the rest of her body into the centre of it, giving a sigh of relaxation. “I’d say… maybe a hundred?”

Kolt gave a hum as he thought back to how many people had been put in danger by the supervillain’s antics. “I’d say closer to a thousand. Those buildings hold a lot of workers. If he’d taken them down…” He shook his head and gave a low whistle. “I’m glad we got there in time.”

“It was so cool!” Mya couldn’t keep the grin from her face as she thought back on the battle. “I mean, trapping him in a forcefield and making him fight my illusions until he tired himself out was a stroke of genius! You’re really good at coming up with ideas.”

Kolt grinned. “Well, your illusions were really what did it. They’re so convincing, it’s amazing! If I were him, I would’ve thought they were enemies to fight off too.”

“Oh…” Mya’s cheeks flushed green and she flapped her hand dismissively. “They’re not really all that powerful. Janus says I haven’t even reached my full potential yet. And I trust Janus. He’s training me to make stronger illusions, so hopefully we’ll be even stronger next time!”

Kolt felt a warm wave of contentment wash over him at the mention of Janus. A feeling of safety and trust. “Janus is trustworthy.” He agreed. “I’m sure he’ll train you up to your full potential. Y’know, I’m really glad I joined the team! We’re like a family here.”

Mya hummed and nodded, tail shifting as she settled down properly. She rested her head on Kolt’s shoulder with a wide yawn. “I’m glad you joined too, it’s been nice having you here.”

Kolt could feel the heat rising in his face, thankful that his fur blocked any sort of blush from being visible. He let his shoulder relax, trying to make it as comfortable for Mya as possible, hoping she couldn’t hear the way his heart pounded in his chest. “We should, uh… we should train together some time.” Kolt winced at how ridiculous he sounded, but he pressed on anyway. “Cause, like, our powers seem to work together well and stuff. So maybe we can work on more strategies?”

Mya gave a smile, the tip of her tail flickering quickly. It was the only sign of excitement in her otherwise relaxed body, but her tail always gave away how she was truly feeling. “Yeah. Yeah, I’d like that a lot.”

Kolt’s heart felt like it flipped in his chest and he couldn’t keep the goofy grin from his face at the thought of spending more time with Mya. They’d grown very close in his time there, and he couldn’t deny the feelings he was developing for her. And it seemed like they just might be reciprocated, given the way that Mya’s tail lightly brushed up and down his leg as they sat side by side on the couch. He was just about to open his mouth and say something when the door opened and Janus slithered in with a pleased smile.

“You both did simply wonderful today.” He praised, clapping his hands together. “I am eager to see you work together more often in the future. But first, I’d like to have a private word with each of you. A debrief, if you will. Come with me.”

Kolt and Mya exchanged a curious glance, but gladly stood and followed. Neither of them would dare question Janus. He was, after all, very trustworthy. They were like a family there. They were safe. These thoughts swirled around both heroes’ heads as they followed Janus through the maze-like halls of the base. Kolt had certainly gotten more used to it as he spent more time there, but he was still impressed with the way Janus could find his way from room to room without seeming to stop and think for so much as a moment.

By the time they arrived at the familiar yellow door, Mya and Kolt were both thoroughly turned around. No matter how many times Janus brought them there, they could never seem to mentally map the path they were taking. In fact, had either of them been capable of an ounce of suspicion against their strong leader, they may have wondered if he took them in circles for a bit or along different paths each time to confuse them before they arrived. As it was, neither questioned the slightly dizzying sensation of being lost as they stared at the yellow door with matching obedient smiles.

“If you’d be so kind as to wait out here for us, Kolt.” Janus gestured for Mya to follow him into the room, the yellow door closing behind them with a metallic clang.

Kolt leaned back against the wall, scuffing his foot against the floor. He vividly remembered his first time stepping out of the room with the yellow door. He couldn’t remember what he and Janus had talked about—presumably some boring logistics or something—but he remembered Mya standing outside waiting for him. He remembered her mentioning that the walls and door were too thick to hear through. And she had been right. No matter how much he strained his ears, he couldn’t pick up on anything going on inside the room. Though, he reflected with a shrug, debriefings weren’t all that interesting to listen in on. And he’d be doing his own soon enough. So really, he’d lost nothing.

Kolt zoned out as he waited, eyes unfocused as he stared at the wall. He’d never noticed the pattern on it before. Very faintly embossed on the walls was a repeating pattern of diamonds. The longer he stared at it, the more they seemed to shift and move on the wall, almost seeming to circle around the edges of his vision. The ones he looked at head-on never seemed to move, but the ones around them were constantly shifting.

Engrossed in the wall pattern, it felt like almost no time had passed at all before the yellow door opened and the two naga came slithering out. Mya’s fingers trailed lightly across Kolt’s chest as she passed, giving an almost predatory smile with a flash of fangs as she slithered off down the hall with a wink. Kolt felt his heart skip a beat, breath taken away by the sight of the familiar—if unusually forward—look. He didn’t have time to dwell on it as Janus beckoned him into the room, ushering him into the chair.

“Now, Kolt.” Janus closed the door and turned on the fox with a smile, slithering closer. “You and I are going to have a little chat. And I need you to look me in the eyes for this. Can you do that for me?”

Kolt let Janus’ voice wash over him, the smooth tones of the naga relaxing him already. He nodded his head, locking eyes with Janus. The naga’s eyes were… hypnotic. The word drifted through Kolt’s brain without tickling anything, a peaceful smile on his face as he watched the undulating colours swirl in his irises. Something about it was familiar. Comforting. I’m safe here. The voice in his brain was his own, calm and confident. I trust Janus. Janus is trustworthy. We’re all very happy here. We’re like a family here. I never want to leave. My thoughts are all my own.

“Very good, very good…” Janus soothed softly, listening to the fox mutter the phrases he’d implanted in his mind on his first day there. “Remember what you know. All of those thoughts. Your thoughts. Remember them all. Let them flow through you. Remember the feeling of looking into my eyes. Think about how tired you get. How heavy your eyes feel. How heavy your body feels. You can’t even lift your arms, you’re so tired. But that’s okay, because you’re safe.”

Kolt let the words cover him like a warm blanket, feeling his limbs turn to lead. He couldn’t have moved even if he wanted to, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to sit there and keep looking into Janus’ eyes, keep watching those shifting colours, keep listening to that soothing voice. And why shouldn’t he? He was safe here. He trusted Janus. Janus was trustworthy. He knew it deep in his soul. There was nothing to fear, all he had to do was obey Janus and everything would turn out fine.

“Such a pliant mind. So open to suggestions.” Janus praised, Kolt’s chest filling with warmth at the feeling of pleasing Janus. “So willing to listen to what I have to say. And after all, why not? What I have to say is very reasonable. We have the same goals, you and I. To make the world a better place. To save it from those who wish it harm. And I can help you with that. I can help you make the world a better, safer place. All you have to do is keep looking into my eyes and listening to me. Let yourself sink deeper into that content feeling. Relax for me, open your mind, accept my words as your own, accept my thoughts as your own.”

Kolt’s head lolled as he tried to nod along, too relaxed and mindless to do much more than let his head roll from one shoulder to the other lazily. He felt like he was halfway between wake and sleep, that blissful experience where dream and reality overlap and the brain is so open to suggestion. It was such a wonderful, floating feeling, he could almost imagine he was in his own bed rather than sat in the cold metal chair.

“Wonderful.” Janus’ fingers curled around something at the back of his neck, pulling a pendant on a chain out of his shirt and taking it off to hold it in front of Kolt. The chain was simple, as was the pendant. Angular, geometric… Only once it was held aloft in front of Janus’ face did it become obvious that the shape was meant to be the outline of a cobra’s hood. The pendant swung lightly in front of Kolt’s eyes, just enough that he had to follow it with his gaze, but not enough to tear his eyes away from Janus’ swirling irises.

“Look at the pendant. I need you to really look at it. Memorise it. Let it imprint into your brain until you see it every time you close your eyes. You need to know this symbol. To recognise it. To see it every time you encounter it, no matter how well hidden it is. This symbol, and only this symbol.”

Kolt’s eyes focused on the symbol, all thoughts pushed from his brain as he worked to press it into his mind like he was taking a mold of a key. He could practically feel the shape pressing into his eyelids, imprinting in his brain. He would see this symbol, recognise it anywhere it appeared. He didn’t yet know the importance of it, but he trusted Janus, he knew it must be important.

“Now, this symbol is very important. When you see this symbol, you will know deep down that the person wearing it is someone important. Someone who you should trust and listen to. Just as I am trustworthy, so are they. We all have the same goals, to make the world a better place. So when you see this symbol, know you can trust those who wear it. You should listen to those who wear it. They are good. They are safe. They are trustworthy. They know better than you.”

Kolt’s eyes fixated on the pendant, watching it swing in front of those swirling colourful eyes. His vision felt unfocused, though his eyes remained trained firmly on the symbol. Janus’ words were mere background noise to him, sinking into his brain without alerting any conscious part of him that anything had been said at all. They became his own thoughts. My thoughts are all my own. And they became something deeper than thoughts. An innate feeling of respect and subservience washed over him at the sight of the symbol.

“Very good. You’re doing very well.” Janus’ praise only reinforced the good feelings swirling in Kolt’s chest as he let everything he was being told sink deep into his brain. “Now, you know that you can trust this symbol. You can trust those who hold it. They know better than you. They will lead you to do the right thing. But only if you can obey them. You want to be a good boy and obey them, right? Obey those smarter and better than you, those who will show you the way to be good?”

Kolt’s head lolled again as he tried to nod. “Obey…” He mumbled. “Obey…”

“But to obey, you must know the right commands. So listen closely, listen well, and I’ll teach you the commands you need to know. When you hear these commands, you will know exactly what to do, and you will do it without question. When you obey a command for someone with this pendant, you will feel good. You will feel that warm fuzzy feeling of doing the right thing wash over you. You will trust them completely. you will obey their commands as though they were your own. Their commands will feel like your own thoughts and ideas. You will act on them without question.”

Kolt whined softly as Janus stopped swinging the pendant. It hung in front of the naga’s eyes, almost seeming to blend into the overlapping waves of colour in his irises. The pendant took the place of his pupils in Kolt’s addled brain, the stylised cobra hood looking perfectly in place among the swirling colours. Kolt’s mind was opened completely for Janus, ready to accept anything he was told as truth. As his own thoughts. My thoughts are all my own. The first thoughts Janus had planted into his head upon joining the team helped keep his mind open for more.

“Look into my eyes.” Janus’ voice was half suggestion and half command as Kolt’s eyes focused on the swirling colours once more. “Look into my eyes. When you see this pendant and hear that phrase, Look into my eyes, you will do as you are told. You will look so deeply into their eyes. You will not look away until you are told you can. You will look into their eyes and let that sleepy feeling wash over you. You will look into their eyes and know that they are there to command you. Look into my eyes. Look into my eyes. Look deep into my eyes and know what you must do when you hear this phrase.”

The words sunk deep into Kolt’s brain, dissolving into something even more intuitive than a thought. Something as instinctive as breathing.

“Look into my eyes, fox.” Janus’ voice continued, a soft monotone that easily seeped into every part of Kolt’s brain. “You are a fox. I am a naga. You know that we are not the same. You know, you agree, that you are inferior. You are here to serve naga, to help us bring back our empire. It is the right thing to do. We were made to rule, and you were made to serve. It’s the good thing to do, fox. And every time you are reminded that you’re a fox. Every time you see this symbol and someone tells you to do something, fox, you know it is the right thing to do. You will do it without question, fox. You will not question it, fox. You will know that it is true and you will agree with it, because you know that naga know better than you, fox.”

It was oddly comforting, Kolt found, to be reminded of his place. To be reminded that he was there to serve naga. He didn’t have to think, he didn’t have to worry. They would do all that for him, he could just accept what they said and do as he was told. That was all he needed to do. It was the right thing to do, the good thing to do. And he was a good fox.

“If someone says to you: you’re rather tired, fox. You will feel yourself become tired. You will agree with them, because they know better than you. You will listen to them when they tell you to go home and sleep. Or, perhaps, to sleep on the spot. They will know best, you can trust their command, fox. You will do as you are told, fox. Because naga know better than you, and you know it. You will do that for me, fox.”

Kolt’s head gave another jolting little nod. “I will do that for you.”

“You like serving me, fox.”

“I like serving you.”

“You like serving naga, fox.”

“I like serving naga.”

“Naga know better than you and your job is to do as we tell you, fox.”

“Naga know better than me and my job is to do as you tell me.”

“Very good.” Janus smiled. “And when you are told to let your thoughts grow hazy and soft, you will remember this feeling. This feeling of blissful submission. This feeling of comforting tiredness. This feeling of warmth and safety. You will remember what it feels like to have your mind wide open, ready to accept what you’re told. And you will return to this state. You will return to this state so you can be told what to do. You will not remember anything that happens when you are in this state, it will bury itself deep in your mind, too deep to access. Your thoughts are hazy and soft. And when you’re told to let your thoughts grow hazy and soft, you will return to this state. Let your thoughts grow hazy and soft. Let your thoughts grow hazy and soft.”

Kolt took in the words with ease, the phrase tying itself tightly in his mind to the feelings he was experiencing. The mindless bliss of not thinking. The deep submission of accepting others’ words as his own thoughts. The sleepy fog of his brain helping him to take suggestions and forget they were ever anything but his own ideas. His thoughts were hazy and soft. And he would gladly let them return to this state whenever he saw that symbol and heard that phrase.

“Now, we will turn to matters of the heart. Tell me, fox, how do you feel about Mya?”

A lazy smile took over Kolt’s visage as the image of Mya’s smiling face came to mind. “I like Mya. I like Mya a lot.”

“Very good.” Janus rubbed his hands together. “Very, very good. You like Mya a lot, don’t you fox? And you want to make her happy, don’t you?”

Kolt nodded, chest growing warm at the idea of being able to make Mya happy. “Yes. I want to make Mya happy.”

“Your love will make Mya very happy. So you must continue to love her. Continue to support her. She is young and naïve, she knows little of the ways of naga. But that’s alright, because you will help guide her to her full potential. Don’t you want to help her reach her full potential, fox?”

“Yes. I want to help her reach her full potential.”

“Then you must submit yourself to her. Show her your love by obeying her. Submission is the height of romance. Doing everything in your power to elevate them, to lift them up, to help them. You love Mya, and because you love her, you wish to obey her. You wish to do as she says. Because she is a naga, and she knows better than you, fox.”

“She is a naga and she knows better than me.”

“Very good. And you love her, so you wish to submit to her. You wish to obey her to show your love. You will help her unlock her true potential. You will help turn her towards her rightful place in the naga empire. You will help her learn to take her place above all other species by submitting to her. Because you love her, and that feeling of love in your chest only grows bigger and bigger every time you obey her. Every command from her makes you love her more. Every time you obey her, you love her more. Your love for her only grows and grows, and you would do anything for her. Her needs are far more important than your own, fox.”

“Her needs are far more important than my own.”

“Doing as she says is more important than anything else, fox.”

“Doing as she says is more important than anything else.”

“Very good. Very good. You will not remember anything we spoke about here. You will remember it only vaguely as a normal debriefing. But deep down, too deep for your conscious mind to reach, you will remember everything you’ve been told. You will remember this symbol. You will remember to obey everyone with this symbol. You will remember to trust and agree with anyone with this symbol. You will remember to be respectful and subservient to anyone with this symbol. You will remember to obey and agree when you are told to do something, fox.”

“I will remember to obey and agree when I am told to do something.”

“Good. You will let your thoughts grow hazy and soft when you are told to by someone with this symbol. That will return you to this state, your mind open, ready to accept anything they tell you as your own thoughts without remembering the exchange. You will love and support and obey Mya, and every time you obey her you will love her more. You will do everything you can to help her take her rightful place above you and all others who are not naga. And all of this will feel like your own thoughts. They will not seem out of the ordinary. Your thoughts are all your own.”

“My thoughts are all my own.”

“Very good.” Janus snatched the pendant up into his hand, slipping it back around his neck and blinking to release Kolt from the trance. The fox blinked and scrunched his nose a bit as he shook off the tired feeling. “That was a good debriefing, thank you for your time. Go enjoy the rest of your day off.”

Kolt smiled and stood, heading towards the door. “Thank you!”

 “Oh, hey Kolt!” Mya beamed at the fox as he stepped into the break room. “How did your talk with Janus go?”

Kolt smiled and shrugged, feeling his heart beat faster at the sight of Mya. He couldn’t quite remember what he and Janus had spoken about, but all debriefings tended to be the same anyway. Just going over the boring details of the mission. “It went well, I think. I was just gonna go out and grab some lunch.”

Mya laughed and grabbed his hand, giving it an affectionate squeeze. Her eyes ever so slightly unfocused for a moment before she spoke. “Oh, actually you and I should get some practice in together. You know, for next time we fight a bad guy! We did well this time, but with practice we can do better and save even more people!”

Kolt followed obediently as she led him through the hallways towards a training room, all thoughts of lunch slipping away as he felt love and adoration blossom in his chest for the cheerful naga. It was so sweet that she wanted to practice together, and really it was a good idea… Besides, her training was far more important than lunch!

—it’s nice to not have to bother making trivial decisions anymore. I’ve always been better with work than relaxing. So it’s nice that she takes control when we’re off duty. Deciding what we’ll do together, what we’ll eat for dinner, where we’ll go… I don’t have to worry what to do when I get off a shift anymore. I can just find Mya and she’ll tell me what she thinks we should do. My thoughts are all my own, of course. But it just makes sense to do what she says instead of wasting my own time thinking about these things. She’s smarter than me anyway, so it makes sense to let her make the decisions. She can help—

“—reclaim our rightful place above all others. We, naga, who are born to make decisions, born to lead, born to—”

—change. She really has changed a lot since I met her. To think she was so starstruck and naive when we first met. She was so excited to meet other heroes, so quick to follow my lead in fights. But it makes more sense this way, for her to take the lead. With her brain and her powers, she’s more equipped to lead. Maybe she hasn’t changed at all. Maybe this new Mya is the real Mya. One that was just hidden away and needed to be realized by her. And now that she’s realized it, everything has fallen into place. It’s only right for her to lead. Only right for her to be in charge. Deep down, she’s been this way for—

“—hundreds of years, we are finally close to unlocking what was locked away so long ago. The power of the naga empire courses through our veins. And it’s not just—”

—at work. She’s so confident all the time now. She always knows best, especially when it comes to me. It’s like she knows my thoughts better than I do. She always knows what I want and need. Before I even realize I want or need anything. She knows when I want to take her out for a nice meal, or when I want to spend the day sleeping after a long shift, or when I want to spend time at the base with her to help her finish her patrol reports. I’m really glad she’s become more confident. More in charge. It just feels so right. She should be in charge of—

“—every facet of daily life. We are gaining control over the every day people, we are gaining control in so many little ways, that soon enough we will be in charge of all things. Not only—”

—more in charge, though. She’s also gotten closer to me in other ways. She’s so forward now. So teasing. It’s cute, really. She calls me ‘fox’ and every time she does, it makes my heart race. It makes me fall for her a little more every time I do what she says. Knowing she loves me enough to tell me what to do, to use her smarts to make my life better. And her eyes… her eyes are so beautiful. She likes when I gaze into them. They’re… purple, maybe? Or are they yellow? I don’t know, but they’re beautiful. I love looking at them. They make me feel… welcomed—

“—into the fold. She has been preparing to take on the responsibilities of a member of the naga empire. She has been training and developing—”

—these changes in her. Everyone’s noticed. We’re like a family here, if something changes then everyone notices. But Janus especially has taken an interest in Mya’s ability to lead. He’s always taking it upon himself to train her personally. To teach her more about her powers and what she can do. Her illusions have gotten much stronger with his help. And so has her confidence in her decisions. She doesn’t just suggest things anymore, she tells us exactly what to do. And it’s good, you need that sort of decisiveness in a leader. She really—

“—has been enlightened, like all of us before her. I have opened her mind, the way our minds were opened. I have brought her into the truth of what it means to be a naga, what we must do, what we are. It’s not—”

—easy to come by. It’s not something just anyone can learn. It’s innate. Natural. Janus and Mya were born to lead, just like I was born to follow. I’ve been enjoying my job so much more now that I don’t have to call all the shots all the time. It’s much easier to follow someone else’s plan. It’s much easier to follow Janus and Mya.

“Now, prepare the thrall.” Janus speaks the command, but like all his other words it slips right past Kolt’s consciousness.

Like now. I would never have thought to reward Mya like this. Whatever Janus is planning is sure to be amazing. I don’t know why he needed me to kneel and be blindfolded, but I don’t need to know. Because Janus is trustworthy. And it’s worth it to celebrate Mya’s newfound confidence too! I don’t need to listen to him talk, I just need to kneel here.

The sudden light stings Kolt’s eyes as the blindfold is pulled from him. He blinks a few times, eyes landing first on Janus, then on a crowd of nagas, and finally on Mya. All are wearing the same hooded robes, black and thick. Kolt opens his mouth to speak to Mya, to ask if she’s enjoying her surprise and maybe ask what exactly it is. But Janus speaks first.

“Do not speak, fox.” He commands, pendant flashing in the light and catching Kolt’s eye. “Do not interrupt the ritual.”

Kolt closes his mouth obediently. Had he tried, he would’ve found himself incapable of disobeying. But as it is, he trusts Janus too much to do anything but continue to kneel in the centre of the large room and watch the ritual take place. The room itself is one Kolt has never seen before. He isn’t sure whether or not it’s in the base, as he still struggled to find his way around the winding halls and he certainly hadn’t yet seen every room it had to offer. But the ceiling is vaulted and the walls are patterned much like the walls in the base. Janus’ voice echoes around once more as he explains the ritual to Mya.

“When we unlock your powers and bring you to your full potential, that is when your powers will be at their strongest. It is intense, and you must have a thrall to unleash your powers on so they do not consume you. They will become yours, utterly and completely. You will tame their mind and bring them to their proper place below you. Do not hold back, and do not fear. Just let the power run through you.” As he speaks, some of the other naga begin to circle Mya. Kolt can’t see what they’re doing, but a low humming chant emanates from the group. Whatever it is, the ritual feels powerful and the air hums with energy.

“What if I hurt him?” Mya’s voice is almost what Kolt remembers from their first meeting, devoid of most of that newfound confidence. But only for a moment, her powerful aura returning as the ritual continues.

“Don’t fear. You won’t hurt him. Blue took the full force of my powers, Kolt can take yours.” Janus assures her, looking into her eyes with a reassuring smile. “You’re a naga, you must take your place.”

Mya nods. “I’m a naga, I must take my place.”

“And where is that place?” Janus asks, as the chanting grows louder.

“A naga’s place is above all others.” Mya responds with full conviction.

“And why is that?”

“Naga are superior to all. We must strengthen the naga empire at all costs.”

Janus continues to question her, and she responds with practised ease. But Kolt can no longer hear what’s being said over the droning chant. Not that he minds. He isn’t here to listen in or learn anything. He’s here to support Mya and nothing else. The chanting and circling make his head fuzzy and he feels a creeping yawn that never seems to come as he watches the ritual with unfocused eyes. Whatever is going on doesn’t concern him, and he trusts the nagas to know better than him.

Finally, the chanting comes to a stop. The other nagas retreat, leaving Janus standing in front of Mya, staring deep into her eyes. “Arise, my sister.” His voice booms impressively, rolling around the room like thunder. “Let go of your fears. Your worries. Your inhibitions. Let go of all that holds you back from true power. Shed all weakness, slither from it fresh and new. Full of power, your full potential unleashed!”

At his final word, there’s a burst of applause. He steps back, and Kolt can see Mya clearly now. Her body undulates with power, fingers flexing with barely restrained strength as she sways in place. Her arms stretch out at her sides, palms up and face tilted towards the ceiling as though she stands out in the rain trying to catch the drops. She basks in her newfound powers, and Kolt is awestruck by the sight of her. Strong, revelling, completely consumed by the power running through her. As she basks in the feeling, two naga come forward to loop a cobra’s hood pendant around her neck. The same one they all wear. The one that makes Kolt smile and feel safe.

She slowly opens her eyes, bringing her gaze down to meet him. “Look into my eyes.”

Kolt doesn’t have time to think before he’s hit with the command. Usually it’s a slow and gentle drop. His conscious mind drifting away to let his subconscious take in new commands. But Mya’s powers are fresh, the strongest they will ever be, in this very moment. The drop is sudden, one moment Kolt is there and the next he isn’t. Mya’s eyes swirl with colour, and Kolt is lost. He’s drowning. He’s gone.

Her power reaches deep into him, probing at his mind with ease. It’s not a puzzle for her to solve, or a lock for her to open. It’s nothing more than a toy under her new power. It’s barely any effort for her to strip his mind down, preparing it to become hers entirely.

He feels it. He feels the way she gently carves off bits and pieces of his brain. It feels as though she’s put a scoop into his skull, slowly working it around his brain to separate it from the rest of him. It’s like his brain is floating loose, and with every passing moment she scrubs it cleaner and smoother. Taking away his memories, his powers, his ability as though it’s the easiest thing in the world.

It doesn’t hurt. There’s no fear or pain. Just a blissful awareness that soon enough he will be cleansed of all things Kolt and will be nothing more than what Mya wishes him to be. He feels her pull at his memories, gently peeling them from him. His childhood. His adolescence. Developing his powers. Learning to use them. His first job. His first kiss. His first breakup. Joining Janus’ team. Working with Mya. His arrival at the ritual and his time kneeling.

She’ll sort through them later. Decide which to return to him, and which he no longer needs. But for now, she’s merely working her way to his core. To the soft insides. The next thing to go is his subconscious memories. His muscle memory. How to use his powers. How to do anything for himself. These she’ll return to him in full. No use having a thrall who can’t take care of themself. No use having a thrall whose strength and powers she can’t use.

She peels away more and more, stripping bare his brain, removing everything that was Kolt. Until all she’s left with is the soft, unprotected centre. The core of his being, usually so guarded, now vulnerable. She digs her fingers into it like dough, moulding it into what she wants it to be. Her illusions have strengthened, and though she merely gazes into his eyes, he can feel hands inside his brain. He can see the power flowing between them, her power entering the shell of him to make it hers. It’s just the two of them, floating through an empty void. It’s just her, and what is left of him after she’s stripped him of his very being.

There’s no need for her to speak for him to learn her commands. She merely thinks them, and they sink into that soft clay that remains at the core of his being. They become the core of his being. They become not only his thoughts and feelings, but who he is. What he stands for. They are his absolute truths that cannot be shaken.

I am Mya's obedient fox lover.

That love for her that had blossomed in his chest over the time they’d known each other burrows deep into the soft centre of his brain. It grows with every moment he gazes into her eyes. With every moment she repeats that mantra in her brain and his echoes it back. He is her obedient fox lover, and he wants that more than anything else in the world. He is her obedient fox lover, and he would do anything she asked. He is her obedient fox lover, and he loves her with every fibre of his being.

My purpose is to do whatever Mya wants.

It is. It is his purpose. She had stripped him of every other purpose, and now this is all that remains, imprinting on his brain with ease. He loves her, so of course his purpose is to do whatever she wants. She is a naga, she knows better. She is stronger than him. Smarter than him. More powerful than him. His only purpose is to serve her, and he will do so with joy and love. He will show his love with his subservience and loyalty. He will show his love by doing anything she asks of him, anything she wants.

Nothing is more important than serving Mya.

Stripped of thoughts, wants, and instincts. It’s child’s play for Mya to work into his brain that nothing is more important than serving her. He’s her obedient fox lover. His purpose is to do whatever she wants. Of course nothing is more important than serving her. It becomes his basest instinct. The one thing he can fall back on when nothing else makes sense. When he doesn’t know what else to do. Serving Mya is at the very core of his being.

Once she’s folded these thoughts into him, once she’s changed his very essence to her will, she slowly begins to return things to him. His skills. His habits. His memories. Only the ones that serve her, only the ones she deems useful or charming. She wraps up that sensitive core once more, protecting it against anyone else who might want to change him to suit their own needs. He’s hers, and she’ll keep his mind safe from everyone but her. Everyone but her and the rest of the naga empire.

Kolt returns to being. He’s not quite the same, of course. He’s not quite the Kolt that had knelt there while her powers were still being unlocked. But that Kolt wasn’t quite the Kolt who started working for Janus either. And, really, change is a good thing after all. He’d come to that conclusion earlier. And this change feels good too. The overwhelming love he feels for Mya. The obedience and devotion she inspires in him. The good feelings. How could any of that be bad? Change is good.

Mya’s powers begin to subside as she pulls away from Kolt’s newly formed brain. Her illusions dissipate and Kolt is once again kneeling in the cavernous chamber. Mya seems tired, but delighted. Janus’ hand rests on her shoulder and he smiles at her, congratulating her in a soft voice as her powers settle into something more manageable and consistent. Kolt can only assume the ritual is over, as the other naga disappear one by one. Did they teleport or were they just projections? Or perhaps he had imagined them entirely. He isn’t sure, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is the beautiful naga standing before him, looking radiant. She practically glows with joy at Janus’ words of praise, and Kolt can feel the warmth of love radiating through him.

Kolt pushed open the heavy doors and walked inside, admiring how sleek and new everything looked. It seemed to be all white walls and shiny floors and gleaming metal doors. A woman sat behind the reception desk, typing away at a futuristic looking computer. Even her outfit seemed to match the rest of the building. A starched white dress and matching gloves. She glanced up at Kolt for a moment when he walked in, finishing up what she was typing before rolling her chair back to the middle of the reception desk and waving him forward.

“Mr. Lasser. We’re pleased you could join us today. We were very happy when you called to book your appointment. Such a well-known hero deserves only the best treatment, and that’s what we offer here.” The woman spoke with an even, measured tone.

Kolt smiled, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Oh, well the place I usually go to sort of didn’t work out. I think I’m allergic to something in their fur treatment.”

“We’ve been hearing that from new clients a lot recently. It makes me wonder if other places are trying to cut costs with cheaper products. I can assure you that everything we use here is of the finest quality.” She gave a polite smile and stood. “Would you like to get straight to the treatment, or would you like to enjoy some of our other facilities first? We have a wonderful sauna and a simply lovely sun room for meditation.”

Kolt considered the sauna for a moment, but shook his head. As nice as the place was, he didn’t want to be there for too long. He still had a few things to prepare before the ceremony the next day. “Just the salon, thanks.”

“Very good. Right this way, please.” The receptionist took a step towards one of the metal doors before pausing. “Ah, we have a very strict policy about technology. I’ll need to ask you to hand over your cell phone, watch, and any other items of technology you may have.”

Kolt hesitated, glancing at his watch. He didn’t like leaving it behind. The suit inside of it was his last line of defence. “You can’t make an exception?” He asked, hopefully.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Lasser.” The receptionist gave a regretful shake of her head. “But I promise you, they’ll be kept perfectly safe, and will be returned to you as soon as you’re ready to leave.”

Kolt sighed. It was unlikely anything bad would happen during a couple of hours at a spa, so he supposed he could part with it. It wasn’t easy, but he took off his watch and fished his phone from his pocket, handing them both over to the receptionist. She took out a key, unlocking a drawer in the desk and placing the items gently inside before locking it again. At least they were safe, Kolt reassured himself. And he would get them back soon.

“This way.” The receptionist gestured for Kolt to follow her, pushing open one of the large metal doors. “The treatment room is at the very back of the spa, so I’m afraid we’ll have to go through a few of the other rooms to get there. Please try to remain quiet so you don’t disturb any of the other guests.”

She led him through a second metal door and into a large tiled room. On either side were large pools full of mud. Kolt could see a couple of people relaxing in the mud baths, covered in the substance. The next room she led him through seemed to be for massages. There was a man faced down on a massage bed, getting his shoulders rubbed by a woman in an identical uniform to the receptionist. His tail was swishing softly in delight as he was massaged. Kolt lingered for just a moment, thinking about how nice a massage would be. The receptionist continued her quick strides, so Kolt had to jog for a moment to catch up to her, following her through the next set of doors.

She led him through a few more rooms. One had walls covered in stained glass, and people meditating under the multicoloured reflections. Another had soft gongs going off, in different tones and intervals, and Kolt thought he remembered reading something about “sound bathing” in the brochure for the place. After going through a few more rooms, they finally reached the treatment room. It was large and slightly cold, with a shiny black chair in the middle. The sides of the chair were raised up, looking as though his body would slot perfectly into it. Around the chair were counters and cabinets, presumably full of products and tools for treating his fur. The receptionist left him with brief instructions to strip and wait for the salon specialist. Kolt did as he was told, piling his clothes onto a chair in the corner. He waited for a few, awkward minutes before the doors opened once more and a new woman stepped inside. She was dressed identically to the rest of the staff, and had an equally professional demeanour.

“Mr. Lasser. If you wouldn’t mind getting into the chair?” She gestured to the black chair. “We’ll start with a quick inspection and brush, then move on to shampoo to make everything soft, and finally drying.”

Kolt did as he was told, his body fitting perfectly into the chair. It felt as though it were made for him. The woman’s gloved fingers sifted through his fur slowly, making soft notes about the texture and feel under her breath. When she was finally satisfied, she walked over to one of the cabinets. Kolt watched her search the drawer full of brushes to find the right type for his fur before returning triumphantly with one in hand. One side of it had long metal claws to untangle the longest parts of his fur. The other side had softer bristles made for the rest of his fur.

The woman began her work, starting at the top of his head and working her way down methodically. Kolt let himself relax into the feeling, the tips of the brush lightly scratching at his scalp in a soothing way. He generally thought of himself as a pretty hygienic guy, but she brushed parts of him he’d never even thought about. The crease where his ears met his head, the underside of his jaw, the backs of his knees. She also got places he typically struggled to reach. She had him sit up so she could brush his whole back, paying extra attention to the middle where his arms couldn’t quite reach. It felt nice.

“I’m going to tip the chair back now.” The woman warned him so the sudden change didn’t scare him. “It turns into a sort of tub that I can fill with water so we can wash your fur.”

Kolt nodded, thankful for the warning. He felt himself tipping back as the chair moved, his legs coming up until the whole chair was flat. He understood now why the sides came up so high. She would be able to fill it with water without splashing it all over the floor. She took his hand lightly, running some warm water over it and asking if the temperature was alright for him. He nodded and she left the nozzle in the tub with him, filling it slowly as she went to get the shampoo.

He closed his eyes when she returned, not wanting to get shampoo in them. He could feel the bubbles forming around him as she poured the shampoo into the water. He could smell it on the steam rising from the bath, slightly spiced with a faint chemical undertone. It felt nice in his fur, her fingers massaging it into him. This was his favourite part about going to salons. The warm water and the gentle attention were always a nice way to relax. Especially when something big and important like the ceremony was coming up.

As he laid in the bath, the chemicals in the shampoo slowly sank into his skin. He felt lethargic, sluggish. It wasn’t abnormal for him to get tired during a salon visit, so he thought nothing of it. But his thoughts slowed to a crawl. He let the woman move his limbs where she needed to, unable to muster up the energy to move himself. Not that he needed to. She was doing such a good job getting him nice and clean for the ceremony. Really, all he needed to do was let the feeling of tiredness wash over him and leave her to her job.

It felt like it was all over too soon. She finished working the shampoo into his fur and rinsing away the excess. He was clean, and all that was left was for him to be dried, and then the lovely spa visit would be over. The thought sunk in slowly, his eyes opening slightly when a shadow passed over them. She had pulled down what looked like some sort of vent, and it began to gently blow warm air towards him. He felt similar vents open in the chair itself, warming and drying him from both sides. The chemicals from the shampoo were still working through his system, keeping him slow and tired.

“Before we finish, there’s someone who wants to pay you a visit. She has a complimentary service to offer you.” The woman spoke, her words taking their time to penetrate the chemical fog that was swirling in Kolt’s brain.

He didn’t fully understand what she had said until there was a new face peering down at him. The woman was elegant and beautiful, and the grin on her face was one of triumph. She looked… familiar. Kolt tried to remember where he’d seen her before. He blinked up at her, brows furrowed as he sifted slowly through his memories. She looked a lot like one of the supervillains he was working to stop, but he couldn’t quite recall a name. Was that her? The thought didn’t bother him so much as confuse him. Was she a supervillain? Why was she running a spa if she was?

“Well, I had a whole monologue prepared for this moment, but it seems like it would be wasted on you in this state.” The woman gave an exaggerated sigh of disappointment. “I suppose I’ll just go right into it then. The worm?”

She held her gloved hand out and the woman who had been washing Kolt’s fur handed her a pair of forceps. Pinched between them was something that looked akin to a slug or a fat worm. Kolt’s brain was still whirring uselessly, trying to catch up to what was happening. There was a supervillain here, running a spa, and holding a worm? He couldn’t figure out how it all connected in his head. It was a little frustrating. He was usually so good at working these sorts of things out.

He watched as the woman moved the forceps closer to his ear, the worm wriggling as though desperate to escape. He should probably move. That was his most coherent thought. But he wasn’t entirely sure how to do it. While he considered this, he felt the slimy head of the worm press against his ear. It was large. He could feel it stretching his ear canal, squirming as it tried to burrow into his ear to reach his brain. That wasn’t good. He wanted to do something to stop it, but he couldn’t think clearly enough to know what to do. Maybe his super suit could help? He just barely got up the energy to pat uselessly at his wrist, wondering why his watch wasn’t there. He remembered, as the worm wriggled farther into his ear, that he’d been told to take it off. That wasn’t good either.

The woman released the worm from the forceps once it was lodged halfway into Kolt’s ear. The worm writhed its way in, slimy and thick. It disappeared into his ear, and Kolt could feel it deep inside of him, working towards his brain. The fleshy creature filled his head, and his eye twitched slightly at the feeling of it nudging at his brain. He could feel it wriggling around in his head, searching for the perfect spot to make its home. The woman was talking to him again, probably unable to help herself from explaining her evil plan, but Kolt couldn’t focus. The wet, fleshy creature was deep inside his brain, and he could feel it burrowing deep into his memory centre, making itself at home there. His vision went fuzzy as it latched on, becoming an integral part of the memory centre of his brain.

Over the course of a few minutes, the worm managed to meld itself completely into his brain. It was, for all intents and purposes, his new memory centre. It couldn’t be removed without doing permanent damage. Not that Kolt would remember it was in there for long enough to try to remove it anyway. Already, it was working hard to take over his memories and make him forget it was there at all. Its bloated, slimy body dug deep into his brain, and Kolt could feel his whole body responding to it as its tail slithered past various parts of his brain to join the rest of its body in taking over his memories. His fingers twitched when it passed the part responsible for his movement. He babbled incoherently as it burrowed past his speech centre. With every writhing motion, his head felt fuller, like the tube of flesh was filling his whole skull.

It was almost a melting feeling in his head, sending tingles to the back of his scalp. He could feel the worm melding with his brain, its synapses hijacking his own to take over. All he could see was blurry colours, the gleaming white of the room, the shining metal of the vents still drying him with warm air, the crimson grin of his captor. He could feel the worm start to work, sending little shocks of information into his brain. His memories of the worm began to slip away, leaving nothing more than a slightly odd, pulsing feeling in the back of his head. He remembered the woman with the forceps, but he couldn’t remember what they held. Or where it had gone. Was it part of the treatment? Why was the woman there, anyway? Then, his memories of the villainous woman with the forceps began to disappear as well. Someone had walked into the room, but he couldn’t remember who. Perhaps just another worker, there to check up on the treatment? And then he didn’t even remember the interruption at all. Just the brushing, the bath, the warm fans drying him. The worm pulsed inside of his brain, leaving him wondering at the feeling. It drew out all his memories of the supervillain, replacing them with a perfectly normal day at the spa. A normal, if not a bit nicer than his usual salon experiences, brush and wash, and now a thorough drying. Nothing for him to worry about.

Kolt could feel the strength come back to him somewhat, as though he were just waking up from a deep sleep. The chemicals from the shampoo had run their course. Though, as far as Kolt was concerned, he’d only been tired because of the soothing feeling of having his fur washed. His vision refocused as the vent was lifted and the tub turned back into a chair. He looked around and saw the woman who had done his treatment, smiling at him. They were alone. He wasn’t sure why that was something he noticed. Of course they were alone, she’d been the only one to help with his treatment. And, come to think of it, she had done an amazing job. His fur felt softer than it had in years.

“I hope you had a nice time.” The woman said politely.

Kolt no longer felt the worm pulsing in his head, but it was certainly there, working exactly as it had been trained to. The woman had been so nice, Kolt thought to himself, and she’d done such a good job. He should definitely tip her, quite generously. He grabbed his clothes, searching his pockets for his wallet. He paused for a moment to dress before opening his wallet. He’d set aside a few banknotes to tip her with, but now that he thought back on his memories of the treatment, she’d done so much for him. She’d done such a good job and it had been such a pleasant experience. He pulled out a much larger wad of bills, handing them over to her with a smile.

“You did a great job, my fur feels amazing!” He praised.

The woman smiled, counting out the bills. “My boss will be pleased to hear it.”

She led Kolt back through the rooms and out to the reception area. The receptionist smiled at them both, asking how the treatment went. They both assured her that it had gone very well, and she seemed pleased. She pulled out her key, unlocking the drawer in her desk and pulling out Kolt’s belongings. She handed over his phone, watch, and usb stick. Kolt took them gratefully, putting his watch back on his wrist and pocketing the other two items. The worm slithered deeper into his brain, stopping him from wondering about the usb. Of course it was his, why else would the woman have given it to him?

 The ceremony went off without a hitch, and Kolt even got quite a few compliments. He’d definitely have to go back to that spa some time, it had been a lovely experience. But that would have to wait. For now he had work to do at the base. The days after the ceremony were busy ones. There was a lot to do, and Kolt had already taken two days off, between his spa day and the ceremony. He didn’t have time for anything even close to a break for a few days afterwards. When he finally did, he found himself standing in the hallway, feeling like there was a thought nagging in the back of his mind.

He’d forgotten to do something important. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was, but there was something he needed to do. His hand strayed absentmindedly to his pocket, fiddling with the usb drive. He froze. That’s what it was! He rubbed his forehead, feeling ridiculous for having forgotten. He made his way to the nearest computer room, plugging the usb into the port. How could he have forgotten to do this? It was very important! He couldn’t… quite remember why it was important. But it needed to be done.

He watched words fill up the screen, walking him through what he needed to do. He tapped away at the keys, doing what he was told. Once it was done, a message flashed onto the screen, letting him know he could take out the stick. He pulled it out, disposing of it discreetly. He stopped and blinked. What had he just been doing? He remembered standing in the hallway, and now he was at a computer. He looked at the computer, but it seemed to be running like normal. Why had he gone in there? He thought about it for a moment longer before deciding he’d probably just gone in to check that he’d updated the files after his last mission. He sat down at the computer and checked, confirming that he had. He couldn’t believe he’d forgotten walking into the room, he must have been really tired. He stretched and yawned, heading off for a well-earned nap.