Chapter 13 : Noon
Kianna and Fiona had both become transfixed as they stared at the two little bundles.
Without a word Anton moved into the room and taking hold of the headrest, he shifted his deck chair back and to the side so that he could sit facing the two dark elves. Taking his seat he leaned forward and set the two bundles down on the edge of the tub, one in front of each dark elf.
With a sickly look on her face, Fiona cringed back and away from the unimposing little bundle that had been set down in front of her. While Kianna immediately leaned forward in an attempt to get a better look at her own.
"Would you like to see what it is?" asked Anton as he grinned at the obviously curious dark elf.
Kianna blushed slightly as she quickly looked at him and then back at the bundle.
"Yes!" she chirped as she clasped her hands together in front of herself and leaned in even closer "Please!"
Anton picked up the little bundle and quickly unwrapped the cloth before setting it back down on the edge of the tub. As he set it down he lifted the last corner of the cloth and revealed an elegantly designed and stylized leather collar.
The collar was not at all what either dark elf would have ever expected. It's main form was a thin wire framework constructed out of etched silver. This silver had been imbued with the necessary curses that would bind it's wearer to their owner. This wire frame also acted as the collars skeleton, and was overlaid with two layers of matte-black colored leather that had been heavily pressed to make it soft and comfortable to the touch. The seams of this leather had been molded together in such a way that they were no longer discernible, and it now appeared as though it was a single piece. The silver skeleton bulged outwards beneath this leather skin but this added to the collars overall design rather than took away from it's appearance.
The top edge of the collar was uniform along its length while its bottom edge began thin in the back and gradually expanded until it broadened into a downward point in the front center of the collar. This point would sit perfectly in the hollow of it's wearers neck and keep the collar facing forward at all times, rather than have it shifting back and forth with its wearers movements.
Situated in the center of this point was a smooth, bold, red, oval shaped jewel that had been embedded into the collar itself and was attached to it's silver framework. On either side of this jewel were set two smaller colorless jewels that had also been embedded into the collar and attached to it's silver skeleton.
Swirling across the leather surface of the collar was etched in an intricately designed, thin chain that ran along both top and bottom edges of the collar, as well as along the bulges made by the silver frame. This chain circled around each of the three jewels while at the same time connected them to each other.
Set just below the largest center jewel and just above the collar's point was a short silver bar that could, conceivably, be used to attach a leash and or a name-tag to the collar.
There were no buckles, clasps or locks at the back of the collar but instead there were two exposed portions of it's silver skeleton that appeared as two plates that would fit together in a seamless embrace.
"...It's, pretty!" gasped Kianna as she gazed at the elegant looking collar "It's really pretty!"
"Well thank you" smiled Anton "You can pick it up if you'd like"
Kianna bit her lower lip as she eagerly and carefully picked up the collar.
"...That, doesn't look like a normal binding collar!" exclaimed Fiona as her brow creased in bewilderment "That doesn't look anything like a normal collar at all!?"
"Well it shouldn't" said Anton "I made this one specifically for Kianna"
"...Wait!? You made this!?" exclaimed Kianna as she looked from the collar to him and back "You made this for me!?"
"Yes, I made it. Well, I put it together at least. And yes, that one's for you" chuckled Anton "Go ahead and try touching the jewel in the center. I believe I made it right. But just in case, I'd like to make sure of something real quick"
Kianna carefully balanced the collar across the palm of her left hand and tentatively touched the tip of her right index finger to the smooth surface of the opal-like jewel. As soon as she made contact with it's surface the jewel immediately began to glow with a faint red light.
"What the Hell!" whispered Fiona.
"Oh good, it does recognize you!" exclaimed Anton "Go ahead and try to touch it as well Fiona. And don't worry, it won't hurt you"
Fiona hesitated as Kianna held the collar out towards her. Reluctantly she raised her finger and just barely touched the surface of the jewel. The jewel remained dark and unresponsive to her touch but immediately lit up again as soon as Kianna's finger made contact with it.
"It does know me!" whispered Kianna as she stared at the jewel for a moment before looking over the rest of the collar "...It really is mine!"
Fiona shook her head as she leaned away from the collar.
"Thank you!" cried Kianna in a soft tone as she suddenly looked up at Anton "I love it!"
"You're welcome" nodded Anton "Are you ready to put it on?"
Kianna gently tightened her hold on the collar as she gazed at the red jewel.
"...Can I look at it for a little longer?" she asked quietly as she lightly pressed her finger to the jewel and lit it up once again "...Please?"
"Sure, take your time" said Anton as he grinned softly.
For the next several minutes Kianna carefully looked over the collar and examined its details. Once she was finally satisfied that she was familiar enough with her newest possession, she turned to Anton and without a word, handed him the collar.
"Ready to see how well it fits?" asked Anton as he took the ends of the collar and held them out to the sides of Kianna's head.
"Yes!" breathed Kianna as she tilted her chin up and exposed her neck "I'm ready!"
"No! No! No!" cried Fiona as she stared at the collar that was about to encircle her sister's neck "No! I can't do this!"