Damnit! I wish I could get this damned thing off me! Lucas grumbled as he fumbled with the metal collar around his neck. Leaning against an alley wall, he took a long drag from his cigarette, letting a cool breeze ruffle his messy red hair. He narrowed his black eyes, his frustration written all over his features.

The metal was cold against his skin, the weight of it a constant reminder of his enslavement. He'd tried everything to remove it—prying with knives, seeking help from so-called 'experts'—but the enchanted collar remained immovable, a permanent brand of ownership.

A sudden tightening around his throat made Lucas gasp, dropping his cigarette to the ground. The warning was clear. No, not now, he thought frantically, clutching at the collar with both hands. I haven't done anything!

His hair began darkening at the roots, a telltale sign of the transformation beginning. Panic surged through him as he felt the familiar sensation of his consciousness being pushed aside, like a visitor in his own mind. Stop it! Inky, I swear to god!

The color drained from his face as his eyes began burning, the black irises slowly bleeding into crimson. A cruel smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, not by his own volition. "Too late, little human," a different voice purred from his throat—a voice smoother, deeper, and充满 malicious amusement. "You know better than to fight me."

With a final gasp of resistance, Lucas's body went limp for a moment before straightening with newfound confidence. The red eyes surveyed the alley with cold satisfaction, black hair now cascading freely. "Much better," Inky said through Lucas's lips, running a hand possessively over the collar that bound them together. "Now, where were we before my disobedient pet decided to throw another tantrum?"