...or not, perhaps. Perhaps it would be more fun to make a mockery of that power, to insist you dance attendance while remaining as fierce and fearsome as you can manage. It would be an interesting challenge, certainly.

Although I think I prefer the simpler pleasures... a small boy's voice over the phone, knowing he's trembling, knowing you are nearby, listening, waiting, hoping it will be your turn next... and knowing perfectly well that if I choose, this will be 24 hours where the most contact you have with me is my voice floating in from another room.

Or perhaps I will split up the hours... it started at 1:00 am, and I could release you in the morning, only to lay claim to the rest of my time later, without warning, without even a moment's thought for you.

That's the true catch.

Can you make these 24 hours valuable enough to me that it's worth sticking around, worth the offer I made, just to see if I can win another 24 at some point?