Topaz had never hated himself more than seeing her up beside the loud and pompous Diamond. Her vibrant eyes were dull and glued to her feet. She refused to look at him and he thought he saw tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

He’d lied to her–told her she was more than a servant class. More than just a Pearl. One in a million. She trusted him, believed him when he said she was more–that he could help her be more–

He’d wanted her for himself. Wanted that status.

But the reward for turning her over to her Diamond was too much for him to ignore.

She was just a Pearl. Just a pearl, just a pearl just a pearl just a pearl just a pearl just a pearl just a pearl just his pearl just his pearl just his pearl just his pearl his pearl his Pearl his Pearl His Pearl–

… His Pearl…

He reached to touch her for a moment, then dropped back into the swarms of the Diamond’s Court.

… Just a pearl…

Topaz’s Pearl.