That's some bonafide Stockholm Syndrome. I'm absolutely loving this story.
I'm also really digging the interactions between Sam and Lyria. Like how Lyria's ire was drawn when she noticed Sam's bruises from the troll Winona.

Does Lyria realize the ramifications of basically saying Sam was her vibrator and could never compare with Sally.. That little remark could've crushed his already fragile psyche making him slowly fall into a downward spiral of which there is no escape, but that didn't happen because as we've learned. He loves her. I wonder how long it takes her to realize.

Adding the conspirators to her collection instead of killing them was genius. I personally can't wait to see Winona break and I wonder how Akane feels about this because she's very hard to read.

aaron
PS I like that these later chapters were longer, too. This should go without saying but the shower scene with Lyria and Sam was perfect.

Author's Response:

I imagine she has gotten used to saying humiliating things to him by this point. She probably didn't consider the damage that could do as she is hardly perfect. Or because she simply didn't care. Depends on how you look at her really. I do like leaving things open to interpretation at times. ;)