"Yes, it's his problem. It's very much his problem. You see, your abject disobedience, Eliot--it doesn't hurt just you. It proves that everything that Sam's done these past two months has been for nothing. He hasn't secured any degree of obedience or respect from you. Even one would be enough."

Lucifer circled to the toybox, opening it wide. He'd never opened it before, but now the contents showed, the blades and whips and dildos, various cuffs and shackles, long rods, pieces of rope, a spear, things that resembled strips of thorn, paddles, things in boxes that were perhaps magical.

Lucifer showed Eliot each of the things he wasn't using, a soft strip of leather, a flat paddle, a cat of nine tails with nails sewn into the ends of each strip. Finally he took out a simple silver rod, but as he lifted it, coming back around the bed, it transformed into a silver snake, swerving about in his grip.

He raised an eyebrow at Eliot, and swung the snake, which struck with its silver bladed teeth, stripping two long lines across Sam's back. He jerked in all his chains, gasping out a sharp, breathless sound, but nothing more.

"What do you think? Again? Yes, I think again..."

He snapped the snake down, drawing another pair of twin marks back in the other direction.

"Shall I continue, or are you ready to take over?"