[Verse I] Look at him. Look at him now. All those years beneath his heel, And he's the one who's bleeding. He's the one who gets to kneel. Gods, I can smell it everywhere— The blood, the fear, the power. Two hundred years of not yet, darling. And now— Now is the hour. I could take everything he wanted. Everything he kept from me. No more hunger. No more hiding. No more asking to be free. [Pre-Chorus] I have been weak enough. I have been owned enough. I have been frightened long enough. Never again. [Chorus] Never again on my knees. Never again at a master's pleasure. Never again will a hand on my throat Decide what I am worth. If power is all that ever kept him Safe enough to sleep at night, Then give me more than he could dream of. Give me enough to never fear again. [Verse II] Seven thousand. Yes, I know. Do you think I haven't seen them? Sebastian knew me instantly. Of course he did. I remember him. A sweet face in a lamplit room. A practiced smile. A little trust. I led him here because I had to. That mattered then. It must. And now they're starving underneath us, Every promise I once made Still breathing somewhere in the darkness, Still waiting to be paid. But what exactly would you have me do? Open every cage? Seven thousand starving mouths Set loose upon the Gate? There is no clean choice hiding here. No innocence restored. Whatever happens to them now, Someone pays for what we did before. [Chorus] Never again on my knees. Never again at a master's pleasure. Never again will somebody stronger Choose what becomes of me. I could end the hunger with the ritual. I could walk beneath the sun. I could make damn certain, finally, No one ever makes me run. [Verse III] His master carved the rules into him. His master's master did the same. Every lord who took the palace Swore he'd finally won the game. How many portraits did I pass Of men who couldn't be replaced? How many mighty immortals Put another in their place? Cazador had locks on every doorway. Cazador had spies in every room. Cazador had seven of us trembling. Cazador was frightened too. [Pre-Chorus] So what did all that power buy him? Look at him. Look at him now. [Bridge] No. Don't do that. Don't make this simple. You weren't there when he called and my body moved. You weren't there when I screamed and still obeyed. You didn't feel two centuries disappear The moment he spoke my name. I felt the scars open. I felt the chains. I felt myself become his again. And now you're asking me to stand here With the answer in my hands And trust that being merely free Will somehow be enough? [Instrumental Break] [Verse IV] My heart is beating far too quickly. Everything tastes sharp and red. I can hear the blood inside them. I can hear it in my head. I'm terrified. I'm magnificent. I'm— Gods. What am I doing? If I stop, is that because I choose to? If I don't— who's choosing then? [Final Chorus] Never again on my knees. Never again at a master's pleasure. Never again will fear decide What I must become to live. But if I need the whole world frightened Before I dare to call myself free, How much power will be enough? And what will it make of me? [Outro] Cazador had everything. Almost. And still he wanted more. Seven thousand wait below me. One monster at my feet. One ritual. One choice. ... Never again.
