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Post by Behax on Oct 18, 2017 17:10:34 GMT
Kyle nodded, but was already starting to regret it. He already felt bad, and Lucius hadn't even done whatever it was he was planning yet. The kiss to the back of his neck sending a shill down it. Like the older man was trying to reward him for doing something bad. It made his stomach twist. It turned to nervousness when he was pushed from the King's lap, and told to stay standing where he was.
He watched Lucius head towards the practicing guards, felt the twist in his stomach tighten as he watched him snatch a wooden sword from one of them, and draw his arm back to strike Liam. He jolted and covered his eyes a second too late when Lucius struck the other man. Kyle had lowered his hands to his mouth by the time Lucius was forcing Liam to look his way. His eyes filled with regret and guilt. He quickly looked away.
Kyle didn't understand that Lucius had always hated Liam. While he got the impression they were not on great terms, he didn't know that this kind of rage and vile was always under the surface. In this particular instance, he really did think it was his fault. He didn't yet know he was just an excuse for the King to act how he pleased.
He didn't quite catch what Liam said in retort. He just knew it was enough to make the King fly into an even worse rage. Kyle took a step forward, wanting to intervene. However Liam's warning from the night before, about always doing as the King said, made him step right back into place. Covering his eyes again as Lucius continued to punch his half-brother.
He looked at the King as he returned. Clearly shaken by the display, and not sure how to react. He didn't understand how the man could chuckle so easily after what he'd just done. Though of course Kyle said nothing, made no comment on the King's behaviour.
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Post by Grimm on Oct 18, 2017 17:56:28 GMT
Liam laid in the grass as the King walked away from him, but it wasn't long until he was stirring to his feet. There was blood trickling down the side of his face, pale hazel eyes were cast downward, cursing life for the cards he was dealt. He picked up the wooden swords, gripping tightly at their hilts. Although the attack on him was violent, Liam had had worse beatings before, and not all of them had been from Lucius. The fighter wiped the blood from his brow and lip and turned back to the guards, knowing they were expected to continue.
"See....an animal." He pulled Kyle back on to his lap instructing Kyle to feed him the pieces of fruit still laid out on the breakfast plate. Even though Luscius was the ultimate paranoid Narcissist, he was good at the slave trade. The entire nation dwelled on force human labor and King use the skills he learned to pass the time, he knew how to shock new slaves into compliance. No one wanted to be beaten that bad.
"I will have to go to Council soon and I can't take you with me." Thick fingers again traced the edges of his pets clothing. "I want you to use this time to prepare yourself for me tonight. Do that and I'll bring you a gift." The King bribed his slave kissing the edges of exposed shoulder. "I want you right now..." He pressed himself against Kyle's backside, the King's knuckles covered in Liam's blood. Violence and sex made the King's world a passionate one and he did his best to quell his lustful needs. "But if I did, I'd be no better than an animal." He grouped Kyle's crotch, still expected to be fed more fruit.
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Post by Behax on Oct 18, 2017 18:15:58 GMT
Though he was concerned for Liam, once the King's attention was firmly back on himself, Kyle made sure Lucius had all of his attention. He dared not to let it stray lest himself or Liam get treated any worse. He merely nodded when the King made his comment, doing as he was bid, and carefully fed him the fruit still laid out.
Kyle was certainly afraid of the older man, but he already had been. Now he just had a point of reference. Knew that his fear was not irrational. This man would hurt him if it amused him to do so, and hurt him even worse if he did not comply.
He was almost relieved to hear the King wouldn't be taking him to council, but such relief didn't last long. All too aware of the way Lucius' fingers traced the edges of his clothes. He was more wary of the promised gift than excited. His face flushed deeply when he felt the King press against him. Felt his erection through their clothes. Tensing when he felt the man grope him, breath catching in his throat.
"H-how would you have me prepare myself your Majesty?" Kyle was afraid to learn what was expected of him, but didn't know what the King actually wanted him to do. He still managed to continue feeding the King, despite his molesting hands distracting him.
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Post by Grimm on Oct 18, 2017 18:53:26 GMT
The King laughed, clearly amused. "Pamper yourself in my private bath, my servants will instruct you if you need help." Innocence was something the King lusted after and he was now almost giddy with excitement. "If you'll excuse me my pet...I've got to get ready. Be on my bed when I return tonight." He slipped Kyle from his lap and disappeared with other servants ready to dress him and assistants updating him on events happening within the nation.
The guards that were training with Liam stopped once the King had left, giving Liam sympathetic pats on the shoulder; oddly they all held a deep respect for the prince of slaves; an affectionate following of those within the kingdom that felt Liam should unseat his older half-brother. Many in the city knew that Liam was the former King's Bastard, but it wasn't widely known outside of the capital.
Liam plopped himself down on the grass, taking a wet towel when he was offered it by one of the guards last to leave. He wrapped it around his bleeding face and rolled backwards on the grass, resting in the green blades after the chaos that just happened. He closed his eyes hoping that he would be swallowed up by the grass around him and he let out a groan when he realized that it wasn't possible.
"Gods, what did he do to him this time." An elderly woman came out to clear the King's table at the gazebo. "Are you done love?" She motioned to the food on the table.
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Post by Behax on Oct 18, 2017 22:16:30 GMT
Kyle frowned a little at the King's reply, he was looking for a more substantial answer. He might not have been a slave all his life, but he was from a working class family, he had worked in some fashion since he was maybe 10 or 12 years old. So while Kyle knew what the word pamper meant, he didn't really understand it as a concept. He also didn't understand how that was how he was supposed to spend his whole day. Surely that's not what was expected of him?
When Lucius was out of sight Kyle glanced back over to the guards, watched them patting Liam on the back. He still felt horrible. He wanted to go over and make sure Liam was alright, but he didn't want Lucius to find out. He didn't know if there were any servants around who would tell him. So Kyle stayed right where he was.
Staring at his hands, lost in thought and feelings of guilt, he jumped when he heard a voice suddenly speak next to him.
"Oh um y-yes...." He replied when asked if he was done. Then after a pause. "I think...It may have been my fault," he said in answer to the comment the old woman previously made. Even thought he'd been doing as he was told, and ultimately Liam had advised Kyle to give Lucius what he wanted, to do what he wanted. He still felt deep regret and guilt over it.
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Post by Grimm on Oct 19, 2017 12:43:31 GMT
"No, no, little deary." The older woman patting the young man on the head, amazed by the unique voice the new slave had. "The King's cruelty is no ones fault except his own." She insisted on correcting him. "The hate that man carries for his little brother is inhuman." She smiled trying to ease the burden, quickly returning to her duties. There were those servants who were vastly loyal to the King, spies that whispered over-heard conspiracies to the royal ear. She started arranging a smaller plate out of the left overs on the table, taking care to pick the better looking fruit from the trey that was going back to the kitchen. "His mother was the most beautiful woman, a half elf - in a position such as yourself. The old King raised him and Prince- King Lucius like brothers." She corrected herself and the woman servant retreated with the rest of the left over food.
"I can hear you, you know..." Liam called out to her as she left, knowing Joan of the serving staff liked to gossip and spill everyone's secret. Because of the quarter of him that was elven, his hearing and eye sight were impeccably good. There were other secrets the race genes hid, but that was a matter for another time. Liam got up when he was sure the ground wasn't going anywhere. The bleeding had stopped and he gently cleaned the mixture of sweat, dirt, and blood from his face and neck. Liam approached the table and started to eat from the plate Joan had prepared. He picked it up and sat down on the steps of the gazebo, unsure what to say to Kyle. "I don't think he likes it when I touch you..." Humor was it? Liam was trying to break the ice unsure if Lucius stunt really worked to drive a wedge between them already.
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Post by Behax on Oct 19, 2017 17:34:39 GMT
Kyle was a little surprised to learn that the Lucius and Liam were brothers. He couldn't say that the way the King abused Laim shocked him though. Kyle had been mistreated and even sold by his own father, he knew that blood meant very little to some. He knew that 'family' didn't stop someone from hurting you. The old woman's words eased Kyle's conscience a little, but not completely. He'd still given the King an excuse to act on his hate for his brother.
After being told about Liam's mother, Kyle found himself glad that at least he could not be made pregnant. That he could not be forced to have a child that would be born into slavery and mistreated how Liam was mistreated. Or even how Kyle himself had been mistreated.
Kyle still couldn't make himself look at Liam, going back to staring at his hands as the older man came over to grab the plate off the table. Jumping slightly when Liam started talking. He was surprised that Liam would want to...Or dare to, after what had just happened.
"I....Don't think he likes us interacting at all," Kyle said, still looking at his hands. He wasn't sure what he should do. He didn't want to get Liam in trouble, just by talking to him. Even if the King would find other reasons to punish his brother, Kyle at least didn't want to be the excuse the man used to do it.
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Post by Grimm on Oct 19, 2017 19:06:37 GMT
Liam was quite for awhile as he ate, small talk wasn't his best. The art of conversation wasn't exactly something he practiced. Perhaps something more truthful, helpful perhaps..."He wants to isolate you, you'll be easier to train that way. You're not the first...I doubt you'll be the last." Liam mentally scolded himself for that last bit, it had sounded a bit rude. He was quickly finishing his breakfast, knowing the King would be gone all day at Council meant he had the day off. Slaves were not allowed at council.
His head was still throbbing, lumps forming where he had be attacked. "Besides, I clearly heard him say not to touch." It was a laugh at his own pain. Liam set the empty plate down on the stairs, listening to the birds chirping in the garden, the world turning, the gentle breeze playing with the wind chimes. He felt at peace even though tomorrow never looked bright for him. Liam turned to look at Kyle, feeling like something shiny had entered his grim world but again a sad realization washed over him...how long would the shiny last?
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Post by Behax on Oct 19, 2017 19:32:30 GMT
He looked up when Liam began to speak again. The things he said weren't shocking, Kyle knew they were the truth. But it was painful to hear. He already knew that Lucius' interest in him would not last forever. He didn't know if that was a good thing. He might just pass him off to someone else, or get rid of him some other way once he got bored or found something new. Or he could just keep him around out of sheer possessiveness. Whether he got bored of Kyle or not, would never change the fact that Kyle was more than just rare. Half-Sirens were almost unheard of. He would still be valuable, even after Lucius had had his way with him.
"I.....Already realised that," he gave a sad sort of smile, that would have broken any heart. The face of someone who already accepted that bad things were going to happen to them. For Kyle had already been beaten and hit, even molested because of how he was and what he was. He wasn't yet broken by the terrible things in his life, but he had a grim acceptance of them. However worse things were yet to happen to him, things that he couldn't yet fully comprehend.
Kyle wasn't able to so easily jest about the situation. He knew that by staying away from Liam, by not talking to him, he was doing exactly what Lucius wanted him to do. But by being friendly with Liam in any capacity could get them both hurt.
"I don't know what I'm....Supposed to do. He told me I should 'prepare' myself for him. I don't really understand." He knew of course that it meant he was going to have an unpleasant night. That he was....Unless something else intervened, have to have sex with that man. He just hoped that Liam could shed some light on what Lucius actually meant. Sure he could take a bath or whatever, but that wasn't going to take Kyle all day.
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Post by Grimm on Oct 20, 2017 13:02:44 GMT
Liam gave Kyle a weak smile through a lightly swollen bottom lip, he knew the King was going to evaluate Kyle tonight. It wasn't going to be pleasant, but perhaps the King would be full of wine again and pass out before things escalated...but Liam knew better. This wasn't just going to be for the King's pleasure tonight, he was going to get acquainted with his slave, put a value on Kyle's existence.
"He'll want to know what your capable of. Singing perhaps, reading poetry....sex." Liam felt a bright red flush against his cheeks and he was happy for the angry red welts that helped cover it up. Even for all his past sexual experiences, consensual and not, he still found himself bashful talking about it. "He'll want you shaven," he gestured to the body. "and clean. I can get one of the servants to help afterwards with putting your hair up, nails...things like that." Liam stood and turned to Kyle.
"I can take you to the bath, I was just about to head there now. Then afterwards you can decided what to do until Lucius returns." Liam paused, "but I can understand if you wish to keep your distance from me."
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Post by Behax on Oct 20, 2017 16:44:59 GMT
Liam's words did nothing to quell Kyle's anxieties, if nothing else, they made them worse. Still Kyle appreciated his honesty. Preferring the awful truth over a sugar coated one. Nothing would be worse than being told one thing, only to discover the reality was a lot worse.
"S-shave?" Kyle repeated. He fortunately didn't have a lot of body hair, and what Kyle did have was so pale it was hardly noticeable. It seemed a bit excessive to him for it to be required. "Even...D-down....Below?" He asked flushing a little. "Hair up? Nails?" He was starting to feel a little overwhelmed, maybe this really would take most of the day. He also didn't really understand what was wrong with his hair the way it was. It was already a lot tidier than it had been. The noble that had paid for him had made sure he was presentable, which had resulted in a his hair being cut and trimmed neatly. It hadn't been much longer before, but unruly would have been a good description.
Kyle still couldn't quite meet Liam's eyes when he looked at him. He didn't want to avoid him, he seemed nice enough, and having him to talk to would probably make whatever awaited him in the future bearable. However. "I feel like it's safer for both of us....To not get too close..." He certainly felt that if they headed to the bath together, even if they didn't go in at the same time. Kyle didn't want to think of what the King might do if it ever got back to him.
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Post by Grimm on Oct 20, 2017 18:14:32 GMT
Liam reluctantly nodded in agreement. He didn't want to do anything that made Kyle question his safety. "Well, I'll show you were it is and I'll use the one in the servants quarters." He tried to ease Kyle's nerves.
"Liam, Liam!" It was Joan waving at him, a dish towel in her hand trying to get his attention. She seemed out of breath when she got to the gazebo. "Screamers, love...The Beast Master said they'll be using Screamers. They just got into town this morning." She huffed, not being as young as she once was.
Liams expression changed slightly. "Thank you Joan..." He bend down and picked up his plate to hand to her, reaching to drink the orange juice he had forgotten. Oh how he wished it had been wine. "Could you have someone come later to prepare Kyle for our Lord? I'm taking him back to the Masters quarters now." He also handed her the cup after he was done with it. She agreed to send someone to Kyle later on and left, this time in no hurry at all and with a slight limp.
"Follow me." Liam turned no longer in the chatty mood, he had other things to think about. Like what Joan had told him. He had only seen 'Screamers' from two times. Once from the bow of an airship and once from the safety of a ring side seat when Lucius had taken him to the East to fight in competitions.
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Post by Behax on Oct 20, 2017 18:30:35 GMT
Kyle nodded, and stood to begin following Liam back to Lucius' room, and little startled when he saw the old woman running back over to them, calling Liam's name. He looked confused when she mentioned something about 'screamers'. He had no idea what those were, but noticed the subtle change in Liam's demeanour almost immediately. He could at times be rather perceptive, something that at times was a necessity for him.
He followed behind Liam once he began to lead the way, and after a moment of contemplating whether he should ask about it. Soon deciding on doing so. "Excuse me but...um...What are 'screamers'?" He asked, the name or term was unfamiliar to him, though he was left with the impression that it couldn't mean anything good. Keeping a couple of paces behind or to the side of the other.
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Post by Grimm on Oct 20, 2017 19:19:05 GMT
"It's a creature from the deserts in the East. Imagine a cobra if it had the shape of a preying mantis but on average 3 meters tall...I've seen one rip apart a group of armed men in mere moments." Liam's voice trailed off and they finally reached the Kings Chambers. At the far end of the room was a hall way hidden behind a tapestry. "Left door is the Kings, Right the servants. He told you to use his." Liam opened the door to an impressive bathroom, a large shower, an oversized tub, sauna, everything you could think of in a room almost the size of the bedroom. In the center was a natural hot spring bricked in and tamed, shaped to a 8 feet by 16 feet rectangle. "When you're done, pull this string and a servant will come assist you, not I." Liam bowed his head and walked back down the hall disappearing on the other side of the tapestry and back into the bedroom.
He stalked over to a wall lined with books, staring intently as he read the titles, only his eyes moving until he found the one he was looking for. It was an encyclopedia of creatures in the world. The book had all kinds of colorful strings springing from the pages. Liam flipped through the pages until he came to the page were Screamer information was held, a red string already marked the pages and red was reserved for the really dangerous ones. He read over the half page of information, little of it useful. Leaving the book open on the table, he left going back down the hall and to the door on the right, the Servants facilities.
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Post by Behax on Oct 20, 2017 20:09:05 GMT
"Oh...." Was the simple response Liam got from Kyle. He was trying to picture it, but only even had a basic understanding of what a cobra looked like. He was as well educated as a boy from a working class family could be, and had not had the kind of access to learning that Liam had had. Even so he had a vague idea and didn't like that idea at all. He figured the real thing was probably 100 times worse. He decided against asking any more questions about it.
When shown to the King's bathroom his eyes went a little wide. More than a little lost as Liam told him to pull on the string when he was done. Kyle was extraordinary by his very existence, his family complicated, but his upbringing simple. He was used to having nothing but a metal tub, just big enough for an adult to sit in, placed by a fire and filled with water which had been boiled on the stove for a bath. Even the bath he'd been washed in before being present to the King wasn't anywhere near as elaborate.
"Is this....really necessary?" He asked no one, since Liam had left him to his own devices in a room which was kind of overwhelming. He wondered if even Liam really understood how ridiculous this was. But then Kyle didn't know what the servants bathroom looked like. He doubted anything close.
He didn't know where to start, but found himself drawn to the natural, yet bricked in hot spring. Something about natural bodies of water called to him. It was nothing like the sea, but still natural in its origin. It was practically as close as he was going to get. He removed what little clothing he had, along with the bracelets and bangles that still adorned his arms. Feeling a little put out by being unable to remove the gold collar which was still fastened around his neck, along with the chain attached to it. There was a key hole in the back of the collar, and only the King would have the accompanying key.
Free of everything but the chain and collar, Kyle stepped into the naturally heated water. The calming effects were immediate in him. He walked in deep enough so that when he sat down, the water came all the way to his chest, and then he lay back and closed his eyes. The hot water felt good around his body, and did a lot to temporarily alleviate his nerves.
He spent rather longer there than he'd meant to, staring just as he was beginning to doze off. The water far too comforting. Eventually turning his attention to his actual task of washing. Though he moved to the shower for this, lest he actually fall asleep.
When he was done, he found a towel to wrap himself with before tentatively pulling on the strong that Liam had told him about previously, and waited. It had easily been over an hour by this point.
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