* * *
Beauty R2-Tara-p2
* * *
Alex sat in total servitude next to the queen. The pleasure/pain/pleasure inflicted by the groom still echoed through his body. Though he did not regret his actions, he never did. The beautiful slave/not slave had been spared the queen's wrath.
The queen stroked his hair idly, like he was an obedient pet at her side. Her long nailed fingers lightly scraped his scalp, a teasing touch he leaned into. She talked animitly with the people at the table, not paying him any attention as he moaned his approval at the distracted touch.
At a leisurely pace the queen would spear a morsel of food to bring to her thin lips. Every now and then she would remember to feed her obedient slave at her feet. Alex ate each piece offered though the food was still too rich for his stomach despite the last four years in the courts of Haneria.
Though Alex kept his head down, in obvious servitude, he was able to see the bounty on the table. Exotic foods from kingdoms from the farthest reaches of the world lined the plates. More was being put out as they were gradually picked at. It was bigger then the feasts his family would have on the holiest of days; and this was nothing to the people of Haneria. In fact, it was expected.
Despite all this richness surrounding Alex, his eyes were glued to a delicate carving knife. The blade was sharply honed. One edge glittered deadly in the flickering candlelight.
In only a small movement it could be in his hand. In his mind he could feel the well-worn wood sliding in his grip. Finger would settle in the groves made from long use. Once the blade was in his grip he could plunge it deep into the queen. Her blood would spill over opulent robes like rubies scattered over velvet.
With that knife he could end the pleasure and the pain. With the knife he could use it on his own flesh. Scar himself; erase the perfection of a male body. No longer would he be useful in the courts of Haneria. He would be free, released from servitude in his ugliness.
It was so close to him.
Yet it was so far away.
With great care Alex moved his hands around, trying to free one arm. Having one piece of him free would ease the torture of his dreams.
"I see our lovely prince has chosen a new toy." A dark, seductive voice said.
Alex didn't need to look up at the face or over at the legs to know whom that voice belonged to. The Dark Man was recognizable where ever he went.
"MY son has acquired himself a new slave," The queen retorted. Her animosity towards the Dark Man apparent in her voice.
"This one is quite a beauty. Hopefully he is not as disobedient as the last one. It would be a shame to kill such a creature."
Alex's queen and master bristled above him. Her long nails sank into his skin in her furry, causing him to whimper. She did not let up her grip, having not heard him; instead the grip seemed to get harder as she faced off her enemy.
"It was an unfortunate situation that, if I remember right, you were the cause. But this one will not fall into your evil spell. You are forbidden from Prince Walter's Beauty. My son will surely kill you if you touch even one hair of his new slave's head and I will not stand in his way."
"Threats will not be met well with me, Regina."
"You forget your place." The queen screeched at the Dark Man.
"And you forget yours. Watch what you say to me, Regina, or else you will find yourself as low as this slave." The Dark Man kicked Alex hard in his ass to emphasize his point.
The queen jerked on the short collar to pull Alex up, heedless of choking him.
"I am still your queen and you will show me the proper respect. I should, by rights, have you thrown out of Haneria for your actions."
"You know you will not, Regina." The Dark Man said, his voice soothing and sweet like honey to flies though his words were a threat to the crown. "You cannot afford to loose such a powerful ally. If I were to leave the lower kingdoms would rebel at the travesties."
"And who is truly responsible for the travesties of the kingdoms. Surely not I. I give the kingdoms under my rule a choice and once their tribute is paid, they are free to leave. Such rules do not seem to apply to you. There are many families wishing to have their children returned."
"Ahh, but there's the catch. Those tributes that I take are unworthy. It will take time to properly tame them."
"I do not think taming them is an issue. I think you just want to keep them all for your devilish games."
"No, my queen, I do not enjoy those games. It takes entirely too much time and effort for someone as old as I. However I will do what I must for the betterment of Haneria and all you rule."
"Your words are sweet, like a flower that hides a snake."
"I only tell the truth." The Dark Man said as if he were an innocent school child.
"There is no truth, only lies that another person can see."
"You are wise, my queen. It is fortunate that we have one such a you ruling the kingdom of Haneria."
"Your forked tongue tells only more lies. Take what you what from me and be gone from my presence."
"I only ask for the favor of my queen."
"You do not need favors."
"I am yours to command."
"I command you to leave."
"Such coldness, Regina. I shell have a chill tonight."
"Would you like one of my slaves to warm your bed?"
"Yes, a nice, tender one would do nicely."
"Groom, Monn Noire would like a slave."
"If I could choose my own..." The Dark Man asked the queen before the groom came forward.
"Which one?"
"Alexei would do nicely."
"My personal slave?"
"I have always found this one most... pleasureful." The Dark Man said as his clawed hands held Alex's head up to look deep into green eyes. Long lashes lowered onto angular cheekbones, a vain attempt to hide the fear in the creature's eyes.
"The last time I let you borrow him he came back damaged."
"It was through no fault of my own. This one is especially contrary. It will not happen again."
"Take him," the queen ordered in obvious disgust. She could not afford to have the Dark Man displeased, however she didn't have to be happy about fulfilling his wishes.
She threw the end of Alex's leash down on the floor so that the Dark Man would have to stoop to pick it up.
Instead of lowering himself, he simply ordered Alex to move beside him. The Dark Man picked Alex up by the leather strap down his back that attached to his wrists.
Alex shot his queen and master an apologetic look. She did not even acknowledge his presence. He never really existed to her anyway, except as a toy to be passed around.
The Dark Man led Alex away to his room.
* * *
"Plans have been made and yet you do not follow them, slave." The Dark Man said to Alex as soon as they were in his bed chambers.
Docile Alex sat on the floor in the position of slave servitude. His body on display for his master of a night. The Dark Man circled him, looking at him from every position.
"I have great plans for you and the kingdom of Haneria. Think of it. Freedom. No more being a slave, ready for the whim of your master. You will be a master of your own right. A ruler, a king once more."
His dark plotting words seductive in the flickering candle light.
"Or are you happy being a slave. You could be my slave once I rule Haneria."
The Dark Man grabbed Alex's head and forced it back. He drove his tongue deeply into Alex's mouth until he started to moan.
"You are a happy little slave. Kill the queen and you can be mine forever. The two of us together. Me on the throne and you at my feet. My slave and my slave alone."
He dropped Alex's hair, throwing him slightly to the ground. Alex prostrated himself in front of the Dark Man awaiting his next command.
"Crawl to me, slave, show me what a happy little slave you are."
In little hops, Alex made his way across the floor to the Dark Man's feet.
The Dark Man stood there impassionetly waiting for his slave to crawl to him on his knees.
"Kiss me." The Dark Man ordered as he parted his robes to let his member out. Without hesitation Alex leaned over to kiss the withered head.
"Lick me."
Alex took the tip partly into his mouth, holding it steady with his teeth as his arms were still trapped behind him. He licked the tip until the Dark Man started to thrust his member deeper into his throat. At the silent command, Alex started to suck the Dark Man's member with a true skill that few slaves in the courts of Haneria had.
Soon the Dark Man was shoving himself even deeper into Alex's throat. His hand on Alex's silky hair like a benediction of blessing.
The feel of skin sliding along teeth and tongue caused Alex to moan in pleasure and anticipation of his master's pleasure.
When it came, it came fast and furious. The Dark Man continued to push in and out of his mouth as he spurted his seed into Alex.
Alex swallowed frantically, trying to get all of the Dark Man's seed. Still fluid leaked out of the corner of his mouth. Vainly he tried to hide what he had spilled but the Dark Man saw it before he could move.
Fear shook his body before the first blow hit. The slap came hard against his face, nearly knocking him to the floor.
"How Dare you!" The Dark Man screamed.
Alex huddled on the floor. In Haneria, it was the ultimate insult to spill the seed of a master.
"I treat you with respect and dignity one such as you does not deserve. I offer you a chance to be the savior of your kingdom, release it from the bondage of rule by Haneria, and you insult me."
The Dark Man towered over Alex, like some god punishing the damned. He kicked Alex hard it the ribs. Vaguely he noted the snap of bones as he tried to crawl away but the Dark Man was too quick for him. Soon clawed hands buried themselves in his cheeks to look straight in his eyes.
"You will lie with the dogs that you are."
Spoiled breath hissed in Alex's face. The room seemed to tilt on it's axis to Alex. The richness of the food as well as the pain in his side made his stomach queasy. The mush that everything he ate that day as well as what he had swallowed earlier came up to spill down the Dark Man's hand and onto his robes.
The Dark Man howled with outrage. He shook and batted his arms at the detestable fluid.
Alex backed away until he felt the foot board of the bed against his back.
The Dark Man retreated to the private bath. In a few moments he came out clean with new velvet robes on. When he saw Alex huddled against the bed he said "Disgusting. One such as you are not worthy of me. Lie at my feet like the lowly slave you are."
Meekly, Alex slid under the covers at the feet of the Dark Man. The sand paper skin brushed against him, burrowing into the folds of his body, seeking warmth and oblivious to Alex's discomfort. Soon the sounds of sleep reached Alex's waiting ears.
Slowly he slid out of bed, trying his best not to wake the Dark Man. Once free of the covers, Alex had the freedom to twist and contort his body into any position he wanted.
With practiced skill he was able to worm his way out of the leather straps that had imprisoned him for most of that evening.
On the stone cold floor, Alex stretched and worked over his muscles. Soon he was able to get into stretches that would make his bondage trainers proud. With the dexterity he had accomplished through hard work over the last four years at Haneria, he slid a hand up his back. With careful skill he dug in his fingernails into the flesh and pulled.
//Pain, pure, pain, pain, pain.// Alex smiled gleefully as he focused on the sensation. Skin ripped easily under the onslaught. Soon blood ran little red rivulets down one side of his back.
His other arm bent around, nearly to the shoulder. Once more he ripped at his skin until the pain echoed through his body like waves on water.
Alex ripped at his body again and again. Bruises appeared on his hips, thighs, and stomach. Nails tore into his chest.
In the bathroom he retrieved the ivory teeth of the Dark Man. These he clamped on his neck until the pain made him want to scream but he did not let up.
This is what he loved, this is what he craved. It wasn't the pleasure/pain/pleasure that master's brought but the pure pain he wrought. This he could control. This was uniquely his. There was no way to perverse it like they did with the pleasure. This was pure and total release of himself.
Idly, he brought his hand to his deflated member. With sure, knowing strokes he brought himself to pleasure. Tears cascaded down his cheeks in shame. It was easy, way to easy to feel the pleasure. It was a wasted work. Still he had to cover his tracks.
He rubbed his own seed between his cheeks. The slippery slide of it brought more tears of shame as he felt himself stirring a little, so soon after the pleasure. Alex dug a hand into the bruising of his ribs until the last vestiges of that pleasure was gone.
Silently Alex left the Dark Man's room. Down the hallways and around a corner was a hidden short hallway that opened up to the night.
A thin shaft of silvery light glowed on the cold stone floor from a splinter of a window.
Alex curled up in that light, pretending he was at home in the snow. Besides him would be his sister Anorah and little Lishia.
His older brothers and sisters would be hogging the warmth of the camp fire so the two would be pressed up close against him. Little Lishia would be curled up in the warmth from her older siblings. Anorah would hug her two youngest siblings close to her, protecting them from the wolves that howled in the night.
The moon hung half full when Alex opened his eyes. It was getting harder and harder to feel the two against him in the night.
Instead he watched them twinkle in the sky. Little Lishia twinkled dimly next to the brighter star of Anorah.
While he couldn't feel his sisters against him in the night anymore he could still see them. Anorah red with blood. Slain in the heat of battle as she tried to save one of the solders. Little Lishia pale against the sheets. So thin that her back bone could be seen through her stomach. It was soon after that, with dead eyes, his mother and father ended the war. Him sent off as tribute to Haneria, payment from the loosing kingdom to the winning one.
At least his sisters had been spared the pain of life. The rest of his family stayed safely in the north.
He didn't envy them their freedom. He was glad that his siblings had been spared from being tributes to Haneria. His life had always belonged to them, not him.
His parents weren't really queen and king anymore, just duke and duchess. The land dying slowly with them. Gradually being taken over by the woods, snows, and winds as his people left for better pastures offered by the Hanerian kingdoms.
If he were to return he would go back to an empty land, only the howling wolves for company.
Through out the castle the baying song of a wolf howled out it's woe to homeless snows.
* * *
Beauty moved down the corridors of the castle. He had no idea where the kitchens lay but he was absolutely ravenous. His stomach growled loudly in the quiet of the morning.
After a couple of turns and getting totally lost he saw a man curled up in a dark corner. The light from the sun streaked in at a sharp angle above him on the wall. In a few hours the man would be in the light, ready to warm himself. //Just like a cat,// Beauty briefly thought.
Moving closer though, Beauty saw that the man was not curled up in peace but in pain. Long red streaks of blood oozed along his back. Bite marks and bruises marred his flesh. Arms and legs curled around in a protective shell over his torso and face.
In wonderment, Beauty ran his fingers over the long scars. Not only had he been protected from the pleasures of the flesh, he had also been protected from the pain of flesh. Upon occasion he saw a bite mark or a bruise on one of his subjects but none had ever been as badly injured as this man was.
The man arched into his touch, slowly coming to.
Alex slowly woke up to the feel of gentle hands on him. The touch feather light and pleasing on his skin. He moaned his approval before waking up totally.
Quickly he retreated into the corner before the pleasure/pain/pleasure came back.
The person who had woken him kneeled still in shock. Alex cast his eyes about trying to see if there were any more masters. It would not bode well with him if he were found alone, out of his master's bed.
Gradually his eyes adjusted to the light of the day. Once they were clear, Alex could see it was the slave/not slave from last night.
However today Alex could see that he was not a slave but a master. Richly colored robes hung over him, hiding his beauty and body, as only masters were allowed.
"Alex, I think your name is Alex. Are you all right?" The Not Slave asked in a concerned tone.
Alex looked at the man curiously. A master should not be asking if he was all right. The master should be ordering him back to his master's bed or down to the witch woman to have his wounds looked at.
"Is there some one I can tell, someone I can take you to? I'm a little new here."
Alex slid along the wall, watching the Not Slave. He wondered when another Master would show up to tell the new one how things went on in the courts of Haneria.
"Where are you going? Let me help, your hurt."
Alex fought the urge to run. Never before had he heard the concerned tone the Not Slave was using on him. Nobody ever paid him attention inless they had to, that being when it was time to punish him for not behaving or bringing the pleasure/pain/pleasure.
When Alex turned around to leave the Not Slave hissed and grabbed his arm.
"How can anybody be treated this way?"
"I am a slave," Alex simply said, as if it was as obvious as the color of the sky.
"But you shouldn't be hurt or anything. Walter said that him and the others take care of their slaves, they protect and care for them."
Perplexed Alex regarded the Not Slave, the beauty had no real idea what happens in Haneria.
He limped down the hall, avoiding the Not Slaves touch as he followed him.
Through the corridors reserved for the people who took out the waste and the lowliest slaves, such as himself, he made his way to the witch woman. The Not Slave followed him every step of the way.
In the bowels of the castle, near the warmth of the kitchen, the witch woman had a room. The smell of herbs curing over powered the rank smell of waste.
The small woman frowned when she saw Alex, she waved him to his usual chair. Soon her knowing hands were exploring his wounds.
"Are you going to be all right Alex?" The Not Slave asked him.
"He doesn't talk much, but he'll heal, eventually. Though it was good of you to bring him here when you did. The queen will be most unhappy at his condition. She abhors blood and scars could cost him dearly. That's one of her rules, no permanent scaring of the slaves. The next time you borrow him I suggest you keep that in mind." The witch woman said distractedly to the Not Slave. Alex had heard similar speeches to other new masters.
"I didn't do this to him. I found him in the hallway like this."
"And you brought him down here?"
"No, I followed him. I really don't know my way around the castle. I was trying to find something to eat and I found him in the hallway and when I tried to help him he ran away."
The witch women regarded him in disbelief. Very few masters looked out for other slaves. She shook her head, knowing not to question his actions. She moved off into the pantries of her workshop for salves for Alex's wounds.
"I'm Fox, but Walter calls me Beauty," he held his hand out to shake though Alex didn't take it. After a moment he took back his hand.
"I want to thank you for helping yesterday. I didn't think they were going to punish you like that. It should have been me, not you."
Alex sat puzzled by the Not Slaves words. Nobody ever thanked him for anything. Nobody ever said they should have the pleasure/pain/pleasure of punishment and use instead of him. As a slave he deserved it, a Master did not.
That was when Alex noted that the Not Slaves arms were hairless. Much to the beauties embarrassment, Alex checked his legs and crotch through the robes. They too were hairless and smooth. He was a slave like him after all.
Alex grabbed Fox's arm tightly when he made like he was going to leave.
"Run, Fox. They don't know you yet. You have a chance to save yourself and your kingdom. Protect them from Haneria. Evil is afoot and it will take all the lands with it. Go home, Fox, before it's too late."
"What do you mean?"
"Leave this place before they kill you too."
Alex curled up on the foot stool. His knees under his chin watching the beautiful Fox.
Fox stared hard into Alex's eyes. They glowed with a passion for life that he had seen only in the most spirited beasts. It reminded him of a horse he once had. Thunder had been captured on the plains of his kingdom. The stable hands had tried vainly to train him but the beast was so strong willed that he would not break. The magnificent animal would have been destroyed it Fox had not intervened.
He had gentled that horse until it was his. Nobody could ride Thunder but Fox. All others would be thrown from his back.
Fox left Alex to the witch woman to help. He was unsure how to help the man, or help himself. Haneria was so different from what he had grown up with.
Glittering green eyes bored into his back at his retreat. Fox may be a slave, but he would always be a Master to Alex.
Nicole's is next!