Tea and Roses

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher was nervous, a very nervous blond and with good reason. Today, in the care of Naelona Ezel, he had been given a most important task. The task in taking a gift to her father, Kazn Ezel. A Boogie that Kristopher would love to never see let alone visit. He had heard stories about the boogie, how he loved to put roses into peoples bodies and make them explode. How he loved to eat the humans and drink from their bones merely because they couldn't say a proper greeting.

Kristopher would have to be on his best behavior. He knew what could happen to him and Naelona gave him this job, knowing he was the best trained human she had. She was no longer using him as betting material, but he still had his uses and running a few errands should be just fine.

Now, Kris walked through the hallways, wearing a more appealing attire. He was dressed in a pair of well mended and clean pants and shoes. His wore a clean white long sleeved shirt and a black vest over it. Naelona had made sure Kristopher looked very good to see her father, even his untamed curls had been tamed and pulled into a tight ponytail.

But he was shaking, shaking so much that the tea pot, cup and other things on the tray shook. He cursed lightly under his breath as he stopped in front of the grand doors of the music room, where Kazn Ezel could be found. He counted to ten to settle himself down.

The sooner he finished this, the better. Raising a hand, he coughed into it a few time. Fuck, leave it to him to get ill again and having to see Kazn at the same time! Well, he would just have to hold in his coughs somehow! So, slowly, he reached out and knocked on the door. When it was opened by a younger slave, Kristopher stepped into the room carefully.

He turned to look at Kazn and boy at the waist as best he could as he held the tray. "My Lord, I bring a gift to you from Madam Ezel." He said, his voice claim and strong even though he felt other wise.

"Please god, let this go well and quick so I can run home and hide under my bed..." He thought to himself.

[Kazn Ezel]

Music

Kazn always adhered to a very specific schedule and he enjoyed his time in the music room. He typically kept a very small entourage of slaves with him so as not to disturb his private moments in the music room. Sometimes they still managed to interfere with his pleasurable practice sessions, and it was at those times when strict punishments would be administered. In his mind it was perfectly fair; you would not think twice about batting your dog on the nose if it misbehaved.

He enjoyed his time in the music room so much, that he nearly stumbled for a brief moment when someone knocked on the door. Quickly he recovered and continued the piece to its completion before looking back. Needless to say, he had not been terribly impressed by the boy's entrance. To be fair, under the best circumstances he would not have been pleased about anything interrupting his playing of the piano. However, the boy had brought tea from the young Miss Ezel. Kazn resolved to check the time, but first he adjusted his white gloves and suit before reaching into his pocket and pulling out an antique silver watch. Apparently it was, in fact, time for tea.

Protocol had to be obeyed, however. Kazn gently clapped his hands and the young slave pulled the piano stool back while Kazn rose from the seat. He reached his left hand out and grasped at his cane. It was an intimidating piece of polished and finished black cherry wood with a large ruby used for the head. The head of the Ezel family advanced upon Kristopher's position. Very few individuals had stood in his place and passed inspection. Of course, those were generally slaves sent by Boogies who sought Kazn's favor and influence in the politics of Wonderland. This was a slave sent to him by his daughter, and surely an Ezel knew how best to prepare a slave to impress a fellow Ezel.

Kazn circled the boy, examining every inch of his clothing, every hair and every hint of bad posture and nervousness present in his stance. The clothing was certainly acceptable and earned marks. Kazn reached out with his cane and corrected the boy's stance at the knees and back. "Keep straight," he muttered while the inspection continued. What really bothered him was the boy's hair. The ponytail seemed like an attempt to bring order to something absolutely unruly. It was a poor attempt, he concluded. He supposed that such hair could be used for disciplinary measures if necessary, but there were other ways to keep slaves behaving in a proper manner.

"Should get a haircut," he mumbled before falling silent for a moment. He moved himself back around to Kristopher's front before the man gave the slave a serious look in the eyes. Kazn's scarlet spheres looked like they were attempting to burrow through Kristopher. He had a talent for making people feel like he was stripping them down layer by layer of skin until there was nothing for them to hide. "Tolerable," was his final utterance before he broke eye contact and stood up straight once more.

He motioned with his right hand to a table with a nice vase of roses set upon it. "You may place the tea now."

[Kristopher Roberts]

If Kristopher ever wondered how a pig felt before it was sold to the butcher, he considered this would be what it might feel like. It took all of Kristopher's will power not to avert his eyes as the elder Ezel walked about him like a buyer of stalk. No, he stared straight a head. He had to find something to focus on before he went insane.

It was bad enough that his nerves where getting to him. This boogie terrified him more then Naelona, far more then Sin or Jou put together...even Iugo.

"Keep straight," Kristopher, startled, quickly kept the posture that Kazn had adjusted. God, he was afraid to even breath. He had to keep himself still, relaxed somehow. So he counted in his head, counted and counted to keep himself fixed in place.

It seemed like hours really, as the boogie past around him and muttered phrases here and there but Kristopher made no reply to them. No, he knew better then to do that. He would not speak unless spoken too. However, he let out a small sigh of relief when Kazn had directed him where to put down the tea.

God. He just wanted out of here and fast! But still, he take to take care and it killed him with each step he had to make. To keep his legs from running off with his body. However, in the end he reached the table as he was directed and placed down the tray carefully without making a sound or causing anything to rattle. His shoulder's shook lightly as he stopped himself from coughing. He couldn't be caught being ill around this boogie, no.

Settling into the act of getting the tea ready, he pulled a tea cup up and placed it on a saucer and poured the hot liquid into the cup slowly. "How would you like your tea, My Lord?" Kristopher inquired with a steady voice that he was taught to use around higher boogies and show proper respect. Yes, his voice echoed the willingness to service and fillful the task at him. A second cup was off to the side of the tray, a precaution for dropping the cup, which he didn't plan too, and in case he had to taste the tea first. Some boogies where like that, paranoid from hell.

[Kazn Ezel]

Paranoid from hell was exactly the type of Boogie Kazn Ezel was. There were far too many who would not mourn his passing and a few of them would probably have loved to help it along in any way they could. Even if the tea was supposedly from his daughter he had watched Kristopher pour it into the cup. Even while preparing to serve the tea the slave's every single movement was being judged and evaluated.

Stiff, tense and showing every last sign of nervousness. Was it the reputation of the Boogie he was serving or that the slave was merely trying to hide something sinister from him? Regardless, he would not take any chances. "I prefer the flavor and texture unhindered from its natural form. As such, I'll take my tea straight. It will as well." With that last sentence Kazn pointed to his young slave attendant for the day. The last slave to refuse him this request had to be hospitalized for the burns associated with boiling hot water being poured steadily down their throat. That one had been fortunate that Kazn did not take the time to request lead be melted down for that purpose instead.

Of course, there really was no guarantee that the slave would not die immediately. However, Kazn had noted that, for some unimaginable reason, slaves often had no issue sacrificing themselves, but putting others at risk seemed to turn them terribly off to the idea.

Slowly his fingers worked their way across the many faces of the crimson stone adorning his cane. Every edge might have been something that he could not stand about those who surrounded him. At this particular moment he found himself most frustrated by how slowly things seemed to be moving along. After all, he had a tight schedule to keep. Even the luxuries of relaxation were given only so much time in the day of Kazn Ezel. Disrupting that schedule would do more harm than good. "I need not your lackadaisical nature here. Tarry not."

[Kristopher Roberts]

"I need not your lackadaisical nature here. Tarry not."

"I apologize." said the blond as he quickened his pace a bit more to the boogies liking. God, it was impossible to tell what the boogie liked and what he didn't like. It wasn't helping the poor Robert's nerves much either!

The blond quickly took to getting the tea right and fumbled a brief moment with the small tea spoon that he rested in its proper place. Let's see, he wanted nothing in the tea. Okay, good that saved him the trouble of getting something wrong, such as too sweet or not sweet enough. So, seeing the tea was completed to the correct order, he picked up a small cloth napekin, then moved across the room towards Kazn.

He was careful not to spill a damn drop of the dark tea or with his luck he would get one ear full of a chewing and he could totally live without that. The nineteen year old placed the tea cup next to Kazn on a small and high table. It was a perfect height for the boogie to take his tea without any effort. Kristopher hoped he did this right, so many boogies took there tea in so many ways as well as presentation.

So, after placing it, he turned the cup correctly, took a step back and folded his hands behind his back. Where he then pulled at the sleeves of his shirt in order to keep himself from spazzing. He did not say a word then as he waited to be dismissed or to carry a message back to his Madam. Something, anything.

"Please, please, please! Let me go now, I want to get out of here, you freaky boogie!" Kristopher thought to himself as he watched the elder one, standing there and playing with his cane. Man, this seemed like this little event was going to take all day long!

[Kazn Ezel]

Kazn made a quiet motion with his hand to the younger slave to get retrieve a cup of tea and to drink before Kazn took the opportunity to. However, he did not wait for the slave to finish with the act before tucking his cane under his left arm and lifting up the saucer and cup with both hands to his face. He took a deep breath of the steam rising from the mixture, as though he were assessing the quality of the drink before setting his lips to it.

When he was quite convinced that his slave was not dead from drinking the mixture he put his own lips to the tea and took a sip. It was hardly what Kazn could judge as the best tea he had ever the chance to drink, but it was of tolerable quality. Certainly, this was a fine tea, though he imagined that slaves would not have an appreciation for its bitter flavor.

To Kazn it tasted much the same as reality.

The pale-skinned Boogie shut his eyes and took a deep breath of the still air. It was terribly quiet and his spirit longed for the sound of a crackling fire to fill his ears. Were it only that the flesh of slaves made as satisfying a noise when set ablaze the world around him might be perfect for just a brief moment.

Kazn never had been in the habit of talking to slaves much, and when he did they were typically spoken to as animals with no responses expected. There was a very brief break in tradition when he opened his eyes once more and stared at Naelona's dear slave, Kristopher. "Tell me, slave, how has your Mistress been of late?" As he recalled this one had been something of a favorite in the past. All he could see was a nervous young boy who couldn't keep still. However slim the possibility was, it might be that this slave possessed an insight into the daughter Kazn long had ostracized.

[Kristopher Roberts]

"Tell me, slave, how has your Mistress been of late?"

Kris blinked a few times, thinking on the matter for a moment before replying. "My Madam has been rather ill as of late, however she seems to be recovering everyday and becoming more like herself bit by bit. I have been doing my best to make sure she has everything she requires." Kristopher's poor hands couldnt stop wringing themselves together. He tugged and pulled at his fingers. Moving his sleeves about, pushing them up his arms and playing with his "T" shapped scar to keep himself busy.

His watches he left alone, trying hard not to mess with them and so he played with his scar. "Although, it would be kind of you to go and visit her. I am sure she would like to see you at sometime and maybe that would help improve her cond--" He paused for a moment, his shoulders shaking and head bowed somewhat as he stopped another rush of coughs. After it was finished he did his best to hide them, using his lines as if he stuttered. "...improve her condition, My Lord." Yes, his mistress had been strange as of late. She was not her normal self and seemed to be off in her own world and paying little attention to anything...or paying attention to her rules over her slaves. She was no longer black and white but seeing gray now between the shades. It was strange and Kris worried about her...

He waited a moment to allow the words to sink into the older Ezel's head before adding. "Is there anything else his lordship would like or do you wish me to take my leave now to allow you to enjoy your tea to it's fullest?"

[Kazn Ezel]

If Kris had given the wrong answers, then Kazn showed no visible signs of it. He maintained a cool and collected outward appearance while he weighed in the words spoken by this slave very, very carefully. In some ways asking a slave to speak was a trap, though the wisest of slaves knew the difference between what should be said and what should not be said. With that thought in mind, Kris had not said anything that could really be construed as terribly wrong, but it was the fact that he had said them quite so bluntly that created the problem in Kazn's head.

The problems that this slave's speech wrought were numerous, and Kazn considered each one for a few brief moments. There was the first issue he took, that this one's response implied a knowledge of Naelona's needs and worked to provide them. There was a different between needs and wants, and experienced slaves certainly would know the difference. To interpret the master's needs and wants, even when they were not expressed, was desirable, but impossible to ask of any slave. Inevitably they would mess it up, and that never sat well with Kazn.

Then, there was the sheer audacity of the boy's suggestion to visit Naelona. There had been a horrific falling out many, many years ago. Events that predated this slave's parents and grandparents had wrought the situation to what it was at this time. The father and daughter did not get along, but no one else could really be certain why. No one alive, at least, Kazn thought to himself.

But truly the very last mistake Kris had made may not have been entirely under his control. It was poorly hidden, and the fact that it had been hidden was what made it seem so nefarious when translated into the mind of Kazn Ezel. Naelona might not have known, but Kazn could just as easily hold it against her for sending a diseased wretch to serve him tea. This lowly and base creature was the carrier for some kind of pathogen that would seek to spread itself from host to host and bring nothing but suffering and misery with it. That such a sickly creature would be allowed into close contact with him, and to handle his tea, was an insult and threat that could not and would not be forgiven lightly.

He set down his teacup with just as pleasant a look on his face, though the tick in his neck as he set his cane down on the floor would suggest his much darker intentions to a familiar observer. Steadily he sauntered towards the vase, walking past Kristopher in order to do so. Reaching out his right hand he lifted up one of the three roses set in the vase and brought it to his nose. This delicate flower with its small bloom was far more fragrant than the larger ones would have been.

"I see," he finally muttered with his back turned to Kristopher. "I'd ask you to explain yourself further, but I think I've heard all I care to hear. I think in a moment I shall be letting you leave. But there is something I need to say first."

The Boogie turned around and looked Kristopher solidly in the face. "I find that fresh roses are beautiful, but tragic flowers. They reach out to all the world with a delicious fragrance, but their needles hurt those who attempt to get too close." As if to emphasize the point he rubbed the petals of the rose against the side of Kristopher's face. He stopped when the petals touched his ear and the sepals rested against the edge of the boy's cheek. Then, he just pulled it back.

"It would be silly if you truly and deeply could comprehend what I was trying to say. I suppose that is no matter. A slave is a slave, and nothing more." He offered out the rose to the slave boy before him and let out a heavy sigh. "I'd like for you to take this and something else to Lady Ezel for me." If he recalled correctly, Naelona was not particularly fond of roses, especially since they had such a close association with her father. That was not his problem. "It will take me just a moment longer to fetch the other thing," he added.

With a wave of his hand he dismissed the other slave from the room, possibly to go fetch the item in question for him.

[Kristopher Roberts]

"I'd ask you to explain yourself further, but I think I've heard all I care to hear. I think in a moment I shall be letting you leave. But there is something I need to say first."

Oh good, he would be able to take his leave soon! Kristopher was starting to feel edgy right now and his gut was twisting. His green eyes went towards the door as another cough was hidden. It was getting harder and harder to control his coughing and soon he knew he wouldn't be able to hide them anymore. But soon, he would be out that door. So he stayed put and listened to the older boogie carefully.

"I find that fresh roses are beautiful, but tragic flowers. They reach out to all the world with a delicious fragrance, but their needles hurt those who attempt to get too close.

Kristopher looked confused for a moment, then he averted his eyes as his face was touched with it. Feeling awkward and unnerved from the closness and motions of Kazn, he took a step back as if that would save him from impending doom. His hands tightened together, he was feeling really bad right now and wanted to run...but he didn't, he stayed there like a good slave.

"It would be silly if you truly and deeply could comprehend what I was trying to say. I suppose that is no matter. A slave is a slave, and nothing more. I'd like for you to take this and something else to Lady Ezel for me. It will take me just a moment longer to fetch the other thing,"

Kristopher's brillant green eyes look down at the small flower. It looked so harmless, but at the same time it reminded him of the devil. He wasn't sure why but he was afraid to touch the flower...something seemed wrong. But the flower was a flower and nothing more. So, slowly after a few moments he reached out with pale hands, however red from twisting about and held it. "Yes, Sir." He said softly, but he couldn't take his eyes from the rose.

He just stared at it as if it was a snake about to bite him. He fond it odd though, that he was to take a rose. He knew Naelona did not like them, but still he would do this to get out of here. The blond nodded softly as he was to wait.

But it felt like he was on the chopping block...

The slave leaving only added to his fear, he no longer wished to be here and suddenly he looked up at Kazn with his large emerald colored eyes and then back to the rose.

[Kazn Ezel]

The other slave exited the room and Kazn nodded as he turned his back and started to walk away from the slave. After all, it was only right that he give Kristopher his space. He must have been crowding the poor unfortunate soul and making him terribly nervous. It really was not that he felt sorry for the slaves; it would be like feeling sorry for the ants you stepped on while walking around outside. The space had an entirely separate purpose when Kazn did it.

After all, there would probably be quite a bit of thrashing.

Absentmindedly the Boogie reached into his coat and pulled out his pocket watch once more. He brought the silver piece closer to his face in order that he might hear the steady and orderly ticking sound. How he envied the magic of the clock and its gears, how everything turned in an orderly fashion for all eternity. The sad part was that someone had to keep winding it back up, or eventually it would stop. It seemed very symbolic, but was a tragically erroneous analogy. After all, very few people knew how to properly wind up the clocks he was thinking of.

"It's about time," he muttered before setting the watch back into his jacket. Shutting his eyes there was a hint of a smile. He imagined a sequence of still frames depicting spring flowers bursting into bloom. It was a beautiful sight.

Blindly he walked towards the doors, stopping just five feet short of them. He opened his eyes with a cruel sort of conviction before looking over his shoulder at the slave. Simultaneously he willed the rose held in Kristopher's hand, the object that the slave was looking at with such nervousness, to grow. At first, the stem would wrap itself around the boy's wrist, in an attempt to cling to its new host. It was very likely that as the thorns slid across the boy's skin they would cut and tear at his flesh, bringing blood from fresh wounds.

What would happen next would simply pass in a flash. The stem of the rose split into three stems, each of which would split into three more as each stem rapidly would start spreading over the boy's body. "I wouldn't recommend moving too much," Kazn murmured as the thorny growths quickly spread over half of the boy's body. "It will hurt more if you resist." Today was one of those days that Kazn hoped the slave would not listen to his warnings.

In a matter of a few more seconds the growths seemed to develop a will of their own. At that same moment a few of the growths seemed to decide on a target as three of the stems quickly worked their way upward. A cruel idea, they were heading straight for the boy's face. Kazn really hoped the boy would try and fight back. Maybe this one would even try running away?

[Kristopher Roberts]

"It's about time,"

Kristopher looked up at the boogie again, he opened his mouth to ask what he meant, but the sudden pain in his hand made him look down. His green eyes looked on in horror as the rose suddenly had a life of his own. Startled, he tired to let go of the rose in hopes it would let go of him and fall to the ground where he could escape it's thorny grasp.

His plan had failed, he let go of the rose in fear but it was too late, the rose was holding onto him tightly and he hissed in pain as the roses grow up, slitting open his shirt and skin with such thirst that he thought the plant meant to suck hims dry. Soon, he was in complete and utter pain as he cried out from the deep cuts being formed into his arm. He reached out to grasp the vines to pull them away from him but it only seemed to help the plant. For as soon as he was about to snap the stems with his bloody hand, new ones came out.

"I wouldn't recommend moving too much, It will hurt more if you resist."

Kristopher looked up in fear, "Wha...? No! S-s-top! Make it stop! Stop growing!" He yelled at first at the boogie in hopes he would make it stop but then he yelled at the plant as he tried to pull the vines off faster and fell to his knees, his arm was hurting, he tried to shake away the throns and the flowers but nothing seemed to stop it.

The thorns climbed up to his shoulder now and reached towards his breast, tears where in his eyes from the pain that came from being cut by a rose. The sudden burn and the never ending sting. The roses started to move towards his face and he looked on in horror, his hands tried to stop them from moving towards his face but it did nothing the slice them further. Nothing but panic went through his mind, he could no longer stay calm as he was right now. He was too busy trying to save his own life as the vines slid past his hands and onto the left side of his face.

The blond cried out in pain, it was so loud that he was sure someone might of heard him as fresh blood suddenly flowed down his face like a river and it was suddenly so very hard to see with his left eye as the vine sliced at it, slicing at its target as it grew upwards.

Kristopher fell over on his side, in shock as his sliced hands reached up to his face to try and save his eye by forcing the vines away as he withered in pain. His white shirFt suddenly started to turn red as cranberries. There was nothing he could do as he withered, laying on his back, fighting the vines violently in his bloody tears. He was losing blood, he could feel the spikes enter him and wrap about him.

Kristopher would never be able to look at a rose again.

[Kazn Ezel]

Struggle as he would, even with all of his might it was far too late for Kristopher to help himself. The instant he grabbed at the rose it was too late, since it would just wrap itself around his other hand and cut him up even worse. The wretched child before him seemed to recognize that without Kazn's help, though. It always was so satisfying for Kazn to see the red blood flow from open wounds.

"Blood and roses both are my favorite color," he said with a satisfied smirk as he watched the slave boy writhing in pain on the floor. It would not be long before the plant reached its final destination. One stem took to the inside of the boy's mouth. A second thrust itself up his nostril. The third and final one continued to crawl along the edge of his skin over Kristopher's eye, cutting what Kazn would describe as a beautiful gash over the orb of sight.

"You should not beg for mercy. It is a much better thing to suffer quietly and in a stoic manner." It was moments like this that Kazn wondered if human slaves experienced pain in a similar fashion to Boogies. It was a sick and cruel curiosity that deserved to be gratified at some point. Maybe he'd ask a professional about it at some point in the future.

"Perhaps this might serve as an appropriate wake up call to that daughter of mine." Stepping forth he struck Kristopher across the temple with the ruby head of his cane. It was a solid swing and the stone always made a wonderful sound when it connected with solid bone.

[Naelona Ezel]

Within the confines of her brother's quarters, Naelona traced her pale finger upon the worn cloth and wood armrest. Her chin propped lightly in her other hand, her gray eyes observing the outside world through an open window - the sheer curtains drawn yet billowed gently in the soft spring breeze. Summer was coming, things were growing, changing, every evidence of this rested upon the air from the sound of life to the scent of the orchards.. the boogie still believed decaying fall was better. Things then either lived, or they didn't, and she was fine with that.

Naelona hadn't forgotten the matter of her father. To her, a cursed boogie by ever standard and most of all by her own tongue. They held a bitter history swamped and buried by years and silence. His presence bothered it some.. and as much as she'd rather have ignored the pest that was her father, it was a slow, festering ordeal that was slowly demanding attention. Sending Kristopher was a simple thing, she knew he liked tea - if like was even the proper word. A small gesture, and Kristopher was well behaved even if it left a sour taste upon her tongue. The boy possessed an uncanny ability to survive. It was almost a bet, in way. A bet with her father and the decayed relations they had, could the boy survive him as well?

A flurry of fur, paws and tail brushed up under her free hand, hanging laxly over the far side of the chair to her leaning form. Mar scurried upon her lap, holding a bit of paper. It was thoroughly chewed over, and embedded with tiny teethmarks from one edge to the other. "Kyle." The boogie called after a moment, shifting her arms to rise herself from the chair. The boy was as obedient as his brother and she was sure why - it was but for his brother. "Fetch Mar something." The tone was unusually cold, and before he eats a finger was carried with it. The monkey chattered in response and promptly claimed the headrest of the chair as its own.

Things weren't going well, from the looks of the paper. Things weren't going well for the boy at all. "Go make yourself presentable, nothing over the top, but be neat and quick about it." Namely set back any stray hairs and make sure his clothing was decent. Naelona could often care less in the past what her slaves wore. As long as it didn't cause the death of them she could care less how many holes it had, but death was a fickle thing in the Ezel family. By now - she was sure the Roberts boy had noticed.

Giving him a few minutes to obey and prepare, Naelona already had her pipe in hand and was moving towards the door in short order. For the moment she didn't know where her brother was - it was probably just as well she didn't. With a rustle of gray folds of cloth she walked with a measure of purpose into the hall, head held high in what semblance of pride she still carried upon her slim shoulders. "Stay close and stay quiet, Kyle." It was risky in her mind to be toting about a slave so new to her command, he picked up quickly given the short time he's existed within her possession, but was it quick enough? Commands could be learned.. but resilience..

"Remember Kyle.." Naelona intoned solemnly as they transversed the halls, passing doors at her own measured gait though weak and slow paced at times they became. Nearing the doors of the Music Room, and the cries that came from behind them. "..do not allow what you see to unnerve you. No matter the sight. Is this understood?" the boogie asked, her reminder to him of her expectation of absolute and unwavering obedience, her pipe held ready to knock upon the door, but her steely orbs were coldly settled upon the elder boy.

She could smell the blood already, blood of flesh she herself had tasted before upon her own lips. This brother had best understand it, his life could easily depend upon it. Him and his younger brother both. In this place I cannot protect you was written plainly upon her features. "Be obedient, be still, and you both may yet survive this cursed land." Naelona murmured, a last well-wish of advice before she raised her pipe and rapped solidly upon the door. A meeting long coming, were it ever fated to happen.

[Kyle Roberts]

Just to the side and rear of the chair stood Kyle, head lowered slightly and hands clasped behind his back obediently. His mind was blank, eyes equally so as they stared down at the floor several feet in front of him. He'd learned sometime ago that it was best to clear his mind and keep it that way when in the company of his mistress, that way there was no chance he might slip and disgrace her. When he was with Naelona, all thoughts of his life beyond her vanished, in those moments he lived only to serve his mistress. It was odd to be sure, that he should be so obedient, especially considering his short time under her ownership, and more than a few of the others sneered at him for it. To them he was known simply as her pet, and more than once he'd heard the phrase 'that bitch Naelona's little lapdog'.Those that dared utter such a thing soon fond themselves under his brother's care, no one insulted his mistress and got away with it.

He made no move as her furry familiar bounded into the room in a frenzy, one wasn't with a master long before they got used to the odd comings and goings of the beasts kept by those they served. Despite his loyalty to Naelona, it was one of Kyle's deepest desires to kick her dratted ape off of the tallest tower. But he always restrained himself, knowing that his mistress would be upset with him if he did such a thing, and he sought only to please her.

As she spoke his name his head came up slightly, showing that he was listening yet still remaining submissive. At her command he silently nodded, turning swiftly on his heel and pacing to the other side of the room. Here he knew there lay a finger of some poor child that her brother had devoured, and soon enough he had picked it up and was returning to her side. In the old days such actions would have deeply disturbed him, but like all good slaves he'd learned how to adapt. As long as there was only a finger, he could try and convince himself that the child was safe and sound, maybe even at that very moment sitting down at the hospital getting patched up by Kris. He never fooled himself, but it sometimes helped.

Reaching his mistress' side he calmly extended the finger to the little cretin, letting it snatch it out of his hand to devour. His assigned duty done he prepared to return once more to his servile position, only to be ordered again. At this command he merely turned his head, glancing into a mirror on the far wall. Kyle was dressed in a plain black dress shirt matched perfectly to his black jeans, even his hair was combed flat for once. The only thing out of place was a ravel at his collar and he immediately jerked that loose.

When Naelona exited the room, her slave was in his customary position of a pace behind and another to the side. From there he was still in the place of one of lower rank, but was properly positioned to go about his assigned duties or to defend her if the need arose. There were many that scoffed at him for such thoughts, but the time had already come once before when he'd had to protect his mistress from those that sought to do her harm. When she spoke he merely nodded, knowing full well that he would not do otherwise. And yet when they approached the music room and heard the frantic cries from within, he felt his resolve tested. She repeated her warning, and this time his nod was accompanied with a quiet "Yes Mistress".

They stood before the door, and his hands clenched into fists where they were behind his back. He knew who those screams of pain belonged to, and he too could smell the unmistakable scent of blood. His brother was in danger, and it was all he could do to keep from bursting in to his rescue. But he knew that if he did he would not only disgrace his mistress, he would put both his own and his brother's lives in danger, maybe even his mistress' as well, and he couldn't allow that. And so he remained silent, not even the slightest trace of emotion or recognition on his face as he silently nodded once more. Yet there was a whisper in his mind that told him he would not survive this night of blood.

[Kristopher Roberts]

He had never been in so much pain in all his short life and that was saying a lot. He had thought not to long ago that he could with stand anything a boogie threw at him in the terms of abuse. But it seemed this was no longer the case as he thrashed on the floor and choked on the vines as they entered his mouth and wind pipes. His eyes or rather eye was wide open in silent tears as he no longer had the ability to scream with a mouth full of flowers, choking him, killing him slowly.

He raised a shaky hand to try and once again to pull the vines out as he no loner could breath. He could no loner hear anything. Voices seemed to fade into nothing, it sounded as like everything was far away. He barely heard the knocking as the cane cracked into his skull. It sent his world spinning and the blond human passed out.

There was nothing more he could do but be at the mercy of the people around him. Although, the blond was losing so much blood now, it trickled down his body like a stream, spreading out across the dark floor, his breathing shallow and hardly there.