Never to Be - Chapter 1
By: EricaX
A chill ran through the open windows, making the wholey rags covering it, shake about. The cramped attic space the windows led into were dusty and old. The roof was slanted, making the room seem even smaller than it already was. Spider webs traced the corner, twinkling their patterns in the light from the window. Little dots known as spiders themselves, waited patiently for their prey to be caught in their web as movement became evident on the floor.
On each side of the room, there lay a bundle of blankets. The blankets were tattered and frayed, and looked as though they hadn't been washed in years.
Whimpering was the first sound escaping from one of the bundles as someone underneath began twisting in agony and fear. A thin layer of sweat lay on the boy's skin as he finally protruded his head out of the covers, hoping to escape his threatening nightmare.
The boy continued to moan and whimper until finally, a hand gently rested on top of his forehead, wiping away strands of the boy's long, greasy, indigo hair. The boy froze at this unexpected touch, leaving the person's hand to slolwy be lifted away.
"Shh...There, there now..." spoke a slightly deep boy's voice. "Nothing to fret about."
The boy having the nightmare opened his amethyst eyes and looked up to see his savior from the dreadful dream.
"D-Daisuke?" whispered the boy, his pale skin contrasting with his hair. The boy mentioed smiled down at him as he was crouching over him. The older boy was far more better built than the boy in the tattered blankets. His skin was several tones darker, and his hair was done up in brownish red spikes.
"Yes, it is me. Still having that same re-occuring nightmare?" asked Daisuke. The other boy nodded. "Ken, you need to let it go..."
"No Daisuke" shivered the boy named Ken. He shivered at a memory. "Today is the day. The day Master promised to beat me. He always keeps his promises, no matter how drunk he gets."
Daisuke scowled at the mentioning of the promise. "Actually, to say that correctly, it would have to be, no matter how many drinks he doesn't have. You know Master prefers beating us drunk."
Ken nodded as he slowly moved his thin, aching body into a sitting posiition, arranging the covers so that they were over his knees. He wore nothing over his chest, same with Daisuke. All they wore were identical pairs of black pants.
"Not to worry, friend, you'll make it through this" Daisuke tried to assure. Ken shook his head, still unbelieving.
The clock tower across the street from the open window began to chime. The two boys looked out to see that it was now seven in the morning.
"We're late" stated Ken morosely. "Just another reason..."
Daisuke didn't let him finish, for he covered his mouth with his hand. "Relax, just don't think about it, alright?" Ken had involuntarily flinched at the touch, harmful memories filling his mind.
Ken nodded. The two stood, bending a bit due to the low ceiling. They rummaged through the blankets they had just slept on and found their daily work clothes. Changing, the boys heard footsteps outside the door on the opposite side of the window. They froze, watching it carefully. They waited to see what would happen, both in mid-step of changing clothes. Silence ensued, allowing the two to breathe a sigh of momentary relief.
Just as Ken's clothes were on, the door burst open, and a large thick hand grasped his neck tightly, forcing Ken to stop breathing. Instictively, Ken brought his hands to his neck, hoping to pry the hand off him.
"Well, well, well. What have we here? Incompetent slaves!" The man's hand losened his grip around Ken's neck, allowing him to fall to his knees, gasping for breath as he rubbed his raw throat. "Lazy servant boys! You're useless!"
The man was tall, and very well built. His long shiny blonde hair glistened in the little light there was around them. His eyes were as black as coal, cold as ice.
"Master Claudius!" cried Daisuke, bowing out of habit. The man sneered at him. Claudius' eyes were there to see but one. And only one. His eyes left Daisuke, and fell back down to Ken. He grinned smutly.
"There you are my pet. My precious pet. So sorry, I hand't realized it was you I'd been choking. I was hoping it had been your cowardly friend!" His black eyes shifted Daisuke for a moment, then returned to Ken. Daisuke, still bent in a bow, sneered at Claudius.
Claudius ran a cold finger down Ken's spine, making the boy shiver in fear. "Ah yes...So beauitful and fragile...My little pet..." Claudius gave a twisted smile. "You were late several days ago...were you not? Messed up several orders, and made lots of mistakes..." Ken nodded from his spot on the floor. "You know what that means..."
Ken worked hard at keeping the tears at bay. Claudius then wrapped a hand around Ken's shirt collar, lifting it over Ken's head, nearly choking him in the process. Throwing the shirt into Daiksuke's face, Claudius then wrapped his arms around Ken's crouched form, lifting the boy to his chest. Biting Ken's ear a bit, he asked, "How old are you now, My Pet?"
"E-Eighteen, s-sir" shivered Ken, begging internally that his Master would stop biting his already throbbing ear.
"You're so formal...and...frightened..." hissed the blonde intisingly.
"P-please Master. Let Servant Ken go! He meant no harm when he was late the other day!" begged Daisuke, not wishing to see his best friend get hurt.
Claudius sneered at him. "Silence boy!" With a flick of his wrist, Claudius slapped Daisuke in the face, making the boy fall to the dusty floor. The man turned his attention back to his pet. Leaning down to Ken's ear, he whispered. "Let us go where no one will interefere with our fun..."
Silent tears were now falling freely down Ken's cheeks as he was pulled out the door by Claudius and taken to his personal hell.
Claudius slammed the door behind him, leaving Daisuke to sit there in frozen silence, staring at the door his friend was just forced through.
The hallway was silent save for the pattering of bare feet on the wooden floors. Dozens of slaves ran down the secret hallways, meant for only the slaves to be seen, and not any of the guests.
It was noontime, which meant, lunchtime. The royal family was excepting to eat strictly at noon, and for the last several hours, assigned slaves have been ordered to prepare the food they wished to eat.
However, now that all the slaves had finished preparing such elegant food, they were now odered to report to the dining room, where they stood, wearing formal clothing instead of their slave attire, and watched as the royal family ate their meal.
The large bright room was covered with marble. Artworks made by famous artists hung on the walls. Long silky red wine drapes fell from the ceilings, covering half of the high doors.
Daisuke, who had been in the dining room for several minutes now, standing straight stiff as all slaves were meant to, looked about his suuroundings. He was looking at the faces of the other slaves. He was looking for Ken. He had not heard a word from the indigo boy since Master Claudius took him away hours ago. It was begginning to worry the redhead.
Scanning the faces of slaves, while holding the white towel with one arm as a butler would do, Daisuke was finally able to find Ken. He was clear on the other side of the dining room. Daisuke had to get onto his very tiptoes in order to see him, yet he was over there. And he didn't look all too great either. Even from clear across the room, Daisuke was able to see that ken had a black eye, along with several cuts and bruises on his face. He'd have to make sure he helped Ken clean up his wounds after dinner and they were safely in their room.
Once he found Master Claudius, along with all the other head Dukes and Masters, sit down, Daisuke was unable to look at Ken anymore, and was forced to look straight ahead as everyone else spoke.
"I say, dear Yamato" began a small, meek Duke. "When is your brother due to arrive?"
The man who the meek little Duke was speaking to, was none other than King Yamato. The King was very young, around twenty-six, and had short blonde hair and thrilling blue eyes. His smile was astounding, and the lucious robes he was wearing contrasted perfectly with his tender skin.
"The day after tommorrow. Thursday, yes Thursday. He;s not looking forward to coming home from his boarding school. He's made so many friends there, or so he claims in his letters" Yamato gave a small chuckle, spipping into his red wine. "Now, of course, he will put into the secondary King bedroom. Father used to forbid us of going in there...but.."
The whole room went silent. Everyone knew that several months ago, King Lendan and Queen Amareil had both past away from serious illness, leaving young Prince Yamato to take position as King. Now that things were finally settled and arranaged, Yamato wished for his younger brother to come live in the palace once more, for he couldn't help but feel somewhat lonely in such a large place.
Someone cleared their throat, hoping to change the topic to something more on a higher note.
"So, do you suppose young Prince Takeru is ready to come back after their death being so close?" he asked.
Yamato shook his head. "I am not at all sure. But whichever the case may be, he is coming wether he likes it or not. And tha reminds me. I wish for you, Claudius, to choose a slave fit enough to wait on Prince Takeru. You may choose more than one if you want. Two might be better. Now, let's dig in!"
Cladius bowed his head to the King, being several chairs down from his left. Daisuke was sure he could see the blonde's eyes flicker to Ken, but he was unsure, foir someone across the table had spoken to him. Knowing Claudius, whichever slave he chose, would be in for trouble.
Whimpering and moaning escaped the thin door of Ken and Daisuke's small room. Inside, Daisuke was trying his very hardest to try and heal ken's nasty wounds that he had recieved while in the hands of their master, Claudius.
Ken lay on his back on top the blankets in complete tears as Daisuke rubbed healing herbs on the bloody whip marks on his back. The red head also tried whispering soothing words into the boy's ear, yet they had no effect.
"I-I told you Daisuke. I told you. I knew he was going to do that. It was horrible..." whimpered Ken through the blankets and tears.
Daisuke shook his head. "You already told me the gruesome details once, you don't need to tell me again. The way you described things will leave mental images in my head for months."
"Sorry..." sighed Ken, finally sitting up. Daisuke handed Ken his shirt back, who took it and laid it beside him.
"How's your eye?" questioned Daisuke, looking at the nasty puprleness in the bruise.
"Stings" Ken confessed. Daisuke nodded understandingly.
"I just hope next time won't be this bad..." prayed Ken softly. Daisuke remained silent. He wasn't so sure things were going to get any better.
