2
It was a freezing cold day and he was relieved to be wrapped in his fur lined coat. His trim leather gloves, (fur lined also,) warmed his hands marvellously. His perfectly pressed uniform and immaculate leather boots added to his comfort. The hat that sat upon his head kept it marginally warm, but it was there for the purpose of letting all know that he was in charge. All in all though he felt at ease, though a little cold. Almost cheerful, which was an unusual mood for him to feel. Upon his arrival; the extraction of the creatures from the Ghetto had gone well, albeit with one too many casualties for his liking. This had secured his place as not only the youngest member of the SS, but one of the few to receive personal thanks from the Führer himself. His youth made him stand out from the rest; he was the youngest ever to work himself so quickly through the ranks. He; it was universally acknowledged, was perfection.
Though not blond, he was as Aryan as was physically and mentally possible. He was tall and lithe, but built enough to show that he was fit and healthy. His face was beautifully handsome; with creamy smooth skin and almond shaped, piercing chocolate eyes. His nose was straight and his lips held an elegance about them, which told of good genes. His hair was auburn; shiny and soft looking, with never a strand out of place. The fringe carefully brushed along the top of his eye line, overall his hair was just a little longer than was usually allowed in the military. He got away with this because of who he was, because of all the merit he had earned. His stance was regal and strong, authoritarian. His hands were precisely formed; his nails trimly kept, effectively hiding what they had wrought. Not only was he attractive; but he was dangerously intelligent, easily able to control and manipulate. His previous achievements for the Gestapo were renowned; he had only taken his current position on the request of the one of the Führer's subordinates. He was a classic beauty, whose visage lied to all who looked upon him.
He had only been in command of this concentration camp for three months, but already the alterations he'd made were ensuring more efficient workers. Workers had been terrified into submission. He had quickly made pseudo friends with many of his subordinates and was well liked for throwing numerous parties at his mansion, which overlooked the Jewish encampment. Though he was appreciated in a way, this didn't stop his subordinates from being petrified of him. They knew what he was capable of, what he had done to get where he was. He was a man who was exceedingly hard to read and to please. He hardly ever smiled; hardly ever laughed, only spoke when it was absolutely necessary. If truth were told he didn't think much of the numerous men working under him, he didn't deem them worthy of his time due to their unintelligence and dull listless eyes. But then he supposed this isolation was all part of his being General of this place.
He was glad though that his job came with certain perks, such as his fine food, clothes and home. Another benefit was the number of women who were openly available to sleep with him. Though he didn't hold women in very high esteem, (due to their illogical emotions and delusions of his marrying them,) he enjoyed fucking them. He enjoyed sex far more then alcohol, smoking and killing. In fact he was smoking less nowadays due to a want to be healthier. He had never really smoked much at all anyway and currently reviled his dependence on nicotine. Smoking however was a social hobby and he was aware of how graceful he looked when he was taking a drag. Women always commented on it. He had often mused on how stupid they were; blinded by his looks into believing he was a nice person who would support them emotionally and treasure them. Only one women who he regularly slept with understood who he truly was, she was a tall brunette who wasn't as shallow as most women. She was also not nearly as foolish as the others. She was a very good fuck, enjoying sex almost as much as he did. She was the one who had suggested that he acquire a housekeeper.
So far he had managed without one, since he believed himself more than capable of taking meticulous care of his own house and preparing his own meals. But his favourite mistress had commented on who he was, a person who deserved to be served. He had thought about her idea and then decided that it couldn't hurt to acquire a housekeeper. There were plenty of able Jews to pick from, so why shouldn't he take advantage? There were his, in a way after all. He wouldn't have to pay the animal and could treat it how he liked, not having to deal with the pleasantries that a paid servant would expect. By doing this he supposed that he would have more time for imperative activities, as well as pleasurable ones. This was why he was standing in the freezing cold, awaiting his men to bring fourth Jewish girls. He was going to pick one out for the opportunity to serve him. To be honest he didn't really think that he was going to pick out a girl. Firstly he didn't care to think that a female would be taking permanent residence in his home, (albeit in the cellar.) Secondly girls, in relation to work just didn't possess the durability of men. He looked at a large group of Jews working to erect a building in the distance; he scanned the structure looking for fault. He found it and with a small sinister smirk decided; for the time being, to ignore it.
He stood, taking a moment to quietly observe the environment he had helped create. The camp was surrounded by several evil looking fences and thick barbed wire. The gates and perimeter of the camp were heavily guarded and the tomb stone road throughout the middle of the camp was finished. This had been his idea; to prove to the Jews that they were no longer in control of their destinies, that they were less than nothing. Even in death they would be disregarded. Under his rule food and water rations had been cut, the sexes had been separated, overcrowding was commonplace and lethal force was authorised. Overall he was satisfied that he had managed to make the workers lives as miserable as possible. The Jews were here to have their spirits broken and decimated, making them easier to eliminate. In a way the notion was ridiculous as they didn't count as human, they didn't have souls. He stopped that trail of thought, as sometimes he wasn't happy with where it led him. He took a drag from his cigarette; a brand specially imported from Japan, a country that he knew the Führer was thinking of allying Germany with. When he had discovered this he had immediately thought of the saying 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer.'
He was interrupted from his chain of thought by the arrival of a nameless solider herding a line of ten young Jewish women at a run towards him. He noted the soldier's gun aimed at the women. This was good. This showed them that they had no choice and could be killed on a whim. They were lined up in front of him and he grimly inspected them. As he had predicted none of them were up to scratch. They were much too thin, haggard. Some of them still retained their former prettiness; which a few good meals could fully remedy, but he wasn't particularly interested. Their eyes were full of dismay and dread, many of them would probably burst into tears at the slightest hint of a raised voice. Though this was his goal, it rendered them of no use to his requirements. They were shivering and useless. He dismissed them and bade the solider bring him young men to inspect. At that, moment his second in command appeared at his side wondering what was wrong with the women.
"They are weak and useless to me." He had replied in an icy, hard voice.
His second had laughed, agreed and returned to overseeing the construction work. The man hadn't yet noticed the fatal flaw which someone would be punished for. He had patience, he could wait. In the distance he could see the soldier rounding up young males. There seemed to be a certain reluctance from the men to leave their work, clearly not wanting to incur a beating or even death. He liked that. This showed that any boy he picked would be obedient and strive to work to the best of his ability. He patiently waited for the soldier to round up the best; well if you could call it that, of the bunch. General Yagami inhaled more smoke; pleased that he was now down to two cigarettes a day, proud that his willpower was nothing less than flawless.
Lawliet was perturbed. Change it was universally acknowledged was not good here. And the soldier that was rounding up males had a kind of personal vendetta against him. The boy, (for Lawliet knew he was much older than he,) had given him several vicious beatings for no reason at all. Not that the Nazis needed a reason. While he diligently broke apart rocks, (a menial task that he knew served no real purpose,) he watched his persecutor round up the healthiest looking males he could. Then he approached him, menace shining through his eyes. Lawliet kept his face down, knowing he was about to get a kicking. And he did. In an instant he was on the floor clutching his stomach and keeping his features expressionless. The soldier snarled down at him,
"And you, you piece of shit are coming as well. Hopefully General Yagami will see fit to shoot you in the head, when he sees the state of you."
As Lawliet slowly rose, he observed the other men he was to accompany. All fitter looking and younger than him. Though he guessed that his age was most likely unknown. These boys were teenagers and he had just turned twenty seven, he often used to be mistaken for someone much younger. They were screamed at to run in the direction of the main gates, gates he hadn't passed through since his arrival. Lawliet thought he should be quite frightened, he hadn't yet seen the General but he had heard stories of the man's cruelty. His aggressor had picked him especially for this 'little parade' in the hope the General would, (upon seeing his thin and unusual self,) kill him out of disgust and malice. This satisfied Lawliet a little, as it would seem his tormentor didn't have the guts to kill him himself. He'd had plenty of opportunities after all. He enjoyed the run; it warmed his numb extremities from the bitter cold that chilled his blood. Lawliet accepted the fact that his life was most likely about to end and there was a strange kind of peace in that.
General Yagami watched as the boys were rushed over and lined up in front of him. He was pleased that these Jews looked more robust than the pitiful females. He gazed at the bowed heads and decided to speak to them.
"One of you lucky boys is going to be chosen to be my housekeeper…" he said in an almost sweet, honey covered voice as he walked up and down the line of youths.
He paused briefly by Lawliet, who dared not look up. Only planning to look at the General if he decided to strike. Lawliet was alarmed at how young the General's voice sounded, couldn't be more than a late adolescent.
The General had paused to look at the youth at the furthest end of the line, as the Jews face was hidden by black unruly hair that stuck out at all angles. Unkempt was the best way to describe it. Yagami noted the sound of cold puffs of air exiting the boy's mouth. He continued.
"…has anyone of you ever served domestically in a household before?" Yagami returned to the middle of the line; his eyes unconsciously flicking to the Jew at the end of the line, more out of curiosity than anything. Nine hands raised in the air. The one hand that wasn't up was the boy who hadn't yet raised his head. Incidentally this boy looked thinner than the others, smaller somehow. Begging the question, why was this Jew bought forward? Interest was winning over necessity. Yagami inhaled some smoke and then moved towards the faceless youth.
Lawliet hadn't raised his hand as he had never run a house; in fact he was the one who had had servants. Lovely servants who had bought him all the sweets and cakes he could ever wish for…he stopped there, thinking about his past was still very painful. His breath froze when a pair of leather boots shined to a reflective degree, appeared in his line of vision. He was being directly addressed.
"On the other hand I don't really want another man's servant do I? All those annoying habits that inevitably pick up. No, I want a housekeeper who will do things my way."
Lawliet slowly, but determinedly looked up. And was shocked to see the beautiful face of a handsome youth staring intently at him and for a moment his thoughts were lost.
Yagami was astounded at the face he was greeted with. So pale and white! (With the exception of bruising.) And the eyes! They were unlike any eyes he had ever seen. So wide and black and calculating! This boy was intelligent; the General could clearly see the spark of raw intellect. This Jews eyes betrayed him. Even though he knew he should kill this boy on the spot, he didn't. For some reason the will to destroy was replaced with the will to possess. He made his decision.
"Tell me your name." Yagami ordered, before taking a drag.
Lawliet struggled for a moment, looking anywhere but the Nazi. He didn't want this! Didn't want to be taken from his people to serve in the house of this devil, who wore an angel's face so brazenly. His hands scrunched unconsciously in front of him. He didn't want to be near this SS General, didn't want to be alone with him in his domain. A glint of the skull on the Generals hat caught his eye and he shuddered.
"I won't ask again." Came the silky tone of the boy Generals voice.
Yagami had watched interestedly as the obsidian eyes avoided him and became clouded with doubt and turmoil. It was somewhat brave to keep in waiting, brave but still dangerous. His patience had run out, (which happened rarely,) and he had issued a threat.
Lawliet looked the General, square in the eye and quietly spoke.
"Luca Rosa." Lawliet dutifully gave the General his fake name. He had spoken as softly as possible.
Yagami was surprised that the boy had given him direct eye contact, but was secretly thrilled that here was a Jew that was not completely demoralised. It would be entertaining to see how long that would last under his roof. He stepped closer to the boy, noting how his body immediately tensed. Suddenly he yanked up the Jews hands, which had been worrying the material of his long sleeved top. The skin on the hands was as colourless as the face and strangely soft. The hands were violently shivering from the cold.
Lawliet had almost jumped out of his skin when his hands were seized. He hadn't meant to, but he eyes were suddenly staring into the General's imploringly. The General had regarded him coolly, let go of his hands then taken a drag from his cigarette and blown the smoke back towards him. The General then looked towards the young soldier, (who looked a little sour,) and nodded a 'yes' at him. Lawliet felt sick as the other youths were screamed at, and then jogged back through the main gates.
Yagami watched them leave, then cast a look of dismissal at his new servant before turning around towards the area of construction. The General felt cheerful once again; strangely pleased with his new acquisition, for reasons he couldn't quite fathom.
Lawliet was deeply disturbed now. He was cut off from his people. He hadn't ever felt more alone. And he had looked squarely in the eyes of General Yagami and lived. But he remembered his promise to only gaze into the eyes of his murderer. He was going to be living with the man who would one day kill him, he was sure. He wished the General had just shot him immediately, for anything would be better than waiting for death in the mansion of the enemy. Alone.
