Karkat stared blankly into the darkness. Was he dead? That was something he couldn't be sure of. He remembered walking for such a long time, unable to see or speak or protest before they loosed him and started torturing him. They held him back and branded his chest with the symbol of the empress, right above the subjugglator brand with a red hot iron. Then they pushed him to his knees in front of a metal tub of cold water and the session turned into an interrogation about the rebels. If he refused to answer, they'd dunk his head under the water until he was nearly out of breath, then pull him out and try again. He managed to grit his teeth and keep his silence until they gave up and threw him, wet and scarcely clothed into a cold, damp cell where filthy, moldy smelling water dripped in green and rust colored streams from the walls and ceiling before pooling on the floor.
He was so exhausted, and huddled, half conscious in the corner until they came to retrieve him again. He remembered them shackling his wrists behind his back and taking him to a tub of water with a lid that closed over it. They picked him up by the legs and shoulders and lowered him, kicking and protesting, into it. They held him under while he fought and closed the lid, bolting it down heavily. He held his breath until his head felt light, tried to kick open the lid, choked in the water suddenly, coughed and gagged as the liquid filled his lungs and then there was ease. He could breathe, and that's why he couldn't say whether or not he was dead. Did he really drown, or were there other forces at work here?
His panic slipped away into quiet surrender. He wondered if Terezi was alright down there by herself. Who was going to tend to her back now? What were their supervisor's plans for her? He had been so scared that she would die when she went to trial, and now here he was dying himself, or at least that was one possibility. Everything still hurt just as much as life did, and his worries were the same. He was in no way at peace, and he felt pretty alive, but whatever he was in made everything seem surreal and uncertain.
Then suddenly there was light from above, and arms grabbing him. Was this it? Was this the end? He fought a little. He wasn't ready!
Then his head broke water and he realized he truly wasn't dead, but he kind of wished he was. He was back in the dark and dank dungeon, and as they tossed him to the slimy floor, he could only vomit out the liquid, letting his lungs empty themselves through his mouth and nose. He couched, taking in the air, his chest in pain, his body shaking from shock. He opened his blurry and bloodshot eyes, looking up at the long, tall, sculpted body of a female troll sheathed in a black and fuchsia jumpsuit. Her hair reached the floor and extended long after that while her horns extended almost to the ceiling. Her neck and arms and fins were covered in gold jewelry, and she had a gold tiara across her forehead. A gold double sided trident glinted in her hand.
The Empress. The High Imperial Condescension herself.
His heart jumpstarted into base instinctive panic, and his blood rushed in his ears as she slowly grasped his chin and inspected him, smiling with wickedly sharp teeth, her amber clawed hand icy cold and clammy, almost more amphibian then troll. Her hot pink lips pouted perfectly as she looked him over and used a small golden blade to slice a small cut into his forearm. He cringed in paid as the blood gushed out slowly, and dripped down in strands of bright crimson. He looked up at her in terror as she started laughing.
"So it's true. You really do bleed the same filthy color as the Sufferer, and you're such a tiny thing too. How cute. I think I'll keep you as my pretty little lap pawbeast, after I make an example of you to the rebels of course."
"A-an e-example?" Stuttered out Karkat, unable to keep from shaking.
The Condesce chuckled. "To warn off the rebels from coming to rescue you as planned in their little letters with you. It will surely put them back in their place."
Karkat clenched his teeth, anger replacing his fear. "A-as if that will w-work." He took a deep breath to still his quivering, his voice coming out as a growl. "And what about the water? What was that stuff? How am I alive?"
The Condesce glared at him, and slapped his briskly across the face, unamused. "Quite the talkative one aren't you? Fine, I'll humor you this once. It's a special substance. Water filled with enough oxygen for lowbloods to breathe in it. It's a personal favorite of mine." She looked to her guards. "Now take him back to his cell, and be sure to feed and water him. We'll deal with him further in the morning."
Karkat hung his head and let them take him, dragging limply like a rag doll. The slap itself had been enough to send the room spinning and throw him into a state of subdued dizziness. He was sure that whatever they did to him in the morning, he would have absolutely no strength to fight them back. He just hoped that the rebels did.
0o0o0o0o
"Your Highness." Addressed Duelscar as he walked to the throne of the Condesce.
She looked down at him through her pink framed glasses, looking bored. "What is it Duelscar?"
"Forgive me for speculating, but is it wise to make a public example of the mutant blood? I imagine it will only kindle the anger of the rebels rather than snuff them out."
The Condesce scoffed. "Exactly. That's what I want. The rebels will storm the castle to save their dear friend and walk right into our trap. It will be simple really."
Duelscar smirked. "Excellent plan as always, my liege."
She nodded nonchalantly. "Now, while you're here, has the teal blood been taken care of?"
"Of course. She's well out of the way. I think we can safely say she is no longer a threat to us."
0o0o0o0o
Terezi woke up slowly, groggy, wondering what their supervisor had in store for them today. Karkat was gone, which surprised her. Had she really slept so long for his scent to become so faded? Would their supervisor have allowed that? Had her bandages even been changed? Something was very wrong.
She sat up, and used the cot to support herself as she stood, ready to investigate for anything that was out of place. She checked under the mattress for the letters, but she didn't feel anything. They were gone. Her heart sped up as she realized that Karkat was probably somewhere worse than she originally thought.
She sighed as she sat on the cot again. This was very very bad. Karkat could already be dead, and there was no telling what they'd do to her. She flinched when the supervisor walked in, carrying shackles with him.
"Come with me." He ordered flatly, pulling her up by the arm.
Terezi struggled as he turned her around and pulled her wrists behind her back, baring her teeth as he secured them with the shackles. "Where's Karkat?" She demanded, growling from the back of her throat.
"It's none of your concern." Said the supervisor. "You'll never see him again. The Empress will make sure of that." He pushed her forward and roughly dragged her out of the cell.
Terezi struggled, but kept her mouth shut as she was held firmly and guided through the musty stone halls to a large cavern filled with a large variety of imprisoned trolls, and well-dressed trolls deciding their fates. The noise of the crowd rebounded deafeningly from the cave walls, and the air was saturated with the smell of sweat, filth, iron, and cinnamon blood. The mess of scents and sounds was enough to get her feeling lost as her supervisor handed her over to a tall troll, who patted her down and looked her over briefly before dragging her into the chaos and hooking her to a line of slaves, making her sit on the dusty stone floor.
"A new one for me?" Came the smooth voice of a female sapphire blooded troll, who took Terezi's chin and inspected her. "She's blind. What a shame."
"Better with you than somewhere else." Argued the tall troll.
"True. We'll utilize her. If she makes herself useful, we won't shift her elsewhere." Scoffed the Sapphire blood and they moved on.
Terezi could sense the fear of the trolls connected to her as they sat there tense and silent. She decided it would be better not to make a display of herself and bowed her head, staying quiet, her crouched posture tearing a little at her closing wounds. She pretended that it didn't bother her. Silent and dignified was more her style.
It was a long, tedious wait in the din of the cavern. A few more slaves were hook to their chain in the meantime before they were all dragged to their feet and led up into the main area of the castle. By now, Terezi was just curious to see what they were going to do with them. Kitchen work? Cleaning?
After a great deal of walking up a variety of discreet staircases they were led into a small room where they were unchained and told to strip while the sapphire blooded troll issued them new clothes. Terezi changed reluctantly into the airy, scanty, open backed dress, knowing her smoky grey and turquoise bruises, scars, and wounds could clearly be seen. One troll came over to her, pulled down the top half of her dress and changed her old stained bandages with new, clean ones, letting her pull her dress back up when she was done. She could smell the fear from the lower blooded trolls. Cinnamon and adrenaline. She had a feeling they knew more of what was going on than she did.
A finely clothed blue blood came over to them, pacing in front of them with a haughty posture. "Welcome, slaves, to your new jobs here today. This floor is where the highbloods come to enjoy themselves and relax. You jobs will be to entertain them, serve them, and most importantly, pleasure them when necessary."
Terezi cringed, noticing the troll inspecting them individually. She had basically just been assigned to the brothel.
"Your training will be on the job, starting immediately. We must make preparation for this evening." He stopped in front of Terezi and frowned, highly offended by her presence. "I blind troll, in my faction? Why has she not been culled yet? I won't have this. Who assigned her here?"
"I DID." Came the booming voice that Terezi couldn't help but recognize. Gamzee walked in, grinning, and took the troll by the front of the suit. "I requested her here FOR MY OWN USE, but since you don't APPRECIATE HER, I can take her off your hands now."
The troll looked at Gamzee in terror. "S-she is all y-yours, h-highblood s-sir." Stuttered out the troll.
Gamzee's grin turned to a satisfied smirk as he grabbed pair of shackles and walked over to her and pulled out of line. "HOLD YOUR HANDS OUT, SLUT." He growled and Terezi glared at him as she did so, her confusion not masking how much she hated him as he shackled her wrists. He dragged her out and laughed once they were out of earshot. "What a motherfucking piece of cake that was."
"What do you want, Gamzee?" Demanded Terezi sharply.
"Aww, come on sis, is that any way to address your new master, especially when that master has saved you twice now?"
Terezi growled. "You count this as saving? Keeping me as your personal twisted blackrom sex slave?"
Gamzee noticed over trolls walking past and gave her a stern glare, shoving her into the wall and leaning imposingly over her. "Why don't you SHUT THE FUCK UP like a good slave?" He growled.
Terezi glared up at him, her heart pounding before she bowed her head, looking at her hands. "Sorry . . . master." She mumbled. She was in no position to be arguing with him like that. Gamzee nodded, satisfied and led her back to his living quarters where he settled into a chair and ordered to sit on the floor at his feet.
He sighed. "Now did you really think I'd give you any real information out there where every motherfucker even remotely close can hear us? Don't go thinking you're going to get any special treatment, Pyrope, but this keeping you as a slave thing is only a cover."
"A cover for what?" Asked Terezi tensely.
Gamzee grinned. "The Empress has Karbro and is keeping him as her little pet. I'm going to help you rescue him."