Chapter 11

Billy walked slowly as Daken stood next to him, escorting him to his grandfathers requested destination. The night before had been... Unpleasant. After the murder of Teddy's father, Magnus had relinquished his 'ownership' of Billy to Daken, instructing the feral beast to do with Billy what he must. Billy cringed at the thought of the acts Daken had committed him to do through the night. A devil worse then the one Billy had come to know, Daken tortured the boy all night, beginning with humiliation and ending in physical pain. As Daken had promised the day before, his first act was to shave Billy's entire body. The only follicles that had survived the cleanse where the hairy atop his head.

Magnus must have instructed Daken to not harm the boy's visible features. His head, hands, legs all remained unscaved in fear of others discerning what had happened. The boy's chest however, once strewn with hair was now stained with scars and wounds form the mutant's claws, marking his territory no doubt.

Daken had beaten Billy, humiliated him, emasculated him but never once violated him. Daken had made a point of this early in the night. If he was to be with Billy it would be of the boys own wishes. The monster made certain that such an act would not cease his treatment of Billy. He quite enjoyed his little plaything and was hardly going to give it up for sex.

Hours ago, the king had requested his grandsons presence. He was to be cleaned up and sent to Magnus's war room. Daken took pride in the prince's bath, using this final chance to humiliate the boy one last time before releasing his cuffs and sending him back out into freedom.

The two traversed the palace until they reached the war room's large open doorways. Through it the two walked, Daken stopping at the entrance, handing Billy back over to his former master.

Upon seeing his grandfather, Magnus signaled the boy over, acting as if none of the events of last night had transpired. As if he had not killed the captain, as if he had throne the princes beloved in a cell, as if he had not traded his own flesh and blood to the devil in exchange for his services. All of Billy's life, he had tried to impress his grandfather, in hopes that one day he would be proud of the boys accomplishments. But Magnus never had cared for the boy, not one bit. What the man cared about, all the man cared about, was power. Billy had only ever been one of his pawns.

The boy walked over to his grandfather who stood at the head of the long meeting table, leaning over it next to his chair. Why was he not sitting? What sinister plot had he in mind this time? Billy cautious came to his king's side, standing at attention. Standing so tall and firm hurt the boy a tremendous amount, his scars felt as if they were tearing open once more but this was something Magnus would never allow. Even if the stitches may have ripped, they were constructed of a metal alloy of which the king had dominion over. He no doubt keyed the stitches in places, relishing in the boys pain, knowing of the events that had transpired the night before.

"You called for me, sir?"

"Yes William... I trust you had a pleasant night? Maybe next time you'll think twice before betraying me in such a way."

"Like you betrayed me?" Billy retorted with a snarl.

"Watch your tongue boy or I will pull every speck of iron out of that bloodstream of yours... Or perhaps you'd like to watch me tighten that collar around Dorrek's neck?"

Billy remained quite.

"That's what I thought. Now take a seat my boy, we have much to discuss with our compatriots," Magnus exclaimed, gesturing to the seat next to him. Billy looked up at his grandfather, confused by the gesture. Could it be some form of trick? A test?

No doubt sensing the boys skepticism, Magnus explained further, "Yes. My thrown. Go on."

"Why?"

"You do not question your king boy. You do as I command."

Billy pondered over the night before. Of his experience with teddy and how he was still recovering from the... Intensity of their night. "I'd much rather stand."

Magnus snickered at the assertion. "Oh I am sure you would. But I gave you an order."

Billy gulped, slowly taking his seat. Immediately, his insides rang like fire, his stomach contracting in pain. Billy cringed slightly, doing his best not to exhibit weakness before the king but the pain was too much for him to handle. Magnus did not seem to notice Billy's brief display and moved on quickly.

"In a moment, you and I will receive a call for the Kree and Skrull empires to check in on the marriage. You will give the two cultures your condolences for their loss. It is a pity isn't it? Those damned Atlantians, coming in and slaughtering our men on your wedding day. Your husband was even lost after his valiant effort that saved our kingdom. You must be so distraught William. I am so sorry." Magnus then placed his hand, reassuringly on the boys shoulder. His voice sounded so... Sincere. If Billy had not seen the fate of his husband with his own eyes, he may have believed the contrived tale. Instead, Billy shot an angered glare to his grandfather.

The king snapped his fingers loudly and in rushed two guards, in their hands carrying a golden crown, bedazzled with precious stones. They then handed it to Magnus who placed it on the boy's head.

"There, now you look like a true king. Look sharp."

A moment later, the screens before the men turned on and Billy was faced with two very different looking species: One tall and strong with blue colored skin, the other short and stout with green skin. It was hard for Billy to imagine that Dorrek had belonged to either. Both seemed so... Detached.

"Congratulations Prince Maximoff on your marriage. Where if Dorrek? I wish to see the boy. He must be over joyed," the green colored Skrull questioned exuberantly.

There was a moment of silence in which Billy looked away from the monitors, debating on whether or not to tell the empires the true fates of their rightful rulers. Such an act would bring an unwinnable war to the planet... Thousands of citizens, human and mutant alike would perish.

"... Dorrek was a true warrior who fought to the end my liege... But he and his father are no longer of this earth," Billy explained, turning back to the monitor sympathetically. "Last night, the Atlantian's attacked with an intent for revenge against us for their recent loss. Your prince... My husband... He saved my life but at the price of his own."

"It cannot be true," the Kree proclaimed in disbelief.

"I am sad to say that it is..."

"And what of captain marvel?"

"The first to be killed in the attack. It came as a surprise to us all... There was no time for preparation."

A solemn hush fell over the room as the group honored its fallen rulers.

"Then I suppose the mantle falls into you young William. You, by our law, are the next ruler of both empires," the Skrull said.

Before Billy could reply, he felt a sting in his chest as his stitches began to tightly. The boy gritted his teeth, unable to show his grandfathers control over him to the spectators.

"That may be true but I am young... Too young to rule two empires. I would much rather you bestow this honor on my grandfather, King Magnus."

"So humble get a realist. You will make a fine ruler one day young William. Thank you for your candor on the subject," the Skrull proclaimed.

"Dignitaries from both empires will be dispatched to ensure the body's get a rightful burial as is our custom. There, we shall grant the rule of our empires over to you King Magnus," the Kree stated assertively.

"That is perfectly fine. I will prepare quarters for your men as soon as possible and will happily had captain marvels body over to them. But sadly, Dorreks body was lost at sea. Your prince was quite a warrior, pushed those damned creatures right back to the shore... There he was slaughtered, his body washed away with the tide," Magnus lied. Billy perked up slightly at the man's lie. The fact that he was hiding Teddy's body from the empires meant that he did not plan on killing him... Yet.

"That is... Unfortunate. But nevertheless, we will see you then my lord."

"Until then," Magnus said with a smile before turning the monitors off once again. Once off, Magnus frowned.

"They know."

"Know what my lord?"

"They know we lied. I blame you, you wretched filth."

Billy sat quietly, not saying anything, somehow feeling ashamed of his mistake. With a snap of his mighty fingers, the guards reentered the room, walking over to Billy. One removed the crown while the other unbuttoned the boys shirt, once again securing the power dampening collar around his bare neck.

"Daken!" Magnus called out. A split second later, the loyal mutt entered the room, strolling happily over to his newly acquired property. Billy's eyes opened wide as Daken fastened his hand around Billy's collar, tugging it roughly.

"N-no... Grandfather I did what you asked. I did it all. I lied, I betrayed the man I love, I did it. Please don't let him take me... Not again," Billy pleaded fearfully. He had never quiver in such a way before his grandfather, never begged at his feet before.

Magnus scoff slightly at the boys humiliating display. "I'm sorry son but he and I had deal. You belong to him now. I would order you not to tell your mother but I don't believe you'll be seeing her again. Don't worry... He won't kill you. I need you Billy. After all... You'll be King one day."