Chapter Six- Torture

Yusei awoke to see Mina and four men enter, one carrying a bowl of water. He got to his paws, ignoring his growling stomach. He watched nervously as Mina put on her suit and attach knives and the whip to it. She then stood before him, hands on her hips.

"We will begin your training anew. From the beginning."

"Beginning?" he asked before a leg flew to his mouth. Shit. I talked.

"Yes. The beginning and it's clear that it's necessary. Be warned. If you refuse, you will be severely punished.'

"And Jack's all right with that? He would let you hurt me?" Yusei then howled as electricity was pumped into him.

"You will not talk," Mina said. "And what Jack doesn't know won't hurt him."

Jack wouldn't approve of this, Yusei thought. His idea of discipline is probably gentle punishment and maybe verbal reprimand too. These humans plan to torture me to get me to obey. He felt his empty stomach sink. Yes, he could heal quickly, but that required being able to shift forms and sleeping peacefully. His collar kept him in wolf form, so quick healing was denied to him.

"So, will you talk again?" Mina asked.

Yusei shook his head and yelped as the Taser was activated again.

"You need to act like a wolf, boy. Wolves don't nod or shake their heads. Understand?"

Yusei barked softly and Mina nodded. "Good. Now, let's start again with the basic commands. Sit. Stay. Heel. Lay down." Mina gave each command and Yusei instantly obeyed. He now laid beside Mina, thinking if he complied he would be fed and allowed to return to Jack's side who now, ironically, seemed more human than his servants.

"Play dead, boy."

Yusei stayed still, refusing to obey as Jack wouldn't give that command. He yelped when he felt a blade swipe his side. "Play dead," Mina repeated. Yusei looked up at her, ears flat, and growl sounded. The growl became a yelp as Mina backhanded him and slashed with the knife again.

"You will comply with every order whether you like it or not. Now, play dead."

Jack opened his penthouse door, tired but exhilarated. He won his duel, but it hadn't been easy. The duel and keeping up his speed during it had taken a lot out of him. He noticed no pet to greet him and that disappointed him. Is he still being difficult? I had no idea teenage werewolves could be so stubborn. He hauled himself to his favorite armchair. The moment he sat, Mina came over with a glass of blood. He took it and drained it. "Where is my pet, Mina?"

"Still in the training room. He has been quite difficult today. He may need another night in there."

"I suppose so." Jack sniffed subtly and he caught the scent of werewolf blood that came from Mina's direction; furthermore, the blood carried his pet's scent. Why is his blood's scent wafting off Mina? Plus, I smell deceit on the air. Is Mina lying to me?

Jack pondered this all through dinner, but didn't let it show. Instead, he asked about the safe room and Mina assured him that it would be ready before the full moon. He subtly sniffed and detected no deceit. She was being truthful. Mina didn't know that he could tell when someone was lying though she knew he could smell fear. He dwelled on the smells he had picked up before dinner and felt as if something was being kept from him and it concerned his wolf. I think I'll go check on him once everyone else is asleep.

Jack crept quietly to the training room late that night. He found it a little hard to believe that a werewolf would be so difficult to train, especially if moderate discipline was the result of that disobedience. His wolf didn't strike him as a masochist, but maybe he was mistaken. He arrived at the training room's door and the scent of blood really it him. That's a really strong smell, but why is it strong? He quickly unlocked the door, entered, and froze at what he saw, his mouth dropping. His pet laid on his side unconscious with cuts all over his body. Blood welled up from some stab wounds and there were blood spots on the floor. He knew the wolf was alive; he could hear the heart beating and see his side rise and fall, albeit shallowly. He crossed the room and knelt beside the body. The blood's smell filled his nose and he licked his lips. He never had werewolf blood before and wondered what it tasted like. I could lick some up and my saliva would close up the deeper wounds. He leaned over and his tongue flicked across the blood. Hmm, not bad. He continued to lick and seal the deep wounds; his tongue moving across those wounds woke the wolf, his blue eyes clouded in pain. He whined pathetically.

"Who did this?" he asked. "Was it Mina?"

The wolf whined and whimpered. Jack sighed. This type of communication wouldn't do. Screw the no talking rule. "Boy, I need you to really talk. Tell me what happened."

In a hoarse whisper, he began to talk. "Mina said…if I refused…to obey, I would be…severely punished." He winced and added, "Some of my ribs are broken."

Jack felt his dead heart break and then anger flared within him. Mina dare to hurt him like this? I will not allow this to continue. He gently and carefully lifted his pet and he whined in pain. "I'm sorry," he said softly as he carried him out of the room and to their bedroom. "Don't werewolves heal quickly?" he asked as he laid the wolf on his own bed.

"Yes, by shifting forms and sleeping peacefully," came the whisper. "Can't heal because of the collar."

Jack looked at it. "Well, I guess you won't run away."

"I promise not to leave." Once the collar was removed, Yusei shifted to human and rolled onto his back carefully. Jack climbed into bed and as he laid there, he asked, "What's your name?"

"Yusei," his pet breathed as he fell asleep. Jack smiled at the sleeping boy. Yusei. That's an interesting name and it suits him. Jack closed his eyes and slipped into slumber.

Yusei's eyes blinked open and focused on the canopy above him. Huh? Where…oh, yes. Jack brought me here. I thought it was a dream, but clearly it wasn't. Then, that means… He slowly lifted an arm to see it was human and he felt his bare neck. He took a careful breath and felt no pain. His ribs were healed.

"Feel better?" came Jack's voice.

"Yes, Master," he said softly.

"Just Jack, Yusei. I may own you, but I dislike the word master, at least I do now. I'm glad you are better."

"My ribs are healed. That was the worst injury."

"I closed up some of the stab wounds by licking up the blood. My saliva heals such wounds. Obviously, your own healing ability closed up the others."

Yusei sighed. "Some of my fur is probably matted by now."

"Care for a bath to fix that?"

"I'd like that." Yusei sat up and then doubled over, clutching his stomach.

"Yusei?" Jack asked, concerned.

"I'm okay, just hungry. I haven't eaten at all yesterday."

"What!?" Jack hissed. "No food? I told them to feed you."

"Jack, could I have that bath first and then food?" he asked, almost begging.

"Of course." Yusei picked up the collar, changed forms, and trotted into the bathroom with Jack behind him. He climbed into the tub while Jack brought out shampoo for canines, soap, a towel, comb, and brush. He turned on the water, filled the tub halfway, and began to wet the fur before lathering it, working the mats loose and the congealed blood. The sighs from Yusei pleased Jack as he rinsed the fur and moved on to the soap. Soon, Yusei's fur was clean and wet and Jack laughed as Yusei shook himself. "You could have waited until I used the towel as a shield," he teased.

"Sorry," he replied as he climbed out and Jack began rubbing him down with the towel and then used a blow dryer to dry him thoroughly before brushing and combing him. As he snapped the collar back on, Jack said, "You look a lot better now, Yusei. So, let's get you some food." Jack left the room with Yusei behind him. The werewolf gave a wolf's grin. His relationship with the vampire had changed, but by how much, he wasn't sure. I'll soon find out, though.