Hello everyone…

Yep after a long time I'm back with a very short part of the story. I'm really very sorry… you can hit me if you like (It's not like you'll ever be able to reach me anyway but well…)

I'm not going to bore you with the lovely excuses I can come up with….

Or with the detailed explanation of what just held me from writing the next part…

But here is a small part of the next chapter since I felt obliged to give you this for Kai's birthday… If anyone remembers, me and Kana decided that Kai should have been born the 19th December. Therefore I give you this.

It's written during the exams (yes I have an exam tomorrow) so I'm afraid I'll have to answer the reviews later on. I'm well aware that the content is not really up to my usual quality but that too I'll fix during the Christmas holidays…

Please bear with me and try to enjoy this part especially written for the loyal reviewers who haven't lost their belief in me.

I'm very grateful.

Lots of Love, Lhune

Chapter 11 part one

use the time we are given well, cause you never know when it will end

« Do you like what you see, Tala ? »

The frost-eyed teen was left completely speechless…

Bryan had been right about Kai and Boris… but not wholly. He couldn't believe that Boris could force someone to submit to a punishment that cruel… certainly not Kai! None the less, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the horrific but tantalizing sight before him.

For the first time he felt that Kai couldn't surpass this. He realized suddenly that he always considered Kai strong and invincible…

He was now brought the face with the bitter reality. The crimson-eyed teen was just a mere human, no matter how much he defied the laws of humanity. Just a mere human who had been through more than a child… anyone should've gone through.

He was well aware that Boris never stopped observing him but he couldn't care less at the moment. All he could focus on was the far too pale boy that hung by his bloodied chains. The slate-haired blader was not even looking at him but had his head turned away in shame.

'Is this what you were hiding whole the time? I can't believe I never saw it… Just how long have you been hiding this?'

"Kai" that single name left his lips before he knew it. A soft whisper barely audible for the ear.

Yet Kai's head shot up as if someone had been yelling it. His crimson orbs were wide and held a luminous shine that the redhead hadn't seen the previous days. For once Tala understood the mysterious emotion that was always present in the blood-red orbs. Well hidden but always there.

Sadness overwhelmed the red-head as he saw right past all the barriers that Kai had ever put up and remarked how utterly miserable and lonely his mirror counterpart felt. He found no words to describe the pain that he saw, for the pain that he felt for seeing his childhood friend like this but the heart wrenching feeling made him nauseous.

"I see you are surprised to see young Kai like this… hadn't he told you?"

Tala started as Boris hot breath tickled his ear. He hadn't noticed the elder man stepping closer during his musings. Wide-eyed he backed away but Boris caught him around the waist.

"My my, pride always first it seems. But don't you agree dear Tala, He looks absolutely marvelous." The purple-haired man drawled, his gaze intent on the battered teen as if directing his words to the phoenix.

The red-haired Russian remained silent, forcing his body not to cringe at the foul contact. He inhaled sharply as Boris pulled him closer, still not looking at him though.

"It is quite a shame that he doesn't dare to come out with this beauty though…" Boris continued menacingly, taking in the ashamed fragile being that watched him now with those ever burning fires. His arm left Tala's waist and began to stroke the small of his back. He was rewarded with a shudder from the stoic teen next to him…

But more importantly, he watched as Kai's crimson eyes widened even more in horror.

"Boris…" Kai whispered hoarsely.

The man ignored the soft sound and continued stroking Tala, gradually moving under the fabric of his shirt.

The red-head stiffened but didn't dare to say anything. He stood regal and forced himself to go completely apathetic… but his mind refused. He wanted to push the loathsome man far away from his body and take a shower… to clean himself. Even the slightest touch of the man's flesh felt like there was a trail of slime left behind. He couldn't believe that Kai survived this sort of treatment… and he only experienced the top of the iceberg. He shivered unnoticeable as Boris' breath flowed over his pale skin.

"But then again… Young Kai here hasn't completely submitted himself to this treatment. One would think that after all those times he would've learned…" The cruel voice rang through the cold air as he moved on to Tala's waistband. The despicable elder lapped roughly at the delicate ear of the Ice-blue eyed teen.

This time Kai spoke up louder. "Stop this Boris. You already have me… why do you want to include Tala?" The slate-haired teen couldn't prevent his voice from wavering.

He couldn't do this! Not to Tala too… No matter how confused he felt around the redhead, he didn't want him to endure this. He wouldn't want anyone to endure this not even his worst enemy.

For so long he had been able to hide his secret from the world. He fooled himself by thinking that if no one knew, he wouldn't be so tainted. He could still have hope…

How wrong he was…

No matter how much he lied to himself, he would always remain filthy… a toy that was easily discarded as broken. And no matter how good you tried to fix it, it would never be same again. The cracks would always be there.

He had to stop denying. It was too late for him… but would be damned if he didn't try to prevent this from happening to anyone else…

Tala.

"You are such an egoist, Little Phoenix." Boris smirked cruelly, his hand tracing the outline of Tala's quivering lips. "Why won't you let Tala join in the fun? Scared you get thrown away?"

Thrown away like a broken toy

Kai saw Tala stiffen and paling to the point of white. He had closed his eyes and seemed to be fighting his own emotions. Suddenly Boris tangled in fingers in the red locks and drew the refined face closer. Stunning blue eyes shot open in horror as a bruising kiss was forced upon his lips. Stricken he tried to push the man away, clawing at heated flesh but his hands were caught and held down.

"Enough… enough Boris…please."

The words were spoken softly but the kiss was broken off suddenly and the purple-haired man released Tala swiftly to watch the whimpering teen.

"I'll do it… whatever you want, but please… leave him alone." Kai hated himself for uttering those words but he had to put his pride aside. What use had it been for him anyway? He cast his one burning orbs down and continue to stare at the ground.

"Very well then, if you really want so my Little Phoenix" Boris sneered obviously pleased with himself.

Tala couldn't help feeling mortified. Sure he was relieved that he didn't was to be assaulted…

But the price for the safekeeping of his innocence was too great.

His innocence.

He no longer had such a thing. When he had given Kai the jacket and they had played carefree in the snow, back then he still had something you could call innocence. But after all he had done, all he had said and thought he was far from innocent.

The purple-haired man had abandoned Tala and was now freeing the slate-haired teen from his bonds. Cupping the marred chin he licked off the blood from his bruised face.

"You will submit to my every wish…" he whispered harshly in Kai's ear before taking the earlobe in his mouth.

The crimson-eyed teen nodded weakly.

Boris smiled feral and traced his index finger over the red bruised bottom lip. "You are such a wonder to behold my Little Phoenix. So free and strong…. But I've finally caught you and put you into my cage." He whispered huskily and smothered the mouth with his own.

Tala was transfixed by the unfolding of the events. Kai sold his own life for him…

He wanted to do something, anything the stop this from happening. But instead he did nothing. He remained frozen on his spot. Unable to even avert his eyes.

He hated to admit it, he even disgusted himself for it…

But Kai was really breathtaking. The beauty in it was cruel and sadistic but it was there none the less. Somewhere he could begin to understand why Boris so desperately wanted to posses this creature… his friend.

It was revolting but he wanted to consider Kai as a friend… though he knew well enough that he wasn't worthy of calling himself such. As a friend he shouldn't have allowed Kai degrading himself in such a way. Somewhere in the back of his mind he realized that if he would've interfered it wouldn't have helped Kai. It would've made all his efforts to keep the red-head and all the others safe meaningless.

'No!' Tala corrected himself 'not meaningless… that it could never be'.

"I almost forgot" Boris suddenly spoke up, finally pulling away from the panting slate-haired teen and turning back to Tala.

The red-haired teen tensed when he saw the predatory gleam in the man's eyes.

"You did come in without knocking and disturbed my session with young Kai here… I cannot let you leave without a punishment, that wouldn't be fair." The cruel elder said with obvious satisfaction laced in his tone. He went to a corner of the room and retrieved the bloodstained whip he seemed to carry with him everywhere he went.

Tala mentally sighed in relief, whipping was something he could handle. It hurt but he was used to it.

"Kai, now is the time to prove your loyalty to me. It is your turn to uphold the promise you have made." Boris ordered maliciously.

Kai had already used the little time to put on some of his clothing and was about to pull on his tank top when he heard the elder man address him. He cocked his head in confusion, what did Boris want him to do? Suddenly he understood the cruel reality of what Boris intended.

"No, you can't want me to…" Kai almost pleaded as he stared at the whip in Boris' hands.

"To whip Tala? I'm quite sure I can Young Kai. You are bound to do what I tell you to… otherwise I have to take some measurements and continue with my earlier intentions." The smirk on his face wasn't to be mistaken.

"No… I shall do it." Kai replied trembling as he seemed to pull himself together and approached the foul man to accept the whip. He turned to the redhead feeling incredibly guilty.

Tala had already braced himself for what might come, but he never expected Boris to behave like this. He wanted Kai to understand that he didn't think him responsible for what was about to happen. It was his own fault, he never should've barged in, spurred by his curiosity and disbelief.

But if he had another choice he would probably have done the same. Now he finally knew what was going on in these quarters. It threw another light on the past and the present. He wondered just how much there was that he didn't know… or that they had lied to him.

When this was over, he needed to talk with the slate-haired teen…

Kai stared at the person in front of him… Tala. No matter what had happened, how much the red-haired teen had hurt him, he still was his childhood friend. And these last days the frost-eyed teen had show that he still cared for him. Tala tried to hide it even deny it but Kai could feel it… now more than ever.

And he was going to hit the ice-blue eyed teen.

He looked at the whip in his trembling hands. The bloodstains shimmered maliciously at him, as if to mock him. He knew that most of those stains, especially the latest ones, were his.

"Well, how long do you think you are going to wait My Little Phoenix?" Boris broke of his thoughts impatiently.

Kai silently gripped the whip tighter and clenched his teeth. He let the string of leather collide with Tala's back and saw the red-head stiffen when he made contact, a soft red line appeared on the pale skin.

His bloodstained hands began to tremble even more than before.

"You don't think this is good enough my young Kai? Harder!" Boris ordered harshly, irritation sounding through.

Kai saw Tala readying himself for another strike.

The whip descended another time upon the motionless red-haired Russian, harder this time.

"HARDER I said, I want to see him bleed!" The purple haired man grabbed him roughly by his arm and held his face in a vice-like grip. "Since when are you so sentimental?! You have no emotions unless they are for me. You only exist for me, to please and to obey me! So I want you to lash out at him. He is worth nothing… I know your strength so don't try to fool me!" Boris seethed and released the slate-haired teen.

Kai studied the tool in his hands for a moment and then turned his attention towards the red-haired Russian.

"I'm sorry Tala." He whispered softly, inaudible for the elder man but he knew that the red-head could hear him.

Once more the whip collided with the soft skin, drawing crimson blood.

"Very good My Little Phoenix." Boris appraised the trembling slate-haired teen. "I'll have to reward you for your performance later on."

Kai showed no sign of notice as he continued to stare at the motionless teen at his feet. Lacerations covered his back but also his torso. Eyes were tightly shut in pain and the Russian looked pale as a ghost, blood and sweat dripping onto the ground.

He had held back as much as he could without Boris noticing but the purple-haired man had ordered him to continue even after Tala had lost consciousness.

He would never forget the soft sounds that had escaped those bruised lips… It was all his fault. He had learned to do everything that was possible to keep others at a distance and still people were drawn to him. His existence caused pain… so he assumed that he might deserve everything that was thrown at him.

Boris' advances, the death of his parents, the cruel treatment of the Abbey… His grandfather.

He deserved everything they threw at him.

"Bring him back to his quarters and make sure he'll be back in two hours… Lord Voltaire wants to have a word with you two." Boris said calmly. " after you brought him there you return immediately, we still have some business to take are of so hurry up."

Kai nodded and picked up the seemingly lifeless form of the red-haired teen and headed towards to their quarters.

Tap

…Tap

The soft sound of his footfalls echoed through the corridors.

He was shivering, both from the chilling cold and the abuse he had gone through… but he didn't care.

He was slowed considerably by the weight, how little it might be, of the redhead he carried… Adding that to the injuries he had sustained in the last few hours, he was close to falling on the ground… Yet again he didn't care.

Tala was a mess.

His overly pale face contrasted immensely with the bright red blood that still continued to flow from some of his injuries. The bruises on his face were hidden by his fiery bangs.

He knew that he must look horrible too… if not more.

But that didn't matter.

He had hurt Tala… How many times had he declared that he didn't want to hurt anyone anymore… It still ended the same way. But never had he done this…

He was directly responsible for the injuries…

He stared at the blood that dripped on his frame… New bright red blood mingling with older dark red blood.

Tala's blood blending with his blood.

'So I guess we're finally blood brothers after all.' Kai mused sadly.

He remembered that they wanted to be bloodbrothers when they were younger. But they despised the idea of blood, same as the cuts. They saw and endured so many cruel abuses but they couldn't come to hurt themselves or the other… therefore they had let the idea slip from their minds.

He halted before a stale door. The slate-haired teen knew that Ian, Spencer and most likely Bryan would be waiting behind that door… waiting for Tala to come back in.

He silently opened the door and found three faces, all looking at him in horror.

"TALA!"

ClFfHaNgErThInGy

I originally, when I started writing on this chapter, wanted to include the scene were Kai enters that room and gives his explanation for the state Tala is in but it is already 20:00 and I still have some biology left to study for my exam tomorrow….

So I'm afraid it'll have to be for the next time.

However… I did reach my 222nd review (including the e-mails) And I've found the time somewhere to draw a picture for that lovely event!

So If anyone is interested, please leave your e-mail in the review and I'll send it to you.

The offer stands till the 14th of January when I'm planning to post the next part of this chapter…. Because of Tala's (imaginary) birthday of course.

I know it's short but let me know if you have any comments… or noticed some important mistakes…

Or just if you want to review… it really makes me happy!