Day One
Sam shifted uncomfortably, trying to ease the pain in his shoulders. His hands had gone numb in the tight handcuffs. He had no idea what time it might be; he could see nothing in the darkness of the basement but he could hear the others breathing nearby which offered a sliver of comfort.
"Terry, you still with me?" Sam ground out, turning his head in the direction of where his friend sat.
"Sam?" Terry's voice mumbled, "What's going on?"
Before he could answer, Sam heard a gasp from one of the boys further down the line.
"What's happening?" Terry asked as the gasping continued, mingled with whimpers, "What's going on?"
Sam didn't know. He struggled to pull himself free from his cuffs, the metal digging into his hands. The gasping was turning to wheezing and slowing down.
"Something's wrong," Terry said, "Sam, something's wrong! What's going on?"
Abruptly the agonized breathing stopped, a slight moan trailing off into silence.
"Matt?" a trembling voice asked, "Matt, are you alright? Matt? Matt!"
Sam closed his eyes, trying to block out the young man's crying as his friend failed to respond to his calls.
"Sam! What's happening? What's going on? Say something, Sam!"
Terry's voice panicked beside him and Sam forced himself to speak.
"I don't know, Terry," Sam whispered, "I don't know."
W
The lights in the basement snapped on suddenly, momentarily blinding the boys.
Sam squinted down the line, and saw that Matt was sitting slumped forward, chin touching his chest, his skin pale. Beside him, his friend, who had been crying all night, whimpered and called his name again.
"Wake up, Matt. Please wake up."
The steps creaked as Magnus descended.
Matt's friend looked up, "Help him! Something's wrong with him! Please!"
Magnus approached the young man and, reaching out, tilted his head upwards. Sam could just make out Matt's open, unseeing eyes to know the young man was gone.
Magnus dropped Matt's head and looked at the remaining boys.
"He was weak," the told them. Matt's friend didn't appear to be listening, "You killed him! You killed him!"
"This is no time to dwell on the past," Magnus continued, speaking over the young man, "You must look to the future and what it holds for you. You are all one step closer to becoming Brothers."
Matt's friend wouldn't stop, swearing at Magnus, calling him murderer. The fraternity leader approached the boy and booted him in the face, the toe of his dress shoe connecting with the young man's chin. The boy slumped forward, stunned.
"If I may continue," Magnus said, his tone irritated, "We will get to your second challenge as pledges shortly but first, I know you all must be hungry."
Sam looked up, as though they had been waiting for a signal, the other Brothers walked down the stairs, each one carrying a bowl and a spoon in his hands.
As the last Brother in the procession made to pass Magnus, the leader stopped him and whispered to him, pointing to Matt's body. Magnus took the bowl from the Brother and handed him a set of keys. Sam watched as the Brother went to Matt's body, unlocked it from the metal ring set into the wall and grabbing the corpse's wrists, began dragging it towards the staircase.
Matt's friend, who had seemed to have regained his senses, watched in horror.
"Where are you taking him? Don't take him away!"
Sam tore his gaze away from the young man and looked at Terry. His friend's grey eyes were wide, confused and frightened.
"Breakfast!" Magnus announced, once again raising his voice above the young man's.
Sam looked at Brother Titus who was positioned in front of him, and saw that he was holding a bowl of what, at one time might have been oatmeal. Cold, congealed, crusty, the slop had spots of grey mold showing.
Brother Titus scraped a spoonful of the gruel from the side of the bowl and shoved the spoon at Sam's mouth. He turned his head away- there was no way he was eating that.
Beside him, Terry, who had a spoon in his mouth, gagged and choked, his face practically green with nausea.
Brother Titus jammed the spoon into Sam's mouth forcefully. The young man recoiled at the taste of spoiled food and spat the mouthful out.
Brother Titus looked to Magnus and the fraternity leader moved forward.
Tilting his head, Magnus addressed Sam, "You're not hungry?"
"I'm not eating that shit," Sam growled.
He wondered if Brother Titus would simply shove the gruel down his throat but instead, he stood and backed away.
"Terry, are you okay?" Sam asked his friend.
"Why can't you just do what they tell you, Sam?"
They're drugging the food, Sam thought, just like last night.
Once the Brothers had finished feeding the pledges, the Brother who had dragged Matt away, collected the bowls and spoons and went back upstairs.
Magnus smiled at the boys.
"Now, for a very important part of the ritual," he told them, "You are about to receive your pledge badges."
Sam glanced at the other young men. He appeared to be the only one confused by Magnus' words; they had no clothes, how were they to wear a badge.
As though reading Sam's thoughts, Magnus pushed his sleeve up to reveal a series of six numbers inked into the skin of his forearm, just below the crook of his elbow.
Sam's stomach seemed to turn to ice at the sight of Magnus' tattoo. He knew of only two groups of people who could possibly have tattoos like that: victims of the Holocaust and victims of human trafficking.
Sam felt stupid for not realizing it before, as he watched Magnus pull his sleeve back down: the suspicious invite, the girls pressing them to drink and eat, the 'hazing' was all designed as a smokescreen to trick young men into letting down their guard and fall right into the trap.
Sam stared at Magnus, horrified. The man looked back at him, smiling widely and stepped up to Sam.
"You've finally got a glimpse of what is happening behind the curtain," Magnus chuckled, "I was wondering how long it would take you."
"Why are you doing this? You were once in this position, weren't you?" Sam asked, whispering.
Magnus crouched between Sam and Terry, leaning against the wall, speaking only to the young Winchester.
Magnus didn't smile, "I served my masters for several years before they realized my talents would better suited to other tasks. It was only by my own desire to survive that I persevered and am allowed the freedom I enjoy today. I had to work hard to gain my masters' trust but finally I was able to show them I could be useful to them in other ways. Yes, I was once in the very same situation as you are now, but I was a different person. I have changed. I know my masters' powers and am not foolish enough to disobey them."
Magnus paused so Sam could process what he was saying.
"You remind me of me, Sam," Magnus told him, "I saw it as soon as I met you."
"I'm nothing like you!" Sam snapped.
Magnus just smiled, "I once told myself that I would not cave, that I would not be broken but my masters wore me down and I was reborn. I recognize that there are those of us in the world that are meant to rule and those who are meant to serve. I simply had to be honest with myself which one I wanted to be. "
Magnus stood up just as the Brother who had left with the empty bowls returned, holding what Sam recognized as a homemade tattoo gun.
Magnus turned to them as though there had been no interruption.
"Let us begin," he clapped his hands once and smiled.
One of the Brothers uncuffed Matt's friend and led him forwards. Sam was that the boy no longer seemed upset by his friend's death and obediently gave his arm up to the Brother to tattoo.
Sam closed his eyes. He had to get out of here. He had to find some way to escape.
Opening his eyes, he calculated the distance between himself and the staircase, noticing where each of the Brothers was standing, and trying to decide if it was possible for him to outrun all of them when it was his turn to get tattooed. He wondered if the pantry door at the top of the staircase was closed and if he would be able to open it himself in time to break free. He knew he'd have to go through the kitchen and down a hallway to reach the front door- was most likely locked- to get outside.
"Hey, Sam," Terry spoke up and he turned to look at his friend.
"We have to get out of here," Sam hissed, "They are not a fraternity, Terry."
His friend peered at him quizzically.
"Sam," Magnus' voice startled Sam, "I will ask you not to upset your friend."
He ignored the blue-eyed man, "Listen, Terry, please, I don't know what they've given you but you have to believe me. These are not good people."
"Brother Augustus," Magnus called to one of the Brothers, "It appears that Sam needs some help keeping his mouth shut."
Sam glanced at the Brother but instead of coming towards him, he headed upstairs.
"What are you going to do?" Sam asked, warily.
"Don't worry," Magnus told him, "It will not be painful."
His words were of no comfort to Sam and he began to struggle again.
Brother Augustus was coming down the stairs, a ball gag dangling from one hand. Sam's eyes widened.
"Terry, please, you have to try and escape," Sam whispered frantically to his friend, "Get my duffel from my room. My brother's number is in it. Call him. Are you listening to me?"
The red-haired boy was looking at Sam with a stupid grin plastered on his face, clearly not paying attention to anything he was saying. Brother Augustus reached Sam, grabbed him by the hair and shoved the red, rubber ball into his mouth before securing the straps around the back of his head, tightly.
"You're going to get kicked out of the frat, Sam," Terry told him. Sam looked away from his friend.
Sam lowered his head, his mind reeling. His friend was in no condition to help him escape. Sam would have to try by himself. He didn't want to leave the others behind but he didn't think he had a choice. Whatever Magnus had given them; they didn't seem to want to listen to anyone but him. They didn't want to believe that this was anything but a fraternity hazing ritual.
I have to get out of here, Sam told himself, whatever it takes. I need to escape and get Dean and Dad. They'll help me; I know they will. Suddenly, Sam looked up, a realization dawning on him: his cell phone had been in the jeans the Brothers had taken away last night. If he didn't text Dean back soon his brother would get worried. Sam almost cried with relief. Even if he couldn't escape by himself, his brother and father would come. They'd find him and rescue him and Terry and the others.
Sam looked up as Brother Titus approached him. Glancing to his side, he saw Terry was being cuffed back into the ring in the wall beside him, the dark ink of the tattoo stark against the pale skin of his arm.
Brother Titus leaned over Sam, unlocking one of his cuffed hands from the metal ring. It took a second before the young man could lower his arms to his sides; his shoulders ached in protest and the pins and needles sensation as the blood flowed back into his hands painful. Instead of a hand on his elbow or under an arm, Brother Titus grabbed Sam's hair and yanked him onto his feet. Muscles stiff from sitting so long on the hard, cold floor, Sam staggered forwards to where Magnus and the tattooist were waiting, Brother Titus keeping his fingers knotted tightly in his hair.
Sam was forced back into a seated position and, releasing his hold on the young man's hair, Titus took a hold of his left arm. Sam tried to pry his arm loose but another Brother put a hand on his shoulder, holding him steady.
"Brother Clovis," Magnus said, "When you're ready to begin."
Sam didn't watch the tattoo take shape or look away- as the other boys did- but looked right at Magnus, his hazel eyes boring into the man's pale blue ones.
SPN
As soon as Dean woke up he checked his cell phone to see if his brother had texted him. He hadn't heard anything from Sam since last night and although he wasn't worried- Sam was an adult- he was a little hurt Sam hadn't let him know when he returned to his residence.
Oh well, Dean thought, as he picked out some clean clothes and stepped into the bathroom, John snoring away on the opposite bed; maybe he finally let loose and enjoyed himself.
Dean smiled as he brushed his teeth. Sam wasn't a lightweight when it came to alcohol, but compared to his brother and his father, Sam was nearly a teetotaler.
Once Dean was dressed and ready for the day, he paused to text his sibling:
Morning Sunshine!
Let me know how last night went.
TTYL
Stepping out of the bathroom, Dean went over to his father and pushed his shoulder, "Hey, Dad. Wake up, it's nearly eleven o'clock."
John opened his dark eyes and blinked blearily at his eldest son. Sitting up, he ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. He hadn't been happy when Sam left and had decided that a long, slow night with a bottle of Jack Daniels would help him cope with his absent son.
"Do you want me to go out and get something to eat?" Dean asked and John nodded, feeling as though he was going to have a slow start to the day.
He watched as Dean slid his feet into his boots and shrugged his jacket on, grabbing the keys to the Impala on the way out.
"Why don't you take a nice, cold shower?" Dean suggested before he closed the door.
John listened to the rumble of the car's engine fade away before he stood, groaning slightly as a sudden nausea gripped him. Shaking his head, he started towards the bathroom but paused, noticing Dean's phone sitting on his bed.
Reaching out to pick up the device, John had a sudden thought. Since Dean didn't lock his phone, it was nothing for his father to go to his Contacts List and open his text messages. He saw that Dean's latest text was one he'd sent to his brother, that very morning.
John felt a sudden rush of irrational anger flow through him as he read Dean's text. Sam had chosen to leave his family. He had wanted nothing more to do with hunting and here Dean was texting with him as though Sam was simply on vacation. John scrolled through the text history, learning about Sam's going to some fraternity party with some kid named Terry.
Closing the Contacts List, John put Dean's phone back on the bed and continued on his way to the bathroom, disgusted by the way his youngest son was able to so easily leave his family behind.
SPN
"You all did very well," Magnus praised the boys, looking at each of them in turn, "I am proud of you."
Sam looked over at Terry, his roommate grinning stupidly.
Magnus squinted down at his watch before looking back up.
"It seems we have time for another challenge before lunch," Magnus announced.
Sam swallowed painfully, wondering what the Brothers would force them to do next.
"This exercise will be easy for some, but not all of you," Magnus told them, again, looking at each in turn.
"You will all do as many push ups as you can."
Sam looked at Magnus. Push ups? There had to be a catch.
"This is simply a test of your physical strength and endurance," Magnus continued, "Nothing more."
Brother Clovis, who had disappeared upstairs while Magnus was speaking, returned, his tattoo gun now replaced by an electric cattle prod.
Sam looked to Brother Titus, who was approaching him and once again unlocked one wrist from the ring in the wall and then undid the straps on the gag, letting it fall to the ground. Sam closed his mouth, the muscles of his jaw aching. Glancing to his right, he saw that the others had been released as well.
"If you'll remain where you are," Magnus told them, "And get into position, we can start."
Sam lowered himself into the familiar position, keeping his eyes on the fraternity leader as he did so.
"How many push ups can you do?" Sam heard Terry whisper but he ignored him.
"Whenever your ready, you may begin," Magnus told them, his tone genial.
Sam took a steadying breath and started, automatically counting pushups as he did so, moving into the rhythm easily. He couldn't recall how many times he'd done pushups over the years, either with Dean or on his own, as part of John's training. Sometimes even making it a kind of contest between him and his older brother to see who could go the longest, do the most pushups or sit ups or jumping jacks or whatever else their father wanted them to do.
It didn't take long before Brother Clovis used the cattle prod. Glancing to his side, Sam saw that one of the other boys was starting to struggle. His face was bright red with exertion and he was panting.
Magnus turned his blue eyes on the boy and approached.
"Come on, Ben, you can't even do some pushups?"
Sam saw Ben shake his head.
"It's…. my… asthma…" the boy wheezed.
Magnus raised an eyebrow.
"Brother Clovis," he said, "Perhaps you can offer Ben here some encouragement?"
Sam looked away as the Brother approached Ben, a crackle of electricity sparking between the prongs of the cattle prod. Sam forced himself to stare at the dirt floor beneath him when he heard Ben yelp in pain.
"Don't give up so easily," Magnus said, "You don't want to get kicked out, do you?"
Sam didn't know how Ben responded but he heard the boy cry out in pain again.
"Sam," he heard his name and looked at Terry.
"Don't let that happen to me," his roommate said.
"I won't," Sam assured him and then stopped talking, saving his energy for pushups instead.
One by one the boys were forced to stop the exercise, despite Magnus words of encouragement and Brother Clovis' cattle prod until only Terry and Sam remained.
"Sam," Terry gasped, "I can't do anymore."
"You can," Sam gritted his teeth, "I know you can."
"I can't," Terry argued, his arms trembling.
Sam looked up to see Magnus watching and then looked at his friend.
"Don't let him win," Sam told Terry.
"I'm too tired," Terry lowered himself to the floor.
"One more," Sam encouraged, "C'mon Terry."
The boy shoved himself up again, arms threatening to collapse beneath him.
Sam shook his hair out of his eyes. Sweat was dripping down his face, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to stop but he forced himself to continue.
"One more, Terry," Sam told his friend, "C'mon, I know you can do it."
Terry managed to heave himself up again before sinking to the dirt floor, exhausted. Sam watched Magnus, wondering if he was going to use the cattle prod. He didn't. Instead Brother Clovis yanked Terry into a sitting position and cuffed his hands behind him again.
Now Sam was the only one left doing pushups, the eyes of the Brothers' on him. Magnus approached and crouched down in front of him.
"I'm truly impressed," he told Sam as the young man continued with the exercise.
"Fuck you," Sam snarled.
"You can stop now," Magnus told him and cautiously Sam did so, wary.
Magnus stood and wiped his hands together as though he was the one who had been doing all the hard work. Brother Titus stepped up to Sam and grabbed his arms, yanking them behind his back and once again cuffed him to the metal ring in the wall.
"Some of you did exceptionally well," Magnus told them, "Others were a bit of a disappointment."
"However," he continued, "There will be many more opportunities to show you are suitable to join Beta Theta Upsilon."
"But first," Magnus said, "I am sure you all must be hungry and thirsty."
"Terry," Sam whispered to his friend, "You okay?"
His roommate lifted his head and nodded.
Sam watched as the Brothers filed back upstairs and wondered what garbage they would be expected to choke down for lunch. Down the row, a soft mewling sound could be heard. Sam leaned forward as far as he could and saw the boy, Ben, was crying.
SPN
Dean pulled his cell phone from his pocket while John was filling the Impala with gas and quickly checked to see if his brother had messaged him back. Nothing.
Staring at the last text he'd sent to Sam, Dean wondered if he should send his brother another message. Certainly it wouldn't hurt. With a quick glance out the window and feeling as though he were doing something he shouldn't, Dean typed a quick message to his brother:
Let me know how last night went as soon as you can.
Dean shoved his phone back into his pocket when John opened the driver's side door.
"Ready to get some lunch?" John asked and Dean nodded.
Starting the Impala's engine, John pulled out of the gas station and started down the street, searching for a place to eat.
SPN
Sam was able to take one mouthful of water before the bucket was pulled away. Swallowing, Sam watched as Brother Linus held the bucket in front of Terry.
Tearing his gaze away from his friend, Sam instead turned his head to watch Magnus. The blue-eyed man seemed to feel Sam's gaze upon him; he turned and smiled.
Brother Titus approached Sam, once again holding a bowl. Sam glared at the man. He was not going to eat whatever was offered. He was not going to allow himself to be drugged like the others.
Peering into the bowl, Sam saw four raw eggs floating in the bottom.
Sam clenched his jaw and turned his face away from Titus. With one hand, the Brother reached out and grabbed Sam's face, pinching his nose closed painfully. Sam narrowed his eyes, determined to keep his mouth closed. Shaking his head, Sam tried to release Titus' hold but it was no use. Sam closed his eyes and bright spots started to spark across his vision. His lungs began to burn for want of air. Sam tightened his jaw, grinding his teeth together.
Brother Titus waited patiently. Sam would have to open his mouth to breathe eventually or risk passing out.
"Why must you make things difficult for yourself, Sam?" Magnus asked, standing behind Titus.
Finally Sam, unable to hold his breath any longer, gasped. As soon as he did so, Brother Titus poured the raw eggs into Sam's mouth and clapped a hand over his mouth to prevent him from spitting them out.
Sam squeezed his eyes shut as his stomach lurched, and he knew he would not be able to swallow the eggs. His stomach hitched again and he felt the burn of acid climb up his throat. Titus quickly drew his hand back and stepped out of the way as Sam leaned forward and vomited.
Groaning, Sam's stomach hitched again and he dry heaved, saliva dribbling from his mouth.
Sam leaned back, head resting against the wall and closed his eyes.
"Now that you've had something to eat and drink," Sam listened to Magnus speaking, wishing his hands were free so he could wipe the vomit and drool off his face, "Let us continue with the challenges."
Magnus casually walked over to Sam and bent down, picking up the ball gag, which was now coated in dirt and vomit.
"This next task is not one that everyone will participate in," Magnus continued and shoved the gag into Sam's mouth before securing the straps tightly behind his head, "Because not all of you participated in our little party last night."
Sam's gaze followed Magnus as he walked away, looking at the other boys.
"There is quite the mess upstairs," he continued, "And it seems only reasonable that you pledges should be the ones to clean it up."
Sam glanced at Terry from the corner of his eye; maybe his friend would be able to slip away and get help.
The red-haired boy however, appeared to be hanging onto Magnus' every word.
"Brothers, please release all the pledges except Sam and take them upstairs," the fraternity leader said and Sam watched as Terry followed the others up the staircase, Magnus bringing up the rear.
Before leaving the basement, Magnus turned off the lights and closed the door, leaving Sam alone and in darkness.
SPN
"Dean," John snapped at his eldest son as he glanced at his phone, thinking his Dad wasn't looking.
"What?" Dean asked innocently, shoving his phone back into his pocket.
"I know what you're doing," John told him, "Why don't you just leave your brother alone?"
Dean tried to hide his surprise, "How do you know I'm waiting on Sam?"
John gave him a look that said 'do you think I'm stupid?'
"Sam chose to leave us for some hoity-toity school," John reminded his eldest son, "Maybe he also chose he's too good to talk to his family too."
Dean shook his head, "Sam wouldn't do that. Not to me."
John shrugged, "Whatever you want to think, Dean. Just don't get upset when you don't hear back from your brother, that's all I'm saying."
Dean glared at his father and pulled his phone out again:
Hey Sammy,
Hope your day is going well. Let me know what you've been up to when you get the chance.
John just shook his head in exasperation.
SPN
Alone in the dark, Sam struggled to pull his hands from the cuffs. Ignoring the pain as the metal cut into his wrists, he twisted his hands, trying to yank them free.
He didn't know how long he was by himself but by the time the basement light went back on, Sam's hands were trembling and he could feel blood drying on his skin.
Raising his head, he watched as Magnus led the others down the steps. It took him a moment to realize that Ben wasn't with them and he wondered what had happened to him.
Sam tried to catch Terry's eye but his friend wasn't looking at him, his gaze fixed onto Magnus' back.
As the Brothers chained the boys back up, the fraternity leader approached Sam.
"And what have you been up to while we've been gone?" Magnus asked, his piercing blue eyes seemed to be trying to bore into Sam's soul.
Sam swallowed and refused to look away.
Magnus leaned forward and smiled at the sight of blood on Sam's wrists. Putting his mouth close to Sam's ear, he whispered, "You'd have to break your thumbs to get out of those."
Sam stared at Magnus, "But then, that's the easiest part."
"You'd have to get up the stairs without making a sound," Magnus continued, "Get through the locked door, get through the house and outside, all without being caught."
"You're not the first one who's thought he could escape," Magnus whispered, once again his lips nearly touching Sam's ear, "You're not the first one to hold onto hope."
Sam's eyes narrowed.
"And you're not the first one who I've had the pleasure of breaking," Magnus said.
What about the others? Sam thought.
As though he could read Sam's thoughts, Magnus continued, "You're better than them, Sam. We're better than them. They came to me like lambs to the slaughter. They practically begged for this. Not you, you sensed the danger. You recognized me as a wolf in sheep's clothing. You recognized another wolf."
Sam struggled to pull his hands out from behind him, wanting nothing more than to punch Magnus' smug smile off his face.
The man just laughed and stood, looking at the captives.
"We are very nearly done for the day," he announced.
"Oh no," Terry muttered beside Sam.
"There is just one more thing that must be done," Magnus continued.
"Brother Darius, if you don't mind?" he addressed one of the Brothers who pulled a cell phone out of his pocket.
Darius walked over to the boy at the end of the line, held the phone out and there was a flash of light as the camera function was engaged.
Brother Darius moved onto the next boy and took his picture, and the next and the next, until he reached Terry and the light flashed, making Sam's roommate close his eyes, a grimace on his face.
Sam glared at the Brother as he pointed the cell phone at him and the flash went off.
"Excellent, Brother Darius, thank you," Magnus said as Darius handed the cell phone over.
"Now you can all rest," Magnus told the boys and led the way as the Brothers retreated back upstairs.
Sam lowered his head, closing his eyes against the darkness that once again engulfed the basement. He could hear the boys beside him breathing.
"I hope I'm doing a good job," Terry said, speaking in Sam's direction, "I really want to join the fraternity."
SPN
Magnus paused in the kitchen. Opening the phone's contact list, he scrolled down the short list to the one called 'Elle' and sent a quick message and attached the pictures of the boys Brother Darius had taken for approval. She was not Magnus' master but used him because he was skilled at capturing and breaking young people, usually young men, for the trade. Unlike some others, Magnus knew all too well how to gain his victims' trust and how to wear them down before they were sent to the next phase of their slavery. Although it was not necessary, slaves who had already been broken in were preferred when they reached their final destination. They were less likely to try to escape, less likely to fight back, and accept their new lives quietly.
Putting the phone on the island, which was now gleaming clean, Magnus rummaged in the refrigerator for a bottle of beer- another perk of his position- while he waited for Elle to reply.
SPN
John sighed when Dean pulled his phone out, momentarily ignoring the burger oozing melted cheese onto his plate.
"Will you put that away?"
Dean's eyes flicked up to him.
"Sam still hasn't texted me back," he told his Dad.
"Maybe he doesn't want to talk to you," John suggested, taking a bite of his own burger and wiping a hand across his mouth.
Dean shook his head, "Sam told me he'd text me."
"So what if he hasn't messaged you all day? He's probably busy," John said.
Dean sighed and set his phone down.
"I just thought he'd take a minute to let me know how he's doing," he muttered.
John just shrugged.
"You'll probably hear from him tomorrow," he told his son, "He's probably been nursing a hangover all day after that party."
Dean looked up at John sharply, "You read his texts?"
The elder Winchester didn't even try and deny it, "Of course I did. Sam decides to bugger off to college and you're still chatting with him as though nothing's happened. What else was I supposed to do?"
Dean glared at his father, "I thought you didn't want anything to do with Sam."
"I don't, but if this is going to affect your attention to hunting," John warned, "I'm going to put a stop to it."
Dean slid his phone off the table as though afraid his father was going to grab it.
Just then, their waitress approached, "How is everything here?"
"Fine," Dean growled a little too forcefully and the girl left quickly.
Dean didn't touch his phone again throughout dinner, all the while expecting to feel it vibrating in his pocket and the sound of 'Smoke on the Water' to start, only to be disappointed when it remained still and silent.
SPN
Magnus looked at the cell phone when it began to vibrate, nearly falling off the kitchen island before he grabbed it and answered the call.
"Only five? Magnus, you must be slipping," Elle's husky voice drawled.
"There were two others," Magnus told her, "Unfortunately they were not suitable candidates."
"And who made that decision?" Elle asked, "You?"
"You do not trust my judgment?" Magnus asked, offended.
"Watch your tone," Elle warned quietly.
"One overdosed and died," Magnus explained, backtracking, "And the other had asthma."
He heard Elle take a deep breath and waited.
"I see," she said, "Well, I suppose those things can't be helped."
Magnus said nothing.
"I took the liberty of sending out the pictures," Elle told him.
Magnus had expected that, as it was Elle's right.
"There are a number of buyers interested in the redhead," she told him.
Magnus nodded and made himself a mental note of that information.
"And the little Negro in the middle as well," Elle added.
Magnus wasn't surprised; many slave owners, especially Americans, liked to pretend that the South had won.
"This isn't your best haul," Elle continued, "But it's not bad."
Magnus smiled slightly.
"If I may be so bold," Magnus began, "What did you think of the last one?"
As though she had expected the question and had purposefully withheld mention of Sam, Elle asked, "You mean the one you have gagged?"
"Yes," Magnus replied patiently.
He could almost hear the smile in Elle's voice as she answered, "I sent the picture to your Master. And only him. He's very intrigued."
Magnus raised an eyebrow.
"Really?" he asked.
"You of all people should know of your Master's… appetites, Magnus," Elle chided.
He nodded, "I do."
"He was quite reluctant to promote you, don't you recall? But I insisted you were better suited to tasks outside the bedroom."
Magnus remembered.
"I know your Master normally goes through slaves quickly," Elle continued, "But he was very pleased with what he saw. He even told me that he may hang onto him for a while if he finds the company enjoyable."
"That is for him to decide," Magnus told Elle, letting her know that what his Master did to his other slaves did not matter to him.
"I trust you know what you need to do then?" Elle asked him.
"Yes," Magnus replied.
"Good," she said, "I will call you again in a few days to see how your progress is going and to see if the product is ready for shipment."
Elle ended the call without another word. Magnus set the phone back onto the island and took a long drink of beer from the bottle he'd retrieved from the fridge.
Author's Note:
Special thanks to mandancie for editing this chapter.
Thanks to TweetyRulz, AmaraRae, reannablue, AlxM, only-some-loser, theclaysquid, Mimmi85, need2no and Guest for reviewing.
Please take a moment to leave a review and I will post again soon.