A/N: Just a note, as I had a guest comment about the OC. The OC is a temporary character, bridge to bring Roy's team into the area. I wanted an easy way for Roy to get there without wasting a lot of time (two days is a huge gap for Ed already, plus the amount of time it will take to plan out what to do once they get there). I personally don't like OCs to play a big role in my story, but I have been known to use them as a bridge. The "Shadowdancer Alchemist" may have a story of his own one day, but I doubt it unless someone heartily requests more about this particular character. If he does it will be totally independent of all established characters. The interactions here in this chapter are the limit of his appearance in this fic. He may show up in other fics just as an informant, because that is really the limit of this particular character's power. He's good at spying and minor subversive acts, but has no real power. While good at what he does, he simply doesn't have the ability to help more than being a set of eyes. He was, at one point, effective as an assassin against non-alchemists, but really, really sucks at trying to kill those with alchemical power.

Chapter Four

The Consort's Broken Will

-Blessed Sanctuary-

The following morning began as the day before, confusion and pain. The strange sweet scent was still in his nose and he was feeling woozy and tired even though he'd slept all night. Envy was breathing on him as he woke and let out a startled yelp. His eyes went wide as he felt him arranging his body, flipping him over to his stomach, leaving him exposed from a different angle. There was a clink as the cuff on his wrist was slapped into place above him. His leg was somewhat twisted, but the length of the chain holding his ankle was enough for him.

"Oh, chibi, you're awake? Well, time to give this a different go, and get ya used to this angle. Sometimes the lord doesn't want to look at his consort's face, ya know, and this is quite the lovely angle." Envy practically purred, pulling his hips up, literally supporting his weight with one hand due to the missing limb.

"Please…no more…just stop…" he groaned, feeling those long digits force their way into him. He was quiet though, no yelp or cry of surprise. Was he already so expecting this? The answer was simple, he was. And he just wanted it to be over. But something else was wrong, his head was buzzing and the will to fight was faded much more than the day before.

Envy grinned, shoving his fingers hard into him and watching as he shivered below him but made no sound. "Good, good boy…perfect, actually. Now, can you keep it up when I'm buried?"

The hand left and was replaced as Envy continued his "training" from the day before. The pain was just as intense, no preparation, and no time for any sort of adjustment. Since Envy was greeted with silence and quiet breaths, he giggled happily and left him after three rounds to ensure his silent compliance. The truth was, he simply wanted to be sated himself. The last time wasn't really necessary, but damn was it fun. By then he'd gotten the soft tears that were soaking the pillow under the alchemist. That was Envy's favorite part, after all. After he summoned the redheaded idiot back into the room, he skipped, his form shifting to the grey monk until he found the black cloaked man.

"Hey, Greed, he's as silent as a mute today. Ya wanna check mah work?" he said with a wink.

The cloaked figure smirked. "Of course, but after dinner, when he's been cleaned up. I don't like sloppy seconds, you know, Envy. The lord has requested your presence to discuss the training regime. I'm sure if things go well tonight, he can be sent to him by morning."

Envy snickered and skipped off until he came to the throne room door. Throne room, it was amusing to him. Of course, that was how Lord Dreasal saw the place. His own little castle in the clouds. Even if it was really just a run down two story farm house from the outside. But inside, it was a different story, and there was the nice, large basement where the consort was kept.

"My lord?" Andka called and entered.

The man in white turned, his eyes wide and glossy. "Yes, how is my sweet Edward doing?"

"He'll be ready by morning, if he passes the final test by Yere this evening," he said softly. This guy was a nutcase, and he wasn't going to get punched or kicked by the idiot or stabbed by his ridiculous alchemy that he couldn't control anymore.

The Bonemake Alchemist had once been sane. Very sane, actually. He had a unique ability to bend the minerals in bones to his will, and that included his own bones. He'd been a quietly deadly weapon in Ishvale, and was believed to have died there, even as far as to be listed on the fallen. He hadn't fallen. Instead, he'd been captured and tortured. By the end, he had refused to spill any secrets, but the process had broken him completely. He was left for dead, only to be found by a rather ruthless band of mercenaries. They healed him, and helped him reawaken his memories. Doing so was a bad idea. He ended up murdering every last one of them and wandering off, eventually landing in Kaverat. For a long time, he wandered the streets. And he was utterly, and completely insane.

In that state, a certain homunculus found the alchemist, and hatched a plan to see how far he could push that madness. It was all in sadistic fun. Envy had come along later, and found it amusing and decided to play a game with Greed to relieve the boredom. And that was where the idea of the perfect consort to the king came from. Envy had been excited to see if the man could do it, actually capture the Fullmetal pipsqueak.

The farmhouse quickly became the castle, and the mad alchemist sunk deeper and deeper into his delusion of being the king of his castle. Devoted followers were easy to find, because the man was irresistible. That and the ability to rip the bones clean out of a person was intimidating. Soon he attracted those with as much sadism as the two homunculi. The shack of a farmhouse was slowly transformed, on the inside at least. From the outside it was just as rough and run down as before. But inside, with alchemy and unpaid labor, it became as close to a castle as one could want. But that meant that from the outside the group and their insane leader attracted no attention from Kaverat at all.

Greed spoke for the "lord" when it came to the others, in fact he was really the one in control simply because the Bonemake Alchemist was simply too insane to do anything like organize. So they had attracted a couple more alchemists, a man once known as the Groundbreak Alchemist, and another once known as the Ironbanded Alchemist. They were also "lost" soldiers that had never returned to the military life once they had a taste of life without rules. And for once, Envy wasn't bored at all. He headed down the hallway again, skipping, and grabbed a chocolate bar off the table in his room as he flopped on his bed. Yes, he wasn't bored at all.

-Train en route to Kaverat-

Roy was annoyed, to say the least. It couldn't be avoided. It was taking too long, and from what Shadowdancer said, they were running against the clock. But Roy couldn't help that. He sat, staring out the window at the rain as the train flew on through the land. He wasn't really looking though. The only thing that made sense was the "non-humans" were homunculi. And they knew already they were dealing with at least two alchemists. Roy had a vague memory of someone that had iron around him like the one Breda described…but he couldn't pin it. He huffed.

"Colonel, if you don't settle down, you're going to drive us all insane before we get there," Maes said, sitting down with a cup of coffee in each hand.

Roy rolled his eyes at his friend. "I know. But I keep trying to put this together. Do you know this Shadowdancer? He acted like he was pretty useless."

Maes nodded. "He's good at recon. I checked in and he's really good at what he does, uses shadows to transport himself from place to place and hide. But that's the limit of his ability. He's highly specialized. And completely useless against alchemists, except to spy on them. It was lucky he was in the area to give us good intel, but he works mostly alone. He'll have been on some mission other than this, I'm sure, and is taking the time to help us out. He's a good guy…if a little creepy."

Roy nodded. "Well, I guess confirmation of where Fullmetal is located is useful. I just wish the guy could get him out."

Maes shook his head. "Yeah, I'm not sure, if we're dealing with homunculi and alchemists, with Ed incapacitated…"

"Well, we have Al and Armstrong with us, and Riza's still a dead shot," Roy said, glancing about the train car.

Maes nodded. "We'll get him out. No matter what, Roy."

-Blessed Sanctuary-

The door opened again, and the red-haired boy looked up to see the black cloaked figure of the first advisor to the lord.

"Out," he said, and the redhead was gone.

Ed lifted his head and stared at the cloaked figure who grinned. It was a feral thing and he felt his heart hitch. It looked familiar. The cloak dropped and Ed knew why.

"Greed," he said softly. Something seemed to be wrong, his voice really wouldn't rise above the soft volume. "What are you doing here?"

Greed grinned, his dark eyes glittering. "I'm taking my job very seriously, wouldn't want my lord to destroy his consort the first chance he has to fuck him, now would I?"

Ed pulled himself up and tried to yank his arm down. "Why are you doing this? What's in it for you?"

Greed sat down on the bed beside Ed. "Well, I get to fuck anything I want, get to eat anything I want, and get to live in this lovely place. Opulence is my favorite thing. And ya know, you aren't too bad. No chic, but well, can't be choosy when presented with such a tempting opportunity."

Ed choked as Greed's hand wrapped around his neck, pressing tightly until his vision started to waver and then he pulled back. "I love that look…"

In a swift move, he removed the covering and stared at Ed. "I would have come in earlier, but Envy gets so caught up in his own pleasure he leaves such a mess…and I don't like messes when I do this. Unless I make them."

Ed choked and wanted to scream but already the thought of screaming made him think of the fact that it would take longer. And the faster he was done with him, the sooner he'd be left alone, so despite it, he bit down on his lip and closed his eyes, feeling like he should just lose himself. He was already so used and disgusting… He'd never be clean, and he knew all the alchemy in the world wouldn't clear the stains from him. So what did it matter anymore? To be honest, though, it was like all the will to fight had been drained of him completely. Even speaking was an effort and he just wanted to sleep again.

"No one will come for you; you know that right, Fullmetal?" Greed said, his clothes falling, his skin gained a bluish tint, and Ed remembered he was called the Shield because he could rearrange the molecules. "And as much as Envy was rough, let's just say it will be a test of your training when I'm done with you, boy…"

And he couldn't have been more right. There was no preamble, no warning. One moment he was kneeling there, running blue tinted hands over Ed's hips and the next, he was arched in a soundless scream as he felt like he was being pulled in two by some foreign implement. Hands gripped his hipbones like iron and he knew there would be purple bruises left there. It wasn't like Envy, there was no give, no softness, just searing heat that made his eyes water heavily and want to pass out. He heard the Shield chuckle as he rocked against him, and he managed to limit his voice to nothing more than a soft wheeze. If there had been an unbroken part of his will, it was shattered in that moment. He felt the blood slicking Greed's length now, but there was no ease in it. Even when Greed accidently hit something that sent a single spark of…something…all he did was feel a tiny pleasure drown under the wave of pain.

Greed was done soon, but it felt like hours, releasing hard, striking seemingly deeper than before and then pulling away, dropping his hips and grinning as he watched the blood and his seed leak from him onto the sheets below. Ed was silent, eyes focused on the wall, not even bothering to look at Greed.

The last sliver of resistance he had held to so tightly had broken. He gave in to the overwhelming apathy that was threatening to cover him earlier. No tears even bothered to fall now despite the searing pain that shot through him still. The door opened and closed and the redhead was back, cleaning and washing and now he couldn't look at him. Greed was right. His last, desperate hope had been Roy. Why Roy, Ed wasn't sure. He had been clinging to the idea that Roy would come. He'd been there in the warehouse…he'd carried him out…seen him break down. But maybe that was why he wouldn't come. Why would anyone want someone so broken and disgusting as Ed was now? Not only was he crippled, but he couldn't even protect himself from this torment. Maybe it was deserved. He had done such horrible things, and perhaps equivalent exchange was coming to haunt him. His arm and leg hadn't been enough. Now, the rest of him would pay the price for what he'd done, for taking away his little brother's childhood, for the ultimate sins of his short life.

Yes, this was no less than he deserved.

Raderean stared at the boy and he didn't know what to do. He couldn't help him escape, especially not with him only having one leg and one arm… He wondered what had happened to the others? He finished cleaning him again; wincing at the bloody mess the dark advisor had left him in. But he had been informed he was to be presented to the lord after breakfast, so he had to be prepared for him. He eventually slept, and the redhead sighed deeply, staring at his useless hands. If he had known more alchemy…but he didn't. He left the room, shutting the door as a sweet odor began to permeate it once again, allowing Ed to slide deeper into the dreamless state he was craving.

Morning found Raderean waking up to the cook bringing in food. He ate quickly, and then awoke the young lord Edward. Ed started at him in confusion.

"My lord, you must eat and then you are to be presented to the Lord," he said smiling. "He is excited to have you at his side."

Ed blinked and nodded, and to his surprise, the redhead unlocked his wrist and ankle. It wasn't like he could really run away in that condition. He helped him to sit up and he winced at how much it hurt. Even with two legs he knew he wouldn't be capable of walking. He ate slowly, simple oatmeal. He ignored the glass of milk and gave it to his companion who wanted to refuse.

"Give me water," he said softly.

Raderean nodded, drinking the milk then refilling it with water. They waited until the two advisors came in. Andka smiled at Ed and threw a white robe over his shoulders, tying it in the front. He reached down and hefted the smaller boy up easily in his arms. He was incredibly light without the automail. They headed up a set of stairs, then another, and entered an extremely large bedroom. The grey robed figure deposited him on the large bed, sitting him on the end and those purple eyes flashed.

"Speak not to him, don't cry or scream. Greed told me what a good little slut you were for him, so you can handle your true master, little pet. Greed is cruel and likes to harden himself…" Envy gave a wicked grin and walked out, leaving Ed alone to sit at the end of the bed.

The robe was plush, and it felt pretty nice against his skin, but his heart sank when the door opened and he saw the white robed "lord" of this place. He moved forward and stood before Ed, looking him over. He reached over to a table beside the end of the bed and grabbed something that jangled. He went forward and snapped something around Ed's neck. Ed swallowed as he realized it was a collar. He wasn't sure what to think as a cuff was then attached to his wrist. He frowned at the clip imbedded in the leather. Dreasal pushed the white robe off his shoulders and smiled, looking over his tan flesh.

"You are the perfect consort. But you must be marked still," he said softly. He nodded at Ed, then took the cuff and there was a snap as it was connected to a ring at the front of his throat. He swallowed convulsively as the man shoved him backward onto the bed then flipped him to his stomach.

"Now, stay still, my love," he said softly and Ed closed his eyes. He had no idea what he was up to, but the position his hand was in under his chin was damned uncomfortable and pressed into his airway painfully.

He heard him move behind him and then felt something touch his back and he almost screamed as he realized his skin was burning. A branding iron. The guy was using a branding iron on his back. He bit into his lip until it was bleeding and his eyes began to roll up into his head, darkness encroaching on his vision when it was finally lifted. He panted harshly into the sheets. There was a movement and he felt the man spread something on top of the burnt flesh and then covered it with a soft bandage.

"There, my love. A mark that will tell any who you belong to without a doubt. Now, to consummate our perfect love," he said, and yanked Ed up higher on the bed by his collar. He bit back a yelp a the sudden movement, and was flipped back to look up at the ceiling as the now naked man hovered over him.

Ed swallowed, looking over the figure over him. He was thin, painfully so, and was covered with old scars, both cuts and burn scars. He could tell the marks of torture, so he wondered why this man would do something like this to another person. He just stood there, staring at Ed until he smiled.

"I never thought that what Andka said was true, that there was a perfect consort for me. So beautiful…and it took so long to find you! And now, so sweet and quiet… Thanks to Andka. I didn't want to see you hurt. I already killed far too many of my previous pale attempts at consorts. Before the two boys from Central, I have had about eight others that have failed to impress me…" he said, looking about.

Ed wanted to know if they were all dead. "I managed to keep Raderean, your proxy, and a couple others to work as servants. But I just couldn't hold myself back on some of them. They just…were not you…so perfect in your beautiful imperfection…a body as scarred and mangled as my own, my dear love…"

Ed swallowed and nodded to him. He didn't want him to talk anymore. He wanted this over with. But did it really matter? There was a click and a chain was attached to the right side of the collar, and he followed it up to another ring on the head of the bed. He looked back to the man over him. He was running his hands over his leg, and then over the ports on the other side. He wondered where his automail leg had gone to as he teased the flesh around the ports. It felt odd. Finally he guessed his master had enough of the waiting.

He kneeled over him and moved his leg out of the way, and he watched him pump his own arousal a couple times, then, seemingly satisfied with himself, he reached down and pressed his fingers into him. Ed flinched, still incredibly sore from the day before. He felt a shock of pain and when he brought his hand back up, it was stained red. Apparently, whatever had been torn the day before was still leaking blood when he touched it. Ed swallowed, a familiar shock of pain rocketing through his back as the man seated himself inside him with a guttural groan. He swallowed and looked away at the wall, trying to ignore the sensation, and reminding himself he was indeed paying the price he needed to pay. Equivalent exchange, after all.

He vaguely heard the man muttering on about perfection and being a beautiful thing, and angelic, and Ed tuned it out, tears collecting, but he refused to shed them. Not yet. When he was gone, he would sob his pain, but he wanted to do it alone, not with him over him. Never with him, master, over him. He couldn't believe he'd been reduced to this so easily. So very easily. Perhaps he desired it, this punishment. Maybe it was always meant to be. As much as he distanced himself, when the stinging liquid flooded him, his stomach roiled and threatened to rejected that breakfast he'd eaten. He felt him pull away and winced at the pain of it and then he patted him, kissing his forehead and telling him he was an excellent consort, perfect in every way.

Raderean came into the room and cleaned him once more and said that Andka would take him to the throne room in a moment to sit at the feet of his master. He nodded and sighed, his fingers numb in the cuff at his throat. Eventaully, Envy came in and took him down the stairs to a large room without windows. There was a large comfortable looking chair in the middle of the room. Beside it was a ring embedded into the wooden floor. Envy set him down, and clicked the chain that was hooked to his neck into the one on the floor.

"Now, dear consort, come sit at my feet while I deal with my duties for the day," he said, and Ed pushed himself with his one leg against the side of the chair, leaning against the man's leg. He smiled and ran a hand through the gold hair of the bowed head.

"Andka, bring him the clothes I bought for him to wear in here, I can't let others view what is mine and mine alone…" he said, looking behind him.

"Yes, my lord!" Envy said and returned with a piece of white fabric that he tied around Ed's waist. He looked down to see it at least covered his nakedness, almost like a skirt, but more like a large apron that went around his front and back, covering one hip and tied on the other one. He sighed and didn't move when it was put there. He couldn't have if he wanted to.

His master leaned down and pulled the bandage off the brand, pushing him forward to admire it. "The brand took well. Before I take you to bed this evening, I'll bandage it again. We want it to heal cleanly after all."

Again, he bowed his head and waited. What else could he do? He was helpless, dirty and weak. And paying the price for past sins. He wondered though at why he felt so docile. Even with everything, he still thought it was strange. But then he was reminded of that sweet smell at night before he went to sleep. Could it be some sort of drug…

- Kaverat-

It was just after dawn when they exited the train at the station and headed toward the Inn where the Shadowdancer Alchemist waited. They made it there in short order and found a tall, reed thin man with black hair and sunken eyes. Roy looked at him thoughtfully for a moment then sat down at the table beside him.

"I've written everything I observed in this report for you, Colonel. I'm afraid my own mission has been on hold long enough waiting for you. Just fair warning, I think there are at least two alchemists, soldiers for the state if I don't miss my guess, at least at one time. Good luck getting your kid back, just remember, it won't be easy. If you can't get him out of there, I suggest you burn the place, with him in it," he said, standing and looking back at the horrified expression of several of Mustang's team.

"Trust me; it would be a kindness rather than leaving him there. There may not be much to save anymore, and it might be better if you just did that anyway," he said, looking sad for a second before he melted into the shadows and was gone.