Chapter 12

Shadow Dragon

As Vegeta was led upon the lead, he couldn't help but notice the short leash was held taut in Delenkra's clenched hand. The slave though would silently remain in step, one step behind and off to her left. So tight was the lead, that the collar pressed down upon the back of his neck, making him for now lower his head, much like a docile animal at the behest of it's Owner. There was of course the second lead she held in hand as the choke chain would remind him of its presence that the slave knew acting up would only earn him a punishment that he did not want to chance until he found out just how powerful Syn really was.

The path was long, winding, and though the slave was exhausted, he had no choice but to follow where that leash and the one holding it. His head would lower lightly into a gentle tuck, the leather leash taut while the chain leash remained slack and the light chink would remind him that it was still very capable of bringing him to sharp attention upon the merest whim. The Saiyan would only take a deep breath as the Citadel loomed ahead, its grandeur crruelly scraping the skies with it's castle like spires.

Vegeta hesitated as he looked upon it's marble stone, soon stopping as he looked upon the ediface. The twin statues of dragons coiled around it's front entrance, the mouths gaping into sadistic smiles. There were the large, heavy wood doors, while the walls stretched out to both sides in a vast reach like wings. There were only few windows as vines crept up across the ground, wrapping itself upon a tress, browned and decaying. The skies overhead loomed it seemed always with grey clouds above.

A sharp snap of the leashes would bring his attention forth, as the choke chain pinched flesh and the collars abrasively twisted about his throat in a painful jerk. He moved forward again as Delenkra would lift the heavy knocker and slam it a couple times upon the door. The sound echoed into the citadel with resounding force. In fact, he'd only been a slave here for only 20 years, his thoughts roaming as he dared not speak up, not yet. The pull of the reins would cause the bar in his mouth to press down upon his tongue, making him follow. He knew too well the crippling pain the bridle could bring. However, both Delenkra and Vegeta stopped short when Syn shown himself.

Black mists of death and decay would swirl about as the crimson eyes would stare at the slave as he then looked at Delenkra. "A fine beast you bring Delenkra."

She smiled sweetly. "A gift to the honored Realm Ruler, my Leige. I do hope that the creature will suffice. After all, you keep things in line Jronia. Anyway, I shall be headed back, but now at least you have a beast to do your gracious bidding."

Syn nodded and clawed fingers would wrap around the reins and it was at that moment, Vegeta backed, the rein drawing taught. The Shadow Dragon would hold firmly as the heavy doors closed with a creaking groan. The entire place seemed to shudder, so evil did it feel. No sooner had the doors closed than the Dragon would grip up the slave and slam him against the wall harshly. Vegeta grit his teeth against the steel bit as he heard the snapping of a few bones and the fire of the agony washed through him, forcing him to slump to the floor as his new Master stepped toward him. Syn gave a cruel grin as he stalked the slave once more

"Not even a scream. How interesting." The cool hissing voice stated coarsely.

"Not for your pleasure....Master." He spat tersely, his black eyes raging with the fires of the resentment of being given to a Dragon like this one. It was no wonder the other Dragons veered clear of this particular one.

Syn only laughed. "That's a fitting word from your mouth slave. Just remember who I am to you. I am your Master now and you a slave. You are nothing, no more alive than the collar around your throat."

"So I've heard many times now. If you think you're going to break me though, you're in for a harsh reality check." Vegeta growled at his Master. The Saiyan stood firmly to his ground, not allowing his new Owner any glory of having him.

There was no time wasted as Syn would grip hold of the slave quickly and hold him up by the collar, the crimson eyes like blood fire. With another toss, he would hurl the slave against a pillar with a sickening crunch and then pounced on top of him to pin him down with the claws wrapped around his throat. Syn though would let go and activated the collar, holding it for two minutes.

Vegeta gave a silent scream as he was held aloft by the agony of the collar. His eyes closed, his body rigid as if it exploded in cold fire. He could smell the scent of burning flesh as it seeped into his flared nostrils. His hands were clamped around the collar until his teeth again ground against the steel bit. Once it was finished, he lay upon the ground motionless, too stunned to move, his body humming from the shock. A shiver ran down his spine, knowing sooner or later he would then supress a shudder and though his muscles burned, he would grit upon the steel bit, for once, glad such a thing was in his mouth, offering something to allow him to bite back the pain.

"Ah, the slave can't move now. Did I trigger it too long?" Syn gave off an evil laugh that would echo throughout the Citadel.

With that laugh ringing in his ears, his eyes narrowed as he focused. He had to get back on his feet, no matter how he felt, how long it took, he had to get back up. Palms would press flat to the floor as every muscle in his body screamed for him to stay down. He quietly whispered to himself. "I am the Prince of Saiyans. This pain cannot stop me, cannot break me. I will rise again to laugh upon your grave."

With his teeth grit, he would growl as he struggled to his hands and knees, his breath heavy from the effort, as Syn's laughter stopped in shocked surprise that the slave could even move. Vegeta would then bring one leg forward in a kneel before bracing and rising, though unsteady upon his feet. He staggered a couple steps, his shoulder stooping down as he winced then once more, he straightened up again, coming to gaze his Master and his tormentor eye to eye. Both fists were tightly clinched as if it were the only thing holding him up.

"Impossible." Was the only thing Syn could say, stricken that the slave had stood after such treatment. He knew the slave should have four broken ribs, a broken shoulder, and the shock on top of that, There was no way the slave was to be able to move, let alone stand. In this slave, he was starting to note the threat to his own throne as Realm Ruler. So with angered disgust, he would then exile him to the isolation of the dungeons.

----------Eight Years Passed---------

Footsteps would come down the stairs as the slave stopped. Having not spoken to anyone or anything for the eight years, boredom had taken it's toll and finally stopped talking altogether. Black feral eyes would peer in the darkness as the slave stood up, pacing side to side. The guant figure was hard to determine that it was the Saiyan that had fought so valiantly. He licked his lips hungrily and he continued to pace back and forth as the person outside his cell seemed intimidated by now a purely wild, and hunger driven Saiyan. The trigger to kill had long since been pulled, now the lethal warrior behind the bars was really to attack with animalistic instinct.