The palace
Shizuo fiddled with the mask. He shouldn't do it. The palace was the one place something like him shouldn't be. But it was soft to touch and hid his identity so well. The name on the package wasn't his, clearly not but there wasn't another and no return address. The tuxedo fit him perfectly. Just once shouldn't be any harm. Just once should be okay.
The palace was a place of secrecy. Although the town was right next to the castle, there might as well be walls miles high. Everyone talked about the palace but no one had been there and if they'd been taken they never returned. It was a risk for one mysterious night but Shizuo's heart was telling him he needed to be there.
It was a possibility he'd stand out since the mask was a silvery white and the tux the same. The boots matched the mask. Shizuo stared at his reflection chewing at his lip. His master would be furious, he'd lose his apprenticeship if discovered. If he was discovered.
Shizuo took a few shaky breaths, standing straight and steeling himself. Time to make a choice. The invitation sat heavy in his pocket. He'd already unpacked the outfit and let them touch his 'filthy' skin. He'd be lashed for that alone. The clothes were the highest quality you could get. Spelled to stay clean, to fit perfectly and to change as their wearer wished. He shouldn't even know that much, but given his nature such things came easy.
To go or to stay. Time was ticking. The old 'antique' clock above the fireplace drove him near insane with its constant ticking. He hated the silence filled with it. He could still go back, no one had seen him yet. He could pretend he hadn't seen or done anything, just a stupid apprentice cleaning up after his master.
Shizuo looked around his small room. A rotting wooden box with a blanket and a stool he could place his clothes on. The only modern thing was the toilet and only because his master didn't want the place stinking of his shit. His back throbbed at the memory of his master's ire. He'd run if he could but there was nowhere to go and his master did feed him, even if it was on his master's terms.
Shizuo sighed staring longingly at who he wanted to be. His fingers lightly pressed against the surface of the mirror. Just one night. Just one night. Shizuo stared, pulling back and making a choice.
His master would recognise a carriage missing and he didn't have time to unlock one either. The horses though, they escaped all the time. Walking to the palace would only get him caught. Shizuo went straight to the stables sitting next to the house. He picked the most tame horse that didn't try to bite him.
Shizuo grabbed the saddle and focused on getting the mare ready. She was silvery white as well and went by the name moonlight. She was beautiful but one of many, like him she was used and abused. Unlike him she was constantly pregnant boxed in with stallion after stallion. The last foal had almost killed her, another one would. Moonlight was already pregnant.
Shizuo was gentle as he always was with her. He climbed on swinging a leg into the stirrups and rode her from the stables, past the house and his little box room, past the warehouse that held the carriages. Shizuo let the mare run past the fields where her children grew, past the farm lands that isolated him from the town. A smile touched his lips as her hoofs touched stone.
The sun had set and with it the streets became empty, except for the whores trying to earn coin and the night folk taking a breathe of freedom. Shizuo had only been to town once and he'd loved seeing it bustling with the market and the people. Maybe on the way back he'd see it again. Right before his master-
Shizuo shook the though from his head. The windows were dark and only the lit magic flames guided the way. He rode moonlight to the gate and stopped just in front of the guard. He was the only one on horseback, the rest in carriages or the few walking.
Shizuo held out the invitation to the guard, trying not to tremble. Being turned back now would ruin everything. The guard nodded and Shizuo was disappointed as he went through the gate towards the valet. He would've liked to hear another voice other than his master. Anything was better than the gruff dismissive tones of that man.
The valet said nothing taking the mare from him. Shizuo stifled his disappointment. Being among others should've been enough. With a sigh he started up the stairs, admiring the lights and magic show. The fountain as he reached the top and the gardens brimming with colour as he walked the path into the castle and through the large open double doors.
He shouldn't have come. He was in a beautiful dream and still felt like an imposter. Everyone looked so beautiful it made his eyes sting. He watched the guests, instead of the elaborate decorations and crystal chandeliers. He envied how they talked to one another, their easy closeness.
Shizuo shuffled over to the side freezing as a butler with a tray stopped in front of him. The butler said nothing holding out the tray. Nervously Shizuo took one of the glass stems and continued his meek journey to the food table and leant against the wall. The food looked delicious, yet it was being left alone. Shizuo's stomach grumbled, snatching out a hand quickly to take a treat that would most likely upset his stomach.
He knew he was out of place looking like a desperate street urchin. At that moment he didn't care. Flavours he couldn't describe burst across his tongue. He actually had to chew rather than drink the slop his master gave him once a day if he was lucky.
Shizuo cried. The drink in the glass was bitter and too strong. He abandoned that on the table, but the food was the best thing he'd ever tasted and after tonight, he'd never taste it again. After the treat was gone, Shizuo crossed his arms restraining himself from taking another. He knew tonight would be his ruin and he didn't want to end it stuffing his face and making himself sick.
There was no point in joining the dancers. He couldn't dance. He'd be lucky if he stayed upright. So he watched enviously. His gaze and his nature kept sliding to the thick curtain teasing temptation. That was there he wanted to go. Stepping away from the wall Shizuo inched closer, his hand brushing velvet and then he was inside.
Unlike the bright lights of the ballroom, this place was low light, sweet smelling and covered in plush cushions and furniture. Shizuo's cock rose and swelled pushing against his pants. People were writhing together in all states of undress. Shizuo bit back a moan seeing everything. The masks stayed on but the clothes did not.
He stared at the woman between a man's legs, sucking at his cock. There was a man sucking another man, a man licking a woman, a woman licking a woman. Then there was the trios and the quartets. It was beautiful. Shizuo bit back a moan at the sight. Someone took his hand and he went nervously, eagerly.
His back cried in relief leaning against plushness he'd never felt. A woman spread his legs and Shizuo felt a flash of panic as she unbuckled his pants. He didn't want his clothes off. He didn't need to worry though. She took his cock out and lowered her mouth. Shizuo shivered, a man- the one that had taken his hand - tilted his head back and kissed him, fingers tracing up and down his throat.
"Pretty." A smooth voice spoke. "Your eyes are glowing. Take what you need."
Shizuo frowned his mind going blank. Take? He'd never taken before in his life. His master gave him what he needed. He'd never been given the option of taking. The man kissed him again.
"Take what you need." The man coaxed repeatedly.
Shizuo closed his eyes letting the sensations grip him. He opened the part of his nature that had been shackled and then he gave a small tug. Energy trickled into him. Shortly after was a burst of pain and a scream ripped from his throat. At least his master wouldn't have him anymore. He'd take the freedom offered.
Izaya hated crowds. He hated the events his king forced him to attend. As the duke he had no choice. Nothing changed. He remained chatting with the king and only the king, despite the numerous invitations. He'd been invited more than once to join the king's harem but he didn't share. If he found someone, they would be his and his alone. But so far he hadn't found anyone.
Oh there were plenty of offers but none that didn't have an ulterior moment, wanting his money, his power or connection to the king. The nobles were horribly predictable.
That was why his attention snatched on the outcast. A lone male dressed in silvery white that avoided the dance floor, playing wallflower and actually touching the buffet that the nobles refused. Izaya's attention stayed focus on the male so out of place. He didn't recognise him.
The moment someone did notice, the male hurried towards the curtain and into the debauchery wing. "Izaya? Has someone finally caught your eye?"
Izaya turned his attention back to the king. "Nothing like that. Will there be another addition to the harem?"
The king already had three and the dragon was possessive over them. Those three were the most protected in the kingdom. The council dreaded another.
"No."
A scream pierced through the halls, rivalling a banshee cry. It was the most agonising sound he'd ever heard and he'd played the torture game. Izaya ran through the curtain, the darkness dispelled. The fun and games were over. The screaming continued, coming from the male that had caught his eye. He was convulsing, eyes flashing as his mouth foamed and blood ran from his nose.
"Everyone out!" Izaya snapped. "You too your majesty."
The king remained in the danger zone. Izaya tore at the tux, slicing clean through the material. He took in the scar covered skin and the glowing sigil that was the cause of the problem. Izaya hissed his disgust at the sight.
"Get a breaker here. Now!"
The king growled stepping forward. "No need." The king's touch shattered the sigil and the male went still, like a puppet with its strings cut. "Cambion."
Izaya ground his teeth together. "Yes. I'll deal with him."
Shizuo woke up naked in a bed that didn't belong to him. It was soft and comfortable. His throat was sore and he felt somehow lighter.
The door opened startling him, a maid bustling in. "Ah you're awake. The duke will be pleased."
Shizuo shrank back as she came towards him. The covers held to his nose. The maid tore them away revealing his ugly scarred body.
"Come now, nothing I haven't seen before. We need to get you clean and fed before you meet the duke."
Shizuo was far too weak to protest. He was dragged from the bed and behind the divider where hot water awaited. The maid guided him in and Shizuo sank into bliss beneath the bubbles. He didn't protest as the maid lifted his limbs and scrubbed at his skin. Her calloused fingers flitted over his scars as if they weren't there.
He didn't want to leave the wet warmth that make him feel so relaxed. But he didn't fight the maid as she pulled him from the tub and into fluffiness. She patted him dry, scrubbed at his hair and then dressed him as if he was a child. The clothes fit him and they smelled nice.
The maid ran a comb through his hair and then dragged him from the room. Like a child he held her hand, stumbling after her. She sat him down, a plate of food set in front of him. Shizuo blinked at it. "Eat."
He did. It was delicious. The bread so warm and soft. He cried lowering his head so the maid couldn't see. He ate everything on his plate making his stomach cramp uncomfortably. He downed the glass set in front of him and then the maid was dragging him along again.
This time it was to the duke. She knocked on the door and pushed him through. Shizuo stumbled forward his toes snagging on the plush carpet. Books everywhere. His mouth dropped open as he did nothing but stare.
A cough drew his attention to the figure sitting behind a desk. Shizuo lowered his eyes to the floor. Black hair, red eyes. Beautiful. "You caused quite the commotion at the palace last night."
Shizuo blushed. He'd been with a man a woman. After that was a blank.
"What's your name and title?" The duke demanded.
Shizuo was silent trying to work his tongue in his mouth.
"When I ask you a question I expect an answer. Do you understand?" The duke said sternly.
Shizuo nodded.
"Words." The duke snapped. "Look at me."
Shizuo trembled as he raised his head.
"Do you understand?" The duke asked again.
Shizuo worked his tongue again. He opened his mouth, closed it. Opened his mouth again. "…sss."
The duke's brow furrowed. "What's your name."
Shizuo clenched his fists. "…Shh-iiiz-uo." He managed to get out. He'd practised speaking only when his master was out. He was to be silent.
"You're not a noble are you?" The duke asked.
Shizuo worked his tongue again. "…n-no."
The duke stood. "What were you doing at the palace? Where did you get the invitation?"
Shizuo opened and shut his mouth. Too many words. He cried, sniffling as fat tears rolled down his cheeks. The duke walked around the desk and touched him.
"You can't speak." The duke noted. "I can get the information another way. Is that alright?"
Shizuo nodded frantically. "…y-y-yes."
"Good." The duke released his hand, touching his cheek and then soft lips were touching his and he was falling.
"You're in a fine mood." The king remarked. "I take it your guest has awoken?"
Izaya glared at the harem surrounding the king. He looked young but Mikado was deceiving. With a nod of the dragon, Masaomi, Aoba and Anri left the room. "It was accidental."
The king nodded. "I assumed that was the case. Who is he?"
"An enslaved cambion under the control of the carriage maker. Last night was the first time he'd tried to take for himself."
"Hmm, so his master added restrictions." The king mused with an unhappy growl. "Is the cambion dangerous?"
"Only to himself." Izaya answered quickly. "You may want to investigate why a boxed invite was left in one of the carriages though."
The dragon nodded tapping his nails against the arm chair. "Do you think he'd be a fit for my harem?"
Izaya shoved down his retort. "Right now he isn't fit for anything. His stomach needs to be settled. He's malnourished, a novice to his urges and a mass of trauma."
The king stared at him for a long moment. "Get him to health and then I want to see him."
Izaya forced his body to bend. "Yes your majesty."
He quickly left the throne room nodding for the trio to return to their king. Down the stairs, he made his way to the stables, finding the pregnant mare. His hand brushed against her side. She wanted to live. Shizuo wanted her to live. So he sent the foal to the spirit plane. It would live as a nightmare, chasing away bad dreams.
The mare nuzzled against him. Izaya led her from the palace gates.
Shizuo waited anxiously for the duke to return. He'd fainted from a kiss but he hoped the man had gotten everything he needed. The maid seemed content to leave him alone. They hadn't tried to feed him after his body had rejected what he'd eaten through both orifices. He'd been ashamed and felt weak as a damn kitten. But that was nothing new and no one had punished him for it.
He sat on the floor curled up against the wall in the corner, waiting for the sound of carriage wheel crunching on the path or the sound of horse hoofs. For what he'd done, his master would've taken the belt to his back. He would've been left bloodied and then his master would feed him enough that he could heal.
Shizuo hugged his knees. Duke was a lot more important than carriage master. What would his punishment be then? He trembled, rocking slowly back and forth chewing at his lip. His gaze gravitated to the window. He had nowhere to run to. His master would beat him to death and he was free. The duke hadn't yet named himself. He could escape. He could run and keep on running. Or he could go higher still and make sure no one touched him anymore.
Shizuo stilled as the thought took root in his mind, not for the first time either. Standing on shaky legs he grabbed the handle and twisted. No one was there to guard him. He left the room and walked to the stairs. They'd placed him on the first floor. Shizuo grabbed the banister moving up the staircase. His legs burned as he made it to the forth floor. Shizuo frowned looking up and staring at the ladder leading to the attic.
His muscles screamed in protest as he hauled himself up, arm wrapped around one of the rungs. He crawled into the room, his knees scraping against the wooden floor. He lay panting, dizzy and weak. But there was a window. Beautiful in design. Stained glass with the duke's family crest. Shizuo grit his teeth crawling to the window and grabbing at the handle. The window swung open.
Shizuo clambered out awkwardly onto the balcony. Twisting he looked at the roof. He could maybe get higher. Shizuo sighed pulling himself up, the cool metal pressed against his cheek. He swung one leg over the rail, his head swimming as dizziness and pain swarmed him. Shizuo lost control of his limbs crashing down, his head smacking against the balcony.
The hours stretched into dinner time when he rode the carriage through the gate of his estate. Izaya passed the reins of the mare to the butler and let him take the carriage to park. His head house maid stood at the door. "What happened?" He asked.
The old woman rung her hands together in her skirts. She'd looked after him as a child, he trusted her as much as he could anyone. "After you left your guest had an upset stomach. We thought he'd gone to rest…he made it up to the attic. The gardener noticed him fall from the balcony."
Izaya's heart lurched. A fall from that height was risky to even their kind. "He fell?" Izaya clarified.
"Thankfully backwards, but he knocked himself out. The gardener says he was trying to climb over. But there's nothing to…I don't believe your guest is right in the head, my lord."
Izaya knew he wasn't. "I know. He's an enslaved cambion. He doesn't know how to feed and the food is too rich for him to stomach. Have the chef take that into consideration. Once he's able to keep it down, then maybe try something more filling." Izaya paused. "His name is Shizuo."
His head maid nodded. "I'll see to it, my lord. Poor thing, can't imagine what he's been through."
Shizuo frowned at the foal nuzzling him in the dreamscape. He reached out nonetheless stroking her muzzle. "Looks like she went straight to you."
Shizuo startled shrinking back. He was supposed to be safe in the dream scape it was the only place his master couldn't reach him. But the duke was here stroking the foal. The duke was an incubus.
"Your mare will live longer. I've taken away her ability to reproduce."
Shizuo frowned and stared between the duke and the foal. Moonlight's child. "Thank you." Shizuo voiced. He could do everything normally in the dreamscape. That was one of the reasons he liked it so much.
"I'm not going to punish you, Shizu-chan." The duke said. "I'm to teach you how to be a cambion, when you're healthy I'm to present you to the king."
That was terrifying. Shizuo held onto the foal. "Why?"
The duke rested a hand on his. "Likely to see how much punishment the carriage master requires. Enslavement is illegal. He won't touch you again."
"…Thank you duke."
The duke scowled at him. "None of that. Titles bore me. It's Izaya. Live as you like within my estate, build up your energy and then we'll talk. If you feel any urges or changes to your incubus side, find me immediately."
And with that the duke-Izaya- was gone. The foal nagged at him for attention. Shizuo sighed wondering if it was all a dream.
The maids were kind and he knew they'd been told what he was. They were patient but firm getting him to sleep in the bed, get out of the bed, getting him washed and dressed. He ate at the table alone at first. They gave him soft food that looked like slop but nicer and it tasted good. He cried when it stayed down.
Shizuo wasn't allowed past the third floor given what he'd tried to do. He did have access to the rest of the house and he was allowed out into the gardens and stables, where the duke - Izaya - had brought back moonlight.
His speech was stilted but the duke - Izaya - had hired a tutor, one that specialised in the damaged. She was nice but he felt like a stupid child.
Then there was the duke. Izaya. He'd only managed to say the name once and that was in the dreamscape. The one place the incubus hadn't popped up again. The duke had left him to his own devices, just like he'd said.
A month in and Shizuo was on solids. He could also string a sentence together but it was basic and slow. In the mirror he could no longer see his ribs. It looked like he was filling out. The maids were happy at least and the chef had prepared a small piece of chocolate cake to celebrate. Thankfully it stayed down. A surprise given where he was to go. The king wasn't known for his patience and wanted the carriage master dealt with.
Shizuo smoothed down the waist coat he'd been given, carefully shrugging on the jacket. This was it. Izaya had gotten him healthy. His human side. His incubus side seemed to have gone dormant since the incident in the palace.
Shizuo thanked the maid, more confident in speaking to them than he was Izaya. When he was around the duke, he was a stuttering idiot and he hated it. Hated that he couldn't bring himself to look at the incubus without blushing or doing something stupid. It was silent as they travelled by carriage to the palace.
Shizuo followed the duke, staying behind out of the way. Even without pheromones his attraction to the duke was a problem. Not that it mattered, Izaya was going to hate him anyway.
The king was terrifying. He looked like a teenager but Shizuo could feel the power behind those blazing blue eyes. The power of a dragon. It drove him to his knees and after a moment the king relented and he was allowed to stand.
"Shizuo Heiwajima. You're a cambion enslaved by the carriage master. Correct?"
Shizuo nodded stuttering a yes.
"The carriage master has been charged and will be executed." The king said. "The question is what to do with you. Before I offer options, I'd like to know what you want."
Shizuo rolled his tongue in his mouth. He knew what he wanted. Saying it was a task. "…B-ban-ishment…d-d-drea-m-scape."
Next to him the duke tensed. The king looked surprised. "You wish to be banished to the dreamscape?"
Shizuo nodded. "…yes." Still slow, still sounded like an idiot.
The king sighed. "I will think about your request. Would you rather not be in my harem or stay with Duke Izaya?"
Shizuo shook his head. "…n-no."
"I see." The king sighed again. "Masaomi, take Shizuo to the kitchens. I need to speak with the duke."
The blond troublemaker jumped up and led Shizuo away. "You didn't know he was going to ask for banishment?"
"I didn't." Izaya admitted. "His incubus side is dormant. He's doing well in his lessons."
"But not enough for him to want to stay." Mikado sighed. "This isn't the outcome I was expecting, Izaya. Banishment won't appease the citizens and especially not the half breeds. He either joins my harem or he chooses you. Those are my options."
Izaya didn't think it was going to be that simple. It didn't look like the king was going to change his mind or listen. He'd need to talk with Shizuo.
The carriage ride on the way back was twice as nerve racking as the way there. Shizuo refused to speak or answer anything the duke asked him, to spare the duke the annoyance of his stilted speech. His fists clenched at the disrespect he was showing his saviour. He nodded or shook his head to basic yes or no questions.
"It would see the tutors hired were pointless." The duke commented. Shizuo hung his head in shame and from then on they didn't say a word.
Once back at the estate Shizuo returned to his room, crawled into bed and immediately immersed himself on the dream plane. The little foal bounded up to him. Shizuo sighed nuzzling into her mane. This was where he belonged. This is where he had to be. That was why he cut the connection from his physical form. He was free. The foal lipped at him, leading him to their new home.
End