When I came to I was still blindfolded so the only thing I could figure out was that I was on stage in front of a crowd. My heart was hammering against my chest like a bird against its cage.

"the first auction-offs of this glorious day will be to deliciously lovely brothers from the White Kingdom!" I shivered as a loud booming voice announced that. the things that they had done, the way they had violated me... no stupid memory shut up. s-h-u-t-u-p. Suddenly the blind was allowed to fall from my eyes. there were lights, bright lights giving everyone a good view for all. As I had suspected there was a large crowd of well off looking people.

"How about the elder one first?" a man-who was the one who had spoken earlier- with a push broom mustache asked. a bout of loud cheering gave him his answer. As soon as the cheers died down a Spaniard and a turk got into a bid battle, which almost became a fist fight several times, over my older brother. Eventually the Spaniard won, and I watched as he gently led my cussing, flailing, screaming brother away, a scene that made it feel hard to breathe.

"Now for the younger." mustache man boomed.

"500,000,000 liore" a small, clear, controlled voice input. the crowd gasped. A man in red, white and pink robes stood. "Do not worry." he assured them "I won't tell on you. But if I catch you again," he added "there will be dire consequences."

"Of-f cour-rse Queen Kiku." mustache man stuttered. the blind was replaced, and I was led away, guided by the chains on my wrists. I was helped step up somewhere then seated upon something soft.

"Bow your head." the Queen commanded. I did so not wishing to displease him. AsI did this the fact that queens were normally female clicked in my brain, but I elected to ignore it. I felt the rough cloth around my eyes being fumbled with and finally after a few minutes of struggling the Queen managed to undo the knot holding it in place."You should report to the infirmary as soon as possible." he added noticing the gashes on my back and shoulders from the whippings, as he unchained my hands.

"Yeah after all I don't want my shoulder to get infected." I replied, surprised that my voice worked so well after all the screaming I had done over the past few weeks. "Where are we going? What am I supposed to do when I get there?" I added, curious about my fate.

"We are going to the Palace of Hearts and you are to be my personal servant or, as the position is formally called, Jack."

"What does a Jack do exactly?" I inquired "What is the role?"

"A Jack helps the Queen, follows their commands." he spoke "Additionally a Jack has some political power but not much."

"Oh." It appeared to be a simple position."What happened to the last Jack?"

"Assassinated." I gulped nervously. So it was simple but dangerous.

"Ummm . . .why?"

"the Black and White kingdoms became jealous of our power and influence and hoped that the death of such an important individual would make the Card kingdoms afraid. It had quite the opposite effect actually. Instead they have enraged us and both sides are threatening war." he informed me. He spoke bluntly and honestly. I don't think he ever told an outright lie. He was probably ambiguous at times but not a liar. "Do whats your name?" he asked breaking the awkward silence.

"Feliciano."

"thats a nice name."

"thanks I got it for my birthday." I joked.

"Alright serious time" he snorted "So, Feliciano what do you think of me?"he asked.

"I think that you are very mysterious and blunt, never giving away your emotions unless completely caught off guard."

"I shall confirm your suspicions as you have confirmed mine." he responded.

"Suspicions?"

"I thought you would be well suited for the Kingdom of Hearts the second I saw you. You seemed. . . special."

"Your highness?"

"Call me Kiku."

"Well um Kiku I have a few questions."

"Fire away."

"Who is the King? What does he look like? What is he like?"

Kiku laughed "the King is named Ludwig, he has blond hair, blue eyes and a muscular build. Although he seems cold and uncaring at first, he is a good man."

"Kiku."

"Yes Feliciano?"

"Do you love him?"

"No, my heart belongs to another and as for him, he hasn't given his heart to anyone."

"I thought the Kingdom of Hearts specialized in love."

"We do, but Ludwig rejected every suitor who came to call so, as punishment, he was forced to marry his best friend for disgracing the family name."

"forced marriage?"

"Quite uncommon I assure you."

"So . . . you two. . .haven't done anything?"

"Precisely."

"What about heirs?"

"If he has no successor his brother will become king and he has an interest in people. As a matter of fact I wouldn't be surprised if he already had an heir."

"Meaning. . .?"

"He's sort of . . . intimate." he murmured. Suddenly he handed me a loose white shirt with small pale pink hearts along the shoulder and a pair of white jeans. "Here. I'll get you an appointment with the seamstress later." he turned away and I pulled of the ragged dirty clothes I had been wearing for two months. I ripped a few strips of cleanish cloth and used them as makeshift bandages so I wouldn't bloody the new shirt, and slipped it over my head. I yanked on the pants.

"Why give this to me now?"

"Look out the window." I did. What I saw amazed me. the Palace of Hearts was made of pristine white marble, alabaster, and sandstone that was a dusty pink color. there were high walls and spires that stretched up to the sky. I breathed in the scent of chocolate cinnamon, lemon grass, and a million other things I didn't know the names of. this wasn't at all like the White Kingdom, which was covered in ash and it was recommended to wear a gas mask to protect yourself from the smog.

"Its beautiful." I whispered "who designed it?"

"Ludwig did."

He already seems amazing."

"I should hope so." Kiku grinned. A/N: Kiku is, if you haven't guessed yet, playing match maker.

Quietly I rubbed the shirt against my cheek. It was soft and warm."What is this shirt made of?"

"Eygptain cotton." A/N: that shit is fucking soft man.

"Really?"

"Really." It was like I had been dragged out of hell and placed in heaven

Im never typing that much again. Oh and btw Feli was raped in case you haven't guessed.