Disclaimer: *See Prologue*

Author's Note: Several important warnings in this part including pedophilia and incest. Lygoren at age six finds out that making his father proud of him is just as bad if not worse than failing him.

Part Four: Darkness Falls

Sir. That was what his father's name had become over the years and NO ONE argued it...not if they wanted to live passed that night. Growing up in the male's domain was little better as the male ran his family just as coldly as he ran his clan and any infraction was dealt with swiftly and usually painfully. His four children were terrified of their sire with good reason and did everything they could to please him and avoid any number of creative and quite cruel punishments he created to teach them to mind him. There was no love, no affection shown and certainly no tolerance. They did as they were told when they were told and woe be the one who slipped up.

Gaelrick's three daughters become virtual shadows in the house seen but not heard doing what they were told and obeying every order their father gave. His son on the other hand; strove to be the best, the strongest, the fiercest knowing that he needed to give his father no reason to ever have to discipline him. At the age of six, he was far more lethal than most adults in their clan; a testament to how much he feared failing the patriarch of the clan.

He's headed to the training field when he's waylaid. "You're needed in his study, Lygoren."

The boy stops in his tracks before he turns to stare at the male. "I'm..."

"Your presence is requested in his study. Now."

That wasn't a good sentence as there were few places in the building scarier than that room. He avoided being near that door because he'd often heard sounds of pain from within that he didn't want to ask about. However, he knew better than to keep Sir waiting and he heads back the way he'd come feeling his body shiver as he struggles to recall anything that he'd done to earn himself a punishment and can't think of a single infraction that he'd done or anything that anyone could have seen him do that would make his father call him to him in such a manner. He pauses at the front door realizing that he was working himself into a fit and that he needed to calm down.

Eyes closed, breathing staggering before evening out, the brunette struggles to remain calm, to show no weakness. He couldn't afford it and he would NOT make this worse than it was already going to be. Stopping before the study, he swallows again and wishes he knew what they had done to deserve this; what HE had done to deserve this. The ominous wooden door makes a lump form in his throat but the six-year-old Saiyan raises his hand and knocks regardless. "Enter!" comes the deep timbre of his sire's voice and it takes all Lygoren has in him not to turn and see how far he could run before he was caught up to. However, he was fully aware how stupid that would be to even contemplate and forces himself inside. "Ahh, Lygoren, punctual as always."

"You wanted to see me, Sir?" he struggles for a tone that didn't show how utterly terrified of his father he truly was, however, he was sure that his sire was well aware of how much EVERYONE feared him and it was apparently how he liked things.

"Close the door and come here, Lyo." There was something about his sire's voice, something dark and sinister that has the boy's hair starting to stand on end and his tail to puff out but he does as commanded and steps beside the male's chair because NO ONE disobeyed Sir, NO ONE. "Such a good boy, you've become, Lygoren; you've surpassed most of the adults in terms of combat skills. I'm QUITE proud of you, son."

The words SHOULD have pleased him instead they instilled a GREATER fear that something bad was about to happen, something that he wasn't going to like at all. "I...live to please you, sir."

"And you do, Lyo, you do VERY much...and I'm about to show you just HOW pleased I am with you..."

Somehow those are not reassuring words to the child who knew something was VERY wrong with this situation. However, he couldn't even fathom what was about to happen as the older male slowly moves back in his chair and pats his lap. "C'mere, Lygoren." It was a trap that was all the boy could tell but he had no choice because refusal was not tolerated so he slides up onto his father's lap wondering just what horrible thing was coming now. "Such a pretty boy," the other murmurs as he brushes his hair back from his face. It takes all of Lygoren's will power to keep from recoiling from the other.

It becomes that much harder when his father tugs his shirt over his head leaving him in the pants and feeling more and more ill at ease with the situation. He was uncomfortable in the older Saiyan's lap because he was sure this was a BAD situation and because he could feel something pressing against him that made him want to squirm to get away. "S-sir..." The tremulous tone makes the older Saiyan chuckle before he lifts him up far enough to have his tail tug the pants down his hips leaving him vulnerable and more terrified than he'd ever been. It takes all his will-power to keep from curling his tail down and hiding himself from his father. Something told him it would be a BAD idea. The feel of his father's fingers tracing down his chest and stomach makes Lygoren want to jerk away and flee for the door. But he doesn't...because he knew better, because he was conditioned to obey the male he was being touched by. Because he was too afraid of the repercussions for NOT showing complete and total obedience to his father's will.

He's just not prepared for how much what his father does hurts and is soon crying out with every movement. There were no words for how agonizing this was and how much the boy wished he would stop and leave him alone. However every whimpered plea for him to do so is ignored or chuckled at as his hand would grip his hip harder and jerk him more sharply, the male's exhalations ragged showing that he was enjoying himself. It just made Lygoren want to curl up somewhere and die.

Time bleeds into an increasing amount of pain until he can no longer focus on anything but that hot agony. His throat feels raw so that every hiccuping sob just makes it worse as he finally can no longer manage screaming. And still it continues as spots slowly appear in his vision growing steadily larger and larger until finally, mercifully pulling him under.

Six years hadn't been easy on anyone there as Gaelrick had become more of a monster than anyone wanted to deal with and it made Eyadei worry for those in his household. However, it wasn't his concern according to the patriarch of the clan even though the truth was very different. He kept out of the brunette's way if at all possible because he was just growing more and more intolerant of the male. Unfortunately, his job made it impossible to avoid him for long. However, the sight of him bringing in a familiar brunette has him instantly alert. "Get him patched up and send him home when he wakes up," Gaelrick commands as he lays the boy down. The amusement clear in his voice tells Eyadei he's not going to like what he finds. However, Gaelrick is gone by the time he gets to the male and sees just what has happened. Rage hits him hard and fast as he gazes down at the bleeding form of his son. That heartless, sadistic bastard had...He forces the thoughts back as he gently leans down and examines him making himself focus on what Lygoren needed and not on how much he wanted to take a hot poker and shove it up Gaelrick. That wasn't going to help.

It breaks another part of him as he cleans his son up hating that the other thought that this was an acceptable treatment of another. Lygoren was a child and should not be used like this. No one should be used in such a way but certainly not a six year old boy who had no reason to know what adults did with one another. It was a struggle to keep the tears at bay as he finally lifts him up and makes him comfortable on a clean bed allowing him to sleep peacefully as he moves the other sheets re-covering the table. He stands a few minutes watching the other and wondering why it was Gaelrick didn't hold more compassion towards someone who shared his bloodline. He'd kept tabs on Lygoren and knew that his son was strong. Of course that was because the boy accepted no less in an attempt to obviously please his father. He'd just finally learned what pleasing his father meant. Eyadei has no doubts that he would soon come to realize that it was a no-win situation; that angry or pleased meant that Gaelrick caused someone pain.

He's sitting at his desk when he hears the other stir and turns to watch him sit up. "Slowly, little master," he cautions, "You don't want to over-exert yourself."

Lygoren's dark eyes meet his and Eyadei struggles to hide most of his emotions as the boy whispers, "Why...can't he just be pleased without making someone hurt?"

"Little master, he is not a kind person. Be very careful in your dealings with him."

"I've...done everything he's demanded of me."

"I know."

"And he still hurts me...why?"

"Because that is how he does things," Eyadei tells him as he slowly rises and walks over, "but know this; disappointing him brings much worse than pleasing him will and I know that is very little comfort."

"He...is a monster, Eyadei..."

"I won't argue that, little master," he answers as he pulls a jar out, "Here...this will help numb any lasting pain...and keep it hidden for the times that this is repeated but your body is more adjusted so that you aren't brought here."

He watches horror fill the boy's eyes and his heart constricts. "Y-you...think this will happen again?"

"I would wish not but knowing him...well, just keep it hidden, little master."

"I...will," the boy whispers taking the jar, "Th-thank you, Eyadei."

"It's my job to heal," he says softly, "but you should get on home. He'll only be so lenient about this." Watching the boy nod and leave with an obvious stiffness to his movements is enough to have his fingers clenched tightly. 'Please...don't let there be a repeat of this,' he sends up, 'Please...You can't let this happen to a child. That's not fair.'