CHAPTER EIGHT
"Trapped"

Due to his high standing as Mistress Tigressa's Prime Assistant, Riki had been afforded his own private quarters. Other workers, however, had to share quarters, two or three per person.

Comparatively, Riki's quarters was a quarter the size of his Mistress's, but it was all he needed. He wasn't into large places. When he was a kid, he remembered he had a fear of open spaces. So, his quarters were perfect for him. It was moderately decorated for aesthetics rather than personal favourability. He had a few items of note spread throughout his living quarters, but nothing truly reflective of a personal nature. He preferred to keep things simple.

He did have one item that was significant to him and he displayed it in a prominent spot, on a round table with a stand, with an overhead light in the corner of his bedroom. It was a copy of Peter Pan, the story of a boy who never grew up. And considering his own life, it was true to form. He had read it many, many times.

He remembered that he had been snatched off the street, much like most children are, and forced to enter the sex trade at the precious age of seven. It didn't take him long to yield to the needs of others, and over time, learned the trade. Over the years, he worked himself up the ladder and was eventually promoted to Prime Assistant, after the previous Mistress was removed for defying the Master. He was not privy to the details.

He took orders from Mistress Tigressa and that earned him a certain amount of respect. He did his job, did what the Mistress directed him to do, and that was pretty much that. When he directed people to do something within the Den, they did it without question, or they knew they would feel the wrath of the Mistress. But he didn't flaunt his rank. It was just his to own.

The Mistress hated surprises, but Light Yagami had been quite interesting. He had defied the Mistress not once, but multiple times. He had never witnessed a person more strong-willed than Light Yagami. Most people would talk under simper methods, but Light Yagami did not bow. Riki wished he had that same willpower, but this was his life now and he could not change it.

Light Yagami had been taken from the Mistress's private sanctum more than eighteen hours ago to a secured holding area to await further 'evaluation'. Riki was told to leave before the Detective was removed. Since then, he had some down time. And he had slept for most of it.

As he lay in his twin-sized bed, one arm behind his head underneath a pillow, he stared up at the ceiling and imagined what his old life had been like. Vague pictures came to mind of faces he didn't remember. It had been so long since he had been above ground, even before the advent of the mass murderer known as Kira—the faceless god who lay justice upon the wicked, punishing people. He couldn't remember much of anything else, except for his life in the Den.

He raised his free hand in the air and looked at his pale skin colour. Sunlamps stimulated the sun's heat, but it was not the same. He wanted to feel the warmth of the sun on his skin and the wind in his hair again. But he was not allowed to leave the Den without permission.

He had snuck away from the Den once a few years back, not to escape but to experience the same longing after spending three years underground. But he was quickly found and punished for doing so. Now, years later, he longed to leave the Den again, if only see the outside world. And for some reason, Light Yagami had provided the strength of will to wish hard for it.

He sat up, and shifted his feet over the edge of the bed. His bed was so soft that it was like sleeping on a cushion of air. The sheets were made of silk and were pink. It was not a masculine colour, but he resigned to his Mistress's colour choice because it was a gift.

He looked back in the bed, he was not alone.

Next to him slept Aiden, who was also in the trade, snatched from the street like Riki, and who was part of a handful of aids who helped Riki when called upon with tasks. His Mistress recommended he became friends with someone so he would not get lonely, Aiden often slept over. Aiden was fast asleep. Riki considered their relationship non-sensual.

Riki turned back around and sighed. He tired of this life and wanted something more, but to express those thoughts verbally would more than likely get him punished or even killed. He had no choice by to adhere to his new life until the day he died.

He went to stand, when he felt a hand touch his own on the bed. Riki looked back and saw Aiden smiling at him, awake. "Where are you going? Stay. Spend some time with me."

"I have to use the bathroom," Riki said, then stood.

Wearing little, stripping out of his work clothes when he returned to his quarters, he walked to an on-suite bathroom. He could feel Aiden's eyes on him the whole way.

After he relieved himself and washed his hands, Riki looked into the circular mirror above the sink. He felt tired, and there was a creeping sadness in his eyes. His heart ached to be free of this place. He wanted to be free.

A knock came on the half-opened bathroom door.

Riki looked over. Aiden was on the other side. Aiden wore a pair of dark-blue jockey's. They were both the same height, but Riki was four years older than Aiden.

Aiden walked over and hugged Riki, wrapping his arms around his mid-section, as they both gazed into the mirror. Aiden could see the sadness Riki felt. Riki allowed Aiden a certain latitude despite their difference status, because they were friends—close friends.

"I thought you needed that," Aiden said. "You look tired. Has Mistress Tigressa been working you too hard? You've been spending a lot of time involved with her lately, and I heard through the grapevine about that policeman—what's his name? So, young—he's in his early twenties?"

Riki nodded. "His name is Light Yagami, and he, well, he—" Riki was sworn to secrecy.

"I have a feeling something happened that upset you," Aiden said. "Did you use all the usual methods? How far did the Mistress have to go before he broke?"

Riki downcast his eyes. Aiden gasped. "She—failed to break him?" Aiden pulled back in awe. Riki turned with a shift from Aiden. "I swear, I will not tell anyone. What happened?" But Riki said nothing, he couldn't. If word got out, the Mistress would be very displeased and she would know where the information had come from. Aiden nodded. "I—get it. You are so devoted to the Mistress, but what about your needs? Come back to bed, I'll make you feel better."

Aiden hugged him again frontward this time, but Riki just stood still. Aiden pulled back and there was a large smile on his face. Riki returned a thin smile.

"Thank you, but not right now," he said. "I forgot I have something to do for the Mistress."

Aiden refused to get out of his way. "You're too loyal, Riki. You're not a robot. Mistress Tigressa relies on you too much." He forcefully turned Riki to the mirror, they both looked. "Look at your eyes, you're exhausted. You need to take care of yourself, Riki."

Riki burst out laughing. Aiden took a step back, almost scared. Riki turned around.

"What sort of life do you think we have, Aiden? We're always on-call. We were initiated into this trade, snatched from the streets like rats," he said bitterly. "Don't get presumptuous that we can defy the will of our masters. This is our life now." His fantasies of living a different life in the outside world vanished. Aiden was trapped, like Riki was. "We have a duty, and we must obey the Mistress—always! We've had this conversion before and I thought we had concluded it. I have to go now." And Riki pushed Aiden aside and started to get dressed, quickly. "And don't come back until you understand your role in the Den."

"Riki…"

Then Riki left.

Riki really didn't have anything to do for Mistress Tigressa, but he didn't want to have the same conversion with Aiden again that they had had many times before. And Riki knew that any life outside this life was but a dream, a stupid dream.

Since he didn't have a particular task to do, but thought a pro-active approach would be agreeable, and then he headed towards his Mistress's quarters to see if she had a task for him.

To be continued…