"I want you to go over there." Blice says as he swallows a handful of pills. His hands are trembling and his hair is slicked with sweat. He reeks of whiskey and wine. He sits on the sofa next to Zodiac. "Go see if things are as a bad as we fear."
"You want me to go over there alone? Apollo will kill me."
"We can only hope. If he kills you, then there will be a real reason for an investigation. They won't be able to ignore me. You belong to me now so if something happens to you, the entire planet will answer to me. Then the truth will come out. Either way, we're losing precious time that those children might not have. Got that? It's an emergency now. Get your shoes on, drink one of my energy drinks, then get over there. You've watched spy movies with Troy, right? Then just do what those secret agents would do. You can do this, Zodiac."
"You want me to take advice from spy films?" Zodiac asks. How messed up on drugs is this guy?
"Just go."
"Why don't you do it? If you're so confident that things will be best if we do this, then risk your own life."
"You're going to do what I tell you to do." Blice says angrily. "I've had an android before so I know how to make you behave. I don't think you want me to introduce you to a slave collar. It gives electric shocks when I press a button. Is that what you want? I didn't think so. If I go over there, it will be painfully obvious that I'm trying to figure out Apollo's secrets. However, you are over there all the time. If you get caught, just tell him that you wanted to hang out with Sparta. You've done things with Sparta and Atlas before so it won't seem as suspicious. Don't glare at me like that. Is this how you treated Troy?"
"No. Troy wasn't a conceited asshole."
Blice backhands Zodiac so hard that he hits the wall. "You will not speak to me like that. I can kill you, boy."
Zodiac wipes the blood from his busted lip as he stands and yells at him. "No, you can't! I'm protected by law!"
"You think I give a damn about some Nymph puffery? Your laws on this planet mean nothing to me. No one will do anything to me."
"I obeyed Troy because he cared about me." Zodiac says. "You're nothing but a bully. I will never be your slave!"
Blice grabs Zodiac's arm and throws him down on the sofa. He stands and unbuckles his belt. "You crossed the line, android. Now you pay the price."
* * *
"Get up on your horse then I'll lock your leash to the saddle." Orion says. "You can remove the saddle from the horse, but you can't remove the leash from the saddle. As I'm sure you've noticed, this leash is a lot tougher than the leather one I use around the guild hall. This is steel so don't even try to escape. You won't get very far." He waits until Troy mounts the white horse. He then produces an electronic padlock to secure the steel chain to the saddle horn. "There. Now, this will hurt." Orion clips the heavy chain around Troy's septum ring.
Troy grits his teeth as the metal pulls on his still-healing piercing. Tears press into his eyes. This is going to be hell. He jumps as the second small lock clicks into place. "Master, please. Have mercy."
"I don't want to hear another word about it." Orion mounts his horse and starts out into the blazing heat. "Keep up with me, Troy. I want you riding by my side."
"Yes, Master." Troy rides up beside him, groaning in pain as the movement causes the chain to pull on his piercing.
"I don't like hurting you, but you are being very stubborn. I had hoped that I could train you in only a couple of days, but you are starting to get on my nerves."
"I'm not trying to disappoint you, Master. It is very painful."
Orion wraps a cloth around his head. "Troy, put your keffiyeh on before you burn. You pure Nymphs are so pale that even a few minutes out here can be terrible on your skin."
Troy wraps the fabric around his head and face. It also provides him a bit of comfort, not having to see Orion out of the corner of his eye the entire time. As they continue to ride in silence and the sun rises higher in the sky, Troy is grateful for his keffiyeh. Not only does it prevent his head and face from burning and keep him cool, but it also keeps the blowing sand from getting in his mouth and nose. It's a much bigger problem than he had originally thought it would be.
"Let's talk." Orion says.
Troy really doesn't want to talk. He has nothing to say to his master who is being unnecessarily cruel today. What did he do to make Orion angry? He's been submissive and done everything he asked him to do. All he wants is to make him happy.
"Troy, are you mad at me for chaining you up like that?"
"I'm not mad at you, Master." What was he supposed to say?
"Are Royal Knights members of the military?"
"They are a special division dedicated to protecting and serving the queen."
"Let me ask it this way. You had to go through training, right?" Orion asks.
"For close to ten years. I started training to be a knight when I was nine."
"And when did you know you had learned all you needed to in order to stop being in training?"
"When I was competent to do what I needed to do on my own." Troy says. "I had to take initiative and be the knight I wanted to be, even if I hadn't been officially knighted yet. Oh. Oh, I see. I see your point, Master."
"I knew you'd understand better if I brought it to you that way. Show me you can do what I need before I ask. Do things because you care, not because I make you. We are family now. If you want off that chain, then prove to me that you deserve to be not only a slave but a partner."
After another hour of riding, Troy spots the familiar glint of sunlight off of silver armor. Three IGR soldiers in full plate armor block off the path and draw machine guns as they ride closer.
Orion comes closer and whispers to Troy as he slows his horse. "Take my name."
"What?" Troy asks.
"Take my last name or they're going to kill you. Just say you accept my last name."
"Uh . . . I accept your name, Master."
Orion digs in his pocket then reaches under Troy's keffiyeh. "Don't flinch."
There's a pinch and a sting on his earlobe then another as Orion rides to the other side and repeats the process. What was that? Did Troy just get two more piercings? This isn't at all what he thought when he was told it would be voluntary.
The guards dismount and hold out their hands. The captain, with his red sash around his waist, steps forward. "Halt. In the name of King Evans, you are ordered to dismount so we may search your bags for contraband."
"Stay here. Don't say a word." Orion dismounts and pulls off his keffiyeh. "Can I help you, gentlemen?"
"Just doing a routine check." The captain says. "State your name."
Orion bows. "Orion Lifestone and he's Troy Lifestone, my slave. I wouldn't touch him if I were you. He's chained up for a reason."
"Does he have your mark of ownership?"
"He has that engraved septum ring and two onyx piercings in his ears for taking my name."
"Do you have a signed document stating your complete ownership and his name change?" The captain asks.
"Yes." Orion turns to the saddle and winks at Troy as he slips a rolled up piece of paper from the bag. "Here you are. You will find that everything is in order."
The captain scans over the document as the others look through their belongings. "A pure Nymph? Hold on. His name was Troy Adonis?"
"Yes, but he has taken my name and the man who was originally entitled to him is deceased. By law, I have all rights and privileges regarding him as my slave."
"We have to check him for identifying marks." He nods to the soldier standing next to Troy.
The solder unwraps the cloth from Troy's head. "He's got a Forgotten brand and purple eyes, sir. He checks out."
"Very well. Have you searched their bags?"
"Everything is clear, sir."
The captain rolls up the document and hands it back to Orion. "Carry on."
Orion gets back on his horse and they continue. Once they are far away from the soldiers, Orion sighs and wipes
the sweat from his face. "There's a village in about two miles. I want to stop there and get a room for the night. We're going to have a very serious conversation. I guess I have a lot of explaining to do."
* * *
"I brought you some food. We have bread and some smoked desert hare. I also got you something special. It's not much, but I figured you would like a soda." Orion says as he closes the door behind him and sets the packages on the table. "Please say something."
Troy joins him at the small wooden table and pulls off his fingerless gloves, just like the ones Orion wears. "What do you want me to say, Master?"
"That you hate me. That I violated any trust we have formed. That I'm the worst owner ever. Any of those options work here."
Troy picks at the smoked rabbit leg as he watches the condensation on the cold soda can drip down and pool on the table. Why is Orion making such a big deal about this? Troy is a slave who doesn't have a say in anything. Still, being told one thing then having that simple small liberty stripped from him is debasing to say the least. What is the purpose of promising something, knowing full well that you don't intend to honor that promise?
"I understand completely if you hate me. I do. It wasn't my intention to trick you or force you to do something you didn't want to do. I did it to save your life. It was a split second decision that I had to make right then or things were going to get messy. It was still wrong and I will do anything I can to make it up to you."
"How did you know that the man who was supposed to get me after the arena was killed?" Troy asks.
"Because Mistress had him killed so no one could contest my ownership of you. We drew up that document and Silver forged your signature to change your name just in case of an emergency like that. And before you say it, no. I don't have the right to do what I did. It goes against the code of ethics I signed when I agreed to take you as my slave. Believe it or not, such a thing does exist. I took away a very sacred thing from you. In doing so, I completely destroyed the trust in our relationship."
Troy stuffs a hunk of the dry bread in his mouth. "You forged my signature?"
"Yes."
"So my name is now Troy Lifestone?"
Orion crosses his arms and watches Troy eat. "Yes. For my own selfish self-assurance, I had to hear you say it to attempt to justify my actions. It didn't help my guilt. Well, as my first act of penance, I'm getting rid of that leash. If I can't do my duties as your owner, then I can't expect you to do your duties as my slave. You don't realize the severity of what I've done. Or maybe you do. They're onyx."
"Hmm?"
"Your new earrings." Orion says. "They're Onyx, like your middle name. I think it suits you well. It's the stone I've chosen for you. I hope you like them."
"Yes, Master." He actually hasn't even looked at them.
"You know what? I don't like that. Don't call me that. I want you to call me Orion."
* * *
Zodiac sneaks through the tall grass along the back route to get to Apollo's house that he used to take as a kid. Only now, he's not playing Nymphs versus robots with Troy, Sparta, Atlas, and Ajax. There's nothing fun about this and all of those people he used to call friends could be dead for all he knows. He doesn't want to do this, but he doesn't have another choice. Blice is very persuasive with that belt of his. The welts across Zodiac's back and arms still sting. So much for those Android Protection Laws.
As soon as Zodiac climbs over the back fence, he knows that something definitely isn't right. For a house with nine children, it is eerily silent. Nothing moves except for the grass that hasn't been mowed recently and the single hummingbird on the feeder by the window. Thick black curtains are covering the windows and the glass door to the backyard. He moves as quietly as he can to the sliding door and pushes on the handle. To his surprise, it slides open and a large shadow fills the doorway.
Apollo's gauntleted hands grab Zodiac by his hair and throw him to the floor, taking out a coffee table in the process. He slides the door closed. "I've been waiting for you to drop by to join the party."
Zodiac coughs and gasps for air. He rolls over, clutching his side where the jagged wood from the coffee table gored him. The sticky blood soaks into his tunic and flows down his cargo pants. He takes the shard of wood in his hand and pulls it from his side.
"You're bleeding, Zodiac. Let me help with that." Apollo presses a button on his arm and shoots out a burst of energy.
Zodiac jumps out of the way and runs for the front door, but it's locked and the latch has been welded shut. Before he can smash through a window to make a hasty escape, he hears Apollo's power armor surge with energy and he runs to the only other place he can think of in a hurry. The stairs. Scrambling up the staircase as fast as he can with a bleeding puncture wound on his left side, he trips when he reaches the top. Another blast of nanobots shakes the house. He dives into a bedroom as the wall bursts into splinters overhead. Apollo's heavy boots slam on the steps as he approaches the top. Zodiac has to get out of here. He spots the golden light on the floor and looks up to see the window on the far wall. He'll take this chance. People can fall from the second story after smashing through a window and live, right? He's about to find out.
Zodiac takes off running as fast as he can and crashes into the glass as he jumps. He falls, grabbing at the gutters, the roof, anything to slow the fall. He shuts his eyes and braces for impact as something soft hits him and the swoosh of wings carries him higher again. He looks up at the giant metal wings. "Gabriel?"
"Do you always jump out of windows?" Gabriel asks with a smile.
He clings to the archon's chest. "Thank you for helping me."
"It's what I do. Let's get you back to Blice and tend to that wound on your side. Then we'll get a plan going."
* * *
Troy slowly reaches towards Orion's arm and peels back the golden sensor from him. He freezes when Orion moans in his sleep. Gently now. He finishes peeling the senor off and crawls across the floor to the door. He carefully turns the doorknob, checking to make sure he doesn't make too much noise. The door creaks open and he bites his lip. Orion only turns over and covers his head with the blanket. Troy continues to crawl down the hallway to the window on the far wall. Surely he's out of earshot here. He rolls up his sleeve and places the sensor on his forearm. A digital keypad appears, glowing blue against the gold in the moonlight.
What is he doing? If Orion finds out about this, there's no telling what he'll do. But with the increased IGR soldiers and not knowing the state of things back in Athens, Troy has to do something. Athens is still his home and people he loves are there. Pushing past the fear, he dials the number for Zodiac's cell phone. Please answer. It rings and rings then goes to voicemail. He can't risk leaving a message so he simply ends the call. He jumps when combat boots come down the hall and stop in front of him. Troy looks up from where he's been huddled on the floor.
"Unacceptable." Orion growls and takes Troy's nose ring in his hand then drags him back down the hallway into their room. He kicks him in the stomach and slams the door. He rips the sensor from Troy's arm. "How dare you?"
Troy grovels at his feet. "I'm sorry, Master."
Orion pulls out a whip from the pocket of his pants. "Shirt off."
"No."
"What did you just say?"
Troy is finished with this. Did he really ever do anything wrong? He's not going to be beaten like a dog. "I said no."
Orion's fist hits him in the face as the cat o' nine tails slashes across Troy's arm. He grabs Troy's tunic and strips it from him as he struggles to get away. "You will learn." Orion pushes Troy down on the bed and furiously whips him. "I will break you, slave!"
Troy cries out and writhes in pain as the forceful blows slice through his skin and Orion's strong hand and legs hold him down. Then something awakens in him. He notices the pattern of the hits. He reaches back and grabs the whip.
"Give it to me." Orion orders as he tries to pull it away.
"No." Troy yanks o
n the whip and spins around, delivering a kick to Orion's groin. He jumps up and slashes the whip across his master's face. He throws it down and lunges at him, punching his face and chest.
Orion trips Troy and continues returning punches until Troy bites his shoulder. He rolls over and pins him down, slamming his head into the floor. When Troy bites his arm, he rolls away. Troy wipes Orion's blood from his mouth and picks up the heavy bronze lamp from the table. He throws it at Orion, clipping his arm and stunning him long enough to race forward and slam him against the wall.
Troy screams at him. "I will not be whipped. Do you understand? I have done nothing wrong, but you continue to hurt me. It's my time to be in control."
The click of a pistol being cocked makes Troy let go of Orion's tunic and slowly step back. He holds up his hands in the air as Orion wipes away his tears and aims his 10mm pistol at him. Is he going to shoot him?
"I warned you, slave." Orion says. "I've been more than lenient with you. I've tried to do everything for you, to show you the best side of this life, but all you want to do is challenge me the entire way. Well, you just crossed the line. And slaves that cross the line get put down." Orion replaces his sensor on his arm and dials a number. "Mistress? Mistress, it's an emergency."
A tired-sounding Mistress answers. "Orion? Do you know what time it is? Someone better be dying."
"He's about to be. I'm requesting permission to terminate my slave."
"What happened?" Mistress asks.
"He stole my communication sensor to make a call then attacked me when I tried to punish him."
"Troy did that?"
"Yes. He's violent and out of control." Orion says.
"Take a deep breath. Are you holding your pistol?"
Paradise Forgotten Trilogy Page 18