Second Born

by Lance Wilson

  “Young prince Attonnan, I am glad I was given you. If you were given to the Hitori clan they merely would have worked you to death, the Oda clan would turn you into some kind of a slave. For Mecmed, it is hard to say. But you are with my clan now, my clan has the specialty of the ebony hand” Lord Fuma says and smiles at him.

  Attonnan only takes a deep breath; he already knew that the Hojo clan was not one you wanted captured by. He wonders what kind of horrors they are going to show him. The wolves get a good whiff of him and growl. They stand there for a bit of time before a woman slowly opens the thrown room door and walks toward them.

  The woman has bright pale gray skin with long black hair, she has sharp almost hawk like features and almond shaped eyes with thin eyebrows. Her black hair is pulled back in a braid and her eyes are a bright sapphire color. Her lips are red as cherries and her cheeks blushed in a kind of blue hue to complement the gray skin. She is dressed in long leather pants that hold tight to her more then seductive form. Her top just barely covers her breasts. She wears boots that go all the way up to the knee and gloves that go up to the elbow. The gloves are studded leather and Attonnan can see that there is a kind of claw attached to each fingertip.

  “Ah, Mistress Ebon” Fuma says with a polite smile and bow

  “My Lord Fuma, what is this I hear about you having a new toy for me” She says, her voice a sweet cold hiss, like a serpent.

  “Yes, this is the young prince Attonnan, second in line to the Unagi clan, the at now prince Mellyruna is with Mecmed, I thought you wouldn’t mind there second prince however, I know how you do enjoy breaking royalty” Fuma says his voice a sadistic shadow

  “Hmmm, yes. Royalty always thinks themselves so much better then us, but everyone breaks the same” she says and smiles at him now walking around Attonnan measuring him up.

  “Oh, everyone you say” Fuma says, his voice giving her a sense of warning.

  “Well, every man, a demon king such as yourself is a bit different” She says quickly making sure to keep his favor.

  “I warn you, this one is sharp and vicious, he has even bled me” Fuma says and smiles to see that Lady Ebon’s eyes go wide with shock.

  Her shock is well earned though, not many have the rite to brag of cutting Fuma Hojo, and for a young man, just about to enter his Ketonmen to do so, it is almost unheard of.

  “I shall make sure he pays for such a crime” Lady Ebon says a smile crossing her lips now. Attonnan cannot help but let out a shiver.

  “There is a event going on in a week or two, I would like him fully trained by then” Fuma says and smiles at Attonnan.

  “If what you say is true this will not be an easy task my Lord, but I shall have it done” Lady Ebon says calmly and with that takes the lead on Attonnan’s chains.

  “Lord Fuma, I make a pledge to you this day, you will not break me, and in the end, it will be me that skins your blue hide” Attonnan says and watches as both Lady Ebon and Lord Fuma burst out in laughter

  “I told you he was a spirited one, you will enjoy him immensely” Lord Fuma says and waves his hand for her to go.

  Attonnan does not struggle against the chains. He merely walks calmly behind Lady Ebon who does not speak to him. He can see that she is thinking and wondering of how to proceed with her task.

  It takes almost no time for her to get to the room from which she will continue his education. The room is a smaller one, fourteen feet by fourteen feet. The room is decorated to suite her needs, the walls are littered with weapons and devices of all kinds. There are beams and as Attonnan walks into the room he can smell the scent of sweat and blood. A cold shiver runs up his spine as he walks in. Lady Ebon smiles and leads him to the middle of the room, then throws the chains that bind his hands over a beam and lifts him them. She stretches him tell only the tips of his toes are touching the ground. Lady Ebon is a bit shocked at his response, a normal elf, full grown, would be in a panic seeing this room. But this elf just now into his manhood seems calm almost board with it, as she raises his arms she expects to see a hint of fear, but not, it is almost as if he has been here before and the only look she gets from him is a kind of mundane again board expression. Calmly she strips his shirt and pants leaving him almost naked before her. Now she sees why the board expression, his back and front is riddled with scars,

  “I see I am not the only one to touch you with the lash, hmmm, I guess this means I shall have to be more creative.” she says and walks around him.

  “There is nothing you can do that will break me” Attonnan says his mind firm that he will be stronger then her tortures.

  “Perhaps it is time that I showed you why they call us the ebony hand” she says smiling at him.

  With that Attonnan watches as she smiles moving over so that she is in front of him. She looks over his small but tone frame and then as gently as she could she places her gloved hand on his chest. A searing pain shoots though his chest stomach and groin, it is like a red-hot pain cuts through him. Attonnan can’t help but cry out in pain, his scream is high and long, tears rim his eyes. She drags the clawed hand over the chest careful not to break his skin; the pain rips through him. Gently she takes the hand off of him and his body that was just seconds ago one tense muscle, goes limp.

  “You see dear boy, I have studied pain and how to displace it for years, ever since I was a child. You will break, they all break” she says and lets him pant and catch his breath.

  Attonnan cannot say anything, what is there to say. She was right, he knew nothing about the pain that she could show him. He watches as a wicked smile comes across her face.

  “Let us begin our training. You will call me mistress, or mistress Ebon. When I speak to you, I want an answer but always answer with mistress and mistress Ebon. Do you understand” she asks calmly and smiled at Attonnan

  “Yes mistress Ebon” Attonnan says calmly taking deep breaths.

  “Now when I am finished you will do as I say, you will obey who I say to obey. You will be my perfect little pet” she says and walks around Attonnan again.

  Attonnan does not speak, was that a question or merely her telling him what would happen. He keeps his mouth shut. A mistake, before he can even think she slaps his shoulder with the gloved hand, he instantly feels his whole shoulder bone shatter, it’s like a small explosion in his shoulder, the bone and muscle ripped from each other. His whole arm goes limp and he feels the arm go limp and his other arm still chained and hanging has to pick up the slack. Lady Ebon can see his whole body tremble at the pain and she only chuckles.

  “Well today I shall let you get used to the idea of being a pet, I shall leave you here. We shall resume tomorrow” Lady Ebon says and slowly walks out a door on the opposite end where it seems her personal quarters are.

  Left alone in the room pain ripping through his body Attonnan begins to weep for all that he has lost. His mind lost in a pit of despair all he can do is sob, let everything wash over him until soon he is out cold, passed out from the pain, the despair, the utter hopelessness of the situation. Lady Ebon smiles in her room listening to him sob, Fuma told her that he would be difficult, but she can already see that he will be like many of the others. A few days, a week at most and he will be broken and a perfect pet for her or Lord Fuma to do with as they see fit. Once she hears him pass out she rolls on her side and smiles, then is off to sleep herself.

  Attonnan is awakened from a dead sleep with a sharp stabbing pain to his shoulder, the broken shoulder. He yells out and tears rim his eyes.

  “Mourning my pet, are you ready for more training” she asks calmly and smiles awaiting his answer

  “Yes mistress Ebon” he says his body trembling.

  “Now it is time to show you a bit more of what I am capable of doing. I shall explain, you see this glove is infused with dark magic. It will hurt in ways you have never thought of” she
said and smiles at him.

  Attonnan’s eyes flash wide as the glove begins to glow with a strange purple/black hew too it. Slowly she lays it on his good shoulder and lets the claw on the index finger drag down the skin. Attonnan screams in pain as a huge blister is created right after where she touched. Tears roll down his eyes, but she only chuckles and pops her knuckles gently she places the claw on the side of the blister and with quick and fierce flash she slices down the blister letting a clear fluid. Mistress Ebon places a cloth and slaps it on the skin making Attonnan cry out again.

  “Don’t get too hurt too soon, this is still only a taste” she says and smiles at him,

  Gently she places her hand on his chest and lets the claw dig into the skin. Attonnan cries out as he feels a burning and searing pain around where the claw is. He watches as his skin begins to change color, at first it grows red, then a yellowish color, then a grayish with a brown hew, he begins to get a smell coming from it, the smell is familiar, the smell of rotting flesh, her vary touch is rotting his flesh. She leaves the claw in for only a few moments but for Attonnan it seems like forever. When she removes the claw a slick yellow liquid seeps from the wound, his body is burning everywhere with pain, he can feel his eye growing heavy and tired.

  “Don’t go sleeping on me, your not done yet” she says and walks over to the corner where a bucket lays. She tests the water with her finger and smiles.

  Picking up the bucket she walks over to him and then throws it over on him. The water is cold and flashes him awake, also sends his muscles tense.

  She only smiles and runs her fingers though his now wet hair.

  “Shall we continue?” she asks her voice sweet and soft, so vary seductive.

  “Please mistress Ebon, no, I beg of you don’t continue” Attonnan says his whole body trembling.

  “But Attonnan, my young prince, I must. Surely noble person as you can understand how little I get to show off my talents”

  “Please mistress Ebon, no more, I beg” Attonnan says his body trembling.

  Lady Ebon only shakes her head and laughs at the pleas. She then gently brushes some of his hair out of his face then lays a claw across his neck. The room fills with more of Attonnan’s screams. There is another blister, but this time the blister puffs out and turns a sickly black color. There is a high scream like before. She drags the claw across the neck from close to the ear lobe down to the middle of the necks base almost touching the chest, all along this long drag comes this blackened blister. Tears stream down his face his body trembling. Once she is done dragging down the neck she reaches out with the claw and slices the blister open all along it’s length. Out from the blister comes this slick black/green liquid that smelt strong of moldy and rotten flesh. Attonnan sneers and screams as the pain rips though him.

  “Do you like that trick my pet… . it is a complicated one” she says and smiles at him gently wiping away the tears from his cheeks.

  “No more mistress, no more” Attonnan says his whole body trembling, tears rolling down now dripping onto the floor.

  “Yes your right, I guess I am done with you. So I give you to another one of my skilled sisters” Lady Ebon says and walks over to the door on the other end of the room. Then opens the door and walks in, falling asleep.

  Hanging there he wonders what this new sister would do. Another woman walks into the room. This woman is tall and beautiful; she has long blond hair that like Ebon is tied into a braid. Her almonds like eyes are as green as emeralds and she too is dressed in the same black leather outfit as Lady Ebon. She walks around the room and then undoes the chains making him drop right to the ground. Attonnan only lies on his side, some of his wounds still seeping onto the ground. The woman smiles and kneels beside him.

  “Easy child, I shall heal your wounds” she says her voice as soft as goose down.

  Attonnan doesn’t say a word, he only sobs broken and terrified of what is to come.

  On this woman is the same kind of glove, but this one is a soft white leather. Gently she places it on his shoulder that has been shattered and then stretched for a day. Instantly Attonnan can feel a warm sensation comes over his body, he can feel his bones gently move into where they are meant to go and then the muscle tie itself back to the bone. Next she works over the many blisters and cuts that her sister has done. Each time there is a warming sensation and in no time he begins to drift off to sleep. But the sister raises the chains hanging him tell only his toes touch again.

  “Now Attonnan, I am here to teach you as well, but unlike my sister, I have no real special tricks” she says and walks over to the wall and pulls off a whip.

  “Mistress, please, all I want is rest, can you let it go, just let me sleep” Attonnan says his body trembling again.

  The sister of the ebony hand only chuckles and lashes out the whip hearing it crack in the air. The first time it makes no contact, but she sees Attonnan’s flesh twitch. A second crack and he feels his flesh slice open and blood streams down his back. His body trembles as there is another crack and his back is slashed open once again. More blood streams down his back. This continues for seven, maybe eight more times. Attonnan cries out after each one. Blood streams down his back and slowly drips down to the floor. The smell of rotten flesh, blood, sweat and tears all soak into his nostrils. Tears roll down his face. The sister then walked back to the wall putting the whip back in its proper place. Then begins to circle the new pet.

  “You’re bleeding quite badly my pet… . I shall talk to Lady Ebon and see to it that tonight you rest, tomorrow we might bring in some help, and take you to a much better room, something with more toys for you” she says and like Lady Ebon she walks though the door to the other room leaving him hanging there.

  When neither of them returns Attonnan can only guess that this day is over and he tries to sleep as well. Attonnan lets his eyes grow heavy but sleep never comes, every time he lets his body go limp the limbs stretch and make the cuts stretch and blood pours even more profusely. The rest of the day and the night seems to drag on like the end of times. During the long moments all he can do is wait, wait for them to come back, come back and work him over again. As the time drags on his mind begins to fed on itself, he wonders how his brothers and sister are doing right now, are they dangling from chains like him, praying for it all to end. Hoping that the next day will be the end of it. Byrdi, his youngest brother, he is strong, but how strong, how long could he last under the lash, and Maeraer, what are they doing to her, his mind reels at the idea. They could be doing any number of perverted, depraved, violent acts to her. Mellyruna, always the favorite, he’s not used to this kind of treatment, how many lashes tell he breaks. Did they find other ebony hand where they were, did they find the claws. The room fades in and out for him, blurs and focuses. Time seems loose all meaning

  Before he knows it Attonnan is awakened the door opens and the two sisters walk in. the one with the white glove then walks out of the room through the other door. Lady Ebon smiles at him, and walks around him. The wounds are still open and the blood has dried to his skin leaving a thin brown crust. Lady Ebon walks over and around him letting her hand drag across next to the scar, she chuckles when she feels his skin jump at the touch. He fears being hurt at her every touch. Good, he is just as far as he was meant to be.

  “Lady Elana was gentle I see, I have plans for you today, but they will need to be done somewhere else” she says and walks over, letting the chains drop.

  She chuckles when she sees Attonnan drop and roll on to his side. She lets him lie there tell she hears a pounding at the door.

  “Enter.” she says calmly happy that the next day is about to happen.

  She watches as a huge orc walks into the room. He is dressed in black leather armor. His olive green skin is rippled with muscles and scars. His black hair is in dreadlocks. His face is painted in red and black. He bows to Lady Ebon.<
br />
  “You requested my services Lady Ebon, I’m a bit surprised” he says, his voice deep and rumbling.

  “Well normally I wouldn’t require your services. But I thought I would indulge myself with some of your toys, I’m sure your willing to share” she said and smiled at him.

  “Of course. Do you wish my services as well, those are my specialties rather then yours” he says a prideful smile on his face.

  “Well, yes I believe I could use your unique gift with those devices. Please, bring the elf with us” Lady Ebon says and waves her hand toward Attonnan as she walks out the door.

  Attonnan doesn’t move as the orc picks him up and throws him over the shoulder. They walk though the halls and move lower and lower through the kingdom. He can hear the echo thought the halls and wonders just how deep they are going. They walk for a good ten fifteen minutes before they finally come to a huge blackened door. Lady Ebon smiles and opens the door. Attonnan is then dropped to his feet and forced to walk though on his own. He is stunned right away as he sees devices of all kinds in the room, all of which are made to cause pain.

  “What would you like to use first my Lady” the orc says shoving Attonnan hard into the room.

  “Let us start with the rack, I think we can both use our talents with that one” she says and points to a large table attached to some kind of crank.

  The orc smiles and shoves Attonnan to the device, Attonnan’s eyes grow wide as he sees that below it is a huge puddle of dried blood, he wonders what this thing does, and why are both of them going to be able to work him with it. The orc then smiles and without a word he throws Attonnan on to the table so that he is laying on his back. Before Attonnan has time to register any of this something is fastened over his wrists and ankles it was some kind of shackles, but they were padded. The orc smiles and walked over to a huge crank. Then calmly and slowly he cranks it. At first Attonnan does not see what it is doing but then he is stretched to the limit as a large crease in the table turns to a small gap. His body is stretched and he can feel his muscles and bones stretched to their limits. He knows this is hardly the end, these people kill and torture for a living. Lady Ebon then walks over to his stretched frame and nods to the orc. The orc gives the crank a bit of a turn, only one notch. Attonnan grunts and whimpers as his muscles and bones a stretched even more. Lady Ebon walks around the table examining Attonnan, now that he is stretched to his limits she can see the lines and cut of each muscle, the wounds on his back have opened back up and she only chuckles. Slowly she picks a crease in his ample frame. Slowly she walks over and traces right at the crease of the bicep. The glove’s magic makes a quick blister that is red and purple; she traces the entire crease of the muscle creating a huge long red blister. She then nods to the orc who makes the table go another notch. The blister bursts open on under the stress pouring blood all along his arm. Attonnan cannot help but scream out in pain, his body trembling.