Second Born

by Lance Wilson

  “Time to get out of the tub young apprentice. There is still much to our duties” she says and gently walks over and pulls a large towel from the wall.

  Attonnan only turns bright red as he slowly stands up, his whole body just out there for them to see. But the shyness is quickly lost as he watches them get out as well, the black bathing cloths now sticking tight to there body, the water cascading down there more then ample curves.

  “Like what you see?” One of them says noticing his eyes focusing on her body.

  Attonnan cannot reply but only quickly looks down his face becoming flushed. As he is distracted with her partner the other walks behind him and warps him in a soft warm towel then gently presses her against him and rubs her own body gently against his.

  “Come, the fun is not over yet my young apprentice” she says gently leads him to a small part of the room with a table set up.

  The table seems to only be a large slab of stone raised away from the floor about three feet. Beside it are small pedestals with more crystal bottles on them. The woman leading him has him stand next to the table as she rubs him down with the towel making sure he is perfectly dry. Then slowly she takes another from the wall and lays it down on the table. Gently gesturing for him to lie down. Attonnan unsure of himself does as she asks and slowly lies down on the towel, face down. The woman then gently takes his hair into her hands and begins to braid it. Attonnan only closes his eyes and enjoys the attention. Once she is finished with the braid she lays the hair over his neck away from his back. He hears the other begin to approach. His eyes closed he focuses his hearing on them. He can hear one of them picking up a bottle, uncorking it then closing it back up. Two more times they do this before they set one down without corking it back up. He hears them pour something onto there hands and then feels one of them gently place there hands on his shoulder, the other, right on his ass. His heart begins to race as there hands work over his body, the oil on their hands now warming up as they rub. The scent is familiar; it is the same kind of flower that was in the soap. Attonnan falls even deeper into their mercy as the one works his back and shoulders, rubbing his muscles, moving them, as she feels fit. And the other moves her hands over his ass, legs and feet. He lets out groans and growls of pleasure in which they only reply with chuckles. They smile to watch the young man fall deep into the spell of their work. Like all others they have tended too, if you show them a bit of affection they soak it up like a cat in a sunbeam. They work his whole back side for a god ten minutes making sure to rub him down tell he is pretty much clay in their hands.

  “Roll over please” one of the women says gently, her voice a silky whisper now.

  Not even thinking he rolls on to his back exposing himself to them fully. He keeps his eyes closed but hears them as they pour more liquid out. He then feels one set of hands move over his chest and stomach, the other start to work his legs and feet. His body moves and flexes over the motion of their hands, with each new sensation her groans in pleasure. Slowly the one working his lower half begins to let her hands drift up his let tell again they find his manhood. The other hears Attonnan gasp and looks over at her partner glaring. The partner nods and only rubs the oil gently onto him, making sure not excite him. She admits she would love to continue, that’s half the reason she got into this work for the Hojo, to please men, to hear them moan and grown as they reach there peek, but they were told not to so she will have to control herself. Once finished oiling him down and rubbing him the first woman takes a smaller towel and wipes him down, getting rid of the oil that was not rubbed into his skin, then gently lays the cloths next to him.

  “It seems our time here is finished. Come back if you ever want to spend a bit more” she says and with that Attonnan opens his eyes to watch as both of them nod, smile and walk out of the room.

  With a bit of a sigh he slowly gets dressed and then looks around and makes his way out of the room. It only takes him a few moments to reach the main room where the old woman is still waiting for him. She smiles as she lifts her head and smells the air.

  “Did you enjoy yourself apprentice Attonnan?” she says calmly but smiles at him

  “Yes, I never knew such places existed, that a man could get a bath and then a massage like that. I will defiantly have to come back when I can.” he says smiling at her but turning a bit pink when she smiles back.

  “Well there is a bit more to this place then that. But maybe when you come back we can show you. I am told dinner is ready and waiting for you. Aang is just outside to lead you to the dinning room” the old woman says and gestures to the door.

  Attonnan walks through the room and out the door where he finds young Aang leaning against the wall his arms crossed his head looking up.

  “Oh your back. So did they make you scream out their names?” he says and watches Attonnan turn bright red

  “Of course not. What would make you think they would?” he says wondering what he missed.

  “I don’t know, but I’ve heard some of the older kids talk about what goes on in there, they say they can do that” he says shrugging his shoulders and then begins to walk down the hall.

  Aang admits he has only heard stories of what they do and really he hasn’t believed any of it. Most of it sounds disgusting. And no one in their right mind would let someone do the things he heard in the stories.

  They walk for a good five or ten minutes neither of them talking until soon they come to a door; it is a large black door with a red handprint on it. Attonnan is starting to get used to the decor but still thinks it’s a bit dark and morbid for him.

  “Well the dinning hall is in here. I should be going, I’ve already eaten with the other pages, enjoy” he says and with a wave of his hand Attonnan watches Aang walk away.

  Taking a deep breath he opens the door and walks into the hall. He is taken back by the sight. The table stretches a good 20feet and if full of food. All along the sides are people, most of who have already filled their plates and are eating. The platters are filled with meats and vegetables of all kinds, and the small of food hits him like a wall. He hadn’t realized exactly how hungry he was until now. He looks around for an empty chair and only finds one; it is to the right of Fuma, who of course sits at the head of the table. Seeing Attonnan he gestures to the chair to his right. This is just how he wanted it. A bath, massage and then a wonderful feast, he shall make sure Attonnan is shown all the pleasures of the world before training, and then unrealistic amounts of sympathy and compassion after each session of training. He shall have Attonnan in his pocket by the end of the season if not sooner. Attonnan meekly walks over to the chair and then sits. Before he can say a word someone has already snatched his plate and begun to fill it. Attonnan only watches with surprise and awe as they fill his plate tell it is almost overflowing with random meats and vegetables. It only takes a few moments before the plate is again in front of him. He looks around for the silverware only to find chopsticks. Looking at this his face quickly becomes flushed. He was never taught how to use these things and in front of such a royal court the last thing he wants to do is make an idiot of himself and embrace not only himself, but Lord Fuma since he is the lord’s apprentice.

  “May I have a fork my Lord” Attonnan slowly leans in and whispers into Fuma’s ear, his face flushing even more.

  “Awe, does the baby fear getting sauce on his shirt” Elana says looking over at him with a sick vicious smile

  “Elana, mind yourself” Fuma says his voice dark and sharp all at once

  Attonnan only lowers his head. God how he must stand out right now. Everyone else is using the chopsticks, surly he can. Looking at the others he studies how they hold them. He even glances over at Fuma who has a set of silver chopsticks. The only silver set he notices. Taking a deep breath he puts the sticks in his hands and slowly begins to move them up and down, easy enough. He can get this, he can eat with these. Knowi
ng that he is new at this he starts with a fairly large piece of meat, it has an orange sauce on it and he knows that it would stain vary vividly against his white shirt. Taking a deep breath he picks up the piece of meat between the sticks. Carefully he brings it to his mouth, his hand shaking just a bit. The meat was tender and the sauce was wonderful. Attonnan now knowing he can do this continues. Slowly at first but once he is sure that he has the hang of using the chopsticks he eats like a man who has not eaten in days. When his first plate is finished he gently slides it toward the table and it again is filled for him. He does this only once more before finally settling in his chair with a full stomach. Slouching now his eyes now just barely open.

  “Did you enjoy that young apprentice” Fuma asks and watches with pleasure, as Attonnan only looks over at him lazily and smiles, then nods.

  Fuma then politely takes Attonnan’s cup and fills it with a pale clear yellow foaming drink.

  “Here, it is to make sure you sleep well tonight, tomorrow will be a vary full day for you” he says

  Attonnan takes the drink and brings it to his lips but sniffs at it first, it smells fruit. Slowly he takes a sip and swirls it around in his mouth. It is fruity and cold. It takes him no time to drink all of that substance and gently put the glass down. Before he knows it he watches before him the room become blurry and then, nothing.

  Chapter 3

  Lady Elana

  When Attonnan awakes he realizes right away that he is again in a large warm bed. And again he is naked. Looking around he notices that the room is the same one that he awoke in the last time. Attonnan only rolls on his side and snuggles into his pillow. But before he can will himself back to sleep his peace is interrupted with the opening of the door. Quickly he turns to find that it is his lord Fuma.

  “Are you awake yet, if not wake. The sky ship is ready and all we wait on now is you.” He says his voice one that is still kind but still one of authority.

  Attonnan hearing the tone in the voice as well only nods and then goes to get up, but quickly stops that though and becomes flushed

  “Um, my lord, where are my cloths” he says not able to look Fuma in the eyes now.

  “In the dresser, now hurry up. I have chosen to change your uniform; you are an apprentice now and will be dressed accordingly. I did however keep your previous uniform. I will return it when you earn it” he says and then sensing Attonnan’s hesitation he walks out of the room. Once Fuma has left the room Attonnan gets up and walks over to the dresser. When he opens the top drawer he finds his full uniform. It is a pair of red pants, with high socks and sandals, then a black vest with a red handprint on the back. And three strips of cloth, one he recognizes as the headband, the symbol in the middle however is foreign to him. The other two he’s not sure of. Calmly he puts on the uniform, but when he is almost finished he finds a few things out of place. One, the straps on the sandals is far too long. The second thing out of place is he does not know what the two strips of black cloth are for. He looks around but there is no one to ask about this and time is running out. To make sure he didn’t trip he tucked the long laces of the sandals into them and kept the other two strips of clothe in his hand. Slowly he opens the door to find the Fuma is only standing there, leaning against the wall next to the door waiting for him.

  “You are not fully in uniform.” He says calmly but with certain displeasure

  “I did what I could, but there are things I don’t understand about this he says and lowers his head in shame.

  “Let me show you, come here, stand in front of me” he says pointing to the spot where he wants Attonnan to stand.

  Without hesitation Attonnan does as he is told, Fuma pulls the long laces from the inside of the sandals and then takes the strips from his hand. With the laces he wraps them carefully up and down Attonnan’s leg over the pants, making sure to explain how he is doing it. When he is finished he ties them off and the pattern makes almost a diamond effect. Then he takes the first strip of cloth and wraps it gently around Attonnan’s arm above the bicep. He then takes the two ends and wraps them, twists them, there is almost a braid when he is finished and he quickly ties the ends he does the same with the other strip around the opposite arm. Then when he is finished he looks over at him and smiles at him. He admits that right now he may look like all the other apprentices that he has ever had, but something in this one is different. Its’ something stronger perhaps, something he so desperately wants to control. With that he nodded to Attonnan letting him know that it was time to go.

  Attonnan now in full and ready uniform walked beside his master. He began to think how odd it was to be an apprentice, it was not all that different from being a servant the only thing is as an apprentice you are expected to get something in return, training, knowledge, as a servant you get nothing in return. But the thoughts and movements of both are pretty much the same. You do as you are told to do, without hesitation, without question. He walks to the boat side by side with Fuma, the boat if full of life, men tying things down, untying things, shouting out orders, it is all new to him and Attonnan’s eyes just take it all in.

  “Once you are aboard, we will take off sir” one of the men shouts from the side of the ship.

  Fuma only nods, the man is not telling him something he doesn’t already know, he never understood why it is people always feel they have to state everything to him, he already knows that they are about to take off to the lands in the east, those where his own orders. And yet, yet here is this man just telling him the orders he told their captain only ten minutes ago.

  Once they are aboard the ship they start to make ready and take off. Elana instantly joins Fuma. As she walks up she smiles at her lord, and then a dark smile over to Attonnan, he will be hers now. She will be able to play with him some more and hear his beautiful screams. But she must remember, this is training not torture, the trick is to have fun but also dish it out in such small doses that he will be able to endure. She knows how all this will work. First, he will only endure the pain, then he will finally embrace it, if he chooses to expand his mind, he will even begin to learn from it, then the last stage will be that he will overcome it. Pain will still be felt, but he will no longer care, no longer really feel it. Not like all the others who have not felt and discovered the great mysteries behind pain.

  “Is this young whelp mine yet, can I begin his training?” She asks her voice poisonous and cold with the sting of a whip in it.

  “Attonnan, I give you to this young woman. Listen to her, she will show you things that will mark the rest of your life” Fuma says laying his hand on Attonnan’s shoulder.

  Then calmly his eyes meet Elana’s, there is a cold long stare between them, she understands that he wants this one trained and not just played with, and that if she does not do her job, and do it well, she will answer to him and him alone. Letting go of Attonnan’s shoulder he leaves him in her care. But he will see him again tonight.

  The two of them walk down into the depth of the ship until a in the back they come to a door, the door is black as night with a blood red handprint on it. They walk without words. Fear grips at him as they move through the ship. Elana, the one who caused him more pain then he ever wanted to experience, she is the one in charge of his training now. He can only imagine what she is going to do to him now. What pain and suffering he will have to endure. Once he is past the door it is not anything like he expected. It is a small room with some chains, some kind of pot in the corner and a bed. But he knows her; she will be creative with what she has and will make sure he feels the pain, pain like no other.

  “You boy. Take off your vest and lie on the table, on your stomach.” She says calmly as she walks over to the pot in the corner.

  Attonnan wonders what she is looking at in the pot, he does notice that what ever it is, it is bringing a smile to her face. Doing as he is told he walks over to table and takes off his vest, then
lies on his stomach wondering what could be next. Smiling at his perfect white naked flesh how she longs to cut into it. Show him the mysteries of pain, to hear him scream, to hear him cry for mercy, but the cries will fall on deaf ears. Slowly she walks over taking four leather strips. Smiling she walks over to the table where he lie and looks over at him. She can almost feel her skin tremble with anticipation. Kneeling beside him, she lays the first leather strap across his wrist, and then begins to tie it to the table leg making sure that it is nice and tight so that he cannot break free. She then walks around the table strapping down each of his limbs. She can see a tremble come over his skin, he is scared, and she can almost taste his fear in air.

  “Are you scared boy” she asks a wicked pleasure in her voice

  “No” Attonnan says, a false sense of bravery in it all. He is terrified and he knows it, and judging on how she is acting she knows it too.

  “If you aren’t, you should be” she says and once she is content with the straps she slowly walks over to the bowl in the corner again.

  Slowly she puts on a long black glove then reaches into the pot pulling out something. It is a long thin line of bright orange and white; something is glowing, but what. Elana smiles as she looks over the first of the tools she shall use on him. It is only a thin steel jewelry chain, but with as thin and light as it is, she knows from experience that it will cut flesh the first stroke, and now, now that she has heated it to the point of glowing, well. The combination of being cut and burned at the same time, well, it is amazing. Smiling she lets the chain swish back and forth making sure not to let it touch her, easy for a person with her kind of skills in this kind of thing. Then. Without warning and with amazing speed she lets loose with the first of many lashes. Attonnan’s scream is loud and long, a small whimper and cry at the end. A second lash and his scream grows louder, and there is more trembling too it, more of the small elfling in it. He is just out of his elfling years but if it is one thing that this whole experience has taught him it is that years mean nothing. A third lash and not only does he scream, but he begins to sob. Elana smiles at the sound, yes, only a 14 years, all the elves call themselves men at that age, but few can live up to it, and this one is no different. He is a child, a child seeing the real world for the first time, the world, as it is, dark and full of pain. The smell of burning flesh brings a smile to her face. A fourth lash and more screams. Elana slowly closes her eyes and savors the moment. A fifth, a sixth, soon he has stopped screaming and only sobs his body trembling, blood now pouring out of the wounds, the edges of the flesh around now red, she is sure they will blister and only in a few minutes. A seventh, an eighth. She listens as his sobs turn to pleas for mercy, “stop” “why” those are the words he is able to mutter, a ninth, tenth. His mind reels at all of this, the pain, the searing hot burn of the metal at first, then as that stops, the cold air hits him and the pair burns even more, his whole back is on fire, he only wants to pass out to let is stop, let the pain stop. The eleventh the twelfth, he pulls against the straps but to no avail, she has done her job well and he will not get free. The thirteenth, fourteenth, he can feel his head becoming weak, his vision no longer blurred with tears but now blurred in pain. The fifteenth, sixteenth. He feels his head begin to swim, it won’t take long now, and he’ll be out in no time at this rate. Seventeenth, eighteenth. He can feel his grip on this world slipping, it’s like he’s just slipping away, into a nice deep sleep. Nineteenth, twentieth, enough, before he knows it, everything has gone black. Elana smiles at all of this, he did not scream as much as he would like but she knows how to cure that. She will let him sleep for a bit and continue when he wakes, this time she must show patients the lashes must come slower, he made it through his first twenty, if she is lucky by the time the day is over, he might have forty, or sixty, he is young and vary strong. Taking a break of her own she lays the chain back in the pot for it to reheat. Then gently she walks over and splashes some water on her face and walks out of the room. No point in her sticking around, she is sure he will be out for a good ten, maybe fifteen minutes, then she will continue with the lessons.