He was drifting again. Toru couldn’t explain how he knew this was a different time to the last, but it was. The mist still swirled around him but it felt almost comforting now, a lone presence beside him at the end of things. The pain would still stab into him occasionally but the feeling became dimmer as time went on. Perhaps it was punishment? He knew he deserved it but his mind was fog and he could not remember why.
Voices. He could hear voices. It was like the noise was distorted by water, the sound so warped he couldn’t put it into words. His vision wavered, bright lights stung his eyes with their intensity and he couldn’t make out the colours amongst the blinding white. He let his eyes slip shut and the darkness engulf him in its comforting numbness once again.
Screams. Terrified screams chased him through his own mind. Cries and pleas for mercy joined the unholy choir of screaming voices. They warped and distorted, becoming inhuman and the comforting darkness began to ooze blood. Red dripped around and onto him, crimson liquid trickling down his pale arms and body while faceless horrors chased him wailing their terror. Toru fell screaming into oblivion.
The light was more distinct now, and he could make out colours. Whites, yellows, oranges, stark against the darkness. They flickered and danced across his vision in familiar patterns but Toru could not understand them. Noise trickled down, again familiar in its patterns but he could no more comprehend the meaning of the sound than he could the lights. He could feel his body, though. It was impossibly heavy and aching. He watched the dancing light for a while before the darkness took him in its embrace once again.
He was being moved. Limbs changed position and Toru tried to crack his eyes open but it felt like they were sealed shut. His mouth was forced open and something warm trickled down his throat. He coughed and choked reflexively but it kept coming. Soon enough he was used to the sensation and eagerly welcomed it. It felt warm in the empty hollow of his stomach and soothed his parched throat.
Each time he was moved, Toru was more and more aware of his surroundings. He still could not see for some reason but was soon able to eat on his own. Whoever sat him up and helped to feed him never said a word but their movements were soft, almost gentle, and Toru welcomed their presence. He had tried to speak with them before but his throat was raw and pain clawed at him. He had coughed and choked for long minutes after the pitiful attempt and he did not try again.
Finally he could move his hands and brought them up to feel cloth wrapped around his head covering his eyes and taking away his sight. He carefully maneuvered himself into a sitting position and leaned against the wall he knew to be behind his back. Toru’s head pounded at the action but he was moving. It hurt. Everything hurt. His entire body stung as though a thousand needles were burying themselves in his skin. But he was alive. That was far more than he had expected.
Panic rose in his chest as he tried to visualise his pool of power and nothing came to his vision. He struggled to fight down the feeling. Elementals had been recorded having lost their power after such events in the past. He should be thankful for what he had. That he was alive and now well enough to think, even if it was still a little fuzzy. He had clearly been pulled back from the brink of death, so who knows? Maybe his power would return to him later. If he could just look at his tattoo, he would know.
Elementals tattoos altered as their powers changed. The tattoos of those who had lost the ability to use their power changed to scars instead of the vibrant colours. A painful reminder etched into their skin of what they had lost. Toru wasn’t about to try and remove the bandage around his head, however. He could move but his fingers were clumsy and would fumble and who knew what kind of damage the cloth was protecting.
The by-now-familiar sound of a door scraping open greeted his ears and Toru blindly turned his face in the direction. The footsteps paused and suddenly they were retreating. He frowned, this was different from normal, maybe because he had sat up?
He wasn’t left to wonder long before two sets of footfalls could be heard approaching. He waited, tense, while they entered the room where he was and jumped when fingers gently touched his cheek. They moved up to the bandage to slowly unwind it, leaving his eyes free. Toru carefully opened them and blinked rapidly to clear his swimming vision. He looked around, finally able to see, although his vision was still a little blurry.
They were in a tiny room, more of a cell really, with the bed that Toru sat on at the far end and nothing else, barring a bucket in the corner. A man crouched beside the bed with short dark hair and weary eyes. He wore a strange style of robe that Toru had never seen before but he knew this was the person who had been looking after him and feeding him while he recovered.
Behind him stood another man, this one seeming more feminine in nature. He had long dark hair that rippled in the light and a robe like the other man but far more ornate. It was he who broke the silence.
“Welcome back to the land of the living, little omega. We weren’t sure if you would make it for a while there.” Toru blinked at him but didn’t respond. The voice was soft and silky in a way that seemed almost deceptive. “It would have been such a shame if you had died. Not only are you a beautiful little specimen, you have such a marvellous gift! Omegas are incredibly valuable here and you would fetch a pretty penny for your looks and status alone but a Tysealean elemental on top of that? Well, now you’re a priceless treasure.”
Toru’s mind reeled. They recognised the tattoo. That must have been it. At least that meant he hadn’t lost his powers otherwise his tattoo would have just been scarring. But where the hell was he? He didn’t have time to ponder further as the man drawled on.
“I happen to owe a very powerful man a particularly large debt. One that is so great it cannot be paid in mere coin. But you, my little slave, will erase that debt completely.” His smirk was full of excited greed and Toru shied away from him.
Wait. No. No, he must have heard wrong. There was no way.
My little slave.
Slave.
Chapter 2: Pleasure Slave
His horror must have shown on his face because the man laughed.
“No need to look so terrified, little omega. We will take great care of you until you are handed over to your new master. I’m not about to damage the merchandise; it lowers prices and casts a disreputable image on my business. I warn you not to try and escape, however. Foreigners always cause the most trouble with that. There are several guards at every exit and if they catch an attempted runaway, they get to have a little fun before they are returned.”
The man strode forward and grasped Toru by the chin. His fingers dug harshly into his cheeks and the man’s lips twisted up into a cruel smirk. “Don’t think you’re safe just because you’re an omega either. They might not be able to have their fun with your little hole but I’m sure they would happily make use of this pretty little mouth.”
He twisted Toru’s head around and inspected him much like one would a horse for sale. The man fingered his hair, forced his jaw open to inspect his teeth and even checked his hands and feet. The other man in plain robes waited impassively while all this occurred and Toru struggled to force down the humiliation at such treatment but he was far too weak to resist. In the end, he suffered through the inspection in silence. Seemingly satisfied, the long-haired man released him and stepped back. He continued to survey him with an intent stare however.
“Once you are healthy and fattened up a little, you will come up looking very pretty. Almost a shame I’ll be giving you away, you would fetch me quite a large sum of coin. Now tell me little omega, are you a virgin?”
Toru gaped at him and felt his cheeks infuse with heat. The man’s lips curved up in a sly smile and he looked away in embarrassment.
“Oh? You’re blushing; how precious. And just how did you manage your heats, little one?”
“Not like that!” Toru snapped out.
“Oho, so you do have a voice. A feisty attitude, too. Normally I would beat you for speaking to me in that ton
e but your new master doesn’t like broken little obedient slaves. He has an odd fascination with things with spirit. You’re lucky it counts in your favour. Now answer me clearly, omega, are you a virgin?”
Glaring at the floor, Toru whispered, “Yes.”
“Completely untouched by another’s cock?”
He felt his cheeks heat up more and risked an embarrassed glare up at the long-haired man. “Yes.” The other man looked exceptionally pleased with this answer.
“Oh, how marvellous. So much extra added value. It unfortunately means I cannot train you how to please your new master but it makes you a truly exceptional and perfect gift. There’s no way he could turn you down. Such a shame I won’t get to try out your pretty little mouth, however.” He gave a dramatic sigh and flapped a hand at the other man who was still observing. “Dai, make sure he eats and sleeps. We leave for the Nohaivira Provence tomorrow at first light. I plan to give him over personally.”
“Yes, Master.”
The long-haired man turned and swept out of the room, leaving Toru with the quiet man Dai. He stared at the door in shock. It wasn’t until Dai moved that Toru turned his focus back to him. He blinked at a small bowl that was handed over before he took it mutely. His head swum after that conversation and the revelation that he had been taken and sold.
A heavy feeling twisted his gut and made him feel nauseous at the mere thought of food. The way he had been inspected as though he was an animal and not a person was humiliating but it was the questions he had asked and the meaning behind those that made his stomach turn. It was good that he was a virgin and untouched. Why? What was he going to be used as? Toru didn’t want to think on the answer to that. He was pulled from his musing by a gentle pat on his knee.
“Don’t fret, little one. Everything will be fine.” Dai gestured to the food and tried to encourage him to eat. “You need to eat, though, you nearly died and are very skinny. You will need your strength for the journey.”
Toru gave him a small nod but didn’t move to touch the food. Instead he stared at it mournfully while he tried to get his mind to stop from turning to the dark suggestions of what his future held. Dai sighed and nudged him again.
“You have questions, yes?” Toru nodded. “I will answer so long as you eat while I do so. First you must take a bite and swallow. Then you can ask a question.”
Toru scooped up a small spoonful of a thick soup and dutifully brought it to his mouth. He was pleased that it didn’t need much chewing and he forced it down. It sat heavily in his stomach though. He took a few moments to think about what he wanted to ask but there was really only one thing weighing on his mind.
“What kind of slave am I?”
“You are being sold as a pleasure slave.”
Toru blanched at Dai’s blunt statement. “Does that mean that I have to…?” He couldn’t force himself to say the words. Oh Yharis, please no.
“Yes.” He felt panic well up inside and clenched the bowl in his hands. He started as a hand gently stroked his hair. “Please don’t panic, little omega.” The hand continued to pet his hair in an effort to soothe him. “I know they don’t have slaves in your home country but it’s not as bad as you think. Many people here sell themselves into slavery, particularly omegas.”
He chuckled as Toru gaped at him in disbelief. “It’s true. Pretty omegas in particular fetch a good price as pleasure slaves. The only people who buy pleasure slaves are those wealthy enough to do so. There are many who will happily trade in their freedom if it means that they do not have to worry where their next meal will come from and their buying price will often help support their families for some time.”
“But they have to do…things with their bodies for their masters, don’t they?” Toru cursed his omegan instincts as he realised he unconsciously leaned into the gentle strokes and pulled away sullenly. Dai continued his petting with a small chuckle.
“I told you to eat between questions, little one.” He waited until Toru had forced another spoonful into his mouth. “Is it so bad to give your body to another? You would be well looked after through your heats too.” He seemed to sense the omegan’s doubt.
“Pleasure slaves are shown off. That’s part of your role as a pleasure slave. Only the rich and powerful can afford such a luxury and as such they are normally exceedingly well looked after. They are often put on display and shown off for their traits, but at the end of the day, they only have one master. It is a crime to touch another’s property without permission. Remember that is what you are now. Property. You treat your possessions with care, do you not?”
He waited for Toru’s small nod before he continued. “This is much the same. Your new master, Prince Kessler, has a reputation for being a fair and respectable man who treats his staff and slaves alike with great care. He also has no other pleasure slaves so you would not have to share his attentions.”
“Kessler?” Toru spoke tentatively, trying the name out on his tongue.
“Prince Kessler,” Dai corrected. “He is part of the ruling royal family and presides over the Nohaivira Province. He is third in line for the throne and extremely well respected in Rokerean society. My Master owes him a great debt, which is why you are being given as gift to that man. Of any who could take you, you are lucky that it is him. It will take us nearly two weeks’ travel by carriage to reach the city of Cosa where he lives. The Nohaivira Province has a warm climate and is known for its fruit and alcohol produce. It’s a very nice area, I’m sure you will enjoy your new home.”
Toru wasn’t particularly fond of warm climates, being an ice elemental and all, but he wasn’t about to bring that up. He wasn’t averse to it either but he much preferred the large snow falls in the dead of winter back in his home village. Still, it didn’t sound as bad as it could be. And the travel there might give him an opportunity to escape. Although he wasn’t too keen on being caught after the other man’s warning, so he would have to plan any escape attempt very, very carefully. He finally finished his bowl of soup and handed the empty dish over to Dai.
“Kessler is his family name, right? What’s his actual name?”
Dai gave him a gentle smile and spoke as though his words didn’t bring Toru’s world crashing down. “Renato Kessler, the Rokerean Prince of War.”
***
Toru had clearly underestimated how weak his near-death experience had left him. An escape attempt while they travelled was laughable. He could barely stay awake for more than half an hour after eating before he was sleeping again until being woken up for more food. Dai had praised his increasingly healthy appearance and even his Master had seemed pleased although he had a greedy glint in his eye when he observed Toru.
He had quickly learned that Dai was Litton’s only personal slave, all the others he owned helped to run his slave trade business. He specialised in pleasure slaves and Toru was exceedingly glad he had avoided having any personal lessons, for all that the reason behind it was embarrassing. But the way the man watched him with unveiled greed and lust made Toru’s blood run cold.
His brief waking moments had been plagued by thoughts of what this Kessler person would be like. Dai revealing that he was the Rokerean Prince of War had rocked Toru to the core. He was being given to service the man that was responsible for so many of his people’s deaths? What kind of dark and cruel man would he be? Although the other slave’s words that he was known as being fair and respectable were at odds with the dark demon his mind conjured. He finally gave up and expressed his concerns to the other man, who quickly soothed his fears.
Kessler was apparently highly vocal on his stance against the war between their people. He saw it as a waste of time and resources. He had initially helped with planning and executing the plan of attack for the beginning stages of the war as required by his station but withdrew himself and his men as soon as he could. He hadn’t been back to the front lines since.
Toru was incredibly relieved that his new master was not behind the attacks since he had jo
ined the Tysealean army. The thought of the army, home and the events that got him captured left Toru feeling sick and despondent and he quickly buried those thoughts away in favour of losing himself continuously to the void of sleep. If only his dreams were not dark and twisted things dripping with blood.
***
The two weeks it took to travel across Rokere were gone in a flash. Toru slept through most of it but could finally stay awake most of the last day. The temperature was as mild as Dai had said it would be, especially considering it was going into autumn, and Toru found himself in awe of the beautiful countryside. The trees were just taking on their autumn coat of red and orange and they lined the large road that led into the city of Cosa.
The omega felt like a country bumpkin with the way he caught himself mouth agape as he stared at all the sights. He was from a small village and had never ventured too far from his family until he joined the army. Then he was almost always on the front lines and desperately trying to stay away from any large cities or towns because that would mean more innocent people in danger. Everything here felt so large and busy and they weren’t even in the city yet!
The road they travelled on could easily fit three of their carriages across; it was heavily packed and almost smooth with the constant traffic. Theirs wasn’t the only carriage either, along with large wagons, a few people on horseback, and a number of people on foot. Toru quickly noticed that the clothing style was strange. Or perhaps it was the lack of one consistent style.
He was used to people wearing similar attire, materials and colours differing but otherwise long dresses for the women and breeches and shirts for the men. The only time this changed was in the army when everyone wore the same armour for safety and practicality. Here though, was very different. So many colours and styles. Women in pants, skirts of varying lengths. A few people wearing next nothing. He was certain he even saw a man in a dress!
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