Possession

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

. . .

Selix woke the next morning with Rae’s hands on his back, the tape pealing away.

“Sorry to wake you, Selix. I need to change the bandages."

With a nod selix let out a sigh and let his groomer remove the last of his bandages.

“That healing ointment works wonders, the welts are gone completely. I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of this was gone in a few days.”

Selix nodded and winced as he sat up. His skin protested the movement and he didn’t make a sound as Rae led him toward the bathroom.

“I'm not going to cover them today so I’ll be sure to pick out something light and airy for you to war, maye just an over robe that can flow behind you and a pair of pants.

Selix nodded, his throat sore and raw from swallowing his tears.

“You hurry along and bath quickly and then i’ll apply the ointment and some lotion and the day will fly by." Rae watched warily as Selix padded to the bathroom and entered to the large tub of warm water without testing it first. Rae knew it might be a bit too hot but it would take the sting out of the wounds and hopefully relax the boys muscles so there wasn’t so much tension in the wounded area.

Selix sank into the water and fought not to cry. Everything hurt and all of the failures of the weeks before didn’t disappear or heal with his skin. Punishment was supposed to be freeing. You’re failure wiped clean by the harsh look or firm hand of your Master, but Selix only felt broken and dirty. He scrubbed away at his skin until it was red with heat before stepping out of the tub and patting himself dry with a towel.

Rae re-entered the room with the garments and took the tub of ointment in his hand. “This is going to hurt again Selix."

With a nod, Selix braced his hands on the sink and felt the cold gel hit his hot skin before it gnawed at his wounds. He winced and attempted not to flinch away. The ointment certainly healed faster, almost miraculously so but it hurt so badly that more often than not people healed without it. Pets couldn’t afford the scars though, so they took the pain and prayed that they wouldn’t need to use it often.

“Did the shirt come clean?" Selix croaked out.

“Here have some tea for your throat." Rae busied himself with the water and offered up his own mug.

“Thank you.” Selix sipped, “The shirt.”

“It came clean. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“Thank you, Groomer Rae. I just wanted to be sure that I hadn’t ruined Master’s things."

“Not at all. It just needed some attention is all.”

Selix stood and pulled on the offered clothing, today would be a long day and he needed to report to Master Vesperian for more writing. On the way down the halls, he stretched and circled his wrist trying to stave off the ache he felt and the pain in his hands.

He asked entrance at the door and promptly moved to his small table, arraigned the parchment and waited to Darius ot speak. The silence ate at him as he dipped his pen.

“We have quite a bit of work today so tell me if you need a break."

“Yes, Master." Selix kept his eyes on the paper and began taking down the dictation.

. . .

“I thought that we’d enough of this nonsense." Darius pushed through the door of Connor’s room to find his pet dressed but unwilling to return to Trainer Clientina without speaking to him first.

Connor fell to his knees and ducked his head “Welcome, Master Vesperian."

Rolling his eyes Darius stood in front of the boy, “Head up. Now what is this about.” Darius caught the flash of something in Connor’s eyes.

“Selix was whipped yesterday."

“What?" Darius’s face fell immediately.

“Trainer Clientina felt he had not performed well and whipped him. I wanted to know if that is what i can expect as well.”

“You know very well tha you are not to be physically punished until your wrists and ankles are fully healed. If you wanted to tell me out Selix’s punishment than you should have sent one of the guards."

“Trainer Clientina said that I should anticipate punishment this afternoon and that is why I refused to go to him. You said I only needed to obey him so long as it did not directly conflict with what you told me."

“Go to your lessons. If Clientina attempts to whip you your keepers are aware of how you will be punished and will be sure to intervene."

“Thank you, Master Vesperian." Connor bowed again and left the room.

There was no doubt in his mind that Connor was still the same clever rebel he’s always been. The question of his obedience outside of the public eye had yet to be seen or the lengths to which he would go to put on his charade.

. . .

Mikhael stared at the note delivered by his brother’s messenger. During their morning’s work Selix hadn’t once asked for a break, even up until the time they’d finished and the boy retired to spend the afternoon elsewhere. He couldn’t fathom that in all that time the boy had been injured but hadn’t said a word. No doubt Selix thought he already knew. Mikhael hurried to the library, aware that was where his pet spent his free time, only to find in devoid of its charge. The cozy suite his pet lived in was empty as well. Mikhael turned to the guard at the door, “Find Selix’s Groomer. I want to know where the boy is."

The guard nodded and Mikhael continued to search the garden, the kitchen, the sauna’s everywhere his pet might spend a moment to recover, only to find that even Lanix hadn’t seen him.

“You sent for me?” Rae caught up to the commander as he stalked down the corridor.

“Where is Selix?”

“I'm not sure, Commander Vesperian." Rae answered, his eyes grew wide at the question. “He might be in the library."

“In the future you will know where your charge is." Mikhael barked and continued on. There could only be one place left and he hoped that he was wrong for his pet’s sake.

. . .

Selix turned on his heel and flew into another series of flips. His wrist screamed at him for rest but it wasn’t until he moved to execute another handspring and his wrist gave out completely that he stopped where he was on the floor. His body was covered in sweat and his back wailed in agonizing throbs of pain. On weak legs, Selix moved toward the shower rooms in hopes that he could avoid any further attention. Apparently these training halls were used by most of the men in the estate and the few that came and saw his bare back and its wounds looked at him with the blanket of knowledge over their eyes before turning back to their own training. His punishment and shame was clear on his skin. He’d been so caught up in his own selfish needs that he’d let his training slip and there could be no doubt that the rest of the men knew of his failure. The only place he knew of with a harp was the upper lounging room, but he wasn’t certain that he should play there during the day. He would wait until the evening before he resumed his studies.

“Selix.”

The voice of his Master fell like a whip over his shoulder, his back a display of his flaws and naked under his owner’s eyes. Selix turned and kept his eyes down “Welcome, Master Vesperian."

“So what I heard was true. Clientina whipped you."

Unsure of what the tone meant, Selix nodded his head, “I'm sorry to have failed you, Master."

Mikhael stepped toward him and immediately raised Selix’s face with his fingers, “You have done nothing to earn this.” Mikhael pulled the younger man towards him and stroked down his sides, surprised when his pet did not cry but remained pliant in his hands. “I'm sorry that I did not know."

“It was my fault, Master." Selix whispered. “I did not perform well."

“I do not require you to have such skills. You have a fine pen and a sharp mind and as long as you are content to help me I am more than happy to have you. Clientina could have found no fault in that."

“I did not perform well. This is how pets are punished. You are too kind, Master." Selix took a deep breath. “I understand that you did not wish to see me hurt. I will be sure that it doesn’t effect my duties."

Mikhael didn’t bother with an explanation but he moved to hold Selix again only to find that the hand that protested his movement brought a cry to Selix’s lips. “You’re injured." Mikhael grasped the arm in his hand.

“My wrist is just sore from the long day."

“Thank why were you here working it.”

“I will be asked to perform again and I did not wish to be punished again.” Selix ducked his head while cradling his wrist.

“I’ve had enough of this. You are coming with me.” Mikhael spun on his heal and led his pet down the hall to pet suites. The doors moved under his hands and Selix slid into the room behind him. “Clientina.”

The trainer in question turned around, Connor stopped the flex he was currently in.

“You whipped my pet."

“I corrected him, yes." Clientina moved toward the men. “he was such a good pet that I don’t wish to see his skills fall by the wayside."

“I did not five you permission to punish my pet. He was offered to help train Connor, not to be trained himself.”

“I'm sorry if I’ve upset you.”

“You will no longer interact with my pet in any manner. You are not to speak with him, touch him, call for him, or punish him under any circumstances.”

“Commander Vesperian.”

Mikhael stormed forward and lifted the man up by his collar. “If I so much as hear that you have looked at him, I will pull the skin off your bones.”

“understood." Clientina ground out his answer through his gritted teeth.

“Good."

Turning on heal once again, Mikhael wrapped one hand around his pet’s waist and led the boy from the room.

“I'm sorry, Master."

“What he did was wrong, Selix. I know you. I’ve seen you work. I don’t think that anything you do could be considered any less than graceful and perfection."

“but-”

“Don’t argue with me Selix."

Selix nodded and shyly entered Vesperian’s room under the guiding hand at his back. “I will leave you to your work, Master." Selix attempted to move away only to be pulled back by a firm hand on his arm.

“You are going to shower in my suite put on one of my robes and return here without any further argument.”

Selix nodded slowly and turned to the bathing room in the suite.

Mikhael sighed heavily and fell back into the couch. Every time he let the pet out of his sight something new ad unusual was bound to happen. It was just plain easier to keep him close; at least until he was certain the boy wouldn’t train himself to death.

Returning to his desk, Mikhael milled through the pile of letters and found the one he was looking for. There were some reports that neighboring northern towns were offering unbidden treaties and that some of them wished to become Banpo cities so long as they received the rights of other cities under the emperor. Mikhael rubbed his forehead, unsure as to how to advise his fellow Commander. It was possible that the cities actually wished to avoid conflict but there was no telling whether it was ust an attempt to cause further warring once within the banpo borders.

“What would you like me to do." Selix’s soft voice, wrenched Mikhael from his train of thought.

The sight of Selix’s body freshly showered, his face clean of makeup, his body flush from the warm water made Mikhael rethink his position on sleeping with his pet. Brushing off the idea, Mikhael picked up the tub by his desk and moved toward his pet. “Turn around."

Selix moved in place, his eyes peaking up to see Mikhael’s face in an attempt to decipher what that blank look meant.

Mikhael’s fingers tugged at the collar of the fabric and pulled it off Selix’s shoulders, earning a gasp of surprise from the pet. “I'm just going to put ointment on your back.

Selix nodded and let his head roll forward. Even if it was just for the sake of healing, Master’s fingers felt like fire on his skin, waking up every inch of his nerve endings. He fought not to move as calloused fingers smoothed over his back. The sting of flesh against his open wounds made him tense and the burn of the ointment made him grind his teeth together.

“I know it hurts."

“It is fine, Master." Selix whispered and shrugged on the robe again.

Fighting the urge to touch and sooth more of that soft skin, Mikhael placed the tub on the nearby table. “Why don’t you lay down?”

“I’ll return to my room." Selix bowed his head and attempted to hurry out of the room before Mikhael caught him around the waist and held him for a moment.

“Every time I let you out of my sight you come back crying and miserable or injured." Mikhael breathed in the scent of his soap on Selix’s shoulder. “I’d like to keep you close for a while."

Selix’s voice wavered with the butterflies in his stomach, "I promise that I will behave myself, Master."

“Just go nap on the bed, Selix."

“I don’t want to distract you from your work.”

Mikhael felt the urgency boil up in his stomach and roll over. With a hand on Selix’s back he guided the young man to his bed before sitting down on it himself. “On the bed, Selix."

With a nod, Selix obeyed, uncertain of what was to come.

The look of anticipation wasn’t lost to Mikhael’s keen eye. “I'm not going to hurt you Selix. You and I are going to take a nice long nap and then perhaps lunch in the garden."

Burying his face in the pillow, Selix fought to ignore the beating in his chest. He wanted the man next to him. He wanted those calloused hands on his skin. The need in him was so acute that all the pain and soreness of the day fell away and out of the corner of his eye he watched Master pull off his boots and lean back against the soft surface.

“Come here." Mikhael grumbled, aware that Selix wasn’t going to make any move to cross the distance between them. There was something incredibly freeing about Selix’s head resting against his chest and the small arm draped around his his waist. Mikhael watched the small smile creep across his pet’s lips before he ran his hand through Selix’s hair.

“You don't have to lay here with me. I’ll obey you."

“It’s fine, Selix." Mikhael sighed. “Now get some rest.”

“Thank you." The mumer was soft against his shirt.

. . .

Connor rolled his shoulder and felt the pleasant crack that told him he’d gotten his first good work out in a long while. The small room was richer and finer than any he’d ever spent time in before or during his slavery. The click of the door latch turned his head and he fell to his knees again. “Welcome Master." The words felt more natural on his lips than he liked.

“We have some things to discuss, I think.”

“Yes, Master." Connor kept his eyes down.

“I’ve had enough of that. Head up." Connor obeyed and reveled in the look of annoyance in Darius’s eyes.

Anger slid through his veins as he watched the intelligent boy pretend that he was less than clever and cunning. “Clientina and I had a discussion. In three weeks you will be accredited. You will pass what exams he gives you and that will be it."

“Yes Master."

“However there is traditionally an accreditation party thrown for private pets and it seems that we both will need to suffer through one.”

“Yes Master."

“I know that you’re playing with me Connor. I'm aware that you’re not as simple as to be broken with a few days of bondage and regimentation.”

There was no answer just the clever flash behind COnnor’s eyes that told him he was correct.

“As long as you're content to behave like a pet in public than I am content to behave as equals in private."

There was still no answer, just the little twinge of a smirk.

“Kiss me, pet."

Connor smirked and stood. He placed a kiss into Darius’s lips.

“No one is going to believe that Connor. You’re far more clever than to think you can get away with it.”

Another twinge of the lips and Connor buried a fist in Darius’s hair before plunging his tongue into the other man’s mouth.

Satisfied that Connor knew what would be required of them, Darius moved away from the kiss only to be pulled into another and shoved back into the smooth plain of the wall. Connor planted one thigh between his legs and Darius spread his legs unwilling. The thrust of that hard muscle against his crotch made him groan and pant in between hungry clashes of their lips. “Enough."

A mocking grin answered him. “Are you sure, Master."

Daris buried a hand between their bodies and palmed Connor’s matching erection. “Yes, pet."

The smug grin remained on Connor’s lips before he brutally kissed Darius again, throwing the other man off guard completely. The polite cough at the door told him they’d been seen.

Over Connor’s shoulders he glared at the self-righteous grin of Trainer Clientina. “I would prefer privacy while I enjoy my pet.”

“I'm sorry to interrupt General Vesperian.”

“Connor, off of me."

“Yes, Master.” Connor released his hands from Darius’s back and hair, allowing the General to straighten his jacket.

With a hand in Connor’s hair he urged the boy to his knees. “Do you have a reason for the interruption or were you just content on interrupting me."

“I came to inform Connor’s keepers of his schedule tomorrow."

“You can do so later. I'm busy at the moment.” Vesperian attempted to relax his spine as Connor rubbed his face against his bulge and one thigh.

“Yes, General Vesperian.” Clientina left the room, a knowing grin on his face.

“That is exactly what can’t happen." Darius wrenched Connor’s hair back. “I have to be in charge of the situation which means you don’t make a move without my say so.

“I'm just being a good pet, master.” Connor laughed up him. “Maybe the problem is that you don’t really want it that way to begin with.” Connor crowded the equally tall man. “You get so excited everytime I do something unexpected that I'm beginning to think that you would prefer to be the one on his knees." Connor pushed Vesperian into the wall and laughed at the glare on the other man’s face.

“Behave yourself in public. That is all you have to do.”

Connor let the blank look cross over his face before falling to his knees, “Yes Master.”

Vesperian shivered at the words. There was something incredibly erie about Connor’s ability to slip so well into another personality.