New Blood

Wow! 208 hits and it's only been a week! I'm so excited. Now if only the review count was proportionate. *wink, wink*

Saminada: Ha, ha, how bad is too bad... This might make you cry.

Chapter 3: Marked


.:Trick:.

“Here we are Boss! I also left a message in the foyer telling Rae you want him ASAP.”

Taerin said as he crashed through the door. Aiki emerged at a far more sedate pace while Tae clutched his knees and caught his breath. Aiki took in the pale, naked boy with the tear tracks cowering under Septima's smirk and knowing look.

“Ahh... Aiki, we have a new maid. Come take a look at him. I think he'd be suitable to work in your block after you outfit him. Oh – and no painkillers. Little Trick has been quite sheltered all his life and needs a wakeup call.”

The rainbow-haired “Wardrobe Manager” came over to circle and inspect the shivering boy. Shrewd black eyes seemed to strip him even further – to the soul – as he was given the once-over.

“Hmmm. He will do I suppose. Only time will tell. I'm to train him as well?”

Septima nodded.

“What about that gaudy thing 'round his neck?”

“It will be removed once Reanth returns.”

“Good.”

“Trick's all yours then.”

Trick started badly when Aiki grabbed his forearm.

“Up you get. I'm not going to drag you. Tae, bring the wrap.”

Taerin brought over a swath of plain cloth that he wrapped and arranged around Trick when he stood up.

“I'll keep you informed as to his progress.”

“I'm counting on you.”

Aiki lead/pulled Trick from the room into a corridor of lavish decoration: a long runner-carpet of burgundy covered the stone floor, sconces with decorative lights glowed from in between doors. The ceiling... the most explicit mural Trick had ever laid eyes on was painted there. He didn't even know some of those things were even possible...

Apparently he slowed as he took in the scene of a man taking it from a horse up the ass while he 'rode' another when Aiki jerked his arm. Trick hurried his steps while his stomach dropped among his intestines. He had a bad feeling... Aiki spoke after they went through an ornate set of double doors into a more plebeian-looking corridor.

“The section we just left was the “Pleasure District” as it's referred to. My wing is on the opposite side of the complex. It's the Outfitting District. There are twelve districts in all. Thirteen if you count the courtyard as a district. The compound is shaped like a trapezoid-inclined hexagon without the longest side. There are three floors. We don't count the basements; half are storage, half are prison and isolation cells.

“The foyer - “Welcome District” - is two stories high, the second floor corridors are not connected like the third. The entirety of the first floor corridors are the Living Districts 1 and 2. The communal cafeterias are there as well. We left the PD and are now in the Social District. My district is in the other wing of this, the second floor. Above us are the Royal, Paper, Grand, and Guest Districts. There are stairs at each junction. That's all you need to know of this so far.”

As Aiki was explaining this, they went up stairs at the end of the SD into a lavishly decorated but empty corridor.

“This corridor doesn't really have a name, though some call it the Empty District. It's above the foyer and its main function is the bridge between the districts of the second and third floors.”

They descended the stairs at the end and Trick got the first look at his new home. There were pictures and display cases between the doors. Simple chandeliers lit the hall. No ceiling art, but what was on display more than made up for the lack. In the cases were garments that completely boggled and expanded the mind. The pictures were actually enlarged snapshots of tattoos, body piercings, and scarification.

“Mostly this is all a giant display area. The OD is divided into two sub districts. My Playrooms and the Recovery/Display. My Playrooms are where all these wonderful things are performed, made, and the supplies stored. I also live there, as will you. The recovery rooms are the rooms in here nearest my Playrooms. They're also where I take care of infections and accidents. Altercations are made in my Playrooms.”

Aiki led Trick through the displays to more double doors, these plain black wood but for a rainbow infinity symbol on each. They passed them into the Playrooms. There weren't as many doors in this corridor. Trick was led and pulled through the third from the entrance on the left, about halfway down the corridor.

Inside was a leather dentist-looking chair, a wheeled table, a long group of floor to ceiling cabinets and a sink, all of which were stainless steel and glass. The floor was the same gray stone the rest of the building was made of. There was another door to the right of the entrance, otherwise, the walls were bare stone. Aiki pushed Trick further into the room and locked the door. Trick stood frozen, he couldn't think – didn't know what to do.

“Before we can begin your training, you must be properly marked and attired.”

“M-ma-ma-marked?!”

Trick squeaked.

“Of course. It's the clearest way to be identified without any doubt. Pendants or scarves can be altered or simply not worn at all.”

Aiki slid a panel of the stone wall aside and pushed a few buttons. Two each of the floor and ceiling tiles slid aside to reveal shackles. Trick gaped at them in horror and started backing towards the door.

“Now, now, don't make this harder than it has to be. I'm the only one that can unlock that door. I'm also perfectly capable of manhandling you into these. Don't make this worse for yourself. I would have even given you pain killers but Boss told me not to. Come here now!”

Trick swallowed thickly and hesitantly walked to Aiki and the chains. Once the padded rounds of metal were snugly clasped about his wrists and ankles, Aiki went back to the control pannel and held down two of the buttons until the chains were retracted enough for Trick to be tautly spread-eagled.

Aiki walked over to the cabinets and opened one of the drawers to extract and don a pair of gloves. He then proceeded to go through some of the others to retrieve antiseptic, gauze, tape, a belt, a plastic tube of ointment, a mini welding torch, and an iron brand.

“Besides.”

Aiki continued as if the conversation never stopped,

“If you rise in the ranks, Rae can just remove it.”

He conveniently didn't mention he'd get a new one with his new position. Trick started trembling again when Aiki tugged off the wrap and swiped his right buttock with the antiseptic. Aiki pulled over the tray that he deposited his items on and retrieved the belt.

“Here. Bite this. It'll keep you from doing damage to yourself.”

Trick accepted the hardened hide. Then, firing up (no pun intended) the welding torch, Aiki began heating the brand. He turned to face Trick's backside when the brand was the correct temperature.

“Now, take a deep breath.”

At the peak of Trick's inhalation, Aiki pressed the brand to the prepared flesh. Trick screamed as best he could around the gag. His body couldn't even arch; he felt as if he had been shot. The cooling iron was removed after an imagined eternity. Gentle fingers smoothed a cream that instantly cooled and soothed while tears ran down his face. Those same fingers gently pried his jaws from the belt and wiped at the tears.

“Welcome. New member of 'Blood's Rebellion.”

((TBC))

The next chapter will be about what's happening with Madame Milly.

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