Chapter Four
"What say you to this?" Apollo asked after a bit of silence from the Radant. Damn Jeta to hell. He was not keeping a viper in his bed.
Ryker hid his surprise by actually allowing a small smile to cross his face. "What's the catch?" he asked, shaking his head at the boy as he leaned back, running his pink tongue over his lips. "You're going to let me go back to the Division--freely--to simply kill more and more of your men?"
"Yes." Apollo replied evenly, watching that pink tongue flick out. "I'd rather have you die honorably on the battle field with a sword in the gut. I dislike the thought of killing you outright. It smacks to much of cold murder."
The Reaper was dead serious, his blue eyes leveled on Viper with no hint of laughter or trickery in them. He spoke the truth.
"An honorable Reaper." Ryker said with a raised eyebrow. "I like that idea, but I assure you, I plan on sticking around for a long while," he said, folding his eyebrow. He nibbled on his lip a moment before looking up at the male. This could be the only chance he’d have to escape the fortress. And knowing some of the inner keep, especially where the man lived would be helpful when he returned with his garrison.
After some time, to keep the male on edge a bit longer, Ryker replied. "And your plans happen to be what, exactly?"
"Let's just say I don't trust you completely." He replied honestly. "As for my plans, I hoped to sneak you out and--"
“You want to discuss this in front of this guy?” he asked, motioning to the servant in the room.
“Who, Camilla? He is trustworthy. I would not speak to you in his presence if he wasn’t,” Apollo snorted. What, did he look like a fool? “Now, my plan is to sneak you out and—“
He was interrupted by Camilla tugging on his shirtsleeve timidly. Apollo raised a brow, nodding for him to speak. "My lord what of your uncle and his plans?" The young teen asked.
"Damn." Apollo swore, biting his thumb in thought. So sneaking was definitely out. Suddenly an idea hit him. "Viper, would you be willing to sleep with me for your freedom?"
Ryker rose an eyebrow. "Come again?" he asked, blinking. That was...unexpected.
"Hear me out." Apollo said quickly. "As much as I'm devoted to your escape, I would like to stay with the living. My uncle gave you to me for one reason and that's fucking. If I don't do that I'm in a world of pain." He paused for a moment, choosing his next words carefully. "However, if you sleep with me, and say, a servant sees us and spreads the word, then my uncle will be happy. If my uncle is happy he won't be watching me and if he's not watching me, I'll be able to sneak you out unnoticed."
Please, Apollo leaned back. "What do you think?"
Ryker considered this. Symion wasn't going to be happy with him, but if it got him back to him, it was fine. "This is a one time deal, right?" he asked, frowning.
"Yes. One and only time." Apollo frowned. He wasn't too happy either, but his plan was fool proof. "Tonight then." He promised. "And by tomorrow evening you'll be gone. Deal?" He held out his hand to seal the bargain.
Ryker stood, nodding a bit stiffly. "Deal." he nodded taking the hand, ignoring the little tingle running up his spine as their skin touched.
"Alright then." Apollo stood and unlocked Viper's cuffs as they shook hands, and as if to foreshadow the coming sex, the Reaper kissed the Radantian's opened palm lightly.
"Now, let's get to work!" Apollo clapped his hands together, looking rather excited now. "Camilla, you go spread so rumors. Viper, if you're up for it, lets go parade ourselves around like master and servant."
Apollo chuckled. "Of course, you get to play the master." He teased, blue eyes sparkling as he tried to calm Viper. This was so going to work!
Ryker raised both brows in surprise. "You're a kinky one aren't you?" he smirked, tossing his hair. "So where to...master?" he asked, saying the word slowly, swallowing his pride.
Apollo faked a shiver...at least he thought he did. "Ooh, that's hot." The Reaper chuckled at himself. "Come along then...servant." He echoed, but the smile was still on his face as he led the way out of the door. "Let us, tour the grounds."
Granted, it was a bad idea to show the enemy the layout of one's fortress. However, if said enemy managed to get back in without dying, then hell, the Radantians deserved to win.
"You realize how unintelligent it is to let me walk unbridled, right?" he asked, folding his arms. He pointed to his neck. "All servants--especially pleasure slaves are supposed to wear a collar, correct?" he asked, looking at Apollo, who should know this.
Apollo chuckled again and it was a giddy sound. "Yes, but my uncle would be much more impressed if I had managed to tame you without the collar." He tossed Viper an appraising look. "Unless you wanted to be collared. Then by all means, let us get one. I assume you like being shocked?" He asked genially.
"You insult me." Ryker said with a sniff. "What makes you think you could tame me at all, much less in the span of a few hours? Besides, I killed two of your guards--that news has definitely reached the Bastard, so leading me without a collar is suspicious, no?" he said, folding his arms.
Apollo sighed dramatically, slumping his shoulders. "Fine." He whined. "Thanks a lot for not letting me look better than I really am." He bemoaned, beckoning to Viper to follow him. "To the harem then for your collar. I'm thinking silver, ruby studded." He mused.
Ryker nodded, wondering at the peculiar Reaper. The male was almost...friendly. It was creepy. He followed silently, his mind going in circles. Why did Jeta want him to fuck his nephew? What did he have to gain--and how did he get from the Division? Last he could remember, he was in his barracks, sleeping off a drinking session with the boys and Symion...but there was no way possible that...
There were a number of reasons that Jeta had set Viper, however, Apollo could care less about each and every idea. His uncle was insane. End of story. If the man had actually agreed to something with the Division, then he was surely planning on betraying them at one point or another. Apollo would prefer not to get caught in the crossfire.
"Here were are." He announced, throwing open the harem doors. A few of the pleasure slaves jumped, but the older ones simply stayed where they were lounging. All around them lay males and females in various states of undress. All of them were touching someone, or themselves, lounging on large pillows.
"This way." Ignoring the slaves curious looks completely, Apollo disappeared into an adjoining room, returning with a velvet box and handing it to Viper.
"Open it." He commanded. Voice oddly cold again. Seemed the man could act.
Ryker opened the box, ignoring the cold tone. Inside was a delicate slave color of silver and ruby. He frowned minutely, never wanting the thing to touch his skin, but knowing he'd have to bear with it. He looked at his "master" for the next move.
Apollo just grinned again and stirred his finger in the air, indicating the Viper should turn around as he took the rather delicate collar from the box to hook it around the Radantian's neck.
Ryker turned his back and posture rigid. It took everything in him to turn his back on the enemy, and he watched the male from the corner of his eye--just in case. He felt the cool metal of the collar slip around his neck and fought the frown rising on his face, keeping it impassive.
Apollo smirked. As the collar was clasped, he swept aside Viper's silky hair, giving the man's exposed nape a light kiss. "There now. All set. You're such a good slave. I can't wait for tonight." The Reaper purred, draping his arms around Viper's waist. This immediately started all the harem slaves to whisper. Who was this new slave? Why was he so close to the master?
The Radantian shivered despite himself and tilted his head to add to the show. He hooded his eyes sexily, adding a quiet "Yes Master." Let it never be said that Ryker wasn't a good actor.
He was so good that Apollo pushed just a little further. "Good boy." The Reaper murmured. Crooking a finger beneath Viper's chin, he turned the male's head slightly so he could kiss him from behind. Gods. Who knew a Radantian tasted so good?
Ryker was tempted to bite the Gurutian's tongue off. Kissing was NOT part of the deal. He kissed the male back slowly, trying to ignore the taste of him. He forced his fists not to clench.
Apollo wasn't that bad of a kisser and if he was honest with himself, he'd wanted to kiss Viper all day. Finally, he drew back from the languid kiss, looking pleased.
Ryker bit his lip immediately afterward, looking down and trying to retain the flood of different, confusing emotions raging in himself. He was grateful to be let go, and turned around fully, blinking at Apollo with a flash of "what the fuck!" in his eyes.
Apollo returned the look with an apologetic one as he brushed Viper's blond hair out of his eyes. To anyone on the outside, they could almost look like lovers...or at least master and pleasure slave.
"Come." The Reaper's voice was suddenly lower, huskier as he nudged Viper from the room. That would give the slaves something to talk about.
Ryker followed the male, and as soon as they were out of eyesight and earshot he distanced himself from the Reaper glaring at him with malice. He said nothing, his facial expression communicating everything.
"Oh, don't get your cock in a twist." Apollo chided breezily. "You put on a good show. I commend you. Who knew Division soldiers knew how to act." Secretly, the Reaper was rather irritated that Viper pushed him off so easily.
Ryker said nothing, just making a mental note to kill this guy later on in life. He continued walking with the male thinking of home in the Borderlands, of Gemeni, Radaa, Symion, Garrison. They were the only things keeping him sane.
Apollo opened his mouth to say something more before he heard a familiar voice echoing down the hall. Thinking fast, the Reaper grabbed Viper, hand over the man's mouth, and dragged him into a hidden alcove.
“Stay quiet,” he hissed.
