Haven City

Alerie rolled over from her dazed sleep looking up to see a dim light pour through the cracks of what seemed like a crate. Perfect... She thought silently sitting up. Her hand drifted to her cheek tracing the ragged scar that started from the bottom of her eye down to the middle of her neck. The sudden movement of her sitting up brought a wave of dizziness over her and she used the wood behind her to lean against. She had only closed her eyes for a moment before she saw a small hole in one of the wooden panels. Moving carefully she went on her hands and knees to peek through. Adungeon. She spied the stone walls and caged doors. Turning with her back against the wood she used her feet, which were covered with old worn converse, to push against the one side.
Harder! She yelled herself and slammed her weight behind her feet cracking the wooden side off, with a protestant squeak. She rolled from the crate with a huff standing up to brush off her black jacket. Glancing down she made a mental note that her skinny jeans had ripped and her white V-neck was dusty with soot.

Kayli was cleaning up one of the billionth messes today. It wasn't that things were exceptionally dirty, but more of she was exceptionally germaphobic, cleaning every sign of dirt she seen. She blew her bangs from her face as she finished mopping the kitchen floor in the castle. Their floors were easy to clean, nice and sleek. She placed the mop down and went outside, waiting for further instruction. She wasn't a glutton for work afterall, who would be? She began humming, which soon turned to singing, "Let my desires fly along on a wing along with my dreams, alone so it seems.." she began, the words becoming softer and happier as she went. She couldn't remember how she began working here, or even her own age. All Kayli remembered was working there, her race and her name. "Human, Kayli and I work at the palace..castle..whatever this is." she laughed to herself..it was only halfhearted however.

She turned her attention to the broken crate peices. Kneeling down she sorted through them and pick up a long wooden panel, it was sharpened at the end full of splinters. She couldn't keep the smile from her face. Finally a weapon. Her eyes glanced about the room checking the door for any guards or unwanted visitors. Not seeing any she turned her attention to the lock stroding over. Many times she had picked a lock, and many times she had opened the cage, door, collar, or any sort of lock that held her. Silently she plucked a pin from her jacket pocket slipping the small metallic stick into the key hole. Squatting down she peered in moving the pin in circular motions, up, down, and side to side not finding a source until she felt a small nub on the inside. Then she started working to press against it waiting to hear the familiar click of freedom. She held back a shout of joy when she heard the door give a squeak and sway lazily open. She stood placing the pin back in her pocket. Silently she slipped from the cell sliding the homemade weapon into her hidden jacket pocket. Alerie's eyes and ears stayed open to everything around her coming to a halt when she heard the voices of what seemed like men. Sidestepping she pressed herself against the cold damp wall supressing a cough.
Damn its cold...Don't they have a heater in this fucking place?
She thought her jacket would be warm enough but apparently not. Taking the edges of her coat she pulled it tightly around her.

Marco rolled his eyes dramatically at the two humans. Alex was completly defiant and hot headed while Nicholas took after his master with his cold calculating mind. He used his status as the queen's toy to his advantage. One of the perks of being a royal pet . . .

Pushing Alex out of his way, he said "If you don't want to come up then fine. Stay here and starve for all I care."
He then grabbed Nicholas by his collar and pulled him towards the stairs "And as for you, you don't have a choice. Your master will be furious if she finds out that I let you stay down here in the cold. If you get sick I'll be the one to pay for it. Besides, she's probably looking for you."

Nicholas allowed Marco to drag him towards the stairs by his collar. He knew struggling would get him nowhere. Marco pulled him past cages full of humans and Demvolas that were being punished by the queen's decree. The vampires and werewolves snarled at him hungrily as they passed by.

"If it isn't Lithia's little human toy," sneered a deranged looking filthy witch as she peered at him from behind her cage bars, "How devestated would she be if anything were to happen to you. Oh I'd love to see her face . . ."

Nicholas cringed as various other Demvolas threatened him and spoke of how much they wished to see Lithia suffer. His Lithia. The one who had put them down here. Based on their gruesome threats, Nicholas guessed that they were down here for good reason.

Marco pulled him roughly when he stopped to stare at some of them. He proceeded to drag him upstairs. The sudden rush of heat on his cold body made him shudder. Marco brought him into the throne room and, still holding him by his collar, presented him to the queen.

Lithia was sitting at her throne with an unfamiliar, dark haired woman on her knees before her. Lithia looked up immediatly when they walked in.
"Nicky," she sighed, "There you are. Come. There's somone I wish to meet."

He didn't move. Even when Marco released him. He stayed put, feeling kind of like he was in a trance. He was feeling oddly freaked out by the previous encounter. Having lived a generally sheltered life as a pampered pet, he was pretty delicate. Seeing all those deranged Demvolas, having them snarl at him and reach for him through the bars, and hearing about how much they wanted to see his beloved Lithia suffer . . . It had shooken him up a bit. He wasn't used to having any situations that stressed him out.

"Nicholas," Lithia repeated in a sharper tone when he didn't come at her call.
He still didn't move and Lithia sensed that he was distressed. She made soft clicking sounds like one would do to coax a frightened animal out of hiding.

Slowly, Nicholas came forward at his master's call. When he stopped by her side she clipped a leash to his collar and stroked his hair once soothingly. She noticed that he felt unnaturaly cold, as cold as she did. And a human shouldn't feel as cold as a vampire.

"Nicky," she said, "Where did you wander off to this time?"
He whimpered faintly and shook his head, his eyes on the floor.

"Marco," the queen said sharply, "Where did you find Nicholas? What's the matter with him?"

Avari took in the information that the Queen was giving her and nodded when she finished. "Wise words M'Lady, I will certainly take them into consideration. But I, "she glanced over upon hearing Marco and Nicholas enter, her turquoise eyes watched them intently but she remained seated on the floor before the Queen. She noticed Nicholas' body language was far more telling than his words were. Something was apparently wrong, but what could it be. The scent coming from him was a mixture of his, Marco's and one other but it was unfamiliar to her. Bringing her attention back to Lithia she saw that the Queen was unhappy that Nicholas was not coming as she called, but as he finally succumbed to her calls she hooked the leash upon him and lightly brushed her fingers through his locks. The whimper had Avari tilting her head in confusion and she could not fathom why Nicholas was whining unless he was afraid of his Mistress.

Pulling her attention away from Nicholas she watched Lithia and watched as she questioned Marco, it seemed she was going to be witness to something that was unfurling before her. She wasn't sure if she should witness such a thing between the Queen and her human, but it seemed she would. She kept silent as she watched the two speak.

Marco sighed silently. He knew this would happen. Something upsets Nicholas and the queen goes on the war path.
"I found him in the dungeon" he told her "Talking with that bothersome human Alex. Whom, I should inform you, has broken out of his cage and is currently sulking around down there and refusing to come up. He's not causing any trouble but i felt you should know."

He let his eyes glance over everyone in the room. Lithia seemed pissed. One of her hands gripped the end of Nicholas leash tightly while the other pet his hair. Nicholas was obviously frightened but seemed comforted by his master's presence. And then there was the darked haired girl on the floor, Avari, watching all of them.

Alex smiled as they left but got pissed when he heard the threats from down the hallway he walked up to each caged and saw that a major part of them knew him from from the arena times of his life Alex smiled then said to them all "Listen you mess with the queen or her pet and you will face or end by me you worms!" the werewolfs,witches,and vampires knew what he could do and decided not to instigate he fury he then nodded "Now that we understand that I am going to give you one warning I don't want you bothering anyone again and to be on your best behavior understand?" they all nodded "Good well I am going up see ya." and has he passed them the prisoner remained silent Alex climbed the stairs and when he got up he went into the throne room saying "I dealt with the prisoners I don't think they wil try anything now that they know I am around anyways don't mind me just walking around checking things out." even stuck without food additude change in him none.

Lithia sighed heavily. "You're up here . . . Of course you're up here. Why am I not that surprised? Very well then Alex. Marco, calm yourself. Don't make a move on him unless I instruct you too."

She tightened her grip on Nicholas' leash and covered her eyes with her hand for a moment.
"Alex, Alex, Alex," she sighed again, "What am I going to do with you? I hope you realize that you give me no options. My hands are tied Alexander. As much as I'd love to send you somewhere far, far away from Haven City . . . I can't. You know too much and therefore can never leave. And you won't be tamed, which just means you've forced yourself into a life of being abused . . . Is that what you want? Being submissive isn't that bad. Just ask Nicholas. I understand that you were chatting with him earlier. Ask him what it's like. Go ahead. Ask him."

The voices retreated and she heard the ascending of stairs, even the slimey remarks of the other prisoners. Her shoulders loosened, although they were sore from being balled up in the crate. Silently Alerie peeked around the corner to see if the coast was clear for her to even feel so relieved. Nodding to herself she stepped out from the wall and rounded the corner spying the staircase that led to freedom. Freedom is just up those steps... She slmost smiled but knew that there was more to come. Quickly jerking away from the hands and claws of those behind the bars, she headed toward the staircase. She had no emotion for them. They were unnatural beings she would never come to accept. Her shoes made no noise as she approached the top of the staircase, but she crouched a little glancing up into the marvelous hallway in front of her. She saw some guards though and quickly jerked herself bck into the shadows. This wasn't going to be easy.
Taking a deep breath she straightened herself and strode from the dungeon her shoes tapping against the ground.

Silent...stay silent. She counseled herself mentally before the first guard fell upon her, weapon bared. Her muscles tightened and she took in his stance, legs shoulder width apart clutching what seemed to be a spear with two hands. She lowered her body to the ground when he swung, the blade of the spear flying over her head. Her breath caught in her throat but she wasted no time swinging her leg from behind her to a full 360-degree circle against the ground, catching the guard's knee from behind, taking him with a thud to the ground. She stood up quickly grabbing the spear that had clattered to the ground. She gripped it just as the guard had, with two hands. She swung at the next guard their spears colliding together, sending ripples up her arms that made her muscles twitch and cramp. With a grunt she threw him back only a step, just to recieve a painful pound in the back. The guard she had taken out had risen again and slammed his fists into her back. She let out a holler and spun ducking just in time to rid herself of a sharp fist to the jaw.
Then the worst happened. She lost her balance and skidded backwards, slamming against the ground with a crack as her head collided with the hall floor. Then her vision blurred and went fuzzy. Suddenly she was gasping for air until darkness filled her eyes, and the gaurds hauled her unconcious body up by the arms roughly.

Alex looked at and shrugged "I really don't care how being submissive make life easy for ones self I am born to be myself and if that means being put in a life of torment than my hell take me now becauuse there no way I will submit to anyone." he rubbed his tattoo it was differnt no one has seen it before only on him which makes him differnt than other slaves in another way. He had a past that no one knows or cares to figure out he knows what he was he just never got time with a master to ever explain his real path he felt like being generous at the moment he smiled "You want to know an easy way to make me listen to you and maybe be a good pet try talking to me not as a master to slave or pet level but at a equal ground level hell maybe you will learn something about who i am I might teach you something no one else in this world knows." he shrugged "Or you can keep your pride stay at the master level fail at making me your pet and in the end I get more scars than before your choice completly."

Lithia contemplated swallowing her pride and speaking to Alex like he was an actual person but she was saved from having to make that desiscion. When a bunch of guards entered the room, dragging an unconscious human female.

Lithia sighed and halted petting Nicholas to prop her chin up with her hand. "Oh joy another one," she muttered with sarcasm that was barely detectable, "Well isn't this a party now. Do tell Alex, are you familiar with this human. Assuming of course that all defiant humans are friendly with one another."

She sighed again, begining to get frustrated with all this queenly crap. Defiant humans, advice seeking subjects . . . defiant humans. She reached out and pulled her fingers through Nicholas' hair. She was beginning to think that Nicky was the only obedient human left. She knew that that wasn't true. She knew that there were others, but she only saw the bad ones. The good humans were all sold and kept. The bad ones though, the disobedient ones, were the only ones that were brought to see her.

Avari watched as Alex seemed to display a somewhat over the top ego that honestly would've had him killed long ago, why the Queen put up with this was beyond her. It was clear that the Queen herself was irritated far more than she was letting on. Rising from being seated Avari respectfully offered. "M'Lady Queen it appears you have other pressing issues to deal with," her eyes roamed to the unconscious girl and shook her head. "I thank you for information and shall think more on it before I take on the task of owning a human. I shall take my leave" with that she turned on her heels and began towards the doors. The soldiers there opened it allowing her to leave. Glancing back only once at the small group, Avari wondered what the Queen was going to do with these humans that seemed to enjoy defying her.

Alerie's mind whirled like she was falling through a tornado. Her blood pounded against her skull making her ears useless. The only thing she saw was the dark until her eyes barely opened to small slits allowing a brief flood of light through. She caught a figure in front of her, a women it seemed. The women reminded Alerie of a goddess, and her eyes widened slightly at icey cold fingers on her chin. Instinctivly she jerked her head back the only sign that she was partially there. Her knees were shakey and she fought to control the muscles there. Maybe she would have a chance at regaining her composure. Her voice came out through gritted teeth, the words slurred,"Don't touch me..." The muscles on her neck fought to stay strong and hold her throbbing head up.

Alex shrugged "Hell if I know her I don't make friends with many people including the ones who are like her the resist but they are weak and can't handle the deal out its sad really." he then looked to the queen "Plus the fact I don't get along with the blonde girls its a pattern for me." he had an idea he was itching for something to do "How about this throw me in the arena make me an assassin anything my hand twitches to kill again set me out to kill anything really do this and I will swallow my pride and follow you as your fighter,killer or assassin." the ideas popping in his head so many options coming to him "Not only that but I can tell you about my past and you can pick to treat me evenly over time."

Lithia floated around the room, towing Nicholas' by his leash. She approached the blonde girl, and put her fingers under her chin to look into her eyes. They fluttered open and she muttered, "Don't touch me . . ."

"Put her in the parlor. On the sofa," Lithia instructed the guards, "Before she catches a chill in the basement. I'll deal with her later."
The guards nodded, Marco among them, and carried the unconscious blonde girl away.

She looked at Alex and then let her eyes wander back to Nicholas. Her perfect lips began to curl into a thin smile.
"Interesting proposal Alexander," she said, maintaining her queenly air as she paced the room, bringing Nicholas with her of course. "I'm not sure what to do."

She halted in her pacing and Nicholas halted as well. "I know," she said, her smirk growing, "Nicholas. Tell me what you would do if you were me and had a pesky human to deal with. And no lies. I want to know exactly what you would do if you were really me."

He shrugged meekly.
"Come on Nicholas. I know how smart you are. Surely, you have an idea," she said, her voice half a pur half a hiss, "Now tell me. And no lies. I know you too well. I'll know if you would really do what you say."

Nicholas swallowed and let his eyes dart back and froth between Lithia and Alex. He didn't say anything for a second. Actually, he hadn't said anything since getting out of the basement. He'd mostly recovered from that, but he still didn't know what to say now. He knew what he would do if he were Lithia, but he didn't want to say it. It wouldn't end well for Alex.

"Nicholas," she growled irratly, yanking his leash. Not hard for a vampire. But enough to make him stumble. "Tell me."
He took a deep breath. "I-I would put him in the arena with the most lethal Demvola I could find. I would have them fight to the death. That way, even if the-the human lived . . . I could sentence him to death for murder."

Lithia smiled at her pet and patted his head approvingly. "Good boy Nicky. Very clever. Even I didn't think of that. So very clever of you."
Her tone switched from her baby voice which she saved for using with Nicholas and went back to it's normal queenly voice then when she addressed Alex.

"Don't worry though Alex," she said, "That isn't what I plan to do. I was just playing with you a bit. Plus I was curious as to what Nicholas would do. He is quite inteligent you know. Anyway, back to my point. I've decided that I will take you up on your offer. I will have you trained as an assasin. Goodness, Marco's not going to like that. He's my best fighter you know. I'm going to have him train you. If he'll agree. Which he will. Eventually."

"Anyway, we'll get started with that tomorrow. I'm assuming you could use a good night's sleep. And some food. Nicholas will take you to the kitchen," she said, unclipping Nicholas' leash.

She glided over to the door and paused for a moment there. "And Nicky darling, have one of the servants find him a place to sleep. And then come join me in the dining room."

With that, she left the room.

Alex smiled he felt like his past before he was locked up into a cage was coming back he felt happy again he never felt so over joyed "Thank you Lithia." He turned to Nicholas "Good idea I would have won in the end and yet death will still be my fate or would it depends on who becomes a fan." he didn't hold a grude against him at all. He thought for a second "Man theres a lot of work to do for me including with the training." He knew he had to recover or completly remake something from his past.

"Yeah . . . Well come on," Nicholas said, "Let's go get you something to eat. I'm just going to assume you're hungry after weeks of starvation . . ."
He left the throne room and began to lead Alex towards the kitchen.

As they walked he said, "I was a little worried back there for a minute. I thought she might actually go through with my plan. She's been known to on occasion. But sometimes she just wishes to have me say something cruel or gory to frighten somone whose fate she is deciding. She likes to screw with people's minds, as you've probably noticed. I wasn't sure if that was one of those times," he laughed, "I guess she likes screwing with my mind too."

They entered the extremly busy kitchen and Nicholas expertly guided them through all the servants to the head chef, a shapeshifter named Lucille. Of all the cooks, she was his favorite.

"Oh hello there Nick," she greeted him with a smile, "Haven't seen you down here in a while. And you brought a friend. The Regina's gotten herself another pet? Odd . . . I'd think she'd have her hands full with you."

Nicholas smiled back at her faintly. "No. He's not a new pet. This is Alex. He's . . . Well he's something. That's not really important I guess. Lithia wants him to have a big meal though. He hasn't eaten in a few weeks."

"Goodness . . ." she mumbled, "I didn't know humans could go that long without food . . . I guess we learn something new every day. Very well then, I'll whip something up for him. What about you Nick, would you like anything?"

"No, nothing for me," he said, "I have to go meet Lithia in the dining room for dinner."
"Oh alright then. But you do me a favor alright? You get off the leash every once and a while and come visit 'ol Lucille, alright?" she smiled athim.

"I will," he promised, "Oh and there's one more thing. Can you find Alex somewhere nice to sleep tonight? Lithia's orders."
She smiled again. "Of course Nick. Now off you go, we don't want to upset the Regina now do we?"

"Of course not," he said and then turned to look at Alex.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, "But do me a favor, and don't kill any of the staff. You've been giving Lithia enough trouble the past few days. And when she's pissed, she takes that out on me. So do me a favor, and cut us both a break?"

Alex nodded he looked healthy for without food for weeks he smiled to the chef "Well you don't have to find me somewhere grand I won't be using the bed at all I will be most likly hanging upside down so a place with some height i want distance with the ground." he was something else he was completly differnt than most humans he looked around.

Nicholas headed towards the dining room, praying silently that Alex would behave himself. He cut through the parlor and noticed the blonde girl from before, out cold on the couch. He rolled his eyes. Another rebel. This place was just crawling with them recently.

He walked into the grand dining room to find his Mistress, Lithia sitting at the head of the table, daintily taking bites of the fancy dinner that had been prepared. The place next to her was set for Nicholas. He always loved seeing that. When he first moved in with Lithia, he had to eat out of a bowl on the floor . . . like a fucking dog. He still did, when he misbehaved that is.

"Hungry Nicky?" she inquired sweetly, "I assume Alex has been taking care of."
"Lucille is handling it," he told her as he came and sat down.

"Good boy Nicky," she praised, patting his head once and attatching the leash to his collar once again. Despite the fact that he couldn't leave even if he wanted to, Lithia was so obssesive about him wearing his leash. Nicholas knew she just liked to degrade him for her own pleasure.

They ate in silence. The only conversations were started by Lithia of course. Nicholas didn't speak unless spoken to.
Just as they were both finishing their meal, Nicholas yawned and rubbed his eyes sleepily. Lithia smiled at him. She always found him cute when he was tired. It made him even more vulnerable.

"Sleepy Nicky?" she teased sweetly.
He simply nodded, still rubbing his eyes.

"Here, let me take you up to bed baby," she smiled, taking his leash and leading him up several floors and into their bedroom. It was large and luxorious with a grand bed and a large cage on the floor, long enough for a human to lie down on barely tall enough for someone to stand up in. The floor of the cage was covered in big fluffy blankets and pillows to make it comfy enough for the queen's pampered pet.

Lithia unclipped Nicholas' leash and he obediently climbed into his cage and lied down. He slept in this cage when Lithia had to work and she wanted him to rest. When she had time, he stayed in her bed with her.

"Goodnight baby," she said, closing his cage door and locking it, and then blowing him a kiss.

Alex mean while was eatting like the food was going to turn to ash he was cut of after hhis 20 plate of nothing but meat and cut off after his 30 plate of mashed potatoes the Chef was shocked that he alone just ate enough to feed all the prisoners 6 times over. Alex drank nothing but water though refusing to drink any thing that had alcahol in it. After wards he was led to a room not far from the queens it was simple the bed was very welcoming but instead he jumped striaght up to the ceiling and hooked his feet to the ramps so he was hanging upside down and within seconds he was asleep. He noticed his shirt was bothering him so he just took it off and threw it at the floor so he was shirtless and hanging upside down from the ceiling he asked to leave the door opened so people woudn't have to bother with knocking and can come right in. Thus starting the staff passing by staring at him like he was mad.

Lithia glided back up to her bedroom the next morning to find Nicholas asleep in his cage.
"Nicky," she cooed, bending over slightly. He didn't stir. Just mumbled uninteligably and rolled over.

"Nicholas," she snapped, kicking his cage once.
He startled awake and sat up straight. "Huh - wh - what?" he mumbled, "Lithia?"

"Get up," she said in a not-to-kind tone, unlocking the cage. She'd had a very long night with tons of issues to deal with and was not in a good mood.
Sensing his Mistress' irrate mood, he immediatly crawled out of the cage and stood up.

"Get ready and then go find Alex and tell him I want him to join us for breakfest," she commanded, "I have something I wish to discuss with him."
He nodded obediently as Lithia left the room. He went over to the wardrobe and got dressed in black pants and a white button up shirt. He brushed his teeth but didn't bother fixing his hair, Lithia liked it when his hair was all disheveled.

He looked at his neck in the mirror with disgust. If you got past the leather studded collar then you could see that his neck was dotted in in bruises and bitemarks. Which reminded him that Lithia hadn't fed from him in quite a while. It was only a matter of time before she took another bite.

He slipped his feet into his shoes and then left the room. In the hallway he ran into one of the maids. A witch named Farrah.
"Farrah," he stopped her, "I'm looking for this this human, Alex. The queen wants to speak with him. Have you seen him?"

"Is he the one hanging upside down from the rafters like a bat out of hell?" she quipped sarcastically.
"I wouldn't be surprised . . ." he mumbled, "Where is he?"

"Down the hall. Take a left," she told him, walking away. He followed her directions and knew exactly when he had found the right room. The door was open and Alex was hanging upside down from the ceiling, apparently asleep.

Nicholas stared. "Alex, why are you sleeping upside down . . . from the ceiling?"

Alex woke up "Well there are reasons for that one I find it easier to sleep like this,two its hard for others to get up here,and three I love it when the blood goes to my head." he was still hanging upside down he smiled "This is how I used to sleep before the cage and I never had a better nights sleep." he flipped over and landed perfectly on the floor he looked around for his shirt it was gone "Damn they took my shirt." he shrugged "Oh well so what does she want did? I do something?"

"Lithia wants you to have breakfest with us," Nicholas said, "I don't know why . . . But she wants to talk to you. She didn't say what about but then again, she never does. So I think I'll go find a maid and ask if she can find you a shirt. Lithia likes for meals to be a . . . classy event. So it would probably be for the best, as to not set her off."

As soon as Nicholas said "wants to have breakfest with us." he was walking down the hall when he said he needed a shirt he stopped "Really?" he saw in the corner of his eye someone with his shirt he chased them down and found the maid that had it he towered over a lot of people he took his shirt back "Spread the word no one touches anything of mine." he put his shirt back on and followed the smell to Lithia he knew that Nicholas would know where he would be going he sat down at the other end of the table "Morning."