In the Life of Service

Part 2
The father and son pair made their way out of the building.The father of the pair stepped up into the carriage and awaited his son to give over his prizes to the trainer that was tying them to the carriage.The younger one handed the leash to the blue one to the trainer.He then looked over at the green one.
The green one lifted his head slightly as his new master addressed him."You do know you have to be branded when we get back."

"Yes,master."

"Will you fight it?"

"No,Master."

"Promise?"

"Yes,master.My body belongs to you.You may do with it as you wish."
The dark prince hummed his accent to the answer and lightly tugged the leash,signaling the green one to follow him.The blue king looked at his young son in almost outrage,seeing him lead the slave into the stagecoach.

"He is to be tied up with the others,Shadow."he said sharply.

The black one,aptly named Shadow,climbed into the coach and the green one hopped up in,seating himself at his owner's feet.He curled up like a cat,content that his master allowed him to ride in the coach.

"He is also not yours to do with as you say.He is mine.If I say he is to ride with me,then he is allowed to ride with me."Shadow shot back.

The blue one,Yuan as the bat had called him,narrowed his eyes at the mint furred hedgehog.He leaned down to him and looked him right in the eye."If you prove yourself a nuisance,I WILL have you killed."

The green one bowed his head with a nod.
*~*~*~*~*~
I wanted to hurt my father for that threat.While he did purchase them,he had given them to me.He had no right to threaten what wasn't his.

I tightened my hold on the leash.I guess he could sense my trembling in anger because he lightly rubbed his head against my leg.As strange as the motion may have looked,it did soothe me.It was his way of comforting me.

The ride back was rather short(it's always the anticipation that makes a trip seem forever.After you've been there the trip seems short back home) and the three females that had been hitched to the back were panting from having to keep up with the carriage.However,the muzzled blue one looked perfectly healthy and not panting in the slightest.

I untied his leash and gave it a firm tug.He stumbled along the ground but this time did not fight me pulling him along.That cunning light had reentered
his eyes.He was planning something...

Let's see what he plans to do when he gets branded...

I led the two younger hedgehogs behind me,taking them into the barns where the branding equipment was kept.Father was already there,overseeing the branding of his three new girls.Two had already been branded and the third was just getting the red hot metal removed from the shaved spot on her rear end.I could see the family seal burnt into the flesh.

The scent was horrible but I knew my two new ones would have to go through the same thing.The blue one was shifting about,trying to find a way out of here.The green one was as still as stone,being a man and swallowing the bitter pill of fate.He knew it would hurt but he had resigned to getting it done.If only his brother was like that...

Movement!

Had I not had a firm hold on the blue one's leash,he would have taken off-and probably gotten away.He only succeeded in getting his air supply temporarily cut of (they wore slip-collars due to the fact it discourages tugging).He had to kneel to the ground to try and catch his breath.
I tugged up on the collar,cutting off his supply once more before he finally understood what I wanted and made his way to his feet.He tugged one last time to make sure I hadn't went lax.

The green one looked like he wanted to say something and I nodded for him to speak."Master...he's an asphixiophiliac."

That would explain why he didn't struggle against me when I was pulling up.It did make sense.Some slaves begged to be equipped with a slip collar so they have a way to 'pass the time' as many would say when their masters were too busy to play with them.

Finally they took the younger girl out of the harnesses and allowed a soothing cream to be spread over the wound.I looked between the two hedgehogs on either side of me,trying to decide who would go first...

*~*~*~*~*~
Manic was lightly bouncing on the balls of his feet.His master had told him that he had to be branded as proof of ownership.He wanted to prove that he was ready.

"Show him how to behave properly."Shadow said softly to the minty one,gaining a smile and a nod in return.He let go of the leash and watched as the green one bounded over to the device.He even helped strap himself in.

Yuan looked over at his son."Eager?"

"Willing."Shadow corrected."He wants to please me."

"So he thinks getting branded willingly would get him on better terms with you?"

Shadow shook his head and watched carefully the procedure.

The old smithy,a burly looking echidna with a white beard,removed the long wrought-iron pole from the hearth of the nearby smelting furnace.The branding device,marked with the family crest,was glowing almost white as the echidna approached the new slave.

Shadow observed that,out of pure will alone,not a single utterance of pain escaped the pained hedgehog's lips.It must have been agony,having your flesh seared with hot metal.But he did not protest.He drooped,almost lifeless,in the harness.Tears streamed down his cheeks but he dare not speak.Voicing anything was a form of protest as he had been taught.Unless Master said he could scream or make any sound for that matter,he was to remain silent,no matter how much the pain.

He whimpered as the smith unhooked him from the harness.He refrained from touching the large welt along his backside,although he wished he could do something to soothe it.He walked back to his master and knelt in front of him.

The green hedgehog was made to stand back up and bend over a wooden crate in the corner.One of the older maids tended to the seared flesh with a soothing cream.If they treated it with burn ointment then the scar would not develop properly.He submitted to the rough application but did not utter a word as pain flared up once more.

Shadow had to wrestle the blue one into the harness.He had fought viciously to keep from getting bound within the straps.But in the end,the black hedgehog won out,tying those strong arms and legs into place.Shadow was sure had the blue one not had that muzzler on,he would've tried to rip his throat out.

And unlike the green one,his scream rattled even his father.Out of spite,Shadow had shaved the place so that more of the brand would touch flesh.It wouldn't look quite like his brother's (which held the outline of the family crest).This one was much more detailed from more of the metal touching flesh.

Shadow peered into the pained emerald eyes.They seemed almost...betrayed.

But Shadow's eyes could have very well had been made of the rubies they were the color of,they were so hard and cold.All he did was sneer and wrinkle the left side of his muzzle,showing bright white teeth."That's what you get for being so wild."he purred softly,obviously enjoying the suffering of the Wild."Now should I let them put a cream on you to help the scarification along or should I let it sit and fester for a few days."

A flash of anger passed in the emerald eyes before they cast downwards.Tears soaked the muzzler.

He eased the blue one out of the harnesses and watched as he knelt onto
the ground.

The blue one knew he needed treatment for his wound.He was not stupid by any means.He just had to be smarter than his new owner.

*~*~*~*~*~
I looked down at the blue one.He thinks he's smart,temporarily submitting himself to get treatment.I could see that other glint still in his eyes.The glint of fire to break free.

I nodded to the maids to apply the lotion as well to him.I could play his game too.

I motioned for the mint hedgehog to join me.He,with his head bowed,made his way over and knelt on the ground,careful not to irritate the new wound.I absently reached down and began scritching behind one of his ears.He seemed to enjoy it.This was my subtle reward for the willing branding.Of course,if he stays this willing,I have something much better.

Some time later...

After the girls finished treating the blue one,I took both by the leash and led them to my quarters.I,being prince,literally had a whole wing to myself. Although most of the rooms were empty,I kept my room(and the Slave quarters next to it)as clean as I could.I often found that my father tried to send maids up to my rooms but with my latent Chaos Lock ability,I easily kept nosy servants from my quarters.They could go anywhere else in the wing but not the rooms I locked off.

I led the two into the locked off room,the energy dissipating as it recognized my signature.I turned to the brothers and jerked on the blue one's leash."You know...you have yet to pledge allegiance to me."
He turned his head away and tossed it slightly,motioning for the muzzle to be removed.I stepped forwards and undid the buckle on the back of his head.

"Now say who you belong to."I demanded,stepping back to stand beside the kneeling teen.

He didn't speak.

The green one looked up at me to see my reaction to his older brother's outright stubbornness.I made to take a step forwards and felt his fingers brush my leg.I glanced back down at him and he pulled away.He had forgotten his place for a moment.

I let that slide for the other one.He was still standing stock still,those emerald eyes flickering with the wild intent to get away.His ears flattened as I approached and looked him in the eye."I said kneel and tell me who your master is."

Sonic sprang into action.

I stood still as I felt the glob of spit slither down my cheek.I had to pause for a moment of reflection that consisted of this:Had he really spit on me?The one who saved him from the slaughterhouse?The one WHO HAS TREATED HIM NOTHING BUT GOOD SINCE I HAD LAID EYES ON HIM??

As it slithered and fell to the floor I realized that,yes,He HAD spit on me.

My eyes must have reflected that I felt,as he backpedaled a few steps until he reached the end of his leash. I jerked him back and he stumbled forwards,obviously scared.He knew he had done the wrong thing.

*~*~*~*~*~
Manic watched with frightened eyes as his brother was dragged into the next room.He could only imagine what his master would do to him for such outright disrespect.

Sonic knew he was in big (big with a capitol B) trouble when he watched the other hedgehog's face turn from shocked to mulling to dangerous.He began to back away from being tugged and pulled on his leash,trying to get AWAY from the psycho hedgehog.He snarled and snapped but it did nothing more than agitate the black one into pulling the slip-collar so hard it did cut the air off to the blue hedgehog.

Choking in surprise,the blue one stepped forwards to relieve some of the pressure off his throat. He gasped delicious air as he followed the black one to (what he thought) was his doom.

Shadow shoved the blue one against the wall that held a wooden brace to attach someone's paws to to leave them suspended for days.Shadow grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and held him,his front to the brace,and hooked his paws into the cuffs that secured the other to the brace.

Shadow stepped back and 'hmm'ed to himself.Not only did the slave quarters hold a bed and other little essentials for someone to live,it also doubled as a torture chamber.He cast his gaze to the walls that held bars with a set of cuffs on either end.Wide enough cuffs to encircle the ankles.Browsing through the selection of lengths,he finally selected a long pole that was very uncomfortable to hold for a long time. Even those trained to use them had a hard time of wearing them for longer than two hours.

He removes it from its wall hanger and kneels down.He undoes the hobbles holding the blue one's feet and attaches one of the bar's cuffs to his ankle.He forcefully swung the other side out and pulled the other's leg back to catch it.

Sonic made his move.He braced himself against the wooden structure and swung the captured foot backwards,nailing the black one in the face with the heel of his foot.

Shadow stepped back to avoid the swinging rod and held his nose.He swallowed carefully and tasted blood. :Oh,no he did not!:
Shadow turned to the doorway."Get in here!"

The mint hedgehog hopped to his feet and came in the room before helping Shadow stand.Shadow could see the worry in the mint one's eyes.

Shadow growled out his command."Finish getting him into that spreader bar.Then come back into my room and await your next orders."He then stalked out of the room in search of an ice pack for a swelling nose and lip.

Manic shook his head and set to work trying to get Sonic to hold still enough to get the bar positioned right. "I hope you know that you screw everything up.For your information,had neither of us been bought,we would have went to the slaughterhouse,virgins or not.He SAVED us."

"Yeah,right."Sonic began to move his foot about to keep from getting strapped into the spreader. "We're rare colors.They weren't about to slaughter us for being there for too long."

Manic shook his head."Poor naive hedgehog...Now hold still,dammit."

"I'll kick you too.Try me."

Manic stands up and snorts before leaning forwards and clamping his teeth over the back of Sonic's neck. He waits until the body goes limp before letting go. "Disrespect my master again and see what happens."

While the other hedgehog is dazed,Manic managed to get the other cuff on his ankle,therefore not allowing the other to close his legs.Just his toes reached the ground from the rack and it hurt to hold the position.

Manic turned on heel and stormed out of the room.He knelt down on the floor so he was sitting on his knees and awaited the return of his master.

*~*~*~*~*~
Augh!I cannot BELIEVE the audacity in that blue hedgehog.He had the nerve to kick me in the face, making my pretty nose bleed and my upper lip swell.You do NOT kick the most handsome prince in the lands and expect NOT to get at least a whipping.

I stormed into my room and noticed my more obedient one sitting on his knees,(like all slaves do when told to wait)watching the door for my return.Again I scratched him behind the ears.

"Master?"he spoke up softly."May I be permitted to see what my brother has done to you?"

I could not deny the request,as strange as it sounds.His voice was so full of concern that for a moment he reminded me of my mother.I pulled the bag away from my nose and mouth.

"Master...I...ah..."I nodded for him to continue. "My own mother put me in the slave-house because of my...abilities.I can heal other's wounds."

Ooh.He's more special than I thought.Maybe...

"Give me a demonstration."I demanded,seating myself at my vanity.

He carefully stood and lightly traced a finger over my swollen lip.As he done so,I could feel the swelling go down.Then he carefully cupped my nose and blew softly on it.I drew in a deep breath and shift it lightly,noticing it no longer hurt.His healing really worked!

Hmm...for that he deserves better than a scratch behind the ears.Maybe I'll let him grace my bed tonight.

"Is he tied up now?"

The minty treat nodded."As you requested."

"Good.He can stay that way for the rest of the night."I turned to face him."Now as for you..."

It was funny.I could smell fear mixed with excitement coming off him as I cast my gaze along that body. He has no reason to fear me,so long as he doesn't disobey.I shook my head and climbed up into the bed.

"Come here."

He hopped up onto the bed and looked at me curiously.I pulled him down so that his head was resting in that soft spot where my neck met my shoulder.He seemed shocked but no worse for the wear. He went limp and relaxed himself along the side of my body,almost fitting perfectly.After letting him shift about some,he came to rest at the point where he fit perfectly against my body.

Then,out of nowhere,he begins purring.It practically shivers off of him and into me,soothing me in a way only my mother had in years past.I wanted to cry,I really did,but I could not bring myself to do so.
My mother had died giving birth to my little sister. She had fallen ill days before her due date and was still sick.They could not give her meds while she was carrying her and it ultimately resulted in her death.I did not blame her (my sister I mean) for my mother's death,I blame the doctors. I could never blame her...

A tear trailed down my cheek as I listened to his even breathing and slowly fell asleep myself.
*~*~*~*~*~End Chapter*~*~*~*~*~
Kai: *looks nervously at the enraged -and tied up- Sonic* Uh...this does go somewhere.There is a reason for everything.
Manic:*is trying to kill Kai* This is the LAST time I help with anything! You said NOTHING about me being branded for ownership.Now he offically owns my ass!
Shadow:*comes out of nowhere and snapes a leash back on Manic's collar* Move it.We gotta get planning for the next chapter.