Of Collars

Chapter 3
Countenance
Shadow slung his bag into the backseat of the awaiting black mercury sedan. He then slammed the door shut and climbed into the driver’s seat. Then he remembered something; he had forgotten his license. It was in the coat pocket of his jacket, which he had given to Espio to use (it was COLD up north) He crossed his fingers and prayed a cop wouldn't ask to see his license when he left the parking garage.

He pulled out of the spot and exited the building. His luck paid off as he got to the door (where Espio awaited inside) and hit the horn. Espio hurried out and tossed his luggage, enough for three days, into the back before climbing in as well. He was a deep blue color, the very color he turned when he was freezing cold.

He reached over and flipped on the heater at full blast.

Instead of heat coming through, a blast of cold air hit both of them in the face. Shadow shook his head and turned it off. "Esp, the heater doesn't work until the car warms up. I’m cold too, so deal."

Espio, with teeth chattering, finally got out."Yeah but you got fur to help you! I got nothin!"

Shadow merely rolled his eyes and drove the car out of the airport.

*~*~*~*~*~

Manic peered nervously around the stage. : God...tomorrow this place will be fill up with people. And I'll b presented...naked...and I have to put on a good show for the buyers...:

The squirrel popped him with the riding crop lightly. “Pay attention what Mistress Rouge has to say."

"..and tomorrow night, you fifty shall be displayed for purchase. Once the last of you make it into the back, then the first will come out again, to be bid on. If I get ANY form of resistance from ANY of you, then all of you will be beaten after the show, including those purchased.

"First the workers will come out for bid. Then the servants and Slaves, followed by the bedies. Last will be the pets."

Manic glanced down the row of forty nine other slaves. Out of them, thirty five were slaves and Servants (or house-slaves). Five of them for heavy work and six bedies (or bed-slaves). Besides him, there were two other pets. One was a female golden retriever, who had multiple piercing over her body. The other a female red fox.

He had never seen a male pet before, most opting for doggie girls. Even his mother and father, in all their 'uniqueness' (as he liked to call it) had never purchased a male pet, though he had heard of them.

Rouge approached him and knelt to look him in the eye, happy to see that he did not hold her gaze. "And, you, my little pet, are going to be last. You’re what most are going to show up for."

His face went scarlet in embarrassment.

His tamer jerked on the leash and told him to come on. He was to rest up in his quarters before the show.

*~*~*~*~*~

Espio jumped from the car and hurried on to the hotel room. Shadow glanced around the fancy hotel. He admitted that it was more than he should have spent but dammit, it was a semi-vacation so why not enjoy a few luxuries. At least it was warm inside.

"Uh, Mr. Shadow?" The clerk said as she looked up from her computer. “We have a slight problem. You asked for a room with two beds and the mobian that took your call double-booked a room. Unfortunately, all we got left is a Master Suite. It has only one bed but..."

Shadow turned his stare to the female clerk and watched her fidget under his gaze. “Since the booking was the hotel's fault, I get the room for the same price as the other one, right?" He asked at length.

"Uh..." the clerk looked nervous. “I have to ask my manager that..." she picked up the phone and dialed a number on it. She spoke briefly with whoever was on the other end of the line before hanging up. "She agrees with you. Because it was our fault, you’ll get the Master Suite for the same price as an eco double suite.” She handed him a key.

Shadow smirked as he turned away and started up the hall to the elevators where the chameleon was awaiting him. It was good to have friends in high places...

A short elevator ride later...

"Shads? You said our room is on the second floor." Espio muttered as he stepped out of the little elevator.

Shadow shrugged. “They double booked. So we got a Master Suite."

Espio almost fell over in shock. “Isn’t that like...the honeymoon suite?"

Shadow snorted and shook his head before unlocking the door and opening with a flourish.

The room was called an 'Atlantis' room. It was decked out in blues and greens with beautiful hanging plants in full blossom. The bed was a king size and anchored to the wall (for what reason, neither knew) It had silky curtains that were fanned via the slow blowing fan above their heads on the ceiling. It also had a walk-in closet and the bathroom was through another door.

Espio looked over at Shadow and for a moment thought he grew horns. With that devilish smile on his lips, he sure looked like he was ready to. But it was not horns, it was the way his ears bent back.

Shadow pounced.

He shoved the purple chameleon down onto the bed in one fell swoop before claiming those lips. He saw fit to begin to lap at the berry lip balm the chameleon insisted on using. He said it softened and prevented chapped lips. Shadow believed it was a cover-up for making him that much tastier.

Both jackets and two pairs of pants shed later...

The purple chameleon was atop the black hedgehog, tracing down the toned chest and stroking sensitive spots along it with trimmed claws. Knowing he liked the rough stuff, he lightly flexed his claws and drew blood from the black one.

He could feel those rubied eyes bore into him as he uncurled his long tongue and began to lap at the trickles that were threatening to mat the chest. A soft cry escaped the trapped one, digging his fingers into the bed as the pointed tip of Espio's tongue dug into the shallow cut. Tears escaped his eyes, partly in pain, partly in pleasure.

Shadow could take no more and pulled the purple chameleon down to kiss him once more. He only broke the kiss when Espio began to murmur something. He pulled back long enough to hear him say:

"Sorry about the flight. You got relief but I didn’t. I-" he was cut off again by Shadow's lips raining hot passion upon his soft lips.

"Just...shut up.” Shadow panted as he gathered his strength and shoved the chameleon back against the bed and leaned in close. “Shut up and get yourself ready."

Espio blinked but did as was told. He had known that ever since he had met Shadow, he often acted like little more than a horny teenager with a sex overdrive. Maybe it was a GOOD thing that Shadow wanted to purchase a bed-slave. The chameleon could hardly keep up with the hormone driven hedgehog. And he wasn't kidding when he said they called him the ultimate life-form.

The black hedgehog began to pet the chameleon, being careful to do so without roughing the scales. A deep growl escaped from him as he stroked lower. He knew the chameleon liked his lovin hard and fast. And it was Shadow's favorite pastime to rile the chameleon up until he was just about begging for relief.

He slowly began to stroke the reptilian member, enjoying the racket the purple chameleon was making. And mixed in with the whines and whimpers was a snarling request to quicken his pace before the black hedgehog's 'little Shadow' got torn off. Laughing, Shadow did as the chameleon requested.

"Top or bottom?” he purred into the almost non-existent ear-shell, flicking a tongue out to taste the scales.

"I don't damn care.” the chameleon whispered, grabbing furry black shoulders. He pushed against him until the black one was on his back against the bed and the chameleon was straddling his waist. With a soft groan, Espio slowly impaled himself on the large pole that was 'Little Shadow'.

"Guess I better not call it 'Little Shadow' again, eh?" He said softly, bracing himself against powerful shoulders. His tail uncoiled and wrapped gently around his own 'little chameleon' stroking softly.

*~*~*~*~*~

Tired and panting, Shadow opened his ruby eyes and irritably answered his cell phone.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Well!" came the voice from the other end. "If that's the way you're going to be, I won't send you your tickets."

Shadow, pinned on his back by the sleeping chameleon on his chest, maneuvered the phone with his right paw and pressed his ear into the receiver. "Listen, Rouge. I'm busy an-"

"Just give me your room number and then you can get back to fucking your pet, alright?" A haughty laugh came from the white bat that was on the phone.

"I'm in room 717M North wing.” he drawled, trying to ignore the sleepy claw that was steadily scratching his side in the chameleon's sleep. “If you don't mind..."

"I DO mind, Shadow. You may be a good buyer, but wait next time until after the sale to have some fun, alright?"

"Fine, fine..." Shadow grunted as Espio moved slightly, sending a shiver down the black one's back as the chameleon tightened his muscles and squeezing a still very hard erection.

"See you then, Blackie~!" with that, Rouge hung up.

Golden amber eyes peered sleepily at Shadow as the black hedgehog huffed and hung up. "What'd she want?"

"Wasn't important." Shadow grabbed the rough shoulders and leaned forwards, putting the chameleon under him. "Now...where were we~?"

The chameleon grinned.

This was what he loved about the dark one; that never-ending sex drive.

*~*~*~*~*~

Manic was curled up in his new bed. Well most wouldn't call it that but it was better than sleeping on the floor. It was a large woven basket with a thick amount of padding on the bottom. A chain leash led from his collar to the bedpost at the foot of the bed. There was even a food and water dish sitting at the foot of the bed as well.

His 'handler' was currently flipping through a magazine while lying on the bed. While she was doing this she spoke aloud, more-so to see how he would respond to such things.

"You know, if it weren't for Rouge saying you had to be a virgin to sell you, I would make you mine. I don't personally want to OWN any slaves, but I DO like seeing their skills. And letting them practice on me before they're bought. Ooh...if only Rouge said you had to be untouched...Just thinking about carrying the offspring of one of the princes...that would make the throne mine by right..."

Manic rolled his eyes and buried his nose into the crook of his arm, trying his best to ignore the chatter from the squirrel. He had seen the poorly hidden looks of lust from the squirrel that kept him tied up. He knew that her chatter wasn't lies in the slightest.

It was all he could do to NOT think about what was going to happen tonight...

*~*~*~*~*~

The auction-house was flooded with many of the richest mobians on the planet. Shadow was quite glad he had snatched his seat a few hours ago-even if it was boring to wait for hours until the show.

His ears flattened as he saw the red echidna waltz in and take a seat a few rows behind him. He was SURE the echidna had only come for one purpose- to buy that prince.

The people were shushed as a set of spotlights were shone on the stage.

*~*~*~*~*~

The young prince turned slave was shivering as he was led up to just behind the curtains. He had been given an aphrodisiac that would 'perk him up' until the sale was over. He was about to be led on stage, completely naked and horny in front of a large audience...

And, for some odd reason, the thought of going out there didn't quite seem to disgust him as he thought it would. It...excited him.

His cheeks flushed as he listened to the bat that was leading the whole show.

"And finally, it is time to auction off the last of the 'pets’. I am quite sure that this beauty is probably why everyone else came." Rouge smiled as the spotlight shone on where the handler and pet would come out.

"Get down on all fours!” the squirrel hissed to him.

The prince obeyed and watched as the curtains opened, allowing him out onto the runway of the stage.

Set up at the furthest point of said runway was what appeared to be a stool. He had been through this before...

He moved with the squirrel and leapt up onto the stool when he was close enough to it.

"Look at how big he is!"

"It IS the young prince!"

"Looks like he's untouched!"

"Them babies must be full!"

"I can't wait to get that pup into bed..."

And those were the nice comments...

Rouge motioned for him to rise up like he was begging. As he did so, she spoke. “He is approximately 17 years of age and still a virgin. Since he's of special origin, I shall begin the bidding at twenty thousand."

Immediately, there was a roaring of prices and many looks of disappointment at the high starting bid.

The price rose very fast. As it reached the six hundred thousand ranges, the bidding started to slow. He caught the eye of the black hedgehog seated near the front row. He remembered it as the one who gave him the mind-blowing kiss and begged with his eyes. He didn't like what he was hearing from some of the other bidders.

*~*~*~*~*~

Shadow stared at those sapphire eyes that screamed fear. He had yet to place a bid on him because he wanted to wait until the last moment, while the other bidders wasted their money and breathe...

After hitting the nine hundred thousand mark, there was but two bidders left standing and shouting prices at Rouge.

Knuckles was getting angry. That damn swallow was still beating his price every time.

He finally straightened his back and called to the bat. "One million!"

The purple swallow was taken aback. She couldn't run it any higher now, because that was all she had brought with her to buy with...

Rouge looked over the audience. "One million going once!"

Shadow glanced back at those begging eyes.

"One million going twice!"

Those eyes knew what would happen if he went with the echidna and Shadow knew it too. Could he really condemn the hedgehog to that kind of life?

"Sol-"

"One million, fifty thousand!" Shadow shouted as he stood.

Knuckles glared daggers at the black hedgehog. "One million, one hundred thousand!"

"One million two hundred thousand!"

"One million five hundred thousand!"

"One million seven hundred thousand!"

"One million nine hundred thousand!"

Shadow growled and mentally counted what he had brought with him, minus the price of the hotel, return ticket and the car rental.

"Two million."

Knuckles' eye twitched, He had only brought one point five million with him, thinking that would be enough. But he had to try anyways. He could always get some wired to him if he wanted it..."Two million two hundred thousand!"

Shadow flattened his ears and glanced at Espio, knowing the chameleon had an extra something he had brought just in case of something like this happening.

"Two million nine hundred, ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine!" he glanced back at the echidna with a winning smirk. He KNEW Knuckles couldn't win after that one.

Rouge blinked, walked over to the side of the stage where the hedgehog was standing and covered the end of her mike. "Can you just add a dollar to that to make it even?"

Shadow showed his teeth and shook his head.

She sighed, before standing and walking over to the middle of the stage once more. "Two million nine hundred, ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine dollars going once!"

Knuckles twitched. This was unbearable! That menacing hedgehog was going to win!

"Two million nine hundred, ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine dollars going twice!"

The red echidna turned on heel and stomped off, the last words echoing in his ears.

"SOLD FOR TWO MILLION NINE HUNDRED, NINETY-NINE THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE DOLLARS!"