flexible

It was a valid question given the way he spoke to the fairy. And while he did not have to explain the tale he saw no reason in withholding the story. “No, Tully is not my slave but a servant and resident of the town. He…owes a debt to me. Repaid in his servitude for life. He is free to come and go as he please. And there are times that I must hunt him down when he ventures too far.” But it was all apart of their game in a sense. Though he could see how that may still seem close to a slave. On some level the dark fairy held gratitude and respect to the hound. Enough that he would not try to steal away the human while under his roof. So Nox felt comfortable in leaving Maxwell under Tully’s eye while he attended to other matters. Those of business were quick enough to manage. And once done he stepped into his back yard to scratch that itch under his skin. Taking off running he quickly tore out of his close before he shifted into the form of the hound and slid under the cover of his veil. Tully served the purpose of attending to his guest and their needs but Nox preferred he hunted for food himself.

There was another reason Tully had use. As commanding as he was Nox was still a hound and sometimes lacked the manners learned by some. Proven as he return through the back of his home carrying a steer he killed while hunting. Dragging a trail of blood across the floor in the process and dropping it in the kitchen not far from where his guest ate. “You can hang this in the freezer for tomorrow. I ate a few things along the way before taking this one down.” Nox might’ve appeared more wild in that setting. Naked with smears of blood coating his dark tinted skin. “And bring Max up to my room once he finishes his meal.” Tully didn’t say much more than nod before he gathered up the kill and took it downstairs. Returning for Max once he was finished and then attending to the mess Nox had made. Upstairs there was hot bath already waiting for him. His servant knowing well enough that the hound was in need of good bath after his hunt. When Max was brought to him he was still sunk beneath the water with just his head above the surface.

As Max ate, he thought about the idea of a supernatural being in servitude for a master but not being a slave. It sounded strange to him, the idea that a supernatural could be close enough but not really like the ones that sat in the cells in the prison. Still, he didn’t bother to ask anymore questions, especially not to Tully lest he take it the wrong way. Max wasn’t looking to start a fight in the house of a master, especially not one that had proven himself rather formidable. And that was especially after the man returned home carrying what looked like a human body. He paused mid bite, confused and somewhat startled at seeing the hellhound carrying a deer as it appeared to be upon a bit closer. He didn’t hear what was said to Tully but found himself trying not to stare at the master as he disappeared up the stairs, blood clinging to his skin. The timing of Tully’s return and when he was finished eating seemed extraordinary. As the dishes were whisked away, he pulled himself to his feet.

Nox was wicked in the sense that he revved up the bike a bit when he felt the heart beating at his back. Not to scare the poor boy but to show him how travel should be experience. Rushing against the wind and defying the limits of speed. If he were alone he might’ve howled into the air as he road but he would restrain his beast for now. But it was clear when he came to a stop and on his own two feet again he was still experiencing the rush of it all. “When I am stuck in this form at least. You have seen the body I prefer when we first met. There is nothing like running at the power of my own four legs. But…these wheels serve their purpose.” Lifting his arm he pointed in the direction of his other modes of transportation. All pure black in design and shaped depending on the need. “I do like options depending on my mood. But I prefer the bike above the rest. Especially when riding alone.” He waved and led the way to the house, coming around the pool and up a set of stoned stairs. The layout of the house left plenty of open windows and didn’t offer much in security. Of course Nox was his own guard dog so anyone foolish enough to trespass upon his grounds would suffer their fate. “While you are a guest in my house I will allow freedom to move as you please. But I will assume you know how to behave within these walls. And the consequence should you lose sight of your better judgement.” Once through the threshold a pale skinned, thinly figure stepped from another room. “Tully. I will have a guest for the night. I need clothes for him to wear and food if he’s hungry.” The dark fairy that served as Nox’s housekeeper of sorts turned dark, black eyes on the human. As if he contemplated tearing open. “As you wish.” He bowed his head and was gone. Nox continued to move until they were at a door that he opened to reveal a guest bathroom. “I imagine you would enjoy a long bath after your work today. Leave your clothes by the door and I will collect you after I attend to a couple things.”

As he followed the elder inside, Max listened to him explain how much better it was to run in his other form. Max had always enjoyed hearing about the intricacies of other supernaturals, especially the ones he hadn’t had much of a chance to interact with no matter how long he’d been a slave. There was always more to learn. He found himself looking around, assessing the area. It was nice, sleek and modern. He liked it and the openness of it was a nice change from the small four corners of his own cell. “Yes sir, I understand,” he said, watching the other figure warily. “Is Tully one of your slaves, sir?” he asked, once the fairy was gone from the room. He had never seen other supernaturals working for the masters unless they were claimed slaves, at least not outside of stores and restaurants and things. Still, it wouldn’t surprise him if this was just one of the many things he didn’t seem to know. 

“Then water it is, I wasn’t complaining or ridiculing.” He explained and smiled to the slave “Well, there is always a first time, if you do want something alcoholic, maybe later though.” He didn’t want to push the slave, it wasn’t his place and he knew alcohol could be addictive to humans, though he doubted it would matter if the slave just had one or two.

Afric smiled, eating, giving Max time to relax a little, and focusing on his own food just in case the slave’s table manners were a little lacking thanks to hunger. He had seen it before and he didn’t want him to be self-conscious about his eating habits.

When he was finished, the Warlock sat back and smiled to the fair haired boy “So tell me, when you’ve finished eating, how are the guards treating you so far?” he knew himself they sometimes took advantage of the newer ones, and they all grew to have their favorites. It was easy to get on in the prison if they managed to sweet talk the prison guards.

His lips split into a wide grin. “I have heard from some that alcohol can have a rather awful taste. Thank you for the offer, though. Maybe some day I can try it and actually like it if it’s as bad as some say.” Max returns to his own food, thankful for a full belly after a week of surviving on what little food they were offered. 

He thought over the question, sitting back in his chair. “The ones that know me from when I was born are nice enough. There aren’t many of them left, but there are a handful of guards who have been there the whole time. They like me because I don’t complain, and they aren’t so awful to me.

“The new ones, the ones who only started working in the prison recently are... different. Some of them think I open my mouth too much, which is probably true, but one of the only ways to not go insane. Others think I’m funny, but most of the time they just leer at me. It’s nothing out of the ordinary and I can’t really complain. I don’t give them much of an opportunity to punish me or anything like that.”

“Spoiling you?  Well, I could give you quite the speal..I’m sure some Masters would argue that treating you too well will give you a big head.”  Rhys glanced over at the boy, amused by the wonder he was showing just looking out the window.  Pulling up to a fancy Italian restaurant, the car slowed to a stop, the Incubus looking over at the human. “Does this look like a good choice to you?”

As an Elder, Nox demanded respect of all who inhabited the city whether the be master, mistress or slave. He could be cruel and his wrath capable of tearing your soul in two without even drawing his claws but not without reason. The hound wasn’t one to abuse his power and when he bore witness to a slave who knew his place he could be gentle enough. Even rewarding when granted. But one should never take the acts that reflected kindness lightly. Like any other creature his mood could shift with the slightest of offense. Leading the way he made no stop to take the normal process of renting out a slave. And to no surprise there were no guard that saw him guiding the slave out the door that dared stop him. He would make a phone call to ensure they knew that…hmmm, had he yet to ask the slave his name? Knowing such had been earned thus far he figured. “What is your name?” Asked without slowing in his steps as he led the way out of the prison towards the place his motorcycle was parked. Throwing his leg over and assisting the slave to secure himself at the back. He pulled the frail arms around him kicked the bike to start. “Hold on as best you can.” Was the only warning he gave before he took off at top speed. Nox was a hound and he preferred his true form over this flesh suit. But since it was needed to assert his place as Elder he did tend to pick modes of transportation that would give him the same sense as running. He cut through the city streets without regard of limits to speed or those who stood in his way. Cutting around other vehicles dangerously but controlled and only slowly once he reached the gates to Crowned Point. Continuing up the path he came to a stop at the den he chose to call home. It had a different appeal than some of the other mansions surrounding them. But the hound preferred a more subtle dwelling than some of the fleshier neighbors.

Nox eyed the slave, ready to scold him for stopping in his task. Even if a question has been asked there was no reason he could not speak and work at the same. However before his lips could part the boy corrected himself. It was for that the hound offered a silent praise. Seeing how the place of a slave was truly etched into the boy’s design as this was the very life he was bred in. For a moment he stood as still as stone as he listened to the answer he requested. His ears sharp to listen to the words as well as detect the feeling behind them as his nose took in the note of air from the boy. There was a sense of happiness from this thing of fantasy he painted. And for that Nox felt almost sad for the boy. Not every master was as kind to their slaves as one would hope. So being taken from the cages of the prison to the lion’s den of a cruel master might not be as wonderful as the human pictured it. For claiming was never the call of the slave so he would have no choice with who he belonged to in the end. “I applaud your point of noticing you are still required to serve the one who takes claim of you. And that it is not freedom you receive but a reward for acting as you are expected.” From what he saw thus far the childish outburst aside the slave was an example for others. Nox wished there were more that followed his behavior. He offered nothing more on the subject and just stood back while he waited for the slave to finish. Once done he inspected the room, pleased of the job. Even though he knew it would only be strained again soon enough. “Well done, child. And as a reward for your efforts I shall see you find that peace you cried out for. Come…you are with me for the night.”

Nox could almost hear the unsettling of the slave’s stomach from the sight and stench of the room. While it may have smelled like roses to the hellhound, some might not find it as pleasing to the nose as for a human. “Careful. I would hate for the sight of your task to cause you to fall sick on the floor and have to clean that up as well.” He smirked. Giving the boy some room to work as he continued cleaning. Taking note to how he managed to get the blood out well enough thus far. For a moment as the slave replied Nox could feel an all too familiar scent meet his nose. That of anger as the slave retold his story laced with resent. “Your anger amuses me, little human…” Yet to offer the courtesy of learning the slave’s name. “…how you long for something you’ve never had instead of find comfort in the devil you know.” Nox often watched how slaves were so eager for freedom from the prison’s that they would throw themselves to the wolves. Literally. “Granted from my point of view I value the compensation for slaves whether they are rented, sold or returned so I have little care to what fate you subject yourselves to.” His steps bringing him just outside of the slave’s reach, kneeling with the fires of his eyes burning. “Still there are so many things I have yet to understand of your creatures. Even after all my years…tell me, what thing of dreams do you believe awaits you on the other side of being claimed?”

“Italian it is.”  The Incubus smirked at the human before moving around to the drivers seat, smiling a bit as the engine revved up for him.  The man did love his cars.  Looking over at the young man before pulling away, he chuckled.  “At this rate I’m gonna end up spoiling you.”

Afric was used to having company, he enjoyed people and conversation, though he’d been away for a while and hadn’t rented in a while, he usually started with dinner out, a public place meant that slaves weren’t as nervous, but Max seemed at ease and he couldn’t show him how to punch when they were sat at a table in a restaurant.

When he returned with food, he sat it down on the table and plated it for the human. He wanted the slave to feel at home, and yet he was a little surprised to see him drinking water. He would of thought he was sick of it, as it’s all that he’d get in the prison, but perhaps it was to stay healthy, and he wouldn’t argue with that.

“Thank you, are you sure you only want water?” he asked and smiled to the boy, and got him a knife and fork for them before he sat down. “Eat up, dinner never tastes as good cold.”

Max returned the smile and gave a small shrug of his shoulders. “I’ve never liked any of the juices or sodas that some masters have. I think they’re a little too sweet for my liking, or they taste so unnatural. I think that just comes from mostly only being able to drink water. And I’ve never had anything with alcohol in it before, so water seemed best.”

He sat at the table behind the plate that was set in front of him and smiled as he began to eat. It was delicious, and he was grateful for the opportunity to eat something that actually had flavor in it. 

Nox had a habit of being cruel when warranted. During the war he was the perfect weapon to be called upon as he had no remorse for the blood he shed or the souls he devoured. He was trained to only set his sight upon a target and not stop until his task was completed. So yes he had no care for most, human or other. But he was not a complete monster in the sense he did not punish those without cause or direction. In that the slave had nothing to fear as long as he acted as his place dictated. Not that Nox would voice any comfort or grant him ease in his presence. Absorbing the information with nothing more than a nod. Noting the human was born here meant he knew nothing of the world outside the town’s walls. It might be best for him since he knew not of what he was missing or was aware of what real freedom was like. Those slave were usually the easier to manage. “I enforce law like any other Elder. However I prefer a more hands on approach.” He pushed himself from the wall, circling the child to inspect his word. “If I feel that someone has not followed the rules of his station I decide what punishment his crime demands. Though I tend to only extend that towards the guards under my command and the slaves within these walls. Or a master or mistress that steps out of line while on these grounds.” If the walls of this room could talk they may never stop echo the screams of those he dragged here. A thought that brought an eerie smile to his face. “Have you ever been claimed? Or have these walls been your only home?”

As he waited for a response, Max found it easy enough to just get caught up in the cleaning. If he could ignore what it was (which would be far easier if not for the smell), then it was just like cleaning someone’s house. That was something he’d done before when he was much younger, before masters started preferring him on his knees for better reasons. He looked up only barely as Nox pushed away from the wall and started walking around him. He felt much like prey being circled by a predatory. He wished he could say it bothered him more than it did. Admittedly, he hadn’t realized that masters and mistresses got punished for doing things they weren’t supposed to as well. It made some sense, but he had never thought about it. To Max, they were the only ones getting punished, if they tried to escape, or if they got too mouthy with a mistress that liked them silent. At the question regarding his claim, he fought not to grit his teeth. It was a sore subject for him but he worked to keep the anger out of his voice, lest it be taken for insolence. He wasn’t sure he did a very good job. “No, sir. I’ve only been rented, not kept.” And he did resent that. 

The last victim to stand trial in his playroom had been a guard no less. One that abandoned his post to fuck one of the new arrivals without renting him properly. In doing so he left a window for a few slaves to get out of their cages and into the city. It wasn’t hard to track down the escapees and they were surely punished for their actions. But the weight of the fault fell to the one in charge of guarding them. Whether in chains or a position of authority everyone had their role to play. Nox did not have the time to track all incidents but the ones he was aware of knew not to let it happen again. “I will assume you can figure that much out for yourself.” He huffed. “Start your way with the thickest of blood here and then work accordingly. Just be quick about it.” The more he talked the more blase his tone became. Quick to temper but easily bored when his teeth weren’t in use. He moved to a corner of the room and folded his arms while he watched the boy work. Letting the silence thicken in the room until his boredom became too much to bare. “How long have you been here? It is good for you that I do not know your name but now that you have fallen in my way I have your scent at least.”

Max nodded and move a little further into the room, he found one spot on the floor that looked worse than the others and knelt down, wincing as some of the blood soaked through the knees of his pants. Luckily (although how could he really say that?) the blood was not yet completely dry and so it was easier to get off of the floor. That didn’t make it any less nerve wracking, especially not when he could feel the elder’s eyes on his back. He cleaned as quickly as he could, but didn’t want to risk missing any spots and end up getting his own punishment because of it. At the question, he nearly flinched before he realized what he was being asked. “I was born here, sir,” he said with a flat tone. “And I’ll be turning twenty one soon. So I’ve been here for over twenty years.” He didn’t want to know what it meant for him that the hellhound had his scent. It certainly couldn’t be anything good. He moved around the room and shifted slightly as he began to clean again so that he was facing the master this time. It made him nervous to have his back turned to the man. “So, you’re the one who gives out punishments?”

“My name is Nox and I am an Elder of this town.” He spoke with a tone a bit more leveled than before, sounding closer to human. “I do not announce my title to boast but to advice you of whose company you stand.” All slaves were expected to obey any master or mistress in their presence. But some slaves liked to test and bend that law a bit. He hoped this one would be smart enough to know that one that enforced the laws would not allow them to be bent. They continued down the hallway deeper and deeper into an unguarded section of the prison. As even the guards held fear for what lied at the end of this path. “You will find out soon enough.” Were the only words he would offer before they finally reached an unlocked door he opened and gave way for him to follow. The room was mid sized and housed with various means of restrains. And there were a few items stationed on the walls that would lead one to gather this was where punishments were served. This was where Nox brought those that needed to remember their place, slave or otherwise. And in the center of the room was the evidence of his last…disciplinary action. There were bits of flesh and heavy stains of blood caked on the floor and wall. “Forgive the mess I got a bit…carried away.” He smirked, raising a finger to a gather of supplies used to clean. “I was looking for a guard to attend to the mess but since you seemed to wish to be away from your cell I felt you might as well be of use.”

He nodded at the introduction but said nothing. He had already gotten in trouble in the first place for saying something stupid, he wasn’t about to open his mouth and give the master his name if he wasn’t asked for it. Max had been there for so long, he knew how to work around certain masters. Still, this felt like a situation he was unfamiliar with. The annoyance was similar, but he had never met this elder, and he wasn’t liking the impression he had made thus far. All he could do now was try and pull himself out of the situation he found himself in, to make use of the manners he had. When the door opened though, Max felt all the blood drain from his face. He prided himself on being good enough to never warrant more than a scolding, but for a moment, he feared for himself. Some of the items in the room looked like the could be rather pleasurable if put to good use, but he doubted whoever had been stuck in here before him was feeling any pleasure. When Nox made it clear that he wanted the space cleaned, Max felt better, but only by a little bit. He walked on shaking legs towards the cleaning supplies and knelt to pick up a bottle of something before looking back at the elder. “Yes, sir. What would you like me to start on?” he asked, his voice softer now. If he could get out of this unscathed, he would consider himself very lucky.

Afric smiled, amused and already able to see the slave holding back more gratitude, but he knew he was thankful for the gifts, the food that would soon be there and the training he was about to give him. He did it to make life easier for the human, getting something out of it would be a bonus but not one he expected.

The look on Max’s face was rather priceless, and Afric had forgotten what it was like to do magic in front of someone so unexpecting of it. He smirked a little bit, nodding “My brother’s rather in to fashion and clothing, it’s one of the first spells we learnt.” Thanks to Emrys, Afric learnt many useful things. “Hopefully the clothes will last a while.” he knew the prison didn’t just hand out new tshirts to the slaves so it may be awhile before Max wore anything fresh again.

He was about to offer a drink when the knock came at the door “I’ll get that, help yourself to a drink from the kitchen, and if I don’t have anything you like, I’ll get it for you.” Nothing was really a chore when you had the world at your fingertips. 

“I’m sure they will,” he said, glad to not be wearing the same grimy clothes he’d been wearing for a while. The knock on the door surprised him before he realized it was likely someone bringing the food he had ordered. He nodded at the directive and padded on bare feet to the kitchen, enjoying the cool tile. 

After opening a few cupboards just to find the glasses, he filled two up with water. He wasn’t sure what the master would want, but doubted it mattered very much if he had the ability to simply change it with a snap of his fingers. And Max wanted to be polite by filling a glass for him as well. He may have been directed not to say thank you, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be good and show his thanks in other ways.

He set the glasses on the counter and stood beside it, waiting for Afric to join him as he shifted from foot to foot. 

Nox did not come to the prisons too often, even though it was his duty to oversee the guards. Someone had to police the police, even in a place like this. So usually it was a good thing that he was not needed to step on these grounds because when he did someone was likely to be punished. He huffed at the boy’s ramblings and turned his attention from one end to the next. Taking notice at the fact he had cleared out the room so easily. Hellhounds weren’t the kind of ‘pets’ you stepped around lightly and an Elder one gave even more reason for distance. You never wanted Nox to have your scent for the wrong reasons. Once the slave realized his words had little value to calm the hound’s mood was when those hellfire eyes were upon him again. His gaze seemed to burn into the human’s soul before he moved to open the cage. “Come. I am in need of a pair of hands to aid me with a mess…” Once the doors were opened he warned of his lack of patience in case the slave found reason to hesitate out of fear. “…now!” He barked, waiting for the slave to come to his side. Securing the cage was locked behind them Nox led the way down the hall not offering much in the sense of chit chat. Leading the slave down a corridor he might be unfamiliar with and for good reason. Those that usually came down this hall did not return in one piece. “Do you know how I am, little human?”

Max trained his eyes on the ground in front of him out of deference to the master. He’s already managed to catch a stern tone, he didn’t want to make it any worse. When the man looked around, he wondered if that would be all, but of course he wouldn’t be so lucky. One of the few instances where he came close to breaking a rule, he got caught, and by a rather powerful supernatural at that. The request however, was an interesting one. He wasn’t at all certain how literal the master was about a mess. And how could he help with it. As soon as the doors were opened fully and the man made it clear that he wanted immediacy, Max scurried to follow him, not wanting to draw any more of his ire. He kept his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes narrows as they took a turn. He never had been brought down this way, and wondered dimly if it would lead to another exit out of the prison. “No sir,” he answered hastily. eyes darting around. There were no cells lining this hallway, which made him wary, no guards stood watch as far as he could see. “May I ask where we are going?”

Max was cute, and he was definitely good looking, but Afric didn’t like to push himself on anyone. “I’m not one to fuck on a first date, I’m old fashioned.” he said and smiled, though it wasn’t necessarily true, he did have sex on the first date on the odd occasion, as long as it felt like it was what both parties wanted.

“You don’t need to keep saying thank you, i know you appreciate it.” he gave a warm smile and watched the slave remove his shoes, smirking at the thought of his brother probably asking him to undress and shower before he took a seat.

“Then stand up.” he walked to the boy and smiled, his hand lifting as he imagined the boy in new clothes, and with a swirl of lights, Max was in new clothes.

How interesting. Somewhat unlike the other masters, but not in a bad way. It took some of the pressure off of Maxwell to be enticing, not that he didn’t aim for that most of the time anyways. And an interesting master was often better than a cruel master, so he didn’t much mind having been caught nearly in a fight by this one.

“Alright then,” he said, stopping himself from nearly thanking him for that as well. He placed his shoes off to the side, where they wouldn’t be in the way before standing as he was directed, watching the master curiously.

There were a couple of guards that were annoyed by the boy’s call that disturbed their chatter. One guard hissed and took steps towards the cage, ready to remind the boy of his place and to speak only when spoken too. However the group as a whole stopped in their tracks as something unseen by normal eyes stepped into view. Each straightening up at attention before returning to their posts. Along with a few other masters and mistress that suddenly felt the need to vacate the area. If the boy took notice he might see the paw prints that appeared in the dirt at the base of his cage. Just before Nox let the veil that cloaked his body from the eyes of those he wished to remain unseen. Slowly the hellhound started to materialize as if pieced from thin air. His shape much like that of demonic doberman composed of more shadows than flesh. His hellfire eyes stared at the pale human, snarling his fangs to warn him to step away from the bars. Again his form shifted giving way to the shape of man and flesh, though those burning eyes still remained. “If you wish for a more quieter setting I do have a hole in the ground I keep for slaves who deserve a bit of solitude. Though I can not promise I will remember to come reclaim you before you waste away, little human.”

Max had thought there was a chance that he had gotten away with such a rude remark, despite it being rather loud and during a time when there were other masters around. That was before he saw what looked like a rather large dog suddenly appear in front of him. He hadn’t seen it come from anywhere, but the look of it was enough for Max to know it wasn’t just some dog or even a familiar. If that hadn’t been enough, the eyes were a clear indicator. He had only seen another hellhound once before, and that had been last year. They didn’t get any hybrids down there, he didn’t think they even existed, and he hadn’t seen many hellhound masters, none that had come for him anyways. At the growl, Maxwell let go of the bars as if they had burned him and backed away so he was standing in the middle of his cell. When a man replaced the dog, he knew there was little point in feeling relief. “I meant no disrespect sir,” he said, his voice still tight. The drying slave had found it prudent to stop then but once more he felt no relief at this fact. “I certainly wasn’t saying it to you, or any of the masters in here, I just---” he cut himself off. He must have been more irritated than he’d originally thought to be babbling instead of just shutting up.