“Tonight’s lucky occupant is…” F made a big show of opening the envelope, although it was a foregone conclusion. “One! Get in.” He yanked open the cage door and pointed.
“I’m not sleeping in there,” Alex said, backing away. “I want to speak to A.”
F laughed. “These are A’s orders. Get in.” He grabbed Alex by the arm and shoved him towards the cage. Alex fought him, but F was stronger. He grasped Alex’s arm and grappled with him for a few seconds before forcibly shoving him inside.
“For that, you don’t get a pot to piss in,” F spat. He knelt down beside the cage, padlocked it, and pocketed the key. Then he stood up and surveyed the shocked room. “First place goes to Two. You get to use the bathroom first tomorrow; One goes last. This is an old house with old plumbing – who knows if there’ll be any hot water left by then.” He shot Alex a malicious glance, turned off the light, and left the room.
“Oh shit,” Five exclaimed when F had gone, hopping around the room in distress. “Man… that was bad. Oh shit.”
“We must all take a lesson from this unfortunate incident,” Three announced to the room, although he didn’t say what the lesson was. Four gave a dour grunt and got into bed.
Two crouched down beside the cage. “You okay, One?” he asked quietly.
“Oh yeah, I’m just peachy,” Alex muttered. He felt humiliated and wanted to slink away and lick his wounds, but instead he had to lie there all night in the cold. “Just leave me alone.” He buried his head in his arms and tried to block out the world.
He heard Two get up and return to his bed, and felt even worse for pushing him away. A few seconds later, there was a rustling sound by the mesh.
“Most of the blankets are too thick to push through, but I think this one might work,” Two said. Alex looked up to see him carefully weaving a thin blanket through the wire. “Give it a tug and see if you can pull it inside.”
It took some careful pulling, but eventually, Alex managed to drag the blanket into the cage.
“Sorry I can’t get a pillow in there,” Two said, sitting down on the floor beside the cage. “It’s going to be a rough night for you.”
“Compared to the place I lived before, it’s paradise,” Alex muttered. He’d had creature comforts aplenty at Vertex Tower, but he thought he’d trade them all for not being forced to be anyone’s whore. Also, despite all his threats, F hadn’t actuallyhit him yet, although clearly the stick wasn’t just for show. He managed to sit up with his head bent over, his back against the mesh walls. Two shunted over to sit behind him, back to back, which provided some welcome heat.
The other men had all retired to bed, but Two stayed, silently lending Alex warmth and companionship. He buried his head in his knees and wrapped the blanket around his body.
“What did you do to get sent here?” Alex asked after a long silence.
“Sent?” Two turned to look at him. “Iaskedto come.”
Alex moved so that he could see the outline of Two’s face. He had a very square head, his closely shorn hair and firm jawline making him look as if he’d been chiselled out of granite.
“Why?” Alex asked, bemused.
Two chuckled. “Belvedere is famous amongst indentured servants. It provides the most exclusive training in the country, increasing your value hugely – and your status when you return home. I begged to come here, and I was delighted when my houder finally agreed.” His face softened at the mention of his houder.
“Your houder? You like him?” Alex asked.
“Her – and yes, she’s the most wonderful woman in the world. I’d serve her for nothing if she set me free.”
“You’d rather live as a servant than a free man?” Alex tried to get his head around that.
“I enjoy service,” Two said, without shame or embarrassment. “The main reason I asked to do this course was so that I could be of even greater service to my houder. She deserves the best, and that’s what I want to be.” There was a reverential tone in his voice as he spoke about her.
“She must be very special,” Alex murmured.
“She is. She’s a wealthy businesswoman with a full life. She trusts me to take care of her house, meals, clothes, and allher day-to-day requirements, so she can worry about far bigger issues. I do everything for her.” He sounded almost dreamy.
“You love her.” It wasn’t a question; it was obvious.
“No, I worship her,” Two replied fiercely. “Oh, I can see what you’re thinking…” His lip curled in distaste. “It’s not that sort of love. I wouldn’t sully her with any thought of physical gratification. My love for her is pure.”
“And also, you’re homosexual,” Alex said drily. That much had been apparent on first meeting the man.
“Sex is for men and dogs. My mistress is above that.” Two leaned his head against the mesh. “How did you know?” he asked softly after a little silence.
“That you’re gay? It’s my superpower. Like being a servant is yours. I’m very good at sex.” Alex shrugged. “It’s kind of my thing – and my houder uses it to keep his guests entertained,” he added bitterly.
