Before, it was lies and acting to make himself appear like the fun pleasure slave with no real worries who entertained with tricks, riddles, and stories when he wasn’t on his knees.
The act that had gotten him through his years before being a pleasure slave was already settling over him. When the men ate, they gave him dry bread on the floor and forced him to eat it like a dog. If they couldn’t fuck him, they could at least have a little amusement.
It was hardly humiliation after what had been done to him. He didn’t complain, and he didn’t ask again for anything to cover himself. When the cart stopped late in the night, he was hauled out. The cold wind bit his naked body before he was brought into the back entrance of the Castle.
The passage was empty, and he was brought into a room that was mostly bare and looked like it might have been used for storage at one point. A single lantern hung from a hook on the ceiling.
“Have fun.”
One of the men snatched a full coin purse from a dusty shelf, and they walked out. A lock clicked. Lumi squinted in puzzlement as he looked around. Why had he been left there? He thought he’d be taken right to the room, and he was supposed to know what to expect.
His ears burned and stung as they warmed, and the frigidness finally left his body as he leaned against the wall. His muscles remained sore, and all he wanted to do was sleep. He wouldn’t be permitted to rest yet, and it’d be uncomfortable to lie on the floor with his wrists cuffed behind him.
His wants didn't matter. He didn't matter since he hadn’t fulfilled his purpose yet.
Metal clanked, and a servant entered from a door on the opposite side. He didn’t waste time on pleasantries as he approached with a lead. “I don’t know why rich people and their sex toys have to play games like this. He’d said you’d be left in here and cuffed, so I’m supposed to take you up. Are you two pretending you’re a prisoner?”
Lumi had never seen anyone who worked there before. “Uh, yeah.” Any words involving truth were a bad idea, and the servant would likely end up dead before he could blab.
The man shook his head. “I almost wouldn’t mind being a pleasure slave for the pay alone, but nobody’s leading me around naked, that’s for sure. Come on.”
Like Lumi would be paid.
The man attached the lead and led him through the other door. “Normally, I help in the kitchen and lift heavy stuff for the ladies. I also unload the supply carts and stuff. My family is moving south and out of Iceland, so I’m going with them before the food prices eat what little we’ve got saved. I guess you’ll be all right here while you play love slave and get paid to spread your legs. I bet you’ve got a nice contract. Lucky you.”
He had a faint bitterness in his voice. Of course, royalty and their lackeys would do better for longer. If he only knew what had happened to Lumi and what was to come. Lucky didn’t describe it.
The passage went up through the Castle. The floor and steps were rough under Lumi's bare feet. It led to a blank stretch of wood. He knew it had to be a bookshelf and what must lie beyond, but he'd never known anything was behind it before. The chain had been too short to let him reach it. Once the man pushed it open, he saw a sliver of his past life. The one he’d never leave now unless he died.
“Behave or you might get a spanking,” the man whispered before he chuckled and shoved him through.
Lumi hit the floor, and the chains on his cuffs clanked as the shelf slid closed. The bed was in the same spot, and the shelves had the same books and useless, dusty knick-knacks. Of course, the bedroom was still the same size, so once he was chained up again, he wouldn’t be able to reach the shelves or anything he wasn’t permitted to have. Just like before. A coat was draped over a chair near the fireplace. The skylight was dark as it should be for that time of night.
Even the one who owned him was pretty much the same.
“There you are, Lumi.” He got up from another chair over by the windows beyond the bed. “Nobody saw you leaving, right? Nobody suspected anything?”
“No.” Lumi got to his knees and bowed his head.
“Are you sure nobody ever knew what you were doing?”
“I’m sure.” Lumi had been asked this before, and he lied now. To admit the Prince knew and tried to stop him would surely invite unimaginable pain that his heat wouldn’t help with.
Survival was his goal now, and he’d act as needed to ensure it even though he had no idea what he was surviving for. It was all pointless, but it was ground in and a part of him like everything else.
“You better be sure.” The man approached him, and Lumi’s breath hitched as he eyed the black boots.
His freedom was truly over. This was it. Never again would he feel Jaki’s hand on his face or look into those pink eyes. He’d never slink into his lap at dinner and try to connive his way into the Prince’s trousers. He’d never get his wish to run his hands through the white hair that was the same shade as his without the glamor shampoo. He'd never look at those white ears with the tufts on top or give the Prince another flower.
Another chance of freedom wouldn't be given, so he could forget feeling cared for even if it was only a tiny bit.
Then again, he'd never been free to begin with.
For a moment, the truth threatened to choke him. At least, he was positive Jaki would live. Nothing would take him out so quickly. Lumi had told himself so repeatedly on the ship until he was sure it was the truth.
Survive, survive, survive. There was never any choice except to endure. He kept his face placid when his chin was lifted, and he forced his tail to remain relaxed.
“You must have missed me.”
