Fate - 6
Laila bolts upright in bed, heart beating fast as she reacts to the anguished cry beyond the wall. She flees to the tiny bathroom and plunges her hands into the basin of cool water in a fruitless attempt to calm their trembling. She splashes water on her face and towels herself dry, moving slowly as an excuse to remain hidden away for a few precious seconds.
It's pointless she knows as she sets the damp towel aside and trudges back into her tiny room. The sounds are louder here and standing just a bit more to either the right or left will allow her a narrow view of the room beyond.
The room where her beloved master and his pet are being tormented.
She takes a deep, steadying breath before pressing her eye to the opening in the masonry, part of a pattern intended to allow light and air to circulate to the tiny servant area she currently occupies.
The sounds beyond have changed, growing quieter but more desperate. Laila knows what that means, but she looks anyway, unable to stop herself.
Azura's robes conceal most of what's happening in the large bed, but she catches glimpses of pale flesh between two shades of brown. The lighter is below, reaching up and around Florian's torso while Azura's darker body presses them both down into the disheveled bedding.
She doesn't have to see the details to know that Florian's pinned between them like a puppet, with no free will or control. He's the one making most of the noise, moans and soft keening that almost sounds like crying.
Azura is kinder tonight, or she mercifully missed the violence that usually precedes these activities. She'll find out soon enough - when Azura sends Ray back to the library to continue his work and leaves Florian for her to piece back together in time for Azura's next visit.
Azura silences Florian with a hand over his mouth as he finishes with the blond. Below them, Ray reaches completion with a long moan and goes limp. Azura shifts to the side and Laila quickly pulls back, afraid of being caught by that merciless blue eye.
She waits, curled up on the thin mattress, finally drifting back to sleep until voices wake her again. She risks a look and sees Ray, dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed, smoothing Florian's hair tenderly. Azura is gone and she watches as her master steals a moment with his pet.
"How are you?" Ray asks softly, his hand still caressing Florian's hair. There are fresh bruises on the pale face and Ray carefully avoids touching them.
"Don't worry about me," Florian answers. He reaches up to Ray, wincing at the movement.
"Don't." Ray catches his hand and kisses it. "Laila will be in to help. Let her take care of you." He leans down and kisses Florian sweetly before sitting upright again. "I'll finish today. I promise I'll get you out of here today."
Florian touches Ray's arm and gives him a weak smile. "Don't promise, Ray. Unless it's a promise to do whatever you must to keep yourself and Laila safe. He's not going to let me go with you."
"He will. He…"
"He already sent your men home, Ray. You have to take care of them, and Laila." Florian winces and shifts uncomfortably on the bed. "He wants you to think only of him. He won't let you keep me."
"We'll find a way. I am a famous thief after all."
"He'll break me if he has to. The opium…"
"Do whatever you must to avoid that." Ray grips Florian's shoulders tight enough to make Florian cry out. "Do anything to keep from being drugged. Opium steals men's minds." He pulls Florian up into a tight embrace, not caring that Florian cries out. "I'd rather give you up than have you lose yourself like that."
"I'll do what I can. But Ray…" Florian closes his eyes to hide his tears. He's said nothing to Ray about Azura's mid-afternoon visit and his taunts about selling Ray's Amethyst to a new master. Florian doesn't doubt it for a moment, he only hopes that his new master is kinder than Azura. Not that it really matters - Florian will savor his last precious moments with Ray, and with his life. His birthday is next week, he doesn't expect to reach it.
Florian catches Ray's sleeve as the younger man moves to stand. He offers him a smile as lovely as he can manage. "I love you."
It's the first time the words have been spoken and it changes something in Ray. Florian can see it happen, but he doesn't really understand it. He pulls himself up slowly and touches Ray's face, breathing his name.
Ray leans down again and holds Florian gently, pressing his lips to the older man's hair. "Florian."
A noise in the doorway interrupts them and they both flinch. Ray reluctantly moves towards the waiting servant, turning for one last look before he disappears from view.
Laila's chest aches as she watches Florian press his face into a pillow and weep.
XXXXX
"Leave us," Azura waves Laila away, not seeming to care that she's only dressed a few of Florian's wounds. Some of the day-old whip marks re-opened during the night's activities and she's been trying to clean them.
"Just go." Azura stops Laila as she begins to gather her basin and herbs. "You wont' be needing them. Return to your room."
Laila nods once, her eyes seeking out Florian's but the blond looks away quickly. She hurries to her little cell and presses her eye to the openwork to confirm her unhappy suspicions.
"Prepare him quickly, his new owner is waiting." Azura watches as his servants pull Florian to his feet, not caring that he's naked and drag him into the bathroom. Laila can hear water running and indistinct conversation. She steps back, afraid someone will notice that she's watching, but has to look again when she hears Florian cry out.
The servants drag Florian back into the room, dripping water everywhere. They towel him dry roughly and then rub oil into his skin, not caring that it hurts him. Azura watches impassively, waiting until a set of gauzy robes are draped over the anguished blond before motioning him forward. He takes up the opium pipe that another servant has prepared and forces it between Florian's lips. He holds it there while the blond takes the drug and goes limp.
Azura catches him, turning slightly to look directly at the wall where Laila watches, and smiles in a way that makes Laila tremble. He shakes the blond a little and forces him back to his feet. "Come, pet, it's time to meet your new master."
Azura gestures to yet another servant waiting at the door and after a few seconds a new person enters. Laila bites down hard on her lip to keep from crying out.
Sugar!
The detective nods to Azura, then smiles at the compliant blond. He holds out a familiar case and flips it open to reveal a familiar gold and amethyst necklace. Laila almost gasps at the recognition - it's the necklace Ray gave Solomon. But why…
"As agreed," Azura nods and motions for his servant to take the case. He pushes Florian forward and the blond stumbles a little as he is transferred into Solomon's arms. He blinks at the man but says nothing.
"Lovely," Solomon nods. He looks at Azura with a smile. "You won't mind if I… test the merchandise, will you?"
"Not if you don't mind an audience."
"If that is your pleasure," Solomon nods and looks at the servants. Azura waves them out, then settles into the only chair in the room - an overstuffed monstrosity that looks very out of place amid the Moroccan décor.
"Such a pretty pet," Solomon croons as he slides his hands down Florian's chest and under the robes. He frowns at the feel of lash marks.
"Nothing permanent," Azura assures him as he pours himself a drink from the pitcher on the nearby table.
"No matter," Solomon replies. "He's my dear black cat's treasure and I've stolen him away."
"So you have," Azura nods and glances in Laila's direction as Solomon presses Florian down onto the bed.
Laila curls up onto her mattress and presses her head against her knees, unable to watch any more. Every sound breaks her heart a little more and she thinks that it might not all be for her master's sake.
::end part 6 ::