Love in Chains (With KuroBear)

[Little Dream]

The sound of crying and sobbing awoke Echo and the boy blinked his eyes open, the familiar scenery that was the slave ring building coming into focus as the whitette blinked sleep from his eyes. At first he couldn't understand why some of the girls were crying but then it hit him: Auction Day. The small boy felt his heart drop into his stomach as the dread and fear coursed through him. This was the day he had been dreading, the day he spent his life being prepared for: the day he was going to be bought like a piece of cattle, sold to either a Feline or Serpentine. He didn't know which possibility scared him more: being sold to a heartless, unfeeling being or being sold to a scary, frightening being who would probably take great pleasure in his pain.

 

The boy curled up in a corner of his cage in his human form, the collar around his neck preventing him from shifting into his demi-form or animal form. He didn't know how much time had past but soon, much too soon for the boy's taste, the guards and slavers were grabbing Avian's out of cages and cleaning them up before shoving them out onto the stage were Feline's and Serpentine's would bid on the slave. Echo felt arms grab him and yank him from his cage roughly, the mute boy crying out softly in his throat, the only sounds he was able to produce seeing as his vocal cords were not properly formed when he was born.

 

He was shoved into a room where he was forced to endure the harsh scrubbing courtesy of the slavers own personal slaves. He was then dressed in white pants and he winced as his hair was brushed roughly. His grooming finished, a guard appeared and grabbed his arm and marched him to the stage where he was then practically tossed to the sharks. Echo stood there shivering at all those eyes looked at him like a juicy piece of meat being dangled in front of them.

 

He dimly heard the auctioneer start the bidding and he could only stare down at the stage, trembling as he awaited his fate.

[KuroBear]

Being the Prince of the Felines had it's duties to fulfill and in time, Haruto would become the true ruler of the kingdom like he knew he should, though even royalty like him got bored. He wanted a new toy and what better way to do that than to visit a slave auction? The prince was too proud to take off his crown in a place like this, although he knew there was no special treatment went it came to slaves, even the ones as crumby as those birds. Everyone there were feasting their eyes on the pitiful Avian slaves, of course they were all different in appearance, but to the prince, nothing here was worth a cent his money. His patience was running low on his new toy, but just as he was figuring he should go somewhere else, Haruto's red, yet cold, eyes caught something rather fetching.

 

It was a small boy with soft features, the look of fear well in his expression. Rubbing his chin while watching the Avian stand there, shaking from the shouting of buyers, the red head thought of how much prettier this prize would be with marks of his own. With soft looking white white hair like that, which was uncommon to any other avian the Feline had seen, Haruto knew this belonged to him. All the others looked like pure trash to him; absolutely nothing about them were as interesting as this one.

 

Others offered up their bids left and right; the price for this boy rising with each hand. All the noise was unnerving, but the prince had no doubt that any of these peasants had enough to win his toy, no matter what the price was. Haruto spoke in a booming voice, his sharp tone cutting through all the others, "210 million."

[Little Dream]

“Sold to Crown Prince Haruto!”

 

Echo jerked from his daze at the large sum of money that had been paid for him. His eyes wheeled over the crowd, trying to pick out who the Crown Prince was. It wasn't very hard to spot him; he was sitting up on the balcony reserved for the royals and he had an entourage of about ten men standing intimately by his side. Before Echo could examine him further he was jerked from the stage and taken to the holding room where the slaves were taken for their new masters to collect them. There was another slave waiting for him holding a collar. She took off Echo’s plain collar he wore and replaced it with the one she was holding. It was made from expensive leather and hanging from it was the prince’s personal seal. The women then left Echo alone in the room.

 

Echo nervously chewed on his bottom lip and stared with fear at the door. Would the prince be like all of his previous Master’s and bring him back once he finds the bird is mute? Echo cringed at all the thoughts of beatings filled his mind. A lot of his old owners had beat him quite heavily when they found out then the slavers beat him when he was brought back and they had to give their money back. The bird grew more and more nervous, hands fisting in the rough material of his pants as he waited.

[KuroBear]

The sound of the crowd of buyers cussing or sighing in defeat would have gotten the prince on his good side, although what really did it were those eyes looking right at him, even if it was for the moment. Haruto rose from his seat with a smug smile as the guards around him prepared to move; they followed him almost everywhere, which was somewhat annoying from being a kid and now, but if something happened, it was better to be one of them and not him for sure.

 

The Feline and the others made their way out of the balcony and were led behind the scenes to the collection room. Eager to see his new toy, Haruto didn't wait for anyone to hold the door for him to enter. His eyes caught sight of the slave, the young man that peaked the prince's interest from the moment he set foot on stage. He looked so soft, innocent, fragile, breakable... it almost seemed to perfect. Haruto's boots clicked on the flooring as he approached the Avian with a judging gleam in his eye; the slave had most certainly had been beat up. Blue and black tainted skin littered his body and yes it did make him seem less of worth, though that wasn't it. While keeping the stare, the cat crossed his arms and demanded with a single word, "Name."

[Little Dream]

Echo almost jumped out of his skin when the doors were thrown open. As the Prince stepped inside Echo was able to get a better look at him. He was tall, well taller than Echo which wasn’t surprising considering the Avian was tiny. He had a stock of red hair that looked like flame and he had blood red eyes. Echo shivered at the coldness he saw in their depths. Over-all his new Master was intimidating, especially when he stood there like that with his arms crossed.

 

Echo cringed at the demand. He hated how the slavers always failed to mention that he was mute. They hoped that if the possible buyers didn’t know about his flaw they wouldn’t bring him back when they eventually found out. So Echo always had to deal with informing his new Master. He gave the Prince a helpless look and gestured to his throat then shook his head, trying to mime somehow that he was mute. He trembled, fearing that once the Prince figured out what he was trying to say he would demand his money back. Echo could just imagine the beatings the slavers would give him because he lost them money again.

[KuroBear]

Haruto watched the boy's game of charades carefully, concluding that the flaw he suspected the Avian had was being unable to talk. With some thought, he figured that this wasn't much of a bad thing; the slave couldn't protest against him nor talk back. As much as the prince would have wanted to hear the voice of this pretty little thing, keeping it completely shut was probably better. He had always wished for people to be quiet, and here was an Avian of which that wish was fulfilled for, "Wonderful," he uttered with a grin as he approached closer, taking the boy's chin into his cold hands and forcing his head in all kinds of directions to further inspect, "Hm... Are you educated? No. Better question," letting go of the bird's chin and giving a small slap to his pale cheek, Haruto bore his eyes into his, "Can you at least write? Nod if it's a yes. Shake if it's a no."

 

It had never came into mind of how a fine slave like this wasn't already taken, but it was clear now. The mute aspect of the boy made Haruto feel like his new toy was even more special and worth just as much. Though some form of communication was preferred because the cat didn't like guessing games, especially with his temper being as short as this Avian, unfortunately, the answer yes to his question was a long shot considering this was a slave,

[Little Dream]

Echo could see it in the Prince’s when he finally got just what the Avian was trying to say. He cringed on the inside, bracing himself for the man to storm out and demand his money back, that he had no use for a speechless slave. However he was thrown off guard when instead the man simply grinned, stating that it was wonderful. Echo’s expression screamed confusion. He watched at the Feline stepped closer and took grasp of his chin, turning his head this way and that. He listened to the cat’s question before he nodded. The slavers had made him learn how to write in some hope that even though he couldn’t talk his owner’s would keep him because he knew some form of communication. However, as soon as they heard he was mute they didn’t care he knew how to write, some didn’t even wait long enough to hear that piece of information.

 

However, Echo’s handwriting still left much to be desired but at least it was readable. As well as making him learn how to write they also made him learn how to read, even going so far as assigning him a tutor to teach him all of this. They were clearly desperate and of course they were furious whenever Echo was brought back because it meant they had wasted that money on something that wasn’t even helping matters.

[KuroBear]

"Splendid..." What a good buy. This'll be a great toy; and Haruto couldn't wait to take him home, "Oh and would you look at that." Haruto held his seal that hung from the collar, "You're ready aren't you?" The Avian smelled clean enough, not perfectly, but still. He'd make sure to have a servant or two give him a proper was with only the best products. The cat loved the scent of lavender and would very much appreciate if his new property had it. Lavender reminded the prince of his childhood, Haruto usually never would dwell on the past, but the memory of playing in a large field of those purple flowers brought one of the only sources of comfort to the bitter prince. That place was long gone because of time, and the war, and the scent was the only thing left alive of it that could be recreated.

 

After tidying up the slave, the cat would redress him, putting something more appropriate on. As much as he liked seeing this Avian the way he was, Haruto would rather not share his toy- only he would see the boy in such a way, all to himself... Thinking of another question, the man held out his hand behind him and just said, "Pad. Pen." In less than five seconds, those objects were placed in his hand by one of his guards. He grabbed the slave's hands and put them in his palm, "Write your name." Haruto let him do so while he took a step back, those red eyes looking at the other while circling him slowly.

[Little Dream]

"You're ready aren't you?"

 

Echo felt that he wasn’t really asking him, more like making a statement so Echo did not give a reply. Echo felt like this was unreal. Never before had he meet someone who did not mind him being mute. It was a first to be sure. Echo blinked, brought out of his own musing as he heard the Prince say something. A few moments later he felt his hands grabbed and something placed in them. He blinked and looked down at the pad and pen blankly for a moment, wondering what he was supposed to do. His Master’s next words cleared up his confusion. He felt more than saw the cat circling him and it made him nervous, having those unsettling red eyes focused on him.

 

Echo did his best to put it to the back of his mind as his right hand gripped the pen the way his tutor had taught him. Slowly he began writing, being careful not to mess it up to where it was unreadable. As long as he went slowly it would be fine. Once he was done and he sure the other would be able to clearly read the word printed on the page he held the pad out to the Prince.

 

Echo The word said.

[KuroBear]

Haruto snatched the pad from him and read the poorly written name, saying it for himself, "Echo... Hm. Interesting, though you'll still be referred to as my slave, or whatever I see fit. Because you are mine now." Coming close to the Avian's ear, the Feline spoke in a gravely tone, "Everything from your feet to your head belongs to me." He smiles, "Because I paid for a good little slave, you had better be one. I won't even take you back if you don't, and if I get bored and don't want you anymore, I'll make you disappear. Because I said so."

 

Leaving it at that, the prince stood up again and coughed into his fist and glanced to the door, "When is that shitty Keeper going to come? I have things to do." Haruto sighed and looked down at the notepad once more with a knit in his brow. It looked like a child did this, though it was understandable at the very least, thank the gods. If 'Echo' was going to be living in the castle, then he was going to have to learn how to write like he lived in a castle, even if the boy was a slave. The prince would not settle for scribble writing at all; it hurt his eyes looking at the letters. Haruto knew how to write at such an early age, and with more than enough years in doing so, his handwriting was perfect. It had to be, otherwise the entire page, or entire scrolls would be tossed and done over again. The thought brought this very boy into his head. Echo was imperfect and because of his incapability, he was thrown away. Overlooking his slave once more, his smile turned into a frown; he wasn't that bad. The Avian was beautiful in Hauto's eyes, and shouldn't be tossed out just for that.

 

Wait. What was he thinking? Who the fuck cares about a stupid slave?