Xan followed Prince Phox silently as they walked through the large corridors of the King's palace. He didn't even know the king's name, but he hated him with a passion.
Phox led him down Hallway after hallway, each one almost exactly like the other. Large dark doors were everywhere along with glass statues and paintings of previous kings and queens. The prince spoke as they walked.
"You will not speak unless you are spoken to. You will do whatever Phaulkin says without argument. You will not disobey him. If he says no dinner, you will get no dinner. If he says no rest, you will get no rest. If his says that you are to be punished, you will be punished. You will do whatever I tell you to if he doesn't decide on anything. Anything he says, I can reject. My word is always above his. Got everything?"
"Bite me," Xan replied.
"If you continue to act like that, you'll be dead in a week. If Phaulkin gets sick of you, you will be executed, sold, or just sent to the servant quarters, where you will become a regular slave. Right now, you are one of the higher slaves, but remember, the higher you are, the further you fall. You will be treated the way Phaulkin wants to treat you. You are no longer a person, but a piece of Phaulkin's property. Do I make myself clear?"
"Oh, yes. I can see straight through you," Xan chuckled, purposely sounding evil.
Phox stopped in front of a door and opened it. He walked in with Xan on his heels.
The room was large. It had a large canopy bed with deep red curtains that stood out from everything. Large floor-to-ceiling windows allowed light in, but had curtains that matched the bed's curtains. The walls were a dark navy blue with dark green leaves painted to look like they are hanging from the ceiling, but didn't go lower than a foot bellow the ceiling. The said ceiling was painted the same navy as a base, but had painted leaves that covered the entire ceiling, like a forest.
A large cherry wood dresser sat next to the wall with a small gold crown resting on top of a black cloth. All of the wood in the room was cherry wood, the dresser, the bed, the closet doors, a bookcase filled with books, everything. The room itself was dark and somewhat brooding. It sent chills up Xan's spine. What kind of being could sleep in a place like this?
"This is Phaulkin's room. You will sleep in here with him unless he tells you otherwise. He is currently somewhere else, so you will wait in here until he returns. I will be sure to tell him you are here. Until then, don't touch anything. You may sit on the bed. Stay there."
And then Phox left him alone. He stood there, feeling very small in the vast room. He softly walked over to the bed and climbed in between the curtains. The dressings were soft and it felt like the mattress was filled with water. He sighed and let it envelope him in its warmth and comfort. He sighed and slowly drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Oh, baby brother," Phox said in a sing-song voice as he entered the training hall. Phaulkin sighed and put his sword in its sheath.
"What is it this time, Phox?" he asked.
While Phox had short, sun-kissed blond hair and a broad frame, Phaulkin was quite the opposite. He was thin, but muscular and had long dark blond hair that was tied into a ponytail at the back of his neck. He wore dark, simple cloths while Phox wore royal robes, which were fancy and extravagant. Also Phox's skin was deeply tanned, while Phaulkin was a stark white, like he never went outside.
"It's a gift, baby brother. I picked it out myself, so I know you'll love it."
"I'm scared," Phaulkin muttered as he walked across the polished wood floor and put his sword on its place in the glass-door black display case.
Phox pretended to be hurt, "You think I don't know what you want?"
"No one knows what I want, Phox, not even me. I don't think I want anything."
"Right, right. Whatever. Believe me, you want this. Now come see it!!"
"You are so childish, it's annoying."
"That's why you love me."
Phaulkin sighed and followed his brother. Phox had this odd habit in relishing in things that annoyed him. Phaulkin hated bugs, so he bought him a pet tarantula. Phaulkin hated light colors, so Phox bought him a yellow sweater and acted hurt when Phaulkin never wore it. Phaulkin didn't like to be around large groups of people, so Phox throw him a party that he wasn't able to get away from. That's the way it was, and the way it always would be.
When they got to Phaulkin's room, Phox pushed him in and grinned.
"It's on your bed."
Phaulkin rolled his eyes and walked over, gently pushing the curtains aside. There on his bed laid the most beautiful person he'd ever seen, sleeping and breathing shallowly.
"Who is he?" Phaulkin asked.
Phox grinned, "He's your knew slave. I bought him at the prison. Apparently he's one of those 'soldiers' of the Fayelian army. Pathetic, isn't it?"
Phaulkin ran his fingertips over the boy's cheek, causing him to stir slightly, "He's beautiful."
Phox snorted, "Wait until you see his eyes. They're the most amazing green I've ever seen."
Phaulkin sat down next to him. He was so perfect. Perfect skin, perfect hair, and perfect body. Everything was so. right.
"I'll just leave you two alone," Phox said with a smirk. He left and Phaulkin closed his eyes.
'Please let him like me,' he prayed silently, though he knew it would never happen. No one ever liked him. Not his father, not his brother, not his servants, not even Namarei, who liked everyone. He was doomed to be disliked and alone. Forever.