Chapter 4

Crowds filled the throne room, each trying to talk over each other. They all wore dresses and suits of varying colors, ranging from pastels to vibrant colors. Woman worse intricately detailed masks and wearing a varying degree of flowers, while the men wore plainly fashioned masks. The walls varied between masks, flowers and candles. Flowers were also planted on tables, bringing many different scents. Twinkling chandeliers hung, spotting the room with soft lights.

"May I have your attention everyone!" The king called out, and waited for the crowd to calm down. He stood in front of his throne, a smaller and more delicate, empty throne stood next to it. The people's voices were shushed by others, first dwindling down to a murmur before the chatter went dead.

"First I would like to say good evening. I hope everyone is enjoying their time, so far." The king turned to his side, and smiled at his daughter and her husband. "Allow me to introduce me daughter, Heather, and her husband, Prince Aelas. This ball, shall be in celebration of their anniversary, as well as a celebration of our safety in the kingdom." The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Once the king sat down, the music began, and the crowd resumed their activities.

The doors opened, and Leo was able to sneak himself in. The prince turned around, and saw his servant staring in awe at the display. "Well, come on!" Calvin jumped, and followed Leo. They both hugged the walls as they squeezed past people. Eventually they reached the end, and Leo stumbled out of the mess. Once he spotted his sister, the biggest smile grew on his face and he ran to hug her.

"I've missed you so much!" He said as he wrapped his arms around her. Calvin, after standing awkwardly for a few seconds, decided to stand next to the king while the siblings caught up. They chatted and chatted about their newest letters, and the sister mentioned the Prince's plan, only to be immediately hushed.

"Well then, why don't you go dance with your husband? This is for you, you know," Leo said with a forced smile. Heather nodded, and Prince Aelas guided her down to the dancing area. Leo watched her for a second, before turning and standing next to his father.

"That was rather nice of you," The king mumbled, not bothering to look at his son.

"Glad to hear you saw one last kindness in me." The king glanced at Leo.

"Leo, I—"

"Joel! So nice to finally see you again! I was beginning to think you would never send out the invitations." A woman with red frizzy hair and a gold-lined black mask stepped up to the throne, not bothering to bow to the king.

"Miss Catherine!" The king could tell just by her voice. The stood up to greet each other. "And this is…?" A foot behind her was a man bowing his head down. When he looked up, he had on a simple, white bird mask on.

"Oh!" The woman seemed to have forgotten about the man behind her. She turned around. "Show them your face." Per request, the man lowered his head, and slid the mask off.

"Eli…?" Leo whispered. The man who looked up was greeted by a smiling king.

"Are you feeling better?" The king asked. Eli nodded once, and looked at Leo. The prince was first confused. How was he still alive? Then he realized. He's a healer. Finally, a flicker of a smile. Eli is still alive.

"I trade you." Leo looked directly at Miss Catherine. His eyes were wide, heart racing, breath shallow, and newly, palms sweating. He cannot let him get away again.

"And that's exactly what I came here for. What will you give me instead?"

In response, Leo shoved Calvin forward. "He's of no use to me anyways." Miss Catherine stepped up to inspect Leo's servant. She surrounded him, eyeing him up and down.

"He'll do, I suppose." Miss Catherine stepped down and turned to wait for new her servant. Calvin glanced at Leo. He nodded in approval, and Calvin followed his new mistress.

When they left, the king sat back in his chair. "That woman. Sometimes I—" Leo was staring he Eli. The Prince, surprised the deal worked, and Eli, not showing any emotions. He wasn't even looking at Leo, he was staring at the ground, arms loosing behind his back.

Inside, however, Eli was seething. The man who tried to kill him, standing right in front of him, bartered him back. Like he was some kind of slave, like he wasn't even human. He still hasn't completely healed from his almost death. From the top of his eyelids he saw a body move closer. Feet came in to view, stopping right in front of him. Eli closed his eyes, and looked up. When he opened his eyes, all he saw was Leo staring at him, like he found his childhood toy. It disgusted Eli.

"Follow me." Leo went against the wall again, bowing and smiling to whomever recognized him.

When they reached the hallway, Leo pinned Eli against the wall. Eli closed his eyes, waiting for it, but nothing happened. When he peeked them opened again, Leo's face was mere inches away and staring. The Prince's eyes flickered between his eyes and his lips. Eli didn't know what to do, and the closeness felt rather uncomfortable to him.

Leo inched closer, causing Eli to hold his breath. Leo touched his lips softly, first just grazing them and sucking them gently. Eli eventually kissed back. He was hesitant at first, but this felt different from all of their other kisses. Leo took that an invitation, and picked up the pace. He was kissing harder, more passionate. Eli opened his lips, and moaned into his master's lips, squeezing his eyes shut. Leo pressed his body against hard against Eli, licking every inch of the inside of his mouth. Then he gave a last peck, and his lips drifted down to his neck. Once he started sucking and licking the skin, pleasure washed over Eli's entire body. The servant moaned louder this time, and Leo had to prop his knee in between his legs to keep Eli from sliding to the floor.

"I…" Eli panted, looking up at the ceiling. "Missed…you." Leo looked up. Those words were all it took to be dragged into the nearest empty room.

The empty room had a dusty table and some boxes and potato sacks in the corner. It was similar to the tower from before. Leo shoves some crates in front of the door and stripped off his shirt. When he turned to Eli, he was already down to his underwear, erection poking through the cloth, and sitting on the dusty table. Leo picked up where he left off. Eli was squirming with every lick and brush of the hand. He felt the warmth of Eli's body, the sweaty hands grasping his arms. He looked up, seeing Eli's open mouth, short gasps and loud moans of pleasure.

"Ah, there you two are." The king stood from his throne, looking glad to see something other than a dancing crowd. Leo walked up to his father, with Eli following close behind. The servant bowed to the king before proceeding to stand next to his master. "I wish to talk with you and your sister." The king started to leave, but when he turned around, Leo didn't follow.

"About what?" The king sighed, and walked back up to his son.

"It's about your mother" The king whispered. This time when he turned to leave, Leo was following. Down the hallway was a room set up. Leo could tell because two guards were standing watch.

"Master Leo!" Eli called out. Leo turned around to see Eli blocked off by the guards.

"Wherever I go, he comes with me." The guards let him pass. Inside, there was Heather and Aelas sitting at a table, the butler standing by the head of the table, and a select few guards around the room.

"So Heather, tell Leo what you told me." The king sat down at the head of the table, motioning for Leo and Eli to sit also. They obeyed.

"I told father your plan." She whispered.

"What?" Leo slammed his fist on the table, glaring at her. Prince Aelas looked at his brother-in-law, warning him.

"How can I stand back and watch you try to kill your own father?" Heather pleaded.

Leo stood up, pointing a finger at Heather. "He should know the consequence of getting rid of my mother!" Leo moved his pointed finger to his father.

"I did what was best for my kingdom at the time." The king took a shaky breath. "And now I must do it again." Leo faltered, and darted his eyes to his father.

"What? What do you mean?" Leo looked around, confused. He saw the guards were closer. The prince looked at his father again. The king nodded so someone, but before Leo could see who, a sharp pain stabbed him in the side. He cried out. When he looked, a small dagger was implanted on his side. Holding it, was Eli's hand.

"Why?" Leo whispered. Eli's lips moved, but he never heard the answer. Guards were surrounding him, and pinning him down. Spears and swords were constantly pointed at him. He didn't know what he was doing, hissing at people. Chaos was all around him. His vision got darker and darker until he could no longer see. He felt his body being dragged across the floor and slammed against stone. He could feel his body moving and acting against his will. Leo panicked, not know what was happening. Then he felt cold steel pierce through him. His voice screamed in pain. Was it actually his voice? Again, more steal pierced him, and he felt thick liquids poor out of him. Again and again, stabbed, until he could no longer feel anything.

Everything was cold and dark. He didn't know what to do, or where to go. How should he feel? Where was he? He could feel darkness enter him. It wrapped around him, embracing him. Corrupting him, and seeking into every pore on his body. It reached his heart, and squeezed it until he felt like he was about to burst. He wanted to call out, to someone, something. To stop it, but he couldn't. He almost gave up, but then warmth, and a burst of light opened his eyes.