"Broken Shards"

[zauberdecke]

"In the dark
I need to taste the blood
Go on, draw another line
We can cross this time."
- Blindfold by Sleeping Wolf

---



[ Essek Thelyss: Shadowhand to the Dynasty.

One who reached further then the Luxon would allow, who would do absolutely anything for knowledge. Oh no, the man did not care for power, not really. He wanted to cast himself into the portal of knowing, he wanted to surrender himself to books and learning without having to deal with the mundanities of socio-politics that all of the Kryn engaged in. It was tedious and it filled him with sickness even as he plastered on an urbane smile for all and sundry to see.

Within the Dynasty, it was customary to take pets of the Empire; they were brought in across the border of Asarius, across the mountains and into the Dynasty. There were Dynasty born pets on the other side, both lost to the ravages of the other's civilization, generally never to be seen again.

Essek had never really had an interest to begin with when it came to pets; at the market he carefully avoided the slave blocks where those not of the Dynasty were paraded around. However, it had come to this-- it had come to his trading of the Beacon, and in return he recieved a Volstrucker to serve him. And yet, for all of that, Essek Thelyss had not thought he would receive a broken Volstrucker.

In fair trade, he and recieved a dossier on the man in question and had perused it with only a small semblance of annoyance while Trent Ikithon had assured him that a man like him could be rebuilt, the honeyed words of a silken snake which Essek recognized.

After all did not a predator recognize another predator? So now he held in his household a man whom had to be guarded carefully, though Essek was not cruel despite how he imagined Dynasty pets were treated, the cage that he had placed this Volstrucker named Bren within, well it was comfortable-- he'd seen pictures of Vergossen so he supposed it must be far better than that place. But he had not precisely interacted with him-- most of his unseen servants were given the walking of him, the care and maintenance of him.

Perhaps because he did not precisely know what to do with him, or what use he had for something broken. Though he arguably did not know what manner of broken the Volstrucker was, but after a week-- he decided perhaps it was time to summon him and see for himself; acertain what sort of work was cut out for him.

If this man was worth putting back together again.

So it was one evening, he had the Empire man summoned to his chambers. ]

Comments

[ausgebrannt]

[Bren's breath caught at the touch of those fingers, the promise of his Master's mark on his body. The man that he belonged to, body and soul and heart. But they belonged to each other now, and that was a miracle that he was still trying to truly take in as real.

He lifted his chin to allow the touch of that hand against his neck, all the trust in the world.

Those words, whispered like some seductive secret had him smiling.]

I could only be happy with you. You have my heart, ja? It can only beat if it is yours.

[zauberdecke]

Then tomorrow we will see about getting a collar properly placed on your neck, as well as my name tattooed though begs the more important question. Are you hungry or do you want to wait until breakfast? Being that you were ah-- well I can imagine your stomach is still attempting to sort itself out?

[ But if Caleb was hungry, he would have something summoned.

It was important that his pet, lover and mate was well taken care of. ]

I should also tell my Den that I am.. expecting.

[ausgebrannt]

I am not hungry. Tired, perhaps. Relieved to feel warm again.

[He did not think he ever would again after what had been done to him. And he was not inclined to do anything that took him more than an inch or two from Essek's arms for the rest of the evening.

He shifted to rest his head against Essek's shoulder.

When the other man spoke, he couldn't help but settle his hand against his mate's stomach.]

And see when the healer wishes to see you next. [Oh the fussing would now begin.]

[zauberdecke]

Ah, I see you are attempting to keep me responsible.

[ Essek said with a wry smile that Caleb could feel even if he couldn't see. But that was an agreeable request and he would do that for his Mate, because it was something asked with his well being inside. He pressed a kiss to the corner of those lips once again. ] Then you shall rest, I will eat a little something but in the morning I will make sure that you will eat. Also as tomorrow is a busy day, I will cancel all social events that I have, though we will go into the office.

[ There would be a lot and he had already made a mental checklist in his mind. ]

We have to find a place as well that will be suitable for our growing family-- since I am not staying here at the mercy of Adeen.

[ausgebrannt]

That is the plan, ja.

[Caleb agreed with a smile, a flash of amusement in blue eyes.] But I trust you to do what is right for our child regardless.

[He trusted Essek for everything and anything. He'd put his heart and life in the drow's hands, and he had not for once been sorry for doing so. Their unborn child was lucky, that they would come into this world as the child of Essek Thelyss. He could not imagine a more fiercely protective and supportive parent than his mate.

And he would teach them Zemnian lullabies and read them stories.]

We do. It will be good busy though. I am glad to get you away from him.

[zauberdecke]

[ As if Caleb wasn't going to be his own version of such a loving and doting parent, with the uttered warmth from those lips, Essek knew that the ginger Pet would be just as fiercely protective. ]

We will both do what is right for our child, I believe that fully.

[ They would safeguard this little pearl growing inside, safeguard this pearl like the treasured spell component that they were. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb nodded in full agreement. They would. They would both do what was right for their baby, for their family. And that thought, echoing silently in his mind and his heart, it had his eyes suddenly filling to the brim with tears and spilling over.

Sorry, Essek, this was one of the things that Caleb could not help but be overcome by. Family. With this man that he loved so much, that he wanted to spend his life with.

He lifted a hand to wipe at his eyes as if he could stop them from falling, but they were already on their way down his cheeks.]

We will. Both of us.

[zauberdecke]

[ And Essek smiled softly as he stroked his fingers through Caleb's hair, perfectly content in the moment to linger, for right now they had a pathway forward, a future even and he looked forward to that, to the sweetness of life with his Mate. Mate, he never knew that he could be capable of it, and yet here he was curled up with the man that he loved beyond all else. ]

Tell me what you want.. in our home-- our new one

[ He murmured this drowsily. ]

[ausgebrannt]

You. Safe and sound happy. Our child, loved and cared for. A warm fire in the hearth, books on the shelves. A soft bed to sleep in beside you.

[Caleb murmured the words quietly. They sounded like a dream, one that he could not believe seemed to actually be coming true. How could he though? This was not what he expected of his life after the evils he had done.

But there was no evil in this.

He could hear that drowsiness in his Master's voice and moved to wrap the drow up in his arms properly.]

[zauberdecke]

[ In a rare fit of vulnerability, Essek snuggled even deeper into the embrace of Caleb's arms, finding that his face fit perfectly into the crook of that neck and shoulder, that his leg arched perfectly against Caleb's leg as if they were but pieces of a puzzle that had been logging to match up.

It had been a long day, with many surprises and right now he was in his Mate's arms and there was a little flutter just underneath his abdomen like a pearl taking root. ]

Have you ever heard of the spell "Fortune's Favor"? It requires a Pearl to cast, I should teach you that spell.

[ A Pearl, he liked that name.. it was a very beautiful name. ]

[ausgebrannt]

[Caleb hummed softly, fingers stroking through Essek's hair now. The other man fit in his arms like the missing piece he had been searching for his entire life. It had been a long day. Gods help him, he'd died. But here he was alive and happier than he could remember being.

A quiet hum.]

I would like to learn it from you. I would like to learn anything you are willing to teach me. What does it do?

[zauberdecke]

It gives you the ability to see a minute or two in the future, it is being able to take the most favorable path and following it. A lesson in how the future diverges, I suppose you could say. [ He enjoyed talking about the intricacies of magic, of dunamancy in all of it's variances, the secrets of time and gravity that filtered around them at any given moment.

But Essek was not content with merely allowing them to be secrets-- he wanted to understand, to know. ]

I can teach you that spell-- I could teach you much more too.