Welcome to Gaia! ::

Leo had grown more and more quiet the closer they had gotten to Reta. He'd all but stopped talking by the time they had crossed the border. now he stood where he'd been so many months ago. Different and yet, the same. "i-I don't know if i can do this," he confessed softly, but the ring on his finger reminded him he wasn't alone. he was going to have to face that man again, but he wouldn't be on his knees, cowering and begging for mercy. he'd stand tall and face him like the proud prince he was...it all sounded good in his head, but he was still afraid. so very afraid. "Don't leave me, Elliot." he whispered as they stepped out of the carriage. he had to force his eyes up, wanting to drop them submissively and cower, but he didn't have that option now. "don't leave me."

Tsume's nose was killing him. "nor i. this is disgusting, how can people live like this? doesn't they all grow sick and die?" it would be better for the world if they did. he jumped down and stood behind Leo, giving the boy as much support as he could.

Lewis was shaking, clinging the the two in his carriage, but as soon as the doors opened, he stood straight and tall, his head held high. he knew it was because of Al's power, but right now he clung to that for all he was worth. "we can do this." he assured them all, smiling. "it'll be ok."

Istavia looked down at their guests with a cold smile, "this shall be our greatest of days, my dear. go to your rooms now, we don't want our guests finding you too soon do we. let them in." his servants ran to do as he said and show the guests to the grand hall where he would meet them.

Istavia lifted an eyebrow, smiling and bowing back, "It's Istavia actually." he nodded to the prince and ran his eyes over the gathered group. "Welcome to my home, Prime Minister Lewis. such a pleasure to see you again." his smile widened as he looked into the eyes of the only man he'd ever met with pink hair. "it's been several years, though. what a good twenty i do believe. your hair was much longer back then."

Lewis' eyes widened slightly, the night of his final escape returning. by the gods-this man...this man had been there that night. he forced the thoughts away and smiled, "Thank you for your hospitality, sir."

Good cover, Istavia inclined his head again and turned his eyes on the pair that interested him the most. "Crown Prince Elliot! So good to see you! and i see you've made good use of your present, though you must tell me how you managed to impregnate it. such a useful thing, to bread bentiens in this manner!" his eyes fell on his nephew and narrowed, "i heard tell of your traveling through my lands not so long ago. mayhaps it was in the borders of the lands beyond that you found this ability. i should go there myself."

Leo quaked under the man's gaze, his mind slipping back to that horrible night. he'd been drug to this room, thrown on the ground and stripped under that gaze.

Tsume stepped between Leo and the king, his lip raised in a snarl, "I think you would find those lands less than inviting."

Istavia laughed, "ah, you've got yourself a guard dog. very good, very good. come, i've a feast prepared in celebration of your arrival." he clapped his hands and servants opened the door to his dinning hall. "come, my friends. let us break bread together."

Istavia laughed, "i see, so you've taken the bentien as your fiance. how quaint. it seems that i gave it to the wrong prince." he lead the way into the dining room and sat himself down on the plush pillow at the head of the low dining table. "come, sit eat! even servants and dogs are welcome at my table tonight." food was being laid out from the moment he'd sat down, his servants well trained.

Lewis looked at Al and nodded before following the king into the dinning hall. though he sat near enough to not be rude, he made sure to keep his distance from the man. he didn't know what he might say and so he remained silent.

Tsume followed after Al and Lewis, sitting himself between Leo and the king. he wasn't letting the man anywhere near his prince.

Leo sat down with space for Elliot between himself and Tsume, wanting to be further away still. how was he to eat under this conditions? but then again-he'd eaten many, many meals like this, he could do it again

Istavia smiled as he started to eat, "A hare you say? most interesting, i should like to meet this hare. though isn't it dangerous to have a hare and a dog traveling together?"

Tsume smirked, "some people have self control." he was checking their food subtly through smell and found nothing wrong with it. he took a bite and found it to be rather good. "i'll have to thank your staff later, they certainly know how to cook."

Leo and Lewis were near mirrors of each other. their faces were molded into fake, blank smiles as they took small bites.

Istavia nodded, "they know their places, that is for sure." his gaze lingered over the servants, bentiens every single one, and he smiled. "everyone knows their place here at Reta. Nobles do not come here to my palace very often, apparently they are afraid of me. i've only killed one or two of them!" he laughed and signaled for his drink to be refilled. "ah, your rooms, yes. i have set aside an entire complex for your party. it shares a common room but you each have your own room and there are room set aside for the servants as well."

Istavia spent the rest of the meal chatting happily with the members of the party, though his eyes remained on the two that were silent. the glare of the woman amused him, how haughty of her. he'd love to have a night alone with her, she'dact like a proper servant when he was done. she was pretty too, which only made his desire to tame her all the stronger. when the desserts were being taken away he clapped his hands, signaling for the servants to take them to their rooms. "i'll see you tomorrow, my friends. for now, enjoy your night and rest well." he stood and left, dismissing the group.

Three bentiens bowed to the ground and lead them along the hallways to their quarters for their stay. they kept their eyes on the ground, their shoulders rounding in submission. if one of the party members made a sudden move, the bentiens would flinch, pausing for a second as if expecting a blow, but moving on quickly when none came. the opened the doors to the complex and knelt, bowing low until the last person had entered before following them inside.

"M-Master ordered that we attend to your needs this night," whispered the first of the bentiens, his hair in an intricate weave of braids. he was the head bentien of the three and therefore designated to the the speaker. "whom would the master wish us to spend the night with?" he spoke to the king, allowing the man to direct them as he saw fit

Tsume sneered at the bentiens, but only when he was sure they weren't looking. he'd made the mistake of moving a little too quickly when one was serving him and caused the poor boy to actually curl up, his arms covering his head as the trembled in fear. it had taken a soft touch and calming influence from Leo to calm the poor boy enough that he could continue on with his duties. he's practically ran away, huddling back with the other bentiens while waiting to be needed again. they made him on edge, way too nervous and fearful for his liking.

Lewis clutched at Al's sleeve when he looked at the three boys kneeling in front of them. he was going to be sick, he couldn't look at their huddled forms, fearful and awaiting a beating, without being reminded of when he was in their exact positions. "don't send them away," he whispered, hiding his face against Al's shoulder. "they'll be punished."

Leo had slipped his hand into Elliot's as they walked, feeling cold enough to shiver. his mind was blank, he didn't even register what he was seeing or what was going on around him. he just followed where he was lead

the three looked between themselves, unsure and scared. it could be a trap-or a trick. did they really dare to believe the masters did not desire to use them? other masters had stripped them and used them almost before the doors of the room had shut. "M-Master, we-"

Leo stepped forward, silencing the boy. he knelt and gently stroked the other's cheek, "It's ok, Maria. they mean it."

the boy's eyes widened as he recognized Leo, "Y-you are alive? we'd thought-it was believed you had been killed."

Leo shook his head and looked at the other two both staring at him in shock as well. "it's ok. you are safe here, Nana, Kate, it's ok. really, they won't hurt you, please, come and eat." he took Maria's hand and pulled the other up, leading him to the table. the other's followed and slowly, every so slowly, they took pieces of food and started to eat, looking at the people in the room as if expecting to be yelled at any second.

Leo returned to Elliot and smiled a little, "i'm ok. promise. it's just-just hard facing him again."

Tsume glanced over the boys and looked down, "we might look rough, but we're no threat to you. if anything we're a threat to your masters."

Lewis gave a weak smile at the group, "there, at least that's better. there's four bedroom doors out here. they can have one of them. then if they are asked they can say they slept in the master's rooms. they'll be punished if it's found out they slept in the servant quarters." at least they weren't cowering anymore.

Istavia was walking down a long set of stairs, lantern in hand. he was smiling as the sounds of the dungeons filled his ears. at the lowest level, in the most secure area, he unlocked a door that only he had a key to. the man inside whimpered and scrambled to hid in the corner, huddling into a corner as the light hit him. he walked into the room, his smile growing as the man began to tremble. "guess who came to visit us." he crouched down and looked into the man's eyes, "my sweet little nephew, brother. how about a big family reunion?" he laughed, the man looking up at the mention of his son. "don't worry, you're son will be joining you soon."

the trio on the couch had instantly become very, very still, their eyes locked on the prince as they held onto each other. had Lily lied? were they really in danger? they didn't know, but at least they had been allowed to eat some of the delicous food before they were hurt this time.

Tsume watched silently, frowning. he'd known that taking the gun was a bad idea. It was between Kashi and Elliot, but he'd be there for Kashi when it was all over.

Lewis moved to stand between Elliot and the bentiens, smiling gnetly at them as he knelt beside the boys and patted the closest one's knee. "the boy isn't going to hurt you. he's the one that freed Leo. you're safe, no one will hurt you. and that big red haired king is the one who saved me from the venatores. we are all your friends here."

Leo walked forward, frowning, "Elliot, stop that. you're frightening the poor boy." he put his hand on Elliot's arm, but when the man opened Kashi's jacket and he saw that black thing, Leo pulled away as if he'd been burned. "W-What is that thing doing here?" he backed away, his eyes on that bringer of death. "get it away, get it away!" his hands covered his ears, but the sounds of the guns firing were in his head, rendering the act useless. "No, no!" it was the last straw that broke the camel's back. he couldn't handle it, he couldn't be bear those things. "if-if they find it. if they get it....oh gods, their going to kill everyone. i don't want to! i can't go back, don't make me go back! you can't, no!" he ran, unable to stay in the same room as that thing. he slammed the door shut behind him, but he found himself in an all too familiar setting and screamed. he was in a bedroom, not just any bedroom, but one like the harems. no! no! he was free, he was free. he wasn't a slave anymore. "Elliot!"

they looked at the three men in wonder before one finally managed to gather up all of his courage and whisper, "Can you save us too?"

Lewis' heart broke, hearing the pleading words that would earn a whipping if heard by anyone else. "i-we," but Leo drew all of their attention and he was saved from answering, for now at least.

Leo clung to Elliot, sobbing, "i'm sorry. i'm sorry, i'll be good. don't make me, i'm sorry!" he pleaded, burying his head against Elliot's shoulder.

Tsume grabbed Kashi's arm and pulled him into the first room, looking it over. Kashi and Henry had been to work, it was obvious. the room looked like it had been altered, changed into a style it wasn't originally set up with. "did you guys take down all the drapes and s**t?" he asked, seeing the long clothes folded in a corner and their own traveling blankets over the bed. "that was a good idea, makes it look like less of a damned harem. let's go to the next room."