บท 12: The Knight, The Queen of Swords

When Kaiser wakes up in his bed, the air around him is thick, laced with minacious and darkness, a black aura so strong and thick it causes Kaiser to cough, covering his mouth as his eyes continued to adjust from awakening. He slowly looks to his side, spotting a figure consumed in the darkness, their red eyes menacing and bright as they stare at Kaiser's trembled form, their lips curved into a smile that sends further shivers down Kaiser's muscled body.

"My M-Master?" Kaiser said, recognizing a familiar pair of ruby eyes and jet black hair. Kaiser reaches forward through the darkness, desiring to touch the sitting man in the darkness, but a sudden pale hand jolts out of the swirl of smoked venom, grabbing Kaiser's muscled arm and using their strength to push Kaiser's arm above his head, his other arm following, the figure running their hands up Kaiser's arms and using their vice grip to keep both of Kaiser's hands pinned above as Kaiser trembles under the figure's strength.

Kaiser gasp, turning his head as his green eyes widen in shock, his expression drawn in fear as the darkness becomes thicker, before it slowly dissipates, leaving a tall man with pale skin and long, jet black hair on top of Kaiser, looking down at him with a pair of amused red eyes and a thin, velveted smirk on his face.

"A handsome man, with a handsome body." The tall man said, a small smile on his lips. "I wonder what it'd feel like to torture you, hm?"

Kaiser gulps, shaking as he tries to break out of the man's grip, but he fails, his arms trembling further from exhaustion.

"Not so fast." The man sings. "I wouldn't move too much. I'm pretty strong, you know?"

"Please l-let me go." Kaiser said, "P-please, I-you're hurting me, sir-."

"Your voice is quite nice too, I like to hear it more when you're under me." The man smirks, pinning his nose at the crock of Kaiser's neck, sniffing his neck and drawing a long tongue until he reaches Kaiser's collar bone. "You smell sweet. I usually like more salty blood, but you smell rich. Like roses. I usually hate sweet blood, but yours may be inticing enough."

Kaiser trembles, turning his head and attempting to break his hands free as the man stretches his jaw, licking his red lips to take a bite out of Kaiser's neck, but another pale hand grips a chunk of hair from behind the man's head and pulls him backwards, causing the man's neck to snap back as he cranes his neck up to look at his perpetrator.

"Well hello, brother." The man said, smiling ever-so sweetly at Victor, who peers down at him, his expression bland, but his red eyes burn menacingly. "You've caught me. A real pity too."

"Why have you gone here, and not announce your arrival?" Victor said, glaring down at the man. "Have you no shame? Why are you bothering my servant?"

"Ah, is that what he is now?" The man said, smiling down at Kaiser, who's back is pressed against the bed rest, gripping his lose night shirt as he stares at the strange man with wary eyes. "I heard from my knight guard who handles my lovely play pen that my dear, little brother decided to use a dangerous toy as a servant. Is he lying?"

Victor looks away, avoiding the man's eerie smile before he sighs, dropping the man's head down sharply before he takes a step back.

"Your knight guard talks too much." Victor said. "But he is not lying."

"It appears so, don't worry! I've already replaced him. I never quite liked him. Fair too eager to serve me." The man said. "But, but I wonder what the king and queen will think, their youngest is so reckless enough to play with a revolt leader-?"

"What do you want, Koven?" Victor asked. "I don't have enough time in my day to waste upon such childish gibberish."

The man--Koven--smiles, his eyes lingering on Kaiser, his exposed hand, and back to Victor.

"How about a cup of tea and some snacks first!" Koven said, his voice jolly. "Then, shall we catch up, my dear brother?"

Victor sighs, grabbing Koven's arm and pulling him off the bed and away from Kaiser.

"Kaiser." Victor said, meeting eyes with the shaken man. "Take a minute, then please ready yourself and meet us in my study."

"Y-yes...My Master." Kaiser said, holding his hands against his chest, watching Victor drag Koven out of Kaiser's bedroom.

...

Kaiser delicately pours tea from Victor's cup before he turns to Koven, who smiles mysteriously as Kaiser gulps, smiling with a strained expression as Koven offers his tea cup to be filled.

"Excuse me, Your Highness." Kaiser said, nervously lifting up the steaming tea pot to pour the rich liquid in Koven's cup. Kaiser swallows, keeping his eyes down at Koven stares behind him, his eyes drawn to Kaiser's backside as he bends over to place the tea pot kindly on the silver cart moved to the side.

"Will you keep your eyes up, Koven?" Victor said, his voice laced with annoyance. "My face is here."

Koven snorts, laughing as he crosses his legs, his eyes moving as Kaiser stands up and strides over to Victor's side, standing a bit closer than usual.

"My apologizes." Koven said, his eyes landing on Kaiser, his eyes roaming down his body. "It appears as I like your servant's backside a bit too much. Marvelous choice for trousers, mind you."

Kaiser moves his green eyes to the floor, a startled flush reaching his cheeks and staining his ears. Victor flinches, his face emotionless as always, but he can't help but grip the corner of his desk, feeling the old wood crack under his strength.

"My Master." Kaiser said, eyeing Victor's shaking hand, watching the wood crack further under his strength. "Is something wrong? Is the tea I prepped not good enough?"

Victor sighs, forcing himself to let go on the corner of his desk and keep his eyes on an abandoned document on his desk, confused at why he suddenly feels so annoyed.

"The tea is satisfactory." Victor said, clearing his throat. "I am alright. There is nothing to worry over."

Victor raises his eyes, meeting eyes with a smiling Koven, who looks between himself and Kaiser, watching their exchange with glimmering eyes, as if he's up to something, Victor knows Koven is. He always is.

"Why did you make him your servant?" Koven suddenly asked, swirling the cup of tea in his hands, "And a contract? To make a blood oath with a criminal is even beyond you, Victor. What happened to your brain while I was gone?"

Victor takes a sip of his tea, softly resting the tea cup on a coster.

"Kaiser." Victor said, motioning to the door with his head. "Please give me and Koven a few minutes."

Kaiser looks between the brothers, slowly nodding his head as he bows before he heads out the room, softly shutting the door behind him.

"You said you needed time to investigate on the rebel group further." Victor said. "Why not take advantage of the situation while you do so?"

"Meaning?" Koven asked. Victor shrugs, taking another sip of tea and gulping the liquid down.

"Leaving him in the dungeon would be pointless." Victor said. "I'm working to gain his trust. Mind you, he didn't even speak before I got to him. Imagine the intelligence I could achieve for you, simply by building trust. Then, I'll cancel the contract."

Koven raises an eyebrow, then he scoffs, letting out a lose laugh as he leans his temple on his closed fist, twisting his body to stare at Victor's emotionless face.

"Wow, who knew you were so cruel, yet captivating?" Koven said. "Give him everything, promise him relief, than as soon as I'm ready, I behead him? And I thought I was cruel."

Victor avoids Koven's eyes, clenching his fist under his desk, but saying nothing more.

"Fine, I'll let you play with your food," Koven said, "But the contract, why? Wouldn't that complicate things further, even if you can cancel it?"

"I offered it to him because his blood his rare." Victor said. "You and father can find food at any time, but sweet blood is quite a rarity. While he's alive, I might as well get what I can."

"I'll make sure to prepare blood bags of his blood before I kill him." Koven smiles, and Victor fights the urge to flinch. "Well, I understand. It must be quite pitiful drinking low life blood like pig's blood all the time. Imagine a constant source of food! Marvelous! I love feeding, so I'm glad my little brother can truly entertain it."

Victor clears his throat, nodding his head as he sips his tea.

"One more thing," Victor said, "keep this out of father's ear for now. He needn't know of Kaiser-."

"Kaiser?" Koven asked. "Oh-interesing! You gave Venice a new name! What will you do if he asks to see him?"

"Just make an excuse for him not to." Victor said. "He may lack trust with you on a lot of things, but prisoners and war are things that he gives you control over. He'll buy it."

Koven looks up, his face complentating before he grins, nodding his head to agree.

"Sure, alright, my dear brother. He'll be coming in a day or so anyway, so I'll have an excuse prepared by then." Koven said. "But I do also have one more request."

Victor raises an eyebrow, beckoning Koven to speak.

"I like your new toys voice. Very smooth and rich. I think I understand now why he hid his face." Koven said, his voice chirpy and high, and it makes Victor both nervous and feeling sick. "Would it be too much to also have him call me Master? It's quite...kinky? I do believe I'll enjoy it quite a lot-."

"Get out." Victor said, slamming his hand on his desk, using his other hand to point to his office door. "Out. Now. Get out."