Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Something About Him ❯ Pink Moon ( Chapter 12 )

Deangelised~~If you found the last chapters funny, your ought to love this one!

 

Here is a link to the subtitled trailer for the new AnK releases, available this month!! *Squee!*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJL8DfWJYK8#watch-main-are a

 

Have fun travelling, and be safe!

***************************************************************** *************

 

 

Chapter 12

Pink Moon

 

Jason hissed through gritted teeth as Mark lowered him into the ice water.

 

“Shh,” Mark soothed, “I know it hurts, but it's going to help you in the long run.”

 

“That fucking bastard!” Jason spat angrily, “How dare he humiliate me like that.”

 

“Well, Jason, it was you that made him switch the punishment.” Mark explained hesitantly.

 

Mark shrunk back as Jason glared at him, but nearly laughed as Jason's chattering teeth and shivering made him much less intimidating.

 

“Well the asshole didn't have to use his full strength…I may not be able to sit for a week.”

 

“I hate to tell you this, but Master was holding back a lot, Jason.”

 

Jason let out a low growl. “That's even more insulting!”

 

Mark let out a small laugh. “Nothing pleases you, does it?”

 

Jason pouted slightly as he felt his ass going numb. “No. Now help me out of here. I hate being cold.”

 

Mark was smiling amusedly as he helped Jason out of the bath, and wrapped a towel around him.

 

“So, if I may ask, why did you try to escape?”

 

“I…well…” Jason sighed deeply. “My sister is out there somewhere, and I know Katan..”

 

“Master.” Mark scolded.

 

“Right, whatever. I know he's trying to find her, but I can't just sit here. I need to be doing something to find her too. The waiting is killing me.”

 

“There is something you can do.” Jason raised his eyebrows at Mark, as he continued, “You can try to please Master Katan so he doesn't sell you before he finds her.”

 

Jason's eyes grew wide. “He wouldn't really do that, would he?”

 

Mark shrugged, “There's no gain for him to keep a slave who is disobedient, and even less for him to spend valuable resources looking for said slave's sister.”

 

Jason sighed as he ran his hand through his hair.

 

“You have to at least show him that you're trying.” Mark warned.

 

Jason nodded. “I know. I see your point.”

 

There were a few moments of silence as Mark picked out some clean clothes for Jason, making sure to select some relatively baggy pants.

 

“Will you help me?” Mark looked at Jason, shocked. “I mean, I'm not looking to be like you, but I could use a few pointers.”

 

Mark nodded. “Very well.”

 

They spent the rest of the afternoon with Mark teaching Jason the basics, and throwing in advice about Katan's personal likes and dislikes. The more Mark talked, the more Jason felt like he understood and knew his master.

 

He is not my master.

 

Mark made him sound like a saint, but Jason knew that wasn't true. Aside from the monster that Jason had already witnessed in Katan, he knew that there was no such thing as a good Vessel. One could be power crazed and still have integrity, but when push came to shove Jason was certain that a Vessel would always choose whatever option brought him the most gain.

 

Filthy, greedy, bastards, the whole lot of them. Jason thought cynically.

 

As the dinner hour approached, Jason found that he was actually eager to test out his newly acquired knowledge on Katan. He was also a tad nervous. He hadn't realized it until now but he sort of looked up to Mark. There was no doubt that as a slave he was superior. In addition to being older, and wiser, he'd also saved him from that beating, and he desperately wanted to not disappoint him.

 

Jason's nervousness, however, was replaced by disappointment when Estevan brought a tray to his room, and summoned only Mark for dinner.

 

Jason sat on the floor with his tray, looking out his window as he ate. He looked to the sky. It was a full Euphorian moon, the pink-red orb brought back so many memories for Jason.

 

It was under this same moon that he watched helplessly as his mother and father were ripped from their beds in the middle of the night. He remembered clearly the tears in his mother's eyes as Kara was pried from her embrace, and the sob in his father's voice as he asked Jason to promise to always take care of her.

 

”I Promise I'll take care of her.”

 

Those were the last words he ever spoke to his father. No teary goodbye, no final I love you's, because the second that promise left Jason's lips he ceased to be a child. He had someone who relied on him, and he had to be strong for her.

 

It had been nearly 6 months later before he finally told Kara that their parents weren't coming back. That they were dead. He had never told her why. She had somehow formed the belief that they were in a horrible accident while traveling to a neighboring country to care for the ill and the poor.

 

Jason had no idea where she'd gotten this notion, but he wasn't about to destroy her world by telling her that they were killed because they were traitors. That all their trips abroad to “help the poor” were to sell out their own country.

 

Jason lay his head against the window and let a single tear escape the corner of his eye. Thinking about his parents always caused him such conflict inside. On one hand, he loved them dearly. They were his whole world, and the kindest people he'd ever known. They were his heroes. On the other, he hated them for putting themselves and he and Kara at risk. For not being good citizens, and most of all he hated them for leaving. He hated them for placing this burden on him.

 

He loved Kara more than words could express. He would gladly die for her. But he was never given the choice. He was robbed of a childhood. He was robbed of a life. Caring for a child meant he'd never experience love and romance. He had no time for it. Kara would, though, he'd make sure of it. He'd make sure she was given all the things he was denied.

 

He turned his eyes back toward the moon. He wondered if Kara, wherever she was, had seen it. She was fascinated by the moon. She had been ever since she was very little. They used to lie on the ground and gaze up at it. They'd tell each other stories about why it was pink, even though they both knew the scientific explanations.

 

“Kara,” Jason said earnestly to the moon, “I'm going to make this work. I'll be right here waiting for you. Please be strong…please hurry back to me.”

 

Jason's heart sunk as he realized that once again he'd sacrifice a part of himself to keep a promise. He had quite literally sold his soul to the devil.

 

*****

 

The following day Jason woke and dressed, a new resolve present in his eyes. He was determined to find a way to please Katan so that he could stay and be reunited with his sister, but most of all he was resolved not to loose anymore of himself in the process.

 

He went through all the required motions at breakfast, not doing anymore than what was absolutely expected of him. He knew Katan didn't miss the edge to his requests, or the glare on his face even though he wasn't usually looking directly at Katan.

 

After breakfast Katan retired to his study to make a few calls, and then called Mark and Jason to him.

 

“Jason, in keeping with your training, today I plan to teach you how to sit.”

 

“I know how to sit, thank you.” Jason mumbled, recalling how badly his ass had hurt all through breakfast.

 

“Show slaves are expected to take certain stances when not in use.”

 

“Not in use? You make me sound like an electronic device.”

 

Katan ignored the smart ass remark.

 

“When I am not requiring your services and we are in public you are expected to hold yourself in a way that shows respect to me and my fellow vessels.”

 

Katan nodded at Mark, who immediately assumed the position at his side.

He dropped first to his knees, then lowered himself to sit back on his feet, folded his hands in his lap, and arched his neck beautifully, while staring at the floor.

 

Jason's breath caught slightly as he saw how beautiful Mark looked in that position. His face even looked reverent, like he was honored to be able to sit in that position, which was no doubt killing his neck, at his master's side.

 

”I will never be able to think like he does…” thought Jason, “I will never be able to have that servant attitude.”

 

Katan tapped Mark on the shoulder, dismissing him as he disappeared into the kitchen.

 

“Now, it's a very simple stance. I want you to try it.”

 

“I'm not doing anything to help you make me into your loyal dog.” Jason spat angrily. The very thought of doing that in front of a room full of others made his stomach lurch.

 

Mark returned from the kitchen, and stood behind Katan's chair. He was holding something in his hand. Jason's nose identified it before his eyes did.

 

chocolate

 

Mark was holding chocolate.

 

Mark bit a small piece off, and Jason watched him intently.

 

Mark was eating chocolate.

 

The very smell was so intoxicating it made Jason's mouth water.

 

He had had a soft spot for chocolate since he was very young, but Kara was violently allergic to it, so anytime he did manage to get them something sweet, it was never chocolate. He hadn't had chocolate since his parents died. The thought of tasting it consumed him.

 

Katan noticed Jason's intent stare, and looked back to see Mark eating a piece of chocolate. The stuff was usually too sweet for his own liking, but he always kept some in the house for the servants, and his guests.

 

“If you practice the stance, I will have Mark fetch you your very own piece of chocolate.” Katan coaxed.

 

He was bribing him now? Like he thought Jason would sell his dignity for a lousy piece of chocolate?

 

No, not a lousy piece, a deliciously scrumptious, tantalizingly fragrant, piece. His taste buds were sending silent commands to his brain to just do it.

 

Jason dropped to his knees, but hesitated from there. He couldn't do this. He couldn't perform this trick in exchange for a sweet. That would do nothing but prove to Katan he really was a dog.

 

But it smelled so good, and it had been so long…every fiber of him wanted nothing more than to jump up and take the chocolate from Mark.

 

Mark must have seen the conflict on his face, because he started making faces as if it was the finest food he'd ever tasted, and when he was down to just 2 bites, he waved it in front of him tauntingly. Katan, Of course, could not see this exchange, he did however, see Jason sit on his feet, wincing slightly at the pain in his ass, but never once taking his eyes from the chocolate.

 

No, Jason! Where's your dignity! Where's your pride? He can't treat you like this! Expecting you to obey his command in exchange for a treat! It's insulting! No matter how good the treat might be…

 

It was insulting, but as another waft of chocolate scent rushed past his nostrils, Jason's will was bent, as was his neck, into the graceful swan like pose.

 

He hated himself for it. But even more he hated the little thrill of excitement that rushed down his spine at Katan's praise.

 

“Excellent! That's beautiful! I knew you could do it.”

 

He hated himself, but his taste buds loved him as Mark stepped forward and handed him his treat. He raised it quickly to his mouth, before stopping when he heard Katan clear his throat expectantly.

 

“May I eat it?”

 

“Address me properly.”

 

“…Master.”

 

“Yes, you may.”

 

Jason bit into the candy slowly, savoring the taste, his mouth was singing. He thought he had never tasted any chocolate as good as this, and he found his little slice of heaven, even if he had traded his pride for it.