So Be It

Disgusting. The touch was disgusting. The gasp of that breath as his fingers roamed her body was like having thousands of insects crawling slowly across her skin. Disgusting. I'd rather die, he thought as he felt his body being invaded. Please kill me. Take me. He begged. You said you loved me, so take me. I'd rather die... get me out of here. She had lied. Perhaps, she could call what happened a blessing. Shots followed, her body lying on the ground, bleeding and finally freed from those unwanted touches. Her lips curved slightly – thank you, he wanted to say to his “savior”, but the black eyes he saw before his vision blurred looked…saddened, empty. It looks broken, he thought, and as if he had fallen asleep after so many nightmares, he was gone. He allowed himself to be freed from the hell he lived through. ... Sleepy, light, comfortable. There was just the touch of clean, warm sheets across her body. “You're finally awake, sir.” A sonically pleasant voice invaded his senses and like a real frightened cat, Niel rose quickly on the bed. The dirty attic and the disgusting bed where he was always abused were gone, the rodents that kept him company were not there. The sheets were light, the bed comfortable, and the decor reminded her of those beautiful decorations from period movies. "Shall I prepare your bath, my lord?" the man standing beside the bed insisted. The smiling, servile face almost made him ignore the fact that horns spiraled out of her forehead, as well as her feline eyes that seemed to be watching him intently. Niel knew enough to know that if this was an illusion, dream, or for some reason reality, this man would be a butler. "Of course," he replied in the most natural tone possible and different from what he'd expected, his voice not stumbling, hoarse or disturbed. I must be dreaming, he concluded, and the butler walked across the room toward what would be the bathroom. Minutes later, Niel was watching himself in the mirror in front of the bathtub. His hair was shorter and now took on a dark coloration, as if he had been bathed in the darkness of eternal night – the place of the blonde he was born with – his lips were small and pink like a doll's and the body before thin and full of cuts and bruises and bruises, he was now slightly defined, as if he'd been at the gym for a long time. It was still attractive, it was still delicate, there was still that sparkle and beauty there that so attracted unnecessary things, that had f****d him all his life, but now, he could see something else. His eyes were golden as living gold and his irises reminded her of a cat about to strike. Carefully, Niel allowed himself to step into the tub. The water was heated just right, caressing his skin. How long hadn't I been allowed to take a shower? He questioned himself with a forced smile, losing himself for a moment between the pleasant sensation and the discomfort of his memories. "Shall I prepare your clothes for the meeting you will have this afternoon with your father, sir?" The butler's husky voice brought him back to himself. There were more important things, he tried to remember. That wasn't his body anymore, that place, it wasn't the captivity they'd kept him in, and surely... if that wasn't some kind of bizarre dream, he'd ended up in another world. “It's not a dream, little prince,” a soft, gentle voice whispered in his ear and Niel felt a gentle touch down his spine. “So…” before he could complete his thought, Niel heard a low, low chuckle. “You cannot doubt a witch's love, little prince,” the voice purred. Ah! Niel smiled, she had heard him. "Yes, get my clothes ready," she said simply, letting the water soothe thoughts of him. "I thought that..." “That I had abandoned him? No, you are my little prince, but there was no way I could help you in that place” she said simply. "Does that mean you can now?" “No, that means you can help yourself now, little prince. In this world your word can be law. You can rule it, you can destroy it. I gave you a second chance, enjoy it.” Do not go! He wanted to ask, but as soon as his hand lifted toward the sensation and the voice, it broke into a short laugh. Memories invaded his mind like a whirlwind and Niel had to hold on to the tub to keep from sinking. ... flashback ... "What are you doing here, fox?" he growled at the redhead who had eyes like a pair of opals. "I don't think this is any of your business," the redhead returned with a crooked smile. "If you intend to try to conquer it again, I think it better to give up." The redhead snorted "I don't need to conquer anything, my dear. Everything comes naturally to me, that's the charm of a fox." "What does it all mean?" A young human with blond hair appeared, her blue eyes like ocean waves, but the red that took over her cheeks at the sight of Maalik made Niel shiver. “Lord Tempest, I have already asked you not to come to my house without asking my father's permission." "But…" He tried to justify himself, but received a sneer in response. “Don't repeat it, Lord Tempest."