literature

The Master and the Slave

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Two young dragons trotted about their cavern as an older dragon watched them. He sighed as his children danced about, his deep blue scales seeming to glow slightly as he smiled. His mate lay beside him and nudged him affectionately, and he smiled to her. Suddenly, his children came running to him, stopping just in front of him and grinning broadly.
“Are you two ready for bed?” he chuckled.
“First tell us a story!” the younger of the two hatchlings giggled as she flopped down beside her father. Like her father, her scales were blue, but they shined with a reddish glow like her mother’s.
Alexander sighed. He turned to his mate with a playful smile, as if asking for her help. “Do I really have to?”
“You know they won’t rest until you do.” Salicia, his mate, chuckled.
“All right…” Alexander let out a sigh. He thought for a moment, and then smiled. “I think I have a story for you two.”
“Let’s hear it!” the oldest hatchling laughed. He settled close to his father and fell silent, a grin shining through his violet scales.
“Well…this story takes place in the little town your ol’ father came from.” Alexander began. “If I remember right, it happened a long time after I left. It’s about a young boy named Garret and a dragoness named Keaira.”
“Are you sure you want to tell them this story?” Salicia asked.
“It’s the only one I can think of, and you said they wouldn’t rest until they had a story.” Alexander grinned, his ivory fangs gleaming. Turning back to his children, he continued. “It started in a town called Blackridge…in the very same orphanage your ol’ man came from…”

Chapter One
There was a crack of thunder, and rain poured heavily upon the small village of Blackridge. A young boy sat gazing out of a window in the Athena Orphanage. The orphanage had been named for the old priestess that had founded it, and had grown smaller since her passing. More families had begun to take in the orphans, but the young boy was usually the last to even be considered for adoption. He had grown used to it, and spent most of his time by himself. His name was Garret, but only the current keepers of the orphanage knew it.
Basil Abbot, the old man that had taken charge of the orphanage, and his wife Seanna were both pleasant people and wished to see each of the children find good homes. The old man was beginning to notice that Garret was always ignored by those looking to adopt a child, and decided to try and help the poor boy find a home. Both he and his wife wanted to see him get a life better than that of an orphan, but neither could get very close to him. After one failed attempt to encourage Garret to try and stand out more, Basil decided to take matters into his own hands.
Basil had started to suggest Garret to families. He would tell them how well behaved Garret was, but his attempts went without any avail. That was until a local lord came into the orphanage and asked to adopt Garret. When Basil asked why he wanted Garret, the lord simply said that he wished to have a son, and that he wanted one as well behaved as Garret was. Basil didn’t argue, and Garret silently followed his new father to his home.
Garret’s new father turned out to be nothing like the gentleman he seemed. He told Garret to call him “Sir” or “Master” instead of “Father.” Garret was to do as he was told and nothing more. Garret, quiet for a twelve-year-old, simply accepted these rules and did as he was told. The lord had needed Garret in order to show that he had an heir to his fortune while another lord was visiting. Of course, once his rival had left Blackridge, the lord had no use for Garret. Returning an orphan was unheard of, and the lord had no desire to keep Garret. He needed another way to be rid of the boy.
Lord Bancroft was a very robust man with short, brown hair that was always slicked back. His brown eyes were kind, but he was not. Lord Bancroft was as greedy as any man could be, and he was twice as mean. As he conjured up a way to rid himself of his “son,” he stroked his trimmed beard and strummed the arms of his chair, which was more of a throne. He gave a sparkling grin as a plan came to mind.
“Garret!” Lord Bancroft called from his quarters. Within an instant, Garret came into sight, his short, blonde hair neatly combed, but a defeated look in his blue eyes.
“Yes sir…” Garret’s soft voice was a barely audible whisper.
The lord rose from his lavish chair and gave the best smile he could fake. “What do you say we go on a bit of a hike?”
“Okay…” Garret nodded. He was naturally submissive; something Basil had tried numerous times to change, so he gave no objection.
“We’re going to travel light…” Lord Bancroft continued. He put a hand to his chin and calmly stated. “We’ll only need supplies for one day. We’re heading through the forest and towards the valley, understand?”
“Yes sir.” Garret nodded. He kept his eyes lowered as the lord walked past him, then began, “Sir?”
“What is it?” Lord Bancroft turned and glared at Garret.
Garret quickly looked away and sighed, “Nothing…”
“Good.” Lord Bancroft turned away. As he walked into the next room, he called, “Ten minutes…”
Garret understood what he meant and quickly got prepared. He changed out of his red silk shirt and put on a brown tunic, then slid into tan-colored slacks and moccasins. He grabbed the small pouch he used to carry paper and pencil and tied it so that it rested on his back. He liked to take notes and make sketches of things he observed in nature and figured he’d find new and interesting things in the forest. He was at the door before Lord Bancroft, and the two headed out just as the sun was setting.
Garret smiled as he walked behind the lord in the forest. He had already spotted several new flowers and animals, and hoped they would stop soon so that he could record them. He got his wish as he and Lord Bancroft came into an area along the banks of a river. The lord sat upon a stump, looking somewhat like a god of the forest as he slowly scanned the horizon. Garret went off to the side and began to take a small board out from his pouch. He set his paper on it and instantly began to jot down his observations.
Lord Bancroft watched Garret write and sketch for almost twenty minutes before calling out to him in his booming voice. “Garret…I’m going to set up camp here. Go wash up downstream. You have twenty minutes.”
Garret rose to his feet, somewhat disappointed that he hadn’t finished his notes, but headed downstream without any complaint. Once Garret was out of sight, Lord Bancroft rose to his feet and began to head back towards Blackridge. As he approached the half-way point of the trail, he felt something behind him. He whirled around, but there was nothing there. He glared down the trail for a moment, and then turned back around. He came face-to-face with a sadistic grin and a woman’s voice.
“Farewell…” the voice gave a hiss of a laugh just before sword-like fangs closed around the lord.
*****
Garret shook water from his hair as he finished putting his clothes back on, then looked in the direction of the campsite. He thought he heard something, but shook it off, deciding it was an animal’s call. Night had already set, so he hurried back to the camp. He wasn’t sure how long his bath had taken, and he didn’t want to take any chances. Garret’s eyes widened as he came upon the camp to find that the lord was nowhere in sight. He saw the lord’s footprints leading away and began to follow them, but they came to a sudden stop along the trail.
Garret was in a panic. He began to call out for Lord Bancroft. He called out for Basil and his wife. He called out for anyone. The howling wind answered him, and the boy trudged over to a large boulder and sat down with a forlorn sigh. Tears poured silently from his eyes, and he trembled slightly. What was he to do alone in the forest? He wasn’t sure which way would lead back to Blackridge since he had been more focused on the forest life to keep a note of the trail. Garret leaned back and closed his eyes as the wind howled over him, then began to cry.
Not long after he began, Garret heard a soft voice above him. “Now, now…don’t cry little one.” a soft voice cooed. “You must be so afraid…lost in the wilderness with no one to help you.”
The voice was that of a woman, and it had an unnerving effect on Garret. He sat up and opened his eyes, but it wasn’t a woman that had spoken to him. Sitting in front of him was a large, blood red dragon. Its mouth dripped blood as it crunched on what seemed to be, much to Garret’s dismay, a human arm, and it eyed the boy hungrily. Each side of its head had six small horns; three on the back of the jaw and three that sat were ears would be, connected to one another with a thin membrane. The scales on its brows were like spines and curved backwards, pointing towards the two great horns that erupted from the back of its head. Two great wings rested against its side, a blade-like point adorned the tip of its tail, and spikes emerged from most of its joints.
It swallowed the arm in its jaws and grinned at Garret, its tail waving across the grass, then spoke to him. “What are you doing out here at such an hour?” its soft voice was like a woman’s, but it had a spitefulness within it.
“I…” Garret gulped. He stumbled backwards as the dragon licked its jaws. “I…”
“Come now…” the dragon smiled, “you don’t have to be afraid of me. I’ve already eaten, as you must know.”
“That…was a person…” Garret stammered.
“Bleh…” the dragon stuck its snake-like tongue out with a grimace. Garret’s eyes widened at the sight of one of Lord Bancroft’s rings as it hung from the tip of the tongue, but the dragon simply took it in its claws and examined it. “Not bad for something a human made. I guess that it’s appropriate treasure for a dragoness.”
“Dragoness?” Garret repeated the unfamiliar word.
“You’ve never heard of a female dragon?” the dragoness’ spiked brow raised. “You humans don’t know much, do you?”
Garret began to speak, but couldn’t find his voice. He felt as if there was a lump closing his throat. He took another step back, but he was blocked by the boulder behind him. The dragoness noticed that Garret’s fear had left him virtually paralyzed, and she gave a faint smile.
She stood and advanced, her smile warm and inviting, and came to a rest beside the small boy. She easily overshadowed him at over forty feet in length and standing a good thirty feet or more high. She lowered her head until it almost rested on Garret’s right shoulder, then whispered, “You couldn’t have come out here all alone, now could you? You came with that man…and he left you to wander through the woods. Who knows what could happen to you out here.”
Her voice had a soothing effect on Garret, and he sat back down on a smaller portion of the boulder. He gazed at the ground as he thought about being abandoned, and then gave a heavy sigh. “I don’t know why he even bothered to adopt me…I don’t think anyone has ever actually cared for me.”
“That can’t be true.” the dragoness gave a reassuring smile. “There must be someone who needs you around.” she continued, then waited to hear Garret’s answer.
“I don’t think anyone even knows I’m alive.” Garret shook his head. He didn’t notice the dragoness grin at his response, but he felt her paw come to rest lightly on his shoulder.
“Now, now, my dear boy, there’s someone who cares for you right here.” the dragoness gave warm smile. “I, for one, am glad that I found you. There are so many nasty things in this forest that would love to make a meal out of you.”
“I suppose…” Garret responded in a monotone voice. For some reason, the dragoness’ voice was keeping him calm. He turned to the crimson dragoness and smiled. “Thanks for trying to cheer me up, Miss…” he stopped, having never learned the dragoness’ name.
“You may call me Keaira.” she smiled sweetly.
“Keaira.” Garret repeated. “I’m Garret.”
“Tell me, Garret…” Keaira spoke in a low whisper, “does it ever hurt to think that people don’t care about you?”
Garret lowered his eyes at her question. “Yes…sometimes I wish I could disappear.”
“I can help you with that.” Keaira rose to her feet and smiled down at the miserable boy. “I can take you to Eternity if you wish.”
“Eternity?” Garret was puzzled.
“Oh yes…” Keaira chuckled, her smile broadening. “I can take you away from these heartless souls who have left you all alone. You’ll have a new home where no one will be able to hurt you again.”
“Can you really do that?” Keaira chuckled at Garret’s curiosity. He was willing to believe anything at this point.
Keaira walked around Garret until she had him between herself and the boulder, and then leaned close to him. “Let me bring you into Eternity, little one. You will no longer have pain, and there will be no more sorrow. You will have a home forever…in me.”
Garret’s eyes widened as he saw Eternity before him. The gate was bloodstained ivory, and it was slowly opening for him. “You want to…eat me?” he choked as his back pressed against the boulder. There was no way out.
“What other use could I possibly have for you?” Keaira gave a malicious cackle. She took a step forward and smiled. “I hope you taste better than that man. I don’t usually hunt children, but they usually taste divine.”
“Please don’t…” Garret managed to plead.
“You know begging never helps, don’t you?” Keaira chuckled cruelly. Her yellow eyes narrowed slightly as she took another step forward. “If you want, you can close your eyes. It might not do anything about the pain, but at least you won’t have to watch.”
“I…I don’t want to die.” Garret’s eyes were streaming tears.
“I can’t stand whining prey.” Keaira sighed as she glared down at Garret as he cried silently. She pressed the tip of her tail on Garret’s chin, drawing blood, and forced him to look her in the eyes. “It would be a shame to lose that look of fear in your eyes. I suppose there’s something else I could use you for.”
“You won’t kill me?” Garret winced as Keaira withdrew her blade of a tail.
“I suppose not…” Keaira smiled. “Of course…that’s only if you’re willing to come with me.”
“Okay…” Garret’s submissive nature answered without hesitation.
Keaira grinned at how quickly Garret answered. “Looks like you already know your place.” She turned away, and then glanced over her shoulder at Garret, “Keep up. That’s your only warning for now.”
Garret quickly fell into pace behind Keaira, eyeing her tail as its blade-like tip danced just in front of him. The blood red dragoness stopped at a large rock formation that was covered in vines, ferns, and stones. She pushed her way through and Garret followed, emerging into a spacious cavern that glistened with gems, jewelry, gold and silver trinkets, and beautiful fabrics. Amidst this sea of treasures was a luxurious, finely woven nest that was decorated with red and gold silk. While Garret admired the cavern, Keaira took the ring from Lord Bancroft and gingerly placed it amongst a group of gems that decorated the left wall.
“This is where you live?” Garret asked as he glanced from treasure to treasure.
“And it’s where you will be staying as well.” Keaira smiled once she was satisfied with the ring’s placement. After this she walked over to where Garret was standing and grinned. “Don’t cry…”
Garret gulped as she delicately took his left arm in her jaw. Keaira only needed to apply a short amount of pressure before Garret’s arm snapped in her jaws, and the boy let out a scream. An instant later he was holding his hand over his left eye while a mixture of blood and tears seeped from between his fingers. He kept his eyes down as Keaira stood over him, licking his blood from her lips.
“I told you not to cry.” she hissed. “You’re weak like any human, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get strong.”
Garret kept silent as his blood continued to drip from his face. He tried his best to stop his tears from flowing. He felt Keaira’s tail pressing under his chin and was forced to look her in the eyes.
“Move your hand.” She ordered. Garret did as he was told and Keaira smiled at the three gashes over his eye. “Consider this your first lesson; crying will only make things worse for you. I never told you to cry, did I?”
“No.” Garret tried to turn away from her eyes.
“Glad to see you understand.” Keaira smiled and let Garret fall back to the ground. She then gripped the boy’s shoulder with her jaws and carried him to the back wall of the cavern, where she kept chains. She fastened them around his wrists, ankles, waist, and neck, and then stepped back as if to admire her work.
“Could…” Garret began, but was cut off as Keaira’s vicious tail sliced his chest.
“While you are here, you will follow my rules.” Keaira said as she lapped Garret’s blood from the end of her tail. “From here on, you are mine in both body and soul. You are to address my either as ‘Mistress’ or ‘Master,’ and you are to do nothing without my permission. You are not a servant, but a lowly pet. A toy. You are to do exactly as you are told. Nothing more, and nothing less. Do more…and you will suffer. Do less…and you will suffer.
“You are forbidden to sleep unless I say so, and you will remain in those chains until you are properly disciplined. Understand?” Keaira finished, her yellow eyes gleaming viciously.
Garret wiped the blood from his face and nodded. The chains were long enough for him to move about, but their weight hindered his movements and they were wrapped tightly around his body. Garret heard Keaira as she walked to her nest and laid down to rest. He leaned against the cavern wall and sighed, his chains rattling with every breathe. He silently wiped the blood and tears from his face, then tried to focus on something other than pain.
He gazed at a large sapphire that had been set in the center of the cavern ceiling. His face and chest were on fire with pain, and his arm hung limp at his side. Every breath sent a surge of pain through his body, but he kept his tears away. He could still feel Keaira’s eyes watching him, waiting to see a stray tear go down his cheek. Once he managed to ignore the pain, Garret tried to sleep. There was a low growl, and he opened his eyes to see Keaira glaring down at him.
“I never said you could sleep, boy.” Keaira gave a slight smile as she growled. Her yellow eyes narrowed into slits, and she hissed as her tail slid under Garret‘s chin. “When your arm heals, I’ll try this again.”
“Yes…” Garret gave a hopeless sigh.
“Yes…what?” Keaira gave a wicked grin.
“Yes, Master…” Garret looked away.
Keaira put her head on Garret’s wounded shoulder and gave a light chuckle. “That’s my boy…” she purred. With an almost motherly tone, she asked, “Tired?”
Garret was taken aback by her tone, but managed to nod shakily. Keaira took a step back and smiled. She plucked a piece of fine cloth from amongst her treasures and gave it to Garret with a warm smile. He slowly wrapped it around himself, carefully weaving it between the chains on his body, then gazed up at Keaira.
“There…feeling better?” Keaira smiled. When Garret nodded, she went back to her nest. “Go ahead and get some sleep, Garret. It wouldn’t be fun if I made your first day the worst, now would it?”
“No…” Garret lowered his head. “Master…” he stammered as if he had trouble saying the word, “why did you act so kind earlier?”
Keaira, who now had her back to Garret, chuckled at his question. “Heh…to be honest with you, I don’t know. I never wanted a family, and I still don’t. Now I have you.” her tail flicked atop a pile of gold, and she stirred slightly. “You’re almost like a son to me. I don’t want a son, but I don’t want to get rid of you. So long as you’re with me, you are dragon.”
“As long as I’m with you…I am dragon…” Garret repeated, Keaira’s voice having an unnerving effect on him.
“I won’t kill you yet.” Keaira laughed. “Who knows…I might just set you free one day. Then again…maybe not.”
“It’s okay.” Garret pulled the cloth she had given him tighter around his body. “You said I was yours. I really shouldn’t have any say in what you decide to do with me. I will do exactly as I’m told…”
Keaira glanced over her shoulder at the boy, then grinned. “You’re smarter than most humans, Garret. I’ll give you that much, at least.”
That night, Garret slept in a pool of his own blood that had congealed beneath him and wore heavy chains that were as cold as ice. The cloth had soaked up a lot of the blood and was now stiff around his body. The cavern floor occasionally cut into his skin, and every now and then the pain from his left arm would wake him up. Keaira had no trouble sleeping, and Garret would wake up to see that she had rarely moved in her nest. He envied her, but remained quiet, slipping back into an uneasy sleep.
Teaser
The first chapter in my remake of an early story of mine. A little under seven full pages, and it covers the earlier chapter She said I was hers...
I don't know about posting more...after all, this will probably end up becoming sort of a short novel.
For a bit of history, the dragons in the beginning (the family) are Alexander, Salicia, and their son and daughter. They are from another novel that I plan to have after this one. Both of these "novels" will begin with Alexander entertaining his kids with stories. In this one, Alexander is just trying to entertain his kids before they go to sleep. In the other story, he is telling them of how his life went.

Enjoy...
© 2006 - 2024 Dragga
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jazz316's avatar
Hello i love the story if you need help with ideas for it ill help