Rough hands shook Fetim, until he batted them away with a growl.

"Go AWAY, Malicar!" he shouted angrily. He rolled over and resettled himself for sleep.

"Get Up!" a firm voice insisted as the hands resumed shaking him.

Fetim rolled over, catching one of the hands as he moved. He twisted it away from himself, putting the arm attached to it in an uncomfortable position. "What is so important that you felt you had to interupt my sleep?"

Unbelievably, something wrapped around his throat and squeezed. He opened his eyes in dismay. He was going to kill Malicar.

Blue eyes framed by golden brown hair stared at him, cold and hard.

"I would suggest you let me go, Kasander, before I have to explain to Master Torment why you've been replaced." Tabris' voice was oddly soft.

Black dots began to swim before his eyes. Fetim quickly conceded the battle to Tabris and let the Page's arm go.

Instantly Tabris released him. He coughed his next couple of breaths before returning his attention to the man standing next to his cot.

Fetim corrected himself: men. Behind Tabris stood a tall, muscled man with dark hair and eyes.

"What? What do you want?" he asked, trying to resume control.

Tabris' blue eyes snapped with a cold fury that Fetim had rarely seen in them.

"Today is the first day of your punishment. Remember? You will replace Malicar as a page until he is up and ready to resume his duties."

Fetim closed his eyes in defeat. He did remember. Somehow the foolish servant had slipped and bumped his head. Because it had happened near his room, everyone was trying to blame the incident upon him. Perhaps he had pushed the boy a little when he'd come to deliver breakfast. It hadn't been that hard. It was hardly his fault the page was such a klutz that he hadn't caught himself and instead had run into the wall.

Something landing on the bed, forcing Fetim to open his eyes. It was a beige lump of cloth.

"Put it on. No one wishes to see your nakedness." The emphasis on no one did not go unnoticed by Fetim.

His eyes automatically turned to the far wall where a closed door broke up the wall’s white unadorned surface. The Master hadn't even gotten up to see him off.

Anger boiled under the surface of his skin. No one indeed.

He pulled the rough fabric on and stood. The rub of the material against his skin was oddly disquieting in its unfamiliarity. For two years he had wandered through life naked as a babe. Now that he had been given clothing, he wasn't sure he liked it.

"Now what?" he snapped.

Tabris' lips pressed into a firm line.

"You'll shut up. You are no longer a Key, Kasander. You will do as you’re told or you will be punished as a page would be. If you do not do your work, you will not be fed. If you fall behind, you will not be allowed to eat or rest until all of your duties are done. If you defy orders I will take away your few comforts."

Tabris eyed the cot before glancing at the hard marble floor beneath it and returning his gaze to Fetim's face.

"And if even one Master complains about anything that you do, you will spend every night of your punishment doing the work of women."

Fetim shuddered, but refused to lower his eyes from Tabris'.

"Now, this is Toyo. He is Malicar's mate. He is going to be your guide. You will do what he says, when he says it. He will be giving me reports on your behavior and your work. If he is displeased, I am displeased.

"Do you understand?"

Fetim nodded, refusing to say anything to the man before him.

"Then I will leave you two to it."

Tabris turned and stode out of the room.

Fetim gasped in surprise and pain as an enormous hand clamped around his upper arm and dragged him from the room and down the hall.

"You'd better listen, and listen well, worm. You will never be able to work long enough or hard enough to make up for what you've done. I suffered through Malicar's bruises and even the occassional bite mark without the power to do anything. I've listened to his long diatribes about your nasty personality and your inability to get along. And I don't give a rat's ass if he thinks this new Master has helped you to turn a new leaf. You fuck up even a little bit, and I'll make it so you never see the light of day again," Toyo hissed.

Fetim managed to free his arm from the larger man's powerful grip and shoved the page away from himself. "You're going to have to do better than that, you stupid little monkey. I don't get to see the light of day, anyway."

The larger man was suddenly in motion, and Fetim found himself pressed against the wall, Toyo's body crushing him. But the lack of breath quickly became the least of his worries as that powerful grip wrapped around his tender genitals.

He moaned in pain.

"How's this, worm? This impress you?"

"You're bluffing, Toyo. Keys are expensive, and for all Tabris' words, I'm still a Key."

Toyo laughed harshly. "Keys that are damaged beyond repair are replaced. It happens all the time." Toyo squeezed harder, and Fetim felt his legs give out beneath him. Only Toyo's body against his own kept him upright. "Nobody would even miss you. Not even that new Master of yours. Keys are like clothing. When they wear out we throw them away and get new ones. Guess what happens to the old ones, worm. Don't see them wandering the halls, do you? Come on, guess."

Fetim couldn't find the words to answer; the bright pain in his groin was all he could think about.

"Keys don't have value when they aren't Keys anymore. They can't do anything. They have no skills. They aren't even people. They're sheep. Sheep to be slaughtered, worm. You'd better remember that." Toyo's whisper hissed in Fetim's ear.

Suddenly the painful grip and body was gone. The cool floor rose up and pulled Fetim to it.

"Now get up, worm. It's time to deliver Umi and his Master's breakfast."

Fetim slowly rose and follwed his tormentor through the maze of halls that were his prison.

The tray filled with breakfast foods was heavier than it looked, heavier than Malicar had ever let on. By the time, they reached the Copper Key's suite, Fetim wanted nothing more than to drop it on the floor and return to his room. Only the hand at the nape of his neck kept him from doing so. Toyo seemed more than willing to keep his earlier promise.

After several failed attempts at opening the door, Toyo cursed under his breath and opened the large, copper-sheeted door.

Inside, a sight Fetim hadn't expected to see met his eyes. Lying at the foot of the massive bed covered in black silk sheets was the strangest Key Fetim had ever seen. It was a coppery red with butterscotch colored stripes from head to foot. Its face was covered by its short fingered hands. But the weirdest part was the boneless ball it had managed to wrap itself into.

As he stood watching, a hand twitched and a single cornflower blue eye opened. Dark khol outlined the pale orb. The Key rolled over and stretched, yawning widely, showing a row of wickedly sharp teeth before kneading the beddings with its hands.

Suddenly, Fetim was shoved out of his awe as the hand at his neck propelled him gracelessly to the copper-covered table.

"Get to work, worm. You're not here to stare," Toyo hissed under his breath. "If you say anything stupid to Umi, I'll shove my fist down your throat."

Fetim placed the tray on the table and pulled out of Toyo's grip. "Let go of me." Fetim pulled back the usage of stupid monkey just in time. He didn't think his still throbbing testicles could handle another attack this morning.

"Umi will need the sheets changed, and since he's up, now's the time," Toyo ordered.

Fetim dodged the backhand that Toyo sent his way and turned back to the bed and the strange Key upon it.

He watched as a pink tongue licked the inside of the coppery arm which was then lifted overhead and rubbed against a black tipped furry ear that stuck out of the Key's butterscotch colored hair.

It suddenly struck Fetim how much the Key's movements resembled that of a cat. The Key was a cat.

Suddenly the Key stopped its grooming and looked at him. Its tongue was still stuck out as if caught in mid-lick. Blue eyes seemed to look at him for the first time, then flickered to Toyo.

"Where's Malicar? Is he alright?" The Key asked as it flowed off the bed and started to cross the room.

Fetim realized with a shock that the Key might have fur and elongated pupils like a cat, but it walked like a man. Not only that, but Toyo had been correct. It was distinctly male.

Toyo answered. "He's fine, Umi. Just a little accident." For the first time since meeting him, Fetim saw Toyo smile.

Toyo's attention turned back to Fetim. "Get moving." Toyo pointed to the bed, and Fetim followed his order.

The Key watched their exchange of heated looks without comment before unloading the tray of its contents.

Fetim fought with the dark silk. He could only begin to guess what the Key and his Master had done to turn them into such a knotted mess. Finally he got the dirty linens off the bed. He wrapped them into a ball as he'd seen Malicar do a thousand times and dumped it unceremoniously next to the door. Then he looked around, a little lost. Malicar always brought the sheets with him. There were cabinets everywhere in this room. Far more than had ever adorned his own room. Fetim had no idea which cabinet might hold the sheets or if they were even in the room.

Before he could question Toyo, a door across the room opened and an older woman entered. She wore dark pants, her bodice revealed much of her chest, leaving very little of her cleavage to the imagination. Black boots that came over her knee clicked lightly on the warm wooden floor. Fetim was horrified. She was dressed as a man. It was unthinkable for a woman to display herself so, unless of course she wished to be owned by the men she exposed herself to.

He opened his mouth to belittle her for her whorish appearance when Umi interupted.

"My Mistress, the pages have brought you your morning meal." Umi was kneeling on both knees before her, his head down submissively. Even his tail lay down the back of his leg, unmovingly submissive to her.

The woman ran her fingers through Umi's long hair and smiled down at him. "Let's eat, and then we can play."

Umi nodded, then hopped up and ushered his Mistress to the table. Then in a move that Fetim had never considered doing, Umi crawled up into his Mistress' lap and began feeding her morsels of food, which she did in return for him.

A hand on his neck pulled Fetim from the foreign but erotic scene.

"You aren't finished," Toyo growled.

"I don't know where the sheets are, monkey boy! Perhaps if you did your job and told me where they were, I could finish," Fetim spat and struggled to remove the hand again.

Suddenly he was aware of two sets of eyes watching him and Toyo. Tabris' words ran through Fetim's head. The idea of sleeping on the hard floor did not appeal. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to smile. Old memories of smiling at dignitaries he didn't like slid through his mind. He bowed low, remembering teachings a lifetime and more old.

"Excuse us, Mistress. We are sorry for interupting your meal. We will not bother you again."

He rose, saw her nod her approval and removed the hand still on his neck, using the appendage to maneuver the larger man across the room.

"Now, you will tell me where the sheets are and we will leave here quickly. I have many things yet to do this day." Fetim quietly ordered Toyo. He was contented to see that while the other man was shocked at his change in disposition, he still obeyed the command.

As he left, carrying the heavy silver tray, Fetim glanced back at the Key and his Mistress as they finished their morning meal. It was strange to be in a room with a Master but not really be there. He had been less than a Key. He had been a shadow unworthy of anyone's notice. It was not a feeling he could remember ever having.

Toyo's voice interupted his thoughts.

"Lucky save, worm. You almost got the floor."

Fetim smiled smoothly at the brash young man next to him. "Not luck, monkey. Skill. It's called charm. You might consider getting some."

Toyo's growl was Fetim's only warning.

The day had not been Kasander's best. His feet, arms, back, neck and head hurt. He'd had a headache most of the day, and the urge to cry was almost overwhelming. Only the knowledge that it would give his tormentor the greatest delight to see him weep kept the tears at bay.

The doors to his own room came into view. Kasander glanced at the dark haired man that towered over him, then back at the unadorned doors of his temporary quarters down the long hall.

A strong hand grabbed his arm for the hundreth time that day. Pain shot through his arm and up into his shoulder as he was dragged from the center of the hall to the darker walls.

"Eager to return to your room, worm?" Toyo hissed

The voice whispered and Kasander turned his face away from the larger man, ignoring his question.

"Don't expect to get to visit it soon. When I tell Tabris how you behaved today, you'll be lucky if he doesn't have you washing dishes for the rest of your life."

"Please," Kasander began before rubbing a hand over his burning eyes, pushing the tears behind the pain and his pride once more.

Toyo laughed harshly. "Too little too late, worm."

Kasander glanced back at the plain white doors. He needed through them. He needed a sanctuary from the pain and fatigue. He needed an end to the burning pain of his tears and the headache that came from trying to control them. He wanted nothing more than to find a dark place, curl up and never move again.

He turned his attention back to Toyo's hate-filled gaze. The page was never going to give him the peace he needed. He would never be able to please him. His torment would never end. A blackness that Kasander knew he would never escape settled over him. He no longer cared what Tabris or Toyo did. He was going to return to his room.

With a jerk of his arm, he was out of the page's grasp. He ignored the sharp pain that lanced up his arm. He placed a quick blow with the flat of his hand to Toyo's breastbone. As the larger body moved out of his space, Kasander ran towards his sanctuary.

Kasander heard Toyo curse loudly and then the sounds of pursuit.

Kasander grabbed the door handle, using it to turn his body in an arc. His shoulder slammed against the heavy door.

"LET ME IN!" He rattled the handle, but it refused to turn. He was locked out of his own room. His Master had the key. "MASTER! IT'S KASANDER! PLEASE LET ME IN!"

Toyo was almost on him. He knew he was about to receive another beating.

"PLEASE, MASTER! I SWEAR I'LL BE GOOD! PLEASE MAKE HIM STOP!"

Toyo's body collided with Kasander's, pulling the handle from his grasp. He fell to the floor. With a kick he freed himself from Toyo's weight.

"Please! Let me in!" The tears Kasander had been fighting finally began to fall.

"Shut up!" Toyo growled as he advanced.

Kasander beat on the door with his hands as he kicked it with a free foot. "Master! It's Kas…" A sob tore itself free. "I'll be go-"

Suddenly the door jerked open. Kasander ran into the safety of the sterile white room and into the arms of his Master.

"I'll be good. I'll be good. Please let me in. I'll be good." Kasander was having a difficult time hearing over his own sobbing.

Slowly he became aware of strong arms holding him as fingers stroked through his hair. He was rocking slowly back and forth. Soft words flowed over him, soothing away the last of the fear.

Kasander relaxed into the familiar warmth of his Master and the last of his hiccupped sobs were spent into his Master's solid shoulder.

"Can you stand?" His Master asked.

Kasander blinked and realized that his Master was holding him in his arms.

Kasander nodded. His Master gently placed his feet to the floor and then held him until he was standing on his own.

Gentle hands lifted his face. Deep green eyes looked down at him intently.

"Are you all right?"

Kasander nodded and closed his eyes against the pity in his Master's eyes. Tears seeped out the corners.

He heard his Master sigh and he was released from the safety of his Master's hold.

He turned and found a tall figure standing behind him. Dark eyes stared at him. Anger burned deep within.

"No! You can't be here! This is my room! My Master let me in!" Kasander yelled at Toyo.

The anger burned brighter in the dark eyes. Images from earlier flickered through Kasander's mind. He quickly spun and ran, putting his Master's much larger girth between himself and the angry young man. He grabbed his Master's arms and placed his forehead in the middle of his Master's back, creating a shield for himself.

"Please don't make me go. Please. I'll be good," Kasander whispered to his Master.

"Would someone like to explain what is going on here?" His Master's voice broke his litany of promises.

"I don't know, Master Torment. I was returning Kasander to you, as was agreed, when he lost control, ran down the hall and started screaming to be let in." Toyo's voice was soft, perfectly modulated submission.

"Liar! You said I couldn't come back. You said you'd tell Tabris! You said he'd make me do-" The sobs were back. "You said I couldn't come back! You said-"

"Kasander!" His Master's voice cut through his hysteria.

Somehow, Kasander managed to keep from crying out as his Master grabbed his arm and led him from the room.

The door to his Master's room was closed and Kasander was left alone in the dimness.

How long he sat in the darkened room, he couldn't be sure. Slowly his tears receded and a fatigue deeper than he had ever experienced before settled into his body.

Kasander jerked awake as the door to the room clicked open. A shadowy hand appeared before him, backlit by the light through the door. Blurry eyed and heavy limbed he took the offered hand.

"Come out into the main room," his Master's soft voice commanded.

Kasander nodded and followed his Master.

Standing in the bright whiteness was Tabris.

Fear prickled along his insides and his stomach dropped. Nausea burned his throat. He glanced at his Master's solemn face before dropping his gaze to the floor. He could argue with Toyo. He might even be able to argue with his usual masters a little. Not that it had ever achieved him anything more than a severe beating. But he didn't have the strength to fight with these two men.

He sniffed, trying not to cry again. The headache that had dulled to a throb returned full force. He didn't want to be sent back out into the halls. He wanted to sleep, though eating was coming in a close second.

He waited in silence. The seconds ticked into long, unsettling minutes. Finally his curiosity overcame him and he dared to glance up at the two men in the room.

They were looking at one another. Tabris' hands were on his hips, his brow furrowed in concentration. His Master's arms were crossed over his chest. His eyes were narrowed, whether in anger or concentration Kasander couldn't be sure.

The longer he watched them through his lashes, the more it seemed like they were discussing something without words.

Suddenly both sets of eyes were upon him. He quickly returned his gaze to the white tile beneath his feet. His stomach rumbled loudly. He tried to ignore its complaint, while he burned under their gazes.

"If you need anything, please call for me." Tabris' voice finally broke the silence.

Kasander glanced at the man before him. He had never heard Tabris sound so very tired. Vague memories of playing in Tabris' enormous office filtered through his head. How many years had he scampered after him, and never heard him so weary? He wondered what could be bothering the Page. Tabris was always in control of everything. Nothing ever seemed to wear him down. Yet something had today. Had something bad happened that Kasander hadn't heard of yet?

Once when he was very young he remembered a Key who had comitted suicide. Tabris had gone to check on the young man. They had found him hanging from his chandelier, his sheets wrapped around his neck.

Not even after they had returned to their room, and Tabris had tried to explain that everything was okay, had he sounded like he did this evening.

"Oniichan?" Kasander asked. He moved to comfort the older man. To see if the shadows on the gentle face were caused by the light or something else.

He reached for the pale form. Pain lanced up his arm. Needles buried themselves in his shoulder. Instinctively, he pulled the arm to his chest and tried to ease the cramping that doubled him over.

Strong hands massaged the abused muscles until they finally released, allowing Kasander to relax. He looked up not into his Master's green eyes, but instead concerned blue ones. Dark crescents hung beneath them, giving a bruised look to the pale skin.

How many times had he seen this familiar face wearing this expression of worry? How many times had these arms and hands soothed away his tears after the nightmares came? How many nights had he been allowed to snuggle under the covers with this man even after he'd become a big boy with his own bed?

Kasander wondered how he could have forgotten these things. He hadn't thought of Tabris as anything more than an enemy for years now. But the pain in his oniichan's eyes was too evident for him to ignore the love of his childhood. Somewhere far away the voice bellowed, but Kasander was too weary to understand why he shouldn't trust Tabris as he always had.

"Kas, I'm sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I just wanted…" Tabris stopped and pulled Kasander to him.

"It's okay, Dabi." He used a nickname fifteen years old. Kasander wrapped his arms around the familiar body next to his own and began to rock, just as he remembered Tabris doing for him. "Sssh. I'm here." He brushed his hand over the silken gold strands of Tabris' hair, and fell into memories more than a decade old.

No. He wasn't going to put things in his mouth anymore. Not if they were going to get stuck in his neck.

"Shhh, Dabi. I'm here, and I'll never let you fall," Kassander promised as he held his favorite person in his arms and rocked him back and forth, just the way it was supposed to be.

The colors of torment screamed through Kukuluth’s body. The pale room was alive with it. But it was not an anguish he could live with. Tabris’ pain peeled away his skin, leaving him raw and wounded. Surely his sibling could see that Kasander had deserved his punishment. They had both agreed on what it was to be. They had even agreed upon the person Kasander would be placed with. Toyo wouldn’t take any nonsense from the Key that another page might.

However, they had not expected Kasander’s fear or the depth of his anguish. When asked about what had happened between them, Toyo’s words had been mostly hollow, and filled with only a little truth. He had tormented the Key. He had attacked both body and mind. He had done it on purpose in retaliation for his lover’s pain. He had done it with hate and malice. And it seemed not even Fetim could stand before these things when they were fueled by love.

But now his sibling’s heart broke with the weight of what was done. He could not seem to separate the disobediant slave from the child he once knew.

His pain is my fault. Not Toyo’s. I chose. I knew Toyo’s hate and I chose him anyway. There are many others. I could have chosen anyone. I let my anger guide me and now look at what I’ve done.

Kukuluth glanced at the man-child beside them and sighed. His brother’s pain was too deep, too real. Tabris could not hear him and when he tried to take his sibling’s pain, to syphon it off, Tabris refused to release it. Instead he held it close to him. Kukuluth watched in horror as it slowly poisoned his brother’s delight, and the very air around him boiled with it.

Pained blue eyes looked at him. In a matter of moments, Tabris had aged from a delightful young man to a man of indiscernable age. A man who felt the full weight of each of his thousand years. Each one hung on him unbearably heavy and Kukuluth knew that in that instant, his brother was reaching his breaking point.

This could not go on.

Before he could react, Kasander broke the horrible stillness around them. He reached for the golden haired man and comforted him in arms bound by pain and fatigue.

Kukuluth watched in a surprise induced trance as Kasander held the tall man to him and gently began to rock Tabris as one would a child. Crystaline tears ran down his brother’s face. Anguish pierced through Kukuluth, cutting him to the quick. Delight wept tears of torment, and the unending light that always shone from his sibling began to fade into darkness.

Without thought he moved to them. Unable to stop himself, Kukuluth wrapped his arms around them both before gently lifting Tabris’ face.

Kukuluth shook his head, denying his brother’s words.

He pressed his lips against Tabris’, and waited for the response his brother could not but give him. Slowly, Tabris opened his mouth, accepting his sibling’s invasion into him.

Kukuluth drew his brother’s tongue into his own mouth, even as he drew the darkness of the torment from his sibling’s mind and soul.

Tabris finally shuddered under his hand, and Kukuluth released him. He glanced down to the top of Kasander’s crimson head. It still rested against Tabris’ chest as he continued to hum an ancient lullibye. He seemed completely oblivious to being crushed between them.

While it was rather unusual for Kasander to devote so much thought and time on someone other than himself, all things were as they should be.

He released them both, silencing Tabris’ protests with a single thought.

"Kasander," Kukuluth spoke quietly.

Clear golden eyes looked at him in surprise, as if he was realizing for the first time that Kukuluth was in the room with him and Tabris.

"Tabris has had a very long day. Why don’t you prepare a bath for him?” Kukuluth suggested.

Kasander’s crimson head bobbed in agreement. With his fingers entwined with Tabris’ he lead the way to the sunken tub.

Kukuluth quickly ordered his supper from the young page that answered his summons and joined them across the room.

Kasander had began to run the water, and the scent of jasmine rose with the delicate steam. Aready the sweet flower had begun to work its magic, and the lines of tension across Tabris’ face had all but disappeared.

As Kasander tended the water, Kukuluth slipped his arms around his sibling, and pulled Tabris close. He inhaled the soft, alluring musk of his brother’s scent. Even now the flavors of torment clung to Tabris, but the horrible ache was gone.

Come, a bath will make us all feel better. He whispered into his brother’s mind as he tickled the soft hairs at the nape of Tabris’ neck.

Tabris nodded and pulled away, unable to free himself of his guilt and unwilling to give it to Kukuluth.

Kukuluth sighed and not for the first time questioned his destiny. He never should have come here believing he could find a reprieve from the torment. It followed him into all places. Not even a structure built from delight could be a haven for him. For now the very stones groaned with the weight of their maker’s anguish.

Tomorrow he would question his parent. Tomorrow he would ask for his first and only favor from his Father. Tomorrow, he would free his brother from his obligations to him. He would see delight upon his sibling’s face once again, if he had to die to do it.

But tonight, first tonight he must fix all the things that his curse had broken.

Gently he lifted his slave from his submissive kneeling position, and helped remove the ugly sackcloth that Kas had been hidden within. He noted the flares of pain that ran through their left shoulder and down their sides as Kasander lifted his arms for the tunic to be removed.

Tabris’ groan warned Kukuluth that something was very wrong. Black despair washed over him, blotting out the walls around him and turning his guts to fire. Somewhere from deep within a child wailed with loss. The faces of the dead swam before his eyes, their death masks grotesquely mocking. They moaned their names and their pain.

Before he could catch his breath and find what it was that had distressed his sibling so, bitter and acrid guilt trickled across his tongue, slowly building until he almost choked on the emotion. His stomach rolled, threatening to empty itself upon the hard packed earth of the Fields of Torment. Around him they screamed and writhed, forever trapped in the torments of their own making. They clawed at him, knowing him for what he was. They begged in the thunderous silence of the dead. They begged for release.

Hot sparks of self-loathing filled his lungs with each breath. And from the within that was without, his Father bellowed in a voice of distilled pain. It was a sound so terrible that the human within Kukuluth died, again struck down by the love of his parent.

Kukuluth blinked.

Once again before him stood the slight frame of his slave. He held in one hand the beige tunic he’d just helped remove. Tabris’ eyes were glued to something on the front of Kasander. Something that was killing his sibling.

With efficient hands he turned Kasander to face him. Kasander’s left shoulder hung at a strange angle, as if something within the joint was no longer where it was supposed to be. Dark bruises covered the Key’s stomach and sides. His eyes slid lower, to his slave’s crotch. With gentle fingers he carressed the enlarged and ugly colored sac.

Bright pain flared through his senses and Kasander’s cry of anguish cascaded over him.

Toyo had truly harmed his Key. A dislocated shoulder, bruised ribs and bruised testicles. Toyo was truly lucky he hadn’t killed Kasander. And Tabris knew it.

Kukuluth turned his black gaze upon his sibling. The golden light of delight had been tainted and only tiny flashes could be seen within Her child. Tabris’ arms were wrapped around himself as if he could find some kind of comfort within their embrace.

“Go get in the bath, little one. I will help, Tabris.” The harsh sounds of torment filled the space between them. Kasander’s look of puzzlement spoke volumes. His Master had not spoken a tongue Kasander could possibly know. For while the slave knew torment, he did not speak the language of the Tormented. He was, and always would be, a child of Delight. He tried again, hoping he could form the words of mortals with his brother’s need weighing so heavily upon him.

Kasander whimpered and fell to his knees at his second attempt.

“Get in the bath, Kas.” Tabris finally spoke, his eyes never leaving the little slave.

Kasander nodded and hurried into the warm water. He sat on the seat along the edge. A deep sigh of content escaped into the sweet-smelling steam, easing the edge within the anguish.

“I should go.” Tabris’ voice was soft and filled with unshed tears.

“He needs you still.”

Tabris shook his head in denial and the anguish once again sent blots of darkness into Kukuluth’s vision.

“I must fix his shoulder. His pain will be great. He will need you to ease it for him.”

Anger flashed in Tabris’ eyes. “I am not one of your priests! Do it yourself.”

Kukuluth absorbed the pain into himself, and lifted it up to his Father in offering.

“You know I cannot. I only know torment. That is my curse. I know you are suffering, for I suffer as well. But will you punish him for my deficiencies?”

Tabris’ head sank in response.

“I will help you,” he finally whispered.

Kukuluth nodded and with the same efficency that he used with Kasander, stripped his sibling from his tight leather. He could not help but think of past delights as he revealed his brother’s smooth, creamy skin. All too quickly there was no longer an excuse to touch his brother’s exquisite body. He rose from his crouched position and watched as Tabris slowly waded into the heated water of the bath, a little more of him disappearing from view until only his chest and head could be seen.

A demurely submissive page deposited their evening’s repast on the table and quickly left. But Tabris’ faint blush did not go unnoticed by his sibling.

Kukuluth smiled to himself. He’d been completely unaware that his brother had any such modesty left. Tabris was the keeper of the Keys. He’d seen and done it all. And there had been many witnesses to his activities. He helped to train the trainers as well as the Keys. He was a child of Delight. Yet he seemed to be embarrassed for being caught bathing with a Master and his Key. It was a small thing, but it thrilled Kukuluth nonetheless.

Quickly he stripped himself of his clothing and waded in after Kasander and Tabris. Kas had settled himself in Tabris’ lap. His crimson head leaned against Tabris’ shoulder, long red strands clung to his brother’s damp chest. Beneath the water, Kasander’s leg straddled Tabris’, leaving him open to touch. Just as Kukuluth had taught the little Key. He would have cheered this small victory if his brother didn’t seem so very upset by the youth’s sprawled position.

“Kasander, I need to work on your shoulder.”

Kasander’s lashes fluttered and golden eyes looked at him. Slowly he sat up and presented himself to his Master.

“Kas, it’s going to hurt,” he warned his slave in a low voice. “But Tabris is going to make it better.”

Kasander nodded and smiled. “He always does,” he said dreamily.

Tabris closed his eyes as a lone tear slid from the corner.

The shards of his brother’s pain pierced Kukuluth. He released it to the Gods.

Finally Tabris opened his eyes, and Kukuluth felt his brother brace himself for what must come next. He carefully placed an arm around Kasander’s stomach and one behind the injured shoulder.

As gently as he could Kukuluth lifted Kasander’s arm and with a shove slid the ball back into its socket.

As expected, Kasander screamed, but instead of torment, a sweet pleasure swelled in Kukuluth’s belly. Tabris’ answering shudder did not go unnoticed either.

Kas panted and writhed. His body twitched with the aftershocks of Tabris’ touch. Finally, he calmed enough in Tabris’ arms that Tabris could release him.

“We should do something about his testicles as well,” Tabris sighed.

Kukuluth shrugged. “There is nothing I can do. For me to touch it will only cause him more pain.”

Tabris glared at him with angry eyes. “If you would only quit hiding your gift behind your fear, you could heal him as well as I can. Perhaps better.”

Kukuluth simply continued to look at his brother, unperturbed by this anger. “I have tried. My touch is torment and death. I do not carry my Father’s gift to heal.”

Tabris grunted in disbelief and disgust. “We will discuss this later.” He glanced at the top of Kasander’s head before adding, “Sit on the edge of the bath, Kasander. Spread your legs so I can see the damage that Toyo has done to you.”

Tabris rose and turned to the injured Key.

Kukuluth smiled. His brother had walked to the edge, but was now once more in control. The path to healing was now before them.

“Stop your foolish grinning and hold him,” Tabris scolded as he checked the dark bruises on Kasander’s chest.

“I will not have the same effect,” Kukuluth reminded.

“That does not mean he will not react to me. Now sit like we were in the bath and hold his legs. I don’t wish to be kicked in the face.”

Kukuluth did as his disgruntled sibling ordered him, keeping his face neutral.

“Kasander. This may feel good. It may feel so good that it hurts. There is no shame in yelling or crying. There is no reason to be ashamed of anything your body does. Your Master will not be angry if you fight him and I will not be angry if you kick me. It is natural for you to react so to the delight. But know that we only do this because it is for the best.”

Kasander stared solemnly at Tabris, before slowly nodding. “I understand.”

Tabris glanced to Kukuluth, making sure he was ready, then he touched the swollen testicles, gently cradling them in his hand.

“Your hands are cold,” Kasander commented. “We just-” Whatever Kasander was going to say dissappeared behind and gasp of surprise. “Dabi, ohmigod!”

Kukuluth could see Kasander’s cock as it swelled to instant hardness. Suddenly he found himself with an armful of writhing Key. Throaty moans filled the room. Kasander thrashed and threw his head trying to find an end to the delight.

Tabris held the Key’s hips down with one hand as the other continued to cradle Kasander’s injured genitals.

“Dabi!” Kasander screamed as his first ejaculation hit him. The twitches that ran through Kasander’s body continued until they had become full bodied spasms.

Kasander screamed again as his second orgasm descended over him. This time he didn’t stop. The only pause in the shrill sound was as he took another breath.

Kukuluth held the rigid body that had now become trapped in an unending orgasm and for the first time that evening wept tears of anguish.

Finally, Tabris removed his hands. Slowly Kasander’s body relaxed. Tears ran unchecked down the youth’s face as he sobbed.

Kukuluth finally slid the lax body back into his brother’s waiting arms and joined them both in the water.

Tabris’ gaze was guarded.

“Delight can be a torment too,” he said quietly.

Kukuluth nuzzed his sibling’s neck.

“I know. And I am sorry.”

Tabris tipped his head back, giving himself over to his sibling’s questing hands and mouth. He took comfort from his brother’s touch. Glad that he was there.

They carefully washed the spent Key and talked about mindless things while they waited for him to awaken. Finally, blurry golden eyes peered at them.

Tabris drained the massive tub as Kukuluth carried the sleepy Key to the table and began to feed him the finger foods he had ordered. Tabris joined them, and was glad for the simple meal. For all of his brother's belief in his curse, it still amazed Tabris how easily Kukuluth knew the things to do to ease the suffering of those around him. He wouldn't have thought of the simple foods that could be so easily fed to another person. Yet his brother had instictively known it would be what they needed.

Tabris stared at his clothing that had been dumped unceremoniously in a pile. However it seemed his siblings thoughtfulness had a limit. Now he had to get himself back into the damp leather lying at his feet.

“Don’t be silly. Come to bed. Tomorrow you can worry about the wrinkles.”

His sibling held out his hand and Tabris found he couldn’t turn away from it. He took the outstretched fingers into his own and allowed himself to be drawn onto the silken crimson sheets.

They cradled Kasander between them and Tabris let the worries of the Palace fall away from him, content to sleep in the arms of his family.