He was in the process of trying to fish out some clothes that had managed to get halfway under the bed that he came across it. It was a small box, easily held in his hands, and not that heavy. Wrapped in bright red paper with little kittens playing in baskets of yarn, it had a small note in the corner saying, 'To: Learan.'

Learan gasped in delight, and with new tears forming in his eyes, he sat down next to the bed to open the box. He very carefully opened the paper, not wanting to rip it, and pulled the box out. It was a simple cardboard box and in a rush Learan opened the box. Inside was a book, the cover facing the bottom of the box. Learan stared at the book in wonder. He couldn't wait to see what Gerald had left him. He lifted it out and turned it over. The book was titled 24 Favorite One Act Plays and more tears formed in his eyes. Absentmindedly, Learan pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed as his face. With a happy sigh, he opened the book and started to read.

Learan gulped nervously and brushed at the tears in his eyes with the back of his hand. Today would be the first day of his training. Taking a deep breath, he walked into the room to meet his trainer. He took in the room with a bit of shock. He'd grown up in the Palace so none of this was new to him, just the thought that he'd be the one using any of it.

There were all sorts of paddles and whips on the wall to the left and the right wall had an array of bottles and towels and things Learan wasn't quite sure of. The back of the room had floor to ceiling mirrors. There was a bed to the back and a massage table as well as a bathtub of all things. Learan felt even more tears begin to pour out of his eyes at the sight of it all. He was terrified. Learan could feel the breath starting to become more ragged in his throat. His heart began to pound faster and faster and a small cry of despair escaped from him. He didn't really want to become a Key, but what the Palace said goes.

Then he noticed the worst part of the room; there was no one else in it. Learan began to panic, and he quickly pulled the paper they'd given him with his instructions on it out of his pocket. Yep, he had the right time and a quick look at the door confirmed that he had the right room. Yet, there was still no one in the room with him. What was he supposed to do?

With a whimper, he sat down on the floor and tucked his knees up under his chin. Learan let the tears come out full force. Somehow he'd managed to screw everything up on his first day of training. Now they'd throw him out and he'd have to try to find a way to live outside the Palace.

As Learan started to rock back and forth a door opened on the other side of the room and in walked Jacob. Suddenly the tears turned to those of relief instead of terror. Learan had known Jacob all of his life. He used to be Jacob's Page when Jacob had been the Silver Light Key, before he'd taken a position as a trainer. Jacob looked at Learan with a fond smile on his face and asked him if he was ready to begin. With a firm nod, and a swipe at his eyes, Learan stood up and crossed the room to join him.

Learan opened his eyes slowly. The sun was on his back and he was wonderfully warm. The smell of sex lingered in the air and he was draped across a hairy chest. He stretched as much as possible without disturbing his master and carefully untangled himself to go to the bathroom.

The previous night had been good. His master had been disturbed by the thought of sex slaves at first, but Learan had spent a good four hours getting him used to the idea. With a quick scrub of his face and a longer period of time spent untangling his hair, Learan went back to bed. He crawled in carefully and settled himself comfortably, half-spread over his master. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Learan felt an arm curl around his back. With a few tears in his eyes, he went back to sleep.

The day his parents died, Learan was playing in the backyard. The fire swept through the house faster than it took him to run across the backyard. Or at least that's how Learan remembers it. When he thinks on it he's sure that it must have taken longer, but in his mind the fire only takes a moment or two. Mr. Kirbing came for him next.

Learan's sure that something must have happened in-between the fire and Mr. Kirbing's arrival; the sky had turned from mid-day to well into the night. Learan doesn't remember what happened then, just that one second the house was on fire and the next Mr. Kirbing was taking Learan into Mr. Kirbing's car. They went to an apartment and Learan was told to sit on the couch while Mr. Kirbing talked on the phone. He was on the phone for a long time, but perhaps that's just how he remembers it, occasionally looking at Learan and smirking. When Mr. Kirbing got off the phone, Learan was taken back to the car. The next time they stopped, Learan entered a strange building and never left it again.

Learan gasped in pleasure. It was rare that a Master took control of the sex, but Learan was more than happy to let him have it. With a sigh and several tears, Learan came into the mouth around his cock. With a smile, he looked down at his current master.

His master was carefully wiping his mouth. "My name's Alexander by the way." His master told him as he curled around Learan's side.

"I'm Learan. I believe it will be my pleasure to serve you."

Alexander smirked and gently brushed the tears from his eyes. "I certainly hope so. But maybe you could show me the bedroom before we continue?"

With a laugh, Learan jumped to his feet and helped his master up. Gently pulling on his hand, Learan led his master around the fallen coat rack and across the ante-chamber into the bedroom.

Learan cowered into the corner as his master raged on the other side of the room. He sniffed and tried to clear the tears from his eyes. He didn't know what he'd done to cause his master to react the way he had. They'd been having a pleasant dinner and Learan had mentioned that perhaps his master would like to go for a walk in the gardens later. The next thing he knew he was flying across the room.

His master was yelling at him, but Learan couldn't understand him. He huddled as small as he could in the corner and hoped that his master would forget about him and leave. Although that didn't appear to be the case as his master stalked across the room towards him. With a whimper, Learan attempted to curl up tighter, and he felt his tears stream out even faster than before. Learan looked up to see a large hand coming towards him and closed his eyes in anticipation. It hurt. It hurt a lot. It kept on hurting until Learan stopped being awake for it.