Scales and Tales

Part 2

A pet.

A Pet.

That's what I was now, an exotic accessory to this monster. A new toy for him to play with.

He dragged me along down the streets of this hellscape of a city, creatures big and small slinking from shop to shop, each donning horns, tails, wings, skin, scales, feathers, or a combination of everything. The buildings all had a ominous tone, looming over everyone in a menacing way. We got several stares as I fought against the leash, pulling back to try and make him let me go, but it was like trying to drag a bus with its brakes locked. He pulled me along effortlessly, the leash held seemingly limp in his raised hand. Is he trying to show off? That he can over power someone who's half his size? That bastard.

"Let me Go." I huffed in a strained tone as he stopped in front of another shop. He tilted his head down at me, a light smirk on his face.

"What? Let go? But we need to get your markings, Darling." He grinned, pulling the leash closer, making me stand even closer to him. I tried to hold my ground, refraining from getting close enough to slap his face. His horrible, handsome face.

With a quick yank of the leash, he pulled me up to his side and wrapped one arm around mine, pinning them to my sides. His grin never left his face as he opened the door and a bell chimed announcing our entrance. A heavily tattooed man in a black t shirt and slacks with a pair of deer antlers, one of them partly broken off crossed his arms as we walked in.

"Well, Well. Fancy seeing you here! Didn't think you needed anymore markings for a while, what changed your mind?" he laughed boomingly, his fangs flashing in the moody lights. My captor raised his free arm like he would go in for a side-hug, not letting me go for a moment.

"Dariank, my old friend, it's been a while."  he exclaimed "I'm not here for my markings, although I need some for a new pet."

Dariank nodded his head and raked his gaze over me, judging me with little enthusiasm. "Another one? I thought you learned better from last time." he sighed, causing a chill to run down my spine. Another one? What other "pets" did he have? And what does that make me, the newest fixation? Thoughts raced through my head as I was pulled up to a table, not focusing on the conversation they were having as I experienced another panic attack and began to zone out.

"Where do you need it placed? Permanente or Temporary?"

"Permanente. I don't plan on giving her away to anyone, or to have someone take her and have it fade away."

"Alright, where do you want it placed?"

"I want it somewhere people will see it. I was thinking the neck, but that would be covered by the collar." I felt a hand brush the back of my neck, moving the collar up a bit closer to my hairline.

"Hmm, maybe her wrist? People will notice it, and it won't be covered by anything other than long sleeves or cuffs." 

"Definitely. How long will it take? I need to get us back home before-"

"I know, I know. An hour, tops. Black or Gold?"

"Gold, you know how I like to stand out."

"Alright, should I sedate her? This looks like it's her first, and I don't want her passing out during the session."

"Only if she wants to. Darling?"

"Darling?"

"Darling?"

I snap out of it, looking back and forth at the two of them.

"What? yeah, sure..." I trailed off, my head feeling fuzzy from zoning out. He flicked his golden eyes at me and looked back at Dariank, nodding his head. Dariank leaned over to a drawer, pulling it open to reveal a syringe filled with a soft yellow liquid. "Wait-"

"This will only hurt a bit." He reasured me as I flinched at the sight of it.

"No, wait, I didn't mean to agree to this. I can stay  awake, There's no need-" I stammered, trying to back away. My owner rolled his eyes and forced my arm up, allowing Daraink to stick the syringe in a vein. I winced as the needle pricked my arm and the yellow stuff was slowly pushed into it. I vision began to blur as the sedative kicked in almost immediately. I slumped to the side, nearly falling over until my buyer caught me.

"Wait." my voice slurred "I don't need this."

"Yes you do Sweetheart." he chided softly, letting me rest against his body. A giggle bubbled up from me as I looked up at his face, I reached up my opposite hand to try to touch his face as he held down my other one for Dariank to mark. He chin is so grizzled, bits of stubble grazed my  fingertips as I traced his jawline. He ignored me, focusing on my arm, letting me stare up at him and touch his throat. He was a behemoth of a man, if he even was a man, twice my height with  sun kissed skin, a pink scar across his throat, and golden brown locks of hair tussled around his head. Did someone try to kill him? They clearly failed. I played with the tie on his dress shirt, loosening it slightly to let my hand slip under it and  feel his collarbone. Black tattoos cover his lower neck, wrapping all the way around under the scar, a continues line of sharp Gs' over a black band the width of my thumb. Bored with that, I stared at his very handsome face, his sharp cat-like pupils gazed intently across the table, intently staring at my arm. He didn't even blink as I poked at his chest to get his attention. I hummed along to the tuneless buzzed of the tattoo gun, glancing half heartedly at the golden snake that was being etched into my skin, it wrapped several times around my wrist, with  glittering black eyes. The hour passed and I felt the drug start to leave my system as Darinak wiped my wrist clean and bandaged it with some white cloth.

"That should do it." Darinak exclaimed, ready to be paid "Happy?"

"Most definitely." my owner mused, flipping my wrist several times to stare at the remarkable penmanship. He paid Darinak in those strange coins I saw earlier at the "rescue", and pulled me up to stand. The haze in my head was still there from the sedative, not allowing me to walk out the door without stumbling like a drunk idiot, making him carry me.

"Let's go home Darling" He whispered as my eyes fluttered close and my breathing slowed.

I don't know how long or far he carried me before we reached his home. My new home.

I should of ran the first chance I got.