The Birth of Ignaius - (Part 2 of the Ignaius-Saga)

Banter with the Devil

Rovik was standing in the door. Of course. Tanier tried to pull himself together. Intentionally overacting, he cheerfully greeted Rovik: "How nice to have guests! We are so sorry that we started without you, we didn't know you were coming to dinner. I suppose it would be stupid to ask what brought you here, wouldn't it?"

Far from being put off, Rovik started laughing. "Oh, so excited, Your Majesty! I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised. You could ask, and while I wouldn't call it stupid, I would just prefer to show you." Behind Rovik were only three men this time, but he had selected them deliberately. He felt it was time to try a little quality over quantity. "You may want to clear off the table, though. We are going to need it." His voice stayed friendly as he gladly played along with the king's little game, showing no weakness.

Rovik strolled further inside and one of the other men shut the door. Thus far, he gave no order to have Tanier shackled, but he was being watched carefully. "Hm... Dear Variel does not seem to share your enthusiasm. That's quite disappointing, and rather rude. Though, I am glad to see he has kept himself to my liking." He smirked at the sight of the naked, collared boy cowering in a ball on the table, just where he belonged!

Tanier continued the mockery of playing the good host by indeed clearing the table. He didn't seem to care or even notice, how distressed Variel was. Right now he was playing with Rovik, who obviously still liked to see him involved. And he didn't mind. Not with anything as inconsequential as moving a few items around. It was also part of the game to ignore the guards and any threat they and Rovik may pose. In their little game he was the host and so for now this stinking cell was his living room. "I am glad to hear that you like the decoration," he commented on Rovik's words. He could prolong this game, but there was no point to it. He crossed his arms over his chest and stood so that he and Rovik could see each other, but stayed away far enough to be seen as non threatening.

"I know there is nothing I can do to stop you, so help yourself and get it over with."

The sooner this was over, the better.

"How very gracious of you, Your Majesty!" Rovik bowed dramatically, then walked up to where Variel lay, examining him like an interesting piece of art. "Hmm..." He ran his fingers over the boy's cheek, then part of his hair, then his shoulder and his back. Variel stayed completely frozen, indeed like part of the decor for the time being. "Actually, I have brought a gift," Rovik announced, looking between Variel and Tanier. "It is meant for this sweet little boy here, but you may enjoy it as well, my King."

From a pocket, Rovik produced a small bottle, only large enough to hold a swallow of liquid. It was black and opaque with no markings, leaving what was inside completely up to speculation. "You must be thirsty, lad. Come on, now, drink up." He took a hold of Variel's chin to make him turn his face upward, then pinched his nose. This forced Variel to open his mouth to breathe, and when he did, Rovik poured the contents of the bottle into his mouth. The boy twitched and choked on the horrid, burning taste of the liquid, but Rovik did not allow him to spit it out.

Once Variel had swallowed it all, Rovik pocketed the bottle and turned back to Tanier. "Care to participate today, Your Majesty? This is your home, after all. It seems quite rude to engage in recreational activities without including you."

"Convince me that the entertainment you planned is worth my time and I may do so." It became more difficult for him to concentrate on Rovik, as he waited to see any effect of whatever it was that he had poured down Variel's throat.

"But you will understand that I hate to steal from my guests."

For the moment, the liquid didn't seem to be having any effect, at least outward. Variel could feel an icy sensation spreading through him, adding to his chill.

"Oh, no, no," Rovik said, shaking his head emphatically. "You see, what I'm offering you is the chance to play with your little toy before these gentlemen take a turn." He gestured at the three who had accompanied him, all men that he had seen show real interest in the boy's suffering not just how good it felt to fuck him. "Of course, you are welcome to just watch as you have been, but I imagine that must get dull after a while." As he spoke, he was absently stroking the side of Variel's neck around where the collar sat.

"It may be that I am easily entertained," Tanier replied. "And why would I need anyones approval, if I wanted to play with my toy? It's actually the guest who should ask. But I see that not everyone here knows about manners."

By now he was wondering, if Rovik was actually waiting for the liquid to have any effect, for there was no other reason for the banter. The king refused to act scared, his torturer refused to offer a deal, and as much as Rovik seemed to enjoy this game, Tanier was sure that he enjoyed good, hard torture a lot more.

Rovik shrugged. "Well, yes, we are taking some liberties, but as this little one is the only entertainment you seem to have available, it seems safe to assume we may take advantage." His hand stilled and he sighed. "Well, if you do not wish to participate, so be it. I will have to ask you not to interfere, though. I would hate to have to force anything on you." He pointed a thumb at the shackles Tanier had been placed in twice before during these sessions.

With Tanier's refusal to participate, Rovik turned his attention back to Variel. "You see, Variel, I have noticed that you don't have the best opinion of myself and my friends. I can see it when you look at us: you believe we are monsters."

Something was happening. Variel's chest was tightening, his stomach twisting in knots, his vision blurring and becoming unfocused. The icy feeling grew more potent, and he suddenly recognized it as a steadily mounting dread. He always feared these men and what they would do to him, but this felt different. This felt like it was coming from somewhere else, somewhere he could identify. His breathing was getting faster and more labored, and what little color he had in his face was draining away.

"Today, you will learn what real monsters look like."