The Siren

~Two~

Sia's eyes followed the king until the door to the bathing chamber closed behind him. He could hear the men's voices, but couldn't make out the words, the doors were too thick.
He wondered if it would be wise to try and escape. He was alone here, the door was locked, yes, but he was sure he could unlock it with time to spare. But then there was the castle, guards, maids, other humans. He would probably be caught within minutes and brought back.
He was still tired from the long journey and bruised from the manacles.
He put his head in his hands and sighed. His lips were hurting, his voice was pretty much nonexistent right now. He could not sing anyone into death and ruin like this.
He draped the dark green blanket around his shoulders. It felt soft and smelled of dried herbs and lavender and he felt a sharp longing for his home. He had been a captive of the Brennian king for years, he knew what they wanted from him. He knew they thought they broke him in those years, but now he wasn't in Brennia anymore. He was here. Still a captive, but this young king seemed – different.
Maybe he should take his chances here.
There was no guaranty that the Brennian's would keep their word and set him free once he seduced the young king. It was more likely that he would be put in that hateful cage again. He shuddered. He hated them all. He really did.
He inhaled the smell of dried herbs and slid down the back of the sofa, so he could curl up on it. He was very tired and needed sleep. He was also ready to take his chances with this new king. The devil you knew wasn't always better after all.

~+~
He woke up to pale sunshine filtering through the glass windows and the birds outside singing. His body still felt sore, and his lips still hurt, but at least they weren't bleeding anymore. The king was sleeping in his big bed just on the other side of the room. The other man Ginger, was watching Sia. He was a big man and could look mean if he wanted to. Had in fact looked mean until the king had entered his chambers and they had been alone. Away from the prying eyes of the court.
They were staring at each other and then Sia sat up and let the blanket pool at his hips. Ginger raised an eyebrow at him.

"Food," Sia said. He hated how his voice sounded.

"I take orders from the king, you little boy are no king," Ginger replied.

Sia huffed. He guessed he wasn't in this land of men. Maybe he wasn't a king anywhere. "Food," he repeated.

The man laughed. "I told you-"

"FOOD!" Sia yelled and his voice was a screech, so horrible he was tempted to cover his own ears.

"What in the name of all that is holy," William grumbled.

"The Siren wants food."

"I gathered that," William said, from under the pillow he had put over his head. "Give him food for god's sake."

Ginger sighed. "He's not even one day here and you're –"

"Ginger," William said, his voice sounded dangerously low and growly. Like an angry bear, Sia thought.

"Yes, your majesty," Ginger said, unlocked the door and left.

The king threw the pillow to the side and sat up. "If you scream like that again-"

"What?" Sia interrupted him.

"If you do it again while I'm sleeping I will put you over my knee and spank you."

Sia flinched. He couldn't help it. A million small and big cruelties flashed behind his eyes. It was true that no one had touched him since the old king of Brennia had died and the war had ended, but he still remembered every single one of them.
William didn't seem to notice the flinch or if he did, he was ignoring it. He let himself fall into the bed again and sighed.
Sia dared to leave the sofa and walked around the room while the king was lying in bed, his eyes were closed, but Sia knew that he wasn't sleeping.