Upside Chapter One: 10 Pieces Of Silver?
#1 of Upside
Upside
Chapter One: 10 Pieces Of Silver?
The boy's slender form quaked as he stood on the platform in the center of the stage, hands tightly bound together, the chains attached to the podium. An angry looking mark stood out against the pale skin on his right side, still causing the demi pain; the crude brand rested just above his waist though he should find himself thankful for tattered breechclout. His own breathing echoed in his ears as he stood motionless, unsure what was happening around him.
He tried to work out how he had gotten there; one minute he had been on his way back to his den and the next thing he knew his vision started to go fuzzy as he felt a sharp prick at his neck. Darkness, unclear voices and shouting as hands and paws grabbed and tugged at his clothes. He vaguely remember being forced onto his back as an intense pain blossomed up from the right side of his pelvic near the bone, and the smell of burning flesh assaulting his sense of smell.
He'd been taken two hours ago, maybe a little more. All his personal effects were taken from him aside from the earrings in his ears. The teen was thankful that he had left his valuables at home, but a wave of shame washed over him; He hadn't taken any form of protection with him on his walk. Maybe he could have avoided this whole situation.
"Here we have a hybrid...." The auctioneer said with a grand wave of his hand, "Hair natural white with a good length to it, for those who are fond of the long haired ones; his tail also white and full-bodied. His eyes are heterochromic ; might be a genetic glitch but it does add to his appeal a bit. Slender frame does have some strength to him, making him good for indoor and outdoor labor. Though it is a bit of a shame for those females out there interested in this boy, I have to admit his parts are a bit small, maybe average. Teeth are well cared for, two sets of canines, one full top row and another set on the bottom. He is, however, defective, having a pair of horns on the top of his head, which seem to have some nerve endings in them. A plus, he does heal up nicely." All the while, the man was touching him, and the teen's eyes were slowly regaining focus as he looked up into the crowd, trying to move away from the cold, leathery hands brushing his pale skin.
Those in the crowd in front of him seemed to be talking amongst themselves. He was able to make out a diversity in the crowd, not just humans like the auctioneer but various kinds of anthros as well, and some demons."Those interested in a closer look are welcome to come onto the stage." The stout man said as he stepped away from the boy. His ears stood erect, his body still a bit slouched from weight of the cuffs and chains keeping him in place.
A deep growl started to flow freely from the teen's chest as a hand reached out to touch him though the growl was cut off momentarily as the auctioneer hit him in the back of the knee with a bamboo cane. But as soon as an unknown human male's hand touched his face, his finger resting too close to his lip, the boy became quick in his movement, snapping at the offending digit. Catching it between his teeth, he bit down, making sure his fang sank through the skin, cutting through easily like a hot knife through butter. His elven ears twitched as he heard the man's near inhuman howl of pain, but the captured boy's joy was cut short as he was struck across his cheek with the back-paw of the human's companion, a cougar. Struggling a bit and then straightening himself, licking the blood from his lips, he looked directly at the pair. A feral grin broke out across the youth's face only to be wiped away by a hit in the gut with the cane and a pair of heavy hands gripping him and dragging him off to the back. His keen ears picked up the stout man's apology to the two as he explained that he had just caught the boy that day.
He grunted as he was thrown into a cage, not looking back to see a bear slamming it closed. A slender hand reached up to touch his cheek and he licked his lips again as he noticed the cougar has split his bottom lip. Snorting, the boy couldn't help but smirk as the bit of blood he was able to ingest helped to ease the pain in his side. His ears perked up as he heard a rustling behind him, and he turned to see a fox bound as heavily to the floor as he was, if not more so.
"Pissed someone off I take it." He didn't ask, but stated what the teen had done to warrant the swollen cheek. The fox's voice was deep and rich. If he wasn't in the cage, where ever the hell he was, the boy would have found him attractive.
"Something like that." Finally speaking, his voice was smooth, crisp even. Although he was effeminate in appearance at times, his voice was one of someone his age. "You?" he asked as he pointed to the other's current state. He was taking his time to take in the canine's appearance; he was definitely taller than himself, his build larger than what had seen of some foxes. The teen's mix-matched eyes drifted over the fox's face, his ears standing out to him, slightly larger than was the norm, sticking out free from the lush red hair that was shoulder length. He looked at the older male's eyes and found them to be the same as his own right eye, a rich cerulean.
The boy looked out of the cage, trying to see what was around them, but the covers on some of the other holding cages made it hard to tell how many were really around them. Looking back over at his temporary 'house' mate, the teen gave him a sly smile, his body slowly starting to relax as the effects of the drugs began to wear off.
"Wonder if it would be alright for me to ask your name?" he asked as he glanced over his shoulder towards the canine. The larger of the two shifted his body as if he was trying to locate a comfortable place on the grated floor. His elven ears flicked before dipping down as he continued to listens for any nearing steps. His back was still to the fox as he wasn't expecting an answer, though he was was surprised as fox's voices reached his ears, "Levin." Cocking his head to the side, the hybrid faced the other once more. "I'm Akio Shiloh....Shiloh...." The boy gave Levin an innocent smile despite the position he was in. "You might want to remember, for I will not be a slave for long." The last part leaving the demi's full lips as he made it a promise to himself, that he would get himself free.
Amongst the crowd stood a pair of acquaintances, one looking for a pet while the other went to see fresh meat. The bull's eyes shone with amusement as the boy moved swiftly to bite the man that had touched him. Though seeing the demi being struck in the stomach by the auctioneer didn't bring him any satisfaction, it did give him some knowledge of the amount of punishment the youth could take. He looked over beside him at his associate, a badger named Charon, a taxidinae that owned one of the blacksmitheries worked in from time to time. He was unsure as to why he had agreed to help the other pick out a new slave. Charon had recently sold his last one after breaking her body and mind so completely over the years that she had stopped fighting and become empty shell that would mindlessly follow orders. Megido looked to see the badger interested in some female being dragged onto the stage by a pair of handlers.
Charon Kelsey was someone that many would try to keep pleased. The badger would appear to be very charming, humble even, in public, work, and private affairs, but those who had known the older fur for a long time knew better. Charon stood around seven feet and nine inches, muscularly built, to an extent, his pelt rich burgundy, his markings orange and white, his headfur black and well maintained. His muzzle was short, his eyes were slightly narrow and an almost liquid-looking amber. Plantigrade, the badger's paws were padded with four fingers and a thumb, and well groomed claws . All and all Charon would be considered appealing to many females and some males. Megido himself had only heard stories of the other's actions in passing and had, on a few occasions, seen his handy work. He'd seen what he'd done to poor Delilah, an otter with such passion that it seemed a sin that it was taken away.
"Doesn't seem like they are going to be bringing the boy back out today." Charon's voice was deep, gruff. "I will pay you tomorrow if you come to help transport him to my smithy."
As the badger spoke he didn't bother to look to see if the bovine was paying attention to him, turning to head towards a nearby pub. Megido's face broke out into a scowl as he watched the shorter male walk off. His tail flicked behind him in frustration that soon dissipated as he spied a lady watching him from behind her fan. The coy fox gave a slightly swish of her tail as she turned to walk off. The gladiator to smirk as he moved to follow her.