Unlike downstairs, the second floor hall was barren of décor. However, the doors were garishly painted.

Darrius looked to the bottle in his hands. It had a deep blue curved figure. The top was dipped in a light blue candle wax, the bottom was hugged by a similarly colored wax except it was carved to resemble waves. The brand name was written in a delicate script that only said ‘Oasis.’ Personally, he’d heard of the brand before.

As he passed the doors, he realized they had no handles or doorknobs.

Such a heavy measure to keep these women. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say some might not be here of their own free will. If I were my brother, I might play hero and free them. Unfortunately for them, I don’t have the time, nor am I such a person.

A door with a similar deep blue to the bottle began to glow. Slowly, a doorknob materialized. He rested his hand upon it.

In fact, if who I’m looking for isn’t beyond this door, I can’t promise their safety. It’s been a long three weeks of searching and spending. Maybe I’m due some manner of “fun.”

He turned the knob and entered.

The room was nothing interesting. It was simply painted and furnished. There was a bed in on corner with a small dresser and trunk. To the right was a privacy screen that hid what he guessed was a bathing area. While economical, it all felt cramped.

Still, there are worse ways to live.

There was a splash of water from behind the screen and the sloshing of someone getting out of a tub.

“Do make yourself comfortable, Master. I will be right out.” The voice was melodic in tone but somewhat forced.

There was nowhere to sit but the bed, so Darrius obliged them. The bedding was softer than he expected. Then again, if he was going to pay several gold for one night, he’d expect a soft bed to have it in.

Darrius placed the bottle on the dresser just as they spoke again.

“I know it isn’t my place to ask, but...” long legs stepped from behind the screen. They toweled their hair as they spoke. “I thought you wouldn’t be back for a few days and--”

They stopped short. Who Darrius thought to be a woman was in fact a young man. Tall, frail, and simply dressed in a cotton shirt and pants. His face was thin and his cheeks a bit hollow. A dark pink scar crept up the right side of his face and marred otherwise handsome features. His dark brown hair was made darker from the water yet to dry. His eyes were a washed-out, dark blue but stood out considerably from his light brownish skin.

“Who the hell are you?”

The question pulled Darrius from his analysis. He didn’t let his surprise at their word choice show. Instead, he smiled politely.

The Senosolvian eyed Darrius as if he were a rabid dog that might attack. “How’d you get in here?”

Darrius smiled. He’d found who he was looking for. He matched the description perfectly. He wished he hadn’t spent time brushing up on his Senol though. He hadn’t expected them to know the Common Tongue. He gestured to the bottle lazily, “With that of course.”

The taller boy looked to the bottle confused. “But’ how--”

“You know...” Darrius rested his perfectly manicured hands on his lap and kept his posture straight, “In all of my searching, I had thought you would be a woman.” He couldn’t help the baited lilt that touched his words, he was just too giddy. “Though, you are quite pretty.”

The complement rolled off of him as he continued to dry his hair. “Speak for yourself. So, you’ve been looking for me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Simple.” Darrius stood and closed the distance between them, ignoring the way the other tried to step away. “Since the moment I first heard of you, I have wanted you.”

The taller boy wasn’t fazed by the declaration. He even seemed bored. “And what is it that you think you know about me?”

“I’ve heard plenty.”

He eyed the woman before him apprehensively.

“Don’t look so serious. I am but a scholar.”

The young man looked Darrius up and down before switching to Senol. “Your clothes and jewelry might be from the wealthy, but your lack of our tongue betrays your disguise. Who are you really?”

Darrius wanted to laugh. This one was smart. “Would you really like to know?”

The older boy looked as though he’d seen a ghost.

Darrius smirked and let the guise fall away. The beauty he had carefully crafted flaked off like petals in the spring. He took pleasure in the shock and awe that painted the other’s features.

“Now you see me.”

“How...”

Darrius laughed. “Don’t look so vexed,” he dropped the hood of his cloak, grateful to feel his own clothes again, “Senosolvia has embraced the Arcana in recent years. Especially the capital.”

He looked away from Darrius, his voice quiet. “I haven’t been outside in years.”

Now it was his turn to look away. The stretch of silence was short but its impact was felt.

“Well,” Darrius scrambled, “you should know that what I did took considerable skill. I didn’t use an artifact or enchantment. In fact, I deserve your praise and admiration.”

The older boy smirked. “Oh? Guess kids are still the same.”

Darrius pouted. He didn’t come all this way to be patronized by someone just a few years older than himself. The scar on his face caught his eye again. He’d have to take care of that.

Darrius reached out and the sudden action had the other stumbling back. He gave a mischievous smile. “What harm could I do? I’m a kid, remember?”

He rolled his eyes and leaned toward the tanned hand outstretched to him.

Darrius cupped the older boy’s face and ran his thumb down the scar. There was a feint glow of green as he did. The scar disappeared along with the soft haze. With that, he was satisfied, and chose to ignore the stupefied look on the older boy’s face in favor of more pertinent conversation.

“I’m currently fleshing out a project, and I need you. So, you will come with me.” Darrius looked him over as he spoke. “I won’t promise you your freedom, but I will give you a bigger cage, fewer punishments, and better meals.”

The older boy looked skeptical, “I should just trust you?”

Darrius walked to what passed for a window in the room and looked through the bars. The room faced the alley. If what he said was true, this was all he had seen of the world for some time. He gripped one of the bars. “You spend your days obediently waiting to service your Master and know nothing beyond this little box. You’re a pet at best, a plaything to be visited when your Master is bored. You don’t have to trust me, just follow like the obedient pet you are.”

“You really know how to talk out of your ass, huh?” It wasn’t a real question, but the intention behind it was clear.

Darrius didn’t look back at him. He’d be pretty angry if someone had said those things to him as well, though he’d have likely killed them for it.

“Besides, you said it yourself. A ‘bigger cage’.”

Darrius did look back then.

“Going with you isn’t freedom. Just another cock in my mouth.”

Darrius laughed at the thought. “Trust me when I say that my interest in you goes no further than your face.” He walked back to the older boy who was now sporting a deep scowl. “Besides, even if I did want you, I’m sure I’d have better things to offer you than your current ‘cock’.”

Darrius reached out and tugged the older boy’s shirt down, revealing a mess of overlapping scars. “I believe I also mentioned ‘fewer punishments’.”

He slapped Darrius’ hand away, venom seeping into his tepid blue eyes. “Don’t. Touch. Me.”

Darrius dusted off his cloak to give his hands something to do. It was good to know that he still had fight in him, especially when considering those scars. He would need it. “Very well,” he said dismissively.

A part of Darrius wondered how harshly Cass would scold him if he saw just how much fun he was having right now. It wasn’t often one could find such gem in the city of sin.

Darrius looked to the older boy with renewed interest. “You know, you just keep on surprising me. Here I thought you didn’t care anymore, but it seems to be the opposite. I’m pleased and impressed.”

The older boy didn’t seem to care one way or another how Darrius felt towards him. He looked a mix between annoyance and anger before it quickly dissipated. “You know...” his tone was neutral as he watched Darrius pick up the bottle. “This is actually pretty similar to how I was bought all those years ago.”

Darrius smiled with mild interest. “Oh?”

“Yeah, save for one thing.” He pulled Darrius to him and smashed their lips together. He reveled in the expression on the other boy’s face. In this moment, he was in control.

Darrius met his eyes, shocked. He wanted to push back, but his body was as calm as waves lapping a ship at sea. It was the kind of solace he took in the knowledge that nothing could truly hurt him. It unnerved and enticed him. What did it all mean?

The older boy broke the kiss as abruptly as he’d started it. He knew in many ways that the blonde boy was right. Even if they were similar, he wasn’t as bad as the Master, and he doubted the boy ever could be. Besides, if the cage was in fact bigger, he could always escape.

Darrius had shaken a part of him in their short conversation, but he would never tell him that. The brat’s ego was clearly too big already. Instead, he put on the most uninterested face he could muster and said, “Let’s get going, Little Master.”

The boy’s shocked expression gave way to something calculated and potentially sinister. “Of course, but do call me Darrius.”