The younger omega was sitting in the corner away from everyone else with a distant look on his face. He had a potato in his hand staring at it absently, he held the blade of a knife against the skin but made no move to cut it completely lost in his thoughts. Iyasu arched a brow when he saw the boy just sitting there meekly. He decided against his better judgement to walk over and check on him.

“Need help?” His voice startled the boy, making him drop the potato. Iyasu grabbed it and went to wash it off. When he came back he handed it to Oliver who took it without any fuss or snarky remarks.

Yeah, something was definitely off about him today. Iyasu grabbed his own knife and started helping him. Oliver was quiet for a while but finally spoke up.

“Why are you being so cordial?” Oliver grumbled. 

“I’m always cordial, you’re the one who's usually rude.” Iyasu said bluntly. Oliver shot him a glare but it was weak compared to usual.

“I don’t need your help.” Oliver looked away and gripped the knife harder. 

“Oh really? You seem to be having a hard time today.” Iyasu observed him as his whole body stiffened.

“I haven’t been feeling well.” Oliver answered. “I’ve been...having a hard time concentrating on my duties.” 

“Something bothering you?” Iyasu tried to soften his voice a little more. Oliver turned to him with a conflicted look that surprised him. 

“I don’t know what’s happening to me. I can’t think straight and my body feels heavy. Mistress Finn yelled at me twice yesterday because I kept dropping dishes on the floor.”

That statement made Iyasu pause his peeling. He looked over to Oliver incredulously. “Have you been feeling feverish or weird around certain people?” He had a feeling he knew what this was but he hoped to god it wasn’t.

“I don’t know. I feel strange around Sandra and Master Roland.” Oliver gripped his shirt, his expression grew more frustrated. “I think I’m sick.” 

Suddenly Iyasu’s blood ran cold. He gripped Oliver’s arm impulsively and leaned closer to him. Oliver sent him a dirty look but he didn’t care. That’s when he smelled it, that sweet cloying scent, it was barely there but it was unmistakable. Iyasu put down his knife and pulled Oliver to stand. The smaller omega had no time to react as he was being led out the kitchen into the hall.

Oliver snatched his hand away when Iyasu finally stopped. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He yelled moving away. Iyasu grabbed him by his shoulders with a serious expression that made Oliver pause.

“You’re going into heat.” 

For the first time Oliver looked his age, his round dark eyes were filled with fear as the statement hit him.

“Heat?” His voice was small when he said it. “I-I can’t be.” Oliver shook his head with panic in his voice.

“It’s going to happen any moment. We have to get you somewhere more isolated.” He began pulling Oliver towards his room only to have Oliver snatch away again.

“I can’t, I’ll get in trouble.” Even as he said it his fair skin was already becoming more flushed. “I still have work to do!”

“You can’t work under those conditions! I’ll vouch for you if anyone asks but I need to get you help first. If any alpha smells you it’ll make things worse.” 

“What’s going on here?” A voice came from behind them causing them both to freeze. They turned to see Finn staring them both down but then his eyes shifted over to Oliver with interest. Oliver was looking worse by the minute, his face was redder than before and his body lightly shook.

“Oliver is sick, mistress.” Iyasu said it before he could stop himself. Finn frowned and walked closer, his long silk shirt fluttered behind him as he moved towards them. Iyasu positioned himself between Oliver and Finn, he didn’t like how Finn’s eyes were filled with disdain as they observed Oliver.

“Doesn’t look like the common flu to me. Could he perhaps be in heat?” Finn titled his head. Oliver tensed at those words, his small hand grabbed onto Iyasu’s shirt as he tried to hide behind Iyasu.

“I can take care of him.” Iyasu answered. The look in Finn’s eyes grew more and more cruel as he watched them, he could tell that they were beating around the bush.

“I’ll deal with him from here. You go back to your duties, slave.” Finn waved him away but Iyasu couldn’t move. His instincts screamed that something wasn’t right here. Oliver was shivering behind him and his sweet scent was tainted by sour fear. He didn’t feel right leaving him alone with Finn.

“It’s okay Gin. You can go.” Oliver’s small voice shook, even as he said it his hand was still clenched onto Iyasu’s sleeve.

“I can’t.” Iyasu felt like an idiot for arguing. He knew this was foolish but another part of him felt like he would be throwing Oliver to the wolves. He could smell hostility in Finn’s scent ever since he caught whiff of Oliver’s heat.

Finn sneered at him and tried to grab Oliver but Iyasu pushed him away without thinking. Finn stumbled back with a look of pure shock on his face. At this point other slaves were attracted by the commotion, including Jerrod and Sandra. Finn looked around, his face red with anger and embarrassment.

“What are you looking at? Get back to work!” Finn screamed. “Except you Jerrod.” Finn stared down Iyasu as he said it. “Put that heathen in the cages.” 

Those words made Iyasu panic. He couldn’t move, couldn’t apologize, he was stunned silent. Finn seemed to revel in the terror that grew on Iyasu’s face.

“Please Mistress Finn, don’t!” The sobbing words came from Oliver. “He didn’t mean it, I asked him to help me. It’s not his fault!” He fell to his knees and continued to cry.

Jerrod looked conflicted. He gazed at Iyasu with sorrow in his eyes as Finn order him to move and pushed him towards Iyasu. He took another step but couldn’t seem to reach out and touch him, his jaw tightened as he continued to gaze into Iyasu’s dark orbs. 

“What are you waiting for? Are you that brainless? I told you to take him!” He beat his fist against Jerrod's back as he yelled, shoving Jerrod harder this time and prompting Jerrod to finally act, his expression still troubled. 

He grabbed Iyasu by the arm and Iyasu allowed him to guide them to the basement. He was already lamenting his fate, he only wished he could’ve had more power to help Oliver so it would all be worth it. They walked down and Jerrod pulled him to the small cages that were lined up on the wall furthest from the entrance. Iyasu tensed when he saw them, he grabbed onto Jerrod in a panic, looking into his eyes almost pleading.

“Please, please don’t, I-I can’t--” He was babbling at this point. The sight brought back those memories of feeling like a caged animal, where that claustrophobic space drove him to the brink of insanity. Jerrod grit his teeth and looked away, he desperately wanted to let Iyasu go but they both knew he couldn’t.

“I have no other choice.” was all Jerrod said before picking him up and opening up one of the higher cages. He managed to push Iyasu in even with Iyasu kicking and screaming. He locked him away and gave him one more glance full of regret before rushing out of the room. Iyasu laid there in a ball watching as Jerrod disappeared and the last shred of light was snuffed out in the room.