"Still hurt, Sequence?" Tulip asked as she helped him wash the next morning.
"My arms are ok. My side still hurts a bit. A little tear. I'll be ok." Sequence replied quietly.
"You nervous?" Daffodil said.
"Can't walk in those shoes. I'll fall, he'll be angry."
"Small, high steps."
"High?"
"Yeah, lift your knees high but keep the steps small."
"Ok, I can do that. Are you sure?"
"I've been wearing heels since before you were hatched." Tulip helped Sequence out of the bath. "He fucks you hard, Sequence. And he beats you hard."
"He's not going to mess me up like your last owners messed you u. I like the beatings, although last night was harsher than usual but it was a proper punishment." Sequence allowed Daffodil to help him into the robe. "Will you be there today?"
"No. Basil and Thyme will be."
"Why did you tell Thyme to beat me?" Sequence stared at Daffodil.
"You were being arrogant."
"I'm jealous of you being higher than me." He said.
"I'm not." Daffodil turned to Tulip. "Am I?"
"We do something wrong, Sequence takes the punishment. We're higher than he is."
"And he tells you stuff he keeps secret from me."
"He's protecting you."
"No, he's protecting you. That's why you're not going."
"Shoes on, Sequence." Tulip said, changing the subject.
Sequence stepped into the shoes.
"Hate these things." Sequence mumbled, walking around slowly.
"Looking sexy, Sequence." The Master said, coming in, wearing a suit that matched Sequence's outfit. "You ready?"
"Yes, Master." Sequence dropped his head.
"Didn't say you had to be good today." The Master laughed, lifting Sequence's chin and kissing his nose. "Don't obey anyone else. Only do what I tell you to do. Don't answer anyones questions unless I say, ok?"
"Ok." Sequence nodded.
"Be good, girls. Come on, Sequence."
****
"Oh my gosh, Daniel! Must you wear republican colours every time you meet with us? You're a prince! You're not allowed to be anti-monarchy." The man sat on the throne in the main room said angrily.
The woman said next to the man, smiled, stood up and hugged the Master.
"You do infuriate your father, Daniel. But wait!" She moved towards Sequence. "Who is this?"
"Sequence. New slave."
"Beautiful. Absolutely stunning." The lady touched Sequence's hand, pulling him away from the Master. "Ah, look, shes holding onto you, how sweet."
"I'd heard you'd brought yourself a dangerous boy-toy." The man said.
"That's him." The Master nodded at Sequence. "Mum, put his blindfold back on."
"He looks like a girl. I want to see his eyes. What colour are they?"
"They're white."
"He's blind?"
"Sort of. He sees telepathically. Talks with his eyes. He wears the blindfold so that he can communicate with us without hypnotising us."
"Hypnotise?" The man asked unimpressed.
"He's obviously not dangerous. I took his blindfold off and he didn't attempt anything. He's beautiful, Daniel. I understand why you got him, male or not."
"I've had a number of people asking for him to be destroyed."
"If he were not my slave, you wouldn't even consider it."
"Come here, little one." The man said to Sequence.
Sequence looked up to the back of the Master's head but didn't move."
"He only listens to you. That's impressive."
"What do you want him for?"
"Just to speak with him."
The Master held his hand out to sequence and led him to the man. Sequence stood in front of the man uncertainly. The man pulled Sequence onto his lap.
"Do you know who I am?"
Sequence shook his head then looked up to the Master, unsure if he was allowed to talk. The Master nodded.
"No, Sir." He whispered.
"I am your Master's father. I'm also king of this country."
Sequence tilted his head.
"Kings are important?"
"Yes, very important. The most important. You don't have kings, a leader?"
"We are a community."
"Are you dangerous?"
"I can't hurt anyone?"
"You could make someone kill someone else couldn't you? Hypnotise them?"
"Only if they desired to kill that person. I can channel desires into actions." Sequence stared at the king. "I could make you kill my Master but I could not make him kill you."
"Ah, you are dangerous because you can see people's thoughts."
"No. I can see my people's thoughts. I can only feel desires here."
"Do you feel my desire about you?"
"Yes. Master won't allow it. Your wife would not allow it. I would not meet your standards."
"Would not allow what?" The queen said raising an eyebrow.
"You said yourself that he was beautiful." The king smiled. "See, you're a dangerous little thing."
"Sorry." Sequence looked down at the floor.
"He's cute, Daniel. You won't be able to control him for long. When that day comes I expect you to do the honourable thing and dispose of him safely."
"I won't kill him."
"No, I cannot make you do something you don't want. You have a duty to control your slaves and protect others. You will not let him hurt someone else. I know that much."
"I wouldn't hurt anyone. I couldn't."
The king slapped the boy.
"Speak when you're spoken to." The king laughed when Sequence dropped his head again. "You have no idea how powerful you are, little one."
Sequence lifted his head and watched the king's eyes to check he was allowed to talk.
"I have no power. I'm alone here. Master." Sequence looked towards the Master. "Master is my community."
The king pushed Sequence off his lap as he stood to go to Daniel.
"Lets go to lunch." He suggested taking his wife's arm. "You can either wear that. Do you take him?"
"No. He's no fun with food. Sequence, stay with Tulip."
The three left the room followed by Basil, Thyme and four other slaves who served as bodyguards to the king and queen.
****
Sequence changed into his shorts, he didn't mind wearing them; it was getting colder now. He looked through the wardrobe and pulled out a white jacket. Then he pulled out a pair of flip flops that were too big for him. He left the room, looking for Tulip and Daffodil. He wandered down to the kitchens. The cook and kitchen slaves smiled at him.
"Hey, Sequence. Good morning?"
"Yeah, was ok." Sequence opened a cupboard and pulled out a box. He opened it and pulled out a leaf. "Why do you cook so much? Master is out with Basil and Thyme. Only you and Tulip and Daffodil to feed."
The group laughed.
"Sequence, Master owns almost one hundred slaves! Have you never left this floor of the house?"