Blood is Thicker than Water (Brother dear)

[Adonai duMorier]

Adonai shivered as he was pulled into the tavern. His Masters stood close to one another, murmuring under their breath, anxious to have the encounter done and over with. Weeks of advertising had finally paid off, and a bidder had come through with the intent of purchasing their precious little slave. The tallest of them, a man called Asher, gripped the boy's dark hair and tugged him along to a booth. The lad was dressed to conceal his thin body and the scars that marked up his pretty flesh. He had cut himself again this morning, and was still suffering the punishment of being ignored save when it was absolutely needed.

"You remember to keep your cuts covered and your mouth shut. Understand?" Asher's voice was hard, and Adonai looked away in shame. Asher, however, demanded an answer, and gripped the young demon's chin, turning his delicate face toward him. "Answer me, boy."

Adonai's eyes watered, and his lower lip quivered in a rare moment of emotion. His brow tensed and he swallowed hard. "Yes, Master. Adon understands." He was released forcefully then, nearly falling over in the process. His head roughly struck the wall inside the booth, and he whimpered, but shuddered, as if taking pleasure from the contact.

"Slut," Asher hissed. "I will be happy to be free of you at last. Fourteen years of your incessant stupidity. Let us hope this new Master doesn't kill you on sight. Pathetic, worthless excuse for a demon."

The expressionless daze returned, and Adonai seemed to lose all focus in his bright, blue eyes. His shoulders slumped and his head fell forward. It was true. How could it not be true? Everyone who knew him said he was as Asher said. He didn't know how to be a demon. All he knew how to do was spread and suck, to cut himself. Maybe Asher was right. Maybe this new Master would sense this and kill him.

[Baïdir duMorier]

Baïdir didn't like visiting the docks, it smelled of fish and well here he was heading to one of the more infamous establishments along the dock. He understood the need for Asher he believed the man's name was, to have the meeting place here. One it wasn't often visited by the city watch what with the stories and rumors surrounding the place. Two one couldn't just enter easily, it was a private establishment. Three who in their right mind would go for a waltz out to the dock in the middle of the night.

It was cold out that night and he didn't bother to bring a coach, it would be to noticeable, he came alone on his favorite steed, an obsidian colored percheron. He made sure he was tied not that it mattered, the horse was trained to only go with him holding the reins.

He stepped into the pub, he nodded at the man guarding the door then looked for the men he made the purchase with. He spotted them easily. He made his way to the table and gracefully removed his hat and gloves.

"Good evening sirs, I hope I haven't kept you waiting for long."

He looked about the table, taking note of all there. He noticed expressionless demon but said nothing, waiting for one of the other men to continue the conversation.

[Adonai duMorier]

Adonai had spent his life growing up by the docks. The demons who had kidnapped him had brought him here, as the stenches covered up anything and offended the delicate sensibilities of higher class demons. When Asher felt inclined to insult the boy, he would tell him of how he smelled like the filth of the docks. Like fish and feces, like stale urine and alcohol. Adonai bathed himself ritualistically, horrified to think that it might be true. But no matter what he did, Asher always insisted that the smell was in his blood.

Despite being a demon, being kept hungry as he was, Adonai was weak. He was susceptible to the cold, and it told now as bony fingers clutched his cloak tightly to himself. He trembled, even when he was not aware of it, and his thin brows furrowed. His tiny, skeletal frame bent, and he leaned against the wall.

He paid little attention to the man as he approached the table. His blank eyes stared forth without focus or purpose, locked on nothing. He could smell the finery of the other, and he sighed faintly. Some fancy demon come to collect, then? What would he think when he looked upon the tiny, seventeen-year-old?

"No trouble at all, sir," Asher answered, speaking in a groveling, sniveling tone. "The little one there. He is the one you asked after. We have a room, sir. So that you might...examine him as you desire."

As he spoke, he gripped Adonai's face and turned it toward the newcomer. The boy's eyes brimmed with tears again, but they instantly seemed to fade. He was left, then, without expression, simply looking blankly at the blond man before him.

[Baïdir duMorier]

"Yes well he seems to be shivering, either from the cold or he's frightened, and the cold is no friend to me so let's make this quick."

Baïdir would stand waiting for the men to take the small demon and lead him to a room to look the frail demon over. He knew it was cold he could feel it himself, he wanted the new pet yes, if he was to his liking that is, but he also wanted to return home to his room with the large hearth, he would sit in front of it drink a glass of his favorite wine or tea depending on his mood and then go to sleep in his bed with thick warm mink blankets he purchased and had sent to him from the orient. His room wasn't lavish the blankets being the most fanciest things in the room but the furniture though simple in design were antiques and made of thick solid wood, a servant had joked that a rhino could lay in the bed and it would hold.

That aside he returned his focus back to the matter at hand, he stepped into the room and waited for the man, Asher. Was he groveling and seeming to be overly friendly, he didn't like him, not at all. And the other was he mute? Even the slave made some sort of small noise but this man was quiet it made him uneasy.

Baïdir turned to Asher, "So does he have a name?"

[Adonai duMorier]

The silent man growled at Adonai as the man noted his shivering. Adonai cowered, but stopped trembling immediately, afraid of punishment should he do otherwise. His blue eyes turned down, and he was jerked from his seat.

A momentary glance was thrown at Baïdir as Adonai stumbled over his feet. The silent demon gripped his arm to keep him upright, and Adonai's head bowed instantly. He was led to the room that had been paid for earlier, where Asher removed his cloak, leaving the thin frame to stand in the center of the room, looking down at the floor. He dared not look up to Baïdir again. A dark strand of hair fell into his face, and he gave a weary, resigned sigh. The child did not bother to brush it out of the way, knowing the pointlessness of such a venture. He had never known a bed, never known comfort or finery. At least, not within memory.

"His name is Adon, my lord, but you may call him whatever you wish. He answers to whatever he is called. Isn't that right boy?"

"Yes, Master," Adonai whispered. "He answers to whatever he is called."

[Baïdir duMorier]

"Yes well he's a bit thin but that can be seen to, I'll take him." He held out a nice sized pouch out for Asher to take. "Here your money, feel free to count it, it's should all be there."

"Get dressed boy, and put this on." He held out a warm fur-lined long coat. "It's a bit of a ride to my estate and it's cold wouldn't want to to freeze."

Adon wasn't moving fast enough for his liking so he wrapped the young demon up in the coat and lifted him up into his arms gently and carried him outside. Once outside he'd put him on the back of his horse. "Hold on to the saddle while I get on." Once Baïdir was on he put an arm around Adon to hold him steady and with the other he took the reins. He began to lead the horse to his estate, he kept a brisk walk, not wanting to bring about to much attention lest the city watch be near but fast enough so as to not linger in the cold for long.

Once at the gate the a servant opened it for them as he rode in all the way up to the steps that lead to the doors of the house. He got off first then helped Adon down. A stable boy would take the horse as Baïdir would lead the younger demon into the house.

"Jenner, can you fetch some slippers and bring them here?" A servant would soon come into the entrance way where they were standing and hold out slippers, "They are for the boy, he seems to be without any shoes, I want him to get fitted for a pair on the morrow but these will have to do for now." The servant would take Baïdir's hat and coat then take the one Adon was wearing.

Baïdir would look at his new demon pet, "Adon was it? Well come with me." Baïdir would lead the demon up to flights of stairs down a long hall and then into a room, taking him further into the room he'd lead him into a room with a bath set into the floor. "You should probably wash up, I'll have one of the servant come in with some fresh clothes for you, I'll be in the room outside this one." It was Baïdir's room yes, he didn't often pay such close attention to his pets when not engaging in any activities with them but this one he felt needed the attention. Something about him said he'd need it. Baïdir then left Adon to do as he needed while he told a servant to go fetch some clothes for the young demon and tea as he then went to sit in front of the hearth the warmth of the fire was a welcome feeling.