Inside the Lions Mouth ch 1
The dripping sound echoed over the stone floors. Derek laid curled in a ball on the stone floor. The shackles his twin Deran had place on his wrists made his sleep uncomfortable. The collar weighed heavy on his neck and gave him a kink. He had his spikes pointed out and away from his body as his back muscles were relaxed. It was all he could do just to sleep. The dripping was eating away at his mind and his headache grew. It was here he had remained since the time Sirus, the white lion and lord of the estate, had found him trying to contact his brother.
His species was rare. But what was even rarer was that he was an identical twin. The features of the Razor back were normally soft in every aspect. The faces were a slight resemblance of a rat and a wolverine crossed. Instead of a nose like a canines or a rats, their species had nostrils much like a horse with fine peach fur the same color of the rest of their fur. Their ears were rather large on their head in the same fashion of a rabbit. Other than their short tails that went to just above their knees they also had spikes covering their back in the same fashion of a porcupine. There was a smaller number of spikes on their back and they varied in size. The smallest two on the males were leader spikes and could be used to control their actions if used right.
Derek's body grew stiff when he heard the sound of the heavy metal doors leading down to the dungeon opened once more. He wasn't sure what time it was, but he found that the doors opened once a day. Sometimes it was his brother Deran coming down to try and feed him, others it was someone he didn't know. A female tigress with small black and blue wings and raven hair. Her fur too was back but he wasn't sure if that was just his eyes playing tricks on him. When it was her that came down she would say nothing. She would come down examine his shackles and collar. She would also apply some form of cream to his chest and above his nostrils. He wasn't sure what the cream was but he found it made his mind calmer. The smell of the cream soothed his thoughts and allowed him to make it through till her next visit. Well almost.
He opened his eyes and looked towards the stairs. He could already tell it was his brother. His brother's footsteps were much lighter than the females. Deran yellow fur was much brighter than Derek's fur. He had been down there for at least 3 weeks. That was how many times he had counted the comings and goings of the two. It had been at least a week since the last visit of the female. It would be her turn tomorrow, but his mind was already heavy with the thoughts and emotions of being stuck down in the dungeon. He did not uncurl from his ball. The dungeon was too cold to do so. He raised his head a little as his brother drew closer to him and knelt down next to him a piece of bread in hand.
Deran took Derek under the chin and put the bread to his lips. "Eat. You will need your strength to fight back against Master Sirus. Even your desert reserves must be running thin by now. I know you must be getting hungry. Even I couldn't last 4 weeks without food." he said pressing the bread through his lips allowing it to run across Derek's canines.
Derek and Deran were both Razorbacks from a desert tribe. Their subspecies was adapted for little food or water. Like camels they stored what they needed in their body. Unlike camels they didn't grow humps or unsightly bulks on their body. The energy was stored as a form of magic. A restorative magic. The only kind their race possessed. Deran had been exiled from their tribe years back for a crime that he didn't commit and had been passed from master to master for being to unruly before finally being dropped off on Sirus's front door step. Jahara, the female shadow tigress, instantly prepared the boy for her master to enjoy. Sirus found a way and broke him after several visit's to the dungeon. Now Deran served Sirus with everything he had rarely questioning him.
Derek growled at his brother pulling his head away from Deran and the bread. Deran whimpered after his brother. "Derek. Please don't be like this Sirus really isn't that bad if you just give him a chance and do as he says." he held the bread out for him to take.
Derek struck the bread out of Deran's hand with a growl. "I do not need the food of that monster. Furthermore I will not serve one that is not of my own race." he stands up and steps back from his brother taking on a different attitude. "You have the keys. You can release me. Set me free brother and I will give a good word back to our tribe to remove exile from your name and the mark from your belly." he pulled his arm forward. The chains connected to the wall followed. "Just release me and your sins are pardoned." he pleaded with his brother.
Deran thought about his words. The temptation was great but then he thought of his master. "I cannot be pardoned for sins that are not mine." he turned from his brother and started to walk away. "I do not have what is required to release you. I am sorry brother." he slowly walked away from Derek.
Derek growled and lunched at his brother. Deran turned around hearing his brother rushing at him just in time for his arm to become the victim of Derek's spikes that had tightened against his back and locking Deran's arm in place. Some of the spikes pierced into Deran's skin cause blood to flow down Deran's arm and down Derek's back and sides. After a moment he released him. Deran turned and ran before Derek had a chance to make another attack. Derek yelled curses after him as he fled from the dungeon.
Suddenly he fell depressed as he saw the blood on the floor and wiped some of the blood from his fur. He fell to his knees in tears holding himself as he grieved over what he had just done to his brother.
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Deran ran running water over his bleeding arm. He was in the servants bathroom and knew he would be safe from discovery for at least a little while. He called to a slave that was not allowed to say anything and ordered him to get him some bandages. The little slave ran off and returned later with some long bandages for wrapping big wounds. The little fox assisted him in wrapping his arm tight enough to cause bleeding only to stop it moments later. When Deran was confident that bandages were secure he dismissed the little fox and sat in the bathroom alone. He had to think about what to do next about his brother. He knew that his actions would be punished should Sirus ever find out. For the moment he and Jahara were over Derek's progress and Sirus would only interfere if Derek became unruly. This would count he guessed and he didn't want Derek to be harmed because he was foolish. But he knew not reporting this would get him punished as well. He was torn as to what he should do.
Hours later, Deran left the servant's bath room. He had meditated on the subject of his brother and was now out to find Sirus. He would get punished for his delay but not as bad as if he didn't say anything. He found Sirus in the library at his work desk. Cautiously he approached him. He was hiding his arm as best as he could. He hadn't noticed it but along with his arm being red from some of the blood leaking through the bandages there was also blood splatter on his chest. It had faded but it was still there.
"Hello master." he stuttered. His voice screamed something was wrong but I don't know how to tell you. Sirus looked up at him. "How are you." Deran stuttered again. He was nervous.
Sirus noted that his actions were a little off from his normal happy temperament. He looked closely at him and saw the red blood on his fur. Growling he took his slave by the throat without warning. The lions long sharp claws digging into Deran flesh drawing a little bit more blood. He sniffs the blood splatter on his slave and growls. Deran reached his hurt arm up and takes hold of his masters arm trying to get away. Sirus growls louder at Deran looking into his eyes.
"What is this?" he says slowly motioning to the blood on Deran's chest and the bandage around his arm.
Deran whimpers as he is lifted off of the ground. "It's nothing. He didn't mean to do it I swear. It was an accident." he uses both his arms to try and pull himself out of Sirus's grasp.
Sirus tightened his grip on Deran's throat. Deran coughed against it as Sirus pulled him close to him. A golden fire burning deep in his eyes. "Speak. Tell me what happened right now." he ordered.
Deran closed his eyes a small tear falling from one of his top set eyes. He thought past the hand around his throat. "I went down to offer Derek bread once again. He wouldn't take it but he pleaded with me to release him behind your back. I told him I didn't have a Key and that it wasn't possible. He attacked me when I wasn't looking. He was to fast for me to fully escape him. He caught my arm with his spikes. When he released me I ran away and cleaned myself then I came to you. That's it I swear." He coughed against Sirus's hand wanting desperately for air again.
Sirus drops Deran on the floor growling. As Deran coughs to regain air into his lungs Sirus turns on his heal, causing his cape to flare out behind him and he stalks to the dungeon in a blind fury. Deran stands and follows once he felt he had recovered enough to do so. In anger Sirus burst through the dungeon doors, jumped off the staircase and punched Derek square in the gut faster than Derek could react. Sirus growled as he stared into Derek's wide eyes hearing Derek's ribs cracking under the force of his fist. From the top of the stair case Deran doubled over as Derek's empathy pain struck him hard. His eyes filled with tears from the pain and he gritted his teeth.
Derek fell back doubled over from Sirus. Sirus's bunch had been full of electrical currents and the currents were now racing up and down the chains connecting to Derek's shackles and collar and shocking him each time it touched him. Derek lay on the ground in pain looking up at the white lion that now towered over him.
"You are a FOOL Derek." he shouted with a hint a growl behind his voice.
Derek barley mustered up enough strength nod in agreement. He as going through another one of his common mood swings. He couldn't fight back. So he entered a submissive attitude. Sirus reached behind Derek and took hold of one of the small leader spikes that stayed hidden in the fur and yanked hard on it causing Derek to flinch and arch his back in pain.
"You are mine to do with as I will. And I will not allow you to go around hurting my other slaves even if that slave is your brother. Is that understood?" Sirus growled deep at Derek.
Derek went through another mood swing upon hearing Sirus's words. He growled deeply back at Sirus forgetting that his leader spike was in the hands of another. "Let go of me I am no one's property and I never will be. Besides Deran is my twin." the pain started seeping back to him and tears filled his eyes as he thought of his brother. "He used to always know when I would attack him why didn't he know." he cried. Yet another shift in his mood had taken place.
Deran had finally managed to make it down the stairs. All of the pain Derek was receiving was hitting him just as bad if not worse. Sirus summons forth cold to wrap around Derek's spike and to dig into Derek's flesh like a pick would into meat. Derek whimpers aloud and Deran finally bursts into tears the pain being a little to much for him to handle.
Sirus leans close to Derek's ear and whispers. "You are mine... you just haven't admitted it yet."
"So what?" Derek growls back at Sirus. "You keep me in chains until I admit that you own me. I would rather..." he was cute off as Deran forced his voice over his brother.
"Don't say that he will actually kill you." Deran shouted at his brother. "I don't want you to die." his voice trailed off and he looked away from his brother.
Derek sighs and looks away from Sirus to look at his brother. "Not your choice I am afraid. I have a right to my freedom even if you don't acknowledge your own. I don't want to be a slave for the rest of my life." he turns back to Sirus. "I am sure you know what I wanted to say." he says a little unsure now.
Sirus sends small bolts of lightning through Derek's body. Just enough to send his body into an unceasing pain. He growls as he slowly leans closer to Derek. He was so close that they were almost touching. "I could always send you back into my void."
Derek growled trying to back away from the lion. The pain was starting to get at him and he never liked to be close with anyone including his brother and this was far to close for his own comfort. He growled louder, "What do I care. A void is a void just the same as a dungeon is a dungeon. It is just another sick twisted way to keep me under your control.
The lion smiles wide as he gets close to him again. He uses his free hand and summons forth a small portal to the void. The feeling of falling enters Derek as he stares deep into the portal. He briefly becomes nauseas, but that quickly fades when Sirus adjusts his grip on the leader spike and then twists and pulls hard on it. Both Deran and Derek cry out in pain. The empathy pain between them growing stronger. Derek felt tears in his eyes and he wanted to pull back. They both fall to their knees. As the pain slowly subsided Derek bared his fangs at Sirus.
"By hurting me you are hurting your little pet." he manages to say finally.
"He will understand." Sirus growls and yanks hard again on his spike.
Deran was close to passing out at this point. The constant pain was making him very sick and the feeling of falling brought on by the portal to the void wasn't helping this at all. Derek looked over at Deran briefly. Deran was holding up rather well at this point.
"What if he doesn't understand? Then what will you do?" Derek growled once more his fangs still bared. He hid them and lowered his head as yet one more wave of nausea hit him. At this point Derek was glad that nausea was not translated by their empathy connection. At least Deran would be spared a few things.
"I am immortal, he will learn to understand." Sirus growls at Derek.
The void is canceled as Sirus moves his hand over to Derek's belly. He was soft at first as he raked his claws up his stomach. The as he went down he pressed hard enough to draw blood the whole way down. Derek cried out as his flesh was pierce by the lions claws. He glanced at his brother and saw him wrap his arms around his stomach. Something Derek wanted to do so bad but could bring himself to do lest it cause his brother more pain that he was willing to send his way.
"So what if you are immortal. Neither me nor my brother Deran are immortal. He could die hating that you killed me." he growled despite the pain.
"He will be immortal soon enough. Then he will have an eternity to forgive me." he digs his claws deeper into his belly. He licks his lips as he feels the blood running over his fingers.
He then removes his claws from Derek's gut and brings it close to his throat his claws trailing over the skin on his neck. Derek's breath was becoming panicky as he sat. He attempted to move his paws to his belly to hold the wound left behind from the lion's claws. He finally kept one of his four eyes focused on his brother. The other three focused on the lion before him.
"Why would you curse him like that?" Derek questioned. He was shifting through another mood swing. His anger fading away and a questioning depression sweeping over him.
Golden energy froze Derek in his place. Derek gasped in surprise at this. The fur on his belly becoming completely soaked from the blood flowing freely without his hand here to hold it back. Sirus fully took hold of Derek's neck. He squeezed tightly so that the razorbacks wind pipe began to close.
"So that your poor, poor brother can relive the horror of knowing you died, and that he could do nothing to stop that fate." he whispered into Derek's ear then squeezed tighter.
A new wave of self preservation. He suddenly didn't want to die. People always say they would rather die but in the heat of the moment who really could say they would back that up. Then Deran suddenly grabbed the arm Sirus was using to strangle his brother. His looked at his master pleadingly. Even with all the pain he had still made it to where his master and his brother where.
"Please..." he panted and looked deep into his eyes. "Please don't kill him."
Derek looked at his brother in shock before Sirus sent a magical wall to for Deran away from them. Sirus release a loud growl as he turned away from Deran to focus his attention back on Derek. He leaned close to Derek again with a wide smile playing on his lips.
"You know you don't have to die. You could always give in and admit that you belong to me." his last three words were said slowly and with a coldness that sent a chill down everyone's spine. "Simply submit to me and you will not have the endless torture of your bother on your shoulder or the sentence of death."
Derek looked over at Deran. His feelings for his brothers future rising once more. He looked at his brother only to see him in a ball on the floor. His eyes filled with tears that never seemed to stop. The empathy link between them was making Deran cry himself. His lack of air combined with his inability to move was bringing him over the edge.
"Fine. I don't care." he strained around the lions strong hand. "Let me go. I don't care anymore." he cried. "I don't care if I die. But I cannot allow my brother to suffer because of you."
Sirus holds his grip tight for a moment then releases it a little. Just enough to allow an even air flow to Derek's lungs. He releases Derek's leader spike and trails his claws down Derek's back and smile on his face.
"You say this but I wonder if you speak truth to me." he stares deep into his eye searching for lies. Deran looked at Derek in shock of his words.
Derek growls at Sirus. "My brother's sanity is at stake. You think I would take such a fragile thing lightly. If I have to be a slave to someone like you to make sure he is safe. You can bet your ass I will do so. I won't make my brother suffer at my expense. I might gain at his suffer, but I won't suffer so he will suffer. You can think me evil and twisted for this, but that is now how razorback's work." Derek looks back at his brother who was now looking away from him. Derek flattened his ears and looked back at Sirus. "I guess you are going to have to just trust me until I prove my word wrong."
Sirus drops Derek fully releasing his grip on him. "Time will tell." he starts walking towards the door and sees Deran still on the floor not looking and anything but his own hands. "Come Deran. You are to be with me tonight. I will send other slaves to tend to your brother's wounds."
Deran nods and stands up following Sirus without complaint. He doesn't even spare a glance at his brother. Derek whimpers after his brother wondering if he might have done something wrong. As the door closes and darkness fills the room once more Derek takes hold of his stomach to stop the bleeding and curles back into his ball. After a few moments he found himself crying. Over what he wasn't sure. But there were tears.