One night Remy came home early. This was a rare occasion. Alex and I had usually gone to bed by the time he'd returned from whatever state business he'd been involved in that day. He fed us and took us to bed. Nothing unusual for the few times he had come home early. But he seemed distracted. Alex and I were pleasuring him when he suddenly stopped us and pushed us both away. I sat back startled, worried that I'd done something wrong. But then he told Alex and I to pleasure each other. I was a little disconcerted and concerned. Most of the time he demanded his own release before us. But Alex's mouth on my nipple soon drove away any thoughts. When we'd finished Remy was asleep. And there was no lovemaking later that night as was the precedent.

The next night, Remy never came home. Sad to say, I missed him when I woke up the next morning and didn't find him in bed. He returned the night after and informed us he'd be taking us to council in the morning. That night he stayed with us and I found the lovemaking poignant and sad for some odd reason I couldn't put my finger on.

As he promised, Alex and I were led with leather leashes to the council room. Remy sat on the throne at the end of the room. I knelt on his right, Alex on his left. Remy had instructed us to remain quiet during the meeting. It was a moot point. None of these councilors would want to hear from two slaves. But I listened. I kept my eyes lowered, yet watched the room all the same. I put names of councilors to faces. I concentrated on the state business that was discussed, but I was particularly interested in the economic concerns of this country. Genosha was facing a blockade from a neighboring country. There was talk of war.

And then there was talk of slaves. Nothing was said out loud in the general assembly. But there were grumblings. I could feel the sneers and scowls of some members of the council directed at us as they approached Remy. But thankfully none of the councilors laid a hand on us. I think it would have been frowned upon, not just by Remy but by the social standard. Favorite slaves were not touched unless permission was given, such as had been given at the party some months before. And Remy stayed close to us, rarely leaving his seat of power.

After that first day we began to go with him to council often. If I could place a time pattern to this activity I'd have said we went three times a week. But while we attended these meetings more frequently, Remy began to leave us alone more and more at night. This left me with a strange sense of loss. I missed his smile, his charm, his touch and smell. I think I was jealous. Jealous of whoever was taking him away from me. Was he going to the slave quarters? Was he visiting the women's quarters? Were we boring him? Was I boring him? I kept silent. And so did Alex. But I think an anxiety was growing in both of us, despite the fact that he was as loving as ever when he did come home to us.

After about the sixth week of going to council meetings according to my estimate, Remy stopped taking us to the assembly. But I understood why. He was being pressured to keep us out of sight. At the last meeting we attended, Councilor Constantine approached Remy as everyone was leaving. I'd seen him before and had learned his name when he spoke in council. He was probably in his late fifties, a handsome man, tall, graying at the temples with a dark thick mane. And he seemed practical, reasonable. My first impression was that he didn't approve of kidnapping mutants from Earth. He never said this in front of the members of the council. But I noticed he never came with a slave like most of his peers. And he wore an expression of disapproval every time slavery was mentioned.

As Constantine walked toward Remy this day I watched his eyes fall on Alex, and then he turned to look at me. He was frowning. But rather than disdain he had a look of disappointment.

"Milord." He bowed to Remy. "A word if you please?"

Remy nodded for him to continue. For a moment he seemed just a tiny bit uncertain, his glance moving to Alex again. Alex had his head down, but I could tell by the way he kept his arms dangled at his sides, purposely relaxed, that he was listening as intently as I. Constantine came to a decision then and began to speak in earnest.

"Milord, there's been rumors. I don't usually listen to the gossip among your courtiers, but this...I feel things are getting out of hand with..." he paused, searching for the right word or phrase, "our system of slavery."

I couldn't see Remy's face, but I imagined him tilting his head and cocking an eyebrow has he said, "Out of hand?"

"Yes." Constantine straightened visibly, more sure of himself now. "Many of the councilors and nobles have spoken harshly about your Alpha mutant slaves." He nodded to both of us in turn. "Some have voiced outrage. Others feel that if you have two in your stable, why must they settle for Beta class mutants. Monark, Bertucci, Escalada...they've always wanted an Alpha." His voice took on a sneering tone. "Escalada has made it perfectly clear he'd like to breed one."

"I'm aware." Remy spoke quietly. I could feel the anger radiating from him, but also the anxiety. This situation was getting out of hand and he was nervous.

"I don't agree with the kidnapping of mutants as you know." Constantine was saying and I turned my attention back to the conversation.

"Oui," Remy replied. "I know you only buy slaves born and bred here."

"Yes. But if others want 'earthers' and the law allows it -- within reason, of course -- then who am I to argue. Slavery hasn't necessarily been a bad thing for our country. Or this world."

I scowled with my head bowed. So much for looking toward Constantine as a possible ally.

"I'm worried though," he continued. "Alpha mutants are rare. And if too many are taken, it might be noticed."

"The count is low and all are registered," Remy replied evenly. "I don't think Earth will really care. Most of de human population don' like dem anyway. I would t'ink dey'd be happy for us to take dem off our hands."

I saw the councilor nod. "True. But most of the Alpha mutants have powerful non-mutant friends. Brilliantly minded friends who might discover the portals. And what really had me worried was hearing one councilor mention taking Johnny Storm for his stable."

My head came up at that before I could stop it. Remy glared down at me. And Councilor Constantine gave me a cautious look. I dropped my head immediately cursing my lack of restraint. Remy knew I was listening. He wasn't an idiot. But he didn't want to see it so obviously portrayed. He didn't want to be made aware of the fact that I was gathering information. I didn't want him to be aware of that fact either. It was a subtle dance between us. As long as I kept my head down, acted the perfect submissive, then he could continue to believe I wouldn't try to escape. And he wouldn't have to punish me for my overtness. Of course he had the advantage. But I needed to maintain the illusion. Cross that line and I'd be in trouble. And what galled me more was Alex's ability to remain calm. He hadn't looked up. He hadn't give one sign that he'd heard what Constantine had said. And he was supposed to be the temperamental brother. The one who reacted with more passion to a situation. I was supposed to be the cool-headed one.

I sighed inwardly and tried to get my mind back on what the two men were saying. Once the initial irritation and embarrassment of my reaction subsided, I found what Constantine had said very, very interesting. Johnny Storm wasn't a mutant. And the Fantastic Four were highly regarded on Earth. His disappearance would cause an uproar. And Reed Richards was one of the most intelligent men on my planet. If anyone could detect the portals and find a way over here, it'd be him. I gave a silent prayer that the councilor in question would try. It might just trigger a rescue.

Remy's absences at night had put thoughts of escape back in the forefront of my thoughts in the last few weeks. I'd even cautiously approached Alex about freedom. But he was still adamant that escape was impossible. And rescue highly unlikely. Besides, Remy could easily find us again and would just bring us back. I let the matter drop.

"I'll look into de matter." Remy told Constantine.

There was a short pregnant pause and then Constantine said, "Perhaps it would be wise to keep these two slaves out of sight for a time. Their presence in council is a goad to many of the council members."

"D'ccord," Remy snapped, dismissing the councilor with his tone. "T'ank you for your advice. I'll take it under consideration."

Constantine bowed and left quickly. Remy sat pensively for several moments. Then he gathered up our leashes and led us to the door of the council room. Two guards were stationed outside and he handed the leashes to one of them.

"Take dem back upstairs," he ordered, looking distracted, his eyes out of focus.

The guard tugged roughly on the leather leashes, pulling us away from our master. When I had a chance to look back, he was gone.

Alex and I didn't talk about what we'd overheard. Not at first. After all his vehement dismissals of ever escaping, I didn't think this latest bit of information would change his mind. But when night came and we lay in bed, waiting for Remy, Alex suddenly said, "Do you think it's possible? Do you think Richards could find Storm here?"

I looked at the outline of his face in the darkness. He was staring up at the ceiling, his head resting in his hands. "I don't know. Do you want to be rescued?" It was churlish of me, I know. But after all this time for him to finally give voice to the tiniest bit of hope, annoyed me.

"Of course!" He replied. But I could hear a faint note of hesitation and dread. It echoed my own. We'd been here so long. Perhaps only months, but so much had happened in that time. Alex and I both knew how much we'd been changed, conditioned. One question circled around and around in my head, wrapping up every question I had about escaping or being rescued into one neat angst-ridden package: could I really return to my old life?

Alex turned over and nestled his head on my shoulder. I could feel a faint trembling in his arm as he wrapped it around my chest. And I knew in that instant he wasn't seeking sexual intimacy. He was looking for comfort from his big brother. He was afraid. I pulled him closer and held him tight as we drifted off to sleep.