began to watch for any opportunity to escape. I knew it would have to be at night. The guards would be less alert and there would be fewer on duty. If only Remy stayed away for one night, I could wait for Alex to fall asleep, steal some of Remy's clothes and make my way to the portal room.

I'd arrived in the portal room and from there had been taken to the 'playroom'. It was merely a matter of focusing my memory on the direction of the portal room from the 'playroom'. I was sure I'd figure it out once I was in those hallways and had signs to jog my memory. I was going through that portal, even if it killed me. I knew with a chill in my heart that I couldn't give Remy what he wanted. No matter how enticing it felt to just give in. Any chance I got I'd use to my advantage to escape. And I was well aware that I only had one chance.

After that first night of release, Alex and I returned to our normal routines. My guitar was even returned to me fully repaired. And my lessons were resumed. Yet despite the return to normal, a distance had come between Alex and me. As if in silent agreement, we kept our conversations to a minimum and kept them light and casual. No discussions of feelings were raised. No mention of our status and the future. And certainly no talk of escape. While I mourned this distance, I let it pass, knowing that once I'd escaped I'd get my brother back. There were signs, however subtle, that he hadn't broken completely. At least I believed that. I had to believe it.

During that first week of freedom, Lady Boutin dined with Remy every night. Twice Alex and I were instructed to kneel at the table next to Remy. On those occasions Remy fed us morsels from his plate, while Lady Boutin watched with that same expression of amused tenderness. The rest of the time we waited quietly in Remy's bed until someone came to escort the lady back to her rooms. And every night Remy made love to Alex and me with a passion that, had I not tempered it with fear, would have cost me my heart to him. The fear delayed my breaking. But it was only a matter of time. I was postponing the inevitable. And there was a sense of pressure building inside me. I couldn't rid myself of the feeling that something was going to happen. Perhaps a chance for escape? I didn't know.

On the sixth night after our release, Remy informed us that he'd be away for the evening. He was taking Lady Boutin out for the evening. "And," he told us with a sly smile, "dere's somet'ing important I need to ask her."

I nodded calmly, but inside I leapt at the opportunity his dining out gave me. *He might be gone all night*, I thought, failing to notice Alex deflate, his face become passive, only his eyes expressing his tortured heart. Remy was getting married. And to someone he cared for.

I saw Alex's expression as soon as Remy had left, and knew with some anger that Alex wouldn't be sleeping that night. Like a love sick fool he'd be waiting up for Remy.

What did he expect, I wondered? For Remy to marry *him*? It was ludicrous, but I knew Alex wasn't thinking rationally. He was thinking of love, with flowers, and hearts and romance and commitment. He wasn't thinking of himself as a slave, but as Remy's lover. And that was dangerous. It could lead to madness or punishment. And I couldn't trust him not to betray me if I simply left. So I waited with him until Remy returned.

Remy was floating on air, affectionate, happier than I'd seen him in some time. A truly sincere happiness and for a moment I thought that perhaps I could persuade him to set Alex and me free and send us home. But then he said, "She is beautiful, and she is *mine*."

Lady Boutin, for all her grace and poise and kindness, was still merely a possession for him.

"We will marry next month," Remy announced. "De council's approved. But how could dey not?"

He turned to gaze at us. "Come, mon chers, I feel like celebrating. I won't know de bliss of her body until de wedding night. But I can enjoy my favorite slaves, non?" His tone was light and joking, but his words cut me to the core. He didn't love us. Not true love anyway. While I'd certainly been aware of that fact, his words forced that knowledge into my consciousness.

And Alex, poor besotted Alex. He turned into an automaton, going through the motions of love, but with the play acting of the whore he now believed he was. Damn Remy.

Alex seemed to deteriorate after that. At least in my presence. He slept most of the day. Only getting up to workout or eat. I think he forced himself to do these things because he didn't want Remy to be aware that he was anything other than a good, obedient slave.

Remy was home every night for the next two weeks. And we saw nothing of Lady Boutin. From what I could garner, she had returned to her country to make the final arrangements for her move to Genosha and her new life as consort to Remy Lebeau.

A week later, Tanya and Meredith were brought to Remy's bedroom to prepare us for an engagement party. Alex and I were stunned. We hadn't been shown in public for months, and I couldn't see what Remy's motives were for showing us now. There was nothing for us to do, but to accede to his wishes. The same golden chains were wrapped around our waists. The same red stone was secured in my navel and the blue stone secured in Alex. The same gold cuffs signifying who owned us were placed around our wrists. And as before we were both lightly oiled to highlight the cuts of our muscles and enhance our beauty. Finally, golden leashes were once again attached to our inhibitor collars and we were left to wait for our Master.

But Remy never came. Instead, a guard was sent to fetch us. We were led gently to the ballroom, our escort obviously given instructions to handle us with care. But rather than entering through the large double doors, we were taken in through a side door. The party was in full swing. Couples were dancing on the ballroom floor to the classical waltz being played. Laughter came from the groups of people all chattering and gossiping around the dance floor. No one paid us much attention as we came in, and I felt a wash of relief. Perhaps Remy wouldn't expect us to perform?

Alex and I stood inside the doorway with the guard as he scanned the room for some signal. Then we were moving across the room to where Remy stood with Lady Boutin. I caught my breath at the sight of him, cursing my own admiration. But he looked spectacular. He wore a floor length maroon coat that buttoned from just below his groin upward. The collar stood up square around his neck. A black collarless silk shirt peeked out from beneath the coat, and he wore the same type of black leggings he seemed to always wear with the knee high leather black boots. He had left his hair down, and the russet locks flowed across his shoulders, catching the light as he moved. A gold circlet adorned his brow. And the sigil of his office hung from around his neck. He looked like a figure from some gothic romance novel.

Lady Boutin was equally elegant in lavender and white. Simply dressed, the gown she wore had an empire waist, form fitting as it tapered down below her breasts, one wide strip of lavender, surrounded by intricately woven white lace. The cuffs of her gown brought the neckline down over her shoulders, accentuating her slender arms and long graceful neck. Delicate hands were covered in white silk gloves. She wore her beautiful auburn tresses up, but relaxed around her face. And her brilliant green eyes sparkled with love has she looked at Remy.

I felt a wave of pity go through me, because I knew she was just another piece of property to him. Another conquest. Another slave. Yet when I turned my eyes in his direction, a rush of desire went through me and I realized how easily it was to fall under his spell. He gave Alex and me a dazzling smile as he saw us being led over to him, and I felt the urge to drop to my knees before him and declare my love.

I fought this compulsion with a slight shake of my head. And suddenly we were standing just behind Remy and Lady Boutin. She turned and gave us a light-hearted smile, full of affection. Remy turned also, and took our leashes from the guard, holding them loosely in one hand. Then he turned his attention back to the nobles he had been talking to. I think we were meant to be part of his adornment.

Alex and I stood there for what seemed like hours, doing nothing, saying nothing. It was dull to say the least. I tried to listent to what the nobles were saying to Remy, but their words were mostly empty flattery, sickening in its garishness, in the one-upmanship the courtiers played. At one point Lady Boutin was dragged away by a group of noblewomen who wish to 'get to know her better' without Remy's influence. Several winked and nodded to Remy as if it were some grand joke, laughing as they led her across the room toward other waiting noblewomen.

Eventually the others surrounding Remy drifted away, and for several moments we stood there alone with Remy. He seemed relaxed, not at all uncomfortable with the sudden lack of company. I watched him scan the room for his fiance and finding her, he smiled with such tenderness, I could almost believe that he loved her. Then he turned to face us for a moment.

"Enjoying yourselves?" He asked pleasantly.

Alex and I both nodded.

Remy laughed. "No you're not. You're bored out of your mind. I'll send you along in a bit." He looked back at the crowd, and spotting a servant with a tray of sparkling white wine, no doubt the equivalent of champagne on this world, he gestured for him to come over. Taking two glasses, he handed them to Alex and me. He took another and held it up, dismissing the servant. I looked at him a little incredulous, but he smiled broadly. "A toast," he said, "to de Lady Boutin, m'lovely bride to be."

I looked at Alex for just a second and then clinked my glass with Remy's. Alex held back, the pause noticeably uncomfortable has he looked at Remy. Jesus! His eyes were misting. But then he straightened and said, "to the Lady Boutin, who's won your heart." He touched his glass with Remy and downed the drink in one gulp.

Remy's face clouded as his smile disappeared. "Would you like anot'er, Alex?" He asked as if he were reprimanding an unruly child. "Perhaps two or t'ree more would ease your jealousy, hein?"

Alex's shoulders slumped and he bowed his head. "Forgive me, Master."

Remy stepped up close to him and lifted his chin, kissing him lightly on the lips. "Dere will be time for you, mon couer. Don' t'ink my marriage will cause me to forget you. But do not forget your place. D'ccord?"

Alex nodded slowly, closing his eyes.

"I will call de guard to escort you back to de room now." Remy ran his knuckles tenderly against Alex's cheek, his voice kind and concerned. "You seem tired."

"Milord Remy. I see I've caught you alone for the moment." Councilor Frederico Escalada approached with a beautiful dark haired woman, naked except for an inhibitor collar, trailing behind him. A mutant slave. She had olive skin and large dark eyes with long black lashes. She kept her eyes on the floor until Escalada came to stand in front of Remy. Then she looked up at me with a shy smile. I smiled back, enchanted.

Remy stepped away from Alex and turned to face Escalada with a polite smile. "Yes. I was just toasting my beautiful bride wit' my pets."

Escalada gave him a smug smile. "I can certainly see why you indulge them. They're magnificent."

Remy nodded but said nothing.

A sudden wave of anxiety went through me. Something was going on between these two men, that I couldn't see.

Escalada continued to smile, his thin mustache twitching a bit as he turned and pulled the slave in front of him. His grip was tight, his whole manner condescending and cruel. The girl was just a slave after all, his gesture indicated. She winced at his grip for a second.

"I wanted to show you my newest acquisition, Arienne. A mutant found in Croatia. She's quick-witted and beautiful. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Of course," Remy replied casually. "You have excellent taste. What is her power?"

"Healing factor. Not on the level of an alpha. She heals about fifty percent faster than a normal human."

Remy nodded again and stepped closer to examine the girl. Obediently she let him touch her cheek, open her mouth, examine her even white teeth. He stoked down her arms, cupped a breast, playing with the nipple for a moment, smiling as it hardened. Very submissive. Well-trained.

"Very responsive. How old?" Remy asked.

"Eighteen. I acquired her about three months ago. She fought like a lioness during the first week. But I broke her to the whip soon after."

I scowled. Escalada was worse than I had ever thought. Evil as far as I was concerned.

Remy looked thoughtful for a moment and then turned the girl around. Her back was unmarred. He ran his hand down her back until he cupped a smooth buttock.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Escalada said with pride. "I only had to remove the inhibitor collar and the lash marks vanished within a day. Not even a scar. And -- I hate to be vulgar -- but her vagina never loses it's elasticity once her healing factor begins to work." He smiled slyly then. "It's like making love to a virgin every time. I believe she's one of my best retrievals yet."

"You plan to breed her no doubt," Remy said with just a hint of boredom.

"Well," Escalada pursed his lips, "I brought her here to tonight to tempt you."

"I only sleep wit' slaves in my quarters," Remy replied, turning the girl back around. "You know dat. Alt'ough she is tempting."

"Actually, I meant to entice you into breeding your favorites. Can you imagine the power their offspring might wield? Not to mention the potential beauty."

I sucked in a breath, rage beginning to boil inside me. I felt Alex tense next to me.

"Hmmm..." Remy said thoughtfully. This seemed to pique his interest and I sucked in more air, holding it in a rising panic.

"I'm sure your pets would enjoy mounting her. She is *very* passionate," Escalada continued, his eyes lighting up has he watched Remy consider the offer. "And I'd be happy to allow them the luxury of breeding like humans, rather than my normal methods. It would be pleasant, I promise."

"And if dey can't or won't perform?" Remy asked. "I won't have dem harmed."

"No, of course not," Escalada responded in an oily placating tone. "There is always artificial insemination. Although it's certainly not my preferred method." Suddenly he spoke in earnest, "You must breed them, Milord. You cannot waste beauty and power such as theirs. Give me a chance. You will be welcomed to their first born."

I clenched my hands into fists, clamped my teeth down tightly to keep from saying anything has I watched Remy's face. He couldn't consider it. He knew my fury at the very idea. He knew I'd rather die than be bred by Escalada. And I was sure Alex felt the same way. The idea of escape never seemed more urgent.

Remy looked at the girl for a long time saying nothing. Escalada stood by seemingly calm, but I could see him holding his breath at times, and a slight tremor ran through his right cheek every so often. Finally, Remy stepped back nodding slowly.

"I 'ave been wondering what I will do wit' dem while I am on my honeymoon. Dey'll need watching I suspect." He looked at Escalada. "I had t'ought to send dem to a trainer. Deir are several t'ings dey need work on. But you 'ave a trainer, non?"

Escalada clapped his hands together with glee. "Yes, Milord. I have an excellent trainer. I'd be happy to have him take them on, for the privilege of breeding them."

Remy smiled. "Come see me tomorrow. We'll work out de details."

Escalada clapped a hand on Remy's shoulder. "You won't regret it, Milord."

My mind was in a whirl. I knew I was glaring at Remy, but I didn't care. He'd have to kill me before I'd give in to his demand to breed me.

Escalada and Remy began to discuss his upcoming marriage. He glanced back at us once, a devious smile on his face. And Escalada's eyes set on us several times as they talked, a lecherous look of pleasure on his face every time. At one point, when another courtier approached Remy, he pulled Arienne close and whispered something to her. She smiled demurely and walked over to us, swaying her hips seductively. Beginning to purr in her native tongue she came to stand in front of me, reaching up to caress my cheek. I stepped back shaking my head, but she continued moving toward me, her hands running over my chest.

"Want me?" She asked in broken English. I shook my head furiously and backed up again. Remy had let go my leash earlier to examine the girl, so I was able to continue backing away from the slave.

"Hold still, Scott," Remy ordered from behind the slave girl. He sounded amused. "Surely you still like women, hein?"

I was desperate. Her mouth had come down on my nipple, her tongue flicking at the bud. At the same time her hand gripped my growing erection firmly. She knew exactly what to do to hold me in place. My breath grew shallow and my palms began sweating. It wasn't so much anger I was feeling, but desperation. He couldn't do this to me. I shook my head. "Please, Master, please don't," I begged through gritted teeth.

"Now Scott," Remy's tone grew stern, "It isn't as if you're not enjoying yourself." A small drop of pre-cum oozed from the head of my cock as he said this and I flushed in shame. Arienne ran a finger over it and put it to her lips, smearing them and then wantonly licking the fluid away, a hunger in her eyes.

"Taste good," she said. "Would like to have more." She dropped to her knees without warning and licked the head of my dick, pushing the tip of her tongue into the slit.

"Christ!" I gasped, trying to push her gently away. Although I really wanted to slap her away. And I wanted her to suck my cock.

Remy, Escalada, and the nobleman who had joined them chuckled at my expense.

"He can't decide what he wants more," Escalada observed smugly. "To hit the girl or let her ride him." He turned to Remy. "It won't take long for him to respond to the breeding program. My mares are well-trained."

"So I see," Remy replied.

At that I shoved the girl hard. She landed back on her ass and arms with a yelp. Suddenly I saw Rachael's visage superimposed on the face of the slave girl. My daughter from another parallel universe. A slave to Ahab, and a mutant 'hound'. She'd been forced to hunt mutants for that sick bastard, betraying her own kind. I could see my future with Escalada then. My children, children I'd never get to raise, like Nathan and Racheal and Nate Grey, sold into slavery, forced into this terrible life. The fact that I would never see those children, never know that they were mine if our paths ever crossed, didn't matter. They would still be my children, just as surely as Racheal and Nate were. They were still a part of me. I would never be able to bare thinking that one of my own was kept like chattel. I backed up looking for the nearest exit. Looking for a weapon or a means to my own death. If anything could cause me to think of suicide, it would be this forced breeding. I'd kill myself just to stop my potential offspring from being born into slavery. Several of the courtiers near us looked over curiously at the commotion. There was going to be a show. One of Remy's favorites was about to bolt.

Suddenly a wave of exquisite warmth and pleasure ran through me. "No," I whispered as my legs buckled underneath me. Remy was using his charm on me. I hit the floor hard, bruising my knees.

"He'll respond, Frederico," Remy said as he stepped to me. "But I t'ink right now it's too much for my poor boy. Come see me tomorrow."

Escalada was pulling Arienne to her feet. He nodded. "Certainly Milord. Tomorrow." He left then, an excited bounce in his step as he dragged the now weeping slave girl along behind him. I had the terrible feeling she was going to be punished for my rejection.

Remy stood over me, a smirk on his face. Then he turned to Alex, who'd stood by solemly through the whole event, knowing there wasn't anything he could have done. More than likely, if the girl had come on to him, he would have let her suck him off. "Take him back upstairs," Remy said. "See de guard at de door and tell him I said to escort you back. No trouble, cher. I don' want to 'ave to punish you tonight."

Alex swallowed and nodded. Then he bent down and helped me to my feet. He pulled one of my arms over his shoulder and grabbed me firmly around the waist. I was still drowning in the blissful sensations and unsteady on my feet. But by the time we'd made it to the door and out of the room, Remy's power had diminished immeasurably. I yanked away from Alex and stood furiously in the hallway as my brother told the guard what Remy had ordered. He took our leashes without a word and led us back up to the bedroom.