Chapter 5

Trying to apologize to Ashr 

I woke the next day to an empty room which wasn't uncommon. I stood and stretched the collar was annoying and caused chafing on my flesh around my neck. I frowned slightly and headed up the stairs to the kitchen for something to eat. I had to figure out how to apologize appropriately to Ashr. The living room and kitchen were also empty and I began to wonder where he'd gone. I ran down each level and heard a thump and curse coming from one of the lower levels I wasn't permitted to go to. 

"Do you need help," I yelled down the stairs.

"Yes, please," Ashr replied and grinning, I hurried down the stairs. I stopped and glared at Ashr carrying an exact duplicate of the table I had broken last night. He glanced at me and the table and shook his head.

"It was a complete set of three. Now I only have two thanks to you," he growled sadly. I sighed annoyingly and grabbed one end while he grabbed the other and we carried the heavy crystal table up the staircase.

"You're an art collector. Are the two rooms I'm banned from full of your collection," I asked curiously and he furrowed his brow.

"Something like that. I used to collect the obscure as well. There are taxidermy pieces I'd rather you not see," he sighed and I got a sickening feeling in my gut.

"Are they of half breeds like myself?" He looked at me worriedly and sighed.

"I've got both. Human and half breeds in my collection and both male and female subjects," he mumbled softly and I swallowed slowly.

"I don't wish to discuss them anymore. The sooner you are trained the better it will become. You need to go to my brother's Zax," he said sincerely and I shrugged. We carried the table into the living room and with it in place it all looked as it had before my destruction. Ashr looked disturbed and I couldn't understand why. He looked at me worriedly and sighed.

"Please promise me you won't go to those rooms. I honestly had forgotten about what was actually there and I'm not the same person that I was when I collected them," he said sincerely, almost in tears. I couldn't understand why he was so upset.

"Just tell me why you're so worried," I demanded.  He rubbed his eyes and exhaled deeply. He looked down at me.

"Go to the second room from the bottom. Go towards the back and after you see what is there. Tell me what you want done. I will fulfill that wish," he told me solemnly and I agreed. I went back down the stairs and hesitated at the door. I opened it slowly and that old musty smell assaulted my nostrils. The lights flickered on and illuminated thousands of amazing artworks. Sculptures and paintings were everywhere. I walked through the narrow path towards the back like Ashr told me. I froze and my mouth dropped open. I knew instantly what I was looking at once I saw the long white hair of my own mother. A tear rolled down my cheek and I headed towards the front to see her face. Her dried leathery skin was stretched over a human shaped mold and her eyes had been replaced by glass eyes of the same color as hers had been in life. She had been young, only in her early forties when she had died of a sudden undiscovered blood clot. I touched her face and started to sob. The hospital had told me they burned the bodies in plasma energy-producing incinerators of those who couldn't afford funerals and they had lied. 

"I'm sorry mom," I mumbled sadly and Ashr placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I'd forgotten about her Zax, I will pay for her burial if you like or we can incinerate the entire lot," he said firmly. I glanced around and noticed several people all standing around. I looked up at Ashr and saw the concern in his eyes. 

"Let's burn them all and set them free," I mumbled softly and he nodded. He turned me to face him and hugged me tightly to himself. 

"I was once a very morbid and cruel Demirkan and I also consumed human blood and flesh. I changed over time once I accepted that I was different from others and enjoyed a males touch over that of a female. The confusion can create monsters within us if we don't accept our true nature," he said intelligently. I nodded my head agreeing with him. 

"As much as Fluoria was an akle he did help me a lot," he added

"I'd rather be the one to help you," I said, surprising us both with my confession. Ashr glanced over at me and grinned.

"We shall see pet, you still have much training to learn." I grinned slightly. Was I upset about him buying my mother's taxidermied corpse? I found it unnerving that he found joy in collecting such macabre. I looked up and he was watching me closely.

"Go find something nice to wear from the clothing closet. Make sure it is not nicer than what I'm currently wearing. Remember you're my pet," he said firmly and winked at me. I headed back up the stairs with Ashr's eyes following my every step. I ended up coming out of the small room in casual Demirkan everyday clothes.

"You're lucky I'm a good owner, most wouldn't bother dressing their pets." I rolled my eyes and laughed.

"I doubt many of your Demirkan pets even know your language or are bastard sons of your king," I replied, shocking Ashr.

"You're getting very bold, pet," he growled and shook his head slowly. He opened the front door and clasped a freaking leash to my collar.

"Come along," he mumbled softly and tugged on the leash. He lifted me onto his brother's transport and climbed up beside me. He was scowling looking at the destinations already pre programmed into the vehicle. I figured the places weren't designed for a poor Demirkan which I truly didn't think Ashr was. I did however believe he was very frugal when it pertained to certain things. 

He grinned slightly and told me to hang on and the transport burst forth to some destination. We arrived in front of a colorful mound that looked oddly like a crashed spacecraft sticking halfway out of the ground. One almost forgot that the Demirkans came from space; they'd been on earth for so long it seemed life had always been this way. Ashr pulled on my leash since I'd been spacing off. I apologized and jogged up to his side. We entered the establishment and a hostess brought us to a secluded table near a huge glass looking wall. I could see out for miles.

"This is pretty cool," I mumbled softly and Ashr chuckled.

"Have you ever eaten Demirkan cuisine?" I looked over at him and shook my head. He grinned back and turned to the waiter who was reading off the specials of the night.

"My pet and I will share the tartare with butter and two sides of blood sausage," he said. The waiter nodded and said it'd be right out. Then Ashr tilted his head and  grinned devilishly at me.

"You want to catch your father's attention and make him proud, correct?" I nodded my head.

"Can you fight? Kylan takes the king to Demirkan fights every Thursday and the king invites the winners over for dinner at the royal mound. Also we can practice at my place since I have the facilities," he mumbled softly and I cocked my brow wondering what he was up to. He said we could start after our dinner settled and I told him okay. Our plates were placed before each of us and I poked my fork into the oblong sausage and grimaced. It didn't look appetizing but Ashr told me to try it. I cut off a piece and placed it in my mouth. I chewed once and the flavor burst over my taste buds and I made an odd sound of pleasure. I devoured the entire sausage.

"It's good and probably contains human blood. It seems you're more Demirkan than human," he told me and took a sip of his wine. I looked at him and covered my mouth as my stomach started to turn.

"You fed me human blood? For what purpose," I growled angrily. Ashr shrugged his shoulders and gave me a stern look.

"Behave, pet, or I'll whip you right here in this establishment," he mumbled firmly. I furrowed my brow and submitted to his request. I grabbed my glass and took a big gulp of fucking blood, not the wine I'd thought it was. I spit it out across the table and stood abruptly, slamming the glass to the tabletop. 

"I will not drink blood," I growled bitterly and Ashr eyed me oddly. He stood, turned to the startled waiter and asked for the bill. He paid quickly and pulled me forcefully out the door and to the transport. He didn't say a word to me as he lifted me up to the transport and jumped up beside me. He entered his destination and I was jerked back without warning as the vehicle took off. I sat back and watched Ashr scowling as he watched the scenery fly by.

"I don't want to consume humans, sorry not sorry," stated firmly and he side eyed me suspiciously.

"You're Demirkan with smooth skin and nothing more, what part of humanity even remains in you. You confuse me greatly, Zax Derix," he responded bitterly. I furrowed my brow and stood before him.

"My mother was human and I will not ignore her existence or forget she's a part of me," I stated boldly. He smirked and told me to hold my anger and release it in the training room. The transport stopped before his mound and he jumped down from the vehicle, getting ready to help me. I rolled my eyes and jumped down away from him. He was going to figure out I didn't need him to cater me. I was capable of doing many things on my own. Ashr bent over and grabbed my leash and pulled me after himself as he entered his mound.

"Let's make a bet on our fight, the winner gets whatever they want. What do you say pet, is it a bet," Ashr snapped as he eyed me coldly. I swallowed worriedly and nodded my head not truly understanding the complex nature of Ashr.