I Scored Myself A Mate

His steps were slow and in his mind he was trying really hard to get used to his new appearance. It was weird literally being in Mark's shoes as he walked down the halls. A soldier bumped him on the way there and clicked his tongue before he pushed him to move faster. He made a mental note to transfer him away when he had his normal for back. Somewhere really far away.

Allias entered the throne room and scanned everyone around him, hoping that he wouldn't notice not even an inch of suspicion. After his nightmare last night all he was thinking about was seeing Theseus as he woke up all alone and scared to death. He was right there, standing next to the icy throne where Mark sat. It was obvious that his best friend was uncomfortable, sitting too overly straight and the thought of Theseus nagging him about not messing up popped in his head. It would be pretty funny to see that, he thought. 

The meaner guard pushed him on his knees and made him fall his head. All he could see now were their legs as his strong palm was pressuring the top of his head. He let out a sigh, as silently as he could and focused on Theseus. His hands were clenched in fists, his knuckles turning even more paler from the anger he was trying to subdue. This whole situation was a torture to him, maybe even worse than the whipping he was going to receive. Allias was aware of it. Seeing someone you love dearly be in pain hurt a lot more than enduring the pain yourself sometimes. I am sorry, the king whispered in his head and closed his eyes when he heard the enormous doors open. 

Achlys walked in first with a very satisfied smile on, with her newly found minion the Troll representative following close with a huge piece of wood. Allias could not see them though since his back was turned. He understood that something was wrong from the way Theseus spoke. 

"What is this? You said you were going to whip his not give him a beating. His human body won't stand it and why does it smell like that? Is that spider lily? He is a human!" He exclaimed and Allias smiled. 

Of course it wouldn't be that simple. They had to exclude every possible bad, for them, outcome so instead of actually using a small and humble whip they had brought that thing which could actually kill someone if intended and not only that but they had drenched the plank with a very specific poison made of spider lily flowers and a few herbs that would not of course kill an elf but it would reduce their healing process by a lot. The king had underestimated that demon woman and her undying need to punish someone. She didn't care who she punished as long as everyone around her were in pain. One day, he was going to show her pain.

"Theseus honey those are just precautions. Don't worry. He is a human Hara will go easy on him."

"We can have a guard do it. No need for you to dirty your hands." Mark said with the appearance of the elf king said. His eyes showed pure fear and it was clear as day just by looking at him that something was wrong. Allias unable still to look up began to panic. 

"It's fine. I will do it to be sure" Hara said and walked towards Allias. "Take your shirt off" he said strictly and the guard finally let go of his head.

Allias turned around to face him with a cheeky smirk as he said.

"Wow there, not even a date first and you're asking me to take my clothes off?" 

Hara took a step back and blinked a few times confused by his behavior but with just one cough from Achlys he suddenly was again very ready to beat the shit out of him. His steps echoed in the huge room, that's how quiet the place was as Allias took off his shirt and revealed Mark's torso. His best friend had always been small with a very slim body even though he was a physical education student. He just seemed not able to buff up no matter what he did so now without his shirt he looked even more vulnerable and breakable.

As the soft fabric fell to the ground wiping the dust Theseus turned his head to the side. It was the sound of the dump plank hitting his naked skin that made even him flinch but that wasn't all. It was the scream that followed. It sounded like someone had ripped his skin open. Like something had gotten inside of him and was clawing itself out. Allias felt the sting, the bone breaking pain and the unbearable burn from the herbs. It burned like fire. 

It reminded him of the scarlet tongues that had so brutally caressed his whole being that day, locked inside a room with smoke piling up in his lungs. His eyes teared up and his nails clawed the smooth floor until his hands formed fists. He felt the bloody rivers on his back and with the second hit he had fallen down, no longer able to sit. He coughed blood and bit his lips so he wouldn't scream again. Hara pulled his hair and raised him up forcing him to face everyone. Achlys had move, walking to a spot where she could see his face as he was being suffocated by anguish and he spat the blood that had gathered in his mouth right in front of her shiny black heels. She scoffed not really caring and stepped on it, coming closer. 

"I think that's enough" Theseus said after he had counted five whole hits every one stronger than the other. His back was filled with cuts in many different spots and Allias knew that the scars would remain forever, because of the herbal mix. A very sour reminder that even if you had a crown on your head you would always have to bow to someone and even get beaten up by them. What was the point of having all that power inside you when you couldn't even use it to protect the ones you loved or yourself? It was quite sad the fact that he only could protect others by harming himself, how much his ruling skills lacked that they had to come to this point. He wasn't fully healed yet from his previous pain but now he had another pile to add to it.

Hara did not hear him or simply he ignored him and kept hitting Allias in a rhythmic way. He would hit and then give him a few second to breathe which now had become painful and then he would strike again, the hard and long plank landing on his teared body like a huge rock. He could have endured it better if it wasn't for that forsaken burning sensation that made him relive everything again. He was terrified and even though the throne room was a very open and wide room he felt like he was stuck in a dark hole. He couldn't see and everything seemed to be surrounded by a fog. He didn't want this again. When would it stop? He kept mumbling in his head as his tears fell to the ground.

His next move wasn't well thought of; it was just a desperate instinct that appeared in his desperation. He tended his hand, as far as he could to the direction Theseus was and mumbled weakly his name. He knew he shouldn't have done it. It was utterly stupid and it would only remind his lover how helpless both of them were. 

As Theseus noticed it and heard his pleading tone to be saved he crumbled inside. What was he supposed to do? What could he do?

"Enough!" he shouted and his lifelong companions, his trusty shadows began circling around him. He was willing to send them forth but Hara stopped. "You got the punishment some of you so whished for. I believe even more than you should. Now please leave the throne room."

For Allias everything was blurry. He couldn't' hear well, there was a constant ringing between his ears but he knew it was over when the next hit did not land. He closed his eyes and fell to the floor relieved it was finally done when he felt someone raising him up. He wanted to lie there a bit more. It was cold and comfortable. He didn't have the strength to stand anyways. He slowly turned back to his own self not able to preserve the spell any more. That was another mental toll that he had to endure. Remain focused so he wouldn't be exposed. 

"Allias can you hear me?" Theseus asked as he lifted him up carefully. "Ares go check if they left. I need to get him to the infirmary. I can't teleport him like this." He told his brother and the boy ran to the door. 

"Is it over? Is Mark okay?" he barely managed to ask and heard mark's voice reassure him that he was okay. He sounded like he was crying. 

"Good." Allias mumbled with a hint of a smile on his face. "Theseus I am glad you were here" he told his lover who was taking him away and felt his muscles tense.

"Why? I couldn't do anything for you" he said unaware that someone was watching them.