The Tyrant's Pet

<strong>[ MAXIMUM PENITENTIARY ]</strong>

A man was panting after going through torturous days. His hands and feet were bound by heavy chains attached to the concrete wall, slumped on the floor that was tainted with old and fresh blood. His hair was disheveled, dangling past his dirty and haggard face.

The man grunted through his gritted teeth when he heard the metal bars ahead screech as the chains loosened. The sound of it had started to give him nightmares, knowing there were only two people who could go in and out of this cell: Abel, and then his grandchild, Sunny.

He could only think of what sick torture those two had in store for him. Putting him through hell had become their hobby now. And that thought alone... was enough to make him lose his mind from anger.

"What... do you want now?" he grumbled under his breath, lifting his eyes up, expecting to see Abel or Sunny. But to his surprise, the person standing by the open cell was neither of those he expected.

The visitor had a huge cloak and hood over the head. Although he couldn't see the person's face because of the lack of light, he could feel the person's gaze.

"How pitiful." When the visitor spoke, the captive's silver eyes dilated in surprise.

"Javier?" his lips quivered, heart thudding with both surprise and excitement.

The visitor slowly slid his hood off, confirming the former's guess. "It's been a while, Joaquin. I'm glad to see you alive, although not as well as I expected."

"Javier." Joaquin's jaw tightened as his eyes, which initially bore nothing but helplessness, were replaced with fire. "How did you get in here? No. I don't care about that! Let me out of this damn place!"

Joaquin aggressively pulled his chains while keeping his eyes locked on his brother. But alas, unlike what he expected, Javier simply stood in the same spot.

"Javier! What the hell are you doing?" another roar went out of Joaquin's mouth. "Come, quick! Help me."

"Why do I need to help you, brother?" Joaquin's actions immediately froze upon Javier's question, watching the latter cock his head to the side. "You've proven yourself useless and are now bound with these... chains. I guess becoming a vampire isn't that much of a help, but I don't blame you. It just so happened the man you crossed is a Grimsbanne. Everyone knows about the Grimsbanne; even the king of the mainland was wary of them. But you're an exception since you are like a child about to discover the world isn't all rainbows and butterflies."

Hearing Javier's remarks and his lazy tone, Joaquin's heart thudded against his chest. All Joaquin could do was stare at his brother blankly. He knew Javier, and back then, Javier Imperial was submissive and playful. But he had always talked to Joaquin with respect. It was very easy to distinguish that Javier didn't consider Joaquin in a higher position anymore, nor did he see him as equal.

"You!" Joaquin ground his teeth in anger as his accumulated grievances shot through the roof. "What do you think you're doing right now, Javier? You got everything you want because I gave you permission to do as you pleased!"

"Yes, you did, brother."

Joaquin opened his mouth again to growl at him, but his voice didn't come out. Javier's temperament and treatment rendered him speechless. This only reminded Joaquin of how his life had changed since that day he lost everything.

The honor, the respect, the luxurious life, and everything.

Joaquin used to have it all, and blinded by such elegance, how could his circumstance be anything but pitiful? Even Javier was talking down to him. In fact, even a three-year-old child was speaking to him as if he has no value at all.

"Oh, Joaquin. You are so silly." Javier chuckled, seeing that Joaquin had finally shut up upon realizing their current position. He sauntered in, squatting down in a spot where Joaquin wouldn't be able to reach him.

"Yes, Joaquin. I am no longer your dog," Javier stressed each word, keeping his eyes locked with those same pair of eyes who used to look down on everything. "I had broken free ever since that woman slew me across the chest. So you better ask nicely if you want this nightmare to end."

Joaquin's heart trembled in anger, but he clenched his teeth from saying further insults.

"Good boy." Javier smiled, nodding in satisfaction. "This is what I always like about you, Joaquin. You're quick to adapt. After everything you've been through, you still ended up with nothing."

"If you are going to let me out, just tell me what is it you want from me?" Joaquin's voice shook as he tried to suppress his building fury. "You will not come in here after all this time if you don't need me."

Javier let out a short chuckle, swinging a finger mildly. "Really. You never ceased to amuse me."

Joaquin didn't disrupt Javier's laughter as a glint flickered across his eyes. He waited patiently, telling himself not to assault and gnaw the life out of this son of a bitch. Not yet. Not until he was out of this place and make everyone -- every single one of them pay.

"Alright. I'll cut to the chase." Javier cleared his throat as his smile slightly faded. "Someone wants to help you, only if you are willing."

"What is it?"

Javier smirked as his eyes glinted. "Do you want vengeance, brother?"

"The answer to that is obvious," said Joaquin through his gritted teeth. "The only reason I am still existing is that I will make them all pay someday."

"No. The only reason you are still alive is that monster... let you live to play with you for the next hundreds of years." Javier corrected, but this time, Joaquin didn't react because that was a fact. "He is insane, and because he is insane, he didn't know he was giving a lot of his enemies opportunities to mess with him."

"Men like that, men like you are always bound to fall," he continued in an amused manner. "This person I am talking about is quite busy at the moment, so I will relay his words."

Joaquin listened quietly, and as he did, his pupils dilated while staring at Javier. The latter smirked, cocking his head to the side.

"Can you do that?" Javier asked. "Finish the unfinished job of silencing the marquess? That man she called brother affectionately. You beheaded her beloved brother once. Can you do it again?"

Joaquin's lips parted before a quiet, "hah..." slipped past his lips. "Will that hurt her?"

"She nearly went insane when she heard the news." Javier shrugged playfully.

"Then I'll kill him. A thousand times."