The officer hums to himself softly while Joseph is gone, trying desperately to keep himself from just charge up the stairs and have a face-to-face with the rebel leader. His usual stoic expression is tainted by his fear and worry for his brother, despite his best efforts to cover it all up. The tune is nonsensical, making it up as he goes along, but en eventually he falls into a light tune he can repeat over and over, the sound of it keeping him calm and focused. 'So, he's smarter than most, and patient. I really hope this all goes well for Alexi's sake. If slavery ends however I have to wonder what's Alexi's gonna do. Maybe I could just quit my job and take up the chores. . .'

His eyes follow Joseph as he walks back in with his sandwich and drink, setting it with the ease and grace developed over the many years he's been a slave. 'I could never make up for Joseph, but maybe I could at least keep this place from going completely to hell' He lets out a long sigh, mumbling a thank you to the head slave before picking up the sandwich and taking a big bite. He chews slowly, his mind still rolling on like a steamroller, when suddenly he pauses. Swallowing his mouthful he lets his head hang, his body relaxing into the vampire's touch. He hums slightly at Joseph's explanation an murmurs, “I forgot to ask you for one last night, thank you Joseph. . .” He lets the man work his magic, his after meal snack all but forgotten. “Oh, and one more thing Joseph. Alexi wants the guy to tell him his name himself, something about a show of trust or whatever. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to keep him from hearing or reading the guy's name, so, now that you know it, please don't say it in front of Alexi. . .”

~*~*~*~*~

Alexi blinks slowly, watching impassively as the bound vampire practically snaps out his reply. He had been aware of the rumor of magicals starving themselves rather than taking the potion, however in each case, the rumor had proven false. 'So they really believe such things? It saddens me to think that the option of death is so much more appealing. . .' The flash of fang as he snarled before worries him a bit, his prayers turning to the hope that he will not try to bite himself in a fatal way. He would rather not have to call in any sort of medic, and while the chains may be able to circumvent most attempts at suicide, they are not fool proof. Near to it, but everything has it's flaws.

When at last he falls silent Alexi casts his gaze to the floor and tries to gather his thoughts. His head tilts this way and that until it is all in place. Looking back to the chained vampire he bows his head slightly before sitting back up strait. “Forgive me, on that first point, I misspoke. Yes, there is a fair number of slaves who have committed suicide when being broken by incompetent owners. The way I should have said it is this: No magical has ever died from the process of being hard broken when the procedure is done properly.” He adds on, a little quieter, “As to your second point, I have done my research. In all cases that such a thing was claimed to have happened, none of them have proved to be true. It is a fact that I have not lived long enough to see every case, however I have investigated several thousand cases, and none of them are as you believe them to be.”

His gaze once more falls to the carpet, not sure how much to say on the final point. It is true, Joseph is not happy here, but for what it's worth, it has nothing to do with his treatment or duties. Well, perhaps now partially because of his duties now that he is helping to break another of his kind, but that is neither here nor there. Alexi lets out a sigh. “No, I do not believe he is happy here, however he wants it that way. The best I can do for now is to keep him from being completely miserable.” He looks into the vampire's eyes, complete sincerity shining from behind his gaze. “It is up to him to tell you more than this, however you may want to ask him why he thinks he deserves to be a slave. He came to that conclusion on his own, or so he told me, so please believe that I do not agree with him in this matter. Freeing him is going to be very difficult, since I know he does not want to accept freedom and will fight against it til the end.”

Hmm. . .Oddness. . . .This should be one page over. . .

Joseph calmly continued the massage, mildly lamenting that he could really only work on his master's neck and shoulders at the moment. His eyes widened only slightly in surprise before he remembered just how eccentric Master Alexi could be at times.

“I understand, Master Mois, though I think our rebel leader doesn't realize that. He, quite logically I might add, assumes that anyone who put this amount of planning into his capture would obviously know his name. Even with my limited knowledge, I recognized it from the news after he informed me of what it was. He is a relatively famous rebel after all.”

~*~*~

At Alexi's words, a moment of genuine fear crossed the vampire's visage. Not a single story of someone refusing the treatment until their death was true? Not a single one? He must be lying, he must be. That was... my only hope. I am not sure that I have the courage to take my own life, and even if I do, these chains will prevent it? I can't... I can't fail. I must find a way out of this. If I cannot find an escape within a few days, I will have to kill myself. There is no other option. I said I would die before I took that potion, and I meant it. But don't say that aloud. You will lose the relative autonomy you have gained.

“I will ask him about it if and when I see him again, then,” Erik finally replied. How dare he refuse something that so many I know have died fighting for, for the sake of people like him! He's not happy here, but he doesn't want to leave? That makes no fucking sense! I … I just don't get it. On the other hand, how can I possibly deal with that when I have my own issues at the moment?

“But Alexi, it's pretty rich of you to talk about Joseph's freedom, or the freedom of the magicals, when you have me here trapped. It simply doesn't fit, and it's incredibly insulting. Stop with the charade of being a kind master and all. No one who is kind would do this to another sentient. And you claim to want to end slavery, but there you sit, calmly telling me that I have no recourse against turning into one of your minions. You may treat your slaves kindly compared to other owners, and maybe one could argue that you are protecting the servants of this household from owners who would be far worse to them. But you still run a corporation that specializes in control and torture devices for us. It's not like you've ever used your influence to help end this oppression, or even helped support the rebellion clandestinely. How can I believe that someone like you actually wants to end this? You're a fraud, and I don't know why you are playing this ridiculous head game with me, but it needs to end now. Either that, or you need to explain exactly what is going on in that insane head of yours.”

[Yeah, that is odd... hopefully it will work out though.]

The elder Vandros hums softly, the feeling of his knots getting worked out one step down from heaven at this point. He can not suppress a chuckle at Joseph's observation and he turns his head to smile at the vampire. The smile makes him look very much like the young man he use to be, lighting his face up in a way it has not been lit in a very long time. “You know Alexi, he'll completely forget it until he thinks it 'The right moment'. Heheh.” His head falls back down, a sift sigh finding it's way out of his lips.

Alexi has always been a special kind of odd. Not mad, like their father, just a little. . .Different. He liked things the way he liked them, and come hell or high water, he was going to have it that way! Mois can not count the number of times he's had to bend over backwards or jump through very small hoops to try and keep up with his younger brother's whims. 'But in the end, they've always panned out, for the better' He sighs a again, letting his mind fall silent for a bit.

~*~*~*~*~

“I am neither kind, nor honorable. I do not expect to be recorded in history as less than a demon or monster for my actions, no matter how this conflict ends. I do what I do, because I want to do it.” Alexi looks to the bound vampire with an impassive look, doing all he can to not cave to the vampire's requests for information he does not feel ready to divulge. “Yes, I want to free the slaves, but only because I find slavery wrong and distasteful. I do it for my own satisfaction, but do you really think it matters why I am doing it or my emotions behind my actions? The fact will remain that the slaves will be freed, and if I am successful here, that at least one person will recall me as anything other than the one responsible for what is about to happen. I am no saint. I am a selfish brat who doesn't like to see sentient beings in chains, forced to serve those who, by all accounts in nature, are less than themselves. I do not delight in seeing you bound there, in fact, it makes me quite sick to see you in your condition, however that is my punishment in this undertaking.”

The human looks away to his bookshelves, biting his lip. “You may not consider my pain and illness from having you bound is ample punishment for what I am putting you through, and I will not try to convince you otherwise, however I will warn you that no matter how much or little you see me suffering from this, I am suffering, but I will not back down. I can not. I have never failed, not completely, and if anyone can accomplish the destruction of the slave trade the world over, it is one who has never failed. Think of it as my final play in my life long winning streak. The last little something I want to spend my luck on before it runs out.”

Alexi knows he's rambling at this point, and very close to giving away things he'd rather keep to himself at the moment. Taking a moment to gather himself he slides to the end of his bed and wraps his arm around one of the posts. Leaning his upper body against it his gaze once more returns to the bound male. “No matter what I say however, I do not expect you to believe me, because you have made it quite clear that unless I am “Helping the rebellion” in that ways you want me to, including freeing you right this instant, that everything else that comes out of my mouth must be a lie. What little help I could provide the rebellion this very moment by financial means or information would run the chance of ruining the plan already in place and I will not risk a definite end for a temporary relief.”

The look behind his eyes is now quite sad, but he resists the urge to look away. “The only thing keeping me from enacting it now is my one tiny selfless whim for my own race, in the form of what I am doing here with you. You are the last little bit of hope I wish to leave for my race, and the longer you insist on suffering your way through this, the longer your fellow magicals are in chains. Again, I know you will not believe this, or if you do, you would not tell me because of your own fear for your mind and soul. To that, I offer you one last truth for you to kick around and think about.” His gaze softens, a sad smile on his lips as a touch of shyness enters his eyes. “I would never destroy such a beautiful thing.”

Joseph smiled back at Master Mois, but on his dark visage, it appeared more as a grimace. He was not accustomed to smiling any more. He continued the massage until he felt the elder brother's upper back, shoulder, and neck muscles completely relax, and then patted him on the shoulder as he stopped.

“I can't reach your lower back with you in this chair. But if you like, I'll schedule a daily massage for you when you get home from work. And yes, I can do it myself if you'd prefer, though with the current situation, I might not always be able to come immediately,” the vampire offered, his voice kind and soothing.

~*~*~

Despite his obvious pain and anger, Erik listened carefully to Alexi's words, watching the human's eyes for any signs of deception. Almost to his disappointment, there were none. He could almost feel the waves of emotion passing through the human, and for the briefest of moments, he almost believed him right then and there. It was two minutes, that must have felt like two hours, before the vampire finally scooted himself to the edge of the bed, fully facing Alexi, and replied.

“You have no idea how much I wish I could believe you, Alexi. Don't you believe that I would drink that potion in an instant if I truly thought you were telling the truth?! You're claiming that you will grant me the one thing I have fought for for over 200 years, the vast majority of my life. I would gladly sell my soul for that, because in truth, I already have. When you spend your life killing others, it does not take long before there is not much left.” Erik's blood red eyes and fully extended fangs provided a sharp contrast to the pleading look that his entire expression wore. Without consciously realizing it, he stood and walked to the very edge of the chains as he spoke, but he was too lost in his entreaty, unaware of their clanking.

“But how can I believe you?! How can I believe that you are even capable of granting something like that? How can I trust that this is not some cruel trick to get me to drink that breaking potion under false pretenses? That potion will destroy me and everything I am. That is it's only purpose. You may not see it as destruction, but it is. It will imprint your will onto mine. And my free will is not something I can relinquish so lightly. I have to entirely believe you before I will give up what remains of my soul. Explain your plan to me! Give me some kind of proof! If I can believe you, I'll drink it, not to end my suffering, but to end theirs. I have said more than once that I will die before I take it, and I meant that, but I will not let others continue to suffer for my own pride. Give me some proof, some concrete reason to trust your words.

Please, if this is a lie it is among the cruelest lies you could possibly tell me. However, if you can prove that it is the truth, then I will be your puppet, Alexi Vandros.”

Alexi listen silently, his eyes remaining firm upon the vampire, taking in everything he has to say, and how he says in. 'If a little touch of trust is all he needs to do this willingly, then I do not suppose. . .' His mind begins to race, his computer like brain sliding the pieces of his plan this way and that, working in a new figure and looking for any holes it may create. As the vampire approaches he looks up into his face, not really seeing him even if his words still ring true in his ears. Like a game of plinko, the new pieces fall, and with each one he can feel a faint hole, a little snag, however that smooths over a moment later when the biggest of the old pieces moves in to accompany it.

His eyes slowly slide into focus and he is once more looking up into those bright red eye, his decision made. He will give, this little bit, and see if trust can truly make things smoother. Falling back he stretches out and arm and grabs the remote. As he sits up he presses the retract button, the chain retracting slow enough that it will not yank at it's captive. Once it is fully retracted, the vampire's arms now pinned to the wall, he presses another button. This one immobilizes the bound man, making it safe for Alexi to move in close. Hurrying swiftly to the bathroom he comes back a moment later with a razor, stopping at the edge of Erik's bed. “You can't very well make rational decisions starving, now can you. . .” His voice sounds a little distant, but his eyes are clear as he looks into the bound male's eyes. He needs Erik in his right mind for his change in plans to have a chance at working.

He sets the razor aside and takes several steps back from the bed, and pulls the potion from his pocket. Making sure he is in full view of the vampire, the chains leaving his head free to turn, he sets it aside before moving back to the edge of the bed. Picking up the new empty water bottle he sets it upright on Erik's bedside table, pulling it out so the bound man can see it, and picking up the razor, with one swift motion, slices his wrist open. Not an exact science he manages to pour the vast majority of what comes out into the bottle, however he does spill a bit.

Once the bottle is half full he grabs a handkerchief and binds his wrist tightly before approaching the vampire. Picking up one of his decorative antique bowels he looks into the vampire's eyes he speaks for the second time. “Let's just hope you don't hate me as much as you seem to.” With that, he slices into Erik's arm, away from his fangs to keep from being bitten, and lets some of his blood pour into the bowl before likewise tying the wound shut on his captive. Stepping back once his task is done Alexi picks up the razor and bottle, moving them out of the vampire's grasp, and settles back on to the bed. Knowing that the smell of blood is probably driving the bound male wild he loosens the chains once more, just long enough for him to reach the bottle of untainted blood.

Once he makes his decision to drink it or not, he makes sure he has the vampire's attention before popping open the bottle and pouring the correct amount of potion into Erik's blood. Re-stoppering the bottle he sets it on his nightstand he raises the bowel as is making a toast and in a few quick gulps , downs the contents. Showing the now empty bowl to Erik he has bare moments to smile, before he drops the bowl to the floor with a thump and he curls on to his side with the pain of what Erik had been feeling when he took the blood. The vampire's blood smears across his face as his hands slide up over his lips, across his cheeks, and then to either side of his head where they ball into fists and he lets out a whine of pain.

Since the rebel leader does not hate human in general, the pain is slight compared to what it could be. The throbbing in his head simply residual to what exactly Erik had been thinking of him when the blood was taken. A part of him really wants to ring for Joseph, however he is sure that if Joseph came in on such a scene, he may just lose it and perhaps even try and kill the bound vampire on the spot. He remains curled into a ball, such internal pain unknown to him, and as such, he is not quite sure how to deal with it. His father would harm his body, but Alexi had never felt the pain of the blows as deeply as he feels the pain inside him now. He knows what he has done is a slight gamble, but in the long run, this will not affect the final plan. He also knows that at this point what he has done will not make much sense to the captive, however the pain keeps him from explaining just yet.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Mois nods to Joseph's offer, giving him another faint smile. “That would be lovely, thank you Joseph.” Stretching and rolling his shoulder and neck he complements the vampire on his fine job before turning back to his snack, his mind once more lost on his brother.

A fury that was not entirely rational threatened to consume Erik once again as the retraction began in the chains. For a moment, he feared that all of this could be some kind of cruel joke, and he very nearly railed at Alexi once again. But he did his best to push that idea from his mind, deciding that, just for the moment, he would trust the human just barely, just enough to see what was happening. His anger was not erased, but once again he could smother it. Focusing on breathing deeply, he walked back with the chains, until they finally pinned him to the wall. As he was immobilized, another jolt of fear bolted through him, but once again he forced it beneath the surface.

He watched carefully as Alexi sliced himself open and drained his blood into the bottle. The smell drove him insane and seemed to intensify his agony, but he could see the point well enough. The blood was untainted by the potion, an offering of pure trust. Practically unconsciously, he fruitlessly tried to pull against his restraints to reach it, until he realized Alexi was slicing his arm as well. Even in his current state, the vampire would heal from the wound within minutes.

The second the chains were finally loosened, he grabbed the bottle hungrily and drained it of the blood, going so far as to use his claws to break it apart and lick the remainder from the inside. Completely indecent, but he felt that not a drop should be wasted.

But he paid enough attention to what Alexi was doing, and watched with incredulity as he added the potion to Erik's blood and drank it.

What?! That can't be the Binding potion, can it? First of all, I thought it didn't work on humans? Then again, no one has tried. Secondly, it is not supposed to cause such horrible horrible pain. Maybe he's faking all of it, and maybe that potion was just colored water or something.... But no one could fake that agony in his eyes. I don't understand.

He watched as Alexi struggled with the agony, and a tiny part of his conscience even wished he could assist the human, despite his anger at him. But the least he could do was wait several minutes until the spasms of pain were through before he began his barrage of questions.

“What exactly was that? I thought the potion didn't work on humans, and even if it did, I've never seen results like that. What exactly did you do? And why did you do it? Why would you cause yourself such horrible pain?” Erik asked, curiosity overtaking his voice, and his anger at being chained temporarily evaporated. His mind was much more clear now, thanks to the infusion of blood, and the pain, nausea, and other symptoms had already evaporated while he had been watching Alexi.

~*~*~

Joseph smiled, and bowed respectfully before leaving the room once again, glad that he had been able to relieve his old friend's stress in some small way. The faintest of smiles traversed his lips as he resumed his normal chores.

Alexi is slow to come to terms with the feelings now racing through his system. A part of him even begins understanding how it was impossible for the rebel leader to trust him, feeling the way he does about his captor. He whimpers pathetically, wrapped in around himself as he tries to understand these new and unpleasant feelings. 'How can one live feeling like this? This is. . . .More horrible than any beating I have ever received. Even more than the open hatred father had for me at the end' He gasps a few times, the thought of his father giving him a foothold against the torrent of unpleasant emotions.

His father did hate him at the end, and it had hurt Alexi to know this. These thoughts allow him to take the storm of emotions and put them in a place rather than running wild through his body. He can feel his body twitching and shaking, but as he breaths deeply, in and out, he manages to bring his body back under his control. 'I still do not know how one could live with such feelings, the intensity and passion, it threatens to break me. . . ' He relaxes, unfurling to look up at the vampire. 'Though I suppose it is these passions I admire most in him. . .It saddens me to once more realize that I carry no such convictions, however that is not my place in all this. I am here for a different reason'

After a few moments of silence the vampire speaks and the still quite shaken human has to fight to focus on his questions. He manages to roll on to his back, his body aching from being balled for so long. 'I know I need to answer him, and he deserves to look me in the eyes. . .' He fights with himself for a minute until at last he takes a deep breath and sits up. His mind clears slightly as he moves and by the time he's once more sitting at the foot of his bed, his legs dangling over the edge and kicking lightly like a little kid, ha manages a faint smile.

His eyes are still faintly laced with the pain of Erik's emotions, however his mind is far more clear now, his gaze soft. Thinking over the questions, he decides to answer them in order, as well as he can at the moment. “That was me trying to win a modicum of trust from you. The potion works on any living sentient being, the humans just did not want the magicals to know that. As for the results differing from what you are use to, that has a lot to do with my own lack of intense emotions throughout my life. The sudden torrent of your anger and hatred for me. . .Was more than I could take for a while there. The purity of the potion was also a factor, but that is a story for another time.” His legs continue to kick softly and his voice cracks a little. Swallowing he grimaces as he still tastes Erik's blood on his tongue.

Brushing that aside he takes another calming breath before continuing. “I told you why I did it, to help me win your trust. If you so fear what I am going to you, and refuse to believe me that it will not destroy you, then I will take the potion with you, leaving it in you hands how I come out of all this. I am giving you the choice to break me if you will, or to trust me and experience this together as something all together different from the horror stories. I will match you, dose for dose.” His head drops for a moment at the thought of the last question. He takes a steadying breath before looking back to the bound vampire.

“To tell you the truth, I didn't know it would hurt as badly as it did. The true nature of the potion, it's original purpose. . .” He shakes his head. “You have far stronger emotions than I do. I think that has something to do with how I was raised, and maybe even a bit of the blood I inherited from my father.” His father had been a very passionate man, but he was also mad. Not all madness need be represented the same way, or so they say. His smile returns and he once more leans against the post closest to the bound man. “I did it because it was the most logical way, for my mind at least, to try for the most gain with the least amount if risk.”

Erik simply listened carefully, a part of him still unable to believe what he was seeing with his own two eyes, now returned to their former gray hue. In less than half an hour this human had turned from mortal enemy to... well, he did not know what to classify Alexi Vandros now. Insane, surely. But besides that, Erik was not entirely sure if he could trust him. There was still a chance that this was all an elaborate ruse, but something in Erik's gut told him that was not the case. A part of him was still angry that Alexi would not explain the entire plan as well. But as he sat silently for a few minutes, he realized that offering to take the same potion was about as trustworthy an offering as he could imagine.

“I am not a kind man, Alexi. Some call me a soldier, some call me a freedom fighter, but most consider me a murderer and a terrorist. I have no love for slave owners, and I have expressed little besides hatred for you in the three days that I have been here. I would hardly call it low-risk to put your mind at my mercy, if that is truly what you are doing.

Let me verify if that potion is doing what you say. If that potion truly caused you to feel what I do, then you should be able to answer this. You could have said I hated you and that I was angry without that. I have not exactly kept it a secret. But what else do you feel from me? Something that I have not already mentioned, some of which is even more powerful than my hatred of you for kidnapping me.” Erik's calculating gray eyes seemed to bore into Alexi's, trying to find some form of deception. But he could find nothing. Either Alexi Vandros was the most skillful liar on the planet … or perhaps he was in fact telling the truth.

There was another, equally important, point that came to Erik as well. Perhaps if he was wrong about the potion being ineffective on humans, then he was wrong about other points as well.

“Also, you keep talking about how this is a 'pure-form', an original purpose, how this potion won't destroy us. If it doesn't break a person's will, then what does it do after the seven doses?” he finally asked. He had to know everything before he took this plunge. That couldn't possibly be too much to ask, considering it had not been long since he was so resistant to the idea that he would have died first. He had to be absolutely sure this was not a trick... but on the other hand, at some point, some terrifying point, he would have to trust that Alexi was telling the truth. At some point, he would have to take that leap of faith. All he could really do was try and make that leap as short as possible.

His legs continue to kick softly as he listens, like a young child listening to his mother why he should not go in the pond while still planning to do it anyways. His body relaxes a bit more as time passes and that fond look in his eyes returns as the vampire speaks. 'Perceptive, quick to pick up on things. I would hate for him to own a company I am trying to win over. He would run me through the ringer' He does not reply right away to the question of how to prove himself, the need to look to those oh so painful emotions causing his eyes to fall closed. He opens them moments later however as he is asked another question.

A this one he bites his lip, unsure of how much to tell, but he can at least answer the first question now. “It took me some time to figure out the most powerful feeling inside me that I inherited from you. Seeing how much you hated me, it simply felt like more of the same at first. But. . .I now see that it is indeed no the hatred for me that caused most of the pain. . .” His head tilts to the side. “It is your self loathing. I can only imagine it comes from your belief that you have failed your people somehow. However, having never failed myself, I can not be entirely sure what such a failure would feel like.” He tilts his head to the other side and adds, “I am sure you also feel a bit humiliated by all this as well, though that I can understand a little better, again, I have never felt it, so I am not the best at recognizing it. . .” He knows Erik did not ask for that last part, but he really wishes to prove the truth of things as quickly as possible.

Though bound now, he knows he's loosing blood slowly and he should have it dealt with properly before too long. He bits his lips gently, finally coming up with what he hopes will be a reasonable answer about the potion itself. “The potion. . .Has been changed and diluted over the years by human scientists, however the original form of the potion was made by magicals. This pure form I speak of means that this batch was made from the original recipe used long before the war turned it into a subjugation device.” He lets out a sigh, tucking his hand back in hopes of keeping the smell of his blood to a minimum while they speak.

“A seventh dose of this potion, when used as it was intended, would leave each beings mind completely intact, the changes being made to them being welcome and for lack of a better word, beautiful.” He hangs his head slightly, offering up a slightly pleading smile. “I can't speak to the exact nature, but rest assured, no matter what happens to my mind in all of this, you will come out no worse for wear. Oh, and what you said before, about the risk to me, you are half right. Even if you destroy my mind, the plan to free the slaves will not fail. I do not need to be sane for it to work.” He smiles again, this time a touch of hope enters his gaze, a faint prayer that insanity will not be the case despite it having no baring on the major plan.

It was the correct answer, and it was something that Erik knew he had not told Alexi, for he hated to admit it even to himself. He was furious with himself for falling for that trap. Worse, he still didn't know that he was the only one who had been captured. But there would be other times to fret about that. For now, he had more pressing problems than his own guilt.

“You're correct, not to put too fine a point on it. But, you know what I find funny? That you would slice yourself open to win my trust more willingly than you would give me a straight answer to a simple question. You still haven't answered what this thing does. And despite that, I think you are sincere, eccentric, possibly mad, but sincere. You are … a very strange human, Alexi Vandros,” Erik sighed. The smell of blood was relatively pleasant now that he was no longer starving, much like how, in a human, the smell of food could be pleasant or maddening, depending on the hunger of the individual. But more importantly, he realized that his captor was losing a lot of blood.

“Perhaps I am even more insane than you, trusting a human who still has me in chains in his room, just because you have promised me the one thing my heart truly desires. However, I will drink it. Make sure that I can see that it is prepared from the exact same vial that you added to yours. And then get someone to properly bandage your wound before you bleed all over your annoyingly opulent room,” Erik decided finally, meeting Alexi's eyes, and unable to hide the touch of fear in his own.

Alexi openly giggles at what the vampire has to say about him being mad, but other than that lets him speak without interrupting him. His smile widens, his heart leaping as the bound male agrees to take the potion, the comment about bleeding all over his room all but dismissed for a short time. Grabbing the vial he'd placed on the nightstand Alexi rolls right off the bed, lamenting only for a moment the sight of a small pool of his own blood on his favorite coverlet. 'I should have Joseph changing my sheets while I'm eating dinner. . .' At the thought of his head slave Alexi freezes mid step, most likely looking quite odd, however after a moment he unfreezes and finishes his trip to the bookshelf.

Setting it down where the other can reach it, if he stretches, he steps back quickly, just in case, before wandering over to his own bedside table to dig out his ever infuriating cellphone. “We shall keep it right there, what do you say? That way you can keep an eye on it.” He smiles over his shoulder before sitting against the edge of his bed, cellphone in hand. He shares at it hard for several seconds before flipping it open and seeking out Joseph's number. 'Ah, if he weren't my hard broken slave, he'd kill me for what I just did, heh'

Once he finds the number he has the phone dial and brings the little device up to his ear. Looking over at Erik with a lopsided smirk he chuckles. “Joseph is going to take off my head for this. . .He hates it when I do stupid things, and in his eyes, this definitely will count.” When the ringing stops Alexi's attention goes to the voice at the other end, his gaze shifting over to the wall. After the head slave's greeting Alexi smiles into the phone. “Hello Joseph. I hope this evening finds you well. First off, do not freak out, second, I need you to bring a first aid kit to my room, and thirdly, I need to also to bring the kit for drawing my blood. I can tell you the rest after you get here. Thank you Joseph!” He does not give the head slave time to answer, knowing he will bring the stuff post haste.

Snapping the phone shut he once more turns to Erik with a smile and tilts his head to the side. His mind once more falls back on the bound male thinking him crazy and he chuckles softly. “I am very likely a little mad my dear sir. Madness runs in my family, at least through my father's line, but despite my insanity, or maybe even because of it, I am one of the richest and most successful men in the world, and have the power to do the one great thing you have tried your entire life, or near to it, to accomplish. If my lack of sanity is a part of all that, I count it a blessing.” Stretching his arms over his head, he props them up behind his head, trying to keep the wound above his heart. Clamps down on the wound with his other hand and offers up an apologetic smile. “I am not sure how this bleeding affects you now that you have eaten, but if it is bothersome, I do apologize.”

Joseph retrieved the cleaning supplies to work on dusting the eastern wing, but just as he reached the area, he received the call from Alexi. For a moment, his heart felt lodged in his throat, for he knew that despite his master's almost jocular tone, he knew that it was a grave emergency. Alexi rarely used the cell phone within the house, and most times when a person says “don't freak out” there is in fact ample reason to freak out. He took two deep breaths to calm himself before dropping the bucket of supplies and sprinting to grab the first aid kit, frantically wondering exactly what had happened.

He got out... it's my fault... how?! Surely Alexi wouldn't have gone close enough without me there. How could he have gotten out of those chains?! Goddammit.

~*~*~

Erik was confused by Alexi's laughter, and for the first time, wondered just how insane this man was, or if he was just going into shock from the loss of blood. The thought of sharing the emotions of someone who seemed so... off-kilter caused him no small amount of trepidation, but he knew that he would risk just about anything to end the subjugation of magicals.

Quite apart from his trepidation, he felt rather inadequate once again, in the idea that he could not accomplish in over two centuries what this human claimed to be able to accomplish in a much shorter time. Compared to Erik, Alexi was a child, appearing only in his early thirties at best, and yet he was confident in promising the one thing the Resistance, tens of thousands strong, had not done. It seemed completely unbelievable.

“I suppose you have a point,” he muttered, watching the human's blood flow down his arm. It had already soaked the entire bandage. “The bleeding is not a problem. It's actually a pretty pleasant smell for me now, akin to smelling your favorite food when you are only a little hungry, rather than starving. I'm … more worried about how much blood you are losing. It's dangerous for a human to lose that much in that short of a time. I wish you would let me help.”

Just as he said that, however, Joseph entered the room, seeming perfectly calm despite the fact that he was terrified for his master and friend, and had just run halfway across the expansive mansion.

“What the he-,” he began, his voice sounding harsh, but he corrected it mid-sentence. “What happened?” he asked again, much more calmly, striding towards Alexi with haste, the proper gauze and bandage already out. The elder vampire had smelled the blood, and easily recognized it as Alexi's, long before he saw it. He began to clean the wound, shooting Erik a dirty look with eyes that flashed a bright red. He saw that the male was tied more securely, and had the smell of blood on him. On the other hand, the wound was clearly made by a blade, not a pair of fangs. Vampire bites did not bleed this much.

“Your crazy master here sliced his own wrist open. It wasn't my fault,” Erik began, trying to defend himself. “He decided to give me untainted blood. It's not my fault that he picked such a stupidly dramatic way to do it.”

“You'll need stitches, or skin sealant glue at the very least. But first I want to get the blood flow down,” he declared, placing a thick piece of gauze over the wound and wrapping it. As he applied pressure with the palm of his hand, he asked again.

“Now, explain, Master Alexi. Is what he's saying true?” he ordered, his voice sounding calm, but there were undertones of anger and chastisement, because he had to admit, the evidence pointed towards Erik's veracity. In a way, his tone was not unlike the voice he had used on Mois and Alexi when they had been children and had gotten into some mischief.

When the vampire explains about the blood smelling his favorite food Alexi nods, understanding the analogy. He next offers to help Alexi and for a moment the man wonders just how the vampire could help in his position, but he does not have long to wonder as moment later Joseph Enters the room with all the calm of a master butler. However it isn't hard for Alexi to detect just how upset the head slave is as he makes his way over to where he leans against the soiled bed. Alexi stays quiet as the short conversation passes between the vampires, his eyes averting a but meekly as he holds out his arm to be tended.

'I do not believe I have seen him this man since I was sixteen and I decided to test out that industrial glue by gluing my hands together only to find I was allergic. As I recall, I almost died from that, but I was right. My experiment was successful' When he hears Erik call his act “stupidly dramatic” Alexi can not resist stating proudly, “I never do anything half way, and if I can do it with some flare, all the better!” He slouches a moment later when Joseph announces the need for stitches. He hates the itch such things bring about. Despite his obvious anger and fear, the vampire's actions are as gentle as they always have been when dealing with his young master and Alexi smiles softly.

Alexi has to fight from flinching as he recognizes the tone in the elder vampire's voice and once more feels like he has been reduced to a child under Joseph's hard stare. He refuses to be anything but happy at the moment however and after taking a slow breath he smiles at Joseph warmly. “I have decided to take a chance, one that will not only, hopefully, make things move along more swiftly, but will limit, perhaps even eliminate, the suffering of all parties involved during the process.” He declares this with a proud smile, letting it sink in a bit before going on.

“He has agreed to take the potion willingly. As a show of faith, I will be taking it as well, taking in his blood.” He holds up a hand, anticipating his dear friend's reaction to the news. Pointing to the vial now within the vampire's reach he looks into Joseph's eyes with a soft expression. “I had that one made special, and I assure you that it is not designed for suppressing will as the one you took was. As long as he does not will it, and though I may be assuming much, I do not believe one so against slavery and the destruction of another's mind, would do such a thing to someone who plans to achieve his life long dream of freeing all slaves.”

Bringing up his free hand he cups Joseph's face, then slides it around to hold the back of his head. Leaning up he places a feather light kiss to the head slave's forehead praying that the action will help him trust his master's insanity for just a bit longer. Sitting back he continues to hold Joseph's head gently. “I know you worry for me, you, the father any child would be blessed to have, you must trust me just a little longer. Believe that I know what I'm doing, and that any risk to me is not only worth it, but my will.” His hand slides down to grip the elder vampire's shoulder for a moment before it falls back to his side, his fingers brushing the blankets beneath them. He looks to Joseph, nothing but love and confidence in his gaze as he offers up one of his placating award winning smiles.

“You are as bad as some of the new rebel recruits. Sometimes they come in and want to kill with flare, style, panache. Yeah, and you know what? The ones who don't break themselves out of that, die really freaking fast,” Erik muttered, more vehemently than intended. Was it possible he actually had some concern for this damn human? What had changed inside him to get him to agree to this absurdity? Alexi had expressed his wish to end slavery before, but after speaking with him longer, he still could not explain what had clicked to get him to believe it now. And yet, even thinking clearly, he was willing to trust in this eccentric human's plan, at least for the first dose.

As Alexi spoke, Joseph continued trying to apply pressure to the wound. He was silent, and his face was completely impassive, but inwardly, he was fuming at Alexi's recklessness as well. He looked up sharply into Alexi's eyes, a rare occurrence for such a well-trained slave, when the human informed him that he would be taking the potion. I don't want either of you taking that horrible concoction, he thought angrily. But his eyes widened as Alexi explained that it was not the “normal” breaking potion.

“What I bought was the normal potion. I thought that's what you wanted, Master,” he hesitated for a moment, vaguely remembering a potion of legend, one that could bond the minds of two lovers when taken by both. “If this is not the breaking potion, then what is it?” he questioned coolly, wondering if this could possibly be the potion of legend. It was ancient, having already been near-myth before even Joseph had been born.

Despite his fear, however, Joseph wanted to believe that this could be a solution. Furthermore, if the poor man in chains could be relieved of his suffering, and still not turn into a broken slave, this was far less horrifying. Whatever Alexi had done, clearly it had changed Erik's mind, and perhaps that was worth a little bit of blood loss. In the end, he wished to hell his master would simply explain himself. Perhaps he would worry those around him less if he tempered his ideas with a bit more rationality and explanation. But Joseph was only a slave, no matter if he had raised Alexi or not. It was his place to serve and protect, not criticize.

Though it would never show, could never really be revealed, the elder vampire was also touched when Alexi had called him his father. A pang clenched his heart as he remembered all the days he had not been able to protect the boys from their biological father, but that appreciation, rarely expressed, weighed on him greatly.

For his part, Erik still doubted his decision, but he knew that he had no desire to subjugate anyone, not even a human who had kidnapped him. Magicals were not superior to humans. He would never claim that. They were all sentient beings, all equals, and that's all he had ever wanted. He had been willing to give up his pride and his autonomy if Alexi could provide proof that he would end slavery. Even though that's not exactly the proof his captor had given him, he realized he would have to trust in it. This eccentric human might be the only hope for his race. And well, if it turned out he was lying about the rest of his plan, then at least Alexi would know Erik's wrath.

“I have no choice but to trust you, Master Alexi. But I would anyway,” Joseph finally replied, returning the kiss onto the human's forehead, as finally cleaned the wound. And if this is what it took to convince Erik, to end his suffering, and the suffering of the millions of slaves out there, then I suppose I can live with that, he decided.

“I'm afraid you're going into mild shock. But you shouldn't need a transfusion. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to give the blood for our guest's dosage though. I will not extract it with you in this condition,” Joseph declared with an air of finality. Sure, his master could directly order him to do it, and his own cocktail of breaking would force him to carry out the order, but he hoped that Alexi would not humiliate him so, and would not further endanger himself.

Looking up at Erik with a lopsided grin Alexi giggles lightly. “Ah, well, your recruits are most likely nearly all older than I, so why would you expect anything less than what is undoubtedly a baby to most of your races, hmm?” Alexi knows the man is right, that quite often being so dramatic and flashy can indeed lead to a sticky end, however in his personal case the young Vandros is convinced that if he stopped being his own dramatic self, that would be his downfall. 'If it is working for me, then there is no need to change it. I have what I want, and I have never had to be anything other than myself to get it. One can not fight the reality of it'

He smiles warmly at Joseph as he expresses worry over getting 'the wrong potion'. “It is quite alright Joseph, you got me exactly what I asked for. I did not want to ruin the surprise. I wanted to see the look on you face when he did not become some mindless automaton like I'm sure you use to be.” His smile becomes a little more mysterious and he whispers, though he knows that everyone in the room will be able to hear him clearly enough. “As for what it is. . .It is where the potion came from originally. I know I'm not exactly using it as once intended, our guest not being of a like mind in this as myself, however I am convinced that it will none the less act as I wish it.” He giggles lightly, just now noticing his even stranger than normal tone and movements.

A faint coo leaves his throat as Joseph kisses him back and with a soft sigh he gives Erik an 'I-told-you-so' look, referring of course to the fact that Joseph obviously goes beyond his bound slave and into one who actually likes his master. Looking back to Joseph he can not repress a chuckle as the elder vampire gives him a clear and defined order. “I thank you for trusting your crazy master, my old mentor, and for now I will heed your decision. You know me best. However I will ask you to be here and ready for the extraction early tomorrow, before that meeting I have with the Shtoogans about the merger. It will be a hectic day and I would have a more free mind to think if the deed is done before hand.”

Pawing at the first aid kit Alexi pulls out the stitches kit and gives Joseph a sweet smile. Once his old mentor gets to work Alexi relaxes a bit, averting his eyes against the act of sewing his flesh together. Not always willing to let Alexi go to the hospital, some of the injuries obviously abuse, his father had made sure that many of his slaves were well versed in medical care so that he could get away with what he did to his son without there being too much risk to his life, and none to his reputation. As such, Alexi has grown accustom to home doctoring and puts up with it as well if not better than one would expect.

“I do believe you are right Joseph, about the shock I mean. My mind is a little. . Fuzzy, but do not worry. It is time for bed anyways, and a good night sleep will solve a lot of this.” He looks up at Erik with a smile “However, before then, may I trouble you for your name? As you have already noted, I am a bit odd as most would see it, and I feel that names are something special, to be shared only with ones your trust.” He chuckles. “As such, none of the people I do business with, save for those who also served my father, even know anything past my last name.” Alexi wonders absentmindedly if the rebel leader even recalls how he did not hesitate to share his name with him in one of their first conversations.

Not all of the Resistance recruits were older. After all, Erik himself had not been. But most were, and Alexi had a point. Still, humans were even more fragile, and so the advice seemed even more relevant. The situation had not been fatal, but Erik hated seeing any lovely blood go to waste. He caught the “I told you so” look, and the fascinating relationship that Alexi and Joseph shared, but he could not even begin to understand it.

A spark of pain came to Joseph's throat when Alexi brought up his time as a “mindless automaton” for he truly hated to think about that chunk of his life. He could only be relieved that such a state was not in the younger vampire's future. And another sense of relief came to his mind as well. Before this development, he had already begun, in the back of his mind, to consider betrayal, an attempt to “rescue” the cell leader. Knowing what he knew now, he would have betrayed his master, his surrogate son, for nothing. Nothing but a misunderstanding brought about by a lack of information, and a lack of trust. Master Alexi need never know what that part of him considered, and for that he was quite relieved. But I didn't trust you, Master. Not completely.

He rolled his eyes as once more, Alexi seemed completely incapable of just fully explaining himself. But he decided that he would take some time tonight to do some research and piece together just what his master had done, if the infuriatingly eccentric human would not outright tell him himself.

“Naturally, I will be here in the morning to perform the extraction, if you are up to it,” he replied as he began to sew the stitches. He remembered just how often he had had to patch up injuries like this for the boys when they had been younger, and the thought made him shudder. As much as he tried to take Master Tristan Vandros' anger and abuse onto himself, onto a body that could much more easily heal from the injuries, he had not always been successful. After all, he was only a slave. He had never understood how someone could cause such harm to his own progeny, on fragile children, when he, for himself, would much rather have been physically hurt than see them suffer. For all the evils the vampire had committed in his youth, he had never crossed the line into harming innocent children.

The former rebel leader looked up at the human in surprise, but his face softened quickly, already coming to expect such strangeness from this Alexi Vandros. But he supposed such a tiny show of trust might be a worthwhile price.

“My name is Erik Schumann, cell Leader and Commander, not that that means anything anymore,” he replied, a bit of pride slipping into his voice despite his own disclaimer. “While we are talking about trust, is there any chance of you letting me out of these stupid chains any time soon?”

Alexi hums softly, rolling the name around in his mind. He smiles slightly at the faint hint of pride in the man's voice at announcing his title along with it. 'Not mean anything? Not if I can help it. If I have my way, not only will it mean exactly what it use to, but it will mean so much more in annals of history' He chuckles lightly to himself, cut short by a faint throb in his wrist. His eyes tail back to the vampire and he tilts his head tot he side in worry.

A part of him would love to loose him from his chains, but while he no longer fears for his life, if his plan is to be successful, Erik can not be allowed to leave his room. He has great respect for the male, and trust, as much as he can afford, but there is little he can do against what little reason, it's voice very quite at times, that still resides in his slowly fading mind. He rolls his head from side to side, trying to come up with a polite way to tell him it's not so much a mater of trust but as one of practicality, when suddenly the rocking stops, his head snapping to a stop in an upright position.

'I am not sure this will be an improvement, but I can at least make the offer. It will be a little more freedom, but he will still, essentially, be a prisoner' He hums at the thought, but eventually nods and looks to Erik with a soft apologetic smile. I can not risk you leaving the room. Forgive me that, however I can offer you a bit more freedom.” He looks to Joseph with a smile. “You recall those new collars, the ones that keep slaves in a designated area? I have a box of them in the basement.” Look back to the bound man he once again looks apologetic. “It may be more on the head insulting, but if Joseph sets up the buffers on all the windows and both doors into the hall, you would be free to walk around the room and the bathroom.”

His free hand comes up to rub at his temples, his mind screaming at him to sleep so he can recover. “The collars are humane, in their own way. They keep a slave for exiting an area, but the magic in them simply pushes them back. It does not shock them or anything. As long as Joseph covers the exits properly, I have no problem with you wandering around in here. . .I trust you at your word that you will try and comply with my plan.” His voice grows quieter as he speaks, slight pauses between each sentence.

“I would. . .I would have Joseph hold on to the remote, so you do not have to feel like I have control of you, and since the manual functions only work at close range, he would not be able to do anything to you unless he is in the room with you.” His head falls but he manages a faint smile that both vampires would be able to see. “Joseph hates slavery as much if not more than I do, so I do not think you have much to fear with him at the controls. . .If you do not mind the collar idea, Joseph will set it up tonight. . .” He falls silent, his fist balling up on his forehead. He does not like the feeling of his wits slipping away from him.

Erik's bloodlust was satisfied, so he was better able to control his emotions now. Still, anger had always been a close companion for him, and it threatened to rage against him now. For about ten seconds, he just sat there, seeming to fume, eyes glowing and face screwed up in indignation. I still could be being tricked here. It could all be an act, and look at me, dressed as a slave, chained up, and now being asked to wear a fucking collar?! But then... why go to all this trouble? The sadistic amusement of it? And... for some reason, I still think he's sincere, if incredibly odd.

When he finally spoke, his voice only carried a small fraction of the fury that had rage inside him only seconds before. It was calm and rational, but in its own way, more terrifying than if he had been screaming. Dark red eyes met Alexi's, seeming to bore straight through them.

“You know, human, it would be a lot easier for me to trust you if you would actually reveal what your great plan is. And it would certainly help if you would stop treating me like a fucking slave while you insist that you are trying to end slavery. And yet, despite all of that, despite the fact that I'm completely insane for trusting you, I still am trying to. I told you that I would become your puppet if it meant ending this nightmare for my people, and that offer still stands. You have shown your sincerity by your actions, despite the fact that you still refuse to simply explain yourself. So maybe I'm insane for allowing this, but yes, I'll wear the damn collar. Some minute amount of freedom is better than none. But know this, Alexi, if I find that you are lying to me, that somehow this is all just a cruelly elaborate trick, then I will take great pleasure in killing you.”

Joseph silently finished the stitches, choosing not to respond to the younger vampire's threat. He would die protecting his master, but he could also understand Erik's anger. Besides, Master Alexi could hold his own without his servant's help.

Alexi does not see the growing anger in the vampire's eyes, does not see the glow that, should he see it so close, would very likely would have him returning the fierce look with one of bliss and admiration. Instead his eyes remain on the floor as the silence stretches on between them, the fog in his head doing nothing for his ability to concentrate on anything save the simplest of thoughts for a time. Seven his normally constantly calculating mind falls down to the lowest common denominator as he feels a part of his brain almost seizing up.

'I do not like this, not one bit. I first insist that he must have a clear head to make his decision, and here I am making important decisions with my mind less than half of what it should be. Truly, I must be mad' Hie manages to drag his head up a bit, wanting to see just what the bound man looks like as he thinks, only to be met with those dazzlingly beautiful red orbs. For a split second he feels the strong urge to reach out and draw the vampire closer, wanting to see those eyes more deeply, however the moment passes as the man begins speaking. In that instant his gaze had slipped into one of longing, but it snaps to attention the very second Erik begins addressing him.

As he comes to the end of his speech a soft smile curls the human's lips. He can not help the action, despite a piece of his mind insisting that it may very likely simply add to the other's already fiercely evident anger. At first, he does not answer to the man's words, simply letting out a sigh and offering up words on a completely different subject. He doesn't even bother to check the swearing. “I chose well. You are indeed the right one for this, as you prove again and again with each rebuff you throw my way, and with each lash of your virulent tongue. Anything less and I would not be able to complete my side with as much certainty that I feel has grown over the short time you have been here. . .”

He lets out another sigh, pulling his arm back to look at the now gauze covered wrist. He twists the arm this way and that, not really inspecting it, but more using it as something to bring his mind to focus. “I would beg your forgiveness for my selfish eccentricities, if I indeed felt sorrow at them, however I see not point, only clouding my mind and heart further. I weep that you must be bound, but bound you must be. I fear what binding will do for my heart when next I feel that great well of emotions flowing so strongly, so harshly inside your breast, inside my own. However, you may take that fact, my willingness to take such pain, to perhaps understand the importance of what I am trying to do. My willingness to risk such pain and sorrow, for something I find essential.”

A faint chuckle finds it's way to his lips, a pounding headache setting up behind his eyes. “As to the last, you offer to take up my life and dash it should my words ring false to your ears enough o lose all faith in me. . .” He spreads his hands wide, casting Joseph a glance he should recognize as one to express his seriousness and perhaps an indirect order. A moment later his gaze returns to the bound male and his smile fades into a serious look. “If you find me false, by the fourth dose, the dose you may still recover from, then I offer my life up for you to take as you will.” He knows there will be objections from Joseph at this, however he feels the sooner the better to state such an intention. Reaching up with his uninjured arm he brushes back his hair and lets out a little whine, his eyes falling closed with the pain.