The Copper Horse #1 Fear (37 page)

"No, I'm ready," was all he could muster. Before, Hans had been like a ghost, but after their conversation, Reuben became self-conscious as ever.

A gentle hand lifted his chin which left him to stare into Erik's eyes. The man wore another one of his full-body suits, dark brown this time.

"Do I displease you?" Reuben whispered, barely keeping his lips from trembling.

Erik shook his head, before shooting an intent look at Hans. "Why would you think that?"

"You're quiet."

"I'm worried. Did that dog here say something to you?" Erik's voice became harsh.

"No." Even this short word was enough for his voice to shake.

Reuben saw Erik's hands clench into fists as he turned his body toward Hans. "Do you wish to lose another finger?"

"It was the horse asking questions, sir. I will ignore him next time if that is your wish." Hans' answer was cold and emotionless, as usual.

Erik shook his head. "Face the wall."

His bodyguard took a deep breath but complied without hesitation.

"Stay this way and keep your mouth shut until I return." Erik took Reuben's arm and tugged him along.

Reuben instantly followed. "Did I do wrong, Master?"

"No, you didn't. Except you just lied to me." Erik licked his lips, stopping once they lost Hans from sight.

Reuben's body went rigid. He had. He hadn't even noticed when his mouth had betrayed him. "I'm sorry!" He looked up to Erik. "I... it slipped."

The look of disappointment on his master's face was worse than Hans' teasing. "Why don't you trust me, Copper? I am the guarantor of your well-being."

"I—I fear him, Master. I didn't want revenge," Reuben managed, short of breath. He didn't understand how this man had the capability to turn him into a puddle of jelly. Then Erik's ink stained fingers were on his cheeks and he was pulled into a soothing kiss. Reuben's body was trembling, but he gave into it without hesitation. Those sweet, soft lips were like a bandage to the ego, tarnished by Hans' words.

"Don't be afraid," Erik whispered against his mouth, the fleeting touch sending jolts of anticipation down Reuben's body. "Be good and I'll protect you."

"I'll try my best." Reuben's eyes fluttered shut. If only it could be just the two of them...

With one more peck, Erik pulled away and walked him to a door they'd never used before. The smell of wood and grease overwhelmed Reuben's senses when they entered a simple, but well lit room with large, grated windows. Everything was finished in rough timber, but the humble interior was merely the place to house several carts that were much too small to use with a real horse. Some were simple, merely a seat and a pair of large wheels, but in the back, pinpointed by bright light from an opening in the ceiling, stood a masterpiece. It looked like something out of this world, a miniature carriage: red, with golden floral ornaments on the sides.

Reuben couldn't stop staring at it, his eyes wide open, but he didn't dare move unprompted. "That is a beautiful carriage, Master."

"Oh, yes, It belonged to a duchess." Erik smiled, running his fingers up and down Reuben's arm. "Her children used it with a pony. A real one, that is."

Reuben nudged him with an elbow. "What would you like me to do?"

Erik's eyes lit up at that simple gesture and he shook his head. "We're not using this one today. You need to earn it." He moved toward the simple cart Reuben noticed first and put a hand on one of the large wheels. "You're going to take me to my friend's house."

Reuben just stared at him. "I don't understand. These aren't for the garden?"

Erik blinked. "Don't be silly. We're going out."

"Ou-ou-out where?" The idea of going out to the street like this was so outrageous that Reuben didn't even want to consider it.

"Bylondon, Copper." He could see Erik's shoulders tensing up beneath the thin layer of leather.

"But—Master! I can't... people will look." Reuben took a step back, wide eyed and more petrified with every moment. Every single person in the street would think of him like Hans does!

Erik swallowed, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes for a second. "Copper, did you not tell me today that you want to be obedient?"

"But I can't do
this,
Master! I was so good today!" He took another step back, panic beginning to rush through his veins as if he'd drunk three shots of it at once.

"But you must." Erik's voice was quiet, and there was not even a hint of mercy in it.

Reuben looked into his face, knelt on the wooden floor, and pressed his lips to Erik's boots. "Please..." He'd gotten used to spending time with Erik in his house, but going out? Being seen like this? Like a half-human?

"Copper, we're going."

"I don't want to!" Reuben whined without looking up. Maybe if he closed his eyes, this would all go away. "You told me just today, Master, to tell you if things felt uncomfortable!"

"But this is why I keep you, Copper." Erik's expression was serious. "I want you to take me places in my carts."

Was this and fucking all he was kept here for? The thought was draining away all the warm feelings he had for Erik. "I can do so many other things, Master," he tried, straightening up on his knees. He leaned forward to kiss Erik's crotch through the soft leather, eyes fixed on his face with a silent plea.

"Copper, I will not be negotiating this." Erik's voice was cool and smooth to Reuben's ears.

"I don't want to!" He clenched his fists, looking back at him in anger. He thought they had an understanding, but it looked like it was all about Erik getting what
he
wanted. Made sense. Why have a slave otherwise? Were he normal, he would have a lover.

"You are a horse and horses pull carts." Erik's mouth twitched as if he was struggling to control his muscles. "You will obey me!"

Reuben could feel his eyes watering, but he didn't look away. "And after this whole day, after what we did, you would beat me?" He barely held back the emotion in his voice. Erik swallowed, his eyes on Reuben's as he reached out to yank him by the hair.

"I will not. It's going to be much worse."

Reuben's stomach clenched in fear, but he just tensed up. "Oh, yeah? Worse than parading me around the streets like I'm not even human!? I'm not a
thing
!"

"No, you're not." Erik forced him toward a wooden gate behind the luxurious carriage, pulling on his hair as if he wanted to take his scalp off. "You're my horse and you will obey me!" he added in a heated tone.

Reuben followed, writhing on his knees. He pushed his head against Erik's hand so that his master wouldn't tug on his hair. It wasn't easy, as fury got the best of him. "You worse than 'im! That fuckin' Hans!" He didn't even try to speak properly any more. "At least he doesn't pretend to like me!"

The blow Reuben received to the side of his face sent him to the ground. His heart raced at the metallic taste of blood. Erik opened the door, his arms shaking.

Reuben just laid there, curling up his knees to his chest. "I'm not askin' much!"

"Out...
Out
!" Erik screamed like Reuben never heard him before, his voice practically hysterical.

Refusing to even look at him, Reuben got to his knees again and crawled where he was told. He didn't even notice when his knees had begun to bleed. He was outside, in a backyard, creeping in dirt and gravel. The sunlight was orange, which meant it had to be late afternoon. A loud slam of the door and a snap of a padlock behind him told Reuben that Erik didn't want to set eyes on him for now.

He sat down by the wall and looked around the deserted little backyard. This time, it was he who screamed out. A bony hand crept out from behind an iron grate only a few yards away. The guttural growl that followed unmistakably belonged to the undead behind it. Initial horror faded away when Reuben noticed the creature was locked in a small, circular cage. It was a man, probably youngish, though it was hard to tell with skin ripped off half his face. Dead eyes were set on Reuben as the zombie lurched at the bars, trying to get his head through. There were bloodstains around the ghoul's mouth, and as Reuben followed the trail of red down its body, he noticed how fine the zombie's clothes must have once been. A
zandy
?

A slight smile tugged Reuben's lips at the realization that even a wealthy, fashionable dandy wasn't immune to the disease. The silly expression dropped again when he noticed white in the puddle around the cage. A bone... no,
bones
... parts of a human body were scattered on the gravel, and Reuben screamed once more when he saw a rotting finger close to his foot.

He almost fell over, rushing to the closed entrance and banging on it with the side of his arm. "No! Let me out! I didn't do nothing!" he cried, and the noise only made the zombie more agitated. The thought of staying here made his dinner rush up his throat.

"Good night, Copper. You will pull my cart tomorrow," was the last thing he heard from behind the door.

"Bastard!" Reuben yelled and curled up in the corner of the yard, his movements followed by the undead's fogged up eyes.

He didn't dare make another sound, though he heard more growls from behind the thick walls at the back of the yard. There were more of them on the outer side. It shouldn't have made a difference if it was light or dark, but somehow, the setting sun made him feel worse about the situation. How in God's name was he supposed to sleep with those creatures all around?

Reuben wanted to believe he would defy Erik tomorrow, but he knew it wouldn't happen.

The worst thing was that after over a month in this place, anger wasn't the only feeling he had for Erik. No man had ever touched him with so much tenderness, and his master spared him no kisses or compliments. The fact that he turned to punishment without thinking twice broke Reuben's heart.

He let out a deep throaty sob.

Maybe he would freeze out here tonight. It wouldn't be such a bad way to go.

Chapter 17

Reuben watched the caged zombie move his hands toward him with unfaltering energy. There was so much hunger in the creature that one of its fingers fell off when it hit its hand against the ground too hard.

Numbness overtook any feelings Reuben had, he wasn't even afraid of the undead anymore, and he had no more tears left. It must have been hours since he had been left in this backyard. He was shivering from the cold, hungry, and dead on the inside.

Curled up in the corner, naked in the dirt, he thought back on the lovely day that had somehow ended up like this. Erik had discarded him like an unwanted plaything. He thought that after all this time, they shared a connection. An understanding. Especially since he'd opened up to Erik in the most intimate ways, even if he wouldn't ever admit it. And now that he had begun feeling needed, it turned out Erik could simply get rid of him on a whim. What if he resisted more than once? Would he end up like that rotting heap of flesh and bones in this yard?

A clunk of metal turned his attention to the door, which slowly opened to reveal a small figure. His eyes were so used to the dark by now that he immediately recognized Jack.

"Oh, Copper. John told me the master cut you to agitate the zandy. Is that true? Why did you disobey him?" The groom moved toward him with caution, as if he were approaching a wild animal.

Reuben opened his mouth to express his anger, but nothing came out. He didn't have anything left. It would be for the best if he could disappear into the surrounding darkness. Maybe if he went over to the zombie, the torment would finally come to an end, but deep down, he knew he wasn't going to do it. He was a coward. "He didn't cut me. Stupid gossip. I don't want to pull a cart."

Jack squatted next to him, gently stroking his arm. "But… ponies do cart rides."

Reuben wanted to answer, but all that came out was a sob so broken that the caged zombie growled again. He felt Jack draw close, embracing his head and pulling it to his chest.

"I don't understand. You're so strong. Why would you refuse?" Jack kissed the top of his head.

Reuben leaned into his willowy frame, desperate for warmth. "I dun wanna. Don't wanna go outside! Everyone will laugh at me."

"Even if they do, Master Erik is not someone to tolerate people teasing his stallion. He'd never allow it." Jack sighed and gently brushed his hand down Reuben's back.

"He doesn't care!" The words were one big sob, tears appearing out of nowhere, as if summoned by magic.

"That's not true at all." Jack hugged him closer. "He was sitting here 'til fifteen minutes ago! Right there, behind that door. He looked a right mess, with his ear by the door."

"Why would he do that? He hates me. Did he stay just to hear me cry?" Reuben pulled out of the embrace and knocked his head against the wall with all the helplessness of a man with no way out.

"No, Copper, he was worried. And I think he felt bad for having to punish you." Jack stroked the bald side of Reuben's head, slowly getting up and trying to pull him along, but Reuben fought back and landed on his butt in the dirt.

"Oh, yeah? Guess who also feels bad? Me! What if that thing had gotten out of the cage and eaten me? Or just bit me and I would have died here, all alone for hours on end! Why would he be worried? He knew exactly what he was doing!" The pain was so bad, it felt as if his chest was about to explode.