Raphael directed Aeron to the Palace, having alerted the guards as they entered the gates, as they stopped not far from the doors themselves, there was little surprise between them as guards appeared from nowhere.

"How are you feeling, Raphael? Are you able to carry your brother, or am I alright to?" Aeron asked before the door even opened. He didn't want to risk so many hearing and acting irrationally.

"I-" Raphael sighed. He was too weak. He hated to admit it infront of his own brothers, nevermind a human slave owner, but he didn't have a choice. "I can't carry him."

"Tell the guards to stand down, Brother." Samael rasped. "They shall listen and not attack if it is demanded."

Raphael nodded and got out of the car, approaching the few stairs and facing his brother, the leader of the seven siblings.

"Aleksandr is asleep, Alexei, Samael is injured, I am too weak to carry him. Tell the guards to stand down. Aeron will carry him inside." Raphael stated, looking his brother in the eye.

Alexeis face soured. "Are you sure about this, Brother? Aeron is known for playing the long game."

"I am sure, Brother." Raphael replied. "There are freed slaves on the way, nearly a hundred, we must prepare for them."

Alexeis eyes widened and he quickly adressed everyone. "Guards! Stand down, this human is not a threat! We have free slaves heading out way! We must prepare!"

Guards rushed from heir positions to report to the rest of the castle of the arrival of freed vampires just as Aeron got out of the car, a half asleep Aleksandr hovering beside him.

"You could have stayed asleep, I wouldn't have disturbed you." Aeron told him. Aleksandr scowled.

I do not trust vampires not to act irrationally, Sir.

Stop calling me sir, Aleksandr.

Aleksandr huffed Okay then, Master.

Aeron grumbled out loud, turning to glower at him. Alexei, Raphael, and a few guards stopped to stare at the pairs exchange, worried for Aleksandr.

You're doing well, Little Vampire. You have a spark in you still. And you can call me whatever you want, Little One. Whatever you are comfortable with calling me.

Aleksandr couldn't help but smile and nod. Thank you, Master.

The guards looked to Raphael and Alexei. Raphael wasn't surprised, Alexei was taken aback. Aleksandr was smiling at a human?

"Where is Samael?" Alexei asked suddenly.

Aeron looked up to Raphael, who nodded a go ahead. They would not attack him for touching their Prince.

"Aeron will bring him inside." Raphael told Alexei. "He is not to be harmed brother. We can explain better once he is healed and by that time, everyone in the castle needs to listen."

Alexei noted Raphael left little room to argue.

Aeron opened the car door, "Am I alright to carry you inside, Samael?"

Samael nodded. Aeron had been extremely careful with him on their way out of the compound. It would be immensely stupid to do anything now. And, he was warming up to the human a little. His interactions with Aleksandr somewhat leading him to believe he meant no real harm to him.

"Thank you." Aeron muttered. He carefully picked Samael up, ensuring not to touch his wounds and cause him very little pain. "Aleksandr, can you grab the duffel from the back seat please? It's got the reverser potion inside."

"Yes, Sir." Aleksandr murmured, going around to the other side of the car to grab the duffel. He followed Aeron and Samael closely, waiting until the Palace door shut to speak. "The medical bay is the west wing. I'll show you the way, Sir."

Aeron noted everyone but Raphael and Aleksandr were staring at him. Some in anger, a few in confusion. Why was a human here? Why was a human carrying samael, an original elder? Why wasn't he captured or killed already?

Aleksandr led the small group now following into the main medical ward. It wasn't far off a human ward, but it was far less sickly and more homely, as to not remind previous slaves of their times being tested on.

"Put him on there, Sir. I'll get some bandages." Aleksandr spoke quickly, hesitating for a second as he realised what he had said. Aeron didn't spare him a glance though and put Samael on the table.

Aleksandr had grabbed some bandages and approached his brother, "Take off your shirt."

Samael eyed Aeron and slowly slipped off his shirt.

"Fuck." Aleksandr had grabbed the ointment and dabbed it on a cloth, hissing as it touched his skin.

"Give it here." Aeron didn't take no for an answer and took it out of his hands to put to one side. "Whats wrong with your hands?"

Aleksandr gulped, showing his Master the inside of his shaking hands. They were heavily scarred, a few of the wounds having reopened.

"Shit. Why didn't you tell me gods damn it!" Aeron spat. Aleksandr flinched. "Go wash your hands in the sink. Raphael, use the cloth to wipe around Samaels wounds."

Aeron approached Aleksandr who was shaking as the water washed off some of the now pooling blood. The ointment was a blood thinner to vampires, but also helped sterilise and heal wounds. Aeron grasped Aleksandrs forearms, careful of his sore wrists from the chains, and held it beneath the water.

"You should have told me you were injured and in pain, Aleksandr." Aeron told him sternly. "I can't help if I don't know what the fuck is going on."

Aleksandr nodded quickly. "Sorry sir, it won't happen again."

Aeron barely managed not to roll his eyes. You are not in trouble, Little Vampire. You simply need to tell me your ailments. I will not access your mind, I refuse to. It takes away autonomy. That is yours to keep. The blood claim means I can control everything you do, but i would never use it. I understand if I scared you, but I would never harm you. I swear to you, Aleksandr Knyazev, no matter what happens, I will never hurt you...

Aleksandrs eyes widened and he jerked back but Aeron was too strong. You-you just-

Well, A smirk curved at Aerons face. I won't hurt you unless you want me to, of course, Little Vampire.

Aleksandrs face flushed as he realised his Masters implications and he swore he heard a purr accompany his latest endearment.

I-I-i dont-i don't know what to say, Master. T-Thank you?

Aeron nodded and pulled Aleksandrs hands from the water to dry on some gauze nearby. "I didn't fetch many wraps with me, so you will have to he careful with these until I can make some more." Aeron grabbed a small bag from the duffel side pocket. Inside were two bandages, pre-made and had a distinctively strange smell to them. "Do you want me to wrap them, or do you want to?"

Aleksandr licked his lips hesitantly. You please, Master.

Aeron began wrapping each of Aleksandrs wrists and hands, careful the soaked gauze would not irritate the re-opened wounds. After a few minutes, Aeron glanced over to Raphael and Samael. He didn't even acknowledge Alexei, or the other three: Sylvester, Sergei, or Viktor.

"How are your wounds, Samael?" Aeron questioned him. He noted the angry red marks across the vampires back, his pale yet dark olive skin making it look sickly.

"They feel better, Aeron." Samael replied. He hesitated before speaking, but eventually said It anyway. "Thank you."

Aeron nodded, turning back to Aleksandr. "You said you had been whipped. I need to check they have no broken the skin or used sap leather again."

Aleksandr avoided eye contact hearing the familliar name. Aeron knew from just that, that they had used a sap leather whip.

Sap leather was when makers not only created the leather from an extremely strong material, but also used the sao itself to strengthen the leather and set it so it was extremely durable and hard- to make matters worse, once placed In a solution the would become sticky, and when used, tore the skin from its victims.

"I-im fine, Sir." Aleksandr tried to convince his Master just that, but Aeron wasn't having any of it.

"No, you aren't." Aeron glared at him. "Go in there-" He pointed to the bay next door. "And I want to see them. I will be in there in a few minutes, I'm just going to give Samael the reverser."

Aleksandr nodded hurriedly, not wanting to irritate his Master, and hurried into the other room. He shut the door and went to take off his shirt. A pained cry left his lips. His shirt was not only tattered and bloody beneath his shirt, but it had stuck to him. They had indeed used Sap leather whip and he was in agony as he tried to peel the bottom of his shirt from his back.

[Word count: 1489]