Fire Tongue

LAST TIME:

Smiling the boy looked at the window as the palace grew closer, smiling he situated the mask properly on his face just as the carriage pulled up to the step to let him off. The door swung open and he stepped shyly from within the coach his hand reaching toward the gloved hand to help him out. Looking up his eyes widen as they fall upon the face of….

THIS TIME:

Looking up his eyes widened as they fell upon the face of his own cousin, Dudley. To shocked to speak Hadrian climbed out of the carriage and looked up at the much larger man, "C...can I help you sir?"

Dudley growled down at him, his pudgy beady eyes glowing menacingly, "Ya, you can stay away from the Prince. He is too good for trash like you." The large man squeezed Hadrian's smaller hand tightly, a small crack and a yelp were what he got in return. Whimpering Hadrian looked up, right as a fist flew from nowhere connecting with Dudley's fat purple cheek. Backing up Hadrian stumbled, falling to the ground looking up at Jasper who now held a large sword to his cousin's throat.

"Hurt him against Dursley and I will see to it your family is sent into poverty and exile!" Hissed the Prince with such venom it shocked even the small green eyed beauty. Whimpering Dudley waddled off holding his cheek in his fat pig like hand, not looking back in fear of the prince finishing the job. Turning the prince held out his gloved hand whispering softly, "Did he hurt you my angel?"

Taking the hand with his uninjured one he stood and shook his head no. Smiling Jasper captured the injured hand and went to remove the glove only to have it snatched away by Hadrian himself eyes wide with fear, "Please don't I'm fine. Honest I am"

Jasper turned to him sighing before nodding carefully and holding out his arm, "As you wish. Now may I escort you to the dance?"

Smiling Hadrian took his arm and they walked slowly up the stairs and to the ball room only to be stopped by Princess Alice. The small pixie like woman took Hadrian's arm carefully, smirking to her brother as she pulled the boy off to the other side of the ball room; Prince Edward cut Jasper off from retrieving the boy. Smiling Edward whispered, "Don't, Alice wishes to inspect him. She smelt blood on him the other night and wished to check him over as only she can. She will not harm him little brother you know this, calm yourself and let Alice take care for him." Nodding Jasper allowed his brother to lead him off toward their mother and father, watching as Alice pulled Hadrian onto the dance floor talking to him softly.

With Alice and Hadrian:

Alice turned to gaze at the young man her brother had chosen. She could still smell blood, though this time it was not as strong slowly she pulled the boy into a dance leading him through the steps carefully as she whispered, "Where are you injured and do not say you aren't, I can smell the blood upon you."

Hadrian's eyes widen and he looked up at her fearfully before stammering, "I burnt my hand the other morning while cooking breakfast for myself and my family."

"Oh so you have a family?" Alice questioned carefully her Topaz eyes staring into his emerald orbs.

"Well yes I have an Uncle and Aunt and my Cousin"

"No mother or father?"

"No my Princess they passed away when I was one."

"Oh, you poor dear. Well your Aunt and Uncle must be wonderful people to take you in to their home."

"Yeah I guess so" Hadrian whispered looking away from the taller woman. He did not know why the Princess asked him such questions or why it even mattered. He looked up as his hands were let go and taken by the familiar grip of Jasper. Hadrian looked up at the Prince, smiling beneath his three quarter mask.

Jasper looked down into the bright green eyes of his soon to be mate. He had heard everything Alice asked his sweet one and he knew now that something was not right with the younger male. Pulling Hadrian into a dance neither noticed as the hands of the clock crept closer to midnight; so both jumped when the large tower clock sounded loudly within the ball room.

Hadrian's eyes grew wide and he let go of the Prince's hands muttering a quick good bye. Hadrian fled the Ball Room running straight to the carriage that waited for him. As he stepped from within the carriage at his home the fancy carriage melted away and he rose into the darkened house, sighing as he slipped into his small kitchen area. Removing the fancy clothes he had just finished putting them away, but his mask was still upon the table when Dudley stumbled into the kitchen. The small beady blue eyes looked down at the table his eyes widening at the sight of the mask.

"MOM, DAD THE LITTLE KITCHEN SLAVE WAS AT THE BALL AND LEFT THE HOUSE!"

Thundering steps where heard as they approached the kitchen the door was thrown open and a loud bellowing voice erupted "BOY! I've had just about enough of your funny stuff! It's to the attic with you!" Vernon grabbed the smaller boys arm harshly which had Hadrian crying out in pain.

-WARNING, WARNING, WARNING Descriptive ABUSE

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED-

Dragging the boy up the stairs and into the dark, small dusty attic the pudgy man dropped him reaching for the belt around his waist."I'll teach you to steal and hide things from us!" Undoing the belt Vernon reeled it back before bringing the metal clasp down across the young man's unprotected cheek, tearing into the flesh. Bringing it back once more the man continuously brought the metal clasped belt down upon the huddled boy eliciting cries from him as it struck his face, chest, sides and legs; Leaving thin red trails of blood in its path.

Whimpering Hadrian turned onto his front attempting to crawl away from the brutal beating when another belt swipe struck his back side with such force it sent him sprawling on the ground once more. Sobbing Hadrian turned just to see his uncle smirk pulling back the belt once last time bringing it down once more across the small man's face, the corner of the clasp striking him in the eye and his world went dark.