“Confused,” Aneski admitted before he could help it. He grabbed the chain and tugged lightly. “What is this?”
“That?” Flix walked around the bed but didn’t approach him, going over to the dresser set against the opposite wall instead.
There were two multi-slates laid out on the surface, and Aneski figured one of them was his.
Flix picked up a small glass bottle and spritzed a few puffs into the air around himself before setting it back down.
Aneski’s nose twitched at the first hint of something smoky yet floral. Had he always worn cologne?
“That’s a collar,” Flix finally answered, turning to lean back against the dresser.
“And I’m wearing it because?”
He snickered. “You don’t actually think you can be trusted to wander around on your own now, do you? After the stunt you just pulled? You’re lucky Berga talked me out of the restraints, although,” he tilted his head, “I’m still considering it, honestly.”
“What?” Ani wasn’t sure where to start. “Berga was here?”
“Who do you think helped me install the bolt?” he said. “Besides, we needed a witness.”
“Witness?”
“To make you my Onus? If I claim you, I need a witness. Baikal met us at the hospital with his private doctor.”
“I should thank him.”
“He doesn’t come around here very often,” Flix stated. “No one does, really. I’m not usually big on entertaining at my place so,” his gaze swept over him, “you’re going to have to provide most of that yourself.”
Dread was starting to coil in his gut, but Aneski struggled to maintain his composure. There was something almost menacing about the way Flix was staring at him, the look nothing like anything he’d set on Ani before.
“You can’t keep me here chained to the wall forever,” his voice was just above a whisper.
“Wanna bet?” Flix countered. “I bet I can keep you locked on my bed for the rest of your life, just like this.” He pushed off the dresser and came over on steady feet. “Should I knock you out for bathroom breaks like you did with me? I’m already being more generous, considering you left me standing.”
“Is that what this is about?” He wet his lips. “I thought you said we were even for that? That’s why you fucked me and left. That was the punishment.”
“It was,” he agreed. “You should have been a good boy and been satisfied. I gave you a taste and what did you do?” He grabbed onto the chain right where it met the collar and yanked Aneski onto his knees on the bed. “You came crawling back like a bitch in heat. Well, now you’ve gotten what you wanted. You’re my bitch, baby, and I’m possessive as fuck. I also happen to be a mafia member, meaning there are all sorts of weapons stashed around this place—sharp weapons. You can’t be left to your own devices, and I can’t exactly baby-proof the entire house, so I came up with a solution.”
Ani grabbed Flix’s wrists with both hands and tried to dislodge his grip on the chain, but he held firm. He gave up shortly after with a heave of frustration, trying not to noticethe prickling sensation at the corner of his eyes. “What about school? I have midterms.”
“Those tools you used seemed pointy,” Flix replied. “Better not.”
“Flix.” He couldn’t be serious?
“What’s wrong?” He lowered his face to his. “You seem upset, Tiny Terror. Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“No,” he shook his head. “You know it isn’t.”
“Do I?” Flix hummed and straightened.
“Is this because of your powers?” Aneski scrambled to come up with something, anything, to say that could convince Flix to put an end to this threat. “I won’t tell! I promise! I never planned on telling in the first place!”
“Seeing as how only Baikal and Berga know about you,” Flix drawled, “and I’d never leave you unsupervised with either, I’m fairly confident that’s true. I’ll let you speak to your friends one last time though—over the multi-slate, not in person. You can tell them about how you’re quitting school and moving away.”
“Flix, please don’t do this.”
“It’s the best option when you think about it. You wouldn’t want them showing up here, trying to pull off some lame rescue attempt, would you?”
“Flix.”
