2 Jack

<p>Keep your head down in deference. Don't speak unless your master tells you to. Never try to hide what you are.<br/>Those are basic rules for slaves. After the revolution, all humans are essentially slaves. Some wear collars while others are 'tagged' or microchipped. The latter have better odds of living until their bodies grow weak from time as they're overseers. The former are bought and sold fairly often. The lucky ones live into adulthood. Slaves are usually given names as children when they undergo basic training but any master can choose what to call their property.<br/>Jack was a pretty good name. Slave names tended to be short and some were even assigned a letter by their trainers who couldn't be bothered to name things that likely wouldn't last. Trainers weren't always human but vampires never did the job. Vampires were at the top of the food chain and humans were near the bottom.<br/>Jack was lucky. He had been taught that even his body was not his, masters could cut and brand and beat him as they pleased. So far, he had managed to make it through his training and a few masters without a permanent mark. He was up for auction because his last owner didn't need as many slaves as they had when they got Jack and he wasn't around long enough for them to want him over the slaves they had before he was bought so they sent him to market. Jack didn't like the shackles he had to wear at the market. Without an owner, he had no collar. Instead, his wrists and ankles were wrapped in metal. The shackles were for easy transport, chains could be attached to them to lock him into place. Like every time he was sent to market, he hoped he wasn't bought by a vampire. The market he was in wasn't the kind of place you would expect an elite in so he liked his odds. Jack was very smart for a human, smart enough not to flaunt his intelligence.<br/>Soon after Jack was sent on stage, the room fell silent. Oh no, only one thing would make everyone stop talking so suddenly. Well, there was nothing to be done, he was a dead man. Vampires sometimes bought slaves as slaves but they usually wound up drinking them dry. That was what happened when a human got too old, too. Once the human could no longer be useful, they were taken away so a vampire could drain them of their blood. The auctioner's words reached Jack's ears. "He's all your, sir." Definitely a vampire and a high ranking one since the auctioneer didn't even try to ask for payment. A low ranking vampire would just get a discount. Jack heard the sound of footsteps then the beep of two bracelets syncing for payment. A high ranking vampire choosing to pay money for something he could just take? It didn't make sense but Jack knew not to verbally question his master, or any vampire.<br/>The vampire spoke for the first time in a level voice, sounding almost human. "Wrists." Jack didn't lift his head as he lifted his wrists. Starting with his left wrist, the vampire removed all of the shackles by pulling them apart with his bare hands. Jack didn't feel fear or despair, there was always a chance he would be bought by a vampire. Even though vampires usually didn't bother keeping humans, every human knew they might wind up owned by one, that was just the way of things. When he was done breaking shackles, he placed a hand on Jack's shoulder. The hand was light, for a vampire, he was not squeezing his shoulder, his hand was just there but Jack knew there would be no escape and thought that was the reason the hand was there, to show Jack was owned. His new master asked the auctioneer, "Is he trained to a name?"<br/>"Jack," was the answer he received.<br/>Guiding him out of the market, his master led him to an intersection and stopped. "Jack." Hearing his name, he just knew he was supposed to face his master. What he said next about not caring what Jack did and how he should ignore anything he has been told unless his master tells him, including the basics, it didn't make sense but at the same time, it did.<br/>When asked if he understood, Jack answered, "Yes?" It didn't really make sense to him but above all else, he knew he was supposed to obey his master.<br/>"Good." His master turned him around to continue walking and told him what he was going to do before doing it, giving Jack clear instructions. When the hand was removed, Jack was a bit nervous. Now he was almost like a chipped human, except he was owned by a vampire. What would happen if he messed up? His master had yet to explain how he would handle Jack aside from saying he wouldn't be like the masters Jack knew how to deal with. When he arrived at his master's home, he stopped to await further instructions and his master caused a jolt of fear to run through him when he asked, "Was I not clear enough with my last set of instructions?" They were off the streets, what- oh, right, hallways had intersections. Jack continued walking, turning as directed, and was led to a bathroom where a warm bath was waiting. His master spoke clearly, his voice still sounding more human than Jack expected, like he was just a guy and not someone really close to the top of the food chain. Wait, was he at the top? For all Jack knew, he was the vampire king. Despite these thoughts racing through his mind, Jack still managed to hear what his master told him and answer with yes, confirming he understood and knew how to wash. He thought maybe washing his master would be his first task but instead he was told to wash himself and go straight from the bath to another room once he was clean, leaving his clothes behind. That was when Jack remembered learning how vampires sometimes took humans as lovers. He was never sure if the humans that vampires chose to bed were supposed to be better or worse off than the rest of them.<br/>After his master left the room, he hurried to obey. Doing as told and cleaning every inch of himself, he felt uncomfortable thinking about what he had realized his purpose was. This vampire wanted him clean so he could- Jack didn't actually know what would happen. They were both male and Jack was just nearing the age where he could be used to impregnate women so he wasn't sure what being taken as a lover meant in practice. Still, he knew his lot in life.<br/>Following his master's instructions, he went to the room he was directed to once he was as clean as he could get. His master ordered him to move around for inspection before quickly drying him and directing him to a set of folded clothes he was to wear. Then he was told to sit down and Jack didn't know what his master wanted from him. He didn't think his master had made any moves to have sex with him but since he didn't know what sex involved, he could not be sure. Regardless, he was relieved and confused when his master only cut his hair. Why was his master doing that? He was an elite, the auctioneer's and everyone's response to him showed Jack that. His master was efficient and soon they were back to Jack following his master's directions to get somewhere else in the house, this time they went into a nice bedroom. Jack wondered what his master wanted him to do to be ready to fulfill his purpose when his master's words shocked him. "This room is yours. There is food in the cupboards and water will arrive via pitcher everyday. You may do as you wish in this room." He was being given this room for himself. That made less sense than everything else. The room was very nice, he thought it was his master's room. There was a big bed, a bookcase filled with books and the cupboards were probably the weird table and shelves thing. There- wait, there were also windows to let in sunlight. His master couldn't survive sleeping in here, of course it was someone else's but Jack was just a human slave.<br/>Looking at his master, Jack debated speaking out of turn before remembering what his master told him at the first intersection. Just to be safe, he bowed his head in deference when he spoke "You said you would tell me the rules once we got here."<br/>"Right. You are expected to stay in this room for the time being. Until you adjust to having your own space, the door will be locked from the outside so that you are not tempted to seek out work. I expect you to keep yourself as clean as possible." Antonio added, "I would also like you to stand up when I enter this room but if I catch you asleep, I won't bother you."<br/>Jack couldn't help voicing his thoughts "That's it?" He wouldn't even get in trouble for sleeping when his master wanted him and he was to stand not kneel in his master's presence.<br/>"Keep the room and yourself clean, don't leave, and stand to face me when I enter. I already told you that I expect obedience." His master's voice was sharp when he spoke again.<br/>Right. He should have been more respectful. Jack swallowed and asked the question he really needed answered, "What if I fail to do one of those things?"<br/>"You want to know how punishment works?"<br/>"Yes."<br/>"I won't hurt you. I mean, I'll discourage repeat offenses but you won't be injured by me. I have a thing about physical ages. Once you grow up, you will understand but for now, I need to keep you healthy." He was waiting for Jack to reach maturity, that made sense at least. Jack suspected his master didn't know that he understood the implications, that he had already figured out what his purpose was. After he left, Jack explored his room. He could read a little, all humans were taught so they could read signs and chipped humans were taught to read even more so they could follow written orders and handle money properly. Jack wondered where chipped humans slept. Before, he had always slept with all the other collared slaves. Now he had a room to himself.</p>