It was late in the evening when Artorias approached the makeshift dock that had been set up by the Fenmyre ferry. Under the cover of night, the Aegis had slipped away from the Hallows, leaving the world he knew in favor for indulgence into the darkness the worldly king of the island had introduced him to. When he'd been here last, Chimera had shown him ways to purge, to unleash his baser needs and desires and live uninhibited and free. While he hadn't been able to untether himself from his morals and ethics then when presented with a slave and carte blanche, this time a dark rage smoldered in his heart. He hadn't been angry last time. He'd been too in control to let the leash go. Now, after his encounter with Oxx, Artorias had been struggling with his volatile emotions.

Artorias was incensed. He had been humiliated, emasculated in his defeat at the paws of his adoptive brother. He'd tried to tamp down the fury, the need to hurt and destroy, to repress it and ignore it, but the pressure never went away. This wasn't like the angers he'd felt before when he'd been helpless to save his dying mother or when he'd learned of Sirius' mistreatment of Tamsyn—this was so much more violent and primal. Briar had gone back home, Bowen was busy with her boyfriend, and without another outlet Artorias had found himself sleepless and restless, unable to think of anything beside his failure and his revenge. He needed a purge, an outlet that he couldn't find anywhere else other than the kingdom of degeneracy just across the continent.

He hadn't been in the right state of mind to participate in Chimera's wonderland before. This time was different.

Working the pulley system, Artorias tugged the barge raft over to the shore, then climbed on and began to pull himself across to the opposite dock. Each pull of the rope brought him closer to the island, and with each grunt of effort Artorias' feral emotions were stoked. Flashbacks of Oxx throwing him to the ground, pummeling him to a bloody mess in the snow, the feel of his teeth in the back of his neck while he violated him, losing his sword to the bastard... Artorias' amber eyes were narrowed to deadly points by the time he arrived at the dock between the skeletons of old ships. The dark-furred wolf stepped onto the dock and gave a call for the king, already making his way down the long dock and walking with purpose. He was ready to do business with the devil and explore parts of him he'd kept locked away from everyone else.

"Artorias Carpathius"

One closed eye cracked as the call rang out over the island. Chimera stretched and sighed. He hadn't planned on having any visitors today. As king though, duty called. At least he recognized the howl and knew that this meeting wouldn't necessitate strict diplomacy. The boy wanted something from him just as he had wanted something the last time. The first usage of the slaves had been a freebie. Now Artorias would be expected to pay. Chi only hoped that the young wolf was smart enough to know that.

Peeling himself from the pile of women around him, Chimera moved out of the suite of rooms, through the atrium and out the doorway that led towards the docks. Seeing Artorias, Chimera could see the pensive look on the boys face. The set of  the young wolfs shoulders, the scowl on his face, the determination in his eyes. Chimera raised one brow. "You look like you need to blow off some steam." Motioning for the young man to follow him, Chi turned and made his way towards the slave pens on the far beach.

The pair moved in relative silence until they reached the pens. Once they did, Chimera leaned against one thick wooden pole with manacles attached. There were several captives in the pens. Some new. Some old. "Might I suggest a woman," the brute rumbled. "There's no other feeling like roughing up a fae before you breed her." He then gave a little shrug and amended his statement. "Before, during, whatever." Each in their own individual pen were both brutes and faes. Whatever Artorias felt in the mood for, he could partake in. However, if he needed an ego boost, abusing a woman was the way to go.

"Speech"

By the time his paws reached the end of the dock, Artorias spotted the split-toned form of Chimera approaching him, a knowing look on the dire brute's face. He dipped his head in greeting to the King of Fenmyre, though the expression he wore easily betrayed his intentions. This was not a social call, nor was it a diplomatic venture. Tonight, Artorias was a client of the island. Approaching Chimera, Artorias could smell the scents of faes, heat, and sex all over the man's coat. He'd been having a good night, it seemed, and it was just a further reminder to him of what he didn't have now. Thanks in part to Chimera, he'd sampled that forbidden fruit with Bowen and discovered pleasures the likes of which his mind could never have comprehended prior. Now his sister was entangled with her lover, and his own was miles away on another continent. He was a defeated knight with no sword, a solitary king with no queen. What a sad state he'd found himself in.

Chimera made a comment about needing to blow off some steam, and Artorias responded only with a curt nod. He wasn't feeling much like talking right now. His jaw was clenched, teeth grinding together from the barely contained rage burning in his heart, poisoning him from the inside. Without a word, Artorias followed Chimera back to where the slave pens were on the opposite side of the island. The trip was made in silence, neither brute needing small talk to be at ease in the other's presence. They arrived at the pens, and the king leaned against a post as he offered up his suggestions like a sommelier recommending a perfect wine. A woman, someone to rough up before breeding her. A powerful tremor ran down Artorias' back, instinctive urges rising within him at the mental images Chi's words crafted in his head.

Artorias stepped up to the pens, peering inside, amber eyes almost glowing with the burning need for violence and control. The slaves varied in size, shape, gender, age. Looking between them all offered him little in the way of making the decision easier. Right now, all Artorias wanted was to sink his teeth into someone and let the rage spill out. He was tired of containing it, smothering it, pretending like it didn't exist. He wanted to bite someone—although the scents coming off of Chimera were reminding him of what else he could have, a lingering temptation in the primal part of his brain. Looking between the scared faces of each slave was almost enough for Artorias' good side to win out over his anger... until his eyes landed on a slate-gray fae in one of the pens.

The young brute froze and leered in at her, holding her gaze for a long moment. She wasn't the exact same colors as Oxx and she was significantly more plain, but she was close enough that in the dim light he couldn't tell the difference and it was enough to flare up that fire inside him once more. His mind had been made up before he even said the words. "Her." Stony eyes turned to find Chimera again. "What do you want for her?" Chimera was a direct wolf; he would tell him what he needed or wanted in exchange for all the things he may or may not do to her. Supplies, luxuries, a task completed... Right now, Artorias would be willing to pay almost any price for the satisfaction he sought.

"Artorias Carpathius"

The determination in the steps of the blue man was almost comical. He needed something and he needed it soon. At that moment, he was the perfect customer to which Chimera could peddle his wares. Art had a need and Chimera had that which could fulfill that need. The fire behind the young man's eyes spoke of violence, but his youth made the king think that Art also needed some other form of release. And so he suggested a woman and the suggestion immediately made that fire within Art's gaze flare up.

Chimera stayed back as the black and blue wolf inspected the slaves in the various cages. He had no idea what had happened to the boy, nor did he know just what flavor Art might choose, but when he finally did so, the shark-toothed brute furrowed his brow. It was all an act, but he played his part well. When Artorias asked his price, Chimera gave his head a shake. "That one wasn't cheap." He made a show of thinking about it for a long moment. Really, the King of Fenmyre already knew what he wanted.

Stepping up to the bars of the cell, Chimera looked within. The slaves shrank back against the far wall. He looked over the slate colored woman as she cowered like the others. She really wasn't anything special, but there were things that he needed, so he would finally name his price. "Warriors. Fighters. Wolves to protect my borders while my women are pregnant and my children are young and vulnerable." Chimera unhinged the door, swinging open with a flourish to give the worked up brute his woman. "You give me warriors, Artorias... and I'll keep you supplied with toys to slake all of your urges on. Do we have a deal?"

"Speech"

Chimera was a difficult man to get a read on, but Artorias knew when the brute was leading him on. When he'd spoken with Chimera before, the man had been decisive and assured. His hesitance while he considered his price told Artorias that the split-toned man knew exactly what he wanted and was building up the tension. It was working though; the young alpha was getting more and more agitated by the moment. His teeth gnashed together as he held his jaw set tight. He needed to vent his anger before it consumed him. Chimera finally gave his demand, and it was enough to make Artorias take pause, his anger momentarily paused, yet still ever-present.

He wanted some of his warriors to help protect his pack until the king's women gave birth and the pups were less vulnerable. Artorias balked. As much as he desired relief, he would be remiss to trade away any of his devoted wolves for the sake of his own urges. What sort of alpha would he be if he dealt in trading flesh for flesh? A slave for a warrior was far from an even trade, but Chimera was preying on the young brute's urgent need. An immediate service for a greater price.

"This would not be a permanent transfer," said Artorias, glancing to Chimera for elucidation. He had his own terms to add if he was trading manpower to his ally. "I'll give you my best warrior for the remainder of this season and the entirety of fall. I'll need him back by the winter when I take my pack to ensure transitions go smoothly. He can help train any warriors you recruit between now and then." He looked back to the cowering slave girl, then once more to Chimera, eager to let himself off his mental leash, but not until they'd reached an accord. He had the perfect wolf in mind for the job, and a little more worldly experience would do his friend good. "Deal?"

"Artorias Carpathius"

Artorias was chomping at the bit, but he had enough sense to think it over for a moment just as Chimera thought he would. Though he was toying with the boy, the King didn't think that he was stupid. If anything, he was upping the anticipation which would only make the reward that much sweeter. Ever second that Artorias laid eyes on the slate colored woman and couldn't touch her was just a moment of buildup that would erupt into a culmination of relief, joy, utter pleasure. The black and blue brute should be thanking him, really.

As the deal was amended, Chimera thought it over for a moment. A warrior for a season and a half. It would be better than nothing and, if anything, it showed that the king was willing to play. Perhaps they could make other deals in the future. "So long as I have your warrior, you'll have your pleasure here free of charge." Lips peeled back, flashing Chimera's rows of shark-like teeth. "Deal."

With that, Chimera looked to the slave woman. "Come out or I'll have to come in and get you and we both remember how that went last time." The woman shook with fear, but slowly peeled herself away from the wall. As she exited the cell and the moonlight caught her pelt, the subtle striping along her body could be seen. "Now you do what this nice man says or I'll tear your sweet face right off." Chimera gave her rump a pat and motioned for Artorias to do what he wanted. He could take the woman to one of the empty cells. He could chase her across the island, he could drown her in the sea for all the two-toned man cared. A deal had been struck. This woman's life belonged to Artorias.

"Speech"

Chimera considered his proposal for a moment, then agreed and offered Artorias use of Fenmyre's services for free so long as he had a warrior providing protection to the pack. A tit for a tat, so to speak. The bargain was struck with a nod, and then Chimera was demanding the slave girl out of the cell with threats that Artorias knew had been brought to action before. The slate-furred woman slunk out, silvery moonlight revealing the subtle striping within her coat. Artorias' eyes widened when he noticed her brindled fur, flashed of memory returning to him. It was strikingly similar to Oxx's, but varied just enough to remind him that this was not the brute that had broken and violated him. But it was a start.

With that, Chimera turned her over to Artorias. Just like that, the black and blue brute was in possession of another slave, if only for a temporary time. He never would have expected to end up in this situation again, yet here he was, with wildly different intentions this time. Artorias glowered at the timid woman, feeling like two different personalities were at war with one another inside himself. One part of him took pity on the scared wolf and wanted to do nothing to harm her. The other side wanted to unleash that pent up rage until he exhausted himself. In the end, Artorias nudged the wolf towards one of the empty cells. He didn't need witnesses for this; not Chimera, not whatever gods or devils existed, no one. She didn't resist, which made this moment easier and worse. A tug at the back of his consciousness urged him to stop, but he was in too deep by this point.

In his last rational moment of thought, Artorias vowed he wouldn't harm her too badly. This nameless woman had done nothing to him, here only by the stroke of misfortune, and she was far too pretty to be destroyed. She slunk into the shadows and Artorias followed, both wolves melding into the dark. Artorias didn't waste any more time. He released that last tether on his rage, letting it spill forth with a snarl and a lunge of fangs. He caught the fae by the back of her neck, hearing her yelp the moment his teeth gripped her skin and tossing her to the ground. He was on top of her a moment later, pinning her face to the ground with one paw and another on her slender throat, cutting off her breathing with a strangled gasp. "Don't scream," he growled down at her. He didn't want to risk breaking the illusion of revenge his brain was creating, for if he heard her beg or scream, he didn't know if his conscience would try to take back control.

From that point on, Artorias switched off his mind, letting the rage guide his more primal instincts. Artorias sank his teeth into the fae's shoulder hard enough that he felt soft flesh rend beneath his fangs, followed by the hot gush of blood. She yelped again, but the fury-blind young brute did not stop this time. His heart hurt, but he was too far gone. All he could think about was the humiliation he'd suffered at the hands of the wolf that looked just like this young woman, the fire that consumed his every thought, and the violent revenge he would have. As if he could transfer this woman's pain to his nemesis by voodoo, Artorias tackled the slave girl, and he didn't stop snapping his jaws until the fires had burned down to embers.

- time skip -

It was still night when the flames had finally died down and Artorias could comprehend what he'd done. He didn't know how long he had been with the slave. An hour, two? More? The young brute couldn't comprehend anything other than the hole that had been ripped through him. He had splatters of blood across his fur, only barely visible on his blue coat, and the metallic taste of the woman lingered on his tongue. He'd bit her, clawed her, made her yelp and cry and whine. But worst of all, throughout the entire thing, she had obeyed his only command—she hadn't screamed. Dutiful to the end...

Artorias sat with his back to one of the walls of the cell, staring at the bloodied girl as she wept, the only movement of her body a stuttering rise and fall of her chest. He had done that. He had unleashed that primal rage he'd kept carefully contained for so long and this was the outcome. At some point during the frenzy, Artorias' feral mind had attempted to follow through with Chimera's suggestion of breeding the girl amidst the bloodshed, but whenever he tried, the conscious part of his brain would recall Briar and Bowen and he couldn't follow through. His Briar. His Bowen. They loved him, and both would be horrified to see him like this. They had prevented him from taking things too far tonight.

Artorias slowly shifted, slinking low almost on his belly as he approached the wolf he had injured, giving a soft apologetic whine and reaching for her with a tender paw. The young fae saw him and flinched, cringing away in fear. Artorias' heart broke. He had done this. He had caused this pain and fear. He thought about his parents, his family, his pack... What would they all say if they saw him like this? The Aegis' stomach churned and he felt the bile rise in his throat. He wanted to help the slave, to fix what he had broken and undo what had been done, but it was too late. She was alive and whole, but that was the only silver lining he could pull from this mess.

"I'm so sorry..." he whispered to the slate woman, wanting desperately to help her, but ultimately retracting his paw away. She was terrified of him and he couldn't blame her. Rising to his paws, Artorias stumbled back away from her, unable to tear his eyes from her beaten body. Then, as if to drive the dagger just a little deeper, the wolf glanced up at him with tear-filled eyes as if asking him why. Artorias stumbled backward until his back hit the cell door, his mouth moving but no words coming out. The black and blue brute slid out of the cell, his eyes turned to the ground the entire time. He felt disgusted with himself. He wanted to wash the blood off of his fur as soon as he could. He wanted to go back to the castle and pretend this night never happened.

"I'll have my wolf to you within the week," he told Chimera while he tried to keep himself held together. He had partaken of Chimera's services, and though he had found the relief he sought, he didn't know if the cost to himself it came at had been worth it. He no longer felt anger, but guilt had replaced it, and that felt far worse. But he was a wolf of his word; he had taken Chimera's deal, and Chimera had given him what he asked for. He would send Ezra until the winter. Then after that, perhaps more deals would be made. But for tonight, Artorias just wanted to go home, drink himself silly, and forget. "Thank you, Chimera. I think I'm done for tonight. Please, make sure she's okay."

Once their farewells had been exchanged, Artorias wasted no time heading down to the ferry, with or without Chimera's escort. He got himself across back to the mainland and made it all the way up to the aspen forest and through the pumpkin patch there before his stomach finally gave out and he vomited from the gnawing guilt. He had gone to Fenmyre expecting relief and satisfaction, and while he'd quelled his rage, he'd found another problem entirely. In his head, Artorias saw the heartbroken and disappointed faces of his loved ones. Tamsyn, Sirius, Briar, Bowen, Rudyard, Ulric... He was supposed to be the good wolf, but tonight had shown that there was a tarnish to his heart of gold. Through the dark of the night, Artorias made his way back home, praying he could find some peace of mind at the bottom of a bottle.

"Artorias Carpathius"