Prologue: [ A Prelude to Madness ]

It sat in its lavish throne

The throne that actually no one from outside the royal family could grace, however 'he' was above all regulations.
From the side Toris could see its long flowing hair of ebony. Long black hair was not a common sight around here and it only added to the air of surreality.

It sat gracefully, as if it were the prince himself.

Its face was pale and handsome to the point of beautiful. Something about it made its features clearly boyish despite its initial dominantly effeminate quality.

Toris found himself staring and dark golden eyes stared back... seemingly not at him but straight through him as if he were transparent.
It was the first time he ever got to see the doll this close. It had been in the house for almost 2 years and there were countless chances for him to steal an audience with the highly prized possession of the prince, but he never dared. He saw what had happened to Raivis a year ago when he made the mistake of touching the delicate toy. Poor boy still shook whenever the prince walked by.

Somehow, today the temptation was overpowering.

For these past 2 weeks the prince had never left his quarters. The obsession was apparently worsening...

"Why is he so obsessed with this--" Toris' eyes narrowed, unable to come up with words to describe the mannequin before him. He couldn't bear to call the doll for what it was out loud, even if he knew the young master wasn't around.

Within the castle, to call his toy a 'doll' meant that you had some sort of desire to be executed by impalement.
You could escape with badmouthing the prince, but mention his morbid fascination with his toy...

"What are you doing...?"

A gasp caught in Toris' throat as he turned quickly to see glaring amethyst eyes; a stark contrast to the tall man's completely composed form as he stood by the doorway.

"Young master!" he exclaimed, "I'm sorry... I was merely observing him I wasn't--"

"Get out."

The voice pierced like ice through the nervous chatter. Toris quickly straightened his back, nodded and made for the door. The prince suddenly outstretched his arm however, blocking the doorway and halting the flustered man's exit.

Fearing the worst, the brown-haired man swallowed thickly, trying to keep from shaking.

He didn't dare move as the prince's other hand drew near his neck. A second later strong fingers clasped around his throat, slowly tightening.

"Did you touch him?

Short gasps of air came before a stifled reply. Toris made great efforts not to choke his words, "N-No--!"

As if merely out of spite, the prince watched him struggle for breath a little bit more before he released him.

He swept past as the smaller man wheezed and coughed.

"Leave us."

Ivan didn't even hear the door close. As soon as his eyes fell on his beloved possession, he sank back into his delusions.

Gracefully kneeling in front of the doll's figure, Ivan took its hand and pressed it against his cheek.
It was painfully cold, those porcelain hands... but he smiled, caressing the smooth fingers as if they were soft and filled with warmth.

"Did you miss me, Yao?"

He stared into its deep gold eyes. Words were cheap. They communicated through their hearts...

"I missed you."

Slowly, he got up and bent forward, tilting its delicate chin with a gentle gloved hand, he took a second to admire Yao's red lips before he touched them with his own. It was a soft, feathery kiss... it was the only kind he ever gave... he was far too afraid to kiss Yao's lips deeper.

He knew he would break both of them.

/end prologue