Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:36:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Christos Kastellanos Subject: Love Lost / Chapter Six / Beginnings and Fantasy Love Lost, Love Found By Christos Kastellanos Chapter Six Cast of Characters Chariton, Greek name meaning "grace, kindness and the ruling king of the Lamia Alexandros and Abaddon Michelakakis, identical twins and sons of King Chariton Alexandros, his name is Greek and is composed of the elements; Alex, which means "to defend" and Andros "man," hence "defender of mankind and heir to the Lamia throne. Abaddon, Greek name derived from Hebrew abaddown, meaning "destruction, ruination. Michel, his name meant the avenging angel, and he was the youngest brother of Alexandros and Abaddon. Michael Lakis, Greek name derived from the word nazara, "the guarded one, and FBI agent Chris Nomikos, a descendent Chrysanthos and a young police officer with the Springfield, Massachusetts police department Demetrious, Greek for lover of the earth Patrick O'Malley, older detective and good friend with Chris Brian Mathews, local bartender at the Pub, a popular gay bar Rickie, a seventeen year old hustler Acanthus, Greek for `thorn' Gergeli, Greek and it means, watcher. I would also like to mention here that Michael is now Alexandros or Alex. Chris and Michael have come to realize that they are Alexandros and Chrysanthos, so the change to Chris and Alex. Chapter Six `Oh shit, ma'lord, what do I do now,' Rickie asked of Alex. `Go to the foot of Olympus, there you will find the king's palace. Ask of the guard to speak to Michel, the kind. He will know what to do to help us. Now hurry and may the Gods be with you.' Rickie waited, sending out spiritual feelers as he'd been taught, for intruders and when he deemed it safe, left the safety of his lair in search of the king. *** "How did you know where to find me, Abaddon," Alexandros asked, struggling against the hold that his shackles had on him. "You forget, my brother that I made Rickie, and even though you may control him now because you first fed him, I still hold a mind link with the boy." "You cannot communicate with him, for only I and his future intended can do that," Alex corrected him. "He would never betray me," he insisted. "True, but that same link still works like a homing signal, and that is what led me to your lair," he said, followed by his demonic evil laugh. "What are you going to do with us," Alex demanded to know. "First I am going to take your handsome one and ravage him sexually, and then drink him dry of his blood. When he awakens it shall be my blood that he feasts on and not yours, thus making him mine. How foolish of you not to have converted him when you had the opportunity to do so, tsk, tsk," he said, and then walked over to Chris, who was once again tied to the stone altar. "What a pretty slave you are going to make me," Abaddon cooed, running his finger down the length of Chris' torso to his sex and gently fondling it. "And to think that it will be me taking pleasure from you, and not your precious Alexandros, tsk, tsk," and again the laugh as he lowered his mouth ever closer to the vein that seemed to be throbbing wildly in Chris' neck and licked it. "I'll never serve or love you, never," Chris yelled out, spitting at him, and Abaddon struck him hard across the face. "Oh but you will, silly human, oh but you will," he challenged and struck him again. "Stop...please Abaddon, if there is anything left in you of the love we once had as brothers, please don't do this to him. You can do as you wish with me, but please spare him," Alex begged. "Love, there was never any love between you and I, Alexandros. Besides, where was that so called love when you let that human behead me or rather the person that you thought was me, back in Massachusetts, where was it then?" he shouted glaring over at Alexandros "That was not you, but one of your minions pretending to be you. How many times I could have killed you, but did not, thinking that maybe, just maybe, there was a thread of decency left in my brother's heart." "Oh please, don't play me for a fool, Alexandros, you and I never had an ounce of love between us and you know it. It was always perfect Alexandros in father's eyes, while I was nothing but the son that did everything wrong." "It was your lack of compassion for the human race and your total disrespect for our laws that angered father; love had nothing to do with it. Father loved us both equally. Besides, if he had continued to let you run unchecked killing humans, our people would have been eventually hunted down and destroyed." "Oh rubbish, humans were created for us and for no other reason. They are our supply for blood and other than that; they serve no other useful purpose but to serve us." "They are living souls just as we are, Abaddon, and are entitled to the same happiness. If only you would let yourself see them for how they are, they have such a capacity to love that it boggles the mind." "You really do believe what you are saying, don't you brother?" he asked and Alex nodded. "Brainwashed, bamboozled or whatever word you wish to call it, but no matter the word, your brain has been deceived." He waved his hand and a gag formed around Alex's mouth, silencing him from further arguing. Abaddon walked back to the altar and Chris. He ran his hands over the golden splendor of Chris' skin, along his chest, down his abs and along his inner thighs. He too wore a gag, having appeared when Alex's did and his eyes were large with fear. "How sweet it is going to be to take you when the moon is full tonight and the hour strikes midnight," he said with a seductive tone, his face close and his eyes delving deep into Chris'. *** Rickie stood at the base of Mt. Olympus and gazed up at the Castle. He was in awe, for its very presence took up most of the countryside, and its grey, granite walls were impenetrable, or seemed to be so from where he stood. Spires, baring flags with the Michelakakis family crest on them, waved gently in the summer breeze. Rickie swallowed hard, took a deep breath and approached the gate. "What is your business," a guard asked, stopping him from entering. "I've come to see the king," Rickie replied. "It's urgent business and I really need to see him," he begged. "What is the nature of your business?" "It's for his ears only," he argued back. Two boys standing on one of the turrets looked down at the guard and Rickie as they talked. It was evident that one of the boys was of the royal family, simply by the way he was dressed. "Do you recognize the lad," Demetrious whispered to a consort who gazed down at Rickie and shrugged his shoulder. "No ma'lord," he replied. "I have not seen him before, around the court or even in town," he added. "Go and tell the guard that I'll see the lad," Demetrious commanded, his consort bowed and then hurried away. "Yes ma'lord," he said, bowing and hurrying away. "I dare say, the lad is quite handsome in a rugged sort of way," Demetrious mused before leaving the area and heading down to the throne room. As he hurried along he prayed to the gods that his uncle, the king, would not be there. At the gate, the guard lowered his ear to the consort, nodded and then turned his attention to Rickie. "Follow him," he ordered, Rickie quickly fell into step with the consort and followed. "What name shall I announce you as," he asked of Rickie. Rickie looked up at the consort with playful amusement in his eyes. "Tell his majesty that Rick Springfield begs an audience with him," he mused, hiding his smirk and following the consort once again. He followed the young man down a long hall, which had several doors off of it, all of which were closed. He could feel a certain power or seduction over powering him as he approached the throne room. Rickie stood in awe of the beauty and majesty that radiated from the room. Although untouched for ages, the room still looked as if it had just been created. Then his eyes were drawn to a golden haired young man who sat ramrod straight upon the throne. His hair was golden, like the morning sun, his eyes blue, two pools of liquid that were cool, and yet beguiling. He raised a hand, beckoning the consort and Rickie forward; he approached with awe and reverence. The closer he got, the deeper he became enthralled with him, not so much the king, but the man. He offered a slight smile to Rickie; his lips were full, voluptuous and beckoned to be kissed. `So, Rick Springfield, what purpose brings you to my throne,' his voice deep and seducing as it echoed in Rickie's mind. Rickie was taken back by the sudden intrusion of his voice. It was sensuous and it seemed to caress his senses as it flowed through him. `Your majesty,' Rickie bowed, low, and kept his eyes focused down. `I come to seek help for your brother, Alexandros Michelakakis. His brother, Abaddon is holding them prisoner and means them great harm, even death,' he confided, following the king's lead and using a mind link. He raised his eyes slightly when an audible gasp echoed throughout the room. `How is it that you have come to know of this name,' Demetrious asked. `For the man is not my brother, but my father,' he shared. `Forgive me your majesty, but Prince Alexandros led me to believe that you were his brother, Michel,' Rickie explained. `I am Michel,' a man with hair dark as a raven's feather spoke, stepping from the shadows beside the throne. `Demetrious is my brother's son and the next king of the Lamia,' he confided. "Forgive my uncle," Demetrious asked, bowing to Michel as he vacated the throne. `Yes your majesty, but your brother needs your help. Abaddon is holding him and his mate, Chrysanthos, prisoner,' he said and immediately, Demetrious rose from the throne beside his uncle's. `You speak the name of my father, who I have assumed dead,' he said, moving as fast as lightning to stand before a kneeling Rickie. `Rise and walk with me,' he commanded and Rickie stood, follow a few feet behind the future king. `How may I serve ma'lord,' he asked when Demetrious stopped just outside the throne room and turned to Rickie. `Where are my fathers,' he demanded of Rickie. `They are being held in Abaddon's lair, ma'lord, on the island of Crete,' he said, daring to look into his eyes. As their eyes met, an electrical charge surged through him, as if he had been struck by a million bolts of lightning. Their eyes held for several moments before Michel joined them, breaking the connection and leaving an emptiness in its wake. `What proof do you bring that what you say is true, concerning my brother, other than your word?' Michel asked. `Alex, what proof do I give them,' he asked of his lord and master, Alexandros, and with a weakened voice, he related to Rickie what to tell them. `Speak or face the executioner's axe,' Michel demanded. `You are the youngest of three brothers, with Alexandros and Abaddon being identical twins,' he told the king. `That is common knowledge to anyone over fifteen hundred years of age,' he said motioning to the guard to come forward. `Is the strawberry birthmark that you bear on your left hind cheek, is that common knowledge also, your majesty,' he dared to say, bowing in submission and noticing the gentle smile on Demetrious' face. `Guard, place him in the containment room until Demetrious and I confer on what has been said here,' he commanded and guards hurriedly seized Rickie's arm, and lead him away. `Surely the lad doesn't lie to us, for even I did not know of your birthmark, which is known to no one but your brothers and you, my uncle,' Demetrious argued for Rickie's sake. `We cannot be so quick to take the word of a stranger, Demetrious. Especially when the vampires seek to overthrow the House of Michelakakis,' he warned. `Soon you are to be king of the Lamia, and with that title comes great power as well as an even greater responsibility. You must learn to us discernment,' he added. `Yes uncle, but...' `I am still king, Demetrious, and my word is law until the day that I abdicate the throne to you. Now come, let us go and consult the Great Oracle on the matter,' he commanded and both of them vanished. `I only hope that we are not too late to save them, should his word prove to be true,' he whispered to himself. *** Alexandros could feel his strength ebbing, the ash wood chains seem to sap the very life from him, leaving him without the will to go on. His heart, how it ached and broke, seeing his mate tied on the stone altar and at the mercy of his brother. `Abaddon, I beseech you, as your brother, please, let Chrysanthos go,' he pleaded; he begged and would give his life for Chrysanthos. `I shall serve you for all of eternity if you will let him go,' he collapsed, his strength finally gone. `Where is your greatness, your strength now, my brother, no I shall never let him go? As for you serving me, I have no need or desire for such service from you, but will be merciful when I end your life,' he said, leaning close to his failing brother. With the last ounce of strength that he possessed, Alexandros rose, wrapped the length of chain around his brother's neck and pulled. Abaddon quickly, but regretfully, realized his mistake of assuming that Alexandros was devastatingly weak. `Guards...seized him and free me,' he screamed within the minds of his minions, and within seconds, a horde of demonic vampires filled the room. Quickly a weakened Alexandros was subdued and Abaddon released from his grasp. Abaddon stood trembling over his brother, rubbing his neck where the chains had gripped him so tightly. `Know this brother dear, I shall not make the same mistake again and under estimate your strength,' he scolded into Alexandros' mind. He moved away from his brother and with a wave of his hand, his clothes disappeared as he hovered just above a struggling Chris. He nodded, Chris' legs spread apart wide and Abaddon lowered his body down and upon the bound Chris. `It will go easier for you if you do not fight what is inevitable. Just think of me as my brother, for we do look so much alike,' he suggested to Chris. `You may look very much alike, but that is where the similarity ends. You are all that is evil whereas Alexandros is all that is good and wholesome in the world,' he replied, causing Abaddon's anger to rise. `Have it your way,' he sneered as he thrust his cock deep into Chris. Chris cried out in pain as Abaddon raped him. He turned his head and sought out and found Alexandros' eyes. They locked together, seeking comfort from each other as his body was ravaged by Abaddon. `Forgive me Chrysanthos, forgive me for not defending you,' Alexandros spoke, his voice weak and his words filled with the pain that he felt. `It is not your fault; you did all that you could to not only defend me, but also all of mankind. I may end up another of his mindless minions, but he will never know the love that you and I have.' `Enough talking with him, I am your master now,' Abaddon yelled, severing the mind link between Alexandros and Chris. He sat up, thrusting deeper and with great violence into Chris. Chris refused to show Abaddon the pain that he was feeling. He simply looked him in the eye and smirked, knowing how angry it would make him. Angry men make foolish mistakes, he thought. Abaddon pulled from Chris, his anger great as he waved a hand and redressed. He moved with the speed of light, grabbing a sword from a guard and coming to rest as a kneeling Alexandros. `Noooooo,' Chris screamed out and Abaddon turned to look at him. `I will give you all that you desire, only don't kill him,' he asked. `You will give to me that same love that you gave to my brother,' he asked and Chris nodded. `No, Chrysanthos don't do this for me; for I do not want to live knowing that you and he are doing what was meant for us. Please my love I beseech you, let me die knowing that it was only me that you would ever love,' he begged. `How touching brother, sacrificing yourself for a human. I have had enough of you and your superiority to last me a lifetime and beyond,' Abaddon cursed, raising his sword high in the air. `Stop, for I am Michel, your king and sovereign Lord, obey me,' Michel called out as he and his army flooded the room. Abaddon turned suddenly and gasped, his minions immediately dropped to their knees in submission to the only one, other than Abaddon, to be able to control them. They bowed their heads and just as quickly as they kneeled, their heads were severed. `Hello brothers,' Michel said to Alexandros and Abaddon, standing over them and smiling warmly down a Alexandros. `Layland, see that Abaddon is bound heavily and taken back to the palace dungeons,' he commanded of his army's captain, and the man bowed to him before shackling Abaddon. Several guards unshackled Alexandros and when he went to stand, he stumbled and began to fall. Michel rushed forward and caught his brother, helping him stand. `I take that the man bound and unconscious on the altar is Chrysanthos, father to Demetrious,' he asked and Alexandros looked up into his brother's dark eyes and nodded. `For a human, Chrysanthos is every bit as courageous and honest as any of the House of Michelakakis,' Alexandros whispered, slowly but surely regaining his strength. Michel led him to the altar and summoned his soldiers to leave them. As one, the army vanished, leaving Alexandros and Michel alone with Chrysanthos. Alexandros undid the ropes that bound Chris and lowered his face close to his. `Chrysanthos awake, it is I, your husband commanding you,' he whispered to his lover's mind. `Alexandros, tell me you are safe, for I could not and would not want to live without you,' Chris said in return, refusing to open his eyes. `Open your eyes, my love and see for yourself,' he whispered, his lips brushing the tenderest of kisses to his. Slowly, Chris' eyes fluttered open, and when he saw the handsomeness of Alexandros staring down at him, a soft, warm smile came to his lips. His eyes moved to the handsome man that was standing beside Alexandros, and instantly he rose in defense of Alexandros. "Come another step closer and I'll kill you with my bare hands," he shouted aloud, and both Alexandros and Michel began laughing. "This is my youngest brother, Michel, king of our people," Alexandros said, pulling Chris into his arms, only after he covered his nakedness with a wave of his hand. "Forgive me your majesty, I did not know," Chris said and dropped to a knee before the king. "Rise brother-in-law and let me welcome you back amongst the living," he said, offering a hand down to Chris, who took it and rose. They hugged and kissed each other's cheek before Michel turned him back to Alexandros, who welcomed Chris back into his arms. `I shall meet you back at the palace, where a feast shall welcome you both back home,' he said, speaking to their minds and then disappearing. "Rickie is he alright," a worried Chris asked. "He is very well and keeping Demetrious, amused." Michel assured them both. Chris looked up at Alexandros and softly brushed aside his hair from his brow. For a moment, no words were spoken, but a volume was said between their eyes. Alexandros lowered his mouth to Chris' and kissed him, his tongue delving deep into the moist recesses of his mouth. `Brother, we are delaying our return for a day and night,' Alexandros spoke directly to his brother and Michel acknowledged him. `I had a feeling that you would, we shall be waiting for you on the morrow' evening,' he replied. `Come, let us return to where it all began for us,' Alexandros said his voice thick with emotion as he vaporized them and left the cave. As they burst free of the rocks, Alexandros took to his form of the eagle with Chris a soft brown rabbit in the clutches of his talons. The sky was awash with pinks and magentas as the sun's last rays cast their fading light over the water. Soaring high in sky, Chris felt secure in Alexandros' hold as they dove downward, seeking out the sands of the beach below them. Even before their feet touched the sand, they were as themselves again, and walking hand in hand toward that special place... their cave. Chris stopped, he pulled back on Alexandros, and a new fear had parallelized him. `No, this is where it all ended for me, Alexandros,' Chris shared, remembering that night so long ago when Abaddon took his blood and beheaded him. `Fear not, for I am with you, my love. Abaddon will no longer torture and harm us. I know that all our grief and troubles began here, but so did our love. It was here that we confessed our love for each other and spoke the vows that joined our souls for all of eternity.' `I do remember, Alexandros,' he replied and allowed Alexandros to lead him into their cave. Inside a fire was burning, a real fire, and the bed that it all began on was there. Chrysanthos closed his eyes, his senses took in the smells and the sounds as his mind remembered. Everything became very familiar, even his love for Alexandros, as he turned and stepped into those strong muscular arms that surrounded him. He felt their security, their embrace, and most of all, he felt their love as their lips met and he was lowered to the bed. `One moment,' Alexandros got up and began moving his hands in a variety of patterns in the air and sparks flew from his fingertips as he wove what appeared to be a web across the opening to the cave. `I should have done this the first time that we met, and then we would not have had to endure this separation.' Satisfied that they were secure and safe within their cave, Alexandros stood stoically staring over at Chris. `Come to me, my pet,' he whispered suggestively to Chris, and Chris shook his head no. `I command you to come to me, now,' again Chris shook his head. `Your commanding days are over, mister, you come here to me,' Chris demanded, and gave him a demure smile, for he was determined to hold his ground. `You dare to challenge my authority,' he asked smiling, taking another step closer to the bed. `You are not the king, your brother is,' he reminded him. `This is true, but I have it under sound authority, that I will find favor with the new king,' he mused and moving his hands in the air toward Chris. `And I have it under even greater authority that he will listen to me before he does you, now come to me,' he insisted but Alexandros shook his head and smiled. Chris found himself floating through the air toward Alexandros and no matter how he tried; he could not prevent himself from moving. `I'll scream,' he threatened and Alexandros chuckled. `There is no one to hear you, so scream,' he laughed, knowing that he could not hold out much longer with his game, closing the distance between them and taking Chris into his arms. `Let me go, Alex ... I swear that someone will hear my cries for help and come to my rescue,' he demanded. `Rickie, he'll hear me and come to my rescue.' `You forget that I control the boy, now kiss me, my beautiful husband,' he commanded and their lips met in a blissful kiss. Chris did not call Rickie, but let out the softest moan when Alexandros' mouth took his by storm. He did not pause, but consumed Chris' mouth, dominating him as his tongue plunged deep and quickly subdued Chris' cries. `You don't fight fare,' Chris groaned with their mouths locked in a heated kiss. `You would not surrender to me,' he countered. `I was not aware that we were at war, your highness,' he replied, his hand splayed across the naked expanse of Alexandros' chest, his fingers teasing his nipples. `Never shall we be at war, my husband, never,' he whispered, bent and scooped Chris up from his feet and carried him to the bed, kissing him before he gently laid him down. `I lost you once because of my neglect, but not again,' he said, lowering his mouth down to Chris' neck. `No, not yet my love,' Chris asked, Alexandros knew what Chris wanted, and lifted his head, looked at him lovingly, as he eased his sex into Chris' love canal. Chris let out a gasp, arched his back and closed his eyes, pure rapture was enveloping him as his arms wrapped around Alexandros' neck and pulled him into a kiss. Alexandros' thrusts were demanding, and then slow and gentle, as he eased them into a rhythmic motion. Chris lifted his legs and wrapped them around Alexandros' waist, using them to pull him in deeper. Outside, they could hear the rhythmic movements of the waves as they kissed the sandy beach, while inside, our two lovers were in paradise. Alexandros lifted up, his eyes that once were black, now sparkled with gold flecks and then turned red. He smiled and Chris gasped, he saw the fangs, long and sharp and he knew that it was time. `Take me, my husband and let us be one,' he surrendered to Alexandros' love. Alexandros quickened his rhythm, his cock surged ever deeper, faster, and together he brought them to the precipice of their climax and pushed them over into the abyss of ecstasy. Chris cried out as his seed shot out violently between their sweat glistening bodies. Alexandros felt the volcanic eruption building deep within him, and when his seed erupted, he sank his teeth deep into Chris' vain. Chris' eyes sprang open from the sudden sting and then he surrendered the bliss that coursed through, as Alexandros drank. Chris' fingers were fisted in his lover's hair, holding him to his neck, and feeling the warmth as it slowly turned to cold. His body began trembling, then it began to violently shake as the light, turned to dusk and then to black. `I'll see you on the other side,' Chris whispered just before he took his last breath. Gently, Alexandros closed the wound and lay him back onto the bed. Chris looked so peaceful as he lay there, as if asleep. Alexandros brushed aside some errant locks of golden hair from Chris' forehead, before he wrapped his arms around him, holding him tightly to him. "Sleep my beautiful one, I shall be here when you awaken,: he whispered against his lips, kissed him lightly, and let himself drift off to sleep. *** The moon's light gave the water a silver glow, and the stars seemed to be shining even brighter than normal, as Rickie walked along the beach beside the castle. He bent, picked up a tiny shell and tossed it out into the water and contemplated going for a swim. "It'll badly burn you, you know," someone warned, he turned around quickly and found Demetrious standing there. "What will burn?" he asked, overwhelmed by the handsomeness of the soon to be, king. "The salt water, it's very deadly for us and will severely burn our skin should it get on us," he explained. "I'm surprised my father did not explain that to you." "He might have explained it to me, but then I was very overwhelmed with just being a vampire, to really comprehend all that he told me." "Lamia," Demetrious said as he came closer to Rickie. "Lamia?" he questioned. "You called yourself a vampire, but you are truly a Lamia, Richard," he corrected and Rickie flinched at the sound of his proper name and laughed. "What so amusing, Richard?" "No one ever calls me Richard, unless they are really pissed off at me," he explained. "Some how though, it sounds totally different when you say it. It's as if it's a song to my ears, kinda weird huh," he asked, kicking at the sand with his toes. "It's a beautiful name, its strong, courageous and very masculine," he whispered, his voice hypnotic to Rickie's ears. "It derives from the German, French, and English "ric" which means ruler, leader, king and "hard", strong, brave, court, therefore it means "powerful leader" as well as "King's Court". "Really, my name means all that?" "Yes, and tonight you lived up to each and every part of your name, taking charge in the face of danger and pushing through." "I love them; they are the only family I have, even though I am not blood related to them." "Yes you are, to my father Alexandros you are blood related, after all, was is not him that first fed you upon rising?" "Yeah, but I mean..." "I know what you mean, handsome, I was just teasing you," he said, resting his hand on Rickie's shoulder. "Handsome," he asked, swallowing the lump in his throat. "You called me handsome; do you really think that I'm handsome?" "Yes, why is that such a surprise to you?" "I never saw myself as good looking, never mind handsome. You are the one that is handsome, ma'lord, I would even go as far as to say that you are, wicked gorgeous," he said, lowering his eyes in a flirtatious manner. "Please, call me Demetrious, and are you flirting with me, Richard?" "Demetrious, would it offend you if I were?" he asked, taking Demetrious' hand in his and smiling warmly at him. "No, but..." he began but Rickie cut him off when he boldly kissed him. The kiss was tender, spontaneous, and Rickie held him so tightly to him, that a guard came running, ready to rescue his future king. `I'm fine David, go back to your post,' he commanded the guard, mentally. "I'm sorry Demetrious," Rickie said, releasing his hold and turning away from him. "Don't be, because you only did what I lacked the courage to do myself," he told him and when Rickie turned around to face him, Demetrious lunged at, engulfing Rickie's mouth with his own. "Ahhh Demetrious, this could prove to be a bit awkward," Rickie said, pulling away from him. "If I am of the same bloodline as you, wouldn't this be considered incest," he asked. "No, because we are of the same bloodline, but you see, I am directly of Chrysanthos' blood, where as I am, like you, of Alexandros by conversion." "You were once human also? That is so wicked cool, De," Rickie said and Demetrious raised a brow when Rickie called him De. "De, first I am ma'lord, then Demetrious, and now, I am simply De?" "Oh fuck, sorry, I mean shit, oops sorry again man, dammit..." frustrated as all hell, Rickie through his hands in the air and turned away in shame. Demetrious looked at him and began laughing. "You are so cute when you get all flustered, Richard. By the way, stud, I find it wicked cool as you say when you call me De. Because of protocol though, let's stick to De only when we are alone in private," he asked and together they both laughed. "Sure thing, De," he said and again they roared with laughter. "Come, it is time for my uncle to hold court," Demetrious said, taking Rickie by the hand and leading him toward the castle. *** "Acanthus, see how he carries on with that... that converted human," Gergeli whispered, as they stood watching the two young lovers from a castle tower. "This is why I am challenging Demetrious' right to be king," Acanthus replied. "After all, as Abaddon's son, I am better qualified to be king, then some human convert," he added, swirling around and storming toward the throne room, followed by Gergeli. To be continued... Please, if you are reading my story, share your thoughts with me about it at: christoskastellanos@yahoo.com thank ya'll. Chris.