Disclaimers: This is a work of fiction. Any similarities between the characters in this story and real people (appearances, names, etc.) are purely coincidental. This story may contain homosexual material, including love and sex, so if material like this is illegal in your region or if it discomforts you, please leave.
It takes quite a bit of time and effort, not to mention money, to run a site like this. Even more so when the service is FREE. So please take the time to donate what you can to Nifty Here
Ulysses awoke the next morning feeling completely and totally refreshed. He had slept peacefully, and smiled when he turned to his other side for he was greeted by the sight of Mark facing him, peacefully asleep. Ulysses sidled over and brushed the back of his forefinger over Mark's face.
"Morning," Mark sleepily greeted, his eyes still closed.
Ulysses chose not to greet his boyfriend verbally, but instead leaned forward and kissed Mark's nose. Mark slid one arm under Ulysses' neck and the other over Ulysses' ribs, and held him firmly. The two young men remained lying in bed enjoying the warm cuddles, closer to asleep than awake.
About forty minutes later, Ulysses sat up, swung his leg over Mark's waist, and attacked his face with kisses. Mark laughed but other than that remained completely still as the witch's lips graced his skin a hundred times.
Afterward, Ulysses studied Mark's face and grew concerned. "You sleep okay, my love?"
Mark smiled softly before he answered, "Yes. So soundly. Why?"
Ulysses gently rubbed his thumb over a dark circle under one of Mark's eye, and replied, "You just look tired. Maybe the tunnel exploration took a lot more out of you than we thought."
"Maybe," Mark acquiesced. "Come on, let's cook so we can begin our exploration."Two days later found Mark sitting on the hotel room sofa with his left arm lying on the armrest and his right arm around Ulysses' shoulders. They were enjoying the Amazon Prime series The Boys on the television. Mark began to nod off but then the hotel telephone began to ring. Ulysses rose from the sofa and answered the phone. His expression instantaneously became concerned and inquisitive.
"What is it?" Mark asked while Ulysses was still on the phone.
Ulysses spoke another language to the person who had called and then hung up the phone. "There is an extreme situation occurring in Central China. A city called Wuhan. I have to- Queen Sofi has demanded my presence. I am so sorry, Markus."
"No," Mark responded as he rose from the sofa. "No, it's okay. Don't be sorry. I understand. Go."
Ulysses have Mark a quick peck on the lips, and then in a matter of milliseconds faded and altogether disappeared. Ulysses teleported into Xinhua Hospital, greeted by the sight of his mother, Queen Sofi, and the royal doctor.
"Ladies," Ulysses greeted his mother and the Queen, and then the royal doctor, "Eric. What have we got, what are we doing here?"
"There is a virus spreading like the wildest fire I have ever seen," Kiri answered. "And it is magical in origin."
"What?!" Ulysses demanded, shocked. "How have you come by this knowledge?"
Eric answered, "I have sampled various fluids from various non-magical. This virus seems to infect only the non-magical, and is impervious to all of my medications, magical or otherwise. You should see this virus under a microscope. As a scientist, it astounds me. It is of course heartbreaking to witness its devastation."
Confused, Ulysses asked, "How do you know it only infects the non-magical?"
"Earlier this week we didn't know that it was a virus," Queen Sofi replied. "The Guard could detect magical emissions here in Wuhan and were inspecting. All of them came into contact with many infected and contaminated surfaces. So Eric tested the theory by injecting infected blood into five witches. Every one of those witches' bodies destroyed the virus."
"Interesting," Ulysses ruminated. "Any idea what this virus is?"
"It is astonishing is what it is," Eric cooed. "It appears to be an influenza virus, but so much more advanced and ever evolving! The virus cell is crowned in appearance and infects like nothing we've ever heard of. All it takes is a single cough! A single cough from one to two metres away will infect a human. Mind blowing."
"Eric," Queen Sofi admonished softly.
"Sorry," Eric acquiesced. "I will calm myself. Again."
Scared for the race of humanity, Ulysses shook his head and asked, "So what do we do?"
The three other witches in the hospital corridor looked at each other apprehensively, and with resignation. Queen Sofi bit her lip, Kiri crossed her arms, and Eric sighed heavily.
It was Kiri who finally stated, "We don't know. We have tried everything. Containments both magical and not. Targeted cellular evacuation. Medicines, vaccines, induced fevers. Whoever created this virus is an expert."
"And before you ask," the queen chimed in, "we have questioned every magical medical professional we know."
With a lump in his throat, Ulysses asked, "So what now?"
"We-" Queen Sofi began with a heavy breath, "we don't know. This is the reason we called you away from your vacation, for which I apologize. I had hoped that you would have some idea of which direction we should go."
"Okay," Ulysses responded while he looked down at the floor, thoughts racing through his mind. "Show me all of your memories of these events."
Eric then stated, "You should also know that we were unsuccessful in grounding a few flights out of Wuhan, and China in general. Despite our best efforts- and I cannot emphasize how much sweat went into our cause- the virus is currently in major cities across the world. It's spreading and the speed of it will only accelerate from here."
Nearly overwhelmed, Ulysses stated, "We need to find who created this virus. Hopefully then we can extract memories to start working on vaccination."
Heartbroken, Queen Sofi said to Ulysses, "Uly, I offer a thousand apologies for interrupting your time off by calling you here. And a thousand more apologies for requesting your help in this whole case."
Ulysses bowed slightly and replied, "I appreciate your apologies, my queen. They are, however, unnecessary as I am a member of your Guard and I am happy to help the human race survive attacks like this."
Kiri, who would be crying had it not been for the constance spell, pulled her son into a vice-like hug. "I am always immensely proud of the depths of your compassion and concern. I love you."
"I love you, mother," Ulysses responded. "I shall go back to Mark and tell him what is happening around the world."
Ulysses teleported back into the living room of the hotel room. He turned his head toward the sound of a running tap, and was greeted by the sight of Mark staring back at him. In Mark's hand was a freshly washed bowl held under a running tap to rinse.
"Hi, baby," Mark greeted, but then his face dropped. "What's the matter? What's wrong?"
Mark quickly strode over and grabbed Ulysses into a hug, in which Ulysses answered, "There is a virus spreading across the globe."
"What?" Mark said and looked Ulysses in the eye.
"It is magical in nature," Ulysses gravely added. "It spreads faster than anything we've seen. It only infects the non-magical, and is immune to any medicine and vaccine known. We- we don't know what to do."
Beyond shocked and dumbfounded, Mark moved his mouth opened and closed but no sound escaped his lips. His green eyes portrayed confusion as they made micro movements as he tried his best to gather his thoughts.
Ulysses continued, "Eric Domco is the best immunologist and medical doctor. He has been studying this virus for the better part of a week now, and will be working on a vaccine when he's confident in his knowledge."
"Okay," Mark breathed. "Okay. The witches have been taking action. Good. Good. Umm... What can I do? Can I do anything at all?"
"No," Ulysses answered without a second thought. "I don't want you anywhere near this. This virus attacks the respiratory system and has the potential to decimate the non-magical because it is ever-evolving. It adapts and thrives and it baffles us."
Mark raised his hands to Ulysses' face and used his thumbs to wipe the lone tears that fell from each eye. Mark gave Ulysses a single comforting kiss on the jaw before he pulled Ulysses in for a bone-crushing hug. Ulysses cried silently as he held Mark as well, a few tears fell from his eye into the brown locks atop Mark's head.Ulysses had rarely left Mark alone for fear of the human contracting the virus. So when Ulysses was called in to go into the magical palace he wrapped an arm around Mark and teleported them both to the briefing room of the palace.
The only greeting the couple received was Queen Sofi's media manager saying, "The virus has made the non-magical media. Two newspapers in eastern China have reported hospitalizations and deaths caused by a respiratory virus. Things are falling into place, as planned. Within the next few days we need to make sure the first world countries take notice, moreover, this virus needs to make the news."
Ulysses asked, "Has Gianela written pieces for the papers in the west?"
"I have," aforementioned woman answered after she stood. "Twelve pieces for the United States, eight for Canada, six for Mexico, and three for Brazil. They should be released intermittently over a period of five weeks if all follows the plan."
Kiri walked up to Mark, leaned in close, and kindly told the human, "Please sit. We will be here for at least two hours and you do not want to stand for that long."
Mark sat and observed the meeting with no expression, bored nearly to tears. But he understood why his boyfriend wanted him close. He watched as Ulysses gave a presentation and forecast of events, but absorbed zero information. He answered Kiri and the Queen when they asked if he was feeling okay. He declined offers of food, remained only sipping water.
When the meeting was finally called off, Ulysses approached Mark's chair and the human stood before him. They shared a quick peck on the lips and smiled serenely at each other.
"How was your meeting?" Mark asked.
Ulysses rolled his eyes and replied, "You were here. You saw it all."
"I know," Mark sighed. "Didn't hear a damned thing."
"Sorry," Ulysses said sympathetically. "Things like that can get a little boring, especially if you're a human."
"S'okay," Mark said with a smile. "I liked the way you looked, though. Diplomatic, smart, commanding attention. No idea what you said or how you said it, but I felt compelled."
Ulysses laughed and pulled Mark in for a kiss. Mark sat himself back down but on the table, and gently urged Ulysses to turn around. The witch leaned his back on the human's front, and closed his eyes. Mark planted a lingering kiss to Ulysses' shoulder blade, and relished the closeness and warmth of the embrace.
Mark opened his eyes in time to see Kiri approach, and she immediately asked, "Do you mind if I take a vial of blood for testing?"
Mark had no chance to answer. Kiri pressed the opening of a glass vial to Mark's elbow, and blood spilled into it from no cut or opening. She then planted a kiss each to Ulysses' temple and Mark's cheek.
From the other side of the table Queen Sofi stated, "There is an attack on a Guard infantry in Greenland. Whoever they are, they seem to be tracking Andor."
Mark asked, "What's an Andor?"
"Andor is a who," Kiri answered the human. "He is a fifteen-year-old boy from Hungary who shows promise."
Queen Sofi added, "Andor could possibly challenge me within the next two years, and claim the throne. He is also one of the kindest souls I have met. He would make a wonderful king. Ulysses?"
Ulysses gave his queen a single nod, and then he slowly dissipated into nothing. Five seconds later, however, he reappeared with a brunet caucasian boy around his arm.
The boy bowed slightly and said, "Queen Sofi, Your Majesty."
"Andor," Queen Sofi greeted back jovially. "So happy to see that you are okay. How are you doing?"
"I am well," Andor answered. "Mercenaries were closing in, but Ulysses here got me out."
Ulysses smiled at the queen and stated, "I don't think the mercenaries were closing in just yet, I didn't detect any magical signatures close by."
"Well we thank you for preventing an attack on Andor," Queen Sofi replied. "He may well be our future leader."
Andor, embarrassed, responded, "Please, my queen, you flatter me so."
Queen Sofi kindly pressed on, "No flattery, Andor. I would be honoured to have you as my king some day."
"The honour would be mine, Your Majesty," Andor responded. "Is there any way I might help with these practitioners tracking me?"
"No," Kiri answered immediately.
The queen stated, "Kiri is right, we must keep you protected. You are no doubt talented beyond measure, but we cannot take a chance by allowing you to battle these mercenaries. But what you can help with is reinforcing the wards on the palace. The four of us will cover a corner each."Two hours had passed. Mark sat at the conference table with his Nintendo Switch in his hands. Ulysses had helped with ward reinforcement, Guard updating, and media statement review. When Ulysses finally finished his work and walked up to the conference table, Mark leaned his head against Ulysses' abdomen.
Ulysses combed his fingers through Mark's hair and gently asked, "Ready to head back to the hotel?"
"Let's go to your apartment," Mark replied with fatigue lacing his voice. "Our vacation is over any which way. I can go back to work early, you can focus on this virus."
Ulysses tightened his embrace and responded, "Oh, baby. I'm so sorry that this is happening."
Mark hummed with his face squished comfortably into the witch's body. He stood and wrapped his arms around Ulysses' waist with his face furrowing into his neck. Ulysses swept one arm under Mark's knees and easily lifted the human up. Mark giggled lightly as he laid his head on Ulysses' shoulder. Mark took no notice to the teleportation, only realizing upon feeling his boyfriend lowering his body down and he was laid down on a soft, luxurious bed.
"Just relax," Ulysses said softly, quietly. "Rest. Just fall asleep."
Ulysses grabbed the front of Mark's shirt and pulled, and the garment slipped off with the magical help of Ulysses. The witch did the same with Mark's pants. Ulysses altered some molecules in his own clothing and they fell to the floor. He laid down, and was pleasantly surprised when Mark rolled over right on top of him. Mark then planted a kiss to Ulysses' chest, and Ulysses placed a kiss to the top of Mark's head.
"Will you sleep tonight?" Mark asked sleepily.
"I can if you want me to," Ulysses answered. "I wasn't planning on sleeping but I can put off work for you, my love."
"Work if you want to," Mark responded. "I will fall asleep in ten seconds and will roll off of you a minute after that. I love you."
Ulysses giggle at the adorability of his boyfriend and kissed his head once more. Mark nuzzled his face into Ulysses' chest and was quickly on the path to sleep.
I hope that you are enjoying this series so far. I have been working on this series for about two years, it is so new to me. Listed below are my other works of fiction if you are interested.
Car Radio
Connected
Do Not Go Gentle
Near Wild Heaven
The Other Half of Me Unknown
A Quick Fall
Some You Give Away
Somewhere a Clock is Ticking
Strawberry Wine
Tearing Me Apart
You Call It Madness
You Don't Mean to Hurt Me