Love Found

 

*~*~* Anton Caplan *~*~*

 

�Well, it could have been worse.� I tell myself. I didn�t really expect him to believe to me. That was why I had explained it the way I did. So I could get it all out before he ran away� or worse. I hoped at some point he would let me explain further, but that would have to wait until they were safe.

I prayed that Daniel would be enough to anchor him. Would keep him from doing anything foolish.

In the meantime I radioed ahead to Doctor Inaki, explaining to him the condition of my patient and what I thought he might need. We might not have a hospital available to us, but the he could work miracles. I�d seen him do it. And I sure as hell was in need of a few of them.

He promised to meet me at the cabin. He told me if Daniel had held on this long, the odds were good. I thanked him, and turned my attention to getting us there safely. One problem with our sudden departure? I didn�t have time to check weather along the flight route and we had some in front of us now.

I eyed the dark clouds ahead of us. Fortunately all my instruments were working well. I tried to remember which control tower would be nearest so I could get an idea of what we were headed into, but then decided on a general call on the guard frequency. It was mainly for emergencies, but I considered Daniel�s condition enough to qualify for that.

The report wasn�t good. Winds at the upper levels of the storm were worse than the lower levels, so I wouldn�t be able to get over it. Visibility at the lower levels would be poor at best, with the chance of lightning strikes and hail. �Shit.�

My knuckles whitened on the controls as the plane began to buck the weather. Twenty minutes� just twenty minutes more� Thank god it wasn�t a head wind, though as a crosswind it wasn�t much of a blessing.

I clenched my jaws in determination as lightening flashed across the heavens.
 

*~*~* Cyril Blackstone *~*~*

My heart jumped to my throat as the plane began to buck like a wild horse. Daniel started to moan and shift restlessly. I wondered where Darren was. When I thought the plane would fall from the sky, Darren came running back, wide eyed.

�What�s wrong?� he asked, his voice betraying his fear. His face was puffy and red from crying, and I wondered what had happened. �The bumpy ride is bothering Daniel. If you�ll stay with him, I�ll go see why we�re having problems.�

He went and sat down beside Daniel, taking him gently into his arms. Hands blindly grasped Darren�s arms and clung to him as he murmured soft assurances.

I was nearly knocked from my feet as I went forward to confer with Mister Anton. Lightening lit the small cabin and I gasped as it blinded me. The hair on my arms rose. I thought it had struck inside the plane, but I could hear Mister Anton cursing.

�Will we make it?� I managed to choke out.

He nodded. �Yeah, we should be okay. We have a slight tailwind. The sheer is a bit of a bitch, but the instruments are working, and we�re holding together. I know the island like the back of my hand, so I can land even in the dark. Just have to hope the crosswinds will be manageable.�

The plane rose and then dropped again. I grabbed for the spare seat and sat down quickly.

�How is Darren doing?�

We were fighting wind and rain and he wanted to know about Darren? �He�s with Master Daniel.�

�I think you don�t have to call him that any more, Cyril. We�re all just people here. You can call me Anton.� He nodded as he adjusted something and the plane swayed in the air. �I�m glad he has Daniel. It�s important he have someone right now� someone who needs him.� He nodded absently and wrestled with the controls to keep us level.

 

*~*~* William Hayes III *~*~*

 

�I urge you sir, give up this foolish notion of flying in weather like this. It�s much too hazardous!� My young pilot pleaded. Unimpressed with his defiance I backhanded him hard, knocking him to the floor as his co-pilot Elizabeth looked on, her composed face betraying nothing.

�Remember your place, Tobias. We will fly today and you will pilot the plane. If not�� I smiled darkly. �I�ll find two pretty young pilots to replace my lost slaves. Know anyone like that Tobias? Elizabeth?� He gulped slowly, perspiration streaming down his temple and shook his head.

�We�ll get ready for take off, Sir. We won�t fail you.� Elizabeth replied in a cool manner as she helped Tobias up. They walked briskly back to the plane as the sky darkened and roared above them.

 As I watched the slender Tobias walk away I was suddenly reminded of Daniel. Daniel and the night of his eighteenth birthday. That night had been much like this, except that night the storm had been within the chambers. Daniel�s screams mingling with my own, his of pain mine of pleasure. I felt myself growing hard and smiled. Perhaps if there was time I could take my pleasure of him once more before I disposed of him.

 I wondered what they were doing now. Celebrating? Laughing at me? Tucked up in their cozy little beach house. The one where Anton and Annabel-Lee spent so many nights thinking their seedy little affair was a secret. Sometimes I regretted the night I followed her. The night I saw them, their bodies entangled and eyes locked in a loving gaze. If I had never seen them that night then my doubt about Darren being mine would never have festered and she�d still be here.  When I closed my eyes I could see them together. Anton�s almost feminine beauty, his dark hair that curled around his temples and his luminous blue eyes. A face so like Darren�s now. I pressed my nails into my palm, oblivious to the slight pain that followed. No! Darren was mine now! My son! My heir. All I needed to do was get rid of these�distractions.

I glanced at my watch, barely noticing the blood staining into my palm. It was time. Time to reclaim my son and my pride. Time to kill.

 

*~*~* Daniel *~*~*

The gray faded as I was jostled. It hurt. I moaned, suddenly afraid of the hands on me, afraid of the unaccustomed weight on my body, but I couldn�t get away and that terrified me more.

Arms pulled me up. Fear shot through me until I heard his voice. �Darren� it�s Darren�� my eyes wouldn�t open, so I reached blindly and held on to his arms. I could still remember his words from before and I desperately wanted to believe him. I needed to believe that I was safe from William Hayes.

Darren held me as the room spun and heaved. I could tell by his breathing that he was afraid, but his words held love and reassurance. I was supposed to protect him, but somehow our roles had become reversed. I certainly hadn�t done my part. I didn�t understand. He should be disgusted with me� hate me� but he truly seemed to care. I was just a slave. Why did he care? Why?

Something cool was placed on my forehead as his strong arms continued to steady me. My throat burned. Moisture was dribbled into my mouth and this time I managed to swallow without choking. It was sweet and cool and soothed the pain. I�d never tasted anything like it.

They gave me more, and I swallowed it gratefully.

A voice yelled and Darren�s arms loosened their hold. My hands tightened reflexively. He said something I didn�t understand, but his hand entwined with mine, so I relaxed a bit.

It felt like the floor fell out from under us. Both our hands tightened. I fought to open my eyes, but my body refused to obey. Then there was a jolt, followed by a second and it seemed we were moving. Being bounced lightly.

Sounds of voices and feet, and suddenly a blast of wet air brushed over me. Finally my eyes opened. I didn�t know where I was, but I saw a flash of lightening. Rain!  I remembered rain. I hadn�t seen it or felt it for five long years, but I remembered it.

I realized I was drifting in and out of consciousness as voices surrounded me and hands lifted me. When rain struck my face I opened my eyes again. Everywhere I could see was open. No walls, no whips, no chains. It was dark. Wind whipped my hair as rain poured from the sky. It felt wonderful to me.

I flinched when a light was suddenly flashed in my eyes.

�That�s a good sign.� Someone said. �I�ve brought what I need to start an IV and get liquids into him. Have you been able to get him to drink anything at all?�

�A bit, but not much.� That was Darren. He was still beside me, then.

Gentle hands began to remove the weight from my body. I swooned as the pressure around my chest was relieved. I wasn�t allowed to fall as I realized I was naked again. I began to tremble uncontrollably. What would happen now?

Darren reassured me as the strange voice gasped. �My dear Rua. What has happened to him? Let�s lay him down so I can get a better look.�

I was placed on my stomach, the surface beneath me soft and firm at the same time. The gentle hands touched my raw back.

�I�ve got to clean these, before they get infected. I�ll give him something for the pain.�

Something pricked my arm. Darren murmured soothing tones as I shuddered and darkness enveloped me.


When I awoke again, I was actually feeling a bit better. Darren smiled shyly beside me. A soft white cloth encircled my chest.

�Hello, I�m Dr. Inaki. I know this seems like an obvious question, but �how do you feel�?�

�A bit� better� actually.� I managed to reply.

He nods and actually smiles at me. First Darren, then him. I smiled weakly back.

�You�ll be happy to know there�s no chance for infection. I�ve put a numbing salve on your back. When this IV is finished I�ve left instructions for them on helping you sit up and starting a new IV. Darren will help you get mobile, too. The sooner your kidneys start functioning, the better all around.�

My vision blurred.

�I�ve left pain medicine for you. Don�t be afraid to take it when you begin to hurt. Don�t wait until you�re in agony. You should only need the medication for the next three or four days. You�ll be stiff and of course there will be mild pain, but nothing you should need this strong a medicine for after that length of time. I�ll be back in three days to check on you.�

�Hey, it�s okay.� I heard Darren saying as my face and neck grew wet. Then he carefully gathered me into his arms, his fingers gently brushed the wetness from my face. �What is it?� he asked me compassionately.

�Why? I�m� a slave� I�m nothing� why?� I was so confused. I wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe I was free from that place� that life� I couldn�t stop my tears as he began to gently rock me.

�That�s not true, Daniel. You are something. Someone. You deserve so much better than what happened to you. I-I�m sorry for that Daniel, but I�ll make it up to you, I promise.�

He continued to rock me gently.  My eyes closed and I sighed as I relaxed.

*~*~* William Hayes III *~*~*

 The flight was a rocky one but I held onto my determination. The gun seemed huge in my breast pocket. It had only ever been used once, but that one bullet had changed everything. Now it would again. I stared out the window as we came towards land, the scene reminding me of an old Van Gogh painting. �These are the kind of windows faces look in.� Where was that from? I wondered. It didn�t matter but it fit perfectly. I felt as if any moment a ghoul would stare in at me, accusatory and denounce my right to live. Sending the plane plummeting into the sea. For a second I thought this was going to happen; then a strange feeling coursed through me, as if I was no longer in my body, as if I had died and was watching the actions of a stranger, a lunatic. I shook myself and the feeling faded.

Glancing out the window again I smiled. We had landed.

 

*~*~* Anton *~*~*

I watched Darren, Cyril and Dr. Inaki care for Daniel. I was glad for Darren�s concern over the injured man. His concern seemed deeper than was possible for two men who�d only known each other a couple of days. It bothered me a bit, but that was only because I didn�t see how it could have developed so quickly. Oddly enough, the thought that it might be something deeper than concern for someone terribly abused, didn�t bother me.

When Dr. Inaki finished, he handed me the pain medicine. Codeine. You could get addicted to that stuff. He took Cyril with him, promising me he could get someone to take him to the mainland after he�d checked him over, fed him, and let him get a good rest. I thanked him profusely.

Fortunately, he�d let me repay him with my services. One of the few benefits of our island way of life.

I looked in on Darren and saw him gently lay Daniel back down on the bed. He looked over at me and the corners of his mouth turned up in a slight smile. He raised a finger to his lips and then came over to me; I preceded him out of the room.

�I�I want to thank you for�for everything you did for us. I-I�d still like to know why you never came to get me.�

�Darren, I was dirt poor. I had nothing but this place and my plane. William Hayes was rich! He could give you and your mother everything! I�if I�d known what a sick bastard he was, I�d�ve come and taken you both from him, I swear!�

Darren looked down at the floor and I could tell he was weighing everything I�d said. �How did you end up going to that place? I can�t imagine him letting you...� I didn�t hide my surprise.

He gave an embarrassed chuckle as he flushed lightly. �I thought I�d be teaching him a lesson.� His face darkened then. �But I was wrong. I had no idea and he�he knew I�d gone and did nothing to stop me. He wanted me broken�. Like�like he�d done to Daniel.�

---

*~*~* Darren *~*~*

 I stiffened as he embraced me. This concern, this love was something I had felt so rarely in my life with William and yet it didn�t feel right somehow.

 �No!� I cried pushing him away and feeling almost guilty as a look of hurt crossed his face. �I�m sorry Anton, I�m just not ready for this yet. Everything�s happened so fast this past week, more then anything that has ever happened in my whole life I�I can�t�cope. Not just yet.� I stared at him through a film of tears.

  �You need time.� He nodded as if to assure himself. �You can have that time. I�m not going anywhere Darren.� I smiled gently as silence descended.

  �Well�� Anton cleared his throat loudly. �I�ll go check on Daniel.� He turned to leave but stopped and glanced back uncertainly. �Time?�

  �Time.� I reassured with a nod. I watched him leave for a moment and stepped outside. The night was a cruel one. Rain beat down onto the porch and the sky groaned loudly. A chill passed through me and I got an inexplicable need to cry. �It�s only
natural,� I thought. �Your life will never be the same again.�

Closing my eyes I stepped further out onto the porch and let the rain fall onto my skin to soak my clothes. I felt free! I felt as if
nothing could stand in my way. I felt a secret joy at the thought of spending the coming weeks at Daniel�s side. I felt love, love for him.

  I felt the barrel of a gun press into the back of my head.

  �Hello, Darren. Daddy�s home.�

  �No�please.� I whimpered as William�s hands spun me round to face him.

  �Yes, oh yes. You thought you could get away that easy? You think you can abandon your duties just like that? You arrogant little bastard, I made you. Don�t you shake your head at me! I made you and I can break you. Now get into the house!� He pushed me through the doorway, gun still pointed at my head. My heart beat wildly. He was mad! I had seen the devastation in his eyes, highlighted by the lightening. Whatever shred of humanity had been in him was gone and all that remained was evil.

�He�s going to kill us!� I realized staring into his crazed eyes. �He�s going to kill us all! We�re doomed.�'); }