Disclaimer: Total Fiction, I don�t own rights to tell these stories, I just pray that these boys are so nice they will overlook my transgressions. Luv.
The Story:
Armenia sat at her dressing table, staring at her reflection. She wore not her richly dress, but now her night gown. It was luxuriously woven with a total of twelve different silks, but instead of looking chaotic, it was simply exquisite. The embroidery of roses, leaves and thorns circled around collar and wrists. These were in such fine detail they would have complimented ANY wraith-like figure to don the garment. But in Armenia�s part, that wasn�t the case.
The gown did nothing to lessen the scowl on her brow, the sneer causing her upper lip to curl unconsciously. . .
All at once, Armenia gave a start. She moved her mouth around a bit and leaned forward to spit in the basin beside the ewer. Blood dripped and slid down the side of the bowl. In her anger, she had accidentally bit into her tongue.
�Curse him.� she whispered to her reflection as she wiped at her mouth. �Curse him.� But she didn�t elaborate on who she was cursing. She didn�t need to.
Her eyes finally focused and saw that she had been in fact sitting in front of her mirror, hair brushed out and ready for bed for nearly an hour now. All HIS fault, really. Him and his stupid lover. Armenia cursed again, using a rather unlady-like word to do it with. She took the ewer and poured water into her drinking cup. From one of her trinket boxes, she pulled out a hidden compartment and brought out the small bag she�d gotten from the hag.
�The things I do for power,� Armenia muttered and sprinkled a dash into the cup. She swirled the water inside briefly, then downed the contents. She winced horribly and nearly choked on the bitter brew. She turned red, watery eyes at the mirror. �This had better be worth it,� she told herself. �This had better be it, or heads will roll.�
Yes, and whose better than that stupid, ruttish husband�s of hers and that filthy, promiscuous little raven-haired trinket he slobbers after? Armenia waited until the vile mixture was safely down past her throat before she got up and walked out her bedroom. Still angry, she hadn�t realized she still held her cup.
She walked, untroubled, to her husband�s bedroom door. There were no servants down this hall, this late at night, so she didn�t fear to be spied as she herself spied. She silently opened the door a crack and peered in.
At nothing. She pulled the door open, scanned about, then shut it and scowled. Of course, where else would they be? Armenia walked on to the only other place her husband would be. The cook�s bedroom.
She pulled open the door, gently, and peered in, trying to be as silent as she could. Not that it would matter. The two figures twisting and moaning about on the bed were as oblivious to their surroundings that she could have walked in and sat down beside them and they STILL wouldn�t notice.
It was now, that the cook was half-dressed and rapidly losing what was left of his clothing that Armenia paused. She reluctantly admitted to herself he was a looker. Work did well to sculpt his body efficiently, something a pampered consort wouldn�t have been able to achieve. The hair, the black mass of loose locks that curled slightly at the ends. . . Armenia let her eyes course over every wave, every contour of those silken tangles. This vision, however, lasted only moments, then their positions were switched so that Lord Hunter could do as he wished to his consort. . . even better.
Armenia�s eye, lighted from the torch in the room, widened in the crack of the door way as she saw exactly what they were doing. As horrible a person as she was, she was still a royal lady. And every ounce of her royal blood flushed to her face and caused her hands to tremble. She had no thoughts, no idea that this could. . . that they had. . .
�D-D-Davey!� Hunter moaned longingly, even though he was deep inside his lover and had both hands inside the other�s hair so tightly neither could move.
Davey panted and let loose amorous whimpers of pleasure that caused Hunter to further their progress with vigor. It was then, that Armenia decided she�d seen enough. Gently, she closed the door, the two�s noise still loud and clear, and angrily stalked to her room. That had been a nice scene to witness, truth told, but because it was threatening her path to power, Armenia was once again as bitter as before.
She could only hope this latest trick of hers was going to work. It had to, or else. . .
*****************************
Jade came down the hall and stopped immediately. He was still half-hidden by a statue so cover was easy if he needed it. He paused, then smirked. Didn�t look like he did, really.
�So what�s a queen in the making,� he muttered to himself, �doing this late at night, peeping into a bedroom not her own?� his tone was light and teasing, a habit he found easy when it came to torturing people. Happy tones and whippings went hand in hand, in his book.
Jade watching Armenia, hand gripping the open door while her other held an empty cup. She looked like she had gone to get a drink of. . . whatever, and happened to hear something interesting so chose to investigate. Her undone hair and her wide, surprised eyes made her look all to the world like a tall five year old spying her first sight of Saint Nicholas and his sack of gifts. But even with the door open, Jade was still too far away to hear exactly what it was she heard.
At last, Armenia seemed to come out of her trance and closed the door. When she turned to him, Jade ducked quickly behind the statue of one of his family�s ancestors. She hadn�t spotted him, thankfully, and simply stalked off to her own room. When she was gone, Jade gracefully leaped out of cover and winced. He had been bandaged up by Hunter�s physicker, but he was still going to be sore for a few days.
Not that this deterred him from his own curiosity. Jade smirked again and gayly strolled up to the door. He had less caution then Armenia so swung the door open at least a foot before he froze. Immediately, he moved the door back to the position the Lady had hers.
Jade�s jaw dropped, then quickly shut as he began to drool. This. . . this was. . . His eyes widened greedily as he watched Davey go through the final stages of his climax, limbs thrusting about and head tossing back and forth in reaction to Hunter�s thrusts.
That body, that voice, that person who had caught and held Jade�s attention from first sight. . . Jade sighed and drank the sight in. He memorized the way tangles of the cook�s hair clung to his and Hunter�s sweating faces. He made special note of how Hunter�s fingers dug deep into soft flesh and clung to hardened muscle. His eyes glued to the flesh his brother now suckled in post-climax, the angelic face he showered with kisses and gentle caresses. But the most significant thing Jade took in from this show was the look of Davey�s eyes. So trusting. . . so happy. . . so loving. . .
Jade wasn�t stupid. By far, one had to be cleverly witted in order to survive on as many lands as he had been to. Jade waited until he saw the two lovers do no more than finish their kissing to gaze into each other�s eyes before he silently shut the door. But Jade didn�t move. He stared hard down at the door handles.
He knew why he was here. He knew, at last. He knew what he was meant to do. This night. . . this night had shown him many things, insights to the lives of the people who lived in this castle. He knew he was meant only to be a page in some one�s twisted version of Castles.
Jade grunted. Well, now that he knew, couldn�t he just go back the way he had come? The danger wasn�t as serious as he led Hunter to believe. There were places he and his crew could go without much hassle. But he had wanted to come to figure out why he was here, and who had sent for him. Now he knew. And he didn�t much feel like being some one else�s plaything.
Plaything. Jade admitted he�d like nothing better than to have that luscious piece of ass with raven hair as his new plaything. He had a feeling that one would last a bit longer than usual. He�d make sure of it.
The sights and sounds of only moments before came flooding back to him and he peered down. Well, Jade thought, smiling evilly, he could use this as an excuse to visit his current one, couldn�t he?
Jade put a hand to the bulge of his pants briefly, thinking as he made his way to the North Tower, of two men with raven hair. One that had the darkest brown eyes, and another who had the clearest blue.
****************************
The Summer Ball had at last arrived. Hunter and Armenia were busy for nearly a week before the ball, arranging everything not to their likes and tastes, but to what they figured would appease and awe their guests. They had quite a few people to impress, too. If Hunter had any intentions on becoming the King�s chosen heir to the throne, he had to gain support of the people first. That was why Armenia had taken over most of the ball�s requirements.
She was the one to order the twenty barrels of expensive wine that came from the farthest reaches of the land. She was the one to design the color scheme, gold on brilliant fire red, to match Hunter�s insignia, and to order miles of yards of only the finest of the materials. These were to be measured, cut and fixed into everything from wall banners, to table clothes to gift bags. This last was her idea, also, as a parting favor to their guests. Into each bag went an expensive and costly trinket. It was in Hunter�s colors and was shaped into the hawk, Hunter�s symbol. A steady reminder for the people when it came time to raise their drinks to their new king. A reminder to who it was that gave them those expensive gifts.
Hunter had not wanted to do it, something so vulgar to secure the throne, but Armenia had gotten the shipment already and was now working on entertainment. And for that, she needed her darling husband�s lover�s co-operation.
She hadn�t been to visit the kitchens for half the week on purpose. Armenia was gathering her forces together in order to meet with the cook. And, of course, she wanted him to tremble a bit.
So at last, three days before the ball, Armenia took up her red leather folio and made her way down to the kitchens. There Davey was, putting the finishing touches on an iced and prettied cake. She took a moment to marvel at the life-like red and purple roses and the flowing ribbons of chocolate curling this way and that. Another masterpiece, she inwardly sneered.
Outward, she remained blank. She walked in and sat on a stool at the counter. Surprised, Davey simply watched her open her folio and begin to jot things down.
Oh, he thought, she�s finally come down to see about the food and such.
He waited patiently until she spoke. And that she did. �We�ll have five different main courses,� she began in a businesslike manner, going over her lists �with ten different drinks, fifty kinds of delicacies hovering about on trays, and we�ll need a fantastic dessert.� She looked up at Davey, surprisingly civil. �I think I can trust you to do that, Davey. Just let us know what you need well before and we�ll get it, whatever it is. But not too long before. We want everything to be fresh as possible. Maybe a day before. We�ll use our best horses to get it.�
�Yes my Lady.� Davey gave her a respectful nod of his head. He missed the evil glint to her eyes. When he straightened, she was once again going over her folio.
�And you need not worry about help.� She spoke as she made scrawls on the side of a column. �I�ve ordered you nearly thirty of the retired women to come and help. Most of the younger serving lasses are going to be out serving the guests, but those who. . . lack social graces necessary will be assigned to your command, master cook.�
The title she gave him nearly took his attention from what she had just told him. �. . .social graces. . .� He frowned slightly, knowing that the girls would be too ugly to present to the guests. Too ugly, or not very well endowed to show off the low-cut dresses and skirts Lady Armenia had ordered the serving girls to wear. Eye-appeasing treats for the men, Nick had joked to Dexter and Chester. But not to Davey. . .
Davey shook his head and came back to reality to see that Lady Armenia had finished her recount of how things were coming out. Seeing she found no problems with the kitchen, Davey went back to decorating the cake. Armenia, he saw, flipped a few pages and sighed.
�Now all I have to do is battle with Hunter over the entertainment.� she said sadly, as if to herself. At the sound of his lover�s name, Davey�s ears picked up, just as Armenia had hoped.
Knowing his boldness could get him into trouble, Davey only hesitated briefly before speaking. �My Lady? You�re having trouble? Would you like to talk about it?�
His tone was concerned and she saw caring in his dark brown eyes, something that gave her a jolt of surprise. How could he care about her when she had so much hate for him?
She flustered briefly, but she realized that helped her acting a lot more than she realized. As she gained herself again, Davey slipped himself into the stool across from her, ready to give her his full attention. Armenia gave a wan smile. �This might bore you. It�s rather just another of our fights.�
Davey smiled gently. �Perhaps if you shared your side with some one, it will help you solve a little of the problem on your own?�
Armenia looked doubtful, then finally nodded in acquiescence. It was working! �Well,� she said, voice slow, �see, you might already know why we�re having this ball. To help Hunter gain favor with the people. That would help him a great deal in becoming the heir to the throne. He needs that support to win his father�s favor.�
By Davey�s ready nods, Armenia knew immediately that Hunter was susceptible to bedroom talk, and had already informed Davey on much. She just rather hoped he hadn�t told Davey everything about HER. So she played it cool and went on.
�Well, Hunter�s in charge of entertainment. It�s his say that will go. But. . . he. . . well, he�s not very in tune to what his own people are in want of. He�s gone most of the time, doing what he must for the people of his kingdom. What he plans. . . are to have that awful troupe of flower dancers. They were a hit last year, and everyone loved them. But that�s just it! Everyone loved them, LAST year. This year, they will want something new, something they haven�t seen before.� she was about to go on, then shut her mouth, perhaps realizing how much she was saying.
�Go on,� Davey urged. He hadn�t known there was this caring side to his Lady. She truly wanted Hunter to make the best choices! �You know what will help, don�t you? My Lady, if it could help Lord Hunter in any way, you MUST tell him!� Davey�s eyes pleaded and he clasped his hands in front of him. Oh, she was playing him like a fiddle.
�But I can�t!� she wailed, hands clasping the sides of her head as if she had a head ache. �He won�t listen! He�s bound to order the flower dancers even without hearing me out! He liked them a lot. He won�t want to even consider the Karri-Kopi Circus!�
Davey jolted in shock. �The. . . the Karri-Kopi Circus?�
Armenia nodded. �I�ve a cousin in the troupe. From what he�s said, they are a well-known act in Herggenia, their base land. Have. . . have you heard of them?�
Davey�s eyes lit up and he smiled. �Yes my Lady! Why. . . oh, my Lady! They are more than just well-known! They have to be the most famous circus to the west of the River Gorone. Even when I was a little boy, I�d always wanted to be in the circus! Well, it was either that or cook, and Herggenia was too far. . .� he caught himself and hurried back to the main story.
�But, yes! That�s an excellent idea! Karri-Kopi Circus has never performed in this land, ever! The people here would love it!� He turned those dark brown eyes back on Lady Armenia, nearly melting her with their beauty. �You MUST get him to agree! If your cousin is willing, of course, then Hunter would definitely have the best ball of the year!�
Armenia almost snarled. Hunter. He had used the name without the respected title a servant must use for the rightful people. If anything, she would have him killed just for that slip of tongue. Yes, she thought to herself, that will be the main reason for having Davey killed: his arrogant boldness at believing he could be more than a mere servant.
Not wanting to reveal to the cook that she had been plotting his death, Armenia shook her head, disguising her eyes in the process. �No, you don�t understand.� She spoke tiredly. �We�re FIGHTING. He won�t listen to a thing I say. He�ll think I�m trying to get at him unexpectedly or something. Everyone thinks that.�
Davey felt a pang of pity. He too, had thought that of her. She gave him good reason, too. All those death glares and some of the things Hunter had told him. But Hunter hadn�t told Davey everything about the monster he had married. The private, together time he had with the cook was rare and precious to him. He hadn�t wanted to taint it with the mention of the one person who seemed bent on destroying it. Besides, when Hunter thought of Armenia, Davey knew his lord had trouble. . . performing well.
So talk of the Lady was rare. And now Davey was feeling terrible. He hadn�t even made it a point to get to know her. He only went on what other�s told him. He used that as a complete set of her character, not realizing how much she really cared for her husband�s well-being.
Then Davey realized another thing. He was sleeping with her husband. Something she herself should be doing, instead of him. In fact, Hunter had made it clear and often whispered to Davey in Armenia�s presence that he was the only one the lord loved. Davey loved Hunter, yes, of course. . . but. . . he was sleeping with this woman�s husband. He had the love and attention of the man that should be in her room at night, loving and caring for her.
Armenia saw Davey�s worried, anxious expression and could guess in what direction his thoughts lay. Good. Then it was working out the way she had planned. So, she waited. And soon, she was rewarded for her efforts.
�My Lady, have no fear.� Davey said, reassuring smile already in place. �I�ll talk to Lord Hunter tonight. I�m sure a little persuasion will get him to agree with your idea.�
Armenia�s eyes glinted with happiness, a feeling Davey obliviously mistaken the cause for it. �Thank you, so much, Davey.�
***
When they had finished speaking, Lady Armenia relating her plan to him down to the T. . . . or, N. . . . er. . . . Davey gathered the tray together and headed for the North Tower again.
No matter how much he pleaded with the woman on guard, the religious man locked in the bare room was not allowed more than what Davey could fit on the tray. So, Davey loaded the tray with as much as he could. In the days with the woman on guard, he was able to give the entire load to the man. But when it was Adrian, he of the blind right eye and towering muscles, the man only receive half of the food.
Adrian would �inspect� the tray. In other words, he would pick out the tastiest, most delicious looking items for himself. But with Adrian, Davey was allowed to stay almost an hour or two and talk with the man.
Not that he said much. Apparently the good mood he had shown to Davey that first day had quickly left him. And he never ate in front of Davey anymore. He left it untouched until Davey was gone. Davey would pick the tray up the next day and it would be clean. So. . . the man WAS eating, but he wasn�t being social, either. What was his deal?
So Davey made the trip upstairs, as usual. He was happy. It was Adrian on look out today.
�Well, what have we here?� He rubbed his hands and greedily looked at the tray Davey held.
�I�m appalled you�d take food from that man.� Davey said. He usually said this. The first time, Adrian laughed so hard he nearly choked on a biscuit.
But Adrian had a ready remark today. �I�m merely complimenting the talents and. . . supple hands that made it all.� The leer he gave Davey sent many things.
Davey pulled the tray out of Adrian�s reach and pulled the towel over the contents, leaving the man with only a portion of what he�d eyed.
Adrian�s expression hardened. �If I hadn�t known any better, I�d say someone was getting a bit uppity.�
Davey returned it with his own. �If I hadn�t known any better, I�D say someone was looking where he shouldn�t.�
Adrian bared his teeth and moved forward. However, he was immediately stopped by the person coming up the stairs. �That�ll be enough tormenting, Adrian. I�m sure Lord Hunter wouldn�t want his brand-new consort scuffed up before he could be put to some real use.� Davey gulped as he watched Jade languidly climb up to them.
Adrian quickly put the food away in his pockets and got out the key to the door. �Of course, Jade. I was just. . .�
�Just handing over the key to me so that I may have a word or two with my brother�s mate, here. Correct?� The look in Jade�s eyes said it had better be, or else.
Without a word, Adrian gladly gave up the key and hurried back downstairs. That left Davey and Jade. Alone.
He had never felt more self conscious than he did now. Jade let his eyes roam over Davey, his memory flashing brief scenes from Davey�s bedroom. Hardly believable this meek, pretty chef with doe-eyes could produce those moans, could make those poses.
Davey cleared his throat, hands gripping the tray harder. Yes, he found Jade very nice, very appealing, but Jade was a dangerous man. Something Hunter tried to grind into Davey�s mind almost every night. He was dangerous and wasn�t supposed to spend more than a moment in his company. Direct orders.
Well, now it was surely past a moment and there was no one about. . .
Jade�s attention came back with another clearing of Davey�s throat. He gave the raven-haired cook a small, gentle smile. �Sorry, I was lost in your beauty.� He saw with satisfaction the blush creeping up Davey�s cheeks. He looked down at the tray. �Well, I think Adam would like that now, wouldn�t he?� He began walking down to the door.
�A-Adam?� Davey asked, almost forgetting why he was standing in the middle of the hallway, holding a tray of food and withstanding the regard of his lover�s lithe and handsome brother.
Jade paused to let Davey catch up, looking a little surprised. �Hmm, you�ve spent an hour with him for the last several days and he never told you his name? Odd.�
Davey gave his lips a wry twist. �Well, he�s not much on talking. I talk most of the time. Tell him what�s going on. For the ball, I mean.� he noted Jade�s frequent glances at him. �Uhm, not to be nosey, but, he can come, can�t he? Everyone�s coming.� Davey paused. �Why do you have him locked up? He doesn�t seem very dangerous. He hasn�t tried to hurt me at all! He doesn�t seem to be the type to hurt anyone. He�s religious and all. . .� Davey trailed off, realizing he was talking too much.
Wasn�t that new! Davey couldn�t ever remember succumbing to being a chatter box. Jade must be having an effect on him. In fact, he nearly felt that effect like a physical blow when Jade stopped and turned to him. Jade paused, then stepped forward. He put a hand to Davey�s jaw and slowly caressed downward. His fingers gently stroked Davey�s lips, pressing slightly on the bottom.
�You�re very beautiful, Davey.� Jade breathed quietly. �If I would have known you had existed. . . I would never have left.�
Davey�s heart beat erratically at the words, but it was Jade�s eyes that sent the chill down his spine. He realized what Hunter had meant when he said Jade �had eyes like glaciers�.
Davey took a step back, free from Jade�s touch. �You said it yourself,� Davey said simply, �IF. But that�s only wishful thinking, not reality.�
If Jade was hurt by the put-off, he didn�t show it. He smiled slyly. �Is that your way of reminding me you belong to my brother?�
Davey grew indignant at �belonging� to anyone, but nodded anyway. �Yes. I think we need to remember that.�
Jade looked at him carefully. He said WE, not YOU, he thought to himself. He stepped forward again, closing their distance to each other that Davey had made once more. This time, Jade kept going until he had Davey backed up against the wall. He put one hand up against the wall, palm flat, while the other gripped Davey�s hip and held him securely.
�In case you haven�t guessed,� Jade said, voice low and dangerous, sparking unwanted interest in Davey�s mind, �I care little for what rules others have set up for themselves. So you�re Hunter�s consort. So I�m his brother. It�s not like it�s incest, Davey. Who says we can�t fuck without my baby brother knowing?�
Jade marveled at the brilliant flush that burned Davey�s cheeks. What the. . .? This was. . . If Jade had barely met the man, he would have immediately marked Davey as a virgin. A tempting one at that. But he had been witness to that night of passion Davey and Hunter had shared. There was no way Davey could still be so innocent after what Hunter must surely have put him through by now.
Davey began to squirm under Jade�s close regard. And his hand. Can�t forget the hand. The hand that Jade was now using to squeeze Davey�s hip. He watched Jade begin to lean forward over the tray. What was he. . .? OH! He wanted to kiss him!
Davey blushed rapidly and moved to the side as Jade closed in. Frowning, Jade followed, hand still gripping Davey and holding him firmly in one spot. Davey became frantic. There was no escape! If he allowed Jade to kiss him, that would be betraying Hunter�s love and trust. But. . . there was no way around him, not while holding the tray. And Davey didn�t think he would gather enough will to make another tray and come back. So he gave in. Just not all the way.
Jade, seeing Davey�s surrender, smiled and closed his eyes as his lips descended to meet Davey�s own thin ones. But that never happened. Instead, his mouth met with a mop of hair. His eyes shot open and he saw how Davey had tricked him. He allowed the kiss, at last, but turned his head at the last minute so that Jade kissed the top of his head, instead.
Davey knew Jade realized what had happened and couldn�t help chuckling. Jade, however, didn�t pull back. �You think this is funny?� he asked, voice muffled by Davey�s hair. That made Davey laugh more.
He stopped when he realized Jade continued to kiss his hair, then moved downward. �Jade, you. . .� You can�t. That was what he was about to say when he raised his head. Unfortunately, Jade saw his chance and took it. He crashed his lips to Davey�s and indulged in the forbidden kiss.
His tongue found admittance almost immediately, which made him wonder. Had Davey truly wanted to kiss him, or was it just out of instinct?
Davey�s eyes slid close and he inhaled through his nose, his mouth quite full at the moment. This man knew how to kiss, that was for sure. The gentle caress of tongue, the taste of saliva not his own. . . Davey lost himself to the mouth attached to his own and sighed in contentment.
Jade played with Davey�s tongue a bit and pulled back to tug at the cook�s lips with his teeth. He was more than satisfied at the moment. Davey was puddy in his hands. Once they got rid of the tray and their clothes, the only obstacles in their way, Jade only had to trouble with getting Davey to move in the exact position he wanted him in: ALL positions.
Davey let out a gasp. Jade�s hand was no longer passive. It moved gently at first, making idle circles on his stomach. But now it went lower, and began to rub mischief into Davey�s neither region. Davey had made the noise not because he was surprised Jade�s hand was there, but because it was moving in the exact same pattern Hunter�s hand would move when he had Davey pinned beneath him. Jade even TASTED like his brother. Well. . . perhaps only slightly.
But the resemblance in manner was close enough. Davey was sure that if he closed his eyes, he could almost picture his lord over him, trying to �get him in the mood�, as he would tell Davey. And so, he did.
Jade pulled back and saw Davey�s eyes slip close in what had to be ecstacy. He smiled and moved his hand faster as he put his cheek next to Davey�s. He heard Davey take in a sharp breath, then let out a long, throaty moan that ended with one word. One word that brought the moment down in a crashing spiral.
�Hunter.� Davey breathed. He wasn�t as deep into his thoughts as Jade thought. Davey knew it was Jade fondling him. Of course he knew. How could he forget? It was just that thing again, instinct. Davey was so used to moaning out Hunter�s name, so used to screaming it at the top of his lungs, that he couldn�t. . . raise steam without thinking of the name. Then, with the name came the man. . . .
Jade hissed and pulled back, glaring. To Davey�s disappointment, he took his hand with him. There was silence. Finally, Davey looked down. �Sorry.� he whispered humbly.
Jade took control of his emotions swiftly and made to open Adam�s door. �Don�t be,� he said in a reassuring tone. �It wasn�t meant to happen, not right now. I think Adam could use some company. I�ll wait at the top of the stairs until you�re done.�
Davey didn�t look up. He didn�t look at anything but the tray until he was safely past Jade and inside the room. He had no idea what he should do, so simply did what he came out here to do.
******************************
Adam had heard their voices as they came up the stairs. He knew, since the second day Davey came to visit him, that Jade would have his eyes open for him. Davey fit Jade�s description of a �toy� perfectly. So he had decidedly shut his mouth when the fool cook came each day.
When Davey saw how unwelcome he was in Adam�s cell, he would decide to linger no longer than necessary. Adam didn�t want the guy to stay too long and get caught up with Jade. He desperately hoped he wouldn�t. As stupid as he was, Davey was very nice and sweet. The very opposite of what Jade was. So Adam plotted to get Davey away from the North Tower as much as possible. Well. . . that had been the plan.
When he heard the softly spoken words outside his cell door, Adam knew immediately it was not only Jade and Davey, but that they were alone. Jade probably worked it out that way. He was a sneaky bastard at that.
Adam decided he didn�t want to eavesdrop. He knew what would be happening in that hall. He knew Jade would try and win Davey over. He heard it all before. He even experienced it first hand.
Thinking back to those days at the shrine made Adam grimace and shudder. If he had known then what kind of monster Jade really was. . . all those lives. . .
Adam shook himself and began to repeat his prayer over again. In his fists he clenched ruby red prayer beads, turning them slowly as he went on. His lips, dry and chapped moved as fast as his thoughts, prayers tumbling over one another in desperation to get out of him and find their way to God.
A moan, deep in passion broke part of his concentration. He frowned, eyes still closed to his surroundings. His prayers sped up. He didn�t want to hear that. He didn�t want to hear that.
His hands moved the beads again. Adam paused. There was no moaning from outside. No talking. But, he almost heard. . . the name �Hunter�. Who said it? Surely not Jade. Davey had told him Hunter was Jade�s brother. He wouldn�t be likely to utter that amidst the throes of passion.
Davey, then? Yes, no one else out there. Why did Davey say that name? Did he have a liaison with the lord of the castle?
Adam�s eyes shot open. Davey would often tell Adam how worried he was when Lord Hunter went out on missions and visits. He also said how Lord Hunter gave him a room in the castle, so he wouldn�t have to live in a hut. At the time, Adam had assumed this had been because Davey was being given a promotional gift as head cook. Now, however, it didn�t seem that likely. Had Lord Hunter have Davey moved closer out of convenience to himself? To have his lover closer at night?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Davey was still very innocent and pretty. But also, he wasn�t stupid. He figured things out faster than some people. He even figured out that Adam wasn�t dangerous. How he came to that understanding was beyond Adam.
The door behind him opened, then closed. Adam�s eyes slipped closed and he took up his prayers again. Feet shuffled slowly to him. The sound of the tray being placed in front of him and the shifting of someone getting to their knees beside him. He waited for Davey to start his chattering, but it never came.
Adam opened his eyes and looked at the cook. His face was flushed and his lips pressed together in worried thought. His eyes, usually full of good humor and mirth as he tried to engage Adam into talk, were now distant and. . . scared?
�Davey.� Adam whispered. When that didn�t get his attention, he tried louder. �Davey.�
The cook jerked and turned surprised eyes at him. �Hmm? Oh, sorry. I was. . . just. . .�
Adam stopped him with a single look. He glanced back at the door to make sure it was closed before he went on. �Davey, are you and Lord Hunter. . .?�
Davey blushed bright red and looked terrified. �W-what? Huh? Uhhm. . .�
�Davey,� Adam said gently, �I�ll not hold it against you if you are. What a man does in his bedroom is his own business. And if it�s with a Lord, I think you don�t have much choice in it.�
Davey straightened. �But, I DO love Lord Hunter! He loves me and I love him!�
Adam looked at him carefully, those clear blue eyes made that much more brighter in the dimness of the room. �Love? Are you sure? And. . . Jade?�
Davey was forced to look away. He bit his lips into his mouth thoughtfully. �I don�t know,� he admitted in a whisper, �Adam, I don�t know. Hunter tells me he�s dangerous, he�s a bad man. But. . . there�s something about him. . .�
Adam listened to this. He saw the look in Davey�s eyes, the wrenching his hands gave his shirt. And then the memories came back to him. The blood splattered on walls. . . the screaming and cries of pain. . . and before that, his own trouble at trying to figure out his feelings for the same man.
Adam began to breath heavily. His heart pounded rapidly, the screams still resounding in his ears. The horror. . . the lives lost. . . his fellow holy men, disemboweled and dismembered. . . . And all because Adam had refused to join Jade and his company. Refused to runaway from his calling at the shrine to become the whore of a murderous, thieving scoundrel.
But it didn�t even matter how much Adam balked at the idea, did it? Because Jade ended up with his new toy, anyway. Just like he�ll end up with Davey. . .
Davey wasn�t prepared when Adam lashed out at him. The prisoner�s bony fist connected with his cheekbone and sent him smarting back to the floor. His head hit the wall, snapping his teeth shut hurtfully. When he realized what had happened, he looked up at Adam with hurt filled eyes, only to meet one so filled with hate they made him tremble. They were smoldering blue fire, glaring at him from the gaunt face of who he thought was his friend.
�Don�t you ever,� Adam said, voice rasping, �EVER, think he�ll be yours. Understand? He�s a fucking monster. He�s worse than you can imagine. If I had the chance, I�d rip his throat out with my bare hands! He kills, Davey. He kills for FUN. He�s killed every single person I knew and loved. Innocent people. They were just in his way. When he wants something, he won�t give up until he gets it. You hear me, Davey?� Adam paused, then rushed forward until he gripped Davey�s shirt in both hands, bringing his face inches away frm his own.
�Do you UNDERSTAND?!� He cried out desperately now. At the sound of his voice, footfalls came fast down the hall. �You HAVE to get away from him and STAY AWAY!! He�ll kill everyone you know!� The sound of the door, the look of absolute terror in Davey�s eyes as he stared back at Adam�s. And was that a glimpse of dawning comprehension? Adam desperately hoped so. �Get out of here and DON�T come back alone! Listen to me, Davey! Listen!!�
But that was as far as Jade allowed him. One minute, Davey was staring into those intense blue eyes, realizing this man was actually trying to help Davey, the next came the terrible howling.
CRACK! SNAP! CRACK! Came the quick, painful blows of Jade�s whip. Adam screamed in anguish from the three bloody gashes down his back. His hands released Davey and he fell to the side, writhing in the utmost pain.
Davey, stupefied against the wall, tried to reach out to Adam but Jade got to him first. With the hand not holding the whip, Jade grabbed Davey by the arm and hauled him up. He dragged him to the door and shoved him onto Adrian, eyes glaring. �See he gets to his kitchen.� He said, then turned back into the room.
Davey�s eyes widened and he began to struggle. �NO!! DON�T HURT HIM!! PLEASE DON�T HURT HIM!� But they ignored him. And as Adrian began dragging him away, he could faintly hear Jade speaking to Adam. By the time they reached the top of the stairs, Davey could already hear Adam�s screaming, helpless to stop it.
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We leave for now, the Summer Ball just around the corner and all our players sufficiently placed: Davey thrown back into his kitchen to reflect on the torture of a man who tried to help him; Hunter down in the hall trying to make sense of the problems concerning the ball; Jade exerting himself with glee; Adam whimpering and screaming himself hoarse, but glad he warned Davey, either way; Nim just arriving past the draw bridge, coming home from a distant mission and about to be thrown into the plans of a mad woman; who is sending a courier to her cousin, who is not as far away as she made Davey think.
Armenia hands the tightly sealed bag to the carrier and watches him rush off to deliver it. She smiles smugly at her own genius. Her plan would work. She knew it would. Now, just to have her cousin take what was in that bag and let that ferocious beast of his take a whiff or two of the scent still on it, and the kingdom was as good as hers.
She went over her plan once more. She smiled. She chuckled. She roared laughter.
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