"Arabian Nights"
Part 79
by Mel
Eric's time had gone slowly. He watched Elijah leave, obviously distressed with what had transpired with him and Sean, then watched young Orlando go soon after. He was much more worried about the blue eyed boy then the slightly older one. Orlando had his head enough to look after himself, but Elijah was hurting, his mind wasn't on his movements. Both Sean and Viggo had spoken of the boys time away and he had seen the healed marks against the perfect skin on Orli's back, he already knew what sort of trouble a wayward Kitten could get into.
As soon as it seemed safe to leave unnoticed, Eric left the Kitten's to handle their seemingly incompetent masters and headed in the direction Elijah had gone. Viggo might have believed him to be safe, but to Eric the boy certainly appeared unable to notice his own danger. Eric couldn't help but wonder if his lifetime friends had lost their senses in the sun or perhaps he had never seen them so sidetracked to not notice this before their noses. He would have words to his father when he arrived home.
It didn't take much to find which way the Kitten had disappeared, thankfully he hadn't upset any nobles, but he had run into more then his fair share of servants. The last few remembered him weeping upon a noble's shoulder though, a man who caused them to click their tongues, a sure sign of their irritation with him. But Elijah had called this Prince Leonardo by name, one servant even suggested that Elijah had called him 'Brother'. Eric made sure to thank the last girl, who was quiet pretty and more then a little flirtatious, and Eric was happy to stroke her ego. It always helped to know the servants well.
He stopped at the doorway he had been directed to. If Elijah had found his brother, then Eric was sure he couldn't be in safer hands. He smothered his fingers down the robes he had been offered, he would just check, a few moments to make sure Elijah was safe and sound, then he would have some stern words to Sean about how he had treated the obviously frightened boy. Knocking politely he waited, tugging at his cape.
The door opened to a shorter man than Eric was expecting but Elijah had been short so he was a little more comforted. His hair was like dark straw and dishevelled. In fact, everything about him seemed a little dishevelled, from his hair to his robes and shoes. Even his face was flushed, his eyes a little too searching, too wild. Especially for a man who was suppose to be playing concerned brother.
"My apologises, my Lord," Eric smiled, his hand drifting to the door that the Prince held tight to his body, making it difficult for him to see into the room. "I was told a young servant had come this way, I was wondering if I could perhaps see him for a moment?"
Eric had only been going to ask if the Kitten was safe, but he found he wanted to see for himself, more so with the nervous twitch from the Prince that accompanied his words. Tipping his strength against the wood the surprised Prince could not hold onto the door and it swung open, revealing Elijah to him.
The blood was pooling around his trembling body, the ablastor skin already turning violet in more places then Eric could count. Elijah was barely holding up his own weight he was shaking so hard, even strands of his hair fell around him, ripped from his scalp. His head was slightly turned, but Eric could still make out the worst of the bruises covering his face, at least the eye on this side would not open properly for days. And the sounds, the way he gagged, his body shaking more as he expelled the foreign liquids from his throat. They too pooled around him, mixing with the blood that came from some wounds Eric couldn't see.
He looked back at the little man before him who was obviously clever enough to realise his own peril, looking around for a way to escape, his mouth opening to make excuses. It was all the confirmation Eric's rising fury needed.
With a roar he slammed his fist against the door, throwing it against the wall. Things shattered, the sound cascading against the thump of Eric's heartbeat, against the blood surging through his veins. He couldn't speak, and every instinct within him shed his normally calm nature, leaving only one clear thought within his mind.
This creature would pay dearly for his trespass.
His fingers curled quickly around the flesh of his neck, as if they were meant to be right there in this very instant of time. They reflectively tightened, making his eyes bulge. Eric gave into the urge, flinging the body against the wall, keeping his fingers tight, almost delighting in the sound his head made against the bricks.
Every second he touched him made Eric feel sick, as if his poison was sinking beneath Eric's skin. With a feral growl he crushed the spine beneath his massive hands, killing him long before Eric wanted to. He let go, uncaring as the body fell to the floor, huge breaths of air cooling the skin, silencing the sound of his heartbeat. Wiping his hands against his robes he spat on the dead man's body, turning once again to Elijah.
The site itself was enough to raise his hackles again, but with the kitten's tormentor dead Eric calmed the reaction, removing his ever present cape. The boy had collapsed in his own fluids and that of the dead man. Eric was gentle as he could be, but Elijah groaned as he was moved, making Eric cringe as he wrapped him up, lifting him to search for a healer.
---
Elijah awoke a little groggy in a cool room he didn't recognise. The aches and pains of his battered body made themselves known as he moved slightly, trying to find a less painful way of lying. He groaned as he found that he was already on the least hurt side, and that if he didn't move too much he was as okay as he could be. Also, whenever he moved the gentle touch against his skin stilled.
It took him quiet some time to realise that he was in someone's bed chamber and the touch was that of a wash cloth wiping him down. He could smell medical herbs and when it brushed against an open wound it stung a little. Realising quickly enough that only one of his eyes appeared to open enough to be able to see, he twisted as gently as he could look at who was tending to him.
He was shocked and more then a little alarmed to see Eric beside him, that it was his gentle touch that was soothing his hurts. Such was the surprise of seeing the giant bear of a man looking after him that Elijah opened his mouth to speak.
The pain of his throat and lips made him splutter, reminding him vividly of the act that had caused them. Squeezing his eyes shut Elijah fought off visions of his brother beating him, of raping his mouth. The hand moved and gently threaded his hair between calloused fingers. They tipped his head back with care, a mug pressed against his lips.
"Please drink this, the healer said it would help against the pain."
Eric was right, as the liquid spilled into his throat Elijah could already feel it beginning to numb it some. He had to wait for the broth to run its course, watching as Eric took up his cloth again, dipping it in a bowl and running it about his skin. Occasionally the older man would look him in the eye, but there was no aversion of his eyes, just a little bemused smile that would accompany a tilt of his head before his eyes returned to his task. For some reason it relaxed Elijah, it made him feel like a man, not a coddled child.
"I hope you have no love loss for your brother," Eric said, quietly into the soothing air, "because I'm afraid he's quiet dead."
"Dead?" Elijah somehow managed, his throat screaming as he spoke. "How?"
"I killed him," Eric's eyes turned to his own, shrugging a little. "I knew what he had done to you, and reacted. Perhaps a little too sharply, but it's done now. I'm sorry."
"For what he did for me, or the loss of the Princes honor?" Elijah knew he probably sounded ungrateful, but to be saved by this man, the man who had caused such trouble between him and Sean, than be treated with such pity. It was all a little hard too swallow.
There was that small smile again, as if he was laughing through out his body but it only showed through his smile and dark eyes. "Neither. I simply am sorry that you've missed the chance to extract your own revenge, now that he is gone. I would not feel sorry for the loss in Viggo's honor, because there is none. Nor for you, as you fought well against him."
The pain in his throat was lessening, making it easier to speak, which was fine as the words began to tumble from his mouth. This was the first time he had spoken in any length to the other man, and he was overwhelmed with how level he was with him. He had never felt like he was on the same footing with Viggo, or even Sean.
"How could you know, you were not there!"
"Men who take that sort of abuse are not so hurt. You fought well to defy someone who was much bigger then you, someone who you believed could be trusted." There was no indulgent smile, Eric said what he believed in such a straight forward manor that Elijah was left bewildered.
"Oh," he managed, lifting himself with some help from Eric so he could sit in front of him. "I have been stupid, haven't I?"
"Not so much," Eric grinned, "it's plain to see why you were so upset. If he was not so distracted I'm sure Sean would have reacted differently." Eric sighed a little, "if it wasn't for you he would have been an entirely lost cause."
"I can only do so much," Elijah said gratefully, Sean hurt so much so often, it was hard to have no one too talk about it to. Eric knew Sean too, he understood the quiet man so well. For the first time since Eric had arrived the thought was completely unthreatening. "He still dreams about what that man did to him, and won't speak of it much, but he wakes, practically tearing himself to pieces because of the rape he suffered through-"
"Sean was raped?"
Elijah's hands flew to his mouth, realising as sudden as Eric's exclamation was that Sean had not said anything to the other man. He had thought that this man who held Sean like a lover would know. The look in Eric's eyes, ranging from desperation, to anger and more then a little pain disappeared quickly as it had come, his hands removing Elijah's.
"It wouldn't do to send you home with more injuries after Liv did such a job in sewing them up," Eric ran his fingers soothingly along the backs of his hands. "No, Sean has not said anything to me, but I knew something had changed. If I had not thought he was simply tired of my touch then maybe I would have pushed a little more to find out what was wrong." He smiled ruefully at Elijah, making him feel a little better for the slip up he had made. "Even the best of us can read it all wrong, yes?"
Elijah nodded, feeling a little the same. To think he had thought Eric an enemy against him.
"These are your rooms?" he asked, changing the subject. With the can of worms now open it would be up to Sean and Eric to sort it out, Elijah had his own things to talk with Sean about.
"Rooms is a little much, it's more like 'room'. And yes, it is."
"You didn't take me home?" Elijah looked around in interest, there seemed to be another two barrels of that drink Eric and Viggo had been drinking on the night his joke had gone haywire, plus a few personal affects. A sword beside the bed in easy reach, his bear cape hanging against the wall. A leather bound book on a small table.
"No, I thought I'd bring you here to take advantage of you." At Elijah's horrified look, pronounced by his obvious injuries, Eric hurriedly changed track. "Actually, you were quiet insistent in your delirious state that we not take you back, and with everywhere else so crazy with the party, I brought you here. Is Orli the only Kitten with a sense of humour?"
"There is a time for jokes," Elijah tried to sound cold and affronted, but was failing against his own amusement and Eric's bright smile. "Now was not it. I'm going to have to teach you about this aren't I?"
"You can try," the grin was a little cheeky, "Viggo's been trying for years. You're all just too stuffy for my unique humour."
"I'm sure you have it the wrong way around," Elijah managed with a yawn, looking a little accusingly at Eric. "What exactly was in that concoction you gave me?"
"Don't blame me," Eric helped him lie back down, "Liv says you have to sleep more. Don't worry, I watered it down so you wouldn't sleep for too long. You will have been missed."
"I will?" realising how childish he must sound Elijah wanted to take back the words, especially when Eric had said he'd fought well. That he'd been brave. But Eric simply nodded, giving him another smile, and moving to leave. "Wait!" Elijah yelped, face reddening, "you can lie down too, if you want."
Eric's whole face blossomed and Elijah suddenly didn't feel silly for asking. He didn't take off his clothes, laying down in front of him, dwarfing Elijah with his shear size alone. Elijah reached out, careful not to jar his injuries, taking Eric's hand in his own, letting his eye close, feeling content after so much uncertainty.
---
As promised Elijah woke only a few hours later. Liv was not happy, but could get by with only scolding both of them. Still, she smiled, patting Elijah's arm in her absentminded motherly fashion, telling them both that Leo's body was to be sent home, with a letter of displeasure from the Caliph. Everyone would know swiftly the penalty for mistreating one of the slaves in his household.
Elijah shared a smile with Eric, grateful that the kind Bear beside him would not get into any trouble over this. Still, Elijah was surprised when he was asked if he wanted to see the body before it left but said yes without really knowing what he should do.
Other then Ahmed, Elijah had not seen another dead man. Leo's head still remained on its shoulders, which Elijah found, in some detached way, to be horribly disappointing. The weird angle of the neck and the fear filled look on his face was a comfort though. He had died knowing that what he had done too Elijah was the worst thing he could have. That his life was of even less importance then his supposedly disgraced brother. Elijah felt anything other then disgraced.
Looking at the man he had thought as a friend and brother Elijah felt nothing but contempt for him. He spat in the face of the corpse, watching for a moment as it rolled down the lifeless skin, feeling Ahmed's memory set free before turning to Eric who waited for him at the door. There was a twinkling of delight in his eye as he waited for him to join him.
"Come on, the Kittens should know of the strong little lion they have in their midst."
Elijah had to walk slowly, but he couldn't deny the feeling of happiness that spread through him at Eric's words. Still, he managed a look of haughtiness that made Eric, who Elijah was sure never actually stopped smiling, grin even more.
"You do and I'll be telling them about what a bear cub you really are."
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Mel
go to PART 80