Welcome back guys! I can't believe it has already almost been a month since I started writing this. I just want to say thank you all for reading this still (Yes, it's only been 3 chapters but still xD). I want to thank everyone for their kind words too, it always brings a smile to my face when people leave me a review or favourite/follow my story. Keep up the good work reading and I'll keep up the good work writing xD.

Warning: This is a yaoi, boylove, however you want to call guy on guy.

Chapter 4 – A Not So Good Morning

How did things become like this?

I really don't understand why things have happened like this… Last night was as if I was just sitting back and watching someone toy with my body, ignoring my wishes. Is this the power of the duke? I shake my head in a vain attempt to clear my thoughts. I stop and stare at the neatly folded pile of clothing on the end table beside the bed. Beside them is a violet dress and the blonde wig I was wearing. A piece of parchment rests on top of them and I shift under the thick sheets to see what the gently sloping and elegantly written words say.

'If this is what you'd prefer.'

Heat rushes to my cheeks and angrily I lean and bat at the parchment, trying to push but that and the dress as far away as possible. I watch as is quietly flumps to the floor and scowl at it from my awkward position in the bed. Pfft, if I'd prefer! It's not like I wanted to dress like a woman! Besides that bodice was so uncomfortably tight I could hardly breathe, how do women wear them all the time?

Again I shook the thoughts from my mind, I needed to remember my purpose here. Since last night proved that I can't stand a chance of killing the duke by myself without being ensnared in that trap of his then my only option would be to try and free the women and open the castle doors for the townsmen. As of last night… It never happened. With a satisfied nod of my head I can feel my determination growing and I swing my legs off the side of the bed pushing myself to stand up and ignoring the lack of any kind of clothing my body has. As I straighten a searing ache surges up my spine from my hips stealing my breath at its suddenness. I blink though the ache as it dies down to a dull throb. Why is it that as soon as I've decided that last night didn't happen I'm left with this constant reminder of everything?

I take a breath and carefully pull on the men's clothing on, trying not to aggravate the throbbing of my hips any more. Just as I get the dark breeches on a light knock at the door has me freeze in my tracks. Is that the duke come to check up on me? Before I even have time to think up a plan the door slowly opens and as I suspected the duke enters. His long purple hair loose and cascading over his shoulders and his dressed almost as well as when I first met him just without the tail coat. In his hands is a small silver tray and from the smell I assume it carries a slice of smoked salmon and freshly baked bread underneath the sliver lid. Also on the tray was a small silver pitcher and drinking chalice. From the pitcher small curls of steam rose faded into the air. I could feel my stomach growl rather than hear it at the sweet scents of warm milk and honey.

The duke seemed surprised to see me up but his expression quickly changed to a soft smile. Behind my ribs my heart picked up its pace a little and my cheeks flooded with heat as the thoughts of last night inconveniently erupted in my mind. Quickly I glanced away, I didn't want to be trapped in that spell of his again. I'll never be able to escape if he catches me again. A gentle tug on my hair catches my attention and I jump to find the taller man stood next to me, his fingers toying with a lock of my blue hair.

"As I thought, your real hair is much better." He murmurs, leaning to sniff the hair in his fingers. I lurch sideways away from him, grabbing at the hair he had just had a hold of. "W-What are you doing?" My voice is unsteady and an octave or two higher than normal as my face flushes. He stares at me, now obviously surprised. I watch him straighten my gaze meeting his amethyst eyes as confusion works its way onto his face. Slowly his hands comes up to touch my cheek and I'm unable to do anything other than flinch away. However the movement seemed to be enough for the duke and his expression darkens. After another moment for staring at me he turns on his heels and is gone from the room before I can even voice a thought.

What was all that about? Last night he seemed to have no issues with touching me. Has he finally just realised that I am actually a man? Was last night just a slip of his judgement? A way to punish me for trying to kill him? Confused, I found myself sitting on the bed my knees tucked under my chin and the tray of food beside me. Absently I pick at the warm bread and salmon, however the moment the taste reaches me my thoughts are cast aside and I hungrily wolf down the food. I pour a generous helping of milk and honey into the chalice and heartily drink it down. I had realised just how hungry or thirsty I was earlier and the food and drink was certainly a welcome luxury. Leaning back against the headboard of the large four-post canopy bed I sigh and close my eyes. Feeling happily warm and full I now need to work out a plan and since it seems the duke won't be bothering with me today I should be able to find out where all the woman are being kept and free them without him noticing.

Okay, first thing first, I need to get out of this room and find my way around this castle. Surely it can't be that big. As I slip off the bed my eyes catch sight of a thin strip of fabric poking out from between the pillows. Pulling it out I realise exactly what it is and heat rushes to my cheeks once again. It's the duke's hair tie that now lies so innocently over my fingers. Did I pull it out last night or did he? I don't remember but the fact that it's here now is yet another reminder of the events that unfolded last night against my will. Didn't the duke have his hair loose when he came in earlier, could it be that he had been intending to get this back when he came in before?

A smile slowly creeps onto my face. This is perfect… I can use this as an excuse to be wandering around. I can claim to have been wanting to return it to him if I happen to see him or anyone who works in this castle. I push the ribbon in the pocket on the breeches and move to pull the linen shirt over my head, then pull each boot on folding the tops down over themselves. Never have I worn such a style of shoe. Sure I've seen them worn by others but they are normally people with a lot more influence than I have. Looking down at myself I'd almost consider myself one of the wealthier people in this land. As I though the grandeur doesn't really suit me.

With a sigh I smooth out the shirt a little before setting my shoulders and striding towards the door. I press myself against the door to listen. After a while of no sound I pull away and release the breath I hadn't realised I'd be holding. Slowly I pull the door open peering down the long corridor in either direction. Like the room I woke up in the hallway is of exquisite taste. A patterned red carpet running down the middle with even space away from the wall on either side. Opposite me the wall is covered in ceiling high arching windows looking down into a courtyard garden. A main central path cuts across the middle and few smaller paths wind out into various parts of the greenery. Shimmering in the sunlight a small pond ripples with the bright colours of its residents. There are so many different coloured flowers and plants, more than I've ever seen anywhere. I pull my gaze away from the awe inspiring display of colour and cast it up towards the stone made heights of the other end of the castle. Above the two storeys of the building a large circular tower extends three storeys high with the top storey seemingly walled with several windows like the one I'm looking out of.

Will I actually be able to find my way around this place before nightfall let alone before the duke notices? I swallow and clamp my jaw. I have to at least try, the townsfolk are counting on me. I turn my back on the window and glance down the corridor in either direction. Which way do I start? I don't even remember the moving from the doors I'd entered in. Left or right?

I look left. Tinker. Right. Tailor.

Solider, sailor.

Rich man, poor man.

Begger man,

Thief!

Right it is. I turn towards the right taking one last look down the corridor as I turn my back on it and begin carefully along the red carpet. The lack of sound worries me and as I leave the windows behind the thickening darkness clings to my skin. A dim orange light flickers around the corner just ahead and as I peak around the wall I make out another corridor. The walls are dotted with several flickering touches and in between them are a few large wooden doors just like the one from the room I was in. I move out of the darkness and into the dull light, comforted oddly by the faint crackles of the flames that cast dancing shadows on the walls. Perhaps these are all the spare rooms of this castle. Curiously I listen against one of the doors. Nothing. I gingerly push it open and glance around the room. As I thought it's almost the same as the room I was just in except there are no windows. Instead a large chandelier hung from the ceiling playing host to several thick candles although their flames have long since been extinguished. I close the door quietly, dismissing the other doors as being the same and continue along the hallway. It isn't long before I reach another corner although this one is different from the previous corner.

The corridor around the corner is once again lit by large arching windows looking down on the courtyard again. I must have crossed from one side of the building to the other. If that was the case then the intricately decorated spiralling staircase must lead to the tower I'd seen from the other side. Which also meant the stairs to get to the lower floors were on the left hand wing. I should have gone left, although… is it not always said that those in need of rescuing are in the highest room of the tallest tower awaiting for someone to save them. I can't not look, if the townswomen are really up there then I rather find them first, one of them will surely know their way around this place.

Steeling myself I move towards the stairs and slowly begin to climb upwards. The space is too small for torches and the darkness quickly closes in after the first few turns and I have to stop to allow my eyes to adjust to the gloom. For some reason my heart is pounding as if it knows something I don't, the thought alone is enough to give me chills. Taking a deep breath and trying to gain control over my racing heart I push forward, my eyes fixed on the stone steps under my feet as I climb higher.

Warmth soon begins to fill the small dark space and a faint light slowly begins to brighten the darkness with each step. I lift my gaze as dark brown wooden floor comes into view and a short, curved, torch-lit corridor stretches away from stairs. Around the bed I can just make out part of the wall at the end of the corridor. There must be a door around that bend. Biting my lip I edge off the stairs onto the wooden floor which creaks in protest, as if warning me back. I take another tentative step forward and the wooden boards remain silently anticipating my next step. I swallow and continue creep towards the end of the corridor. Again the flooring groans it's warning, threatening to alert anyone nearby of my presence. It's only then that I full realise the predicament I've put myself in. If I've been followed there is nowhere for me to escape. I've trapped myself again.

I need to figure out what's ahead of me in case anyone come up the stairs after me. I really don't want to be caught so early. Forcing myself forwards as quietly as the floor will allow me to I make my way around the bend to see a wooden door slightly ajar. I edge towards it, holding my breath as I glance through the gap and into the room on the other side. Rows upon rows of books line the visible walls and a roaring open fire is framed by a large carved wood mantle. In front of the fire was a small, long table with two plush looking chairs.

I froze as I took in the shape of the duke sitting in one of the chairs. Several book splayed on the end of the table in front of him and a book open in his hands. His hair was still loose and in the sort time I've been stood here it has fallen from behind his shoulder and onto the pages of the book he's studying several times. Each time his expression darkened a little before he flicked it back, the motions growing more and more irritated. He must be used to having it pulled back like the first time we met. In the flickering light of the fire and between the irritations with his hair, his expression seems worried. I stay and watch him for a while, feeling safer knowing that he hadn't heard my approach. There was no denying the handsome traits to his appearance and the worry and irritation only seemed to make him seem more human.

No! I don't have time to be watching him! He's no human, he's a beast parading as a human. I need to get back to escaping. I turn away from the door and hurriedly before the duke decides he's done with reading head back along the creaking wooden corridor to the silent safety of the stairs and rush down them, not caring to let my eyes adjust to the sudden darkness. I can't explain it but my heart is pounding at the thought of him finding me watching him. If he were to catch me something like last night will happen, I know it will! I can't risk that! He can't touch me like that again! I can't-

My foot lands on nothing and my entire body lurches forward off the step I'd been on.

I'm falling and I can't see where.

My hands reach out in vain to grab something to stop myself with, nothing but air rushes though my fingers.

I close my eyes and the sound of my own voice echoes my fear back to me…

I'm sorry this one's late guys. I've been really busy the last couple of days planning my move to Ireland. I managed to get half this chapter written before Thursday and then never got the chance to continue until now. Since it was late I made it a little long to make it up to you guys.

I hope you enjoyed it and are looking forward to see how Kaito will get out of his new cliché predicament (if it's cliché at all that is xD). Hope to see you all in the next chapter which I hope to get out on time.

Thanks for waiting and reading ^^.