Just to clarify: At this point in history Finland was still a large region of Sweden, and I realised this mistake that I keep writing Finland. It should historically just be Eastern Sweden, but since I know most of you have never read Swedish history, I'll let that be. But I still want you all to keep that in mind.

Secondly, I know this update happened much sooner than I expected it to be, but I'm delaying my next with a week since I want to post the sequel for BBI instead. Yes, I am cross-writing in a most hysterical way, and I'll try to keep my updates in such a way that you will never need to ask too many questions about either storylines. Thankfully, I have gotten done with at least 2/3 of the outline for the sequel (Blood, Distance, Devotion).

Until next time then!

~Shitza

Blood, Love, Hunger

Chapter 4

You hurry through this silent town,

like a fox chasing a hare.

Tino suddenly yelped as the man bent down slightly and kissed him. Firm thin lips landed on his own. At first Tino wanted to struggle, but he felt he couldn't. And he relaxed into the kiss.

Seconds passed and he soon forgot that he was kissing a stranger. Despite the fact that something within him screamed that this was all wrong, his body didn't seem to want to acknowledge it.

Because the man could kiss.

It started slowly. At first his lips simply touched his, teasingly as if to tempt him into the dark oblivion. Then slowly more pressure was applied, and Tino felt his tongue poke him, begging for entrance. Tino opened his mouth slightly, and the stranger took this as his invitation to further dwelve into those sinful feelings that now stirred within the two of them. Tino knew it was wrong, but he didn't want it to end. He would gladly have stayed like this for the rest of the night.

The young Finn was powerless but to abide by this stranger's commands.

The taller man held him close, his heat was most welcoming as Tino didn't wear his coat and the Finn clung on to the heat, pulling himself closer to the kiss. He felt the taller man explore the insides of his mouth, and mimic movements that the young man had only dreamt about with shadowed figures.

Maybe he had been one of them.

The kiss gradually became more heated, as did other regions of their bodies. Tino could feel the man's growing arousal, as his own did. He wanted more, he was almost desperate for the heat. He was cold, so cold and only this man could warm him.

The man backed slightly, and Tino got a good look of his rescuer. The man towered above him by half a head at least. Tino stared back into the man's greenish blue eyes. The man had a gaze that was frightening, and it made Tino's knees weak. But his gaze was still gentle, to the verge of caring. He was blond, much like himself.

The stranger leaned down again for yet another kiss. This time Tino didn't even think about it, but allowed himself to be touched. The stranger's hands moved over his shoulders, down his back and up again to hold him firm into the kiss. Tino equally felt his kisser. His hands lay on the stranger's chest, and he could feel the strong muscles beneath.

The kisses travelled further down. Tino gasped as the stranger started to kiss the side of his mouth, down his jaw and to his neck. The young Finn gasped as the stranger kisses on his pulse. The stranger man sucked on it, in a way that made Tino wonder what else he was capable of. What else could this man do to make him feel like he had reached heaven? His heart beat rapidly. His breathing quickened.

Then suddenly it all stopped.

Tino's knees hit the ground as the man suddenly let go of him. The taller man steadily walked back, eyes widened as if something had shocked him. Then before Tino could fathom what was happening, the strange tall man was gone.

And there wasn't a trace left of him.

Tino's hand slowly travelled up to touch his now kiss-bruised lips. His body felt hot, his flesh wanted to continue what had happened. But his mind gradually cleared and after a minute his first coherent thought hit him.

What had just happened? Why did I willingly kiss a stranger?

-000-

The next day the sun shone brightly. It awoke him, and Tino groaned as one of the butlers entered with a change of clothes.

"Good morning Sir, I urge that you must change. Mr Vanhanen is waiting for you in the classroom."

Tino groaned. He was usually a morning person, but for some reason he felt so sleepy.

"Please, Sir. You mustn't keep your teacher waiting. Later, your mother has requested for you to visit her."

"Mother has?"

"Yes, regarding yesterday. She doesn't seem too happy with your manners."

Tino paled.

"Wha-what happened yesterday?"

His butler bowed.

"I wish I could answer that myself, but we're all curious. It is not often we have found our Sirs on the front steps after he's disappeared for hours. Half dressed and dirty as a peasant as well."

Tino shook his head, as his head as the memories of the night resurfaced and he remembered why he was so tired. He remembered Ilmari's attempts to kidnap him, for the purpose of bailing himself out. Tino didn't find he was angry though, after all Ilmari had done it for love, that had to count for something. Then it had been the beggars, and the little girls. That did make him feel much better for his excuses. He had made some people's lives much better. And then it had been...

Tino fought a blush, and utterly failed.

"Is anything the matter, sir?" his butler asked.

Tino shook his head.

"No, nothing." he answered and started to get dressed. His butler helped with holding the many layers for him, and to fix smaller details, but Tino preferred to dress himself.

The last touches were a pair of golden cuff-links and a quick brush on his shoulders. His butler had to help him put on the cuffs, which was somehow hard to do one-handed. Tino also put the cross he had received from the old woman in his pocket.

"There, all done. Now, you must be of sir. Your teacher awaits you."

"What about breakfast?"

"I am afraid your mother has instructed the kitchen to not serve you this morning. She is not very happy about your performance yesterday, and she wants you to see this as punishment."

Tino sighed. He hated being hungry "Thank you, Mr Mäkeläinen."

The man nodded and bowed quickly as Tino stepped into the hall and steered towards the classroom. He passed his mother's chamber, where the door was closed meaning his mother was still resting.

Tino wished he could return to bed as well, but life is rarely fair.

Tino soon found himself in the familiar room that was now his classroom. It once had been his playroom, but as he had grown older the toys had been removed and today there were mainly books, a desk and a few mirrors for when he was forced to attend dance lessons.

"Ah, good to see you awake." Mr Vanhanen said with a smile. Tino yawned when he entered.

"Good morning, sir." Tino said, in a lower voice than normal.

"Well, I can see you are tired and to be honest I am a bit under the weather myself."

"Oh, I am sorry." Tino apologised, figuring Mr Vanhanen had been among those forced outside to look for him.

"Oh, it has nothing to do with your little adventures, from what I hear you were gone for some time. No, I had the evening off and visited a sister of mine But it's cold, and some of the cold dug through my coat. But don't worry, the doctor gave me some medicine so I'll be fine soon. Still, I get the feeling we could take it easy. Books away."

Tino nodded and smiled. He put his large book of Russian poetry away and straightened in his seat.

The morning didn't feel like a lesson at all. Mr Vanhanen did look very tired, so they spent the hours discussing trade politics and trade prices at the docks. Tino thoroughly enjoyed himself. The chat was light-hearted and Mr Vanhanen didn't quiz him or anything of the sort.

Their light chat was interrupted at noon with the breakfast bell sounding. Mr Vanhanen dismissed the class, and asked for Tino to continue his studies on his own, by reading the last years trade documents his father had received from his peers in Russia and to translate them into Swedish for him.

Tino didn't fancy extra work, but that's what you get when lessons are slow. And he would have all afternoon to do it. But, his mind couldn't somehow focus on it and before he exited the classroom he turned to ask.

"Mr Vanhanen, sir. Can I ask, what do you know about the poor?"

"The poor? What brought this up?"

"Tonight, I took a walk throughout Turku. There was several people who had nothing, and I have not noticed how little they seem to have. I know it's been brought up, but why aren't we helping them more? I mean, we have these lavish feasts and we never have to worry about food or warmth."

Mr Vanhanen shook his head.

"Tino, Tino. Do not trouble yourself with that. They are matters best left for others."

"For whom, then?"

"For the king maybe, but I doubt he truly cares. For God most likely, but there will always be those who are poor, so that some, like yourself, can be rich."

"But is that fair?"

"Are you God, by any chance Tino? Life isn't fair, but we live and know this. If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about it, and be happy with the birth that God blessed you with."

"But..."

"Enough Tino. You better hurry and get something to eat."

Tino nodded and stepped into the hall, where Mr Virtanen, the main butler, waited for him.

"Sir Väinämöinen, your mother is expecting you to accompany her for breakfast. From what I gather, she wishes to speak with you."

"Thank you, Mr Virtanen. Where is she?"

"The smaller dining room, sir."

-000-

The Väinämöinen was a pretty large mansion, with many rooms and chambers. It certainly was no castle, but it was large and had all the luxurious and comforts of the century. The most important rooms were heated with stoves, so the temperatures were kept warmer than the outdoors. There were young boys from town who had been hired to keep the fires lit all day long, and loads of firewood to last all winter.

The smaller dining room was situated close to his mother's chamber. His mother rarely spent much time around the house. Usually you would find her in her personal chamber, the smaller dining room, where she would usually eat or the saloon, where she'd be tended by the maids and a few of the ladies that would come to accompany her. She had married into the family when his father had been looking for a wife, and found one among an old business partner. His partner had, by good ties, decided that they'd wed and tie the families together. Tino truly hated this about the nobility. There were no feelings or emotions involved. Only business or social standards. His mother had taken command of the household, nearly chased his old grandmother out, and now dominated the house with her personal decisions.

Tino loved his mother, but he feared her. She had made it firm that she dictated his life, but Tino wanted something more than being yet another pawn. Maybe this is why his parents could never get along.

They were simply equally stubborn.

Tino knocked thrice, before his mother's soft words told him to enter. And so he did.

The table was lined with caviar, different types of meats, bread, butter, cheeses, fish and sauces. It would have any poor man's mouth water and think they'd gone to heaven.

His mother was sitting by the end of the table and nibbled on a small piece of bread with some butter and caviar. Tino helped himself with several dishes, but he too ate quite sparely. His mother barely touched the food, and Tino wondered what would happen with this was over.

There was an uncomfortable silence as they ate. Tino didn't know what to say, he felt like his mother was quite alien to him. But he felt like he needed to break the ice somehow.

"Mother..."

His mother put down the bread she was nibbling on, and looked intensely into his eyes.

"Yes, my son."

"A-about last night."

His mother stared at him. It wasn't a glare, but it might as well be one. There was something almost hurtful in her eyes, as well as anger.

"I have never been so humiliated in my life." his mother said simply. "I had plans to introduce you to old Sverkersson's daughter, but when I sent for you I was told you couldn't be found. And the man has ties with the royal family Tino, the royalties themselves. It could have been your entire future."

She kept a firm gaze on him.

"Where were you? What was so important that you had to leave?"

Tino was nervous. He was sure his mother wouldn't find this easy to grasp.

"I was... I was out in town."

"In town?"

"Yes, Ilmari..." he paled, realising his mother did not like him talking to normal people, but the damage was done. "Ilmari asked me to come with him. Said he needed some help."

"And?"

Tino couldn't lie, he had never been good at it. His grandmother had warned him that liars went to hell.

"He took me to a hostel. He, he loves one of the girls there, but he owed the matron money. So, so he asked me to help out."

"And, did you?"

Tino felt like fainting.

"I... I did."

"Tino!" her voice was harsh, and unforgiving. To his mother, whores were the worst kind of people.

"I left straight after that." Tino tried, but it was too late.

"You paid whores! Tino, how... the very shame!" his mother stood up and groaned.

"Th... That's not all." Tino said, knowing he was in deep trouble.

"Really.." his mother said, in horror.

"I... I got lost and ended up in an alley. I met... I met some of the poorer. I gave them some money, and my coat."

Her exprssion changed from anger to complete loss. She gasped, but couldn't find words. Then she clearly boomed to one of the butlers:

"Ge my husband! Now!" she ordered.

Tino and his mother waited in silence, then his father arrived and he didn't seem pleased.

"You called, Aino. Make it quick, I leave in a few hours. I have business in town."

"Your business stands here." Tino's mother said sternly. "Tino, tell him what you told me."

And Tino did, a faster rendition and a little less stuttering. When he finished his father crossed his arms, and stared at him. But to Tino's surprise, his gaze quickly diverted to his mother.

"You called me over for this? Aino, I give our child money to do what he wishes, and clearly he is no boy and smart enough to put his money to things that could bring good causes. Tino, you may go, I will not scold you. I see nothing wrong with helping others, but don't make it into a habit. We work just as hard to earn our money, and if we gave it all away we'd work even for less than a maid."

Tino nodded and walked out, but he left the door ajar and listened to his parents arguing.

"The boy is a disgrace! Showering his money over peasants and whores, he's a disgrace for the entire kingdom!"

"Will you stop it, Aino! I don't care about your stupid attempts of buying yourself a crown, because you will not corrupt my son with your stupid fantasies."

"Fantasies, how dare you!"

"You need to wake up, and you have no excuse about whoring. I know what happens in this house when I leave. Haven't you had several lovers already while I've been gone?"

"What... who told you that? Which servant, I shall fire them all on the spot!"

"You shall not, this is my original home and not yours. Besides, it wasn't a servant, it was one of the poor men you cast aside when his dick wasn't big enough for you."

Tino heard a crash as something was thrown.

"HOW DARE YOU!"

"I DARE!" his father roared back. "I am tired of you running this household like a puppetry. Open your eyes woman, and notice how the world is changing. It's much bigger than this little theatre that you run. The crown is losing power, our king is a fool and puppet of greater times. People are talking Aino, they want Finland to stand on its own."

"What monstrosity!"

"It's the world, woman. You should try to experience it slightly, before your brain starts to rot."

There was another crash, right at the door. Tino jumped in surprise, and hurried away before either his father or mother started to check the hallway.

Tino fled back to his room, and closed the door behind him. He climbed into his bed and simply lay there. He was worried, his father's words didn't help him either. All his life he had felt safe, but what if his father was right? What if Finland would stand on his own. Where would that put him?

He lay there for seemingly hours. He somehow fell asleep, and woke to find the moon shining through his window. He checked his watch, it was only 4 pm, so he hadn't missed dinner.

Not that it truly mattered.

He sat down, tried to get his work down, but found he couldn't concentrate at all. Everything that had happened these last 24h seemed to haunt him.

He needed air.

He grabbed one of his coats, this was a grey one that another of his friends had given him to sneak out in, it was less noticeable than his usual garments. Still, he wore fancier boots than the most, but the coat would allow him to blend in with the crowds.

He needed to talk to someone. His mother was absolutely out of the question, and his father was most likely not to be seen for a while. But he had another friend he could go to.

Tino opened his large window. As a kid he used to climb the vines to escape on occasion to talk to the stars. He knew now that stars weren't the souls of the dead, but maybe heaven was there somewhere.

"Wish me luck, grandma." he whispered as he started to climb down. The ivy had thicker branches and he was quite light. Slowly, he climbed down and then hurried away from the mansion. He knew he would get in trouble for this later, but right now it wasn't important at all.

The air was chilly, but he didn't care. He needed to find his friend, he would most likely be at the tavern by the docks.

Little did he notice the shadowy figure that watched him, barely noticeable in the faint light of the moon.

-000-

You hurry through this silent town,

like a fox chasing a hare.

-000-

A/N: I hate putting God into my stories so often. It's not like I feel bad about talking about it, but every time I do I feel as if someone will turn away from the story for religious references. And for the fact that God can be different depending on culture and religion. We're not all Protestant Christian after all, as most of my interpretations go.

Ps: As my friendly reviewer reminded me, I never mentioned exactly how old Tino is. Finland/Tino's birthday is in December 6, which makes him somewhat older than 16. In short, he is quite young. This has been added in the first chapter, if you want to check for yourself. Thank you so much, Rylee Wyatt!

Trivia:

Poverty: Sweden was very different in the 18th century from now. A very, very small part of Sweden were nobles, but more commonly you were farmers and a small population lived in the cities. The 18th century was sadly printed by bad harvest, which lead to mass starvations in both Sweden and Finland. This story takes place in the town, where I didn't want to show the same level of poverty, as more classes exist here than outside, but it was often not luxurious.