BLOOD/Night
(Opening Theme – "Heaven in the Hell" by Mizuki Nana)
Chapter 6 – I Promise
The Infinity HQ Hideaway House – a sanctuary to survivors and victims of the Church's twisted endeavors.
Located in the center of operations' northernmost parts, the arena-sized edifice harbors people who've been torn from their homes, or have had their homes torn from them… The unspeakable nightmares they've experienced throughout their "individual eras of trials" could very well send a sound man to a mental institute. The nail-biting horrors that these people previously witnessed makes my grandfather's campfire stories seem like meager fairytales. Much like my current situation, their eyes were opened to the truth – vampires are far from being the glorified products of numerous writers' penmanship.
One can understand "why" the Church would want to prey upon these kindhearted innocents.
Look at them – they glow with life and vitality. Slave drivers and predators enjoy the pleasures of hunting "live game", and the thrill of the pursuit sends them into a frenzied state. Some aren't even old enough to morally bare children, yet even the pleasures of virginity have been robbed from them. These men, women and children are living proof that the Church and Lord Valdo von Dracula's cause is eons away from being "just".
"This is your dorm room, DC. I hope you like it."
Father Andrew unlocks the door to the selected dormitory, opens it up and allows Damien to see a neat and tidy studio-sized setup. My boy walks into the living area of the dorm room, being fascinated by its color coding and interior designing.
"Oh, well this is a quaint little resting place", my boy seems to be pleased with his temporary living arrangements, having been placed in 'the Maximum Security Ward' of the Hideaway House. My boy ventures to the bedroom, takes the tidiest bed as his own, and rests his bottom for a spell. It feels good – finally having a nice, comfy mattress to help him relax his nerves. "Ah… This mattress feels like heaven."
"Good to see you've grown to like the little place, DC" the wise and suave Scottish informant approaches my boy, having a seat right next to him. Drew places his strong left arm around Damien's shoulders, fathering him with kind words. "Now don't you hesitate to call me, boy. I've got to perform 'some procedures' on you to start you up on my training program in the morning. Your roommate will be here in a few minutes… Until then, get some shuteye, little fella. We don't want you returning to Stu with crow's feet."
The mentioning of the word "procedures" has my boy a little antsy.
"Um…did you just say 'procedures'?" asks my boy with a nervous titter.
"Nanomachines. In order for my technology to work, you have to have the proper nanomachines in your system, or the equipment won't work for you. It's a painless operation and there're no side effects whatsoever."
"No side effects, you say?"
"My scientific expertise has all national governments knocking at my doorstep", Father Andrew lays Damien's back against the comfy mattress, resting my boy's head on a soft pillow. For the first time, Sweets gazes into the entrancing eyes of a nightwalker… Damien is instantly placed under a deep, deep psychological spell. Drew's voice sounds like a gentle whisper, almost like a dream. "Close your eyes, Damien. I promise – when you wake up, you will think yourself…to be living in a dream."
"Drew…I'm not…tired…yet…"
"Rest your head, boy…rest your head…"
Damien's consciousness fades in deep, peaceful and quiet slumber. The seasoned nightwalker sits up from my boy, leaving Damien with a gentle caressing of his long and silky mane.
Father Andrew stands from the mattress, excuses himself from Damien's dorm, and locks the door on his way out. The nightwalker runs into a young adult Englishman of Senegalese descent, heading west towards Infinity HQ's main building. The young man just so happens to be the mad scientist's apprentice.
"Mr. N'Dour, how're things going in the lab?"
"Just fine, sir", answers the young man with a rough English accent.
"Have you began restoration on the Methuselahs' circuitry?"
"First thing done, Father Andrew."
"Good, good. Your new roommate's resting, so don't bother him. He's very important to Infinity, and I want you to play nice with him during his stay with us. He'll only be here for a few days."
"Oh…he's just a temp?" the young man seems to be hurt by the notion.
"Don't get all sour-faced, puppy. When you become a full-fledged scientist, you'll be able to travel with me out of the headquarters. For now, just enjoy your stay here. I know what it's like – I was once a shy lad myself."
"Okay…well, goodnight, sir", the young apprentice departs from his mentor, receiving the nightwalker's suave smile as a parting gesture.
Father Andrew departs from the Hideaway House with an uneasy disposition.
The Scottish informant comes to a halt in front of the entrance of the edifice, looking up to what appears to be the image of a man in a trench coat and matching hat hovering in midair.
"How's my nephew, Drew?"
"The little kitten's doing just fine, Al", the informant recognizes the man's voice as belonging to Damien's infamous kinsman. "Glad to see you've finally decided to show your face after all this time."
"…When can I see him? I have so much to apologize about."
"In due time, old friend. Don't meditate on it – after my experiment–"
"You're planning to experiment on my nephew?" the Crusnik's eyes glow with a faint crimson light, signaling the displeasure of hearing his friend's intentions. "He's not some guinea pig for your madman's games, Drew. If you so much as harm a single hair on his head, I'll decorate the pavement with your lifeblood."
"This is just like you, Al… For Christ's sake, what ya being so anxious for, ya old goat? Besides, my 'madman's games' worked on you…didn't they?"
The infamous Crusnik folds his arms, recalling the experiment that helped him to control his bloodlust.
"I thought so, old friend", Father Andrew can see behind the dark veil of his bestfriend's silhouette, and is amused by Alexander's moral conceding. "Trust me, Al. I would never, ever hurt the little lad. I'd take my own life before I claimed his… Our friendship's that strong – stronger than it was when I first met him. He doesn't remember me…but I held that little angel when he was no older than six months. If I've got to go as far as experimentation to help him, well…that's just something that'll have to be done to the best of my abilities."
Being the stubborn old fool that he is, the eccentric Lord Alexander concedes to Drew's scientific motives…but not without a hint of doubt.
"Do right by my nephew…and I won't have to claim your life", the infamous Crusnik spreads his batwings and ascends into the moonlit night sky.
"Ooh…that little threat had me shaking in my loafers", the sarcastic child of the night continues his venture towards his apartment, located in the westernmost parts of Infinity HQ.
My confrontation with the Adored Siblings has reached a level of intensity…that I wasn't mentally or physically prepared for.
The nightmarish twins' synchronized front is spellbinding – a rhythmic array of athleticism, inhuman dexterity, incredible endurance, monstrous bodily strength, and mesmerizing supernatural muscle… All are delivered with deadly precision. Their existence of the wind, Jagged Edge, prevents me from activating Paradise City… I can't find a large enough time interval between their synchronized attack patterns – it's as if they're coming from everywhere!
Then again…maybe I could somehow… Yes, I've got it!
"Is that all you've got? Hit me as hard as you possibly can, you sissies!"
My graceful display of arrogance rouses the airborne extremists. The Adored Siblings separate from each other, dancing through the air like preying vultures upon gathered airstreams.
"Ooh, looks like somebody just grew a set", Jonathan soars through the air, rollerblading across the clear airstreams with the greatest of ease. The nimble extremists leap from their airstreams, joining their adjacent hands, whilst skating down towards my grounded body. "If you want to die so badly, then we're more than honored to take you out of your misery, abomination!"
"Say your prayers, Bennett!" seconds the equally excited Joshua.
Yes, that's it… Get angry with me – use your existence to push me away!
The twins aim their remote fists at my grounded body, unleashing a powerful maelstrom from their opening palms… Perfect! Just what I needed – a one-way ticket to sudden victory!
"Die…!" the excited twins know not what they're just done.
I needed a large enough time interval to activate Paradise City's territory… The twins' anger has sent forth a repulsing wind that'll give me enough time to summon my existence…at full power.
I hold my forearms in front of my body, shielding myself with what appears to be…a protective field of sunlight? What on earth is this…? Is…Paradise City protecting me, whilst I'm being viciously carried away by Jagged Edge's unforgiving wind?
Forget it… It doesn't matter. I've gained enough space, so now's the time!
"Expand! Paradise City!" my territory of the sun spreads from my airborne frame, covering an astounding 1000-meter radius expansion area. The Adored Siblings are caught within my sunny Purgatory, being physically prostrated by the supernatural pressure of the metaphysical world. My body comes to a skidding halt, and I'm pretty damn lucky to still be wearing my slacks and dress shoes. That landing could've peeled the skin clear off of my feet. "Well, that was one hell of a 'party', boys. I must say – I had quite the smashing time engaging in this little dance of ours. However, our dance of death's about to come to 'a bloody grand finale'."
"What…have you…done to us?" Jonathan is leveled to his hands and knees by the sunlight.
"Where's this…light coming from?" Joshua feels his skin suffering minor burns.
I take the liberty of explaining what Paradise City's mentally telling me.
"This light is a gateway for 'a very special someone' to come and say 'hello' to you. She's been meaning to take all of your pain away with a warm, and discomforting hug."
"What the fuck are you talking about…?" swears the annoyed Joshua.
"Make some kind of sense, fool!"
"Well, maybe I should let her explain it to you first hand… Come forth, Cruel Angelica!"
A golden interdimensional gateway of sunlight opens before my body, allowing a beautiful maiden of the sun to soar forth on flaming dove's wings. The twins look upon the frightening image of Cruel Angelica's shining beauty, and are unable to escape from her reaping arms of a death. Jonathan and Joshua are embraced by Cruel Angelica…and are burned to a cinder.
"AAH…!" the twins' resonant screams light the night sky, awakening the bodies of my slumbering friends.
Natalie sits up in bed, looking out of her window to see a sunlit night sky.
Theodore is alerted by a window-shaped golden light shining on the wall in front of him, sitting up in bed to see his girlfriend approaching the hotel room's opened pane. He joins her, looking down at the Astoria's parking lot to see the image of two burning bodies within Cruel Angelica's flaming embrace. Stephen and Raj beholds the same ghastly image, and my friends simultaneously feel an equal amount of amazement.
The flaming maiden releases the incinerated bodies, returning to the world beyond her sunlit gateway… The cremated bloodsuckers' death may cost our company a small penny, but nothing more than that. Disposable employees are of little worth to the cheeky bastards working in the headquarters of this cutthroat business.
Then again, those buffoons haven't tasted the cold steel of the reaper's scythe just yet… I'll explain that in a minute to my friends, who are already leaping from their balconies to join me in the parking lot.
Natalie, Theodore, Stephen and Yuvraj come to a soft landing, being carried safely to their feet by a gentle wind. I turn on my heel to face them upon their arrival.
"Well, it took you long enough", I initiate the conversation with witty commentary.
"Stu, don't tell me these guys are–?" Steve is impressed with what he sees lying behind me in a smoking, cremated pile. Everyone recognizes the image of the Adored Twins' true identity. "The Adored Twins…are the Usos? And you killed them just like that, in less than 3 minutes…?"
I love it when I get the ginger boy going. Seeing him like this is downright funny, but now's not the time for meaningless laughter. I guess I can explain a little of what's transpired.
"Sorry, but these are mere corpses now… Their souls have been sent elsewhere – somewhere inside of my existence's 'second Purgatory'."
"A second Purgatory?" everyone appears to be fascinated, especially Father Yuvraj. "Stuart, how did you manage to obtain a second Purgatory in such a short span of time?"
"You said it best, Raj – I used 'my anger and sadness' to my advantage, and 'my Cruel Angelica' came forth. They seemed pitiful to me, and all pitiful souls should be comforted with 'warm embrace'."
Natalie remembers the rumors about Paradise City – the stories of the existence of the sun that possesses several unique supernatural traits.
"The second Purgatory – a trait found exclusively in the repertoire of sun existence users. It is said that the Cruel Angelica is a manifestation of Mother Mary, and her flaming aureole's so powerful that it can fry a bloodsucker to a crisp. However, she only frees the embraced of the darkness inside of their hearts, leaves behind 'a corrupted corpse', and returns to the world beyond her sunlit gate to recreate the embraced into good souls. Jonathan and Joshua aren't dead – they're being reborn to fit the perfect image of God's people. That's the reason behind the name 'Cruel Angelica' – the embraced is forced to be cleansed by a holy sunlit flame."
"So, the Lord's old lady came out of a sunlit portal and hugged the bastards to glory?" my favorite ginger bud's pretty tickled by the notion – the Cruel Angelica's bizarre healing power. "Ha! Leave it to Stu to possess such a strange existence."
"Are we being jealous now, old man?"
"Not on your life, fella. If anything, I'm pretty damn proud of you… We all knew you had it in ya, bro."
"Yes, well… I guess I've surprised myself tonight. I'm feeling a bit sluggish now. I think I'll return to my room for the evening. Oh, before the thought leaves me, are we still up for that outing, Raj?"
"Of course", confirms my new friend with a delighted smile.
"I'm looking forward to it. For some peculiar reason, my tummy's aching for bacon after seeing all of that… I bid you all goodnight."
We separate for the evening with the usual "goodnights" and "have sweet dreams" talk, as the corrupted corpses are reduced to a cremated ash. A gentle wind passes by, carrying the ashes away within its cruel breeze of irony… It's amazing how karma works its magic – the Adored Siblings were users of the wind, and that very same gale does the honors of guiding their impure ashes to an unknown final resting place.
("So…he's my new roommate?") N'Dour entered his dorm a little over 10 minutes ago, and has since been eying my sleeping boy. Curious and slightly nervous in nature, N'Dour keeps a few meters of distance between him and his new roommate. He sits down on his mattress, gently kicking off his work shoes. N'Dour allows his feet to breathe, but his eyes become fixated on my boy's image, examining Damien's buxom frame. ("Yikes! He must workout a lot… I wish I had that kind of figure. I'm about as skinny as a twig.")
Damien tosses in his bed, turning his back to N'Dour's curious vision.
The young man examines my boy's bottom, being impressed with its muscular and plump build.
("Whoa! You could play a bloody drum solo on that thing! Geez… What does he eat to get a backyard like that?")
"Are you going to stare at me all night?" N'Dour's nearly startled out of his wits by the sound of my boy's drowsy voice. Damien sits up in bed, wiping the nocturnal glare from his eyes. N'Dour's breathing stutters in awe of how beautiful my boy's profile is. My cute little brown sugar beams a gentle, somnolent grin at the apprentice. "You should learn to be more quiet, dear. It's rather late to be making a ruckus."
"I'm sorry about that… Oh, how rude of me. My name's Youssou N'Dour – Father Andrew's apprentice and a liberated Gideonite. I wish we could've met on better terms than this."
"Charmed, dear. My name's Damien Crosse – I'm a friend of Infinity HQ, currently under the supervision of your mentor. He says he has a few 'experiments' to perform on me before we begin my training… I'm not so sure about this – letting a senile old man stick nanomachines in me. I'm kind of uneasy."
"Father Andrew's a genius, Damien. You're in good hands with him."
"Yes, well…despite your noisiness, it's still a pleasure to meet you", my boy's always been lenient with others, ignoring small mistakes and looking at 'the bigger picture'. Damien sees that N'Dour's a very polite young man, and that he's mindful of his mistakes and victories… That's a plus in Sweets' book of merits. However, as if it weren't expected, Brother N'Dour's eyes have yet to leave my boy's cute profile. "What's wrong, Brother N'Dour? Do I have a zit on my face?"
Brother N'Dour adorably flushes, bashfully turning his back to my boy's image.
"Oh, um…no…you're face…is just fine and…pretty", my boy stands up from his bed, walks up to the young man and begins teasing the Senegalese native.
Damien moves his lips close to Brother N'Dour's right ear, making the young man's hormones race ferociously. With a simple light blow to the eardrum, the apprentice is comically knocked backwards into my boy's arms… That has to be the cutest, if not silliest display of male inhibition my boy's seen in quite some time.
"Well, you're quite the excitable one", my boy's tickled by Brother N'Dour's shy nature.
"So…pretty…" the boy faints, unable to take the intensity of his attraction to my beautiful lover.
"Funny – you remind me of Stuey when I first met him. He was quite the bashful little kissy-faced brute. Don't you worry, Brother N'Dour… As far as I'm concerned, you're all right with me. Let's be off to bed now, dear."
Damien helps the young man to his bed, covering him with his comforter. The air conditioning unit's been switched on, and a warm blanket will be needed to keep Brother N'Dour from catching a cold… My boy's already catering to the young man like a protective elder brother.
Damien's found himself a new friend – a bashful English apprentice of Senegalese descent. Damien adores the wary types. My boy extended that little detail to me when I first met him, and I slowly grew out of my rosy-cheeked personality with time… Still, Damien doesn't realize how lucky he is to meet Brother N'Dour.
Brother N'Dour may not look like he could… but he's going to save my boy's life one day.
"The Adored Siblings were…killed?" the King can't believe the news that his informant, White Album – the Chanter of Elegies, has just reported to him in person. The hooded clergyman is knelt before his king, humbly explaining the disturbing testaments of "several watchful eyes'. The King calms down, impressed by the muscle his former wife has gathered up during the past 500 years. "Katherine… She was always the luckier one out of us. I guess I shouldn't be as surprised as I am right now, but I just can't believe it… Little Thrill and D. Remedy – they were defeated by a fledgling half-bred rat?"
"It's not too hard to believe, your excellency. Lord Jonathan also possessed an existence of the sun, but his was much more powerful than Mr. Bennett's."
"If his existence is so weak, then why did two of the Church's best clergyman fall so quickly?"
"It appears that his vampire instincts are very advanced, and his in-ring experience only adds more fuel to his flaming fighting sense", White Album receives a resentful stare from the King, but remains cool-headed in the face of such a dangerous man. The handsome bloodsucker looks into the eyes of the angered royal with an emotionless stare, much to the King's annoyance. "I hope you're not too disturbed by this. The Church's doing the very best it can to protect both you and Lord Valdo from Infinity's blasphemous wrath."
"Sometimes, I really doubt that, Father Christian. I'm starting to become annoyed with these repeated failures… You clergyman have done nothing but disappoint me. Stop sending out weaklings – I want to see positive results from your next move, and I won't tolerate any more failures! …Is that understood, Father Christian?"
"Crystal clear, your excellency", the well-mannered clergyman rises to his feet, remembering that he has a match tonight in Willington. He looks at his wristwatch, realizing that it's almost time for us to be headed over the road to the next house show. "2:33 PM already? I guess I better get a move on, your excellency. I've a job to do this evening that requires me to step from behind the commentator's table."
"I thought you were planning to retire soon, old man."
"Retire, you say? …Well, that'd take all the fun out of my job. I think I'll wait another year before I decide to hang up my ring gear. Besides, it's a great stress reliever – smashing the skulls of human competitors."
The King is tickled by the wise bloodsucker's stubborn personality. Father Christian has yet to lose his competitor's spirit, especially since he has a lot of loose energy to work off. His hunger for action surpasses his age, though he still appears as he did 500 years ago.
"If you feel up to the challenge, you have my blessings", the King wishes his informant well.
"Thank you, your excellency. I'll be on my way now."
"Godspeed, old boy", Father Christian bows to his King, and excuses himself from Henry's throne room.
Henry of Aldington despises the transpired events… Little Thrill and D. Remedy were like sons to him. It was the King himself that trained the twins to use their existence of the wind, Jagged Edge, with such deadly precision. The King's cruel conditioning made the boys two of the most feared members of the Church, but my inexperienced existence miraculously took them out in less than 3 minutes. Henry of Aldington just can't comprehended it – the Adored Siblings' chances of victory were so much higher than mine.
The King remembers my lineage, and reflects on the situation.
("Frederic's blood was of a very powerful class, and it appears as if the fledgling's inherited that very same power – the dreaded existence of the sun… Still, Jonathan was no match for my Dark Side Moon. I know how to defeat that half-bred eyesore – take away his sunlight, and leave him covered in darkness… He's sure to fall into my hands, his identity being erased in the process… Yes… He will become my slave, just as his infamous ancestor did those precious 500 years ago.")
A set of black dress shoes sound from the King's right, catching the old nightwalker's attention. King Henry smiles at the sight of his slave, who stands obscured by the darkness of the halls leading to the eastern wing.
"…When can I see them, old boy?" the obscured slave parts his chops, carnivorously displaying a glistening set of hungry fangs. "I want to give my son a hug… And I'd like nothing more than to hold my grandson. An old man like me can become quite lonesome, you know… It's not fair, Henry."
"Patience, heretic…you'll see them soon enough. I've done good by you, giving you a place to hide for all of these years. Please, return to your chambers and continue conditioning your dark existence."
"I've grown weary of hiding and training, your majesty", the slave's obscure existence surfaces onto his skin as a gentle, midnight-colored gale. "Be a good old boy – let me travel out of the castle sometime, Henry. I'd love to pay my children a visit sometime."
"Return to your chambers, lest you wish to be punished", the King blinks his eyes once, and the slave's already disappeared from his sight. Henry of Aldington's impressed by the supernatural muscle of the slave's 'dark existence'. The senile old fool lounges in his throne, realizing that the impure heretic will do him a lot of good in the days to come. ("Katherine… You may've gained a lot of loyal allies and friends, but they will not be able to save you from my slave's destructive existence… If you've grown to respect the fledgling's Paradise City…you'll grow to fear my Dietrich's existence of the black sun – Dark Child.")
A "Dietrich"…? What the hell is "a Dietrich"?
And did he say…"an existence of the black sun"?
Good Lord! What has that senile old geezer done to my grandfather? I may not know what's going on right now because I'm currently enjoying an outing with my friends… However, I'm sure to find out soon enough.
Infinity HQ sent us the word – Grandfather Christopher's been watching us from the darkness… For some strange reason, I can feel him protecting me from the shadows. His eyes are loving…and it feels as if I've met him somewhere before. I've yet to see his face, but that's all about to change…
…Natalie, Theodore, Stephen, Yuvraj and I are entering a local restaurant to wait for the return of my boy.
"Looks like they've gotten rid of the 'night menu' – thank God", the former queen examines the restaurant's menu, seeing that Brother Randal's work has brought an end to the human-manufactured delicacies found around Europe… Probably the entire world, for that matter. Natalie places her menu down, having picked out her order… But it appears as if the ageless beauty's heavily troubled by something. "It's been two days since Damien left, and we haven't heard a single word from him. Geez… What's that senile old fool doing to the boy – making him jump through 1-million hurdles?"
"Calm down, Babes. Father Andrew's probably got him going through simulation. The report said that Damien's nanomachines have been inserted, and–"
"Nanomachines…?" everyone is silenced by my outrage, and shoots TJ a sharp stare for running his big mouth – one of his most noticeable bad habits. "That rock-voiced old fool put fucking nanomachines in my boy's body? Wait until I see his ugly mug… I'll smash his head open!"
My strength jumps ahead of my anger, bending my fork into an L-shaped.
The guys are obviously uncomfortable with what I've just done – they're crossing their legs, making it seem as if their sex drive's just been cut in half. They try to pull a cool face, but that doesn't help them much.
Natalie, on the other hand, isn't intimidated by my anger… She's more concerned than afraid.
"Stuart, Father Andrew did that to allow his technology to work on Damien. His cybernetic and biogenetic expertise is without comparison. Watch – I'm going to send you a video of Damien's current progression."
Nattie pulls out her cellphone, looks through her text messages, and forwards a video to me.
It's received 15 seconds after she presses the SEND button.
"Take a look at it, Stu", I pull out my cellphone and look at my messages, seeing a new one from Natalie's mobile. The message is opened, and I'm instantly astounded by the footage. Natalie smiles at how impressed my reaction is. "See? I told you – he's just being conditioned. Drew would never, ever hurt the boy."
"I…can't believe what I'm seeing… This…is my boy?"
"He'll be coming back today, fella", Stephen confirms the arrival of my boy, as a lovely young waitress joins us. "Well, it's about time you arrived, miss."
"Good afternoon, my name's Adele – I'll be your waitress today", the young lady takes out a pen and a notepad to record our orders. "So, what will you be having?"
"Well…let's see…"
Stephen orders the #1 Special, Theodore and Natalie shares an order of the Seafood Platter, Yuvraj tries the #5 Special, and I try my chances with the Fisherman's Salad and Baked Chicken. We're staying away from carbonated drinks, so we each order glasses of water. After that's done, the waitress retrieves our menus and promises us a waiting period of 5 to 10 minutes.
10 minutes later, Damien didn't arrive… But, we received our meals and we did eat them.
My Fisherman's Salad was top-dollar in taste, and the Baked Chicken was so good that I ordered a second helping to take with me over the road. I had an extra 3 dollars to spare, and I'm not one to complain when it comes to treating myself to something healthy.
When I arrived back to my hotel room, my mobile's ringtone went off.
I take the call… My boy's trying to get in touch with me.
"Good afternoon, Sweets. How are you?"
"We're headed towards the Astoria to meet with you. I've finished my training."
"What did that bastard do to you? I heard something about 'nanomachines' and nearly lost my head."
"I'm fine, Daddy", my boy's tickled by my apprehension. "Calm down, Stuey… Nothing's changed about me at all. I'm still 'your boy', my handsome puppy face."
"Not from what I've seen. You looked quite frightening, love… Your skin was white and your hair was gray. Your eyes were colored with a faint crimson glow, your ears were pointed, your teeth became like hungry fangs, you had creepy wings coming out of your back… Lord, I don't know where to stop."
"That's my 'transformed state', dear", my boy giggles in amusement, and I crack a few chuckles of my own. I was frightened by the sight of Damien as a Crusnik, but I was humored by the fact that he looked like he was all dressed up for Halloween. "I'm going to be able to fight at your side now, so don't go trying to stop me. I'm capable of handling my own in and out of the ring… But, you already know that."
"Yes, you're still the undisputed 'Bed Wrestling Champion of the World' in my eyes", my fresh sense of humor makes my boy holler in laughter. Father Andrew beams a warm smile at my boy, happy to see that he's enjoying his first conversation with me as a bonified Crusnik. "So, would you like to celebrate your awakening when you get back? Just you and me? You know – the usual?"
"Do you always think about sex, you naughty little boy?"
"Just when it comes to you, Sweets. I'd make love to you for all eternity if I could."
"That's very sweet of you, Daddy. At least I know that I'm the only one turning your gears."
"Mm, yes. But, oh well… I guess 'the next best thing' should do the trick."
"What's 'the next best thing', Daddy?" my boy smiles, being unprepared for what I'm about to ask him.
"Damien, I know it's been such a short time, but…" I take a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for what I'm about to ask him.
"What is it, Stuart?"
"Damien Isaiah Crosse, will you do me the honor of becoming my life partner?"
The mood sets in for my boy.
"What did you just ask me?" his voice becomes watery with joyful tears.
"…Will you marry me, Damien?"
When those words escaped my lips, tears began falling from my boy's eyes.
The "smile that never fades" has become a tearful profile of overwhelmed happiness. It's only been a few months into our relationship, but these past two days seemed like an eternity. As a man, I've learned a valuable life lesson – one that's kept me restless for the past 48 hours…
That lesson is: "there's no way in hell or heaven for that matter…that I can be without my boy."
Take a good look at my current picture: I look like hell, I feel like shit, I haven't shaved and I've grown a handsome beard on my chin. My new growth's starting to surface, showing the soft curl in my hair. I'm usually well-groomed, clean-shaven and smooth as silk. I'm at a peak of emotion that I've never been to before in my entire life.
I haven't looked this way in over 8 years… That alone should say something about me.
"Daddy…I…" my boy's gone and lost his words.
"Just think about it, Damien", I understand his speechlessness.
"But, Stuey…I…"
"Just come home to Daddy, love. Here's how you can give me an answer without uttering a single word…"
"How do I go about doing that?" his voice lightens with curiosity.
"If you want to marry me soon, give me a kiss and make love to me… If you're not ready, give me a hug and go rest up for our trip to Willington. The choice is yours, love… I'll love you and keep you either way…because I want to be with you regardless of your decision. Understood, love?"
"Okay…" his voice has lowered with a meditative breath.
"I'll see you when you get here."
"Okay, Daddy."
"Where's my kiss?" he blows me a kiss through the phone, and Father Andrew teasingly hoots. Oh what a douchebag. "Could you tell that old fossil-lipped goat to shut his bloody pie hole?"
Damien laughs at Father Andrew, sparking up the old fart's curious pessimism.
"What's that lily-assed fairy queen saying about me?"
Damien puts me on speaker, "Tell him, Daddy."
"I said 'your mummy gave birth to a hammerhead shark', that's what."
"Oh, so I'm a hammerhead now, eh fella? Well don't get bit when treading through my waters."
"I won't 'tread' through your waters. I'll just pull out the stopper and leave you dry. Sharks can't last without their 'little swimming pool', after all."
"Oh, shut up!" the informant's playful snappiness tickles my boy.
My lover's happy… I guess it's time for me to end this call.
Besides, Father Andrew's limousine just pulled up into the Astoria's carpool. They're stepping out of the back, being assisted by a duo of helpful young bellhops… Good Lord, my boy's glorious image could make the angels sing.
"I can see you, love", my boy sheepishly giggles, seeing me wave to him from my balcony.
"Ha-ha! I'm glad you can see me, then… How do I look?"
"Hmm, how should I put this? Ah, how about, 'look out, Beyoncé'?", my boy's tickled again, flattered by my sense of humor. I share the little moment of laughter, watching him enter the Astoria with a man that I've something very important to ask. "Oh, I've something to ask Father Andrew, man-to-man…but that all depends on your decision."
"What's that?"
"Don't rush it, love. It's 'the question' that a groom-to-be asks his most trusted. Then again, Stephen's also worthy of this question… I really can't decide out of the two of them."
"Well…just think about it. I'm sure they'd be happy for you, either way."
"Well, I'm not so sure about."
"Why's that, Daddy?"
"Steve's a spoiled old brat and Drew's an argumentative scene queen. I don't think they'd drop it that easily, not even if we begged them to."
"I see… Well, we must take the positive out of the situation. I still think they'd be happy for us. I mean, sure, they'd argue about it…but at the end of the day…they'd look past it. It's not about them…it's about us, and they're far too old to be holding grudges over something that doesn't really matter."
Damien and Father Andrew arrive to an elevator, having their luggage carted by the bellboys.
"Stuey, I'm almost there. I'll meet you in a minute or two."
"Okay, love…I'll be waiting."
"I know, Daddy."
"W—here's my kiss?" I ask in a light-hearted, playful voice, making my boy giggle.
"…It's on its way, dear. Hold tight."
"Alright, Sweets."
"Smooches for my smooches", the call's ended on a light-hearted note.
A knock comes from my bedroom door.
I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the best and worst-case scenario. I know Damien, and he's not one to just jump into something blindly… I was probably stupid for asking him that question.
I open the door to see Damien standing with his luggage in hand...smiling…beautiful.
"Damien, you look very handsome…just like you always do."
"Mind helping me with these heavy things, Stuart?" I help my boy with his bags, believing this to be a flat out 'no'. I place his luggage next to the Lay-Z Boy, close the door and lock it… And turn around to the sight of Damien undressing himself, layer by layer. "…Stuey, do you remember what I told you after our first date?"
"The thought's escaped my mind, dear. The past few days have been rather rough on me."
Damien's relieved himself of his top, and begins working on his bottoms.
"Um…could you refresh my memory?" I can feel myself becoming excited, my breathing becoming heavy.
"I told you, 'I'll never break your heart', and I meant every word of that", Damien finishes unbuckling his belt, unzips his pants and allows his khakis to hit the floor. He kicks off his work shoes, turns around to me and shows me the body that gets me 'in the mood'. His voice becomes warm and entrancing. "I promise… I won't make you regret marrying me, Stuey. Of course, there're 'the little things' – I'll have a few things to learn, and I'll probably make a few mistakes… But always remember this, love: I promise…to never, ever break your heart. Now, Stuart Alexander Bennett…make love to me slow and tender – you know how I like it."
I take my boy into my arms, lifting him off of the ground by his knees using my fortified leg strength, allowing him to hold onto my shoulders… We share a kiss that leads to the bed. We passionately venture each other's jaws with our tongues, loving each other…deeply wanting each other.
We're soon undressed.
Shortly thereafter, my boy and I celebrate our engagement with an hour or two of passionate lovemaking. When we've both reached our climax, my free hand ventures underneath my pillow to pull out a ring box. He accepts the 24-karat diamond engagement ring, allowing me to place it on his left hand ring finger.
He joyfully weeps… This is what he wants – Damien truly wants to be with me…forever.
I know that this happiness will remain pure and intact, but the days to come will put the well-being of our relationship on the line… The King's become piping angry with his clergymen's work, and will settle for nothing less than positive results; therefore, he'll be dispatching clergyman that are sure to bring back the desired outcomes.
Our battles are sure to become more and more intense with each confrontation. I'd hate to think this way, but the idea's not leaving me… Some of us will probably die in the midst of battle.
I've been having nightmares about it – the sight of our friends lying in a bloody pool of death.
I'm happy about my engagement, but I'm downright horrified of what could happen to our loving circle of friendship at the same time.
Natalie, Theodore, Andrew, Stephen, Yuvraj, John, Randal, Sarona, Heath, Paul… I care about them a lot, and I want them to be in my wedding party. Of course, we'll have to even out the gender ratio to respect their lifestyle choices, but I still want them there at my side… These wonderful men and women have done nothing but show us the utmost support and respect. Their actions exude admiration, care, devotedness and humanity – and my boy's taken a liking to them.
Still, like I said before – the King's furious and, at the moment, my next attacker's watching me like a preying hawk within the endless azure.
("I cannot fail the King, for I will surely be killed if that happens"), my masked killer is obscured by a thick blanket of clouds, hidden like a preying air-bound viper. ("I take his life come the evening… Estuardo, will you be able to withstand my existence's blinding death? …What will you do, amigo? Can you possibly escape the deadly mist of the One Obscured by Clouds?")
Who is this mysterious, enigmatic clergyman?
Will he be the one to introduce me to the reaper's cold steel, or will I once again walk away victorious?
The battle to bring an end to the bloodshed continues…
(Ending Theme – "Black Diamond" by Mizuki Nana)
(Up Next: Chapter 7 – Shine On You Crazy Diamond)
