Chapter IX.
.....but it never came. Ichabod doesn't dare to seem, however, and He keeps his eyes closed, His tight lids hurts in his eyes. He wonders, desesperate, what had happened, maybe the Hessian had already ........beheaded him, maybe he was in death agony now, or maybe he had already died, Ichabod was afraid....so afraid....again nothing made any sence. Ichabod sudenly remembered the touch of the Hessian, however; so gentle, careful.....quite...soft..... Ichabod could not avoid to get excited when thinking of him; The Mercenary, The soldier. The Hessian was Beautiful, contrary to everyone else Ichabod did not saw an errant nightmare, but a desirable man. Ichabod was hungry; hungry not of food, but of the soldier's skin, of His lips, of His kisses, Ichabod felt curiosity to know what those lips would taste like, and yet He was afraid of discovering it, the Hessian could hurt Him, like He hurted Lady Tassel . and yet again he really wanted it......Him..... " Why "? Ichabod thought, quite afraid. " Why "? the question made echo in His tored mind, and Ichabod sudenly wondered why he was thinking of that, what was happening to him? And if Those thoughs were wrong....why His dreams incited Him to return to Sleepy Hollow? "You want Him!" clamored His own mind "The Hessian, you want Him" No!" yells The young man, desperate " Stop! " he screamed "I ..I dont want this..I Dont Want Him!" a fallacy, His skin and his lips were anxious of Tasting the dead man's pale skin, his strong muscles and hard flesh, His soul burned inside of him, yes, the desire was too much, His heart beat and His neck -and chest- were red for the excitement, the Hessian had probably already noticed of that...of Ichabod´s flash of arousal... ichabod felt shame. And at the same time relief.... He pushed the feelings away, and found himslef inside the bleeding tree, in front of a Dead Mercenary, sudenly the fear came back again. worse than before.
The Hessian looked to the young man with His Grey, winter eyes, to His prize,The one that returned his head to him, when he could have possessed Him, the constable could have used Him, for money or power purposes, but there was something more, Ichabod never would make something like that, His big, curious, dark eyes accused him, He was too innocent, too ...little.... and defenseless, and yet the Hessian was bewitched by His absolute beauty .
"He Wants Me!" The dark Horseman thought, only to alleviate his chest a little. The Horseman loosed his sword which makes an almost deaf metallic noise against the floor of fog and darkness. The truth was that Him, the dead mercenary, wanted the young man with such a stubbornness and insistence that it wont let him to think, The Hessian never had seen something so beautiful before, so desirable, he remembered the many lovers he had once, the young boys, the women, none of them as beautiful as this little one.
his lips trembled while his mind floated, the Hessian allowed his imagination to fly and he thought naughtily of all the things that they could make together, himself and the young man, his eyes shone with desire and lust, and suddenly the Hessian wanted to take him, the little one, He was so...beautiful.....cute....maybe even delicate... if he only knew His sweet name, to whisper it to the hearing of the night, to scream it to the Woods. the Hessian inspects his prize again, his prey, which was curled up trembling in a corner, defenseless, thin, somehow weak physically, but strong in spirit and conviction. he could take the little one, he thoguht again, he wanted him so much.
But he knew that it would be easy to break His fragile bones, to hurt him, and He certainly didnt wanted that.
the Hessian observes to his dear human's throat, it was red, His chest trembled under the clothes when breathing, The Hessian lowered his icy blue eyes even more, His flat and soft belly moved difficulty when trembling, " Delicious " whispered the Hessian, who lowers his eyes even more, the Hessian smiles a dangerous, slack..lustful, smile " Lust " the Hessian thought, when seeing that prominent..exquisite protuberance on Ichabod´s hips, the Hessian licks his thin lips with desire, His thonge touches His own sharp pointed theet.
Apparently Ichabod reallysed of that, because he blushed almost immediately. Anything could thake the Hessian away of this young male now, not now that he was so close to him. The Hessian kneels down again next to him in the soft furs, looking at Him, curious, desirous.
Ichabod feels that his cheeks and his neck warm furiously, already anything really matters now in fact, He didnt wanted to run, he didnt wanted to faint or to go away, he didnt wanted to move , Ichabod wanted to feel. and he was still afraid. Ichabod wanted to feel what he had felt int he dream..... he wanted it so much, He was embarrassed even more when he noticed that the Hessian was looking at him, The dangerous lips twisted in a sinister, but delicious smile. Ichabod trembled while the gloved fingers of the Hessian caressed his hair, his cheek, his neck , Ichabod smiles smoothly when the Hessian put his hand on his chest. Ichabod knew that it should feel bad....wrong, but it felt so well...so right.... surprised, Ichabod saw how the dead man recharged his head smoothly in his stomach, the powerful hands caressed the sides of his abdomen, his waist, provoking him naughtily tickle, making him to tremble, the Hessian felt in his cheek resounding of Ichabod´s soft belly.
The Horseman grunts to the delicious movement, Ichabod, scared by the dangerous grunt, tries to go away, but the desire is too big...and insistent.... and the Heavy Body of the Horseman wont let him go.
the young man did put his hand on the Mercenary's nape, touching his neck lightly, to his surprise, the Hessian purred pleasantly. Ichabod was still Afraid of the Horseman, dangerous Demon.
Chapter X.
"How Beautiful" The Hessian thought while He Unbuttoned the thin and fragile shirt of Ichabod...
The Horseman kisses the line of the youngest man's body..... roaring smoothly and caressing the silk skin. this was more than what he had ever dreamt. His heart is sad, however, and he stops, admiring the child, one would never think how brave he could be; the young man, not at first sigh at last; nobody could imagine how many times He had escaped from the death´s Claws. Death that the Horseman bring. the Hessian wanted to protect the little one, to take care of him, forever, to take him away from the "Real" world and....... no, no, he could not do something like that, to take Him away from the light would mean to kill him....He probably will suffer, the little one would curse Him.
Ichabod is surprised.... and afraid, the hessian seemed so pacific outside of the battle field, how is posible that this loving man can kill with His own hands? how could he enjoy the death? Ichabod grieved when feeling the winter eyes examining His skin. His mind was a mess, His heart hurted.
Ichabod allows to escape a gasp as the biggest man pulls Him in a hard and queerly sad hug; melancholic, as if it was a good-bye.
Tense, the Constable could not do anything, he could not protest, He could not move, the powerful arms were squashing him little by little. His lungs crowded together painfully against His ribs. Ichabod looked into the shades, darkness, something moved; small red eyes and strange creatures looked at Him as they blinked and malicious horselaughs were heard. Ichabod was really scared now, his body tremble, what horrors waited for him next to that cruel man? Ichabod wanted to run, but the stone arms impeded it. His heart was about to give.Ichabod presses his lids painfully.
" Shh " Whispers the Dark Horseman to the young man. Ichabod breathes deep and finds comfort in that penetrating sound, burying his face in the powerful neck Ichabod Crane allows to escape bitter tears, silent tears that had remained hide-and-seek inside him since he was a child. The hand of the Hessian caresses his black hair smoothly as the wings of a raven. The Horseman grunts in his hearing, biting his ear carefully, alleviating the pain with his expert thongue. The dead man's Breathing was warm in the neck of Ichabod.
The Hessian closes its eyes enjoying the sensation to be loved, a previously unknown sensation. it was so beautiful.
It was obvious what the Horseman wanted, Ichabod could not hide it to Himself anymore.
The young Man didn't pay attention to his mind and surrounds the mercenary's neck with one of his arms, resting the other one in the hard thigh of the Hessian who purrs to the touch, like before, provoking Him exquisitely.
Ichabod sudenly kissed the Dead Man´s neck, soft, affectionately, loving, as if he really felt something for the Hessian ...besides lust...
the Hessian could feel the excitement of Ichabod against his own.
The Horseman becomes playful then, The Hessian smiles smoothly and he breathes deep... " ..Naughty...Boy..."....he whispers dangerously in the hearing of Ichabod, Ichabod laughs smoothly as he tries to undo the belt of the Hessian, the Horseman groans pleased. the Hessian could not believe how young and little Ichabod was; how fragile His lover was. The Horseman moaned softly, how warm Ichabod was, how little and beautiful.
Ichabod never thought that the Hessian could be so seductive.....
.... Ichabod opens His eyes Sudenly and moves away from the Hessian, he had realized what he had been doing a few moments ago...how could he?, Ichabod brushed his lips, the insistent sensation of the skin of the Hessian was still there, something was happening to him, he would never have made something like. The Horseman's touch had changed him in some way. and that place..... horrible, awful, dark....it was, without a doubt the tree of the dead...... the scent to innocent blood pointed out the precence of the death. And then he looks at the Horseman; Horrible errant Nightmare, sharp teeth, horrible winter eyes, the wild hair and the pale, dead skin; thin lips and a neuter expression, wen looking at him, at last.
.....Vaguely desirable.....
What have He done to Him? what the horseman did to his mind? it was all a lie, Dark Magic, a spell.
Chapter XI.
The Hessian extends His hand to caress the youngest man's cheek, but he retires, scared and afraid. Curling up far from him, crying confused. The heart of the Hessian is broken, and it falls little by little in pieces inside him. what was left of his human soul is tored, and him, the mercenary, cry and grunt bitterly, he knew that the young man would never correspond him, but why did it happened so soon? Ichabod had loved him for a while...a few, lovely minutes. why it had to finish? was this part of His condemnation?! his grunts, full with fury and bitterness become pitiful wailings of pain like those of a wounded and dying beast, the stomach of Ichabod staggers with fear but his heart beats with compassion and fondness, wanting to calm down in some way the fury or at last the pain of that inhuman creature, The Hessian seems really wounded, sincerely sad, Ichabod tries to controll himself but he feels too guilty. It was his fault after all, wasnt it?
The Hessian cries in silence.... shaming himself for being so weak.
Daredevil´s neighs are lisened in the Darkness, his Master is Wounded, but he could not do anything, for this was not a Battle or War.
Ichabod comes closer a little and hugs the dead horseman slowly, the dead man feels the blame for the fact that Ichabod fears him, and he grunts furious, moving away of the young man, pushing Him away from him at the same time. The Constable never would accept him, He never would be with him, how silly he had been when believing the opposite, how stupid He was when clinging to so unlikely hope!, The Hessian feels defeated.
Ichabod remembers then how careful the mercenary had been with him, how many times he had maintained him alive, the deadly grace of the killer; he also remembered how sure he felt in His big powerful arms, how calm...maybe Ichabod had been a fool...but he felt safe with him. He revoked the dreams that he had had, he knew then that the Hessian made him dream, he remembered His miserable life and he wanted to forget. After remembering His Father´s alcoholism ans fake fate, and after dreaming of His Mother´s cruel dead, to be with a dead mercenary did not seemed to be a bad idea.
The Hessian grunted and roared furious in front of him, standing up, imposing, his terrible madness is evident, Ichabod understood then why all they feared that man, He Was, without a doubt, the fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse, that one that the prophecies hid. So terrible He was.
seeing him there, implacable and powerful, Ichabod knew that the Hessian could have forced him easily; but he didn't , on the contrary, he tried to seduce him, and although Ichabod denied, he had achieved it. The shame burns inside Ichabod, and He wondered if the horseman had felt the same once.
The Hessian roars loudly and.. of a bubbling of blood, Daredevil, the black and infernal steed emerges; The Hessian mounts, the rage is reflected in his face, the fury and the deseption in His Cold eyes.
the Hessian rides toward Ichabod who is still curled up in the darkness,
The mercenary offers his enormous, gloved hand, Ichabod could not refuse, he would only infuriate the Hessian even more. And he pray for it not to happen.
Ichabod, with fear, takes the offered hand and ascends to the imposing steed, before the horseman, who closes him suddenly with his powerful arm, protecting him of falling and avoiding at the same time any chance to run away.
the Hessian grunts again and the imposing Horse jogs toward a scar in the tree that opens up and twistes, Ichabod closes his dark eyes and the possessive hand around him pushes even more against his thin, little body, Ichabod listens the scream of the souls in pain, and also the horseman's roar, he feels little hands that cling to him for finally allowing him to go, and he listens the sound of the blood, the macabre bubbling, an infernal music.
And then the helmets of Daredevil collide heavily against the fragile land, the floor of the woods, without stopping an instant the Steed runs to full gallop by the Western Woods, Ichabod listens the soft, loving whisper of the Hessian in his hearing and he dares to open his eyes, the trees seem to go and to come while Daredevil advances as a thunder in the cold night. Ichabod clings to the Hessian when He glimpses a trunk that would probably hit them. The Hessian pulls the reins violently, the Steed squeaks, Ichabod is....as anyone can guess.... about to faint, the young man sees how the world moves and suddenly stops, and he can glimpse the armor of the Hessian and looking to the front he can appreciate the enormous head of the steed, and if he looked to his side he could see the woods, the trees.
Ichabod, afraid, looks to the skies and reallyses how the storm follows the Hessian, the clouds whirl, following him among the woods, the trees seem to move to his furious step, and suddenly all the small beasts are gone, the birds fly runing from him and only the Crows & Ravens flyes to His side.
Ichabod was amazed of the Mercenary's tremendous power over the woods and its creatures......
Chapter XII.
the trees whirled horribly around them, the young constable felt a harrowing knot in the stomach, and the constant sensation of the fainting.
the world stopped suddenly, the Hessian seemed so calm, too calm, imposing, mysterious, nobody knew anything about him, and He seemed to be the punishment of the gods for the world´s Sins, an errant nightmare that razed with everything.
Daredevil neighed and that horrible cry returned Ichabod to the reality, taking Him off his Dreamland. the blows of his hooves resonated trough the Western Woods like a cry of death.
the trees surrounded the unusual team, the night seemed infinite, Ichabod prayed for dawn to come, He was terrified. the enormous ghost, on the other hand, enjoyed the little show that the fear of that young one represented. the ghastly smile faded of His face, giving place to a silent seriousness, silent as always. pushing the youngest man away, the Horseman forced him to fall of the Horse. Ichabod looked at the Hessian, doubtful and suppliant, from his small Kingdom of the powder: the floor. the Hessian forced himself and His monstrous face to not showing compassion, and He points out with His head ....a path... Ichabod stands up and shakes the powder of his clothes, buttoning the shirt that still remained open for the eyes of the Hessian.
Ichabod watched the path...it was not too long, neither too short. a small hill descended and it took directly to the dismal Sleepy Hollow, the town caught in the claws of the magic and the sorcery. lit homes in the distance. the small town seemed in peace without the ghastly horseman's monstrous precence.
Ichabod denied with the head,undoubtedly he didn't wanted to return to the town, the nightmares would pursue him again.
" Fool "! thought the mercenary, he was furious, but his gaze of Ice didn't changed at all. the youngest man's eyes were suppliant, He a fatuous child, just like the horseman was a Fatuous Man. the Hessian roared like a beast and attacked Ichabod showing His sharp teeth and bleeding gums. Ichabod was afraid, but he didn't run like the Hessian hoped, he was immobile -and openmouthed-, but he didn't ran afraid.
The hessian should make him return, if not he will be corromped with his own evil. The Hessian grunted again, a more potent growl...
but there was another grunt there besides His own... the empty eyes were narrowed when locating His prey, and of the branches of a near tree a black beast rushed against the young man. It was a grotesque and enormous wolf, it attacked Ichabod with clever claws and teeth ready to quarter him.
The Hessian didn't recognized the creature. The steed neighed, the Horseman roared and his dammed sword crossed the neck of the Wolf throwing the body far away and even more far the head. the decapitated body attacked the Hessian, this didn't surprised the mercenary at all, He was used to fight and ride with no head Himself, Daredevil jogged against the creature while His master crossed the back of the Beast with the hand axe, impaling him with the Sword just to make sure it was dead. the beast didn't rised again,its wounds were cauterised, and it became ashes that dragged the wind. Nobody will hurt the young man again. not while His shade of pale skin and winter eyes was after him. Ichabod was under his protection and the whole woods knew it.
the hessian turned around and saw the boy. Ichabod saw the wound and the blood on his hand, the desperation didnt let him to think, he looked at the Horseman for some instants before falling unconcious again.
Chapter XIII
The Hessian tranquilized Daredevil and cursed himself with his own and peculiar language. What to do? he thought. should he take the boy to the town? there he could be assisted properly, but it was very dangerous, somebody could see them, a curse more for the Hessian, and the young child would be call " profane ", "basphemer" and would be hated by the other ones.
Another quick and desperate Decision. It was done, the boy would come with him.
The Hessian not even dismounted, leaning a little and extending His enormous and powerful arm, the horseman holded Ichabod and placed him in front of Him on the horse, Daredevil puffed and whimpered while the Hessian pressed the young man's wound to avoid the excesive loss of blood.
The Horseman really wanted to push Ichabod away of his corruption, but he didn't have any options, if he abandoned him, he would Die, and if he took him to the town to all gallop, people would hate and fear him and them would refuse to help him.
damned the hour the boy fixed his look on him.
when one has been dead everything is so different. the Hessian remembered his horrible fear to get old, to be useless and weak, and now that that fear had left forever it felt so well, he have not been so afraid to die. he had died on battle, and he had returned, and he had retaliated, and he had found something - somebody - more valuable than the gold and the blood that they paid him to be a mercenary under their services.
suddenly everything was Not so bad.
Draufgänger neighed and turned around, and ran fast like a Devil to the forest, tramping the decapitated and seemingly dead body of the enormous Wolf.
the legends disapear with the time, but His legend, the Hessian thought, it would last forever, through the centuries, he would make sure of it, he would appear andwould ride near the town, laughing like a Devil, haunting the townspeople, perhaps he would behead some fool that dare to enter His woods, the western woods, the Hessian was not willing to being forgotten, unless it was very necessary.
Chapter XIV a Ride on the Western Woods.
The Hessian was so proud of the young man, so proud of what He had done for Him, so much that the Pride filled His chest with joy while he pressed Ichabod against His pale and cold dead body.
while the Hessian rode he usualy sighed, and the whole western woods sighed with him, melancholy.
The trees seemed to lean of a side to other while the Horseman's icy chest swelled in a deep sigh, the animals suddenly were silent and listened, the silence was total, the cold wind ran to the rhythm of the lungs of the Hessian, and the snow began to fall smoothly.
The grass and fallen leaves moved and they flew while their master - now the Lord of the Forests - aspired the cold air, satisfied of himself, arrogant as always.
The clouds whirled in the sky over their heads while the errant nightmare of Winter eyes exhaled the same cold air finishing a sigh.
Draufgänger jogged happily, and when seeing all so gray and sad as himself, a smile -hardly visible- was drawn in the Dead Mercenary's face.
Everything was so Perfect.
when feeling the cold wind hurting His skin, Ichabod Crane curled up more near to the Hessian, clinging to His armor with his small, pale hands.
Oh yes, Everything was so Perfect.
.....but it never came. Ichabod doesn't dare to seem, however, and He keeps his eyes closed, His tight lids hurts in his eyes. He wonders, desesperate, what had happened, maybe the Hessian had already ........beheaded him, maybe he was in death agony now, or maybe he had already died, Ichabod was afraid....so afraid....again nothing made any sence. Ichabod sudenly remembered the touch of the Hessian, however; so gentle, careful.....quite...soft..... Ichabod could not avoid to get excited when thinking of him; The Mercenary, The soldier. The Hessian was Beautiful, contrary to everyone else Ichabod did not saw an errant nightmare, but a desirable man. Ichabod was hungry; hungry not of food, but of the soldier's skin, of His lips, of His kisses, Ichabod felt curiosity to know what those lips would taste like, and yet He was afraid of discovering it, the Hessian could hurt Him, like He hurted Lady Tassel . and yet again he really wanted it......Him..... " Why "? Ichabod thought, quite afraid. " Why "? the question made echo in His tored mind, and Ichabod sudenly wondered why he was thinking of that, what was happening to him? And if Those thoughs were wrong....why His dreams incited Him to return to Sleepy Hollow? "You want Him!" clamored His own mind "The Hessian, you want Him" No!" yells The young man, desperate " Stop! " he screamed "I ..I dont want this..I Dont Want Him!" a fallacy, His skin and his lips were anxious of Tasting the dead man's pale skin, his strong muscles and hard flesh, His soul burned inside of him, yes, the desire was too much, His heart beat and His neck -and chest- were red for the excitement, the Hessian had probably already noticed of that...of Ichabod´s flash of arousal... ichabod felt shame. And at the same time relief.... He pushed the feelings away, and found himslef inside the bleeding tree, in front of a Dead Mercenary, sudenly the fear came back again. worse than before.
The Hessian looked to the young man with His Grey, winter eyes, to His prize,The one that returned his head to him, when he could have possessed Him, the constable could have used Him, for money or power purposes, but there was something more, Ichabod never would make something like that, His big, curious, dark eyes accused him, He was too innocent, too ...little.... and defenseless, and yet the Hessian was bewitched by His absolute beauty .
"He Wants Me!" The dark Horseman thought, only to alleviate his chest a little. The Horseman loosed his sword which makes an almost deaf metallic noise against the floor of fog and darkness. The truth was that Him, the dead mercenary, wanted the young man with such a stubbornness and insistence that it wont let him to think, The Hessian never had seen something so beautiful before, so desirable, he remembered the many lovers he had once, the young boys, the women, none of them as beautiful as this little one.
his lips trembled while his mind floated, the Hessian allowed his imagination to fly and he thought naughtily of all the things that they could make together, himself and the young man, his eyes shone with desire and lust, and suddenly the Hessian wanted to take him, the little one, He was so...beautiful.....cute....maybe even delicate... if he only knew His sweet name, to whisper it to the hearing of the night, to scream it to the Woods. the Hessian inspects his prize again, his prey, which was curled up trembling in a corner, defenseless, thin, somehow weak physically, but strong in spirit and conviction. he could take the little one, he thoguht again, he wanted him so much.
But he knew that it would be easy to break His fragile bones, to hurt him, and He certainly didnt wanted that.
the Hessian observes to his dear human's throat, it was red, His chest trembled under the clothes when breathing, The Hessian lowered his icy blue eyes even more, His flat and soft belly moved difficulty when trembling, " Delicious " whispered the Hessian, who lowers his eyes even more, the Hessian smiles a dangerous, slack..lustful, smile " Lust " the Hessian thought, when seeing that prominent..exquisite protuberance on Ichabod´s hips, the Hessian licks his thin lips with desire, His thonge touches His own sharp pointed theet.
Apparently Ichabod reallysed of that, because he blushed almost immediately. Anything could thake the Hessian away of this young male now, not now that he was so close to him. The Hessian kneels down again next to him in the soft furs, looking at Him, curious, desirous.
Ichabod feels that his cheeks and his neck warm furiously, already anything really matters now in fact, He didnt wanted to run, he didnt wanted to faint or to go away, he didnt wanted to move , Ichabod wanted to feel. and he was still afraid. Ichabod wanted to feel what he had felt int he dream..... he wanted it so much, He was embarrassed even more when he noticed that the Hessian was looking at him, The dangerous lips twisted in a sinister, but delicious smile. Ichabod trembled while the gloved fingers of the Hessian caressed his hair, his cheek, his neck , Ichabod smiles smoothly when the Hessian put his hand on his chest. Ichabod knew that it should feel bad....wrong, but it felt so well...so right.... surprised, Ichabod saw how the dead man recharged his head smoothly in his stomach, the powerful hands caressed the sides of his abdomen, his waist, provoking him naughtily tickle, making him to tremble, the Hessian felt in his cheek resounding of Ichabod´s soft belly.
The Horseman grunts to the delicious movement, Ichabod, scared by the dangerous grunt, tries to go away, but the desire is too big...and insistent.... and the Heavy Body of the Horseman wont let him go.
the young man did put his hand on the Mercenary's nape, touching his neck lightly, to his surprise, the Hessian purred pleasantly. Ichabod was still Afraid of the Horseman, dangerous Demon.
Chapter X.
"How Beautiful" The Hessian thought while He Unbuttoned the thin and fragile shirt of Ichabod...
The Horseman kisses the line of the youngest man's body..... roaring smoothly and caressing the silk skin. this was more than what he had ever dreamt. His heart is sad, however, and he stops, admiring the child, one would never think how brave he could be; the young man, not at first sigh at last; nobody could imagine how many times He had escaped from the death´s Claws. Death that the Horseman bring. the Hessian wanted to protect the little one, to take care of him, forever, to take him away from the "Real" world and....... no, no, he could not do something like that, to take Him away from the light would mean to kill him....He probably will suffer, the little one would curse Him.
Ichabod is surprised.... and afraid, the hessian seemed so pacific outside of the battle field, how is posible that this loving man can kill with His own hands? how could he enjoy the death? Ichabod grieved when feeling the winter eyes examining His skin. His mind was a mess, His heart hurted.
Ichabod allows to escape a gasp as the biggest man pulls Him in a hard and queerly sad hug; melancholic, as if it was a good-bye.
Tense, the Constable could not do anything, he could not protest, He could not move, the powerful arms were squashing him little by little. His lungs crowded together painfully against His ribs. Ichabod looked into the shades, darkness, something moved; small red eyes and strange creatures looked at Him as they blinked and malicious horselaughs were heard. Ichabod was really scared now, his body tremble, what horrors waited for him next to that cruel man? Ichabod wanted to run, but the stone arms impeded it. His heart was about to give.Ichabod presses his lids painfully.
" Shh " Whispers the Dark Horseman to the young man. Ichabod breathes deep and finds comfort in that penetrating sound, burying his face in the powerful neck Ichabod Crane allows to escape bitter tears, silent tears that had remained hide-and-seek inside him since he was a child. The hand of the Hessian caresses his black hair smoothly as the wings of a raven. The Horseman grunts in his hearing, biting his ear carefully, alleviating the pain with his expert thongue. The dead man's Breathing was warm in the neck of Ichabod.
The Hessian closes its eyes enjoying the sensation to be loved, a previously unknown sensation. it was so beautiful.
It was obvious what the Horseman wanted, Ichabod could not hide it to Himself anymore.
The young Man didn't pay attention to his mind and surrounds the mercenary's neck with one of his arms, resting the other one in the hard thigh of the Hessian who purrs to the touch, like before, provoking Him exquisitely.
Ichabod sudenly kissed the Dead Man´s neck, soft, affectionately, loving, as if he really felt something for the Hessian ...besides lust...
the Hessian could feel the excitement of Ichabod against his own.
The Horseman becomes playful then, The Hessian smiles smoothly and he breathes deep... " ..Naughty...Boy..."....he whispers dangerously in the hearing of Ichabod, Ichabod laughs smoothly as he tries to undo the belt of the Hessian, the Horseman groans pleased. the Hessian could not believe how young and little Ichabod was; how fragile His lover was. The Horseman moaned softly, how warm Ichabod was, how little and beautiful.
Ichabod never thought that the Hessian could be so seductive.....
.... Ichabod opens His eyes Sudenly and moves away from the Hessian, he had realized what he had been doing a few moments ago...how could he?, Ichabod brushed his lips, the insistent sensation of the skin of the Hessian was still there, something was happening to him, he would never have made something like. The Horseman's touch had changed him in some way. and that place..... horrible, awful, dark....it was, without a doubt the tree of the dead...... the scent to innocent blood pointed out the precence of the death. And then he looks at the Horseman; Horrible errant Nightmare, sharp teeth, horrible winter eyes, the wild hair and the pale, dead skin; thin lips and a neuter expression, wen looking at him, at last.
.....Vaguely desirable.....
What have He done to Him? what the horseman did to his mind? it was all a lie, Dark Magic, a spell.
Chapter XI.
The Hessian extends His hand to caress the youngest man's cheek, but he retires, scared and afraid. Curling up far from him, crying confused. The heart of the Hessian is broken, and it falls little by little in pieces inside him. what was left of his human soul is tored, and him, the mercenary, cry and grunt bitterly, he knew that the young man would never correspond him, but why did it happened so soon? Ichabod had loved him for a while...a few, lovely minutes. why it had to finish? was this part of His condemnation?! his grunts, full with fury and bitterness become pitiful wailings of pain like those of a wounded and dying beast, the stomach of Ichabod staggers with fear but his heart beats with compassion and fondness, wanting to calm down in some way the fury or at last the pain of that inhuman creature, The Hessian seems really wounded, sincerely sad, Ichabod tries to controll himself but he feels too guilty. It was his fault after all, wasnt it?
The Hessian cries in silence.... shaming himself for being so weak.
Daredevil´s neighs are lisened in the Darkness, his Master is Wounded, but he could not do anything, for this was not a Battle or War.
Ichabod comes closer a little and hugs the dead horseman slowly, the dead man feels the blame for the fact that Ichabod fears him, and he grunts furious, moving away of the young man, pushing Him away from him at the same time. The Constable never would accept him, He never would be with him, how silly he had been when believing the opposite, how stupid He was when clinging to so unlikely hope!, The Hessian feels defeated.
Ichabod remembers then how careful the mercenary had been with him, how many times he had maintained him alive, the deadly grace of the killer; he also remembered how sure he felt in His big powerful arms, how calm...maybe Ichabod had been a fool...but he felt safe with him. He revoked the dreams that he had had, he knew then that the Hessian made him dream, he remembered His miserable life and he wanted to forget. After remembering His Father´s alcoholism ans fake fate, and after dreaming of His Mother´s cruel dead, to be with a dead mercenary did not seemed to be a bad idea.
The Hessian grunted and roared furious in front of him, standing up, imposing, his terrible madness is evident, Ichabod understood then why all they feared that man, He Was, without a doubt, the fifth Horseman of the Apocalypse, that one that the prophecies hid. So terrible He was.
seeing him there, implacable and powerful, Ichabod knew that the Hessian could have forced him easily; but he didn't , on the contrary, he tried to seduce him, and although Ichabod denied, he had achieved it. The shame burns inside Ichabod, and He wondered if the horseman had felt the same once.
The Hessian roars loudly and.. of a bubbling of blood, Daredevil, the black and infernal steed emerges; The Hessian mounts, the rage is reflected in his face, the fury and the deseption in His Cold eyes.
the Hessian rides toward Ichabod who is still curled up in the darkness,
The mercenary offers his enormous, gloved hand, Ichabod could not refuse, he would only infuriate the Hessian even more. And he pray for it not to happen.
Ichabod, with fear, takes the offered hand and ascends to the imposing steed, before the horseman, who closes him suddenly with his powerful arm, protecting him of falling and avoiding at the same time any chance to run away.
the Hessian grunts again and the imposing Horse jogs toward a scar in the tree that opens up and twistes, Ichabod closes his dark eyes and the possessive hand around him pushes even more against his thin, little body, Ichabod listens the scream of the souls in pain, and also the horseman's roar, he feels little hands that cling to him for finally allowing him to go, and he listens the sound of the blood, the macabre bubbling, an infernal music.
And then the helmets of Daredevil collide heavily against the fragile land, the floor of the woods, without stopping an instant the Steed runs to full gallop by the Western Woods, Ichabod listens the soft, loving whisper of the Hessian in his hearing and he dares to open his eyes, the trees seem to go and to come while Daredevil advances as a thunder in the cold night. Ichabod clings to the Hessian when He glimpses a trunk that would probably hit them. The Hessian pulls the reins violently, the Steed squeaks, Ichabod is....as anyone can guess.... about to faint, the young man sees how the world moves and suddenly stops, and he can glimpse the armor of the Hessian and looking to the front he can appreciate the enormous head of the steed, and if he looked to his side he could see the woods, the trees.
Ichabod, afraid, looks to the skies and reallyses how the storm follows the Hessian, the clouds whirl, following him among the woods, the trees seem to move to his furious step, and suddenly all the small beasts are gone, the birds fly runing from him and only the Crows & Ravens flyes to His side.
Ichabod was amazed of the Mercenary's tremendous power over the woods and its creatures......
Chapter XII.
the trees whirled horribly around them, the young constable felt a harrowing knot in the stomach, and the constant sensation of the fainting.
the world stopped suddenly, the Hessian seemed so calm, too calm, imposing, mysterious, nobody knew anything about him, and He seemed to be the punishment of the gods for the world´s Sins, an errant nightmare that razed with everything.
Daredevil neighed and that horrible cry returned Ichabod to the reality, taking Him off his Dreamland. the blows of his hooves resonated trough the Western Woods like a cry of death.
the trees surrounded the unusual team, the night seemed infinite, Ichabod prayed for dawn to come, He was terrified. the enormous ghost, on the other hand, enjoyed the little show that the fear of that young one represented. the ghastly smile faded of His face, giving place to a silent seriousness, silent as always. pushing the youngest man away, the Horseman forced him to fall of the Horse. Ichabod looked at the Hessian, doubtful and suppliant, from his small Kingdom of the powder: the floor. the Hessian forced himself and His monstrous face to not showing compassion, and He points out with His head ....a path... Ichabod stands up and shakes the powder of his clothes, buttoning the shirt that still remained open for the eyes of the Hessian.
Ichabod watched the path...it was not too long, neither too short. a small hill descended and it took directly to the dismal Sleepy Hollow, the town caught in the claws of the magic and the sorcery. lit homes in the distance. the small town seemed in peace without the ghastly horseman's monstrous precence.
Ichabod denied with the head,undoubtedly he didn't wanted to return to the town, the nightmares would pursue him again.
" Fool "! thought the mercenary, he was furious, but his gaze of Ice didn't changed at all. the youngest man's eyes were suppliant, He a fatuous child, just like the horseman was a Fatuous Man. the Hessian roared like a beast and attacked Ichabod showing His sharp teeth and bleeding gums. Ichabod was afraid, but he didn't run like the Hessian hoped, he was immobile -and openmouthed-, but he didn't ran afraid.
The hessian should make him return, if not he will be corromped with his own evil. The Hessian grunted again, a more potent growl...
but there was another grunt there besides His own... the empty eyes were narrowed when locating His prey, and of the branches of a near tree a black beast rushed against the young man. It was a grotesque and enormous wolf, it attacked Ichabod with clever claws and teeth ready to quarter him.
The Hessian didn't recognized the creature. The steed neighed, the Horseman roared and his dammed sword crossed the neck of the Wolf throwing the body far away and even more far the head. the decapitated body attacked the Hessian, this didn't surprised the mercenary at all, He was used to fight and ride with no head Himself, Daredevil jogged against the creature while His master crossed the back of the Beast with the hand axe, impaling him with the Sword just to make sure it was dead. the beast didn't rised again,its wounds were cauterised, and it became ashes that dragged the wind. Nobody will hurt the young man again. not while His shade of pale skin and winter eyes was after him. Ichabod was under his protection and the whole woods knew it.
the hessian turned around and saw the boy. Ichabod saw the wound and the blood on his hand, the desperation didnt let him to think, he looked at the Horseman for some instants before falling unconcious again.
Chapter XIII
The Hessian tranquilized Daredevil and cursed himself with his own and peculiar language. What to do? he thought. should he take the boy to the town? there he could be assisted properly, but it was very dangerous, somebody could see them, a curse more for the Hessian, and the young child would be call " profane ", "basphemer" and would be hated by the other ones.
Another quick and desperate Decision. It was done, the boy would come with him.
The Hessian not even dismounted, leaning a little and extending His enormous and powerful arm, the horseman holded Ichabod and placed him in front of Him on the horse, Daredevil puffed and whimpered while the Hessian pressed the young man's wound to avoid the excesive loss of blood.
The Horseman really wanted to push Ichabod away of his corruption, but he didn't have any options, if he abandoned him, he would Die, and if he took him to the town to all gallop, people would hate and fear him and them would refuse to help him.
damned the hour the boy fixed his look on him.
when one has been dead everything is so different. the Hessian remembered his horrible fear to get old, to be useless and weak, and now that that fear had left forever it felt so well, he have not been so afraid to die. he had died on battle, and he had returned, and he had retaliated, and he had found something - somebody - more valuable than the gold and the blood that they paid him to be a mercenary under their services.
suddenly everything was Not so bad.
Draufgänger neighed and turned around, and ran fast like a Devil to the forest, tramping the decapitated and seemingly dead body of the enormous Wolf.
the legends disapear with the time, but His legend, the Hessian thought, it would last forever, through the centuries, he would make sure of it, he would appear andwould ride near the town, laughing like a Devil, haunting the townspeople, perhaps he would behead some fool that dare to enter His woods, the western woods, the Hessian was not willing to being forgotten, unless it was very necessary.
Chapter XIV a Ride on the Western Woods.
The Hessian was so proud of the young man, so proud of what He had done for Him, so much that the Pride filled His chest with joy while he pressed Ichabod against His pale and cold dead body.
while the Hessian rode he usualy sighed, and the whole western woods sighed with him, melancholy.
The trees seemed to lean of a side to other while the Horseman's icy chest swelled in a deep sigh, the animals suddenly were silent and listened, the silence was total, the cold wind ran to the rhythm of the lungs of the Hessian, and the snow began to fall smoothly.
The grass and fallen leaves moved and they flew while their master - now the Lord of the Forests - aspired the cold air, satisfied of himself, arrogant as always.
The clouds whirled in the sky over their heads while the errant nightmare of Winter eyes exhaled the same cold air finishing a sigh.
Draufgänger jogged happily, and when seeing all so gray and sad as himself, a smile -hardly visible- was drawn in the Dead Mercenary's face.
Everything was so Perfect.
when feeling the cold wind hurting His skin, Ichabod Crane curled up more near to the Hessian, clinging to His armor with his small, pale hands.
Oh yes, Everything was so Perfect.