5 comments/ 94211 views/ 10 favorites Nowhere to Run By: windstormy This story, I think, should be considered a gothic thriller. I haven't written actual horror since I was a teenager. But the idea for this story hit me and I started writing. My hopes are that it will leave the reader breathless and wondering what just happened. It'll be a short story with only a few chapters and I hope you'll enjoy the suspense and thrills. Happy reading, friends... * Joshua's life was nowhere near perfect. That was an understatement, as far as he was concerned, having run most of the past two of his eighteen years. The worst part of it all was that he couldn't remember what he was running from or who. He had no memory of his parents at all, his childhood—up until the past two years, neighbors, friends—he didn't know if he had brothers, sisters...it was all a huge blank in his mind. But he was running from something, that he knew. Was he a mass murderer? Surely not, with his reflexive tendency to be repulsed by such things. He couldn't even stand to watch an animal suffer in pain, let alone kill it to put it out of its misery. How could he kill a human being? It was out of the question. His stomach rumbled, which reminded him—again—how hungry he was, as he looked up and focused down the main road outside the little town he'd just went through. It was vacant of houses, buildings of any kind. All he could see for miles were fields and dense forest. The sun had started to disappear in the west and he knew he had to find somewhere to bed down soon, and try to find something to eat. A red mustang, with the top rolled down, went past him. His long brown hair whipped around his face and shoulders along with the sand that was kicked up from the speeding tires of the passers-by. The car was full of young men, possibly in their early twenties. The handsome blonde in the back passenger side seat turned and whistled at Joshua, then stood and grasped his privates in a lewd gesture. Joshua flipped him off with a disgusted grimace, which made the blonde laugh, turn and sit down in the seat again. Though he gave Joshua a second look, as they sped away, Josh hoped he'd never see them again. He veered off the main road, into the forest to try to find a spot to set up his bedroll for the night. Just as the sky became blanketed with the dark, deep purple and black of night, he jabbed at the small fire he had made, with a long stick in hand, and realized he didn't recall gathering the wood, stacking it, or starting the fire. His belly felt relieved of the pangs of hunger and couldn't remember what he had eaten. He shivered, from the chill in the air, and ran long thin fingers through his hair to find he had bathed somehow—where and how, he had no recollection. It was frustrating, at times. Not being able to remember things. He tried to stay as positive as he could, but sometimes his situation wore him down. He pushed the bedroll out and stretched out onto it. He stared up at the sky for a long time, just admiring the splash of stars that twinkled above him. But it wasn't long before his eyes grew heavy and he drifted off to sleep. Joshua woke with a start to find himself being dragged from his bedroll. Loud cheers and taunts enveloped him as his clothes were ripped from his body. He fought his attackers while he was held face down. Someone knelt between his thighs, which had been forced open, and shoved his face into the dirt. A rough, heavy hand was placed in the small of his back. A surge of wild untamed fear came over him and he fought harder with his assaulters. His scream hung in the air when he was penetrated hard and fast—all at once. His body went rigid and trembled with the pain and humiliation of his predicament. With another hard, deep thrust, the man above him came down on all fours. His heavy breaths pummeled Joshua's face just before the man took hold of the shell of Joshua's ear with his teeth. "Mmm...you taste sooo good, baby," he laughed, then came up and placed both hands on Josh's bottom, spreading his cheeks wider. "You like that don't you, sweetheart..." he added. "No! Stop!" Josh answered with a vehement scream. "Sure you do," the man returned in a weighty tone. "You gave the invitation when you flipped me off." "No!" Josh yelled loud and long. Everything slammed him inside—the pain, loud voices yelling obscenities over him, harsh grips at his wrists and legs, the scent of their sex and the earth beneath him. He began to view it all, as if watching a video—detaching from it all as quickly as he could. A low growl rumbled in his chest, progressing to a loud resounding yell. With sudden added strength, he bucked the man off him. Someone let go of a leg, which he used to kick as hard as he could, dislodging the second person that held his left leg. He jerked his right arm free, tuned and belted the person holding his left. Then he scrambled to his feet and took to a solid run. "You son of a bitch! You broke my fucking nose!" he heard behind him, but didn't slow down or give it a second thought. One of the four men picked up a short broken limb nearby and tossed it at the boy's feet. The next Joshua knew he felt something slam hard between his feet and landed face first into the trunk of a pine tree. The world spun and darkness abruptly surrounded him. Icy cold washed over him and caused him to gasp. Another shower of cold and he jerked, his head flew back with a yelp. The cramp in his lower abdomen became unbearable and alerted him to the fact that his bladder was screaming for relief. Lifting his head slowly, he became aware of being sprayed down with cold water. His arms ached terribly and were wrenched high above his head. Aches and pains slowly made their unwelcome acquaintance. With a direct spray to the face, Joshua came to full consciousness. He shook his head wildly, trying to avoid getting the water up his nose. But, try as he might, it still flooded his nasal passages and forced him to cough violently. He felt warmth shower his legs and relief of the ache of his bladder. The water was then directed to his lower body and washed it away. "Little bitch! Can't even hold your water! Look at the little baby wet himself!" an angry voice barked at him from across the room. "You thought you could just up and leave? We weren't finished with you, yet!" Josh opened his eyes and saw the wood floor beneath his feet. A drain hole with a grated cap was positioned not far away. He looked up and around to find himself hanging from the thick beam of a rafter of a wooden building. The rope tied to his wrists was tight and had already left angry welts and cuts. His fingers had turned blue giving him to know he'd hung there for quite some time. It was a large room, equipped with a desk, bed and a small table. Other than that, there was nothing significant—not even a window to allow for some sunlight. His eyes fell on the menacing fellow across the room, showering him with the icy cold water. His shag of dark hair fell into his eyes, over his ears and around his head as if it hadn't been combed through in days. Thick bushy eyebrows framed his deep blue eyes that expressed the malice and contempt in their stare. A cruel smirk lifted one corner of his thin lips. He was tall and of medium build, wearing a pair of tight black jeans and a leather vest that was open and allowed Joshua to see a thick patch of hair on the man's chest. "Turn around, whelp!" he barked at Josh gruffly. It was then, Josh realized his feet were on the floor and stood on them. He turned his back to the man obediently and gasped as the water pummeled his body...cold...stinging him from the pressure of the spray. "Hmm...nice round little ass, kid," the man commented a bit more amiably. Josh then noticed that the other three men that had been in the red mustang sat at a larger table a good distance away and near a set of steps that led up to a small door. He knew then, he had to be in a basement or cellar of some sort. The blond that was sitting on the nearest edge of the table puckered his lips at Josh, then smiled broadly. His hair was mussed and fell over his shoulders and part way of his back. The eyes were hazel and expressed pleasure in seeing Josh so vulnerable and exposed. His lips were full and an almost cherry red. He was thin, but had some definition to his form that was clothed in jeans and a pullover shirt. He lifted a bottled beer to those lips and drank deeply, his eyes never faltering in his stare of Josh. The others were ignoring the scene, which Josh was actually thankful for. At least, for the moment, they didn't have any interest in him. Nowhere to Run Ch. 02 The blond slammed the bottle on the tabletop once he'd emptied it. The water spray behind Joshua stopped. "Wanna beer, kid?" he asked with an alluring grin, stood and went to an old fridge nearby. Opening the larger, bottom door, he retrieved two bottles and returned to the table. He opened both with a twist, then approached Joshua with a glimmer of lust in his stare. "You don't have to be afraid of me. I won't hurt you...not really. But the others might wanna have some brutal fun with ya," he gave a slight snicker then put the bottle to Josh's lips. "Drink up, now," he commented as he turned the bottle up slightly, filling Joshua's mouth with the full flavor of an imported dark beer. He had three choices, either spit it back at the man, swallow, or choke on it. Choosing to swallow, he thought it better for his situation than to spit it at the man and gain his unwanted attention, or choking on it. "That's a good boy," the man smiled almost tenderly at Josh and placed a hand at the back of his captive's head, which he used to pet Josh with. "Drink it all," he said as he turned the bottle up further, which forced Josh to have to swallow furiously. "Can't have you wasting it...that's alcohol abuse, kid," he teased. "You gave a good fight, baby. I was rather surprised with ya." The man winked, then leaned closer. "I love a good fight," he whispered directly into Josh's ear. "Ya hungry?" he asked almost in the same breath. Joshua nodded as best he could and decided to pick his battles rather than be obnoxious and earn something he didn't want. He wasn't up for a beating or unwanted pleasures either, but he was hungry. The blond grinned, "Name's Casey, kid." He moved to the far side of the fridge and lifted a lid off a large pot on a hotplate that Josh hadn't seen until then. Meanwhile, the brute that had hosed him down cut his hands free. With a cruel grip, he took hold of Joshua's arm and dragged him to the small table not far from the vile faucet from which the offensive hose was attached and sat him down rather roughly. With the blade of the knife under the chin, he lifted Josh's head until their eyes met. "You try anything stupid, and I'll bleed ya dry, kid," he barked ominously. "C'me on, Stan. Let the kid alone, will ya?" the blond rebutted. "He's being compliant. Can't you see that?" Casey brought the large bowl of stew to the table and set it down before Josh. He then sat across from the boy in the only other chair provided there. "Eat up, baby," the man waved a hand at Josh with a small smile. "I'm goin upstairs, you guys. I think I've had enough of the stench in this room, for now," one of the others stood and started up the steps. The other two joined him, leaving Casey and Josh alone. Josh hadn't noticed a stench in the room. He breathed in long and silently to be sure he hadn't missed anything, then decided the man was talking about him. And it didn't matter to him at all. None of the fellows that had raped and kidnapped him had a pleasant aroma either. Even Casey had a sort of rude odor, as far as Josh was concerned. His only reason for being so compliant was for a hot meal and trying not to be brutalized more than he already had. Scooping up some of the stew with the spoon provided, Josh shoveled it into his mouth. It was too hot and scalded him right away, so that he spit it out as quick as he had taken it in. "Aww..." the man grimaced. "I shoulda put some ice in that for ya," he said as he stood and went back to the fridge. While the man was busy getting some ice, Josh wished he at least had a glass of water to cool his scalded tongue with. "Can I have some water?" he asked meekly. Casey turned abruptly at hearing Josh's voice the first time since he had been awake. It was mild and demure—a marked difference from the yells and screams that had issued from the boy the night before. Quite frankly, Casey found Josh's voice to be kind of erotic and inviting. "Sure, baby, but would you rather have a beer instead?" he smiled gently at Josh as he asked. Josh shrugged, "I guess so." The man replaced the old metal ice tray into the freezer, opened the other door and grabbed another beer. On his way, he stopped by the larger table, got his beer and ambled to the smaller where Josh sat. He dumped a couple large pieces of ice into the bowl and set the two beers down as he sat. "There, stir that up until the ice melts. It'll cool it down so you can eat it." Joshua looked up at the man with curiosity, then did as Casey had said. He also lifted the bottle to his lips and took a long drink, realizing how much he had wanted it rather than water. Soon, the ice had melted and Josh took another try at the stew. It was still warm. He shoved it into his mouth and savored the taste of something he'd not remembered ever eating. It was familiar, but he couldn't recall how or when. "I can tell you like it by your expression, kid. I made it. Just for you. Want some crackers with it? Bread?" Casey asked. Josh shrugged again. His attention was on the stew he was devouring at a face pace. "You should slow down or you'll get a tummy ache, kid," Casey said as he stood and went back to the counter by the fridge. He reached up to a cabinet door, which he opened and retrieved a pack of saltines from a box. "Can I have some more?" Josh asked before the man could return. Casey laughed lightly. "Sure, kid. But you'll have to earn the next bowl, ok?" The alluring grin made Josh a bit nervous as Casey returned to the table with the crackers. He shifted in his chair as the man sat across from him. "What's your name, kid?" Casey asked first. "Joshua," he answered demurely. "Most people just call me Josh." "Ok, Josh." Casey sat back in his chair with an expression of triumph. "How old are ya?" "Eighteen." "Any brothers or sister?" "I don't know." "What do ya mean you don't know? Of course you know!" Casey laughed. "You don't understand. I don't remember," Josh explained. "Huh?" Casey sat up so fast, Josh swore the man would strike him and ducked accordingly. He eyed Josh curiously for the action. "Someone's been fairly mean to you, haven't they?" "That's just it, Casey, I don't remember anything at all. No mom. No dad. No nothing. I'm barely sure my name is Joshua." He eyed the crackers as his tummy rumbled, still hungry. Casey grimaced at the sound. He reached across the table to the bowl and went back to fill it again. This time, he put the ice in it before he returned to the table and set the bowl before Josh. "Thanks," Josh murmured as he picked up the spoon and began stirring the mixture of beef chunks, veggies and gravy. "You're welcome, but you still have to pay me back for it, Josh," Casey grinned lewdly. Josh stared at the man for a long moment. Then with a nod, scooped up some of the stew and ate. "I think you're on the run, kid. From what, I don't know, but I wager we'll possibly find out soon." Josh shrugged again, though he didn't look up from the bowl of stew. He heard Casey's voice, but didn't hear the question itself. His attention so given to the food he ate, he had tuned the man out. Abruptly, the bowl was slid from him, in which Josh looked up with a bereft expression. "I asked you a question, Josh," Casey stated with a warning tone. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear it," he gave the man his best puppy eyes and begged silently for mercy. Casey smiled. "Do you like sex?" The spoon in Josh's hand started quivering. It extended down his arm until the boy was trembling all over. His expression turned vacant as he stared at Casey. Then as quick as the aspect splashed across Joshua's face, it was gone. "Wanna try me?" Casey warned. "No," Josh dragged out in an airy answer. "What's wrong with you, kid?" "I don't feel so good," Josh answered with the same airy voice. "I told you to slow down." Casey stood with the bowl and took it to the counter where he put it and returned to the table. "If you want more, later, I'll let you have some. But I want some ass, Joshua," Casey admitted. "Please, don't," Josh begged, on the verge of panic. "C'me on, baby. It's not that bad...and I'm not gonna hurt ya." Casey reached down and took Josh's arm. "Please," Josh looked up at the man with pleading. "It'll be ok." Casey urged the boy to stand and led him to the bed across the room. He urged Josh back onto the plain white sheets and came up over his thin frame. "Just give me a kiss, Josh," he almost whispered the sound of lust in his voice. "No, Casey, please," Josh returned, his voice quivering. "Don't ever tell me 'no', Joshua. This isn't a democracy. Either you give me what I want, or I'll take it—like before." Tears welled in his eyes and his throat constricted to the point he could scarcely breathe. He tried to choke back the sob that issued from him abruptly, but he wasn't quick enough. Casey's face moved closer, ignoring Joshua's fears. "It's just a kiss, baby," Casey pressed. Joshua regressed into hiding and Casey stared into the vacant expression he'd seen earlier. The tears stopped and the boy only gazed up at him blankly with eyes that had turned glassy. Ignoring the sudden change, for his pulsing desire, he leaned further and brushed his lips to Joshua's. To his surprise, the boy opened and Casey invaded Josh's mouth with his tongue. Their lips sealed, exploding in intertwined lust and need as arms went around the other—the kiss became almost feral. Josh lifted his knees and pressed his pelvis to the man wantonly. Casey moaned at the responses of his body and Joshua's primal desire. Joshua's hands moved up under Casey's shirt, plundering at will. He grounded his pelvis against the man continuously and drove the man to frenzy. "Fuck me, Casey," he almost growled when Casey came up for air. Casey noted the airy content of Josh's voice and the marked difference in the tone, but ignored it for his own greedy desire. He reached between them, unzipped his jeans, pulled out his member and pushed into the boy's body smoothly. Josh sighed long, his head drifted back into the pillow as the man penetrated him with ease. Almost instantly, Josh bucked, slamming his bottom into Casey's pelvis. "Harder!" Josh growled. "Fuck me, damn it!" Casey, became a bit confused by the change of attitude, but banged into Josh all the same. The power of his thrusts rocked Josh upward and he felt something give way. "No, Joshua, I said I wouldn't hurt you, and I meant that..." Casey detached from the boy and sat on the side of the bed. "What's with you, bitch? You're a player ain't ya?" He smelled blood and looked down between Joshua's thighs and saw it oozing on the sheet. "Gees, now look what you made me do!" Casey got up and ambled across the room, where he wet a washcloth and returned with it. "I didn't mean to," Josh said in his normal voice. Casey studied the boy for a moment and saw the difference right away. "There's something weird about you, kid," he stated then reached between the boy's thighs, forcing the damp cloth between the cheeks. "Why you say that?" Casey looked up at Josh to see a hurt expression. "Well..." he searched the right words to explain himself. "One minute your all scared and crying, the next your like, 'fuck me, Casey', and 'fuck me harder damn it'. It's really confusing. And the look on your face changes too. It's like...empty...and your eyes are like...glass. Do you even know what just happened?" Joshua gazed up at Casey blankly, "No, I don't." he looked away as a tear slipped from his eye. "I think there's more than one in there, beside you." Casey got up and went back to the faucet, turned it on and rinsed the cloth, wrung it and returned with it. "Damn it, Josh, I really didn't wanna to hurt you." "One what?" Josh followed the man's movements with his eyes. "People, Josh. Personalities. Ever heard of Sybil?" "Sybil who?" Casey shook his head and half laughed. "You're a real piece of work, Josh." Nowhere to Run Ch. 03 I have revised and combined the next three chapters. Those that have already seen most of this story in my group have not seen the revisions. So, if you belong to my group and are reading this, read carefully—or you'll miss something. LOL I've taken some good advice from those that commented on the thread I posted in the forum to expand and add more flavor and meat to this. I agree that it needed it. It's not like me to be so vague anyway. Details...details...details...gotta have them!! hehehe Hope you enjoy this read. I'm working on the next, too. Though, it's already written, I need to go over it again, as I did this. Happy reading * Nowhere to Run Ch. 03 He often recalled his life, as a human, wishing he could go back there. He was of Roman nobility, a patrician, and a wealthy merchant, when Caesar Augustus ruled the throne. Although, he despised the way Augustus would often use his power of office to coerce the senate, he agreed with much of the ruler's ideas. The borders of Rome were expanded, taxation was reformed, roads developed with an official courier system, an army was formed and established, a small navy, an official police, fire fighters and the city was rebuilt. All of these and more were established and developed under Augustus' rule. The mysterious man enjoyed the privilege of building his own mansion, complete with a bath house, vineyard, garden and courtyard. Polished marble floors, would often spark him to saunter barefoot through his manor, just for the feel of it beneath his feet—walls that extended some ten to twelve feet high with archways, halls and balconies—and the convenience of all the modern amenities of that day and time. How he missed it all. Yet, recalling it kept the beast in check and helped him maintain control of his thirst and hunger. Once the task was done, he bathed in the lake, redressed and returned to the cabin where Joshua still hung from the rafter in the basement. It was time they made their acquaintance and the man was eager to get to know the boy. However, he thought to find the bottle of wine in the fridge and the glass that Stan had gotten for him. Silently, he opened the door and began down the long steps into the basement. At the moment, Joshua was still and quiet. But he turned his head and the man knew that the boy was aware of his presence. "Who's there?" Joshua called softly, his voice hoarse from crying. He could sense something strangely peculiar about the presence that invaded the basement. Not able to put a finger on it, he dismissed it for folly. "It is I, Joshua...Marcellus," the man answered. "Marcellus?" the boy thought hard. Had he met a Marcellus recently? "No, my boy, we've never met," the man stepped down onto the basement floor and slowly made his way to the table. There, he deposited the bottle and glass before he sat in the chair that Casey normally would have. His eyes perused Joshua quickly, finding him to be a most attractive young man, with long dark brown hair, large doe-brown eyes set in almond shape and lips that would weaken the strongest of lovers. Though the boy was thin, he had filled out some in his captivity, which had gone to all the right places. "How long have you been down here, Joshua?" he asked then, just to be certain he had read the boy's mind correctly. "I really don't know," Joshua hung his head briefly. "But, how is it that you know me, and I don't know you?" Marcellus chuckled. "My dear boy, you have already sensed that something is very different about me, haven't you?" Joshua studied the strange man with long wavy black hair and a hint of an olive sheen to his tanned skin. He was a good looking man...hell; he was drop dead gorgeous, as far as Josh was concerned. Lips that were sensual and perfectly proportioned, and for the moment that beautiful man's deep blue eyes were focused on him. In his perusal of the man, Joshua's eyes plundered his body. Well structured, defined muscles though not bulky, firmed, toned—everything a lover could hope for in another. The arms were like boas that flexed and bulged and caused him to desire to feel their strength and power. Strong thighs and well defined calves incited him to wonder what the stranger had done as an occupation. He wondered what Marcellus was thinking...what the man thought of him...and how the hell did Marcellus know his name? He watched the man turn his attention to the bottle that he lifted in a strong, nimble, yet graceful hand and poured more wine into the long stemmed glass. "Why are you here?" he asked of Marcellus. The man sighed at the sound of Joshua's masculine, yet demure voice, as he lifted the glass and turned to the boy again. "To get to know you, Joshua. I'm rather curious about you," he dragged a corner of his sensual lips upward; his eyes reflected a natural allure that Joshua hadn't ever seen before in a man. "Why? I'm nobody special," Joshua stated. "Ah, but you are, my dear boy," Marcellus stood, his glass in hand, and ambled slowly toward him. "You are very special," he almost whispered when he stood directly before Joshua, though he left out his reasons for saying so...at the moment. A hand lifted, the fingers curled, the thumb lightly caressed Joshua's lower lip. The backs of the fingers brushed his jawline and chin. Joshua shivered, as a powerful ripple of desire swept through him. Their eyes locked in a deep stare, Joshua thought the earth had tilted on its axis and time had stood still. The hand cradled his cheek, which he desperately wanted to lean into, but didn't. The man's touch was cool, as the hand moved back into his hair and grasped the back of his head gently. "Drink this. It will help sooth you." Marcellus placed the rim of the glass to Joshua's lips and tilted it up slightly. Joshua drank, just as it had been that first night when Casey forced a beer down him, though Marcellus was less demanding and was very polite. He hadn't realized how thirsty he had become and soon closed his eyes, gulping it down quickly. When the glass lowered, he looked up at the tall man who remained, his hand still grasping the back of his head. His face drew nearer and Joshua's heart skipped a beat. He knew the man was about to kiss him and craved it more than life itself. It was odd to him how he wanted this man so desperately...so suddenly. All others he had shunned and fought with—but this man—there had to be some power of persuasion, some bewitching seduction the stranger used. Their lips met—only a brush—Joshua shivered, the contrast of warmth and cold mingled between them. Still, deep inside Joshua, his body responded with waves of heat. His belly tightened and he hardened. He opened slightly to the stranger, desiring more than just a gentle brush of Marcellus' lips. The man's tongue slipped out, teased Joshua's lips with light caresses, just before it invaded his oral recesses. Joshua's eyes drifted closed. His body inched closer to the stranger in an effort to invite Marcellus to know him intimately. His heart pounded heavily against the wall of his chest and he wondered if the stranger could hear it. The kiss was much too short lived and Joshua felt bereft when the man detached from his mouth. Marcellus' lips grazed his cheek, now warm and moist from their kiss. Unconsciously, he canted his head slightly, as the lips trailed a path down his throat. He shivered from the feathery light touch of them. Marcellus marveled at how willing Joshua was. He slipped his tongue past his lips and lightly tasted of the boy's gentle salty flavor. Joshua's pulse thrummed beneath it at a somewhat quicker beat than before and he couldn't help but allow the beast within to surface. He had long caught the scent of Joshua's chemistry and the aroma of his blood, which he longed for though he had already fed. His fangs barely protruding from his lips, he peeled his upper lip back and brushed one along the boy's skin. Excitement rose in him, desire for a taste that vexed him terribly at that moment. Again, he pressed his tongue against the throbbing pulse, relishing the strength and feel of it. He moaned softly, then pried himself from Joshua's throat, before he did the unthinkable. Joshua was caught up in the moment, the intimacy, and the contact. So when he felt the hard cold fang brush his skin, he became a bit confused. Red flags went up everywhere in his thoughts, yet he could only surmise that what he felt was his imagination. He whined softly when the man pulled away. Marcellus stood motionless and allowed Joshua to peruse him once again, only now in his vampire state. Though he had hidden his fangs, he wondered how long it would take for the boy to come to the correct conclusion. A slow smile lifted the corners of his lips, bearing only the tips of his fangs to the boy. It broadened when Joshua's eyes widened. "Yes, Joshua, I am a vampire," he affirmed. "No," the boy barely spoke and slowly shook his head negatively. "Vampires don't exist. That's only legend and myth," he claimed with conviction. "But where did all of that legend and myth come from, my dear boy?" Marcellus was highly amused and showed it openly. "Just stories that villagers and peasants made up to pacify the time, or maybe keep the kids from being out of their beds at dark, I don't know." Marcellus chuckled, turned, ambling to the table, where he poured himself another glass of wine then sat in the chair. He turned to Joshua, who yet hung from the rafter. "Per chance it could be that vampire legend and myth was possibly a ploy to insure the children were in their beds after dark, Joshua. But why? Why would a parent, who loved their children, become so frantic to insure they were inside and safe at dusk?" "Dusk?" Joshua studied the man, not having said anything about dusk. "Yes, Joshua. It so happens that most of us—the Elder vampires that is—rise early, almost before the sun completely sets. We are able to begin to feed at dusk, after the sun has disappeared, yet daylight still remains." He lifted the wineglass to his lips as he eyed Joshua, who considered it thoughtfully. "You saw fangs, Joshua. You saw me in the state of the beast. You did not imagine it, my love," he added after taking a short sip. Joshua's head lifted sharply. "They're fake!" Marcellus stood as if in anger and shifted instantly. "Are they?" he bared his fangs completely, approaching the boy slowly. Joshua shivered, apprehension slamming him over and again. His heart rapidly pounded against his chest and in his ears. Okay, so he believed Marcellus now, not able to reason it away, with it right before his very eyes. They had disappeared as the man had lifted the wineglass and spoke to him before taking a sip. Now they had abruptly reappeared. How could he disclaim it? The next question was, "What do you intend to do with me?" Marcellus grinned broadly, the fangs withdrew and he shifted back to his human form, then broke into a lighthearted laugh. However, he considered Joshua thoroughly. His thoughts weighed the pros and cons, yet he had not been a proud parent since he had been turned. "What would you like that I to do with you, Joshua?" he asked before he answered the question. The boy dragged in a long deep breath and thought on it. "I'd like you to make love to me," he stated rather bluntly. "Only Casey has done that, but I want you to do it too." Marcellus was bit taken by his request, but had no issues with it. "And then?" Joshua shivered. Though he tried to hide it, Marcellus still saw it ripple through the boy and heard his heart rate increase slightly. "I don't know, but you haven't answered my question," Joshua stated minutely firm. A corner of his lips turned up, Marcellus turned to the table and sat in the chair again. "I haven't decided, my dear boy. I came here to talk with you, get to know you and ask many questions. What will become of it, I hadn't considered, though I am doing so now." Nowhere to Run Ch. 04 Marcellus recalled how his family was slaughtered during the Final War of the Roman Republic. In fear that the war would be set in Italy, they made their escape to Alexandria. The senate enraged by Antony's will that had been obtained rather unscrupulously, by Octavian—later named Augustus—debated a declaration of war on Mark Antony. Octavian blamed Cleopatra, thereby convincing the senate otherwise. And so, war was declared on the queen of Egypt. Marcellus took his lovely wife, Alessa, and his beloved son, Bettino, on a family holiday. For several months they basked in the sites, smells and scenery of the largest port in Egypt. Marcellus had used the excuse that he needed to reinforce a new trade business, as his means of escaping the askant glances of the senate and emperor or Rome. Though, it wasn't a falsehood, the truth of the matter was that he feared for their lives and wanted to protect his family. Alessa came to mind and he almost moaned at the remembrance of her soft, supple skin, rich with the olive sheen of her ancestry. Her voluptuous curves and lithe limbs ceaselessly kept him glancing to her, needing her, wanting to take her into his arms and love her completely, endlessly. Dark wavy tresses often glided through his fingers, and were silken soft, that would make him often shiver with want. Opulent jasper gaze, as sultry as it was, would spark a heat within him that he had never known with anyone before. Then there was Bettino, a playfully active youth that thrived on life and living. Curiosity kept him in more trouble, than he had ever meant to get into. It was that curiosity that led to the demise of his family—. "What are the options?" Joshua asked, as the silence in the room finally became unbearable, and interrupted Marcellus' muse. Marcellus drew in a long mournful breath and shook off the memory of his family. He was in the throws of swallowing another sip of wine, when the question came. He lowered the glass and looked to the young man blankly for a moment. That had never been a question he had ever been faced with answering before. Usually, it was, "what will you do with me," which Joshua had already asked. He considered the options, quickly, finding himself amused by the question. "I could turn you, Joshua. Or, I could toy with you till dawn and leave you where you hang...." "You could kill me, too," Joshua volunteered. "Is that what you desire?" Marcellus stared at the young man with expressionless eyes. "I don't know what I want, Marcellus." Joshua's head drifted down, as emotional pain filled him with the loss of his recent lover. It was a crushing blow that left him weakened and unable to digest his emotional state much at all. He found himself with such emptiness that no amount of pleasure could ever fulfill. How he longed for Casey, even then. Marcellus canted his head and studied Joshua. He could sense the pain the young man felt, as if he were Joshua himself. Strong. Cold. A vast chasm of emptiness and grief. It was a familiar emotion that he still often struggled with, even as a vampire. Marcellus' hand came up and wiped a lone tear that drifted from his eye and studied it on the pad of his finger for a moment. It seemed strange to him. He hadn't wept the loss of his family, since he had been sired into his new existence. Still, the combination of memories of the past, and Joshua's recent loss of his lover, weighed heavily upon him in those moments. "I am sorry about Casey, Joshua. If it could be that I could bring him back, I would...for you," he stated solemnly. "Why?" Joshua lifted his head slowly. "Because I like you, Joshua." Marcellus then directed his attention to the glass, which was empty. He lifted the bottle and filled it slowly. "Why?" Marcellus chuckled with the thought that Joshua sounded like a broken record. "Because you intrigue me." He lifted the glass to his lips and took a sip. "Why?" The man knew why Joshua asked, even though it seemed so child-like. The young man had no self-worth, self-confidence, nor did he value his life much at all. "For several reasons, my dear boy. For one..." Marcellus turned to Joshua in the chair once again. "how many are in there?" he asked bluntly. "How many? How many what?" "Personalities...alters...how many are there?" "I don't know of any," Joshua shifted nervously. "Oh, come now, my dear boy." Marcellus stood and ambled closer, his glass of wine in hand. "Don't lie to me. I know you have at least one other. How many more are there?" Joshua dragged out a sigh. "I don't know of any others," he muttered. "So, assuming the...'other'...is the only...'other'...what, is his name?" "I don't know that either." "Then what triggers a response from him?" "Pain." "Do you like pain, Joshua?" "No." "No, you don't." Marcellus could sense it, even as Joshua had answered. "In fact," he turned and went back to the chair, where he sat again; being the young man was so compliant at the moment. "You fear pain, don't you?" "Yes, I do." "You also fear sex, yet you asked me to make love to you. Why, Joshua?" "You intrigue me," Joshua fought a wicked grin that attempted to play across his lips. Marcellus chuckled. "I like you, Joshua. In fact, I like you very much." There was a moment of silence. "Tell me about your father, Joshua." "I don't remember him." Marcellus could sense the young man was being honest about that fact. He could see nothing of the young man's parents, or anything that reflected a memory of them, when he gazed into Joshua's eyes. Draping an arm over the back of the chair, his forefinger twitched slightly. Joshua's head flew back with a groan. His teeth gritted tightly, he hissed through them with sporadic breaths. Pain swept through his entire body, as if someone was twisting his muscles in unnatural positions. Quickly, he regressed, unable to endure the intensity. A corner of Marcellus' lips turned up into a wicked grin, when he sensed the switch. He watched the young man's mouth come open and take in a few long deep breaths. A low, guttural growl began, that progressively grew louder, and hung in the air around them. Joshua's head came up, his eyes glared at the source of his discomfort. "Fucker! Is that all you got?!" his quivering airy voice bit into the atmosphere around them. "Oh, you want more?" Marcellus laughed lightly, and gave a new twitch of his finger. Joshua cried out. His body shook, as his muscles visibly locked. "Fuck you!" the young man screamed. "Oh, you are intriguing, my dear boy." Marcellus stood and approached with deepened curiosity. When the Marcellus came within reach, the Joshua kicked hard. The vampire stepped back, but raked his nails across the young man's chest. Joshua's head went down, hiding his face from Marcellus. "Shall we continue this power struggle...or would you like a reprieve?" he asked politely, eyeing the light scoring across Joshua's chest with marked concern. They hadn't begun bleeding, so he diverted his stare to the young man's demeanor. Slowly, the head came up revealing tears. Joshua bit back the very words that came to mind and swallowed hard. "Yes, please," he breathed with a shudder. "Very well." Marcellus smiled gently and lifted his hand. With relief, Joshua sagged, his weight fully on his wrists and the ropes. "Have some wine to sooth you, my dear boy," Marcellus spoke softly, as he placed the glass to the young man's lips. "Tell me your name." he asked, as the human gulped down the wine. "I have no name, sir," the young man answered, when he had emptied the glass and warmth flooded him. "Well then, we'll just have to give you a name." Marcellus smiled broadly. "If you could have any name you desired, what would it be?" "I don't know. I've never thought about it." "David is a good name." "What is your name?" the young man perused Marcellus with lusty eyes. "Marcellus." The vampire chuckled, sensing the heat of his stare and the implications within it. "That's a good name. I like it." "Thank you...ah....but, what shall I call you?" "Whatever you like, Marcellus. I don't give a shit." "Ah, mind your manners, my boy," Marcellus warned. He studied the human for a long moment. "You're used to being called dreadful names, but I shall give you a name by which you will be known, my dear boy." He grinned for a moment. "I think I shall call you...Ugo." "Ugo? Why?" The young man stared at Marcellus curiously. He wasn't sure if he liked that name, not yet anyway. "It is from the Germanic form of Hugh, with means 'heart, mind, or spirit'." "Hugh," the young man nodded slowly. "I like it." He grinned up at the vampire. "Marvelous." Marcellus chuckled, as he turned, ambling to the table and poured another glass of wine. "Let's talk, shall we, Ugo?" Marcellus sat and sipped his wine as he spoke. "Okay. What did you want to talk about?" Ugo watched Marcellus intently, not privy to the fact that the vampire was aware of every move he made or thought that crossed his mind. "You, my dear boy." He grinned in that Ugo stared at him while he poured the wine, thirsty and still hungry, having barely eaten that evening. "What about me?" Ugo licked his lips, as Marcellus lifted the glass to his and sipped the wine. Tantalizing. Inviting a greater desire. "Tell me about your father, Ugo." He lowered the glass, never looking in the young man's direction. "What about him?" Ugo almost barked. Marcellus turned his head in Ugo's direction. "I will not warn you again. Mind your manners, Ugo." The vampire's eyes burned with displeasure at the young man's tone. "Yes, sir." Ugo lowered his head in submission. Marcellus smiled. "Now, answer me. I want to hear about your father." "The only father I remember was an uncle we called Bear. He looked like a bear because he had thick hair all over his body..." "Yes, he still lives. Did you run away from him?" Marcellus turned in the chair to face Ugo. "Yes, I did. He was cruel and did things to me...awful things," the young man muttered the last. "What sort of things?" Marcellus pressed, though he knew. "Beatings, sex, forced sex...you name it," Ugo controlled his tone viciously, afraid of what Marcellus might do. "But you like sex. And you like forced sex," the vampire commented. "Yeah...now I do. When it started, it wasn't all that much fun!" the young man answered with conviction. "Understandably so. That is where you came from, isn't it—an occasion of forced sex that Joshua could not deal or cope with?" "Yes, it is." "You help him cope and deal with pain and sex, don't you?" "If you don't mind me asking, but since you know so much about it, why ask?" Ugo's brow furrowed in bewilderment of the direct questions. "Curiosity, my dear Ugo." Marcellus stood, ambling toward the young man. "There's more I want to know..." "Like what?" Ugo began trembling. The last time Marcellus approached was much less than pleasant. He could only hope the man had no further plans of torturing him. A corner of the vampire's lips turned up, as the human's heart rate sped up dramatically. His blood raced through his veins, tempting the beast to show its face again. The smell of fear permeated the air around Ugo, vexing the man's grip and control over his fiendish side. "How does it feel when you switch, Ugo?" his tone changed and his speech had an added lisp. Ugo stared at the lethal fangs that extended and sharpened before his eyes. They nestled over the bottom lip and caused the upper to bulge slightly. "I'm gonna die, ain't I?" the young man's voice quivered as he asked. "It's what you desired when I arrived, Ugo." The vampire reached a slow hand to the human's cheek, that Ugo pressed into, having longed for the man's touch. "Hmm..." Marcellus moaned at the feel of Ugo's warmth. "It's such a shame to loose such softness and warmth," he muttered, as his face came closer. "But...it doesn't have to be that way. I would stay with you. Wait on you. Do whatever you wanted," Ugo's voice quaked more. His fear rose to an almost unbearable height. "Yes, you're used to being a little slave whore, aren't you, my dear Ugo?" the fiend planted a cool kiss to the young man's lips. "Yes, sir. But I don't mind," Ugo whispered, his warm breath bathed Marcellus' face in shudders. The creature chuckled. "But, I do mind. I believe you deserve better, my boy." "Better?" Ugo couldn't fathom his meaning. "What could be better than death, or life, or slavery?" "Answer my earlier question. How does it feel when you switch?" The fiend's lips trailed a path to the young man's throat, as his hand moved back and gripped a fistful of hair at the back of Ugo's head. "I-I don't know..." the young man's voice shook fiercely. "It's like coming out of a sea of darkness. Like watching life through a television. And it's like feeling free again." "Yessss..." the vampire hissed softly, then teased the hidden, pulsing vein with his tongue. "You see, I too switch, from man to vampire, as easily as you do, from Joshua to Ugo." He pressed his lips to the pulse-point, sensing the strong throb. His desire rose fervidly along with his need. "I understand the frustrations Joshua feels, in not recalling certain details, though I do remember all that I do. Yet, at times I wish to forget. You, on the other hand, remember all that Joshua cannot. You remember the violent nights, spent being a slave to your uncle and his friends. You remember the pain, the humiliation, everything associated with those events. And you keep them hidden from Joshua to protect him. You're a noble one, Ugo. A noble young man that I desire." Marcellus sensed the burning deep within him, the desire that ran deeper than the undercurrent of a fast moving river or stream. It permeated his body, consuming him with need. He wanted a taste. Just a taste of Ugo. That very desire tormented him deliciously. Powerfully. Marcellus withdrew from Ugo quickly. His release was so fast, it startled the young man who yelped. The vampire stormed to the table and lifted the glass to his lips, downing the contents quickly. "Funny how this has very little effect upon me anymore. I sometimes long for its soothing essences that I so easily recall before I was made." He stared at the glass in his hand as if enthralled by it. "I'm so sorry, Marcellus," Joshua muttered. Marcellus turned, noting that the switch had taken place again. He smiled gently at the young man. "It's not your fault. Why do you apologize for my own plight?" "I just feel for you. I guess I understand, even a little bit." Marcellus chuckled. "You might think you do, my dear boy. But you will know soon enough." "You're gonna turn me, ain't you?" Marcellus considered Joshua for a long moment and thought about his son, Bettino. He had never had the opportunity to rear Bettino, as he could with Joshua. It would be his fervid parental right to be involved in every step of his fledgling's growth and the education of the dark gift. "Yes," the man answered instantly. "I want you near me...always. You please me, delightfully so." "Do I have a say in this at all?" Joshua ventured. "Such as?" Marcellus lowered the glass to the table and gave the young man his full attention, surprised by the question. "Can't I just live with you for a while first?" Marcellus laughed. "Why do you now fear death, when earlier you desired it?" "Maybe I've realized I'm not ready," Joshua muttered and hung his head to his chest. "Oh? Perhaps you've also realized your love for Casey was only physical as well?" He approached the young man again—this time in full control of the beast. "He raped you, kidnapped you, and held you prisoner here the past six months. What kind of love could do that to someone, unless it was obsessive, selfish, and greedy?" Joshua's lips trembled and he choked back a sob of grief. "Why would you say things like that about him? He was good to me! He was gentle, kind, and took care of me!" Joshua shouted. "As long as you complied with his desires...yes. If you had disobeyed, only one point of his requests, he would have punished you, Joshua. You were his slave, his prisoner. Don't you see the truth of the matter?!" the vampire growled at the young man. "You were no more to Casey, than you were to your uncle...Bear, I believe, was his name." Joshua drug in a long accentuated breath. "How dare you!" Marcellus laughed. "How dare me?" His laughter faded quickly, unable to ignore the hurt and pain the young man was experiencing. "Open your eyes and see the truth, Joshua. You were his slave, nothing more," the man barely spoke above a whisper. "No!" Joshua whined, though he knew that Marcellus was right. Still, he didn't want to accept that truth. He loved Casey, and Casey had loved him. Or it seemed Casey had. "You know it's true, Joshua, and I hate the pain you feel in realization of it. Yet, you must know it. You must see it, to be free of it." "You only want to hurt me more!" Joshua barked coarsely, his voice deep with the constriction of his throat and the emotions that pummeled him. "No, Joshua. I only want you to be free and know the truth," the man muttered and reached a hand to the young man's cheek. Joshua veered from his touch coldly. "As you wish, my dear Joshua, I will not force you." Marcellus turned, ambling back to the table once more. He sat gracefully in silence to allow the human to think on it for a time. His heart was stung, but he would not bend the truth to suit the human. Nowhere to Run Ch. 04 Why would Marcellus decide not to drink from him? "As you wish, my dear Joshua, I will not force you..." the words rang deep in his conscious mind. But wasn't it the same as Casey's vow? "No, Joshua, it is not. He vowed not to hurt you. I have vowed not to force you." Marcellus' voice startled Joshua from his thoughts. "It's still the same, Marcellus," Joshua argued, though softly. "No, if you had disagreed, he would have forced you anyway. He told you he would, did he not?" Joshua thought on it then. It took him a minute or so before it came to him. "...This isn't a democracy. Either you give me what I want, or I'll take it—like before." Tears filled his eyes with the realization that finally sunk in. All that Marcellus had said the night before, was not only true, but tangibly so. "I'm sorry, my dear Joshua," the vampire's voice broke, as he sensed the pain within the human. "But why?" Joshua sobbed. "Why me? Why always me? Why do people want and like to hurt me so?" "You are vulnerable, Joshua. You do not believe in your self-worth and people know it. You long to be loved and accepted, so greatly, that you open yourself to be treated anyway they like. And you consent to it and believe that to be love and acceptance. It is not, Joshua." The man moved slowly to the table. He uncovered, from his cloak, a new bottle of wine that was even larger, than the one from the night before. Claiming the glass from the drain near the sink that was integrated into the counter, he poured a fresh glass and brought it to the young man. "Would you cut me down?" Joshua ventured, watching Marcellus all the while. Marcellus stared long at him for a moment. "You hunger, yes. But first, you must drink this of my hand." Joshua gazed at the man, not understanding what it could mean. He didn't argue the point or ask why, but dutifully drank the contents of the glass. Then he watched, as Marcellus took the glass to the table and returned. With a single glance of the creature's hand the bonds were free and Joshua was loosed. "Go sit at the table. I will serve you this night." Marcellus pointed to the chair across from the one he had been sitting. Joshua rubbed the raw and chafed welts, about his wrists, as he ambled to the table and sat where he had been directed. He watched, as Marcellus busied himself at the counter and hotplate. Soon, he dipped out a portion of whatever Marcellus had purchased for Joshua, while he was out, into a clean bowl and brought it and bread to the table. He returned, took down a glass and filled it with water, which he brought with him. Joshua ate hungrily, as Marcellus observed. The creature sat silently, allowing Joshua some peace with his meal. When Joshua asked for more, Marcellus retrieved it for him. Yet all was done in silence, except for the soft sounds of the young man's eating. When Joshua was finished eating and had drank his water, Marcellus offered Joshua another glass of wine. "Where's Stan?" Joshua finally asked. "He is no longer with us, Joshua," Marcellus returned solemnly. "What did you do to him?" "Is it so important?" Marcellus mulled over Joshua's sudden concern and curiosity about Stan. "I gave him what he desire." "Which was?" "To join his lover." "Oh." Joshua knew then that Stan wouldn't be back to torment him. He drug out a deep sigh of relief, at the notion. "You seem pleased to know it, Joshua." A corner of Marcellus' lips drew up in response. "I am, Marcellus." Joshua spoke with conviction and took the final drink of the wine. "Then I am pleased." The man smiled gently. "Why would it matter to you?" the young man asked, bewildered. "Because I care for you. That is why." "If you really did, you wouldn't be planning to kill me." Marcellus gave it thought. "Yet, what I offer in return, is eternal, Joshua. You would live forever. You would be my child, and I, your father...something you've never had in life." Joshua lowered his head, cogitating on it for a long while, then lifted it again. "Does it hurt?" "No. I will make it as painless as possible." "Still..." "You're afraid. Yes, I know. I can smell your fear." "Oh...sorry." Joshua lowered his head again. It appeared to the both of them that their conversation was strained. They found it most uncomfortable, plundering their minds for some relief of the situation. Marcellus knew it was time, yet he held back for the sake of the young man. When the silence and discomfort became unbearable, he stood and reached a hand to Joshua. "Come with me," he barely spoke above a whisper. Joshua's hand trembled, as he placed it in Marcellus'. It was time. He could sense it in the air around them. It was as if fate was screaming that this was meant to be. Yet, he still feared the transition. It was something so unknown, so dark and bleak. He followed Marcellus to the bed, where the creature then faced him. Joshua gasped and stiffened at the sight of him. "Relax, Joshua. It is your fear that calls me out." "I'm trying to control it," the young man whimpered. The fiend smiled gently. "Close your eyes. Perhaps if you do not see me, you can." Joshua hesitated, before he shut them tight. He shivered, as a gentle hand moved down the length of his hair and pulled him into a warm naked body. It bewildered him that the creature would be so warm, when the night before; he had been cool to the touch. His mind searched for the answers, but couldn't find them. Warm pliant lips pressed lightly to his. Joshua opened and his mouth was invaded with a warm moist tongue. With a sigh of relief, he bore into the kiss, returning it. His desire rose, and surrendered to it, to Marcellus. He knew he had wanted this, and as the minutes passed by, knew it was meant to be. "You are so very special, Joshua. And I mean to make you know that, the rest of your existence," Marcellus whispered against Joshua's lips, before he gather the young man in his arms and placed him on the bed. Joshua couldn't help but look up at the man that came down upon him, slowly. Black wavy hair draped around them, but disappeared from view, when Marcellus claimed the young man's mouth once again. Joshua shivered. He slipped his arms about the man, and pulled Marcellus closer, as close as humanly possible. The feel of the man's hard, firm body against his was a welcome. Marcellus was slow. A patient and gentle lover that Joshua had only hoped for from the very first time he laid eyes on the man. He trembled beneath the slightest touch or the graze of lips here and there. A gasp came once and again, when Marcellus gently scraped his flesh with a fang, then laved what oozed thinly from the wound with his tongue. Marcellus took in a nipple that was prominently hard, suckling the hardened flesh to complete firmness. His tongue danced over the peak, drawing instant gasps of pleasure from Joshua. He fought the chuckle that constantly rode in his throat, as the human beneath him trembled and squirmed, writhing with every touch and lap of his hands and tongue. This was the very same human that feared sex. It was hard to resist the laughter of joy, seeing Joshua enjoy the very thing he had so dreaded. "Oh, gawd...Marcellus, please take me," Joshua finally uttered with a quivering voice. "I thought you'd never ask, my dear Joshua." He lifted his head and smiled kindly, then eased into his lover slowly. Joshua planted his heels into the bedding and lifted his hips to meet the man's slow, gentle thrusts. His heart pounded wildly, as he stared up into Marcellus' eyes. There, he saw what he had never seen in any others. Something so foreign, he couldn't quite put a name to it. Did Marcellus truly care for him? Could he possibly love him? Joshua couldn't be certain at that moment, having not ever known what it was like or how it felt. The urgent need of his body called to them both, as Joshua stiffened with heightened stimulation. Marcellus leaned his head down, invading Josh's mouth once again. He deepened his thrusts and upped the pace a bit. And quickly, Josh cried out. His member pulsed between them strongly. Then, Marcellus moved over the young man's cheek to his throat. The switch came and he plunged his fangs into Josh's throat and the vein. He drew deeply, experiencing everything the human felt, everything he had experienced in life. It all congealed into one vast fathomless emotional and physical experience. Within seconds, his lover gasped for his breath. Marcellus moaned, drinking deeper and drew harder. When Joshua's arms became limp and fell beside him, Marcellus stopped and lifted his head. His tongue erased the remnants of the young man's sweet blood, as he watched the life fade from Joshua's eyes. Quickly, he bit his tongue and forced it into the young man's mouth. Only one drop would bring him back, when the time came. Automatically, the young man swallowed the flow that oozed into his mouth with the very last ounce of strength he had. Then he became silent and still. Deathly still. Marcellus grieved. He allowed himself to grieve the life of the young man he so cared for. It only began as curiosity, but abruptly became more. Yet, deep inside him, he knew that with the next setting of the sun, Joshua would become animate once again. He would breathe, and exist as his son and student—for Marcellus would become Joshua's father and tutor, teaching Joshua how to survive in his new dark world and with the dark gift. Excitement rose within him, as he detached from the human's body. His child would soon rise to stand beside him. There were preparations to be made, clothes to purchase for his new child. A room had to be made ready for him. There was so much to do and so little time. * Please forgive the time span between postings. I have had some life issues to deal with that could not be ignored. When I recently began writing chapter 5, I realized I hadn't even submitted chapter 4. This was a gross oversight, on my part, that I deeply apologize for. And yes, I am working on chapter 5, even as you have read this chapter, I suppose. I'd like to thank everyone that emailed me while I've been recovering. You've been a big help in keeping me focused on getting better. I'd also like to thank Ellynei for being the fresh eyes that helps me catch my mistakes and both Ellynei and Elianna for their continued encouragement. If you haven't read these two ladies work, you're missing out. Go find them in the search aspect and read them. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I also hope you'll be ready for the next. The ride is about to get a little bumpy...wickedly so. LOL I might even throw out the rule book, for a change. Hehehe... Please know that my continued efforts are driven by your comments and votes, as well as your emails. I encourage you to always remember to comment and vote on anyone's work, here at Literotica. We writers are all basically the same. We love to hear from our readers. Happy reading...