GLITTER GULCH

Chapter 11: Cruelty's Secret

Cye nervously chewed on his thumbnail. Doc Kaos had shooed them all out into another room while he examined his patients. They'd been lucky that Doc Kaos was around. Rowan had refused to give up and had knocked on every door and window on Doc Kaos' place until the old man had opened the door.

He seemed to have anticipated their arrival. Candles burned brightly and towels and blankets had been laid out. He'd had them place Sage and Ryo on cots in a small room with a long narrow table in the center that supported long thin needles, small bulbous jars, and tall bottles containing various oils and ointments.

Then he'd shooed them all out of the room, telling them he needed room to work, and promptly shut the door in their faces. Now, they waited. Well, Cye fretted while Rowan paced and Kento slept. I'm not going to have any fingers left if they don't come out soon.

The sun had risen, but had failed to chase the chill from the air. This is too much. He shivered. He felt a blanket fall across his shoulders. Kento smiled and wrapped an arm around him. Cye snuggled closer to the big man, putting his head on his chest. "They'll be all right. Don't you think so, Kento?"

"I sure hope so, Cye. I'd hate to think that I'd found a couple of friends only to lose them two days later." Cye agreed. He was lucky to have found these guys and he felt like he needed to do something to pay them back. They couldn't leave him. He had a debt to repay.

As soon as he had banished the others from the room, Doc Kaos began looking Ryo over. He already knew what had happened. He'd seen it through their eyes. As a matter of fact… "You can get up now, Korin. The others are not present and I know that you are awake."

Sage groggily sat up. "How'd…"

"I see many things, Korin. Some through your eyes."

"How's Ryo?"

"Rekka is fine. Thanks to you."

Sage closed his eyes.

"Yes, I said, thanks to you. If you had not been the one to find him, I do not think Rekka would have stayed with us."

"He would have died?"

"His body would not have died, but his heart would have. Yes. But your power has stopped his turning, for now."

"Turning?"

"Into a kyuuketsuki."

"A what?"

"A vampire, I believe would be the western world's equivalent."

"A vampire?!"

"Yes. He was bitten and drained of nearly all his blood by the foul creature of darkness and would have become one himself if not for the powers of light." Doc Kaos looked Sage in the eye. "Alas, you did not have enough power to heal yourself completely."

Sage grimaced at the cuts on his body. "They'll heal."

"I did not say that they would not." Kaos muttered something about not listening as he fiddled with some bottles on the table. He poured the contents of two small bottles into a mortar to which he added a fine powder and dried leaves of a spindly plant. Using a pestle, he crushed and mixed them together creating a paste.

"Ow!" Sage flinched as Doc Kaos began applying the paste to his cuts. "That stings!"

"If you would hold still, it would not hurt so much."

Sage stopped squirming and gritted his teeth while Doc Kaos finished spreading the ointment over his wounds. "I thought you said it wouldn't sting if I held still."

"If you had listened more closely, you would have realized that I did not say that. I said it would not hurt so much. That being because I would not have to strike you on the head to render you unconscious."

Sage muttered something under his breath about cranky old men and shifted his eyes to Ryo. "He looks okay so why isn't he…"

Kaos bandaged Sage's cuts as he spoke. "Give him time, Korin. His mind is still fighting its demons. Arms up." Sage raised his arms as Kaos wrapped gauze around his chest. "He will join us when he is ready. There. The smaller cuts will heal by tonight. Korin will take care of the rest eventually. Now get up and get dressed. Suiko brought you some clothing."

Sage did as he was told. He watched Ryo's still form. "I'll stay with him until he wakes up."

"No. You will not."

"What? Kaos, you have to let me stay…"

"I do not have to let you do anything of the sort. I will stay with Rekka. The rest of you must leave."

"You can't just…"

"Korin, you know that I am correct. I must be the one here with Rekka when he revives. It would be too much for him if it were one of you. He has been through much and I do not think he would want to explain it to anyone. Besides you have drained yourself of most of your energy. You will not be yourself for a few days. You can come by later and take Ryo home when he wakes up. You will know when it is time."

Sage considered Kaos' words and looked at Ryo. "All right, Kaos. But can I at least..."

"Do what you must, Korin."

Sage knelt next to Ryo's cot. He brushed the dark bangs from his forehead and kissed it lightly. "Come back to me, Ryo. Don't leave me now that I just found you," he whispered in the Indian's ear. He put his hand on Ryo's cheek and lightly traced the jaw line. "I love you, Ryo."

"That is enough, Korin. It is time for you and the others to go." Kaos helped him to his feet. "I suggest that you and Tenku stay nearby and keep the wagon. Send Suiko and Kongo home. They can do no more here."

"But how…?"

"They have legs. They can walk," Kaos muttered as he shoved Sage out of the room. Sage stood there for a moment and pivoted to face three pairs of questioning eyes. Now all he had to do was tell them they had to walk home. This was shaping up to be a swell day.

Anubis slid out from under Sekhmet and crinkled his nose. His breath smells. He's normally so clean. What's happening to him? He walked over to the dresser and looked at himself in the mirror. Dark circles lined his eyes and his long red hair was all in knots. He picked up a brush and began working on the tangles. He hadn't been sleeping well the last two nights -ever since he'd met Rowan Strata. "Ow." A particularly nasty knot pulled at his head. "Ugh." He kept going, trying to put himself back in some semblance of order. He felt sticky and his head hurt. He looked back at the sleeping figure on the bed. I don't even remember when he showed up or how we got in here. They were in one of the "meeting rooms" as Kayura liked to call them. I need a bath. Maybe Kayura can… He snatched up his robe and cinched it as he walked out the door. He passed one of the girls and asked her to tell Lady Kayura about Mayor Sekhmet. She giggled and said she'd take care of it. He went to his room, grabbed a change of clothes and a glass bottle of bath oil, and scurried to the bathhouse.

With the whiskey bottle and shot glass within easy reach, Sage thumped his head on the bar. He was tired, cranky, and wanted to be left alone. Luckily, Rowan had flitted off to find that sneaky, head-hitting bartender who didn't seem to be on duty, which left Sage to his depression and drink.

After Kaos had told them to go home and shut the door in their faces, they'd hung around for a while. They'd bombarded him with questions to which he had no answers, and he couldn't handle Cye's puppy-dog eyes filled with worry. Sage couldn't handle it anymore. He announced he was going to get a drink and left without turning to see if anyone would come with him. Apparently, Cye and Kento decided not to follow, but Rowan tagged along.

Sage sighed. He couldn't believe what Kaos had told him. A vampire? A vampire attacked Ryo? So that thing that attacked him, had that been a werewolf? Shut up. Don't think about it right now. Have another drink. He picked up his glass, sloppily poured more of the amber liquid into it, and downed it in one gulp.

He felt like shit. He thumped his head back down on the bar. Doc Kaos told him he wouldn't be himself for a day or so, that the power had drained him of any and all energy he had. What Kaos failed to tell him was that it would turn him into a cranky, hateful slug. Not that he hadn't been cranky or hateful the last couple of days. Okay, more than a couple.

"Ahem."

Somehow Sage knew that throat clearing was meant for him, but he wasn't about to lift his head off the cool varnished wood of the bar.

"Sage Halo?"

"What do you want?" he muttered into the wood. "Why don't people just leave me alone? All I want to do is sit here and drink. Is that too much to ask?" With great effort, Sage wrestled his head up to look at the throat clearer. Sheriff Cale tipped his hat.

"Oh, fuck." Sage let his head fall back onto the wood. "Ow."

Cale shifted nervously. "Mr. Sage Halo?"

"What?!"

Cale coughed. "Per Judge Dais' wishes, I hereby request your and Mr. Wildfire's presence at a formal dinner to be held Tuesday evening at the residence of said aforementioned judge."

Sage snickered into the bar. He lifted his head and swung his feet to face the sheriff. "What did you just say?"

"Per Judge Dais' wishes…"

Sage burst out laughing and Cale's face turned beet red.

"Now look here, I didn't want to do this but Dais…wanted me to." Cale took off his hat and messed with the brim, running his fingers along the edges.

Sage kept laughing.

"Well, are you coming or not?" The sheriff plopped his hat back on his head. "Will you knock it off?!"

Sage quit laughing but a smirk remained on his lips. "Oh that was priceless! You beat the hell out of me and try to throw me into jail my first day in town and now you're inviting me to a dinner party?"

"I'm not. Dais is."

"Oh, sure."

Cale snorted. "He's trying to apologize for your harsh treatment. He's trying to be polite."

Sage sobered. He was being an ass. Cale was trying in his own way to say he was sorry. He scratched his nose. "All right. Tuesday night?"

"Yes. He'll send a carriage to pick you up around dusk."

"You said it was formal, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay. We'll be there."

"Thank you. I'll let the judge know." Cale turned to leave.

"Sheriff Cale?"

"Yes."

"Why invite just me and Ryo? Why not Rosemary?"

Cale paused and his shoulders tensed. "The slight was toward you and the Indian, not the woman."

"But can I bring her instead of Mr. Wildfire?"

"I don't think that would please Judge Dais. He specifically asked me to invite you and Ryo Wildfire."

"So if I wanted to bring Mrs. Halo, I'd have to talk to Judge Dais then."

"Yes," Cale spat, gritting his teeth. He stormed out of the saloon.

Sage's eyes sparkled. The sheriff could be quite charming when he wanted to be. He almost broke out into giggles again.

The bathhouse was merely an attachment to the saloon with private baths for Kayura's "employees." Jonathan, a 16 year-old boy who had a keen interest in Anubis, stood at his usual post next to the door to the baths. "Good morning, Mr. Anubis, sir," Jonathan blurted out.

"Good morning, Jonathan."

"You're up early today, sir."

"I didn't feel much like sleeping in. Is there…?"

"Hot water has been started in the first one, sir. I was on my way to start the others."

"I'll take that one then. And Jonathan?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Bring me a towel when you get a chance, okay?"

"Yes, Sir!"

Anubis walked in the first door and smiled. A large metal tub halfway full of fresh water sat in one corner of the room. In the other corner sat a small coal burning stove with two buckets of steaming water resting on it. Anubis used the small towel lying near the stove to pick up the buckets of water and pour them into the metal tub, testing the water each time. When he finally deemed the water warm enough, he grabbed the glass bottle of bath oil and poured a small amount into the water. He then stripped off his robe and slowly eased into the tub, relishing the ginger scented oil. I needed this. He leaned back, closed his eyes, and let the water soothe him.

About ten minutes had passed when a towel dropped by the tub. "Thank you, Jonathan." He heard the door shut and lock. He sighed and sank farther into the tub. A hand reached over his shoulder and drew light circles on his chest. "Now, Jonathan. I'm really not in the mood for this right now. We've talked about this before. If you want this, you have to…"

"Who's Jonathan?"

Anubis grabbed the wrist and bolted upright, pulling the arm with him. He twisted, pulling the poor, unfortunate bastard with him into the tub and coming face to face with a flustered and slightly embarrassed Rowan Strata.

"Hey! What the hell?"

"Rowan?"

"In the flesh. The soppin' wet and soapy flesh." Rowan's arm was draped around Anubis' shoulder, his body stretched over the length of the tub. "I was gonna suggest ya put these in water, but ya beat me to it." A bunch of wildflowers floated on the surface of the water.

"How'd you…"

"I'll tell ya all 'bout it. But first, d'ya mind if I get up?"

Anubis stood up dragging a soggy bluebird with him.

"Thanks. But can I get outta the tub now?" Anubis had Rowan's hands pulled into his chest and there was something incredibly erotic about standing in a bathtub, dripping wet, while holding a damp, fully clothed man who just brought him flowers. Rowan tried to step out of the tub but Anubis dropped his hands to his waist and pulled him in closer.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Outta the…"

"Huh-uh." He shook his head and captured Rowan's mouth in a wet kiss. The Yankee's hands were pressed against the bartender's warm chest, and Anubis firmly grabbed Rowan's ass, crushing him against his newly formed erection. Anubis felt the bluebird's hesitation and thrust his tongue into Rowan's mouth, drinking in the sweet heady aroma of his breath and lavender scented hair. He ran his tongue over pearl white teeth and explored every inch of the Yankee's mouth. Rowan's body melted into his and he began to fervently kiss Anubis as his hands snaked their way around his neck. Anubis' grip on Rowan's ass increased as he lifted the bluebird into his arms, forcing long lanky legs around his waist. He briefly considered trying to step out of the tub with his bundle but thought better of it. Reluctantly he broke the kiss. Rowan's eyes were dark with passion and his lips were slightly swollen from the force of the kiss. Anubis drew in a deep breath and forced himself to ask, "Do you want to go somewhere a little more…accommodating?"

Sage was having problems seeing straight. Must've had a few more drinks than I thought. I'm going to have to sober up before I take Ryo home. He forced his head up off the bar, but unfortunately, it wouldn't stay upright. Now he was looking at the ceiling. "Fuck," he stated as he rolled his head forward. Using every bit of his strength, he swiveled on the barstool. Keeping his neck stiff, he used the bar to support his elbows and back and tried to look as nonchalant as possible.

He eyed the women leaning over the balcony and scowled. Before a couple of days ago, he would have jumped at the chance to bed one of those women, but now, his mind was full of visions of black hair, blue eyes, and a tanned, flat chest.

"Would you prefer something a little more…masculine?"

Sage nearly fell off the barstool. A beautiful Asian woman leaned on the bar behind him. She repeated her question. "Would you prefer someone more masculine?"

"You have that sort of thing here?" he gulped.

"Oh yes. I pride myself on running a 'full-service' saloon." She touched a lock of Sage's hair and twisted it around a long delicate finger. "I'm Lady Kayura."

"Sage Halo."

Her eyes lit up. "So you're the one making all the ruckus around here lately! Then you're in luck, because you've already had the pleasure of making Anubis' acquaintance."

"Anubis?" Sage's eyes narrowed.

"Yes." Kayura's eyes scanned the room. "He's occupied at the moment, but I'm sure I can arrange a meeting for you in about a half hour. That is if you're interested."

Sage's heart sank. Rowan had gone to look for Anubis. It would break his heart if he found out that he was expecting to get paid for a little fun. "You haven't by chance seen…"

"Lady Kayura, would you give this to Anubis for me?" A green haired man with narrow eyes handed Kayura a wad of paper notes. "Tell him that I missed seeing him this morning. Oh and please tell him about Tuesday night. I'll expect to see him there. You are coming, aren't you?" Kayura nodded. "Good. And tell him to wear something…appropriate for company." The man tipped his hat to Sage and slithered out of the saloon.

Tuesday night? Isn't that when… Sage jumped when Kayura tapped him on the shoulder.

"So, are you interested?"

Anubis dragged Rowan into his room, and slammed and locked the door behind them, knocking over a small table in the process. He wanted Rowan and he wanted him now -- more than he'd wanted anything or anyone in his entire life. He'd had a taste of the bluebird, and he was addicted. He slammed Rowan against the wall as he once again lifted him off the ground. His hands firmly grasped the Yankee's buttocks, and lean legs wrapped around his waist. He crushed Rowan's mouth with his own, forcing his tongue past soft lips. He couldn't get close enough to the blue haired temptation. He wanted -- no --needed to be inside him.

Rowan kissed back with equal fervor letting their tongues wrestle. Anubis could feel Rowan's hardened cock against his stomach and moaned. He broke the kiss and breathed in Rowan's ear, "I have to have you." He let Rowan's legs slide down his body, and he threw off his robe. Warm hands slid down to cup his ass. "Ugnnh," he groaned as Rowan pulled his hips forward and pressed his blood-engorged sex against the cloth covering Rowan's groin.

This time it was the bartender's turn to tear off buttons as he ripped open Rowan's shirt, revealing the smooth muscled chest underneath. Anubis dipped his head to grab one of the pink buds on the exposed chest with his lips, but Rowan swore and pulled Anubis' mouth up to his. The redhead silently protested. The kissing was wonderful, but his body cried out for something more carnal.

Anubis grabbed Rowan's upper arms and threw him onto the bed. In the next few seconds, Rowan frantically tried to divest his boots and pants all at once. Anubis was hungry, and the bluebird looked good enough to eat. He was sprawled out on the bed his hips arched to pull off his pants. Anubis spread some of the bath oil on his hand and began stroking his own hardened member. He was ready to go and from the look of things, so was Rowan. He crept up to the bed, put his head between Rowan's knees, and licked the smooth skin. He then slinked up the pale body letting his lips and body touch every inch pausing only long enough to run his tongue from Rowan's balls to the head of his cock. The bluebird's hands grasped the bedspread in a stranglehold.

"You want me to fuck you, don't you, little bluebird?" he breathed against Rowan's rigid sex.

Rowan bit his lip and breathlessly voiced, "Hell yeah."

"Turn over." The Yankee quickly complied. Grabbing a pillow and tucking it under his head, he stuck his ass in the air. Anubis admired the view and caressed the flesh before him. He ran a finger between Rowan's buttocks and gently teased the opening there. Rowan whimpered. "You're ready for me, aren't you?" He caressed Rowan's ass and slowly slid his finger in.

Rowan groaned and looked back over his shoulder. "If that's your dick, I'm sorely disappointed."

Anubis snorted. "You sure have a way of hurting a guy's feelings, you know that?" He added a second finger to the first punishing the bluebird as he searched out the spot he knew would make Rowan beg. Rowan's body jerked, and he groaned. He'd hit the spot. He loved watching the Yankee squirm and wriggle as he tried to force Anubis' fingers farther inside him. "Like that, little bird?" Anubis thrust three fingers into the opening burying them deep in the welcoming heat.

Rowan came unglued. He thrust his hips back. "Just fuck me all ready, won't ya? Fuck me before anyone barges in, throws up or my conscience takes over! I have gotta be the horniest, most sexually frustrated sap that has ever set foot in this town!"

Anubis didn't wait any longer. He grabbed Rowan's hips and shoved his way in. Rowan cried out, and Anubis paused to allow him to adjust, but Rowan had other plans. He started rocking back and forth. "Oh god," Anubis whispered. He forced himself to concentrate, reached around in front of Rowan, and began pumping him in time to the thrusts.

"Oh, yeah," Rowan panted as Anubis picked up the pace. He thrust himself deep into Rowan's body to hit that sweet spot over and over again. He bit his lower lip as he thrust harder and harder driving every inch of himself into that tight hot ass. The sounds coming from Rowan triggered something deep inside of him. He wanted more. He wanted those wonderful sounds to continue. He was causing this beautiful young man to make those sounds and didn't want it to end. He was getting too close so he slowed down, relishing the feeling of being engulfed by flesh.

A feeble cry escaped Rowan's lips. "Ooh, nooo…Don't stop…Don't slow down, please! Oh please fuck me harder, faster, please!" Rowan began to rock again, and Anubis gasped. "Please! Don't stop! Don't slow down! I need this, please!" The bluebird had been reduced to a creature of passion and need.

"But I thought that you wanted me to stop," Anubis teased.

"NO! Please!" Rowan punctuated each word with a thrust of his hips.

"Ugnhh," Anubis grunted as Rowan's ass tightened. The Yankee was very persuasive. I'll have plenty of time to play with him later. But right now… Need and desire clouded his vision as he once again picked up the pace concentrating on the task at hand. His own release couldn't happen until after Rowan was satisfied. He had to want to come back for more. Anubis had to see him again. Had to have this tight ass and see those smiling eyes and beautiful cobalt tresses.

He thrust harder and faster punishing the body beneath him until Rowan cried out and came all over his hand. His release followed only seconds later as he spilled his seed deep in Rowan's quivering body. They collapsed in a panting, sweaty heap on the bed, his naked body blanketing Rowan's. They lay there in the afterglow, and Anubis relished the feeling of the bluebird beneath him. He could still make out the faint scent of lavender amidst the smells of sweat and sex.

"I can't breathe. Get off," Rowan grunted.

Anubis chuckled as he slowly withdrew and rolled over onto his back. He lay there for several minutes listening to the bluebird's breathing. This was the first time he'd ever taken someone back to his room. Whatever had possessed him? Rowan. My little bluebird. He gazed at the man lying next to him. Eyes closed and lips slightly parted, Rowan looked like an angel -- a gift from heaven. A gift he didn’t deserve. His mind flashed to a green haired Mayor sprawled on a bed. Images of nameless faces he'd kissed, asses he'd fucked, and dicks he'd sucked to buy his freedom. Face it. You're a whore, Anubis, and that's all you'll ever be. Get used to it.

He smiled as Rowan lazily draped a pale arm over his chest. The warmth of the bluebird's body was comforting and soothing. He could lie here for the rest of his life as long as he had Rowan. Enjoy it for now. But if he ever gets wind of what you do, he'll be gone in a heartbeat. Just like Jacques. He closed his eyes. Paris. It seemed like a lifetime ago. Jackie hadn't wanted anything to do with him after he'd found out. And Kayura had been the one who told him. He'd never forgiven her for that. Although, she had been right. Jackie did have a right to know. But not like that. He didn't deserve to find me on my knees in front of a client with a dick in my mouth. Kayura did that on purpose. She thought I was spending too much time with Jacques and not enough time with paying customers. He sighed. I wanted to tell him, but it never seemed like the right time. He lightly caressed the bluebird's forearm. I should've told him. He might've stayed. As it was, he didn't even say goodbye. Anubis opened his eyes and looked at Rowan stretched out on the bed. So much like Jackie, but still so unique.

He lazily stroked the pale arm. "You're beautiful. Did you know that?"

"I bet ya say that ta all the girls," Rowan retorted as he snuggled nearer and put his head on Anubis' chest.

"Nope. Just the ones who have blue hair and are cuddling with me right now."

"I knew there was someone else in here."

Anubis laughed. "No one but you, little bluebird." He smoothed Rowan's feathery mane and tried to tame the unruly lock that fell between midnight blue eyes.

"Give it up. It's a lost cause. You'll be fightin' it forever."

If only I could. Maybe I should tell him. Losing him now wouldn't hurt as much. Would it? But he was lying to himself. It would hurt as much now as it ever would. This bluebird had already imprinted himself in Anubis' life. The way he moved and smelled. The intelligence in the brilliant blue eyes. The soft lilt of his voice. The beautiful smile. All of these things combined to make one memorable package. He let his gaze wander over Rowan's exquisite body. I get hard just looking at him.

As if he could read his thoughts, Rowan's midnight blue eyes opened, and his hand crept down Anubis' body. "Ready for round two?"