GLITTER GULCH

Chapter 38: The Darkest Hour

Cye was nestled snuggly against his lover, enjoying the warmth radiating from the man, a slight headache trying to ruin the comfort. Breath tickled the back of his neck and he sighed. This was very nice. Very relaxing after a nice hot bout of sex. He could still feel a bit of semen leaking from his hind end, but he wasn't worried. Instead of being obsessed with the need to clean up, it had been good to just settle into the comforting arms and drift between daydreams.

Although... something in his dreams told him this wasn't quite right...

Squirming in the other man's arms so he could turn around, Cye brushed a strand of green hair back from his lover's sweaty brow.

"Sekhmet?"

The green-haired mayor hardly moved.

"Sekhmet. Luv."
"Mm?"

"You okay?"

"Mmm-hmm."

Lines of concentration on the mayor's face worried Cye. The man seemed to be focusing all his energy on something. Perhaps if he suggested... He kissed Sekhmet's chest, letting his tongue linger. "Can we do it again?"

A sleepy eye peered at the schoolteacher. "Again?"

"Mmm-hmm," Cye purred.

The mayor chuckled, pulling the redhead closer, then abruptly jerked out of Cye's grasp and leaned over the side of the bed, coughing violently.

Immediately concerned, the schoolteacher fought his way out of the covers to sit behind the mayor and gently rub his back. "Sweetheart, you all right? Can I get you anything?"

Sekhmet shook his head, flecks of blood staining the front of his chest.

"Oh, dear." Instantly, Cye bustled off the bed and over to the mule chest, rummaging for something to wipe the blood away as well as a cup of some sort to pour water from the wash basin ewer into. Fumbling through the drawers, he found a silver box with a cobra on its lid, but tossed it aside because the silver would taint the water.

Finally he found a pewter cup and hastily filled it. The candlelight glinted off the surface of the water and Cye's turquoise eyes were drawn to it like a moth to a flame. He could feel the water shifting in the cup, sloshing against the sides. Something familiar in the circling ripples...�A fleck of dirt floated on the surface. �Cye clucked his tongue and dipped a fingertip in to draw the dirt out. As soon as his flesh touched the water, a white flash blinded his mind's eye, piercing through his mild headache, washing clean his memory.

Freeing him from Sekhmet's hold.

He gasped and fell to his knees, clutching the cup of water in his hands. Clenching his eyes shut, shame and remorse �flooding his heart, Cye fought back the tears that threatened. �H�e�'�d� �b�e�t�r�a�y�e�d� �K�e�n�t�o�.�With Sekhmet of all people. The man who had lured him to the Americas under false pretenses and then betrayed him. Had offered him a job and a home then destroyed his hopes when he'd reached Glitter Gulch.

The sharp fetters of control the mayor had fastened around his heart and mind fell free, and Cye couldn't help but let the tears flow then. He'd been controlled. Some sort of brainwashing that had made him do those things... forced him to betray the love he felt for the brawny mountain man. How could he have let that happen?

"�O�h�,� �n�o�.�.�.�"� �The words slipped out of his mouth, his hand too late in keeping himself quiet. He jerked his head up and stared into Sekhmet's eyes. �T�h�e� �man was bent over, a white sheet covering his lower half, flecks of blood staining the smooth linen.

Those eyes... �The eyes that had scared him at one time, sent him scurrying, trying to elude the mayor's gaze... they... they were filled with guilt. �Guilt and adoration.�Cye lowered his eyes, staring at the swirling pattern on the rug he knelt on. �He'd never seen that look in anyone's eyes... ever.

Even Philip - the ultimate betrayer - hadn't felt guilty about what he'd done. Hadn't looked at Cye with that much... love and admiration.

Compassion and warmth filled his heart. Even though this man had... deceived him - controlled him - he couldn't find it in him to hate the green-haired mayor. Why? Why couldn't he? It had been an ultimate betrayal. Taking his trust and love and bending them into something else. Turning him into something he wasn't. Using him. �

But Sekhmet hadn't abused him. Although he could have.

Far from it. Cye felt loved. Needed. Cared for. Hadn't felt violated at all. Even now he could feel the cooling semen on the insides of his thighs and wasn't repulsed by the idea that he'd just given himself completely to this man. �Another coughing fit shook Sekhmet's shoulders, causing the mayor to double over even more.

Cye frowned. He couldn't stand to see someone else in pain. Standing very carefully and trusting he would be safe, he edged his way over to the ailing man. He gingerly sat on the bed next to the mayor and raised the cup to Sekhmet's lips. "Here. Drink this. It will help."

Surprise and the briefest glimmer of hope reflected in the man's eyes. He tried to take the cup from Cye's hands, but it proved to be too difficult and some of the precious water spilled onto his lap.�"Here. Let me help you," the schoolteacher said as he lifted the cup to the mayor's lips.

Cye could feel the gratitude and thanks from the green-haired man. It was enough to make the redhead smile. His trust was being rewarded.

The water cooled the mayor's enflamed throat and he was able to whisper out a hoarse, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Cye replied as he sat there and waited for the mayor's new coughing fit to subside, gently rubbing small circles onto the ailing man's back. When it finally ended, Cye grew bold and simply asked, "Why?"

Startled, the mayor glanced up at the schoolteacher. Unable to stare into those beautiful, trusting eyes, he looked back down, staring at the flecks of drying blood on his sheet. "I- I wanted someone to love..." he whispered.

Sekhmet didn't struggle as Cye pulled him into a warm hug. "You ninny. There are other ways of getting someone to love you," the redhead said as he held him close.

Sleep was still holding Sage back, trying to keep him in the subconscious realm, weighting his limbs. He struggled to open his eyes, blearily blinking awake, lights and colors momentarily blinding him with their brilliance. He was lying nude on his side on a plush, down-filled bed, cradled in strong arms. He could hear and feel warm breath against his neck, fine hair tickling his skin.

"Ryo?" he breathed, voice cracking with the starched dryness of his throat. "Ryo? Where-?"

But it wasn't Ryo. The body pressed against his wasn't the familiar comforting heat of Wildfire, but a strange, numbing cold, bleeding through pores of unfamiliar flesh. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the cold seemed familiar. The enveloping shroud of darkness was welcoming... loving.

"Halo," a deep, gravely voice whispered in his ear. "Light."

Sage's eyebrows knitted together as he tried to place the owner of the voice…

"My light. Mine."

Recognition sinking in, Sage hissed and tried to pull away from the naked man spooned up behind him, but those strong, heavy arms held him in place. "Cale! You son of a bitch! Let me go!" He pushed and shoved against the arms, struggling with a sense of outrage, but succeeding in only annoying his captor, who merely wrapped Sage's arms in his embrace as well.

"Fuck!" Sage swore. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

But he knew. Deep down he knew. He didn't want to know. Didn't want to think of what the Sheriff had in mind, but it was difficult not to with Cale's swollen cock wedged between his ass cheeks.

"Mine," the Sheriff growled before biting into the soft skin at the juncture of Sage's shoulder and neck, drawing blood. A lot of it.

The cowboy screamed while the Sheriff's rough tongue lapped at the dripping blood and a hard, thick cock rammed home.

Sage's world erupted in a white hot flash, his body's reaction to the brutal penetration, the seemingly endless violation of self. But... this... body was... familiar.

His mind began to... embrace the fluid cold seeping into every crevice of his being. The grunts of pleasure from his dark-haired, scarred companion pleasing to his heart. Knew in his soul that he was connected to this man taking him... raping him. Knew that were it a different time, a different place... that he'd be enjoying it. Simply loving it. But now... this time, this place, his heart belonged to Ryo and no one else. What could he do?

The Sheriff no longer seemed human and Sage seriously doubted that if he tried to get away he'd make it unharmed. He could also feel the slight pull of Ryo's armor, calling to him, asking for his assistance, his aid, his soul. Sage had every intention of answering that call, just as the others did. He could feel them as well in varying stages of distress - their bodies crying out for relief - aches and pains he knew he could soothe with the power of his armor. He just had to get free. Something that wouldn't happen until Cale was spent. He had no other choice. He had to help things along. A satisfying moan when he clenched his ass tighter. He tried to roll over to get to his knees but long, clawed fingernails dug into his hips.

"I'm- I'm just trying to get in a more-"

A sharp growl.

Sage sighed and placed his hand over the gnarled digits that were drawing blood. He gently stroked them, then shifted and caressed hard, lightly furred thigh muscles. He tried to keep from shuddering. With some gentle prompting and slight maneuvering, he was able to get up on all fours. There was a moist lick of praise up along his flank that caused him to shiver. Coupled with the large prick roughly pumping his ass, he realized this didn't have to be a terrible experience.

"That's it," he purred. He could feel the tug of Ryo's armor again. He concentrated on it. Imagined it was Ryo riding him. Allowing the warmth of his love for the Indian to flow through his body. Letting the others feel it as well. Ciphering his power through the link he shared with the others to help heal their souls. That's where he felt a slight nudge in his mind. That familiar warmth from lives past, only this time it was tinged with malice and rage. It hovered around his aura, drinking in the light, feeding on it. There was an underlying tenderness about it, hidden beneath the anger. He knew if he reached far enough, he could get to that gentleness. So he bared his soul to the darkness and let it in.

At first, it was gentle, then with a roar of rage and frustration, the darkness swallowed his soul. He could have sworn he screamed aloud, but all that came from his parched lips was a strangled gasp. His head was being torn apart, the dark invasion singing this nerves, scraping his skull. For the moment, anger boiled up inside him and he fought to control it. Calling on the strength of the others to help him this time. He tried to cleanse his mind of the anger, hurt and resentment. Tried to fill his mind with love and caring. Understanding and kindness. The pain intensified, causing him to focus more intently, suffusing his body with the goodwill of his friends and loved ones. Filling his soul with light. The darkness rebelled against the intrusion, snarling and trying to shred the light with elongated claws, ripping through it only to find another layer of the golden aura behind. The light found that loving warmth buried underneath the anger and rage and nurtured it, breathed into it new life - and hope. One last show of brutal resistance and the darkness was overpowered, Cale crying out his sexual release as his soul gave into the light of Halo.

An inhuman growl gurgled from Kento's throat.

Anubis moved to intercept him by the door. "Come on, Mr. Hardrock. I've missed you."

"Yeah, right, you have." He tried to shove past the redhead.

"I really have." Anubis tilted his head and ran his hand over Kento's crotch.

The mountain man watched Anubis' hand with heavy-lidded eyes. He scowled at the bartender, trying to be polite yet firm at the same time. "I don't have any money on me."

"That's all right. After all, I'm Sekhmet's tonight. He's buying," Anubis breathed in his ear. His eyes closed and his brow creased with worry as the bartender's hand continued stroking. He took a deep breath and caught the redhead's wrist, stilling his hand.

"What do you want from me?" Caramel brown eyes burned into Anubis'.

"I don't want anything from you. I told you, Sekhmet's buying…"

Kento shoved the redhead forward, turning him and pushing him into the wall face first. He held Anubis' arm pinned to his back. "What do you want? I don't have time for this. The others are missing," he growled through clenched teeth.

"You want me, don't you? After all, your little schoolteacher seems to have forgotten you tonight."

"He hasn't-" he started, but an image of a certain Brit being fucked by an all too willing Sekhmet flashed in front of brown eyes.

He could feel Cye's eagerness. The pleasure coursing through the redhead's veins. He violently shook his head to clear it, tears threatening to spill over. Cye couldn't really be enjoying himself... He couldn't really want that...

C�o�u�l�d� �h�e�?�

He pressed his body against Anubis, crushing him into the wall. "What do you know about that?"

"Sekhmet thought you might want some company while he was entertaining... That's all. It gets so lonely when the one you love is in love with someone else. Doesn't it?"

Kento shuddered. Why was the bartender doing this? Why was he doing this to HIM? It was Rowan this man wanted. Craved. Not him. Anubis didn't really want him, so why was he trying so hard to get him now? There was something definitely wrong here, but Kento's mind was too busy contemplating how good the man's ass felt to fully grasp the disparity of the situation.

"You're pushing it, Anubis. That's not right and you know it."

"I've missed our time together. Our talks and playtime together. Don't you miss it, even just a little bit?"

Kento growled. "You don't give a shit about me, Anubis. Admit it. You were in it for the money. The money I had and the money you wanted."

Anubis wriggled his ass into Kento's groin. "Didn't I tell you that I belong to Sekhmet tonight? I've already been paid for..."

Kento couldn't think straight. Images of Cye kissing and hugging Sekhmet swirled in front of his eyes. Pictures of what went on the other night between Philip and Cye behind the closed door of HIS room. Visions of Cye cooing and moaning in someone else's arms. Cye telling Philip he loved him…

"Fuck me, Kento, " Anubis dared.

All of Kento's self-control went flying out the window. He leaned Anubis' torso into the wall as he pulled the bartender's hips back onto his aching erection. With nimble, desperate fingers, he unfastened Anubis' pants, shoving them down over his hips. Still keeping Anubis pinned, he undid the buttons on his trousers with one hand. He nudged the bartender's legs apart with his knee and positioned himself. He plunged into Anubis hard, eager to satisfy his own carnal lust for a different redhead.

Anubis' eyes went wide and he bit his tongue when the hard length filled him, forcing himself to relax as Kento began thrusting deep and fast. He whimpered when the mountain man hit that spot deep inside him that began pushing him over the edge.

Kento thrust even harder and faster, anxious to forget how hard he'd fallen for the British schoolteacher. Tears trailed down his face and sobs began to wrack his body. Anubis cried out his release as Kento pummeled his ass, the mountain man crying out Cye's name when he came, his body shaking with his climax and emotional release. Kento's sobs came freely now as he crumpled to the floor, sinking to his knees. His body shook as he covered his eyes and wept.

"What the fuck is going on here?"

Rowan was cranky to say the least.

He was tied up - shackled, really - and his muscles and joints were protesting how long he'd been detained. "Is this really fucking necessary?!" he yelled into the darkness.

"My, my. What a temper you have," purred a female voice from the darkness.

Rowan jerked his head up, suddenly realizing it wasn't really dark in here. He'd been blindfolded. He could see a crack of light at the bottom. Light that revealed he'd been stripped naked.

"Well, hell, how would you feel? Fucking annoying way to wake up," he muttered.

"Oh, come now, Rowan," a male voice breathed into his ear. "I figured you'd like to be... restrained."

"Restrained. Fine. Blindfolded. No. I like to see what I'm getting."

A soft chuckle from the man. "All right then."

Rowan felt the knot being loosened and he blinked his eyes to adjust to the bright light as soon as the cloth fell away. Candles and oil lamps were set up all around the room, their flickering light giving off shadows that danced along the walls of... rock?

"What the...?"

He was chained against the wall of a cave, for lack of a better word. Rough hewn stone all around, dark and earthy smells. The fire from the candles hissing when drops of cool water fell from the rock ceiling.

"What the fuck? I'm in a freaking dungeon?! The least you could have done was make this somewhat comfortable."

Rowan blinked his eyes. Briefly, he'd imagined he'd seen a lavishly decorated room instead of the dank, musty cave he was now in. It would flash in and out, like he was blinking it into existence and back again.

"Is that better?" the male voiced whispered.

The Yankee jerked his head around to stare at... Dais. But not Dais.

The pale-haired Judge had somehow gotten caught up in that same vortex as the cave, flashing from the Judge to Sage and back again. Rowan could only stare in amazement.

"I think he likes it," the female voice cooed.

Stunned, Rowan turned to look at her. Kayura. But not Kayura? Ugh. He was starting to get sick from the changing scenery. One instant it was Kayura the next instant, it was Cye.

"What the hell is going on here?" He clenched his eyes shut tight.

There was hesitation and concern in Dais' voice when the man asked, "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean! Quit changing things around! It's making me sick!"

"Changing things-"

"Stop playing around! You know what I mean! This ain't a freakin' manor bedroom and you ain't Sage and that ain't Cye! So knock it off!"

After a moment of stunned silence, Rowan opened his eyes. The room had quit changing and both Dais and Kayura were standing there open-mouthed, staring at him.

"Thank you!" he griped. "Damn. I was going to puke up tonight's dinner."

The Judge stepped forward. "You- you could see? You knew?"

"Could see that the room was having a hard time making up its mind? Sure." Rowan shook his head. "Knew you were doing it, too. Doesn't take a scientist to figure that one out."

"How? How did you know?"

"Do we have to stand here and discuss this? You two had ulterior motives for stringing me up like this, so? Come on. Get with it."

Slowly replacing the shocked gape on Dais' face was a smooth, sly leer. That look Rowan liked. Had him nearly moaning out loud. "Oh, yeah. That's what I'm talking about. I like restraints, sure. But only when I've got a mouth on my cock and a dick up my ass. How about it?"

Dais and Kayura exchanged sultry, knowing looks before the Judge purred, "You asked for it, you got it."

Ryo groaned and slowly opened his eyes. Panic seized him as he took in his all too familiar surroundings, nightmare images come to life. It was the circus wagon. His very own torture chamber on wheels. His hands and feet were in the old rusted shackles - still sturdy enough to hold a grown man suspended spread-eagled in place. Solid enough so that no matter how hard he struggled or yanked against them, they still cut into his wrists without giving.

"So glad you could finally join me, Mr. Wildfire. I've been waiting for this moment for so long."

"Talpa! You son of a bitch! What have you done with the others? If you hurt them, I'll-"

"You'll what, Ryo Wildfire? Kill me? Your blonde cowboy already tried that once, remember?" that familiar voice chilled him. His entire body shivered.

"What have you done with them, Talpa? Where are the others?" Ryo growled, still struggling against the chains.

"Your… friends are being well-taken care of. Don't worry. Seems my employees had personal interests in a couple of them. The other two, well, they haven't been forgotten."

"You'll pay for this. I swear it. You won't get away with it."

Talpa chuckled. "Oh, this is so wonderful. I have missed your spirit. That 'will to succeed' no matter what the cost. I never truly broke you, did I? Oh, I came close, of that I'm sure. That pet tiger of yours proved to be a useful tool. I wonder what I'll be able to use this time since the beast isn't around… Your friends, perhaps? You seem to care a great deal about them. But which one is your favorite? Which one should I choose first? Or should I save the blonde cowboy for last? Should I have him brought here instead of letting the fiercest of my warriors have him? Cale was practically frothing at the bit to get at him. He really wanted Sage Halo. All for himself."

With a snarl of rage, Ryo tried to launch himself at Talpa. Tear the monster's throat out with his bare hands. Rage tinged the edges of his vision red and he could feel the flames beginning to flare. This time he embraced them, called them to him, wanted them to singe and burn Talpa's soul.

"Bring the fire, Ryo. Bring it and your friends die."

Ryo gasped and the flames receded, angry at having been rebuked, burning cold as they left.

Ryo spat in Talpa's face.

"Boy," the Ringmaster hissed. "You watch yourself or your friends will pay the price for your insolence."

"Fuck you," Ryo spat. "It isn't in you to spare anyone."

"Oh, yes. That's right. You had that Indian friend before, didn't you? And you couldn't save him either. Much like your friends now. But they are in good company, trust me. My boys divided them up quite nicely. Didn't fight or anything. Knew exactly what they'd wanted. Such good boys they are. Made me quite proud actually."

Ryo snarled and jerked in the chains confining him.

"That's it, my savage. I never truly could tame you, could I, Ryo Wildfire? Your spirit sings to me. Calls to me. Draws me with its seductive lure. You were meant to be with me, boy. You and your... friends."

Talpa smiled wickedly and reached for his helmet that he'd abandoned all those years ago. "I shall do whatever I want, Ryo Wildfire. Whatever I want."

Ryo felt the cold metal of a knife slide between the back of his ascot and his skin, the blade nicking the back of his neck as Talpa ripped through his clothing. Ryo's body slumped, going limp, resigned to his fate, even as his mind optimistically offered, "At least I won't have to wear that stupid tie anymore."

"I'd die before ever joining you, Talpa."

Thinly veiled fury raged in the Ringmaster's burning eyes. "Be careful what you wish for, young one, " Talpa hissed before shooting Ryo in the shoulder.

"Fuck!" the Indian yelled, his body convulsing with the shock of the bullet ripping through flesh and sinew. The pain followed right after, lancing through his arm and into his gut, stealing his breath and clenching his jaw. His eyes squeezed shut, reflexive tears leaking through his ebony lashes even before Talpa's finger dug into the hole he'd made in Ryo's shoulder, tearing and stretching abused, torn flesh.

Ryo screamed. Blood poured from his shoulder, drawing gruesome lines down his chest and back.

Talpa shuddered with excitement. "I have missed your pain, Ryo Wildfire. I have missed those cries of anguish that come from your soul, even as it fights the urge to yield to me."

A gnarled, wrinkled fingertip covered in gore trailed down Ryo's back and roughly probed between the Indian's bruised buttcheeks. "This time I'm keeping you as my prize, Wildfire. You are mine for all eternity."

But Ryo of the Wildfire wasn't tamed that easily. Spitting the blood that had pooled in his mouth from where he'd bitten through his tongue, the Indian growled, "Never."

The blood soaked finger shove inside. Ryo's body bucked, his head falling back, arms stretched to their limits. "Never! You son of a bitch!" Flames shot from the captive Indian, igniting the garish painted wooden wagon.

Ryo screamed.