“Keshi?” Keshi was sitting in front of the fireplace but there was no fire on. He didn’t move when Lal called his name, he was quiet, looking like a statue. “Keshi, are you alright?” Lal touched his shoulder and Keshi turned around with his face wet and his eyes red from the many tears he cried. “Keshi! You…”

“I though I told you to stay out. Why can’t you understand what I am saying to you? …You are in danger with me, go away.”

“Is that why you asked me to leave?”

“I didn’t ask you, I ordered you to leave me in peace. Now…you must feel my anger…” Keshi stood, his eyes were cold with no expression and his face was tensed, then he pushed Lal. “Go.” Lal stood there absolutely still without going anywhere and Keshi pushed him again. “Go!”

“I won’t leave you like this. Tell me what is wrong in your heart?”

“You, get out! Get out!” Keshi pushed him harder and the weak body of Lal fell on the floor.

“Ouch! Keshi that’s enough! You’re hurting me!”

“I told you to leave and you insist, if you can’t understand then I’ll make you.” Keshi closed his eyes and now Lal was floating in the air, he wasn’t flying it was Keshi lifting him with his mind, then he suddenly opened his eyes and Lal was thrown out of the room falling on the ground of the outside. “Get lost for once and leave me, leave me...I'm no good for you. I…I bring death to people close to me…go!”

“I won’t leave, even if you kick me a thousand times! I love you! I love you! I want to help you…you're traumatized by something and I won’t let you keep living like this.”

“I never asked you to help me, I don’t need you. I don’t need you!” Keshi fell to his knees crying and then lay flat to the ground. “I…I…I am sorry Lal, but I will only bring death to you. Please understand. If I stay with you, you’ll die.”

“Why do you say that? I am not dying now! I will die one day, but not yet. Why do you say those things?”

“I lost everyone I loved. My father and mother were killed, I still don’t know why...surely because of me. My brother was my only family…he took care of me after my parents died. He was only 12 and he protected me like a father…but then, he died trying to save Kalkin and me from an evil man. That horrible warlock Ahriman killed him…I never forget that name. I’ve been alone for 10 years trying to protect the only thing I love, Kalkin, and now you…you were hurt because of me and I can’t let that happen again. You better go away from me.”

“Keshi, it wasn’t your fault your brother died or your parents. And it is not your fault that evil man wants to kill Kalkin, but not because of that you must forget about your own feelings. I think it’s wonderful you protect Kalkin, but you must be free to live your own life too. I won’t leave you, and if Ahriman wants Kalkin, he must go over us. I will be with you all the way. I love Kalkin, but I also love you…and I will fight with you against the entire city if it’s necessary. Please don’t ask me to go; I need you. I need to be with you or I’ll die of love.”

“Die of love? No one dies of love.”

“Maybe not of love, but yes of depression for losing my love.”

“He hurt you to get me…you almost died, I can’t let him hurt you again…you better get away from me.”

Lal kneeled beside him and touched his face lovingly while Keshi stared with tearful eyes. “I told you, I am not going anywhere. I love you and I need you with me because I love you too much. I can’t imagine my life without you now…I’ve travel through many forests and I never found someone, don’t ask me to give up on love when I finally found it.”

“Lal…forgive me. I hurt you.” He felt terrible for all the things he said and did to his beloved one, but he was so afraid to love and felt so in love he panicked. “Here…I want you to wear this amulet.” He took off his necklace and gave it to Lal. “Someone told me it would protect me. I want you to have it…so you’ll be safe.”

“Thank you, my love.” Lal hugged him tightly feeling a lot better, but concerned for his dear one. He knew Keshi was suffering inside and felt as lonely as he was so he could understand what he felt like. “Come, let’s get you inside…it’s cold and you are dirty.”

“You too…I threw you in the mud.”

“Then let’s go bathe together. What do you say?” Keshi stood up and gave Lal his hand leading him inside his house.

As he undressed, his lover sharing loving kisses, Keshi whispered on Lal’s ear: “Lal…I want to make love to you.”

“I want you to. Take me, love.” Keshi kissed him with deep passion, squeezing the young boy against his chest needing to feel his warmth close to his even when he felt he didn’t deserve Lal’s love after all he did.

They bathed each other very tenderly and most of all happily. For the first time Keshi was being sincere with his own feelings and accepted he loved him out loud, sharing his love with the one he chose. “I love you Lal…I love you.”

“Keshi!” Lal hugged him and cried with excitement, it was the first time someone told him “I love you” and it was all he desired, to be loved, to belong to someone. “I love you.” Both felt an immense happiness in their hearts feeling loved at last. This time both hopped to stop being lonely and be able to keep love by their side.

They bathed for long minutes exploring each other’s bodies searching for special points where the skin was more sensible to the touch. Pleasing, teasing and kissing was their eternal game until they decided to dry and lay on the bed holding each other tenderly. “Forgive me for being such a fool, my beloved. I will take care of you from now on.” With all the happiness they felt as they made love it was impossible to know they were watched again by the evil warlock Vritra.

'He didn’t give him the potion…that stupid creature. Then I must proceed with my initial plan…it won’t be that bad either, I will enjoy it for sure! Ha, ha, ha! But where does he hide that unicorn? Damn boy!' He couldn’t see Kalkin because his heart was evil- only pure hearts could. Even when he had strong powers, the only way he could see him was for the unicorn to allow him. The warlock left to the main castle of the city where the King and Princess were supposed to rule, but were thrown away by Ahriman before Vritra poisoned his master. Now Vritra lived in the castle as the new King of Alas letting all the people die of hunger and coldness without caring a bit. All he knew was what he learned from Ahriman, and being evil was all he learned and all he did was use the innocent to get what he wanted. “Dasa! Dasa come now!”

“Yes my master.” A young boy he had as a slave came immediately scared to be punished once again for not coming at the same instant he was called.

“I’m giving you the power to see.”

“But I have sight my master.”

“Idiot! To see what cannot be seen! There is this creature that lives deep in the forest I want you to capture for me, but you must be able to see it to capture it. So…drink this little potion and you’ll be able to see him.”

“What is it master? Why you want it?”

“He is a small boy with silver hair and tanned skin, you may see him with clear wings or not, but either way it is the same. His eyes have a very unusual shape, kind of…like ovals. He is very beautiful, but be careful with his lover- he mustn’t see you. You must find a way to capture him inside this web. Fool him the way you want, but bring him here. He must be here tomorrow or else…you’ll be dead.”

The slave was trembling knowing Vritra would kill him without mercy if he didn’t follow his orders, so as always he obeyed. “Yes master.” Dasa drank the potion and left to the forest, scared of what he may find or see. As Dasa walked deeper into the forest, the more unusual creatures he found- but none had the description his master gave. After hours of walking he became tired wanting to return; it was cold and no water or food was found on the way. “How much further should I go…it’s so dark. I’m scared…” Fortunately minutes later he saw a small house surrounded with thick mist and flowers and decided to ask for some water at least. The place had an atmosphere of unusual peace and sympathy surrounding it, making his fears vanish at the moment he envisioned the house. Dasa knocked the door but there was no answer so he knocked again. “Hello? Anyone home?” He opened the unlocked door and slowly entered the room finding a beautiful horned white beast sleeping on the floor, and a small figure under an old blanket with only his feet to be seen. “What is this place? So unreal…” He looked around and found many tools and things he never saw before, everything was obviously hand made making it a real adventure to the young boy. He grabbed a glass made out of coconuts with a beautiful design engraved all over it. “Wow…so nice.” He smiled while he traced the design with his fingers amazed of the fine work. “This must be hard to do…it’s the horse!” He noticed the design on the glass had the same horse that was sleeping inside the house. “So beautiful…”

Suddenly someone stepped behind the young boy forcing him to turn around. “What do you want here? Get out of my house!”

Dasa dropped the glass a little scared of being discovered. “Excuse me sir, I was just wishing for a drink of water.”

“Water? What is a boy like you doing in a place like this at these late hours? This is a very dangerous place for a boy like you. Are you lost?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you think you went a little bit too far?”

“Yes, but I was escaping from an evil man and I got till here.”

Keshi picked the glass and gave him water, then sat on the bed still questioning the boy. “An evil man? Who?”

“A-Ahriman!”

“Ahriman! That monster! What does he want with you?”

“I am his slave, but I managed to escape…now he wants to kill me.”

“Why me?” Keshi couldn’t believe how all creatures wanted to be killed by Ahriman end up in his place.

“Keshi?” Lal sit up in bed to look at his lover and to whomever he was talking to. “We have a visitor?”

“Who is he?” Dasa recognized him immediately. The creature had the same description Vritra gave him. 'Big oval eyes, tanned skin, and silver hair...it’s gotta be him!'

“You can see Lal?” Keshi couldn’t believe he saw his lover when practically no one could.

“Yes, he is…very unusual.”

“Yes…he is special.”

“Keshi, where were you and who is he?”

“I found him sneaking in here, and I was looking for some flowers for you.” Keshi gave Lal the flowers and kissed his lips. “Hope you like them.”

“You shouldn’t it’s so late.”

“It doesn’t matter, I feel like it.” Lal snuggled in his arms looking at the boy staring at the scene.

“Oh, by the way. What is your name, boy?”

“Dasa and you?”

“I’m Keshi and this is Lal.”

“And the beast?”

“HUH?!” Both Lal and Keshi were shocked to know he also saw Kalkin. “You can see him?!”

“Yes, he is gorgeous!”

“His name is Kalkin and is my treasure so be careful with him. You can stay till tomorrow, but first thing in the morning you must be gone.”

“Thank you.” Dasa lay on the floor beside the fire Keshi turned on for him and wished he could stay forever instead of going back to Vritra. 'How am I supposed to capture that pretty boy? He is probably my same height, but maybe even slender than I am. This would be bad…I got till tomorrow.'

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