Ichabod felt the fiery metal of the
blade bite into his throat just
below his chin. The Hessian's expression did not change by the slightest
fraction. He felt
the world withdrawing and heard a familiar humming in his ears.
'Not Now!' his mind screamed at him. With an effort he focused on
staying aware.
"I won't hurt you. I just wanted to talk to you."
The Horseman's eyes widened. Then to Ichabod's amazement the dark
figure laughed.
The sword dropped to disappear in the moment it touched the charcoal
grey floor.
"Hurt me, Boy?" his grin revealed the savagely pointed teeth.
"And how
do you think you could hurt me? I am already dead."
Ichabod swallowed. "I, umm, well...Maybe I can't hurt you, but I
wouldn't if I could. Umm, that didn't come out exactly right, did it?"
The Hessian laughed agin, more gently and caught the human's chin as
before, tipping his head back. This time the shifting grey eyes were brighter
more relaxed ;
they even held a glint of humour. "You dare much, Pretty Child. Perhaps, I
will give you what you
seek and you shall repay me with what I desire."
Ichabod shivered at the open lust in that gaze. "But I don't know what
I'm looking for."
The Horseman trailed one finger across the prominent line of the boy's
cheekbone. "You were a man of science and fact. You believed in what could
be seen and felt,
and measured. Yes?" At Ichabod's nod, he continued, brushing stray hair
back from the young
man's face and tangling his fingers in the dark, silky mass. "You came here
looking for a man
and found a ghost. You expected a conspiracy and uncovered magic. Am I
correct?"
"Yes." Ichabod's voice was a mere whisper. Warm hands seemed to be
everywhere, tracing the curve of his ear, stroking the line of his neck and
shoulder, brushing
his lips. The low purr of the dead man's voice held him captive as the light
touches left trails of
fire on his flesh.
"You thought you loved the White Witch, but once the danger was past,
the feeling began to fade." Ichabod trembled beneath his hands. A tear ran
unheeded down the
mortal's cheek.
"How do you know all that?", Ichabod's voice was hoarse with emotion.
"You knew what you had lost before you came here, before you called me.
What do you seek;what do you want from me, Ichabod Crane?"