That which was Lost

WARNING:violence, implied rape, awkward petnames

Chapter 3

Kaim starred thunder stuck at a young girl standing on the edge of a blustery cliff-side. It was odd, but for some reason there was a sinking feeling deep in the pit of his stomach. Slowly he started to move towards the child.

Noticing his movement, the young girl looked over her shoulder at him. Immediately overcome by panic he began to rush towards her. She wasn’t going to. . .

“Noooo!” he screamed as the girl fell to the seas below. Nearby, someone was crying along with him.

~

Jerking awake, the brunette let his hand fly to his forehead. Heart pounding and his mind in a completely panic, Kaim took a deep breath to calm himself as well as settle the unexplained sickness that was swelling in his stomach. That dream. . . he had never felt anything so painful. His heart was pounding harder than it had in any battle and his hands, they just wouldn’t stop shaking. When his muscles finally relaxed enough, he stood up and left the inn to get some fresh air.

As he made his way down the stairs he mentally soothed himself. It had just been a dream, it wasn’t real, and therefore it was best to let it go. What was he? Some kind of child? He was a warrior! A mercenary! Such men were not affected by petty things like nightmares. On his way out, the innkeeper informed him that he hadn’t received any messages but he was free to stay until he was. Waving the man off, Kaim continued to the door.

Outside, the sun was already relatively high in the sky. That was odd, he had though someone would have come to wake him by now. He was sure the chairman had said something about him being sent off in the morning because he was immortal. Cursing Gongora for releasing that information about him, he focused on trying to remember where he was being sent instead of on that silly dream.

After several minutes of silent pondering, Kaim sighed. His memory really was horrible . . . then again, he was immortal, maybe he was getting senile in his old age. Perhaps even senile enough that he should start sleeping with the lights on again. He recalled someone telling him once that sleeping with the lights on stopped nightmares. . . . Hey! Maybe his memory wasn’t so bad after all.

Figuring that someone would be along sooner or later to inform him of his mission, he decided to take advantage of having another day off. Besides, this would give him some time to make some sense of that dream.
It hadn’t felt like a dream. It had felt real, like it was actually happening . . . or had happened before. He bit his lip. Even thinking about it caused his heart to tighten. But why? Who was that girl? And why had she jumped like that? Biting his lip, Kaim rounded a corner before the crowded nature of the main streets worsened his headache. He didn’t recall much about himself, but he did know that he liked it quiet.

Making his way down the less teeming streets of Urah, he caught his reflection in one of the shiny magic turbines. He looked like hell. Despite sleeping for a good five hours longer than he usually did, dark circles were looming under his bluish grey eyes. His hair could use a good brushing as well. Not that he really cared; it was just something he noticed . . . like that guy following him.

Frowning, Kaim rounded another corner and waited. The man following him was thinner than he looked, the white robe he was wearing added to his size but that meant nothing. Also, judging by his well kept hair and smooth skin, the man hadn’t seen much battle. To be honest, he was far too pretty to really be good for anything besides maybe. . .

“No way!” Kaim exclaimed as his follower’s throat met his hand.

“Hey whoa!” Jansen protested. Kaim growled as he looked intently at the man’s cute and quickly reddening face. He had captivating eyes, almost red, and his lips were. . .

‘Damn,’ He thought to himself as he tightened his hold. ‘That was something I could have gone /without/ remembering,’

“Hey, come on!” his captive protested weakly.

“Why are you following me,” Kaim growled not caring for the way the current situation was making certain parts of his body tense up. He narrowed his eyes further.

“I’m,” He gasped for air, and Kaim bit the inside of his mouth. He could imagine another situation where that man would be gasping for air. “A messenger, just a messenger. Gongora sent me to come get you.” Jansen finished hoping that would be enough to get this maniac warmonger to release him.

With another growl Kaim let the man fall to the ground with a loud thump. Coughing, Jansen lifted his gaze to say something; however, Kaim had already set off towards Gongora’s mansion.

“Sheesh,” Jansen breathed as he stood up and rubbed his throat, “That guy’s got some serious issues. Got a temper like someone else I know,” he pouted.

Dusting himself off, the man quickly scanned the area around him. Good no one was around. Swiftly he cast a Heal on himself to get rid of the bruises. Couldn’t be looking like some roughed up street urchin after all.
He tried not to use magic all too often. As much as it helped speed up the healing process, he couldn’t let Gongora know that he had been going through his scrolls. The man didn’t treat nosiness kindly. With one final check, Jansen followed after Kaim to the manor.

~

“Your majesty,” Gongora bowed low to give the former prince his due respect. True, the monarchy had been dissolved years ago, but prince Tolten was still royalty. He was also a major pawn for the time being.
“Gongora, how troubled I am to see you like this. To think, a man who once served my father, the great king, is now a prisoner in his own home”

“You’re too kind your majesty,” Gongora spoke as he kissed the man’s hand and then rose. Tolten flushed,
“Please, you must cease addressing me as you’re majesty. People will think you’re trying to restore the monarchy.” Gongora smirked inwardly at this. Oh but he was.

“It is purely out of respect your highness.” Gongora replied pouring himself a drink. “So, not to be prompt, but why have you come? Surely this isn’t just a pleasure visit.” Again the prince flushed. Remembering his reason for visiting the former Royal advisor in the first place he opened his mouth,

“I was curious.” He began, “As to why Chairman Roxian has taken hold of Grand Staff. Did you surrender control to him?” Gongora inwardly boiled at the reminder of his removal from power. Roxian must have been suspicious of him even before the death of the king. Ever since the monarchy had been dissolved Roxian had been slowly sapping away all Gongora’s power over the country.

“No.” the sorcerer answered, “It seems the chairman has a dislike for me. He removed me from head of construction at Grand staff when he placed me under arrest.” Tolten gasped

“But it’s progressed so far! Why remove you now?!” the prince erupted causing Gongora to smile. This boy was so naive.

“The chairman can do what he see’s to be the right decision.” Gongora responded taking a sip of whiskey. “I can only humbly accept his judgment.” The older man reclined in his chair and sighed.

Tolten frowned and tilted his blond head to the side. It was so horrible to see how far this man had fallen from Urah’s grace. Gongora had helped so much in progressing the city.

“I will speak with Chairman Roxian about this.” The prince began “I feel that he has acted rash, I will contact
you again soon.”

“Farewell your highness,” Gongora spoke before standing up and bowing in respect.
As Tolten turned to exit the study one of Gongora’s servants appeared to inform him that Kaim had arrived. Good.

“Hey there!” Jansen exclaimed sliding around from behind one of the pillars. “Is that the prince? He’s a cute one. Not to bright though.” Gongora frowned and pinched the bridge of his nose to display his irritation. “I delivered your message.” Jansen continued.

Gongora was about to reply, however, the lift that lead to his study suddenly opened to reveal Kaim. With a yelp, Jansen retreated once more behind his pillar.

“Sir,” The warrior greeted before kneeling and kissing his employers hand. Quickly rising he looked directly into the larger mans eyes and awaited his orders.

From his hiding place Jansen began to eye up his new work partner. Now that Kaim wasn’t threatening his life, he was actually quite hansom. His long hair was pushed roughly out of his emotionless and guarded face and his eyes were piercing and confident. Jansen had never seen anyone look directly at Gongora for that long. The two men were like cats, starring each other down and gauging the others power.

Letting his eyes travel further down, Jansen took note of the warriors build. Definitely a mercenary, no one that thin would develop a build like that by simply working out. The steel sword at the man’s side spoke for itself. As Jansen continued to observe he chuckled softly at the exposed area at Kaim’s lower back. What good was armor if it didn’t protect where its wearer couldn’t? But then again, that small shot of exposed flesh combined with those low riding, tight pants. . .

“Excuse me for a moment,” Kaim’s voice suddenly pulled Jansen out of his trance and back into the real world. The real world where Kaim was now pointing a sword at him.

“Hey take it easy!” he protested both loud and nervous, “I don’t have a sword!” The warrior just narrowed his piercing eyes. Jansen swallowed.

“It’s alright.” Gongora cut in once he had tiered of seeing his pet harassed. “This man is actually the reason I called you here. He’ll be accompanying you on your journey to Grand staff.”

Kaim scowled as he lowered his sword. Great, ‘this man’ had just triggered the memory that he was. . . Kaim suppressed the shudder, and now he was being sent along with him?! It was bad enough Kaim had to live with knowing /that/ about himself. He didn’t need a constant reminder sharing a tent with him. He shuddered again, only that time it hadn’t been out of disgust.

“Do you really think that he’s necessary?” Kaim rarely argued with his employers, however, this seemed like a good time to start. Gongora, though, nodded.

“I’m concerned about the woman you’re being sent with. Seth Balmore. She was once a pirate so I believe she may be untrustworthy. This man here,” Gongora directed his glance to a pouting Jansen, “Has a good eye for women.”

Completely unsatisfied, but totally helpless in this situation, Kaim nodded. It wouldn’t be a long journey. Perhaps, if the man was as annoying as he looked, the attraction would dissolve quickly. Until then he would just have to take a lot of cold, cold baths.

“I understand sir,” Kaim agreed. Without much more, Gongora dismissed him. Once Kaim had left the room he rounded on Jansen.

Knowing the look of rage in his master’s eyes all too well, the young man took a step back. As Gongora began to move toward him, Jansen continued his retreat. They continued like this until the more slender of the two hit a wall.

“Hey, come on! What could you possibly be mad about! I haven’t don any-” Jansen felt the magic energy of the spell before it had even been cast. Smart enough not to dodge he let the Seal mute him.

“Much better,” Gongora sighed when all that came out of the man’s moving lips was silent air. In defeat, Jansen closed his mouth and bit his bottom lip. So much for talking his way out of trouble. There was always the running option, however, that never seemed to work out. Besides, the last thing he wanted was to get paralyzed on top of everything else. That would just be terrible.

When Gongora’s hand ignited with a Flare Jansen’s eyes widened. Squeezing them shut he turned his head to the side and braced himself. When no pain greeted him, he cracked open an eye.

“If you ever eavesdrop on my private affairs again,” Gongora finished his sentence by casting the spell at a nearby object which immediately burst into flames. Wincing, Jansen nodded and hoped that all he would get was a warning. “And just so you remember. . .” Instantly, magic seized his entire body. With a silent cry he felt himself lifted off the ground and pulled towards Gongora.

Roughly he was grabbed by the hair and the magic around him diminished,

“OW! stop that!” he groaned immediately raising his hands to the one that was abusing his scalp.

“That’s nothing,” Gongora breathed softly. Without any warning he slammed Jansen’s head into the marble table beside him. Watching the young man crumble to the floor Gongora smiled. Lifting Jansen’s face with the toe of his boot, Gongora allowed Jansen to see that grin through his definite dizziness. “Remember that.” He scolded quite liking the site of his slave crumpled at his feet. It seemed he would be requiring the man for a bit longer than he had originally expected. “Now, all this unforeseen exercise has gotten me worked up.”

Even over the ringing in his ears Jansen had heard that. Scrambling to get up but thwarted by tunnel-vision and lightheadedness, the young man fell once again to the stone floor. Laughing at the boy’s futile efforts, Gongora seized him by his thin wrist and began dragging him towards the other room. Panicking, Jansen resisted by dropping to his knees.

“NO!” he cried out “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! Please don’t-” Gongora’ s palm slapped into his cheek silencing him. Biting back the tears he pulled worthlessly against the far stronger man’s hold. “Stop!” he tried again only to be answered by a knife-like glare.

He knew Gongora was already not amused by his behavior, he also knew he was making it worse by resisting. Gongora owned him; he had owned him since he was sixteen. It wasn’t like this was anything new. Jansen himself didn’t know where this rush of courage to defy his master had come from. Logically what he was doing was pointless. Gongora was stronger than him in every sense of the word. Resisting him was futile and yet. . . It must have been Kaim. That man’s confidence, no, fearlessness must have inspired this somehow.

“Let go!” he shouted pulling against the hold as hard as he could.

Gongora was now clearly infuriated. With a closed fist, complete with rings, he struck Jansen hard enough that the man momentarily lost consciousness. Thankful for the brief silence, Gongora lifted the slender figure off the floor and carried him the remainder of the distance down the hall.

With little fanfare he tossed Jansen like a rag doll onto the king sized bed. Ridding himself of his heavy outer robe, he crawled across the covers and slapped the unconscious man to wake him. Blinking himself back into the world of the living, Jansen instantly realized that it had been a horrible mistake not to go into the light.

“No!” he cried out as Gongora used his momentary confusion to tear him out of the robe he was wearing.
“You think I’d be kind enough to let you off that easily?!” the man grunted as he shoved the now topless man down by the back of his head. “You brought this on yourself Jany,” he spoke the pet name with disgust as he rid the younger of his remaining attire. Jansen grit his teeth,

“Don’t!” his cries rang hollow in the dark room. As he was shoved backward, now completely naked with his auburn hair spilling down to his shoulders, he drew a pillow in front of him to cover himself. “I won’t let you do this,” he growled though physically he could do nothing. Gongora simply laughed as he tossed aside the remainder of his own garments. Jansen turned his eyes away from the man’s nakedness and bit back the urge to vomit.

Tearing away the pillow and hurling it against the wall, Gongora looked down at his slave with a dark grin.

“It’s a shame that mouth had to ruin such a beautiful body,” Jansen just kept biting his lip and squeezing his eyes shut. What he wouldn’t give for a Blind spell right now. . . “I’m not being nice this time.” Gongora revealed needlessly. Growing suddenly bold, Jansen opened his mouth.

“Go fuck yourself,” he spat. Gongora was momentarily taken aback. Soon though, the shock was replaced by a dark chuckle.

“Oh, you should not have said that.” He breathed grabbing Jansen b the hair. “Since you’re feeling particularly masochistic today, I’ll happily oblige you.”

The screams that echoed from the room that night caused even the servants to shiver.