WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE/Iah & Anton NC-17

[pyromaniac]

Iah nearly laughed,

“Mr. Arkady you act as though you gave me much choice, honestly it wouldn’t do either of us any good if you did not feast upon what I have so carefully prepared, and it would not do me any good to act anything less of professional when at an interview of my abilities as a chef.” Iah said, making sure that Anton knew why he was dining with him.

Iah eyed the liquor a little warily as Anton nudged it closer, he was afraid of the taste more than the affects, which didn’t seem to work on him unless he had more than half a gallon of the stuff. Iah was a little shocked at how Anton's fingers touched Iah's hand, making an impercievable shiver run through him. Iah blushed at Anton's words, and that pet name again, though Iah was temporarily distracted from his thoughts as Anton took his hand and kissed it, causing Iah to blush at the touch of Anton’s lips on his hand, some of his beautiful hair coming to join his lips in the caress. He was about to pull his hand back when thankfully Anton released it and Iah couldn’t get rid of the sensation that lingered on his skin so he delicately took the glass to his lips, sipping it to find its taste quality at the same high percentage as his own cooking. His eyes widened slightly,

“Amazing, I have never tasted this blend before, what is it?” Iah asked, completely astonished by the taste.

Iah smiled slightly at the teasing tone,

“I suppose, though you still haven’t tried the highlight of this meal” Iah said, eyes shimmering with absolute pride and excitement as he uncovered dessert, the cream puffs looking positively perfect as well as the rest of the meal had, though Iah was truly proud of them because well, you try making them over an open flame, it wasn’t easy and Iah thrived best in challenges, and making cream puffs in the middle of a forest was no piece of cake.

[semelecyn]

"If you desire, you may visit my breweries. They shall reveal to you the secrets of this." He held the goblet aloft, admiring how the candlelight danced along the pale blue crystal that was the same shade as his eyes. The liquid within warmed at his touch, releasing an aroma that was perhaps more intoxicating than the brew itself. "They must tell you, show you the herbs and spices that are combined to achieve this. One does not readily become drunken from it, I assure you--though there is a trick to it." He smiled, lips pressed together, eyes gleaming, looking very like someone who knew a great secret he must never reveal.

"I am pleased that you partook of my gift. You must admit that it is an accent for your excellent preparations. The stroganoff... I think I shall request it for my next banquet. There are those who cannot possibly imagine such a magnificent dish. Why, I might have thought I was dining with the Czar and Czarina." The smile was a relaxed one now as he studied the youth at his side. He turned slightly, glass still in hand. "A toast," he suggested, his movement suggesting a gentle clink of goblets. "'Tis simple. My compliments to the chef." He downed the rest of the golden liquid, his head tilting so that his pale throat arched, his shimmering tresses cascading down his back. When he had finished. He reached for the bottle to refill his goblet then Iah's.

"Now, what is it you have for dessert, My Jewel? What culinary treasure have you created? Ah! The cream puff." There seemed to be a glow about Anton, as if the liquid had imbued him with light. He smiled, enough to partially bare the elongated teeth of his kind, realizing that his newest employee must know what he was although he himself still had not decided all of the facets to Iah Raksha. That would come later.

Carefully, he selected one of the delicacies, as if choosing the perfect cigar or the right jewel. He tongued the end of the pastry, leveling his gaze at Iah, crystal blue-gold eyes meeting gem-green orbs. Somehow, he managed to avoid parody or a comedic attitude as he slowly consumed the pastry in a way that was highly erotic and unquestionably suggestive. Obviously aware of the fact, he winked his right eye very slowly. Mischief lighted the extraordinary eyes as he smiled faintly at the exotic young man.

"How soon will you be ready to depart, My Jewel? My men will aid you with your move. Nothing of yours will be left behind. No possession will be taken from you," he promised, "save what you choose to give."

[pyromaniac]

Iah’s eyes seemed to come to life, he was holding in his excitement as best he could, he was a food geek, and anything that had to involve food was something he would readily try to learn, though he knew that brewing was an art all in itself, but still, he wanted to know, he was desperate for something that this planet didn’t really have or teach. So he put on a real smile, a very gratifying look coming to his eyes, as he said in the calmest voice he could,

“That would please me very much Mr. Arkady, thank you” Iah still couldn’t get over it, this was his chef’s kid in a candy store equivalent, and he would take Anton up on that offer as soon as he was settled and they didn’t need his presence in the kitchen. Iah was a little hesitant to take another sip from the goblet of the mysterious brew, his mind reeling as to what the ingredients are, mentally scratching out and rewriting the different ingredients.

He took another tentative sip, ah yes he got a better part of the ingredients this time, they were neutral spices that went with practically everything, he smiled, glad to have figured out the brew, if the smile on his face had anything to say of it. Though his brows furrowed slightly, coming across a taste that he never had, his curiosity was peaked to the highest extent. If the world ended at that moment Iah would find a way to halt it in order to find out what that one ingredient was.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, and honored that you would request it for such an occasion” Iah said, tapping his own goblet and thankful that there wasn’t that much in glass, he nearly protested when Anton filled his cup again, he was not going to get drunk so quickly, though he was still weary of the unknown ingredient or two.

“Yes this particular liquid did go very well, it could be of the neutral blend of ingredients, though I’m curious Mr. Arkady, for there is one unknown taste in this,” Iah indicated the wine,

“Would you tell me what it is? My chef’s interest is curious” Iah said, yes he was a little terrified of something that he could not identify, and he could not identify that one ingredient.

Iah would admit though, as Anton picked out one of his prized creations that there was something about him, like the liquid did something to enhance his natural beauty, what a freighting thought that was, the man was already gorgeous, he needn’t anything else to help that beauty along.

Iah wasn’t sure if Anton could tease that poor little puff anymore, Iah was disgusted that he would violate one of his children in such a vulgar manner, but couldn’t seem to stop staring at those amazing eyes, the color often shifted in them and Iah was getting the feeling like it was a mood ring to the man’s soul. At the wink Iah shivered slightly, keeping his composure as he reached out and grabbed one nearest to him, and eating it without any suggestive way about him. He was here to find a job as a chef, not a bed warmer.

Iah sighed as the departing time came up once more, did this man not hear him the first time? Or perhaps he thinks that giving him some strange liquor, and the suggestiveness of how skilled he was in bed, would change Iah’s mind? He didn’t think the man was that naïve.

“Mr. Arkady, I will be ready in two weeks time” Iah said, the professionalism coming back to replace any kid-like actions he showed before.

[semelecyn]

"Not two weeks, My Jewel. "Not a day more and no more than two hours more, Iah Raksha. Are you feeling weary perhaps, wearier than you might expect to be? I am sorry, little one, but I cannot risk leaving you on this world for another to find and claim. I shall not wait, and I shall not leave only to return to this world hoping you will be here. I do this for you, Iah Raksha," he said softly, his hand reaching out to stroke the long hair of such a different texture than his own. "I do it because I must." Again, he caressed the hand that held the crystal vessel.

"The goblet, My Jewel, is the final ingredient. You have held the goblet long enough. Now, you will sleep, peacefully, restfully, and I shall carry you to my ship. Your belongings will be packed carefully and brought later. When you awaken, we shall be on Jeskara, where you shall be perhaps my greatest treasure I fear. I am drawn to you, Iah, unlike anyone I have encountered. This displeases me greatly, yet one cannot defy destiny, and destiny has caused our paths to cross and entwine." He smiled sweetly, a most unusual expression on the perfect features, the face of an aristocrat, of a ruler and of a being who, after centuries of solitude, had found his intended.

[pyromaniac]

Iah was so confused, then something happened, a fatigue like no other struck him. He looked questionably to Anton, realization dawning on his drowsy mind as his eyes widened. Iah shook his head trying to dispel the weary, only causing a bad headache for himself. Scrambling out of his chair he scooted quickly back as quickly as he could,

“N…no!,” Iah said, completely shaken as he kept backing up, sleep singing her sweet lullaby, he felt delirious, panicked, and afraid, Ellie. Iah couldn’t sleep he had to say good bye to Ellie! He tried conveying this as his body hit a tree, which seemed to bring about tears for he was so confused and disoriented that it felt more like a wall than a tree he could go around, he was oppressed by it’s intimidating presence and couldn’t help the way the tears slipped from his eyes, feeling like a lost child, and his voice portrayed that perfectly

“please” he begged, so tired, and so exhausted, his limbs feeling heavy, but he had to try,

“please let me say one last goodbye to” his body leaned forward, his voice sleep laden and urgent somehow at the same time,

“Ellie” Ellie, I’m sorry Iah said, both aloud and in his mind, tears running down his dark cheeks as his eyes, and all consciousness, close in unwanted and drugged sleep.

Ellie was not pleased in the least at the aristocrat, she didn’t care if the male couldn’t hear or see her, she was going to speak her mind on Iah’s behalf and do her best to mend this seam before it grew worse upon Iah’s awakening to the world.

The 14 year old walked right in between Iah’s collapsed body and Anton, glaring at the man and angrily yelling to him,

“How dare you!” the girl started, mind ablaze, taking on Iah’s subconscious.

“Do you realize what you just did? How could you?! Ellie said, fuming from the emotions both from her friend and her own emotions, considering Iah’s mind was filled with guilt, though there was some anger, and Ellie imagined that her friend was trying to fight his way back to the world of living as she spoke.

“You realize that if you do manage to get away with taking him back that he will hate you for it right? You understand that he will never truly be yours now, don’t you? How could you do something like that to your future lover?! You know for all of your years you most certainly are dense on they ways of romance” Ellie said, gently brushing back some of Iah’s hair, her aura very calm and gentle as the tears dissipated at her ghost touch, Ellie sighed,

“You would have been able to do that too if you hadn’t drugged him, honestly he was beginning to really open up to you, two more weeks and he would have willingly been yours!” Ellie shook her pretty brown curly locks,

“He would have performed for you! Showed you how truly pretty and gentle he really is! Would have more than happily cooked for you! Is there something wrong with you? Why would you jeopardize something so important!” Ellie didn’t know why she wasting her time trying to get through to the man, but for her Moonlight’s sake, she had to try.

“If you truly want to try and obtain Iah’s trust again, do not bring him back to Jeskara tonight, be there when he wakes and leave when he tells you to, come back when he tells you, and you might be able to salvage this relationship before it never happened! You should be ashamed of yourself for treating my friend so poorly, and I’m sure that he will force you to bring him back to Earth, weather willingly or by own means, and you know what sort of people half those pilots are, they won’t want him to cook food for them if it isn’t in the bedroom! Iah may not look it but his stubborn streak is worse than any you could imagine, so stop this now, before it gets beyond either of us, Iah puts up a fight, and the only thing worse than his fire is his ice. So please just bring Iah back to his bed, the one he has in that little tent of ours, and be there when he awakens, don’t make either of us unhappy with you.” Ellie said with finality, still giving the man her unwavering stare, even though her neck hurt since she had to look up for so long.

“I really like you too Mr. Arkady, but I will not passively stand by and take my friend from me without his consent! So you had better listen to me or I will make this even harder on you, I’m Iah’s only best friend and I am not to be taken lightly, like Iah himself, he comes to me for help, I’m his ghost guardian and I will make sure that he is properly taken care of, if that means I have to haunt you or make sure he doesn’t fall willingly into your arms than I will, and with that stupid stunt you just pulled he will look to me for help in your character, so what sort of review should I give about you when he asks? I assure you it will make all the difference in the world if I tell him that you should never be trusted again, and he won’t ever no matter how many times you show him you’re trustworthy, so please make this easier on all three of us and just stay here with him till he wakes.” Ellie said, hoping that she had not just wasted her breath on deaf ears, surely this man had heard or felt her, like the annoying voice of conscious, or a feeling that you can’t shake, that is what happens when you can neither see, talk, or sense ghosts, they find other ways, and Ellie was sending it in every way she knew how to, so Anton had better listen, and if he didn’t then this was going to turn out badly.

[semelecyn]

"You are a foolish girl," Anton informed the apparition, having heard her out with a patience that surprised him. He bent to lift the slight form, cradling Iah in powerful arms. "I shall not risk leaving him on this world for another day, Ellie is it?"

Looking at the sleeping youth in his arms then at the ghost girl, Anton Arkady began murmuring an ancient incantation in a language recognizable only to a scholar who had studied as prolifically as this centuries-old being. The spell bound the spirit to their presence and created a mental doorway that could be closed against her at chosen times.

"You shall not interfere, but I shall not banish you," he promised her. "Understand this, girl: I must have him. He must come with me. He cannot and will not remain here any longer. To guarantee his safety, he must depart from this world tonight. Can you not understand? If he remains, great harm may come to him. I have this on trusted authority, one who knows signs and portents. I shall not allow that fate to befall him. He will be safe on Jeskara, in my home. Now, come, Ellie. My men shall bring the tent and all else.

"I have claimed Iah Raksha. If he must challenge me, then challenge me he must." He smiled bemusedly, thinking that sounded rather like a riddle; but then, how he felt toward the youth in his arms was rather a riddle. He had not lied about the threat. His companion had seen signs and portents indeed in a variety of forms. Stasya had seen, and Anton had believed. He was to seek a treasure on Earth, and he had found one.

"Come," he ordered the girl, striding through the woods to where his craft rested concealed. The ramp was ready for his ascent, closing behind him until his men would deliver the packed-away encampment that he intended to have recreated somewhere in his castle. He settled Iah into a bed of brocade and silk, covering him and seating himself nearby in a mate to the chairs they had sat in for dinner. Taking the black disk from his pocket, he brought the hologram to life, studying the layout of his home, attempting to decide the best place for the encampment--indoors, of course, considering the dangers of the Jeskaran forests.

He was aware of the girl's presence in the room. "In order to survive unharmed, Iah Raksha must return with me to Jeskara tonight, Ellie. You and he must understand this." He reached out for a second coverlet, placing it over his legs before lifting and opening a leatherbound volume, beginning to read though keeping an eye on his unconscious and perhaps unwilling guest.

[pyromaniac]

Ellie huffed at the aristocrat,

“Ms. Farintine to you buddy” Ellie followed close, actually right beside the man to make sure that Iah was safe, she knew Iah was going to blow a fuse, but still, she hated the man’s nonchalance at addressing her, she knew the incantation from her studies as a apprentice spell caster in her living years, and knew the ones that could truly harm her from her studies after her living years.

“You have no more claimed him than he has accepted you” Ellie looked to her friend,

“Don’t hurt him again with this Mr. Arkady, Iah is precious, and no door will stop me from getting to him, one spell cannot banish the bond we have.” Ellie stated, seating herself on Iah’s bed.

Iah was groggy, and he had a head ache, but beyond that he knew that he wasn’t on Earth, he just had a feeling, though he could feel Ellie, her presence was near him and he could feel the girl’s touch on his cheek upon waking, the girl smiled at him brightly,

“Good morning Moonlight, don’t get too happy, Mr. impatient is here” Ellie said, and Iah looked over, and groaned unpleasantly, Ellie was right, Anton was there, and he refused to look at the man, turning over on his side and acting very much like a five year old.

Iah couldn’t help it though, he felt positively betrayed by the man sitting near him, and he was angry at that. He wanted so much to trust the man, but could he really? Now that he had forced Iah into a drugged sleep and taken him against his will? At least I still have my clothes on Iah thought bitterly.

Don't worry Moonlight, he said he had a good reason for this Iah still didn't turn over,

Then he should have told me beforehand, how inconsiderate! Ellie laughed,

"Glad to know you and I agree Moonlight"

[semelecyn]

“Ms. Farintine to you, buddy. You have no more claimed him than he has accepted you. Don’t hurt him again with this, Mr. Arkady, Iah is precious, and no door will stop me from getting to him, one spell cannot banish the bond we have," the ghost girl challenged.

"Don't be foolish, child. I have not harmed him. He is indeed precious. My incantation is to bind the two of you together, Ellie Farintine, not to banish you. I feared your connection might not survive passage back to Jeskara. The door, if you will, is so that he and I might have some privacy at the necessary moments. He shall be my lover, Ellie," he said, persisting with the name. "How inconvenient if he should think you were watching us. It might prove too distracting. The crystal's influence did less damage to him than his wandering into that tree." He made a tsking sound, peeved that he had not foreseen Iah's weak escape attempt. He would not be so careless again.

Their passage to Jeskara proved relatively uneventful. Anton transported the still weak and very pouty Iah to his room--immediately next to Arkady's, separated only by a short passageway, as every wall in the castle was heavily fortified. Even those between rooms were several feet thick. It had taken centuries to achieve the fortification, and Anton finally was satisfied that his home truly was impregnable, able to withstand any force leveled against it. Wards had been placed to guard against "unnatural" attacks, and the sky overhead shimmered with the protective spell. For this reason, it had been necessary to place the binding spell to ensure that Iah would not be parted from his spirit-friend.

Iah Raksha's room was a remarkable one with its tapestries on every wall, the finest of Persian carpets covering much of the floor, and the massive bed of dark, carved wood, canopied with curtains that could be drawn all around for privacy and warmth. It was richly furnished throughout, with a display of curios from many worlds. A wardrobe awaited filling with whatever clothing suited Iah, something that would be decided soon, Anton mused as he placed his employee/guest on the bed, which gave in an almost caressing embrace, the bedding shaping itself to the slender body.

From a carafe at the bedside, Anton poured a glass of what seemed to be only water. He sat at the bedside and helped Iah sit up, urging him to down the liquid. "It will restore you," Anton promised, the glass insistently at the young man's lips till eventually he had emptied it, at which time Anton knew he would feel the aches and pains and disorientation dissipate.

"I regret the trickery, My Jewel, but you must believe me that it was necessary. Would you have believed me if I had told you that someone foretold a dire fate for you had I allowed you to remain on Earth for even a day longer? Perhaps I shall show you the scroll with Stasya's prophecy. I do not think you would like to read it, Iah Raksha, for your end would have been dreadful indeed, worse than what transpired when you were a child. Yes. I know of that, again thanks to my Stasya's skills." He sighed, a most unusual sound from the elegant aristocrat, not that Iah would have known that. "I fear, My Jewel, that something distressing has occurred. Are you not aware of it? Are you not aware that we two are one?" He frowned slightly. "I had not planned for that!" he stated in irritation. "Stasya did have a most curious expression when we parted," he recalled, thinking back to that moment of separation. She had handed him several parchments, bound in varying colors of ribbon, with instructions as to when each should be opened and read. Apparently, she had forgotten a most important one, he mused, studying his new acquisition.

[pyromaniac]

Ellie knew about the spell, perhaps then she was thinking of another one? She still hated it, Iah was the only reason why she stayed, she wanted to protect him, make sure that he was well and to keep him in the world, but Anton, he seemed to have wanted the same things, but he was looking for a lover, and Iah wasn’t going to give himself to Anton so easily, Ellie doubted that Anton could truly seduce her chef as quickly as he thought he would be able too.

Not to mention it looked like Anton was not all that thrilled about trying to win the heart of her chef, or for the that matter having Iah as his intended, ohh this would be worth hanging around for as she giggled.

Iah didn’t want the drink, especially not after what had happened. He was unused to the bed beneath him and couldn’t really seem to get comfortable on the soft mattress, he sat up, as best he could, and looked Anton in the eyes.

“and what would have happened? I don’t believe this, you could have at least clued me in Mr. Arkady, I’m used to surprises and strange things, fortune tellers should be the last thing that I would doubt because of my past, or has that slipped your mind in your rush for my safety?” Iah asked, thoroughly annoyed as he moved to try and get up, his back hurting him from his little tree incident. Though Iah was not wishing to be stuck on something he was entirely uncomfortable with while his employer was here, and the bed freaked him out more than he let on.

“Honestly Mr. Arkady, how can I truly trust you now?” Iah asked, his eyes showing anger and pain, he didn’t want to not trust this man, but how could he? Iah was sensitive to trust, and though he knew he would forgive this man later, he couldn’t now. He saw no reason why he couldn’t have just told Iah that something bad was going to happen, Iah would have agreed, but this, Iah sighed, shaking his head, his voice low,

“Mr. Arkady would it be alright if I alerted my work that I have had a sudden change in schedule due to certain unexplainable circumstances, since I highly doubt you will allow me leave of this planet until this danger my life is in is over” Iah said, wobbly getting to his feet, he didn’t know why, but he just didn’t want to be near the man right now.

“Two in one? Then please leave this half alone, it isn’t in the mood to deal with the other half” Iah said, bitterness in his voice, and that angry hurt look in his eyes, and a fainting sensation coming to his senses as he held onto the wall for support, his mind feeling fuzzy as he breathed, trying to overcome the sensation, he did not want the man near him, and that thought alone gave him will enough to stand on his feet.

“Though I will say, the only thing I can thank you for at the moment, besides this rather persistent headache, is that you have bounded Ellie and I so that we would not be separated, but please leave now” Iah said, the slight fuzziness coming to him in another wave.

[semelecyn]

"First of all, you must finish what I have poured for you, Iah Raksha, then you no longer will feel the pain you do now. It is due to your own stubbornness that you feel as you do. Rushing off in a wooded area, only to encounter an unforgiving tree!" There was a bemused smile on his face now, as he coolly studied the obviously irritated young man he had come to realize was to be his mate--a fate he had not prepared himself for, having become certain that there was no one to suit him. This was his match: this exotic youth--temperamental, culinarily creative and haunted by a child who required a lesson in manners?

"Very well. If you wish proof, and I'm certain you will question this..." He produced the parchment, offering it to Iah. "Perhaps you should meet my Stasya. Do you think it pleases me that you and I shall be mated? Do you not think I have prided myself that I had not yet met my match? Do you think I would choose someone so at odds with myself? Do you think that you can give me orders? Read her prophecy. Do yourself a favor, My Jewel, by partaking of that restorative liquid. I was able to get very little into you." He selected a second parchment, laying it on the bed. "Remember, Stasya wrote this before I encountered you, all of the scrolls I carried with me to Earth--and back." The second scroll concerned Iah Raksha's childhood and all that had befallen him, detailing much of his life. It had meant little to him at the time he had read it.

At the doorway, Anton paused, looking back at his reluctant prize. "Your former employer has been contacted and another provided to work in your stead. Does that ease your conscience at all? I detest loose ends. You will be confined to your quarters for a time. The room to your bed's right is my own; the one to the left, additional space for you to enjoy yourself. I wish you to be my head chef for it should keep you content until we both can accept what has come our way. I am no more pleased about this than you, beautiful as you are, My Jewel. Perhaps a lengthy courtship is in order." There most definitely was a smirk on the handsome face. He departed, locking the door after him.

[pyromaniac]

Iah was not in the mood to finish the drink, and he wasn’t going to do while Anton was still there. Iah actually snorted with that bemused smile stuck to the aristocrat’s face, he wanted nothing more then to smack it off with his spatula.

Iah tensed and eyed the parchment warily, he could feel that what was written was true, his senses seemed to be more awake, whether it was because he was new to this place, or because the planet itself was making his varied species awaken, that would also explain the snort, for not once in his life had he done that. He could only pray that his Incubus side didn’t awaken, as small a portion it might have been.

“No offense but I’d rather not know my future” Iah looked to the second scroll, closing his eyes for a moment

“and I know well my own past, and yes I do believe I can give you orders if you are truly meant to be my intended.” Iah said, his eyes looking into Anton’s he wasn’t going to back down to this rather imposing man, no matter how much he wanted to crawl into bed and let Anton have him…Iah mentally blinked, not quite sure where that thought came from.

“Mr. Arkady, my name is Iah Raksha, not jewel, and I’d rather you call me by my birth name.” Iah said, still trying to ignore the shiver that went through him every time Anton called him such.

Iah was watching with very calm green eyes as the man walked to the door,

“Yes that does ease my conscience, and I do hope that the one who you sent to replace me knows all the rules, for they do not take kindly to them being broken.”

Iah blinked, his curiosity being teased when he was told of the additional space, and maybe he would barricade the door that led to Anton’s room, the only thing stopping him was that it would be bothersome to walk around the hall to get the order for Anton’s meals, maybe he should put up a note system, if Anton wanted anything he could slip it under the door and ring a little bell so that Iah would know that he was hungry.

Iah was steamed at the last part, vowing himself to close his body off from the handsome male, maybe he would bed someone just so that he doesn’t have any extra tension around Anton. Iah cracked up at that in his head, he wasn’t comfortable with people touching him, never the less touching and seeing him completely naked.

Iah sighed and visibly relaxed when Anton closed the door, growling because the aristocrat locked it, like that would really hold him he wanted out. Iah rolled his eyes, feeling beyond underestimated, and hurt by it. Oh he was cruising for a few surprises if he thought that Iah was going to be a good little chef and not explore some, but before going outside the locked door, his fuzziness came back and he downed the rest of the drink, at least if he fell unconscious he knew that Anton wasn’t going to take him somewhere, he didn’t even bother looking to the scrolls, not in the least interested in them.

Iah went over to the door that led to the ‘extra space’, and took a deep breath, a little nervous that it would be another trick or something.

“C’mon Moonlight, let’s go on an adventure!” The girl exclaimed happily, Iah laughing and nodding, opening the door and ready to see this space that Anton told him about, it’s probably just a closet Iah mentally assured himself, twisting the knob and opening the door.

[semelecyn]

In his bedroom next door, a brooding Anton Arkady sat in his thronelike chair, his left arm crooked up so that he could rest his chin on his hand. He was contemplating the turn of events, glowering at the girl who sat on the Persian-carpeted floor, Tarot cards spread out before her in a dizzying array that few had mastered. Anton trusted few, and this girl was one, a girl who looked far younger than her true age, which was no match to his own but had been extended through his ministrations.

"You could have warned me," he reprimanded her, admiring her mass of brown curls that tumbled to her trim waist, caught back with jeweled combs that bore the crest of a Russian royal family. Her cool gray eyes considered him, and she smiled faintly before returning her attention to the cards. The dove-gray damask dress she wore was of an ancient style, fit for a ballroom, not a fortune-telling session on the floor of his bedroom on a world far, far from her own. "I do not wish a mate. I do not desire a mate. As long as I do not bed him, we will not be mated." She continued ignoring him, irritatingly beginning to hum a tune--"Dark Eyes", he recognized, from her Russian homeland. "His eyes are not dark. They are green, a clear green, not bottle green, not quite emerald, not grass or forest. Choose another song. He has silver hair, and the ghost child calls him 'Moonlight'."

Anton stood to remove his cloak, going to his wardrobe to hang it, most definitely something he would not have done ordinarily. Doing such mundane chores might grant him time to think, to calm himself. Lost in thought, he undressed, placing his clothing aside to be cleaned. Now, he seemed a perfect, mobile sculpture of ivory, his beauty undiminished by centuries. He selected a nightshirt of Egyptian cotton, surprisingly simple compared to his other wear. He slipped his feet into tapestry slippers lined with lambswool and donned a floor-length emerald velvet robe, tying the gold-cord sash, each movement appearing choreographed, so exquisitely did he move.

"He is not reading the scrolls," he said, irritation in his voice. "Foolish boy! It would explain so much. Perhaps he would not detest me so vehemently." He stood before a full-length mirror now, staring into but seeming to look beyond it to the next room in which awaited Iah Raksha. Without looking, Anton reached for an ivory-handled brush, drawing it through his long, pale hair, following each stroke with a movement of his other hand over the tresses.

"How can we be mates? You've read them wrong, Stasya, all the portents, all the crystals, the runes, all of it. Everyone can be wrong once. There is no shame in it." He sighed, exasperated--but with whom he was not certain. "Perhaps he would like to see the kitchen," he decided suddenly. "Perhaps that would make him happier."

He considered re-dressing then decided perhaps it would place him in a different light with Iah Raksha, to see him at his ease. After all, if he wished a late-night meal, his chef would see him then, wouldn't he? Anton exited his room, striding to Iah's bedroom door and unlocking it, entering it to stand quietly studying his very unhappy new employee.

"Would you care to see the kitchens? Would that put you at ease?"

[pyromaniac]

Iah was three seconds from throwing the door open when he heard his door being unlocked, and jumped back, getting the startled look from his face as Ellie whistled innocently, both of them looking much like children trying to get into the cookie jar while the parents weren’t looking.

“Would you care to see the kitchens? Would that put you at ease?” Iah blinked, his frazzled mind trying to come up with a response, and not coming up with anything. Iah nodded, figuring that would be acceptable as his mind came back from it’s earlier scare, and out of the corner of his eye he knew that Ellie and he would have a good laugh about this later.

Then Iah decided that moving would be a good idea, with his composure restored he walked gracefully over to where the scrolls were, walked up to Anton, ignoring how beautiful he looked and met his blue aura gaze, a smile coming to his face as he handed over the scrolls, but before Anton fully took them Iah said with his voice even, gentle and a strange spark to his eyes,

“This is how I will trust you, I return these scrolls to you in order to show that I believe what you have said is truth,” Iah said, allowing the scrolls to be taken
“and I do not wish to see something that I do not wish knowing, I’d rather my future lead it’s own course instead of trying to alter it somehow by knowing it, I suppose that is the human in me talking so please, trust me and I shall trust you.” Iah said taking a step back from Anton and bowing slightly,

“I should thank you for saving me, so thank you but please, trust me in that I will accept talk of danger as long as you do not force anything on me, I don’t respond kindly to any sort of trickery, and for that reason alone I will not serve you for two weeks, however I do wish to trust you.” Iah smiled most sweetly to the taller man and turned,

“Now if you’ll please show me the kitchen so I may begin taking note of everything that I can prepare, and if you wouldn’t mind allowing me to a library so I may brush up on Jeskarian dishes, it has been some time since I was last here” Iah said, wondering where all of his furious rage went, it was as though he was beginning to settle, as if handing the scrolls over lifted some heavy burden on his shoulders.

He hated his past, and did not wish knowing what fate would have befallen him, or more likely you did not wish to see the future you don’t have the voice was back, the black eyes baring into him as the malicious laugh rang through his head. I do have a future, everyone does no matter how horrible or how uneventful, there is always a future, and I will not listen to your words. The laugh seemed to turn worse though, my child, you setting yourself up for a downfall. Iah mentally sighed, trying to pay attention to his surroundings, knowing how easily he got lost.

It wasn’t his fault, really, you would think that after living in a desert that he would have some sort of direction, but that apparently had been lost with his family, and even if the directions were a simple down the hall to the left, Iah would end up on the other side of the house and still very much lost, he was hopeless. Hopeless is as hopeless does Iah mentally rolled his eyes, because I definitely haven’t heard that one before. Iah wondered why he had a mind if it kept being unhelpful to him.

[semelecyn]

At Iah's denial of service for two weeks, Anton's exquisite face became an expressionless mask, the crystalline eyes like pieces of blue ice. Anton Arkady was unaccustomed to being refused, denied or crossed; he was accustomed to having his way--always. How dare this child deny him?!

"Then," he stated stiffly, "You shall see the kitchen--in two weeks. Until then, I see, I must make do with less-worthy cuisine. Perhaps I shall dine out--or on my harem," he said cuttingly. "Many are quite willing, you see." He motioned toward the doorway to the adjoining room. "Your encampment has been recreated there, Iah Raksha. Later, I shall have it moved to a more suitable setting, as soon as my workers complete it. Till then, these two rooms are yours. I shall allow you access to my library, where you will find the cookbooks you mentioned. Those I prefer are marked. Better yet, I shall have them delivered to you so that you needn't trouble yourself wandering about the castle--unless I am with you or perhaps one of my guards."

He sighed, irritated that he should make such a sound. "I sought only treasures from Earth," he tried to explain, wondering why he was bothering. "I found a chef, or so I believed. The scroll describes your death, Iah Raksha. Although your name does not appear in it, the description is undeniable. The other scroll is the tale of your past, of all that has befallen you. So, I chose to use trickery to ensure your safety. I did not expect to discover a..." If possible, the man's face became frostier. "My mate." It had been stated now. There was no turning back. "Like it or not, Iah, you and I will be mated, bonded, linked, however you wish to say it."

At that, he retreated from the room, locking the door behind him. That had not gone at all the way he had planned! Why did this child have to be so stubborn?! He returned to his room, slamming the heavy door resoundingly, the gust from it sending the brightly colored cards flying up from the floor, much to Stasya's irritation. Studying Anton then glancing down at the card in her hand, she smiled faintly and nodded as the haughty aristocrat paced and complained, gesturing wildly.

"I shall not mate to that!" Anton vowed.

[pyromaniac]

Iah thought the man rather childish for his age, but then again, he supposed that was what happened when one wasn’t used to things not going according to plan.

"Then, You shall see the kitchen--in two weeks. Until then, I see, I must make do with less-worthy cuisine. Perhaps I shall dine out--or on my harem," Iah nodded, his own voice becoming one of nonchalance,

“Yes I suppose you will,” Iah’s eyes portrayed nothing but a locked and thick door, one that held his emotions in check better than any modern security system.

"Many are quite willing, you see." Iah’s stare didn’t waver,

“Then I am truly glad that I never fall under the category as ‘many’” Iah could feel his inner anger twisting a little, flexing itself and ready to leap at the man.

"Your encampment has been recreated there, Iah Raksha. Later, I shall have it moved to a more suitable setting, as soon as my workers complete it. Till then, these two rooms are yours. I shall allow you access to my library, where you will find the cookbooks you mentioned. Those I prefer are marked. Better yet, I shall have them delivered to you so that you needn't trouble yourself wandering about the castle--unless I am with you or perhaps one of my guards." Iah didn’t like it one bit, the man was holding him, and Iah did not wish to be bound, he was not this man’s property!

“I prefer to know my surroundings Mr. Arkady, and I doubt that a guard will be necessary, unless your home is less calm then I previously thought” Iah said, a slight smugness coming to his voice, something deep inside him must have really detested the man in order for him to be baited so easily.

“I sought only treasures from Earth, I found a chef, or so I believed. The scroll describes your death, Iah Raksha. Although your name does not appear in it, the description is undeniable. The other scroll is the tale of your past, of all that has befallen you. So, I chose to use trickery to ensure your safety. I did not expect to discover a..." Iah couldn’t help the shiver that ran through him, and perhaps a slight laugh that he indulged his mind in, his outer appearance showing neither, so the man was really as upset as Iah, and Iah was going to exploit that to it’s fullest, he hated trickery.

"My mate. Like it or not, Iah, you and I will be mated, bonded, linked, however you wish to say it." Iah was loosing his cool fast,

“Iah Raksha to my employer Mr. Arkady” Iah said, his eyes shining with a rare emotion that surfaced, anger. It was a spark, and Iah was beyond pleased when the man left, very unpleased when he locked the door again, and nearly skipping with glee as he could feel the irritation from the other side of the thick wall.

Iah couldn’t help the smile though, or the fact that he and Ellie began laughing together, tears of mirth coming to their eyes, and for no other reason than the fact that they were both tense and needed to let out some steam, and they did it through laughter, especially now that they both knew how angry Anton was that he was supposed to have Iah as his mate, and Iah not caring in the least.

If it happened it happened, but right now, it wasn’t going to happen, so Iah opened the door to the other room and began to tidy things up around his little tent, the workers did a marvelous job of recreating it, but there were some things Iah preferred to do himself, and relaxing while mending a few places here and there, was one of them, Ellie talking to him beside him.

Iah yawned, realizing how late it must have been, not to mention how tired he felt, so instead of going through the door that would bring him one wall closer to Anton, Iah slept in his tent, terrified of the bed and not wishing to cause a scene his first night there.

Iah made sure that all the needles were in a safe place and that all the fabric was back in it’s proper place, setting himself down for the night Iah decided that he wasn’t going to change his clothes, fearing for some reason that Anton would see him, he knew it was a silly thought, certainly the man had more dignity than to play a peeping tom, not to mention Iah didn’t have anything Anton wasn’t used to seeing, but Iah didn’t want to show Anton anything that Iah didn’t want to show him, so, laying down, Ellie doing what she could to lay next to him, he went to sleep, and only twitching slightly, no nightmares haunted him, but he could feel them, they wanted nothing more than to overwhelm him, but they were kept at bay, and Iah was glad for that, wondering what the next day would bring as his last thought before dreams took him.