When Skies turn Black

Behold the power of deceitful righteousness, those pious in their expectations of domination.

"That's right boy.. come play."

I had emerged from the next room, encased in all the glorious expectation that one might think a reader of worlds would claim. I wore the black sari that Castor had given me, one dotted in small glittering jewels that dazzled the eye when kissed by rays of light, a blinding display of wealth, not possessed by me, but the man who yet owned it.

It appeared that I had walked into a scuffle, or at least walked in at the end of one. Open appraisal was given Castor's guest before my eyes cut to Castor and his bleeding hand, a new respect granted the young man now in my presence, if not his hardy foolishness, then the balls of steel he must apparently have hidden on his person.

It hadn’t been much of a fight, the boy quickly succumbing to Castor’s superior knowledge of war fare, but I think it was the fact that he had struck at all which impressed Castor.

"There is only one way out this room." Castor charged the boy, who now held no weapon, his dagger having scurried across the floor, closer to me then to him. He, the boy, never really had a chance, quickly caught in the tattered wrapping of the shirt that Castor had pulled from his own chest.

"What do you say boy... one last fly.. or a job?" One push and the younger of the two would by hurled out the window.

I stepped away from the blade that now found itself in submission at my feet, quiet in my watchful gaze of warring men. I had little doubt as to who would win.. and who would lose, but if by some magical chance he did win, or get away, I knew that I would be privy to the spectacle, perhaps a once in a lifetime gift. I stepped back towards the door that offered my freedom, or at least such freedom that I could hope for, well aware of the walls that closed in on not only the one fighting for his life, but me as well.

"j-o-b" He seemed to be a smart lad, if not little hot headed. I wondered if in that instance Castor had seen himself within the boy, a boy I was to learn had a name. Helix.

"I am impressed Helix.. I had thought you the type to piss yourself. I think this one be one of my favored endeavors.. Let me know when you're ready to talk business. Until then.. keep an eye out.. I'll be everywhere you are."

It seemed there would be no unscheduled jaunts of airborne activity today. Castor did seem to have an odd and unnerving fascination with throwing people out of upper story windows. Only when the white flag of surrender had fallen did I dare approach Castor to tend his wound.

Castor had the boy, Helix, just where he wanted him, the dead body of a woman still laying in the opposite corner of the room, one I tried not to look at, but knew was there regardless.

"Astraea, dear, go see to your friend. Help him get cleaned up." He rose, procuring a clean, untorn tunic for himself as he continued to speak. "The lady stays in an inn in The Garden District called the Brass Lantern. You will accompany her there.. She will see that you have a room and all the comforts you can desire and you will return to me in the morning. For now I have a business associate. "If you turn behind you whilst walking and notice that you are being followed realize those men work for me. If you deviate in anyway from my plan both of you will catch a bolt. You for disobeying me.. she for being in your company. Leave me."

He had sent Helix into the other room while he calmed himself, preparing to stitch his hand. "Brave Boy isn't he?"

"Boys often find manhood in fear. Something to believe in when all else seems inescapable. While some would have cowered at your feet, he chose to fight for what could have been his very last breath. I find a certain respectability in such actions. I think you do as well."

The clean cloth I had retrieved was set near his medical bag. "What is it you wish with him? How will he serve you?"

"That’s why I didn't kill him. He reminds me of myself when I was his age. As a matter of fact he did precisely as I did when I was put into his same position. I am lucky that the true Castor Minos took pity on me as I did on him. I am supposed to kill him for what he's done. He embarrassed the Initiates, but as I told him I've watched him. He's too clever to kill. I do not rightly know what I will do...only that I must find something for him."

"True Castor Minos? How many of you are there?"

"There have been three. Come here and help me."

His beckoning brought no refusal, for she had already offered to help him once. The needle was taken in hand, small stitches perfect and true. I finding that stitching torn flesh was not so different then the repair of robes. "Be still, lest you find your fingers sewn together. So tell me about these other two, the men whose name you bear." The skin was occasionally dotted and dabbed of blood so that I could continue, eyes intent on my work and not bothering to look up at him.

"Take your robes off and tend me naked and I will."

I deny him little and if he wished to be tended by a naked woman, then such would be his. Sari was stripped off and left on the floor near my feet, before I again moved to kneel in front of him, the task of mending him taken up a second time. "Now tell me."

"I do not know them other than they did my job before I did. they each looked for a man whose viciousness matched there own." He reached out to touch me, receiving not only the touch he covered, but my admonishment as well.

"Stop or I shall mismatch the edges of your skin." I had brushed his hand away, another few stitches finished before a knot was carefully tied. "There, done." Cloth was taken to bandage him before I leaned back. "And you, why did you take the appointment? You could have refused. And yet, you did not. Was it power you sought?"

"I could have refused it and been murdered. I could have refused it and been nothing but a second rate healer. But I want more than that. I supposed it was the power."

His fingers sought my hair and he leaned down. "And what of you? How did you go from being a slave to a free woman?"

I would not learn more of him until I told the tale of my own past. At least some of it.

"The man that owned me left one day on a journey and never came back. I waited, for a full var, without hearing a word from him. On the anniversary of his departure, I was given paper of manumission one of his trusted employees, as well as two robes and a silver coin. That was close to three vars ago. I did not wish to be free, afraid of what would happen to me. There was .. a certain safety in slavery, the choices not my own to make. I was cared for and well fed. I was.. afraid to be free. But as you can see, I have survived."

"Impressively survived. Though I must say the idea that you once knelt arouses me. I bet you were never trained either? What were you called as a slave?"

"No, I was not trained because of the gift. It was decided that I would be trained by whoever bought me, if they so wished. it." Eyes lowered, now realizing in my current state that I hadn't really evolved all that much in my freedom. "I was called Gypsy by one Master, but Fate by the

last."

"And where did you get the name Astraea? And don't do that in my presence." How sweet his whispered words were, the soft tone of his accent sweet and honey rich. "Tell me what causes you to do that?"

"It was .. the way you were looking at me." I knew too, given the feelings he had for Agamemnon that my next words would mostly likely not bode well with him. "Agamemnon named me. Had it not been for his.. kindness to me, I doubt I would have stayed free for long."

"Did you lie to me when you said you did not know of his interference on your life?" He brought me to his lap. "Do you know what your name means? Or why he gave it to you?"

"No, I did not lie to you. He bought me clothing and gave me coin, set me up in an inn and was going to have a physician tutor me, though that did not happen. I do not remember him saying anything about the papers, the banked coin or the name change." How hard it was to look at him and not turn away, especially in such close proximity. "It means star like."

"He was able to tell you nothing, because shortly after that I captured him. I tortured him and killed him, but another of his bitches save him."

"Do you still find me cruel? Do you wish me to let you up?"

"I shall always find you cruel, in one way or another, for that is your nature and you can no more change that then a sleen can change its habits. It is something I have accepted. Shyness, I suppose, comes from the fact that I never thought to be in this.. current position. I always thought that I would spend my life chaste and completely untouched. In time, I'm sure the shyness will recede, but for now, it is a part of me I can not peel away. And no, I do not wish for you to let me up. Does it bother you, my shyness?"

"Bother? No? It was more of a desire to taste your innocence. I enjoy the innocence in your.. your shyness. I would take you again if you body was not so sore. Tell me ...what are you thinking when I say that to you?"

"That you will devour me without a second thought, and I, in my needful innocence of your touch, will allow it. I will admit to you that it excites me to be wanted by a man like you. For you to desire me when I am sure there are many women that given the chance, would throw themselves at your feet. Few have ever offered me such desire. They wish me for what I can give them in the way of reassurance. You though, I believe you would want me even if I did not possess the gifts I do. They are but icing on the cake. You will use them as you're able, but should I lose them, I think you would still want me. Am I wrong?"

"You are not. I had warred with you to still your gift. Those days we did not see each other. I had desired you muchly in those ahns.. and I had though of taking you the moment I saw you. But I know I can not do that too you and expect you the be the same inside." His lips were far to close to my ear for sanity to overrule. "What kind of man am I? A killer? A monster.. a heartless saboteur? I want to give to you something"

"You are all those things and more. And I find I want you because of them. I understand you can not allow other's to see you as you are now, for then there would be no reason to fear you. Is it but a facade? Are you kind to me only because you want something from me? Or should I fear you for what you will take from me?"

"Of course I want something to you...and yes that is why I am kind. That is the nature of people.. Yes it is a facade. I am little more than a series of facades. A better question might be, is my intent to cause you harm? No... I am to kind to you because I desire to touch you. To be with you.. I desire you to love me. I could not compel those responses from you through fear.. hatred."

He nodded to the blade that lay on the table next to him. "Hand me the blade."

I lean forward to procure the blade, handing it carefully over to him. "Love you? Is that what you really want, for me? To love you? Or simply for me to desire you? To play puppet as you pull my

strings? Do you want love.. or do you only require obedience?"

"When have you known me to speak of love, Astraea? When have you known me to offer it so openly? And here you sit questioning me like I am nothing than a.. a charlatan. No my dear.. if I wanted only that from you.. I'd fuck you and you'd never be the same again.. in more ways than you wish to admit."

"But you forget, Castor, I have not known you for long. I do not yet know how your mind works. Actually, I doubt they if I knew you for a hundred var I would understand how your mind works. You cannot blame me for being suspicious."

He had taken the knife from my hand turning that same hand face up, and while he looked me in the eye, he cut into the flesh of my palm.

My fingers stretched outwards, causing the flesh of my hand to go tight, while a small ribbon of blood seeped upwards from the cut. In truth, the blade was so sharp it barely hurt. "Why did you do that?"

He cut himself as well. "Open your mouth and extend your tongue." He ran his fingers over my hair and brought my head to his hand. "Taste me.. take me into you."

What was this spell he held over to me? Why was I so agreeable to his every want? Why do I knot have the strength to deny him, when I know he will be my ultimate undoing? I opened my mouth and stuck out my tongue, thinking this a strange ritual, shocked by my willingness to oblige him in his small want.

For the first time I saw something else in his eyes. Not the lust he obviously held for me. Not the power he held over me. This was different, something hot, something visceral, something so carnal I could not look away. He stared at me as if.. I were food.

The unsanctioned supper was partaken of for over an ehn, the back of my hand wiping across my chin, some having missed my mouth. When I could no longer stand the uncomfortable stare, I lifted my hand and offered it to him.

Not only did he lick the red oozing liquid from my palm, he sucked at it, the blue eyes stare I had found so unnerving continuing.

"You belong to me now. Get dressed."

I didn’t doubt it, not even for a moment, I rising to dress. I still had to see Helix to the inn. "And does that mean you belong to me as well?"

He did not answer me, but when he got up, he pinned me to the wall with his body, kissing me with all the feral passion of a man that .. at least at the moment in time, wanted no other woman but me. " See you soon."

I had watched him turn and walk away, giving no comment to his goodbye, only a single nod of my head. Still, even after he had left me, some minutes later I was still in the same place, green eyes locked on the door. I had a young man to see to.