"Arabian Nights"
Part 18
by Mel
Viggo could not even begin to think what he’d done to deserve this from Hugo. He went over everything he had done, everything he had said since he had arrived. Nothing came readily to mind. Surely taking young Orlando as a servant had not angered him, Viggo was certain his new father would have mentioned it if he had. And yet he had put Viggo in the position where he could not refuse the gift offered to him.
The boy was beautiful, that much was certain. The buttermilk skin was testimony enough that the young prince saw little daylight and his eyes were truly amazing. Viggo would not lie to himself, the boys exotic beauty had made his mouth dry and his loose pants slightly uncomfortable. But he didn’t need someone who was going to leave live scorpions in his bed. He had one of those already, and one Orlando-like slave was more than enough.
Viggo did allow himself a small smile at the thought of the young man when he had left him earlier. He had been snuggled against him like a living blanket when Viggo had awoke. It had taken much effort to extract himself from the street rat’s hold, though through it all he had slept. When he had gone Orlando had rolled over, burrowed into the warm spot Viggo had left and would not be woken. Viggo had been quite content to leave him to his slumber but now he wished for the quite presences beside him.
He could feel the prince’s, Elijah Viggo believe the name was, eyes burn a hole in his back from between the guards who escorted him. Viggo even wished he was back in the desert instead of leading the boy to his rooms. He wondered if he could possible convince Hugo that someone else would be more suited to look after him.
He found himself at his rooms much too quickly for Viggo’s liking, and he stopped somewhere within the centre of the room, trying to think of what he was going to do with his new acquisition. Orlando appeared at the doorway to the bedroom, his eyes falling to the other young man in interest. Viggo’s eyes fell to the cuffs wrapped around the boy’s wrists.
„The keys for those, if you please." The guards exchanged a look that said quite plainly they thought Viggo was mad. Viggo glowered more then a little angrily and the keys quickly passed into his hands.
„We will be just outside if you require our... assistance, my Lord." The guards bowed as one and made themselves scarce. Absolutely marvellous, Viggo mused. Still, his eyes fell on the fey creature before him, best try and make the boy comfortable before figuring out what to do with him.
„I will just unlock these, young Elijah, and we will then try to-„
Viggo got no further then that before Elijah launched his small frame towards him. Fingers scratched down still sun raw skin of Viggo’s shoulders, causing lights to spark in front of his eyes. Viggo may have cried out, he was unsure as pain clouded everything for a moment as the fingers clawed cruelly against the abused flesh.
And then suddenly the pain was gone.
Orlando threw the small man from his body, using the momentum from sailing across the room to push him as far away from Viggo as he could. He snarled, lips pulling back and exposing his teeth, holding the Prince’s wrists in his hands. No one got away with hurting his Viggo!
The two of them fell, Orlando landed heavily on Elijah’s body but he didn’t have time to wonder at how they ended on the floor before Elijah rolled him onto his back. The younger boy was quick as he straddled Orlando’s legs, tearing a hand free from his hold. The hand became a fist and pain lanced through Orlando’s jaw as he fist hit him.
But Orlando had been in enough fights, he knew how to handle the pain of a few punches, and he wasn’t going to let this little rich boy get the better of him. He caught the second swing mid air and used the unbalanced movement to roll the boy onto his back. Holding both wrists with one hand his fingernails bit cruelly into the flesh, making the Prince squirm beneath him as blood dripped to the floor from the wounds Orlando created. For some reason Orlando could not bring himself to punch the boy back, but the anger from him hurting Viggo was still raw. Instead he left his hand open, letting his palm connect with the boy’s cheek. He brought it back the other way, the back of his hand swiping viciously at the other cheek.
Blue eyes stared up at him, mixing fury, pain and misery in equal measure. Orlando couldn’t bring himself to feel sorry for the boy, he brought this upon himself, and he would learn quickly that you did not get away with attacking their master-
„ENOUGH!"
The word was roared, cutting the next slap before it even began to fall. Both men looked over at Viggo.
The tall Prince was obviously in great amounts of pain. His entire body trembled with that and the fury that laced through him. Orlando had not known Viggo long, but he found it very hard to believe that the other man was capable of anger. Yet, now looking into those clear blue eyes, Orlando wondered how he could have ever thought that Viggo was incapable of such an emotion.
„You will cease this immediately." These words were softer, but no less then the first. „I will not have two that are mine brawling like drunken sailors."
Orlando’s hand dropped, falling uselessly to his side. The other hand let go of Elijah’s wrists and he cringed slightly at the bloodied mess his fingernails had left. Elijah was even held captive by Viggo’s fury, Orlando wondered how long it would last.
Viggo took a deep breath, visibly calming himself before he spoke. „Off him Orlando," Orlando could not move any faster if something had bitten him, „sit up, Elijah."
Elijah chose to ignore him, looking away from the other Prince. Viggo said nothing as he stepped forward, crouching beside him, but something flashed in those eyes that Orlando couldn’t quite bring himself to name. But even Orlando was surprised when Viggo’s hand curled in Elijah’s hair, yanking the boy into a seated position, making him gasp slightly at the pain. He used the grasp of Elijah’s hair to drag his eyes so that they were looking right at him.
„I do believe I asked you to do something. Maybe next time you will be a little faster at reacting to an order." Blue eyes were surprised as they blinked at the man. „If I had been any other man, my dear Prince, you would have been beaten into submission by now, your body abused and raped. Though you may not like it, boy, you are a slave through your families design. Be thankful the Caliph chose to give you to me."
There was a pause before Viggo let go of the curls. „But even I will not tolerate having you attack me or another of my own. Do that again and you will find yourself back in those chains before you can blink." The boy nodded but Viggo was not surprised to see the defiance in those eyes. There would be more problems with Elijah before the day was out.
Viggo stood, walking to where Orlando was, watching the two of them. Orlando’s eyes followed his approach, flicking towards the door. He had scared him, not the affect Viggo had been hoping for. Still the street rat didn’t move, allowing to come right up in front of him, letting gentle fingers turn his face so he could view the rapidly forming bruise that graced his jaw.
„Are you alright?" Viggo asked softly, his voice trembling slightly. With the anger gone only the pain remained. Viggo would not enjoy taking off the shirt he wore. The boy had been quite vicious and he was more then certain the sun burnt skin was now torn and bleeding in places. And yet, his hands were gentle and steady as he touched the bruise lightly.
Orlando stared at him with those chocolate eyes. „I’ll live," the eyes flicked smugly to Elijah, „he hits like a girl."
„Do not go causing trouble," Viggo said firmly, „I will be back with some cream for this soon."
„You’re going!" The words were an accusation, not a question.
„Yes, you can show Elijah around when he stops sulking." The boy growled, making Orlando smile, causing him to flinch from the pain in his jaw. „I will try not to be too long, the guards will be out side if you require any... assistance." Orlando nodded, understanding the pause. Viggo kissed him softly before moving away. He glared down at Elijah on his way towards the door. „You harm him again and there will be hell to pay, my little prince."
The guards outside were standing either side of the door, seemingly uncaring of the events that had just unfolded in his courtyard. „Please make sure they do not kill each other." Both men nodded, hiding smiles well.
Viggo went around the corner, out of view of everyone. He stopped, both hands pressed to the wall as he almost doubled over, and threw up. He had come so close to just beating the blue eyed boy. Laying into the small body until it screamed for mercy. Only the smallest shred of control kept his temper from igniting completely and consuming him. He had only ever lost his temper once, and the man he had attacked had been lucky to survive, if Sean had not been there at the time Viggo was sure he would have killed him.
Sean.
Viggo’s eyes closed. To think he had almost lost him to the desert. And he was so caught up in his new duties and Orlando that he had not seen him since his brief visit on that first day. He had to see him. Now.
Forgetting his pain and the open wounds that had now begun to soak his shirt with blood he made his way down the hallway. He had to find Sean. He had to talk to him. He needed to talk to him lest he attack Elijah next time. He needed to see if his friend was all right. He needed...
He needed Karl and Sean.
Now.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Mel
go to PART 19