"Arabian Nights"
Part 71
by Mel
Elijah had never, ever, been this angry before in his life. His time in his father's house had been riddled with uncertainty and fear that anger was a useless emotion. When Ahmed had died, Elijah had been so devastated he could barely think. When he had been given too the Prince his anger had been mixed with confused feelings for Orlando, Sean and finally Viggo. Even the hatred for Dominic he had felt was over shadowed by the blossoming love in his heart for Sean.
Maybe it was because he had never had the chance to be angry before, but when that man had touched Sean, Elijah was shocked. When they had hugged, Elijah felt the first tendrils of fury grow in his belly. When the man had held his Sean at arms length, clasping him like a lover, the fury grew. Finally, when he watched Sean shake off the hands in an unwanted gesture, the anger solidified.
Elijah hated this brash foreigner. Hated him.
Slowly all the boys moved from the rooms where they had been hidden. After the Pirate Captain they had no desire to tempt fate and risk being chosen by another noble or dignitary. They would remain hidden unless Viggo expressly called for them.
Dominic, Billy and Jared emerged from the bathroom, all only half dressed, obvious having just jumped out of the bath when they had heard voices. Orli looked rumpled and half asleep, which Elijah would have been glad to see in other circumstances. He seemed to finally be catching up on his sleep.
They all moved so they stood beneath the peach tree, the three men gone from the rooms and leaving them to themselves.
"Well he seemed nicer then most," Jared murmured, "where do you suppose he was from?"
"Probably Germany," Dom supplied, running a towel through Billy's hair, "they're interested in trade down this way." Dom scowled at the look the other boys gave him, "what? Just because you don't pay attention, doesn't mean I don't have to. Liv's been talking about travelling dignitaries for days."
"You just wanted to know if any of Viggo's family was coming."
Dom smiled at Billy's accusation. It was amazing how he had come to read him like an open book in the short time they had gotten to know each other. "Possibly."
"Are there?" Orli asked, intrigued that Dom would have thought to ask. It had obviously never occurred to him that Viggo had more family, and that they could come to see them.
"Not that I could tell, this Eric was the only one from around that area."
"I hate him."
Elijah spoke for the first time, bring the boy's eyes to him. He wasn't looking them, but at the doorway out, where that 'creature' had taken his Sean with him.
The boy's exchanged surprised glances.
"Elijah," Jared prodded gently, "you haven't even met him."
"Did you see the way he touched him?" Elijah hissed. None of them needed to ask who he was talking about. And, though they didn't quiet understand the intense reaction from the youngest member of their troop, they all felt the same urge to protect Sean.
Dom's smile grew sweet, though he looked more like the calculating fox then anything else. "Would you like to do something about it?" Elijah turned his attention to the other boy's sparkling eyes. "We could invite him to dinner tonight, maybe slip something into his food?"
Jared's eyes went wide and he caught Orli's wrist. "I don't think we should be involved in this."
Dom's face was the picture of innocence, except for his eyes, that were full of mischief. "We wouldn't hurt him, just, make sure he stays away for a while."
Orli bounced a little, "it sounds like fun, what harm could it do?"
Jared shook his head, "A lot, and I happen to enjoy the current sleeping arrangements thank you. I have no desire to end up sleeping in the slave quarters when the Prince finds out." He looked at the three boys, "and he will find out, especially if you take your little pranks too far. At least I can deny knowledge, so can Orli."
Orli opened his mouth to argue, but Jared tugged him towards the bedroom. "I will keep you occupied with a lesson or two." Orli perked up at that suggestion.
"You, Jared, are a right spoilsport," Dom said dryly.
"No," Jared wagged his finger at them, "if I was a spoilsport, I would stop you completely, or just tell Viggo of your plans." The three boys grinned at him. "Just don't go too far, you could end up upsetting both the Prince and Sean if it does."
"Yes father," Elijah smiled cheekily and Jared rolled his eyes, disappearing behind the curtain with Orli.
"What did you have in mind?" Billy asked when the other two were gone, secretly excited to be involved in pranks again. It seemed such a long time since he and the other young druids had organised pranks to play on their masters.
"Well," Dom grinned, "I thought we could try-" with that the three boys put their heads together and laughter and giggles could be heard within the rooms.
---
Liv lifted her head when her name was called, turning her head from the dinner preparations. She didn't really need to be here, but she had a few moments so she ducked in to see the staff and deal quickly with any grievances they may have. She was surprised when her eyes fell on the Prince's newest addition. She left her instructions with one of the cooks before moving to the twitching boy.
"Billy, what are you doing down here? Is everything ok?"
"Everything's fine," the blonde boy moved from foot to foot before adding, "except for Dom."
"What's happened?"
"He says his stomach's upset, and that some of your wonderful remedies would be a big help."
Liv frowned slightly, "perhaps I should check on him, I don't want the rest of you to get sick."
Billy cringed but covered it quickly, "no, really, he should be fine if he could get some, and I promise you I'll come to get you if it doesn't clear up."
Nodding Liv moved to the end of the kitchen, where she stored some basic healing draughts to save her the trip back to her rooms if she was down this way. She chose a green vial, handing it too Billy. "Then I leave it in your hands. Just make sure no one else has this, it makes things very uncomfortable for those who are perfectly fine."
Billy nodded solemnly, bowing slightly, "thanks Liv, you're an angel." Then he was gone.
"Nada?" Liv asked, watching the boy's back. "Is the Prince having dinner tonight?"
"No Miss," she answered, "he and his guard took one of the dignities to see the nightlife of Aqaba, I shouldn't expect them till morning."
Liv grabbed a small satchel of herbs, "can you be sure this finds its way into one of their meals? I get the feeling those boys are up to no good and someone will need these by the end of tomorrow."
"Of course Miss."
---
"So what was that about?"
Dom asked as Billy went on his little mission. Elijah had calmed down quiet a bit and they both sat in the garden as darkness started to fall. Dom took a moment to lite some candles safe on the pavement around them, settling back so he could look at the other boy who was trying to bury himself in a pillow. Though his relationship with Elijah finally seemed to be going in the right direction there were some things about the other boy he just didn't understand.
"I had thought you would have been happy to meet one of Sean's childhood friends?"
Elijah shook his head into the pillow, "I hate him." The declaration came out muffled against the pillow. "I hate the way he touches Sean, like he thinks he understands him. Like they've had something so special. Like he knows Sean in a way I don't. Like-" Elijah floundered suddenly, before a choked sob escaped from the pillow. "Like he could take Sean away from me."
Dom gently stroked Elijah's hair. He had guessed somewhere along the way Elijah had gotten jealous with the tall European man. After all, he was Sean's friend before everything had happened here. He had probably been part of Sean's, and the Prince's, life for much longer then Elijah had been alive. And he had touched Sean in the way a lover would. He hadn't, however, banked on Elijah feeling like he was going to be tossed aside.
"You need to have a little more faith in Sean."
Slowly a small, sad face peaked up at him from the pillow and Dom smiled at him. "Sean would never leave you, he loves you, anyone can see that. Trust him not to leave you behind, alright?"
Elijah nodded, sniffed loudly, before saying, "I still hate him."
"I know," Dom smiled.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Mel
go to PART 72