Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Swords and Tears ❯ Further truths... ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter Three

Allen opened the door to his rooms and was terrified by what he saw. His young slave was still quietly sleeping in the luxurious bed, but behind him next to the window was a dark figure. It had a hooded cloak and something shiny on its right side. Allen stepped towards the figure and it disappeared out the window. He ran to the bed and woke the sleeping form. But he wasn't sleeping after all…

"Hey, are you alright?" He asked the boy. "Are you alright?!"

The boy refused to answer. His eyes were wide and his breath came in small gasps. Allen hugged him close and took the boy to the outer chamber. When the door to the inside room had been closed, Allen set him down. The danger had passed and Allen felt that sudden thrill of having just escaped death. His guards would take care of any outsiders quickly and efficiently.

"Just so I know for next time, what is your name little one?" Asked Allen, with a smile on his face. "I don't want to have to call you little one forever."

"Van." Came the quiet reply. "My name is Van." He snuggled closer to Allen when he felt the knight shiver. A knock on the door caught their attention.

"Come."

A servant with short blond hair came in. "Forgive me Sir Allen, but the guards have reason to believe there's an intruder roaming the castle grounds. Would you like me to beef up the security around your rooms?"

"Yes, thank you Chesta. And would you mind bringing me some tea? I have recently had a scare and I need something to calm myself and Van here."

Chesta set out to retrieve the tea. While he was gone, Allen couldn't help but think about Folken. //I feel so guilty thinking about him when I have a new slave right here in my arms. But why does he feel so familiar? And didn't Folken once tell me he had a younger brother? Maybe this young man is that brother…no. It couldn't be. That's silly. Oh, my tea is here. //

"Thank you Chesta. You can put it right there." Said Allen, motioning to a small table near the door. "And you may have the rest of the night off for being so quick with the delivery." Chesta bowed graciously and left. //Now I have this boy to myself. All to myself. // Thought Allen, but he still had the niggling feeling that someone was watching him. He looked down to see Van staring at him.

"What's the matter Van? Are you scared?"

"No." Was the simple answer. Apparently, this one didn't talk as much as Folken did. Allen would have to gain his trust like Dornkirk said. Maybe the right kind of gift would lighten his spirits…

After the tea had been finished (with Van drinking almost half of the pot saying that it was very sweet and fresh tasting), Allen went into the room where the hooded figure had been the night before and grabbed his gold pouch. It was still in the drawer where he had left it. //Maybe he wasn't after gold or jewels. What if he was there for Van? // He thought negatively. A whine from the antechamber brought him running.

"What's the matter Van?!" He said, expecting the worst.

"I have to go to the bathroom and I don't know where it is."

Allen laughed and Van cringed. He thought Allen was laughing at him.

"It's through that door (he pointed to a very ornate door on his left). Now when you get in there, if you have any problems or trouble doing any of your clothing up, just call for me."

Van thanked him and went to do his duties. //I think I will take him into town today to show him around. He will never venture on his own there, but I'm sure he'd like to see it anyways. And maybe they have some of that candy stuff the servants eat there. I'm sure he'd like something sweet. // By the time he'd finished daydreaming, Van had returned and was standing very close. His breath on Allen's neck made his skin tingle. Allen turned to look at him, and saw lust shining in those eyes. //Folken looked just the same didn't he? When you would penetrate him deeply and make him scream your name? // Allen's inner voice asked him. //Don't you want this one to do the same? //

"Allen? Is it all right that I call you Allen? I mean, your people call you names of importance. Should I be calling you Master?"

"No, Van! Never call me that! I am nothing more than a man who loves your company. You will be treated differently than my people. You are a slave of royalty. You are higher than them. It doesn't mean you can command them as I do, but you are higher."

He saw the look of fear reflected in Van's eyes and he hugged him close. "You are beautiful. Don't ever forget that." And with that, Allen lay Van down on the bed again, and lay beside him. Spooning their bodies together, Allen hoped there wouldn't be any intrusions that night.

But someone was watching them, their warm embrace and Allen's harsh but kind words to the smaller boy.

"You think you have control of Allen, don't you little dragon? Well, we will see how long you keep things that don't belong to you." The dark voice said, from its tree perch outside the knight's bedroom. "I know who you are, and you know who I am too, don't you?" Leaves rustled as the intruder jumped down and ran across the garden path, ending in a leap over the fence. Just as the man hit the other side, Van sat straight up in the comfy bed. He'd felt that presence before. In the forest outside the kingdom…

"Brother?!"

A/N~Hoo-yeah! It just keeps getting creepier! I know you guys know who it is in the forest. But let's keep it quiet for the time being k? There are people out there who are Esca-challenged you know! Ciao! //_~