Pariah - Chapter 2: Disguise
#2 of Pariah
Pariah
Chapter 2: Disguise
Alexandros climbed out of the cellar and looked up and down the street, before he beckoned his slave forward with a hand. Parth, dressed in that long, baggy robe, with his hood up, simply came up behind him, slightly off to the side. He didn't say a word, and simply followed the minotaur as he walked down a decided route, passing other minotaur on their daily, quotidian routines. Only once or twice had the human garnered a second glance, but a quick glare from the minotaur quickly made them stare elsewhere. Granted, the sight of a human so overly dressed was probably odd, but the sight of the minotaur in what almost seemed like regal attire diffused any thought at pursuing the question.
The continued down the road, the minotaur looking straight ahead and the human looking... wherever he was looking, it was hard to tell with such a big hood over his face. The minotaur stopped, and the human stopped just short of bumping into him, stepping slightly to the side. Approaching them, was a small band of minotaur-- no more than half a dozen, all geared out as if they were ready for battle.
The one at the head was the most remarkable, he had a pelt of deep brown, with a crest of black and white upon his chest. He resembled Alexandros in a way, though the Lord of Gates was two shades darker than he was, and had no markings to speak of (at least, that were visible the way he was dressed). The head minotaur, as he approached, also towered over Alexandros, being easily a head and a half taller than the other minotaur, stockier too. On his back was a greatsword that seemed as large as the human, if not nearly so, and he stared down at the two.
"My Lord of Gates." The head minotaur said, bowing himself down to be level with the other minotaur.
"Ah, Warlord Grandis, I trust the transportation went well?" Alexandros asked, tilting his head slightly.
"Yes My Lord, it did. Though may I ask a question?"
"You just did. But go on." Alexandros replied, seeming wholly unamused.
"Forgive me, my Lord, but are you sure this is right? Do you think that the Council will not notice a sudden influx of minotaur, that never made it past their gates? They might think that we are trespassing." The rest of the minotaur behind Grandis simply seemed to form a slight perimeter around the Lord of Gates and his human, though they made sure to keep well out of the way of the general traffic flow of the street.
"I would assume so. I contacted the Council of our arrival before I transported everyone. It would be a safe assumption, that I would travel with my guard, would I not?" Alexandros seemed a little miffed at having been asked such a question, but the Warlord bowed his head.
"Yes, my Lord. Of course." The Warlord looked around, and then back at the two. "Could we... have a moment of privacy?"
Alexandros looked around, and then just slumped his head.
"You have it, Grandis." Parth spoke out. He removed his hood and just stared at the towering minotaur, who just smiled.
"My men do not know of the... situation. Would you prefer if--"
"No. I would not prefer it. I told you, everything in its due time. For now, they think what they want to think, not what they know is truth." Parth said. "Grandis, I know this is hard--"
"And I too, for you." Grandis said, as he slumped down further. He reached out a hand, and placed it on Parth's shoulder, who winced at the contact. "I'm sorry. I will not ask again." Parth just nodded, and lifted his hood up again, before the Warlord stood up.
"Now then," Alexandros cut in, his head staring straight ahead again. "our appointed time with the Council is not until tomorrow. For now, we must find lodging, and then you are free until dawn, tomorrow. At that point, I expect you all to be at... hm, where would be suitable?"
"My Lord, if I may offer a suggestion?" Grandis asked. Alexandros looked up at him.
"You may."
"Shall we meet by the Obelisk? I'm sure a number of us are planning to go there on our free time, and--"
"Yes yes, appropriate. I shall meet you all at the Obelisk tomorrow, then, at dawn. Now for lodging..."
"My Lord? I do know a hotel that is near the Obelisk, out of convenience purposes."
"Yes yes, that will do. Care to lead the way, Grandis? It has been far too long since I have been in Labyrinth last..."
"It would be my pleasure, My Lord."
"You're here already? No no, I would expect no less. But still, is tomorrow not--"
"It is, Teo."
"Ah, right, right. You've never really been one to be... punctual, let's say. Why the sudden rush, Art?"
"Matters at House... Forge." The voice didn't seem too pleased.
"Ah... trouble in paradise?" Teodor chose his words carefully, and was awarded with a pause.
"Not something to talk about this way. Especially not when I'm being listened to by someone other than who I intended."
A laugh. "Trust that to not pass you by."
"You really, honestly didn't think I wouldn't know, hm?"
"Actually, I didn't. He is the first that I know of, that has the capability." Teodor glanced for only a moment at Dacien, who simply gave him a blank, confused expression.
"I see."
"You did not strip him of it, did you?"
"From this far? I don't think I could even dream of doing so."
"Though, I am safe to assume, Art, you blocked him out?"
"Not just him, Teo."
"I see."
"Either way, do you have some time? Or are you busy with--"
"Well... you did interrupt. We hadn't started quiet yet, no, but--"
"You were about to. Forgive me, then, Teodor."
"There is nothing to forgive, Parth. Though I may be able to step out later, yes. Just not now."
"Of course. At your leisure."
"Teodor?" Teodor looked down at Dacien, smiling at him. He still couldn't get over the fact that the transformation had worked, but he knew that he could not keep it secret for long. Still, with Parth calling the Council of Lycaili, perhaps this was a chance that was simply presenting itself. He just had to time things right.
"Is something the matter, Dacien?"
"I... couldn't hear anything of that conversation. But you were having one, right?"
Teodor chuckled, and it grew into a laugh. "Oh... excuse me, but yes, I was. You heard nothing at all?"
"Only what you were saying aloud, Teodor."
"I see. I'll have to get him to show the rest of the Council, perhaps. If he is able, and they are willing."
"Teodor?"
"Think nothing of it, Dacien. Now, where did I leave off? Ah yes, I believe I had told you before..."
Parth stretched, in the safe and closed confines of the hotel room, pulling back the hood and shaking out his hair. He quickly pulled forth a brush from inside the large robes, and began to smoothen out his hair, looking at himself in a mirror as he did so. "You know, vanity is my favourite sin." He spoke aloud, to no one in particular. Alexandros, however, did approach from behind, and casually slipped an arm around Parth's waist, bending down and buried his muzzle in the other's nape, lifting Parth off the ground.
"You know what my favourite sin is?" The minotaur asked, making the human simply lay down his brush, and roll his eyes.
"Alexandros, love, not now." Parth said, not chidingly, but with a tone of warning. The minotaur let out a grunt, and slowly let the human down, running a hand through his hair. "Should we have brought Grain, or Drive?"
"Don't insult me." Alexandros said, irked. He moved over to the large bed, and just sat on it, reaching down to untie and remove his boots. "Or yourself. We agreed that it was only when you could not be there, or when you were too busy. Are you saying brushing your hair is making you too busy?"
Parth let out a sigh, and turned around. He didn't speak, but he just had a smile on his face. "Come in." He said, as the door opened. Grandis stepped through, staring at both of them first before he just cleared his throat.
"Of course." Alexandros said, just laying on the bed and turning away. Parth chuckled a little.
"Did I... interrupt?" Grandis asked, before Parth beckoned him inside the doorway. He shut it silently behind him, and just smoothened out his arms.
"No... nothing had quite started. I didn't want to start what wouldn't be finished." Parth beamed, as Alexandros just let out a huff. "Do not mind him, Grandis."
"If my Lord of Gates says so, I will not. However, I just wanted to tell you both that all the men are now off-duty, and will not bother you until tomorrow, or unless something--"
"Nothing will happen." Alexandros said, as he sat up on the bed. He made space for Grandis, who moved over and sat on it. "And I'm not angry with you, Grandis. I'm just..."
"He's just frustrated." Parth finished, as he took a seat beside Grandis. "You know how he gets, when I say no."
"Of course. How long have I known you two now, almost eighty years? That's a long ti-- I'm sorry." Grandis corrected, wringing his hands together. He looked down at Parth, and just rubbed the back of his head.
"It's fine. Eighty years is a long time, isn't it?" Parth stared up at the ceiling, almost as if he were staring up into a distant memory. "I remember when we first hired you. Not much has changed since then, has it? It makes me wonder why you've stayed. I'm sure it's not what you expected." The human patted the Warlord's leg, and he didn't have to turn and look at Alexandros to know that the simple, platonic gesture had made the minotaur even more "stressed".
"No, Sir, it wasn't." Grandis smiled. "But it's everything I hoped for. I mean, before that having--" He stopped as Alexandros pulled Parth over, and held the human close. "Andros, please. I may have pursued him once, but no longer. He is yours, and I cannot take him from you."
"I know." Alexandros said, with a sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm just on edge. I hate having to come out in public like this and pretend, take credit for things I cannot even comprehend. Not to mention, once I'm out of that stupor of..."
"Nervis mobile lignum." Parth said, with a grin. "But yes, once he's out of the haze of being a puppet, he usually ends up being rather..."
Grandis stood up, and nodded. "I understand. I simply... I'm not interested in just gallivanting and spending time elsewhere-- the other guards, they're young. They still have things they want to do. All I want to do is keep you two safe. Keep what you two have safe. Keep the secret safe. Even on my time off." Parth reached out and stroked his hand, and he just clasped it back. "I'm sorry for having interrupted, though if you wouldn't mind, I could make sure no one else does."
Alexandros looked down, and then looked back up. "I'm sure I could forgive you if you did so." Parth gulped a little, and Grandis just let out a wink. "And Grandis," He stopped the other minotaur as he was about to step outside of the door. "I truly did not mean to indicate that I did not trust you with Parth. Even alone. I would not place his life in anyone else's hands. Please, Grandis, never think that I do not trust you, on any bounds."
"Thank you, my Lord." He said, with a bow, as he just stepped outside. Alexandros let out a sigh, and leaned against the wall, feeling Parth press up close against his side.
"You know he only means well. He speaks the truth when he says he no longer yearns for me in that way." Alexandros just nodded, and ran his hand through Parth's hair. He enjoyed how it was soft, almost like silk, and hung past his shoulders so straight, it seemed like it were some sort of fine, spider's silk. It was even as silvery-white as webbing, though he knew that was simply because of age-- even if Parth looked no older than a man of thirty years.
He ushered the human between his legs, and simply just leaned him back, resting the human's back against his broad chest. "I know. I know. I'm just, I told you, on edge." Alexandros' eyes widened as he felt Parth push back against him, rubbing his rear against the minotaur's groin.
"Well then, we should fix that, shouldn't we?" Parth smirked. "No use having you walk around with that all day tomorrow." Alexandros felt a shiver climb up his spine as Parth's hands slipped behind him, dealing with some tie behind his back. Thsoe hands slipped past the band of his trousers once the tie had come undone, and the minotaur tilted his head back, those soft, pale hands sliding around his groin, and between his legs.
"This is... ah... rather uncharacteristic." Alexandros mumbled, as his hands mimicked the human's, slipping past the waistband of his pants. Parth let out a small chuckle of mirth, and just turned his head over his shoulder.
"My love, I may not be a very sexual being unlike minotaur, but that does not deny me the ability to enjoy you if I want to, does it?" The question had to be loaded, but it seemed laced with such innocence that Alexandros couldn't seem to create any answer in his mind. Parth turned around, and got onto his knees, his face coming up to meet the minotaur's muzzle. Alexandros let his hands slip down Parth's thighs, feeling those pants slide down with them.
"No, I suppose not. Still..." There was a tinge of doubt.
"I'm not doing this out of some sort of magical lust, or unnatural need." Parth promised him. He leaned up and kissed the minotaur's lips tenderly, before he teasingly brought them away, breathing out upon Alexandros. The warmth washed over him, and made him shiver again. "I mean it. Right now, I want you. And I will have you."
"M-Master... p-please..." The voice was wholly Parth's, but it was one of the past. He looked up at a minotaur smaller than Alexandros, who had his back turned to him.
"No, Parth. I... this was a mistake. I knew it was from the beginning. You know my view on the matter. I will not subject you to the desires that have been artificially created. You will learn, eventually, to ignore them. I am unable to save you from addiction, but I can at least help you to cope." The minotaur said, simply. "I know first hand how horrible the addiction, the crave can be. But believe me that there are other ways of coping. Perhaps not better, but other ways. And I refuse to subject you to the most obvious answer."
Parth blinked, and he writhed. He was on hands and knees and though he could have easily just pushed off and-- no, he didn't want to. He could have, but he didn't want to. He stayed that way, his groin feeling like it were on fire, and his head becoming muggy and clouded. The only thing he could focus on was how much he needed it, and he was being denied. His loins screamed for release, and he even felt his legs spread wantonly, even if there were no one there.
"But..." He whined, and he smiled when the minotaur turned around. However, a hand fell on his head, and he blinked, starting to cry. "No! No Master, please, forgive me--!"
"You have not displeased me, Parth. No. You have not. I have failed you. As your Master, and as your friend. And as Lord Forge. Do not worry. I will take care of you. Just not the way you think you need."
"Master! Master, please!"
"Sleep, Parth. You will wake up, and it will all be better."
Parth shook, waking up from the nightmare, quickly holding onto his arms. He started to cry without really thinking, choking back sobs and trying to be as quiet as possible. He didn't stop shaking, though, until large furred arms pulled him close, and he felt Alexandros' steady breathing against him. "It's okay, love, it's okay. It was a dream. It's gone now. It's the past."
As much as he wanted to, he felt like if he opened his mouth, the only thing that would escape were those repressed sobs, and more wails. Instead, he turned himself, burying his face in the minotaur's furry chest, and let himself go.
"You shouldn't have, love. Even if it was for me."
"I really did want..." Parth choked out, before he drew in a breath. He felt the minotaur's hand against the back of his head, just rubbing there calmly. The other gripped him by the small of his back, and just held him close, pressing their nude forms together.
"I know. It's okay... shhh there now, I'm right here, alright?" The minotaur stared at the doorway that had opened so silently, Parth hadn't noticed. He smiled, and nodded silently at Grandis, who just shut the door with that same silent, stealthiness, cradling the human, no, his human.
"Talk about it. We have time." Alexandros almost ordered, though there was a bit of a questioning tone behind it. Parth sighed, as he climbed into those baggy robes again, before he quickly scooped up the covered object that Alexandros had handed them when they arrived at Labyrinth. "You know it always makes you feel better, Parth."
"It was... him. Again. It was the second time I had been used as a lens." Parth explained, sitting on the bed. Alexandros, still not clothed, drew the human close. Parth took in a breath, the heady scent of last night's activity mixed with the pine-earthen scent of the minotaur filled his head, and it calmed him. At least, enough to talk. "I had... I wanted it so badly, back then. I know you know what it feels like but it... I felt like I was being left alone. Betrayed."
"He was doing neither. He was trying to teach--"
"I know!" Parth shouted, before he just calmed himself again. "Ugh... I just... I don't know. Master is... er... was... never one to want me in that way. I felt like I wasn't worth anything. Not that I wasn't already feeling that way." Parth stared at the ground, clutching the bundled object close to him.
"Come on. Our appointed time with the Council draws near, and the sun is almost rising. I'm sure our... my Guard is gathered by the Obelisk." Alexandros said, as he got up.
"You'll have to bathe first, of course." Parth said, having already done so when he'd awoken for what had been the umpteenth time that evening. "I'll wait here. Master."
Alexandros groaned, and just lifted himself up out of the bed, stretching. He jumped slightly when he felt the human's arms wrap around his bare torso, and he received a kiss to his spine. "Come on, am I going to bathe or what?" Parth chuckled, and smacked the minotaur's rump, that being a sort of playful signal that he was free. Alexandros shook his head, grabbing his change of clothes and a towel, heading to the hotel's baths.
"But I'm no longer useless..." Parth mumbled, as he clutched the object that was hidden in his robes again. It was as big as his head, and spherical, and he clung to it like Alexandros had clung to him last night, when they had been speaking with Grandis. "I just have to prove it. Prove myself. I'll have to do that for a while, won't I?" He asked aloud, almost as if he were speaking to the object. "Master... I will not let you down."