Chapter 3 part 1: Angello's tale
#3 of My Life as a Kindred
Chapter 3: Angelo's story
Only half a days ride out of Rome the remnants of the 3 defeated legio was met but Aengellus who quickly told them not to stop and keep going. He was able to lash his reins the the back of the wagon his brother was in and jump in without harming himself or his brother.
What he saw scared him. Amandus looked ashen almost bloodless and dead. His skin was chill to the touch. When Aengellus put his ear to his brother chest his heart beat was still regular but weak. He was still breathing in regular time. He began to worry then that he may lose his other half. Those this sick hardly ever recover. Aengellus knew what this was but he couldn't say for sure. He had gotten a taste for strange things sexually and after finding out a female friend of his was a vampire, having talked his way out of his own death by agreeing to becoming one of her herd. But with her feeding on his blood while having sex with her, it was a rush unlike anything he had ever experienced. She was of the True Brujah clan and he knew he would join their ranks someday, or so she had said. But for now Aengellus had other things to worry about. He quickly undressed and readjusted the covers so he could crawl in with his twin using his own body heat to keep him warm. It was then he realized that he was nude under the warm wool blankets, but that wasn't what disturbed him. It was the new Kindred mark on his brother's chest. And one that he didn't recognize at first but as he cuddled close to his beloved brother, he heard something that he'd never thought he'd hear.
"Servius? No your warm. Aengellus? Angie?"Amandus said weakly not realizing his slip as he wrapped his arms around the warm body that had crawled in bed with him. He got a good smell and sighed.
"Hey Angie, sorry I couldn't see you on better circumstances. Thanks for coming though. Now give yourself a kiss will you?"Amandus said still weak but he also sounded amused.
"Ami this is hardly the time and place for that. And you nag at me for too sexually free with myself. You should have seen what Marcie did while you were gone. Looked like they both enjoyed it too. I even joined in and I gotta say that I now know why you love it do much." Aengellus replied laughing as he traced the Kindred mark on his twins chest over and over. He felt Amandus tense up and swat his hand away irritably.
"Stop that. That's annoying." Amandus chastised. And remembered last night when Servius had marked him. Made him his. His cock was erect in moments of that memory.
"Yeah when you stop teasing me with the monster you got hitting my leg. You're lucky you know that don't you?- " began Aengellus but unsure of how to continue without breaking one of the most important traditions that his kindred lover had taught him. The one that keeps them safe from those that would destroy the Kindred, The Masquerade. Aengellus knew that the kindred are required by this tradition to hide in plain sight, to appear as human as possible. And there was only one penalty for breaking that tradition: Death for a mortal and final death for a Kindred. Either way Aengellus knew he would have to tread very carefully with the soldiers around. Even more so with his brother. Aengellus knew that the Kindred mark he had on him was none other than the prince of Rome. Servius. A 4th generation and not one to trifle with or piss off an any way.
Amandus looked at his brother confused for a moment, then catching on.
"You know? How? I didn't talk in my sleep did-" Amandus began but Aengellus interrupted him with a gentle finger to his lips.
"SHH! We will talk about that later. Lets just say I know more about the subject in general than I've let on. I've known about them for several years now. I.. uh.. work for one of them on a regular basis. And the subject of fostering me and bringing me into her house and clan has been discussed. And no mother and father doesn't know. Nor are they meant to. Now you go to sleep. You need your rest." said Aengellus seriously and began to preform his duties of watching over his twin brother, who was as much a part of him as he was for Amandus. They balanced each other and whenever he and his brother got into a fight in the end it was Marcius that was the glue that held them together. Lost in thought he never noticed that night had fallen they had just entered the city proper. He felt someone watching him carefully. He looked down at Ami and found him still asleep. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and a cold breeze blew in from behind him. He looked behind him and was shocked to see Servius riding with them. He had a stern look on his face and held his finger to his lips shaking his head.
*You know why I have come. But tonight I will not take the last of his blood. I come only to feed him. He will get better for a time. For a time, but know that I will not allow him to recover completely. I will make him my childer. And if it's any conciliation you will join him but not by clan Ventrue. When you will join him will be up to you Sire. So mourn him but do not forget him. You will see him again.*
Aengellus smiled and nodded then snuggled close to his brother. They soon arrived at Amandus's villa and he was taken immediately to bed. And to Tatiana's credit she said nothing. But went to to kitchen to help cook a feast for the new guests. Aengellus could tell she was worried but had decided to let him deal with it. So when Servius showed up in the bedroom Aengellus shooed all the servants out of the bedroom claiming the senator wanted to pay his respects in peace. The servant not knowing what to do to help did as they where told leaving Servius, Aengellus and Amandus to their own devices. After checking to be sure the coast was clear Angie nodded as he spoke.
"It's safe to speak freely My Prince, Tatiana won't be coming back in here for a while. And the servant have gone about their other duties. We are alone." Informed Aengellus softly.
Servius nodded and smiled somewhat surprised.
"So you do know me. That's pleasantly surprising. I will have to compliment your master or mistress rather on your knowledge and your efforts to keep our traditions. Who are you Marked by Aengellus? Gaiana of Greece isn't it." Asked Servius smiling and obviously pleased.
"Yes that's her, the beauty that she is she should have been a Toreador. But I have a feeling she would not have been happy at one though, she loves her books and studies too much. But I love her as much as I love my wife. I know it's the blood bond but, I can't help myself. I've always been a bit of a rake." Chuckled Aengellus as he spoke.
"So I've heard, you've broken many a hearts from what I hear and don't intend to stop. Shame on you. You should at least be faithful to your wife, or at least try to be. But now your Mistress isn't the one you are worried about at this time now is it. Let us set to the point shall we?" answered Servius directly.
"Ok then...how long will you keep him as your childer. Will we be able to see one another. I need reassurance from you that we will not be forced apart and kept that way. Gaiana told me that she will not keep us apart as long as he is in the know. And I find out that you have chosen him, of which I'm grateful for believe me. But Gaiana said when she embraces me, which will be soon I don't know exactly when she plans to do it but she told be that she would allow me to see my brother should he to be embraced assuming his Sire allows the contact. She told me that my time as her childer would be 200 to 300 years. I don't think I could bare being separated from my brother that long." Admitted Aengellus woefully.
"You might have to, I'm not saying you will but if for some reason in the future should your sire to be and I part ways then it's a possibility that you must look at.." stated Servius matter-of-factly.
"Forgive me my prince, I mean no disrespect. But he is my brother. I will do what ever it takes to keep him safe, just as I am sure you will do, and I will follow him where ever he goes if I am able. Being separated for 200 to 300 years will be very hard on the both of us. With exception of the time he was dealing with the nasty mess in Germania and his training we were never separated. We were always in each others company, we lost our virginity with each other, did everything together and got into the same trouble too." said Aengellus chuckling happily at the memories.
Amandus Chuckled too and startled both men comically.
"As I recall.. Angie it was you that got us into the trouble and me getting us out of it." Laughed Amandus as he sat up.
Aengellus laughed in response and shrugged his shoulders in a knowing way nodding his head.
"Yes, but you always were good at thinking on your feet. And you always came to my rescue. Now how about he eat some food you look half starved and near death. And no I will no answer any questions before you eat and drink your fill." Admonished Aengellus seriously yet his tone was filled with the love of a concerned brother.
"Alright Angie, I'll eat. Just bring be something to drink too. I'm rather thirsty." Amandus requested politely and Aengellus nodded as he left the room to get food and water for his brother.
A few moments later in the Kitchen:
"Angie why is a senator here and especially when Amandus is so ill. What happened to him? Amandus wasn't this ill when he left.-" Tatiana began but was interrupted by Aengellus.
"Tati enough...I understand your scared and worried about Amandus, I am too... but Senator Servius was a healer before he became a senator. He is doing his best to heal Amandus, but it will take time. Now I need food and water for Ami." Lied Aengellus convincingly but inwardly he wasn't sure if it was a lie he didn't know much about Servius, for all he knew it could be true.
Tatiana nodded and quickly prepared some food and a pitcher of water for her husband and gave it to Aengellus. He kissed her on the cheek as way of a thank you and quickly returned to his brother. Amandus dutifully ate the food and drank the water and soon fell fast asleep.
"He looks like an angel when he sleeps. I am growing to care for him more than my own unlife, I hope you know that Angie, may I address you in such a familiar fashion if not forgive me." said Servius humbly.
"No it's fine My prince you may call me Angie, and I understand. You're falling in love with him. It's really hard not to. I love him with all that I am, both as my twin and as my lover." Admitted Aengellus honestly.
Servius smiled at the notion that he might be in love with Amandus. He nodded when he finally admitted to himself that Aengellus just might be right.
*Aengellus come to me. I have need of you.* mind spoke the familiar voice of Gaiana in Aengellus's mind half scaring him out of his wits in the process.
" Damn I hate it when she does that! Like to scare me to death every time!" complained Aengellus vehemently. Servius looked at him oddly for a moment and then laughed jovially for a good 10 minutes.
"I'm so glad I could entertain you so My prince." said Aengellus sarcastically before continuing. "I must ask a favor, watch over my brother in my absents please. Gaiana has summoned me and I need to go." requested Aengellus hurriedly but concerned.
"I will watch over him for as long as I can for I must leave before to sunrise, you know that. And Angie you'll get used to it eventually. I hope you mask it better when you're in public. " replied Servius kindly.
"I do but forgive me my prince, I have to go. If I keep her waiting any longer I don't relish the punishment I will receive for keeping my mistress waiting." Said Aengellus politely as he excused himself and left.
It took him only 10 more minutes to meet up with Gaiana at her pleasure den, that to all outward appearances looked to be an exclusive brothel for the upper caste or rich, and she didn't look happy.
"Where in Hades have you been?! I have been waiting for you for over 20 min." Gaiana complained venhemently.
Aengellus walked up to her with in whispering distance and scowled at Gaiana.
"I'll have you know Misstress that my brother has taken ill and it was His master I was entertaining. I doubt Servius would take to kindly to me being rude to him at all. And no this isn't some lie to get me out of trouble. Ask him yourself if you doubt me. Forgive me for sounding a little pissy but my brother means more to me than you could possibly understand." Admonished Aengellus gently.
A look of shock was blatantly obvious on Gaiana's face and it was several seconds before she responded.
" Your brother is our Prince's ghoul? Well that is surprising. A pleasant one I might add. For now I will forgive your tardiness. Try not to let it happen again. Were I a cruel Mistress I wouldn't care why you kept me waiting and would have had you strung up and flogged you. (She held up her hand to forestall any response Aengellus might have had.) but I am not a cruel Mistress so I instead will have you clean up the mess in rooms 2,3,5,8,18 and 20. I hope you have a iron stomach, 20 is a nasty mess. Blood everywhere. After you have done that take a bath and come see me. Now get to work ghoul." Commanded Gaiana sternly.
" As you wish Mistress, I hope I can change out of my good clothes first." Aengellus requested before he sighed forlornly.
"Of course I would suggest you wear only a loin cloth, one of the throwaways. That way if you get it dirty it doesn't matter." replied Gaiana nonchalantly.
"Yes mistress." groaned Aengellus miserably as he changed his clothes and set about his work.
"I look like a common slave! Why does she do this to me?" Muttered Aengellus dourly not expecting an answer. The rooms were cleaned quickly enough but when he got to room 20 he retched. The room was covered in blood and entrails of some poor hapless slave that was beaten to a pulp literally by the renter of the room. Aengellus was glad he was wearing the loin cloth as his Mistress suggested. He looked around the room and shook his head to keep from vomiting again.
"Why some kindred have such violent tastes I will never understand. Hope it wasn't somebody I knew. I swear Gaiana must have been madder at me then she let on." voiced Aengellus morosely.
Just then a nude woman stepped out of the bathroom that was so beautiful that Aengellus thought she was of Clan Toreador the same clan that his cousin was mixed up with. She was so breathtaking to Aengellus that he forgot to look down, and he stood there with his mouth agape.
"I would mind your tongue Slave if I were you. I am Miran. Remember my name, Slave. For you will be seeing a lot more of me. But you better be cleaned up the next time we meet, your filthy. What is your name so I may request your services." She demanded as she dressed herself.
Aengellus gave a quirky smile and when about cleaning the room before he answered her.
" I am Aengellus, ghoul to Gaiana. And I doubt my Services are available. I mean no disrespect but that is the way things are. You can't have me." Aengellus informed her confidently.
"Every Kindred has his or her price, it just a matter of whether or not I want to pay it." Miran said with a cold almost arrogant smile that widened when she saw Aengellus's quirky one fade into a deflated look.
"She still won't let you have me, and neither will I."Aengellus said but with less conviction that he had previously.
"I'll have you as my own, you watch" Miran whispered so softly that Aengellus didn't hear.
Aengellus said nothing more to this Kindred and finished cleaning the room. He didn't know when she had left but for a good while he felt her eyes on him. This for some reason gave him the creeps. Normally he wouldn't mind a beautiful woman leering over him, but there was something about Miran that just didn't sit right with him. He then went in to clean the bathroom and take a bath. 20 minutes of scrubbing later he was finally done. Dressed in a clean loin cloth he went to inform Gaiana that he was finished. When he arrived, her door was cracked. He could hear his mistress and a voice he recognized as Miran's arguing.
"He is not a common slave! He is a noble and I won't sell his "services" as you call them without his consent.-" began Gaiana but was interrupted by Miran.
"10,000 Aureus is my final offer and he gets an additional 5,000 to keep him quiet. Paid through you of course. For a total of 15,000 Aureus " replied Miran seriously. As she put several bags of coin on the table to show her seriousness.
Aengellus saw Gaiana look hard at the coin bags and looked like she was seriously considering the offer. He suddenly had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that he would be serving Miran after all.
"My ghoul has arrived, give me a few moments with him and I will give you your answer." Replied Gaiana thoughtfully.
Miran smiled and knew she had succeeded in her quest. So she nodded and went out the door.
"Your Mistress wants to see you." Miran said smugly with a triumphant smile on her face. Aengellus only nodded before going in to speak with Gaiana and he made sure to close the door behind him.
"Gaiana I don't want to serve her period. She is a cruel woman. Do you want me to end up dead before my time, if I fail to please her? Just like that poor hapless soul that pissed her off in room 20 that I had to clean up? The person was beat to a pulp literally. I couldn't tell if it was male or female. Or that he or she was once human. There is a cold cruelty about her despite her beauty that shines through her eyes, I won't serve her. Not after what I have seen of her. " Informed Aengellus seriously.
Gaiana looked at the money bags that Miran had left on her desk, then at Aengellus's stern but handsome face and shook her head.
"No Angie, I don't want you to end up like that. You are worth more to me than all the money in the world. I will tell her no. Now come kneel at my side and I will call her in." replied Gaiana resolutely.
" I do believe that is the first time you have ever called me that." Aengellus said with a smile right before he kissed Gaiana soundly on the lips, pulling her close to him as she seemed to melt into his kiss, his arms wrapped around her and hers around him and they kissed passionately for several minutes. But all to soon for Angie the kiss ended and so he knelt at Gaiana's feet. Gaiana smiled down at him proudly but then quickly schooled her features.
*Miran you can come in now* Called Gaiana through auspex*.
Miran opened the door and walked in.
"When can I expect the services of your Ghoul?" Miran asked confidently.
"Never, not for all the Aureus in the known world can you have him. Especially after the report I just received about the last one of my slaves you rented. Hortus thankfully was one I purchased from the coliseum and was a gladiator so he will not be missed. I refuse to take the chance that the same fate will befall Aengellus. Caesar himself would turn all of Rome and the Empire upside down to find him. I for one will not be held accountable for another's actions Miran! That slave cost me 10,000 Aureus and that's what you owe me. You can pay up now Or I can take this matter before our prince for him to decide." Said Gaiana sternly.
"This is an outrage! Fine take the money even the extra 5,000 just to make sure you keep this incident from the prince's ear. But you have not heard the last of me I assure you!" Raged Miran before she stormed out of Gaiana's office and then out of the establishment.
" I got a bad feeling about this Mistress, I think we may have pissed her off to where she will do something about it." Aengellus said worriedly.
" I doubt it she wouldn't dare..she knows you are of my domain and she would not violate Caine's covenants. She wouldn't dare!" Replied Gaiana more forcefully than she intended but to Aengellus's ears it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself that it was true. But Gaiana shook her head then gathered the bags up and put them in a safe place before beginning with Aengellus's nightly training.
_ GLOSSARY: _
*Auspex: a mental discipline that at higher levels allows telepathic communication.