Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 01:42:46 -0400 (EDT)
From: Zane <zanehuntergreen@excite.com>
Subject: Jaded-Part 13

JADED By: Zane Hunter Green
Chapter Thirteen:


The copyright of this story belongs to the author. This is a piece of
fiction not based on any real person, or situations. This story is written
for a mature audience.


 Anton knew that he was dying. It made the knowledge that Jaden was
preparing a benefit to raise money for his care, bittersweet. How could he
leave this boy who made the pain go away, and the dark thoughts flee, even
on the dark days when he had trouble just moving. Then there was Ty. Ty
wasn't ready for the responsibility of life without him. Ty loved Jaden
too, and that was good, but Jaden was too young to lose everyone who was
ever close to him. What if something happened to Ty, if he was no longer
around to protect him...and dear sweet Jaden, his sister's son, if it
wasn't for him Jaden would be in the hellhole of the slums of LA, fending
for himself and not yet into his teens.

His trouble thoughts made him think about unusual aspects of life after
death. He had read about a company where people could have their loved ones
ashes turned into gems, diamonds, perhaps if he had to go he could have two
diamonds made out of his remains for his two boys, and they could wear him
as studs in their ears...no that was morbid. Perhaps he could hang around
as a ghost. Diamonds made him think about a young man he sold night-fishing
equipment to down in LA. The man had grey eyes that were as bright and
sharp as diamonds. The man swore he was a vampire, and couldn't fish during
the daytime, and the man fished only in city lakes. Anton questioned him
about why a vampire would fish to begin with, and the man laughed like a
balloon with static electricity, that gave him chills, but wasn't shocking.

"Live fish have a special type of blood, lots of beta-oils. I suck them
where the hook attaches and then releases them once more."

"I thought you vampires had to stay away from water."

"Just running water, that's why you won't find me in any of your streams up
north."

"Why do you want special flies then?" Anton asked him.

"They are lovely, I like the way they look, and catching worms is done in
morning light."

Anton admired his own work; the dusty black feathers did look like little
bats, as they delicately decorated the spiky hooks.

"Your flies remind me of myself, beautiful on the outside, but if you touch
my softness I can stab hard.

Anton visited him a few times, and over the years kept in touch. He never
took him seriously, but like many California's he was entitled to be
eccentric. Actually claiming to be a vampire was pretty tame compared to
other outrageous characters he knew. The man's name was Harper, and he was
sexy as hell, he was always immaculately dressed in tight clothes so his
muscles ripped through. He had very blond hair, almost whitish so it seemed
to glow in the dark and pale skin, the type you would expect on a porcelain
plate. His lips were full, and kissable, but Anton never kissed him. His
body, not his face addressed his masculinity. He had never thought too much
about the fact Harper never seemed to look any older. It was time to dig up
this old friendship, and find out where Harper discovered the fountain of
youth, or was it in the blood?

There was never a better time. Jaden was still at school, and Ty was off
running errands.

He had kept a set of records of his favorite customers. There were a few
celebrities, and people that crossed the line into friendship. Many had
told him that his flies brought them luck, but if there was anything
special about them, it was the fact that they were each created to be both
beautiful, attractive to the fish, and hold together. Anton had perfected
his wrapping techniques, and knots. Harper had sworn he used knot magic. If
he did, it was unconscious; his goal was to earn an appreciation of the art
of fly making.

His hands shook slightly as he found the number. He hoped that Harper was
still at the number.

The phone rang, and then an answering machine came on.

"This is Harper...If it's daytime, I'm sleeping and can't be
disturbed. If it's nighttime I'm out cruising. Leave a message and your
blood type."

Anton started to laugh. Then he dialed Michael. "Hey buddy, I have a favor
to ask."

"Hi Anton, you sound good today."

"Don't you get so patronizing too; I get enough of that from Ty."

"What do you need?"

"I have a friend in LA that I want to visit, and I know you go there often,
so I'm asking you to take me next time you drive down."

"Sure, I'd be glad to, if..."

"You mean if I'm up to it? I will be, don't worry."

"I'm actually driving in tomorrow, but..."

"You got things to do there, don't worry about that either. You can drop me
off at my friends, and I'll arrange to get back."

Michael, after a few misgivings told him to be ready around five the next
morning.

That night at dinner he told Ty and Jaden that he was going down to LA with
Michael, and planned to be gone for a day or two. Jaden got teary eyed as
if he would never see Anton again. Ty lashed out. "If you're feeling that
good you could stay here and help with the business."

"Look Ty, just because I'm sick that doesn't mean I lose my rights as a
free, mature man. I know that you think you're doing the right thing and
looking out for me, but I have never depended solely on another, and I hope
that I influenced you to be the same. Sometimes I wished that you had more
than just me as your lover, and went away to be with your own
friends. That's why I'm glad that Jaden is here, but I hope that you give
the boy some space as well."

Jaden gasped as the two men started an up roaring verbal fight. He finally
covered his ears as the words got darker and more hurtful."

"You threw a boy at me to get me to be unfaithful to you, how despicable is
that?" Ty lashed out with all his bottled frustration

"Jaden is not just "some boy" he is too good for you, if you want to know
the truth!" Anton retorted. "You should kiss my toes that I brought him
into our lives."

"Now I think you only wanted him so I would have a new playmate, so you
could go off and leave me thinking my bed isn't empty."

"If that's what you think, you don't deserve to have anything to do with
this boy. Maybe you should think about being the one to go."

Ty threw his plate down, and left without a word."

Jaden was shaking. Then he ran after him calling out "Ty, he didn't mean
it, come back!"

Ty was in his room slamming clothes into a suitcase.

"Please Ty, don't leave me! The boy begged him. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"You didn't do anything, stop saying you're sorry none of this is your
fault"

"Can't you just wait until Anton comes back? I can't stay here by myself."

"Christ Jaden! Why do you want to live with two co-dependent old farts!
We'll turn you into one of us in no time."

"You're not old, and I already know I'm gay. I am in love with you."

"Why? Because Anton told you to. You can do a thousand times better than
me."

"I know you're not always nice, but you remind me of myself. You are still
hurting just like me, and I love the fact that you care so much for my
uncle."

"You know I was very jealous of you! Perhaps I still am on some level,
maybe I always will be. You will always be younger, and far more beautiful
that me. So think about it. How can you love someone who thinks that way
about you?"

"But I really do love you."

"Maybe you have had such a rough life, that you don't think you deserve any
better. There are men who want to be slaves, and have a master look after
them. They relish their master to be somewhat cruel, and uncaring at
times. It's called a slave-master relationship. I wonder if that is what
you think you want? I wonder if to some degree that's what it's been for me
with Anton. Maybe he was always more my father than my equal. That isn't
what he wants for you Jaden. I know him well enough to know he wants
someone who really appreciates you, and can treat you as an equal."

Jaden asked Ty to call it a truce.

Ty had to admire the youngster even more for being so diplomatic.  If Anton
left tomorrow, he would need to stay and take care of Jaden. How selfish of
him to think he could just get up and leave whenever his feelings were
hurt. He had an obligation to take care of Jaden. It was what Anton had
wished for. Ty walked out to tell Anton how sorry he was for their bitter
words, and tell him that he was just overly stressed out. Anton was already
in bed, and asleep. Ty didn't want to wake him up. It could wait for the
morning.