Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 05:37:26 -0700
From: ZaneG7@Excite.com
Subject: Underground Angel

This work is fictional. None of the characters are based on real
people. Please do not read if you are not of legal age or Adult-Youth
stories get your Great Dane or any other animal you think of. Comments can
be directed to ZaneG7@Excite.com and are greatly appreciated.

Copyright Notice: the author copyrights this story and the author retains
all rights. Expressly prohibited is placing this story at a for pay site.


Underground Angel: by Zane Hunter Green
Chapter One: Saint Patrick's Day

It was pitch dark when I came to. I couldn't see anything! Then I heard the
terrible rumble, the earth shook. I felt dizzy, and for a moment I couldn't
think. Finally some light poured through the grate above me. I was bound
and I was terrified, not from the pressure on my head, but the amber eyes
and squeaks I heard beside me. I knew that my wallet was long gone but that
wasn't my problem now. I would have gladly given them the wallet. At least
I was still alive, I was sure of that until I looked up into the shaded
face of the angel. He knelt beside me, his silken hair brushed against my
face. Deftly he tried to untie me and then when he found the knots too
tight he nestled against me, I felt his mouth on my head where I had been
cut, and a warm tingle as he licked at my wounds like a cat. The rats
disappeared.

"Are you an angel?" I crocked

"No, my name is Sascha, I'm a boy."

"Are you one of them?" I asked cautiously

"The gang who hurt you?" He replied

"Yes."

"No, but I saw them, they're gone now." He assured me

"Can you find my cell phone?" I pleaded with him

"They must have taken it from you, it's not here." He seemed to apologize

"Can you go and get some help for me then?" I reasoned with him

"I will help you Sir." He told me

"Sascha, you shouldn't even be here. What if they come back?"

"They won't I had the rats scare them off." He said matter of fact.

"Why are you here?" I asked

"I have to hide," He said

"From whom?"

"I can't tell you that but Sir don't be scared I am going to call Nerof and
Findara over to gnaw at your ropes. You know rats are very clever, and if
they don't gnaw their teeth grow too long to fit in there mouths, I promise
they won't hut you. They will only break the ropes."

I got the chills again, from what I knew of rats they carried disease and
were men's mortal enemy. Here I was in some abandoned subway station
waiting for the most beautiful boy I had ever seen in my life to call the
most hideous of creatures. To think this day started almost like any other,
any other Saint Patrick's Day that was...


The first unusual event happened in the morning. I remember looking at a
group of boys from a private school. Like a herd of dancing green buffalo
calves the troop of schoolboys made their way down 65th street heading for
Central Park. I stopped to watch them, admiring every boy so boisterous,
and charming, as they hopped along with the energy of the young. Each one a
universe unto themselves. One little boy who seemed to lag at the end
stopped to look at concern at a pile of papers he must have been holding
but were now flying away from him like a Chinese kite without connecting
strings. I put my briefcase down, and chased after them for him, deftly
catching the majority, they were all drawings. When I returned them to him,
he gave me an impish grin and ran on to catch up with his school tribe.

I spotted one lone paper making its gusty way towards the subway steps. The
boy was clearly out of sight, but I decided to try and retrieve the drawing
for myself. The March wind played with the boys drawing until both it and I
were heading down the stairs. My nose was offended with the bitter human
smell of the underground passage. It reminded me why it had been several
years since I rode a subway. The main reason however was my fear of small
spaces, and a re-occurring dream of being lost in the primevil world of the
underground system. What a time to think of that! I spotted the boys
drawing, and picked it up. He had carefully drawn a rainbow. On the bottom
was a pot of gold, and a little leprechaun with bright green hair, "how
cute" I thought as I quickly climbed up the subway steps bumping into a few
people heading down into the bowels of the city.

I had almost forgotten about my briefcase, so intent had I been on
returning the drawings to the little boy. I was surprised when an elderly
man walked over to me with it. He was so non-descript that I mumbled "thank
you" without really looking at him.

He said to me. "The trial starts soon."

I thought to myself, "What trial?" Maybe he mistook me for a trial attorney
what with my buff colored briefcase, well that made me instantly think
about work, and the account that I wanted to finish today. I stuffed the
boy's drawing in my coat pocket, and wove my way past the carriages and
horses until I was able to cross the avenue with a North bound crowd of
pedestrians.

I finally got into the office where I ran a small Ad Agency. Len, who was
mostly an artist and a ran on a gallon of caffeine, had already made Java,
and I poured myself a cup forgoing the green bagels and cream cheese that
he offered. I looked at his mock-ups, which were damn good, and I was just
formulating my best idea of the campain when my cell phone rang.

I heard a voice that was always abundantly cheerful "Hey Kurt, I have
something hot and delicious in my hand just thinking about you."

"It better be a slice of Irish soda-bread"

"Guess again"

"Sean, you're not interrupting me for phone sex I hope!"

"No, Studmuffin. Me and the boys are going slumming tonight, without you it
won't be any fun."

"Well you better count me out, I'm working on an ad for Tranka Cola. Listen
if you want to be helpful what rhymes with sled, besides bed."

"Head"

"I don't think the big boys will buy it although it has a certain ring,
Tranka cola, one gulp and it's said to be as good as going to bed in your
red sled for everesant head led by Jed, Ted and Ned."

"You forgot the word wed, will you marry me love?

"In your dreams."

" See how you are. You're already there."

"I'm in your dreams?"

"I'll sign a pre-nuptial agreement giving you everything."

"Lol, you have no pride Sean."

"I'll give you that too!"

"Forget it, this isn't the bargaining table."

"We can do it there too."

"Okay I really don't have time to banter, get to the point I have work to
do."

"Well, as it's St. Patrick's Day."

"And you're full of blarney."

"You too, Mr. Ad Man, anyway we are meeting at The Four Leaf Tavern.

"Gagh, green beer, corn beef and cabbage, I don't know. I already turned
down a green bagel."

"There will also be Irish pipers and dancers, men with shaved legs stomping
around in kilts."

"That sounds like they added a few Scotsmen, but I'll be there, what time."

"Nine O Clock."

I worked until then taking a short break for tea when Len left for the
evening.

"Looks good Kurt!" he said

"Thanks Len, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Don't stay out real late, you look tired."

"You sound like my Mother! Don't worry, I plan to be a good boy."

And I did plan to behave myself, really!

I remember the green beer, gallons of it, and the borons and penny
whistles. The music was so good. Irish Music always grips my soul that I
stayed with my friends much later than I intended. Before I knew it, my
watch was reading 2:30 AM. That was when I made a mistake. I should have
called for a taxi. Instead I decided to walk home to my brownstone, hoping
to walk off the beer. I figured that the entire city of New York had been
parting and I had nothing to fear.

I must have been hit from behind. Somehow I was dragged down into the
subway and carried alone a passage until I was tied up and left here in an
abandoned subway station. I closed my eyes, as the rats must have done
their work at his bidding. I thought to myself all the while that I just
became a character in a legend of the city, saved by a ratboy, but this was
no rat boy. My eyes adjusting to the light I could see him more clearly. He
was slender and dirty with beautiful features. I would guess him to be 11
or 12. He looked almost ethereal, pale eyes, and dark hair. There was an
odd politeness about him. I also sensed that he wasn't American, but I
couldn't place his accent.

I spoke to him quietly "Why are you here, this seems like one of the most
dangerous places in New York."

"That's why I choose it, I figured that no one would bother me here."

"Will you come with me, and help me find my way out. I promise to reward
you in any way I can. You and your err furry friends saved my life."

"Will you turn me over to authorities?"

"No, I promise I won't. I have a big empty house where it's warm and safe."

Suddenly arms and voices snatched at me from out of nowhere. We were not
alone after all.

"Don't take away our pretty boy," An old crone yelled from the dark,
Sascha, stay with us, please stay and sing to us pleaseee boy just one more
time.

Then the boy stopped and sang a song so haunting as it echoed through the
empty tunnels it was as if the world came to stop, as the shapeshifters of
the homeless who lived in this neither world all froze to listen to this
voice. The voice of paradise. A train rumbled far away, but the exquisite
sound of the boy singing made it sound like a percussion instrument.

When he stopped singing he took my hand and led me to a place where there
was a drop of 20 feet or so.

"Wait here" he told me.

Before I knew it he climbed out of sight. I thought for a moment that I
would never see him again and my heart stood still. Finally he climbed back
up holding a package of some sort."

"Let's go to your house now." Once again he took my hand. His hand was warm
and smooth. I never wanted to let go. He walked upward until we came to an
emergency exit of the IRT. I easily swung it open. This must have been the
place where I entered the world. I passed the entrance a thousand times and
never noticed it before.

The sun was just started to appear when we reached my door. I had an
electronic lock and I keyed us in. He was still there beside me holding my
hand.

"Sascha, welcome to my house, my Great Dane greeted me happily. I was
afraid he might take exception to the boy and I was worried. Not to fear he
was fawning over the boy immediately."

"Animals like me" he said

"I think I know that" I answered.

I led him upstairs, my legs starting to shake from exhaustion, only my
adrenaline must have helped me home. That and the companion beside me who
had saved me that night. Now it was time for me to help him. I would have
to get some sleep first though. He almost looked as worn out as I, there
were shadows under his remarkable eyes. I wondered when was the last time
he had a full night of sleep, well as it was really the morning. I thought
about a hot shower but I was too tired to drag my feet another inch. He
looked up me.

"Let's go to bed" he begged.

I didn't think to argue with him. Three of us collapsed into bed. The boy
my dog, Aries who took up half the room and me. I think we barely took our
shoes off. The boy tucked his body into mine and we looked like two
soldiers caught in the battlefield. One too young, and the other old
enough. I never felt greater peace or relief to be in my own bed. I fell
asleep with my breath caressing his.