Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:01:11 -0500
From: Jason Gordon <jaygordon_1981@hotmail.com>
Subject: Devil's Gambit 4
Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction which will include t/t and
m/m relationships, and probably some sex too. If it is illegal in your
area to read this, or if you are not old enough to read this (you know who
you are), stop here. Otherwise, please enjoy.
The Devil's Gambit, Chapter 4
"Turning Over a New Leaf"
"What's wrong, Pete," Aiden asked as he came in, dressed in a nice pair
of pants, shirt and tie, and sport coat. Peter told Aiden about the whole
encounter and Aiden looked furious. "Would your brother make a statement,
if we arrested your parents?"
"I think so.... He sounded so scared, and now that he's talked to me,
it'll get worse.... But our family is in Lockewood...."
"We've got contacts.... It'll take a couple of days, but I think I can
make it happen.... But I might need your help...."
"I'd do anything...."
They stayed as long as they could, but finally, Tom said, "Peter, I'm
sorry, but I promised some friends I'd come to a dinner party.... They'll
be very disappointed if we don't make it...."
"I understand, Doc. Thanks, and thank you Aiden...."
"Look, call us if you need us. Otherwise, I'll come by first thing in
the morning.... I'm free all day tomorrow...." Out at their cars, he
said, "I hate to leave him like that...."
"You can't fix all of his problems, Tom...."
"I'm going to do my best.... You can grab the rest...."
They both laughed. They quickly pulled in at Aiden's so he could
change, and left Tom's car there. Tom directed Aiden to the Moore's home,
and it turned out that everyone else was running a little late. When they
knocked, Martha answered. Seeing Tom, she burst into happy tears and threw
her arms around him, whispering, "It's been too long, Tom...." Poor Aiden
was entirely in the dark and looked on helplessly.
"I'm sorry, Martha.... It's just so hard to be here, but I'll try
harder...."
"Promise?"
"I promise...." With that, Martha released him and stepped back,
sizing Aiden up with a well-tuned eye. Taking that as his cue, he said,
"Martha, this is my friend Aiden O'Connel...."
She shook his hand, but asked in that motherly interrogation mode,
"Friend?"
"We just started dating Martha, take it easy on him? I'll consider it
a personal favor," Tom said with a laugh.
"Alright," she said, laughing, "but not too easy...."
With that, she waved them in. Walt was sitting in his chair with a
scotch, and struggled to his feet. "Tom! So good to have you here....
And you must be...."
"Aiden O'Connel, sir, nice to meet you...."
"So what do you do, Aiden? Our Tom doesn't meet many people," Walt
said with a laugh as he settled uneasily into his seat.
"I'm a police officer, sir...."
"Ah, you must have responded to the incident with young Peter
Dawson...."
"Yes, sir.... I found Tom covered in blood with his hand in the boy's
bloody wound, actually...."
"The Dawson boy was stabbed," Martha gasped, and Walt and Tom looked at
her knowingly. "And Tom found him...." Tom nodded and the woman's eyes
filled up with tears, as she turned to flee the room. Tom started after
her, but Walt put a hand up and shook his head. They steered the
conversation in another direction, and shortly, Aiden excused himself to
the bathroom, but made a side trek into the kitchen, where he found Martha
working on some food with tears in her eyes.
"Martha," he asked.
"Yes, dear?"
"I feel as if there's something I'm missing, here.... All I know is
that I've come to my boyfriend's department chairman's house...."
"Oh, dear, dear.... I'm not sure how much I should say.... Take a
look at the wall behind you...." He was looking at photo's of handsome
young men and women, clearly related, and all of whom looked vaguely
familiar. One large photo, however, was a family photo from last
Thanksgiving. Walt and Martha stood in the midst of five boys, two of whom
were Tom and Jamie. Then he saw the resemblance of Jamie to the other
boys, and he sighed heavily, settling onto a stool and staring at the
picture.
"Jamie...."
"Yes, dear, Jamie.... So you do know that much.... Walt sees Tom all
the time, but I can't help but feel like I lost them both, every day...."
"It's got to be difficult for him to be here...."
"I know, Aiden, I know.... It's also difficult for him to be with me.
Jamie, of all my sons, was closest to me.... I love all my sons equally,
but Jamie was my sidekick, you know...." Aiden got up and stood beside
her, grabbing a knife to help. For a while, they worked side-by-side.
After a long silence, Martha said, "I hope you can make Tom happy again.
When I first met him, he was so bottled up, so brittle and scared. By the
time Jamie died, it was like he had come to life, and then I saw him
slipping away again, bit by bit. I see he has a little of the old fire
back."
"It gets better?"
"Tom is still a shadow of the man he was a year ago, but with someone
to show him love and support...."
"It's hard to imagine.... He's so good, so kind...."
"If you stick with him, you'll be amazed...."
"Martha, can I ask you a ... personal question?"
"You mean, private?"
"Yeah," he said with a laugh. "Do you believe in love at first sight?"
Martha laughed and choked back a sob at the same time. "I'm sorry, please
don't say I said anything...."
"It's not that, dear, it's just, the last time I was asked that
question was right here.... Tom is a very special man, and he doesn't
understand the effect he has on people.... He's always surprised that
someone could even love him, much less that they do.... Jamie met him and
was floored. I remember it like yesterday. Tom was twenty-four and we had
our beginning of the year party. He was the new faculty person and he
wasn't saying word one to anybody. So shy! Jamie was still a student at
the college, and he was trying to avoid all the stuffy professors, but he
came downstairs for a drink and saw Tom sitting in the corner with his
drink. He came right in here and asked me that same question. I said,
'What are you talking about, dear,' and he asked, 'who's the kid in there
who looks like he's lost his kite?' I laughed and said, 'That kid is the
new professor in your dad's department.' He just shrugged and walked right
in there and sat down next to Tom, practically in his lap in that little
seat, and before long he had him out in the back yard on the swings hanging
from a big oak, laughing and talking. I brought Walt in here to see
through the blinds, which he closed and shook his head laughing.... There
was no point in getting in Jamie's way...."
"I ... I don't think Tom's been able to deal with it, even as well as
you have...."
"Maybe now he will. Just try not to let his feelings for Jamie,
feelings he'll always have, get in between you...." Aiden nodded, and
continued to help until everything was ready. When the two of them
returned together, after a long absence, Walt and Tom looked at them
quizzically, but Martha just took Aiden around and introduced him to the
guests who had arrived: two philosophy professors and their spouses, and a
professor of religion, Emily Frost, and her family. She had brought her
child, apologetically, as her babysitter had cancelled at the last minute.
Aiden got down on his knee and said, "Hi, I'm Aiden!"
"Hi Aiden, I'm Adam!"
"How old are you, buddy?
"Three," the boy said happily.
"Wow, you're a big boy...." Throughout the evening, everyone noticed
the boy watching Aiden closely. Conversation over dinner was lively, and
at desert, Walt raised his glass in a toast. "Tom, congratulations on your
latest accomplishment, and we look forward to many more...." After a lot
of clinking of glasses, Walt, out of character, continued, "I think
everyone here is aware of the recent difficulties that Tom and my family
have gone through, and I just want to add," he paused to wipe away some
tears, "I just want to add, how wonderful it is to have you back home Tom,
and I hope that ... hmmh, that you will be here much more often...." With
that, he wiped his eyes again, and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
Clearing his throat, Tom said, "I ... am sorry. It's been wonderful,
and I realize that ... locking myself up hasn't done me or anyone else any
good. So thank you for your patience." Aiden took his hand and squeezed.
Soon, conversation turned to lighter matters and carried on into the
evening, as they retired to the parlor for an after dinner drink.
Emily Frost and her crew were the first to need to go, and they said
goodbye to everyone. Emily gave Tom a hug and whispered, "It's good to see
you, Tom.... We'll have to get you two over for dinner sometime soon?"
Tom smiled and nodded, "For sure!" Everyone laughed at the cuteness
factor as Adam walked over to Aiden and gave him a big hug goodbye. "I
guess that seals the deal, Emily. Call me!"
Slowly, the guests departed until it was time for Aiden and Tom to go.
Apologetically, Aiden announced, "I have a weekend intensive seminar for my
graduate program, so I need some sleep...."
"Thank you for coming, dears," Martha said, hugging them both. Walt
hugged Tom and shook hands with Aiden. "Don't be strangers," he insisted.
"We won't," Aiden answered with a wink, cutting Tom off. He just
shrugged and nodded.
On the way back, Aiden said, "They're good people...."
"The best...."
"Martha has missed you," he said, gently.
With a sigh, Tom replied, "I know...."
"She said ... it was like losing two sons...."
"Oh, God, I've been so selfish," Tom said, looking up into the stars.
"You lost the only person you had ever truly been in love with....
It's understandable, but ... you might want to make up for lost time...."
Tom smiled at him and almost let slip an 'I love you,' but caught
himself. "You're amazing!"
"I'm okay, you are amazing...."
"We'll agree to disagree," Tom added, good naturedly. Back at his
house, as they sat in the car, Tom asked, "I suppose you need to get back
to your place, but ... would you like to spend the night?"
"I really need to be able to get dressed in the morning and have my
books so I can get to school.... You could come to my place?" Tom smiled
and hopped out, got in his car and followed Aiden back to his place, a
little one bedroom apartment a few miles away. "It's not much," he said as
he opened the door, "but I save a bunch of money!" Clearly it was a
bachelor's apartment. Leanly furnished in what looked like IKEA, it was
clear that no one spent much time there, except to sleep, relax, and study.
Relax because the modest furniture was arranged around a fancy
entertainment system and study because there were two bookcases full of
books on criminology.
Tom followed Aiden to the bedroom and found a little room with a double
bed. As he began to strip, Aiden said, "It'll be a tight fit, so I guess
we'll have to cuddle...."
Tom replied, with a dirty mind, "You didn't seem to have a problem with
either last night...."
Aiden laughed and started helping Tom out of his clothes. Naked, they
crawled into bed together, and Tom spooned Aiden, kissing his shoulder, as
they drifted off to sleep. In the morning, however, Tom awoke quite early
with a throbbing need to piss, so he padded off to the bathroom and
returned to find Aiden stretched out on his back, taking up the whole bed.
Gently pulling back the sheets, he wrapped his fingers around the man's
hardening cock and slowly stroked it to full mast. Slicking it with his
saliva, he straddled the man and pressed the penis into himself. Feeling
the tight warmth squeezing his cock, Aiden moaned and arched his back,
driving his full length home and making Tom see sparks. He opened his eyes
with a cheeky grin. "Fuck, yeah, what a way to wake up in the morning...."
Grasping Tom's muscular hips, he added extra force to Tom's downstroke.
Tom leaned in to kiss him, and at that angle, every movement pressed
against his prostate, so he kept in that position and let Aiden fuck him.
The man started to get tired in his back, so he flipped Tom onto his back
and began making love to him in earnest. With one hand, he grabbed Tom's
head and kissed him hard, while the other stroked Tom's cock. Tom was
overcome with sensation, and soon his orgasm set off Aiden's. Sticky,
Aiden laid on top of his man until the post orgasmic bliss faded.
Then he hopped off and dragged Tom to the shower, where they washed off
quickly, before getting dressed and grabbing a quick breakfast. Then Aiden
hurried off to class, while Tom went home for a fresh set of clothes and
then ran to the hospital to see Peter. Peter was still a little down, but
better, and Tom assured him that Aiden would help them. Tom spent the day
teaching Peter how to play a few card games and talking to the boy.
"Do you know how to play chess," Tom asked.
"No.... I always wanted to learn, though...."
"Just what I wanted to hear.... I'll bring the board in tomorrow...."
So they passed the day, and Peter was in much better spirits when Aiden
called. "Hey, babe," the man said over the phone.
"Hey," Tom replied, blushing. "What's up?"
"Just got out of class, thought I'd call...."
"I'm at the hospital.... Peter and I have been playing cards most of
the day...."
"Strip poker?"
"No! Innocent games!"
"You want me to come by? I could bring dinner?"
"Perfect.... You don't even have to sneak it through.... Power of the
badge...."
"Hell, yeah! Chinese?"
"Perfect.... I l... I'll see you in a little while.... Bye...."
Peter was cracking up on the bed. "What," Tom asked, a little testily.
"You almost let slip the L-word!"
"Lesbian?"
"No, silly, love...."
"Did not," Tom laughed.
"Did too...." And so on and so forth. They both knew that they both
knew the truth.
Aiden arrived and they all ate and played a few more games. It was
getting late, but Aiden finally had to ask, "I don't mean to ruin the mood,
but we need to talk about your brother...." Aiden took a statement from
the boy about his experience with his father, so they could charge his
father with assault for striking him. That would allow a more thorough
inspection of the home by child services. He promised that he would have
it typed and ready to sign the next day, so they could get it in front of a
judge and get the warrant they needed. At last, he asked, "You're sure
this is what you want? It'll mean a potential trial, and your dad could go
to jail, and there is no guarantee your brother will be removed...."
Peter looked at Tom, who nodded imperceptibly. "Yes, I'm sure...."
"Wait," Tom asked, "I thought you said you had brothers. When you told
us about getting kicked out...."
"I have a younger brother, David, and an older brother, Carter. He's
not that different from my parents. He actually scares me more than my
dad...."
"Alright.... I've got to go get this ready and get ready for class
tomorrow. Later, Pete!" Tom got a kiss on the cheek and a nod to the
hall.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Tom asked.
"I wish you could see me tonight, but I'm worried I won't get my work
done...." They laughed and hugged.
"Alright.... I'll be here tomorrow, giving chess lessons...."
"Right, then.... I'll come straight over...."
Tom went back into the room, after they parted, and talked to Peter
some about living arrangements. They'd start him out on the ground floor
til he was feeling ship-shape, then he could pick a room, upstairs if he
wanted. Tom laid out some ground-rules, to which Peter readily agreed.
"What about David," the young man asked as Tom was getting ready to go.
"What do you mean?"
"I said I was okay with all that, but do you think the system will be a
better place for my brother than home?"
"The system can work, and you'll have friends working on this for you,
so I think you can bet on it...."
"Can you promise me?"
"Peter, I ... " but he couldn't finish, seeing Peter's anguish. "I
promise...." The words might as well have been punctuated by thunder.
What was he going to do now, if things started going wrong. He knew, but
that made him a little queasy to contemplate. He hated overpowering
people, even bad people. That evening as he walked home, he was
overburdened by that thought, and a familiar feeling began to creep into
his bones. A feeling of being watched, a feeling of pressure increasing
imperceptibly until it felt like he was walking through jello. Then, the
lights began to dim around him; the whole world seemed to flicker. In the
distance, perhaps thirty yards, a dark figure in long coat and hat stood
facing him like a gunslinger. But he kept walking and when he was within
ten yards he could see its radiant black eyes and its wicked smile.
Reaching into his pocket, he palmed a bottle of blessed water in one
hand and a talisman in the other. "What do you want?"
"Don't worry, Tom, I'm here for pleasure, not business. For now,
anyway...."
"No games.... What do you want?"
"I want the boys, Tom," the figure snarled and lurched forward, not on
legs but across the shadows.
"That," Tom laughed, "is not going to happen...."
Now they were nearly face to face. "Tom, you have two options -- stay
out of this, and live a long and happy life, or get in my way and lose
another...."
Tom's anger flared and he began spinning a verbal web for the demon,
barking in an unreal voice, "I bind you, unclean spirit," but the figure
was standing at a distance now, having slipped the coil.
"Weak," the figure called, cackling.
Tom rubbed his hands together and raised them to the sky, "Lord of
peace, cast Satan down under our feet, so as to keep him from further
holding man captive and doing harm.... Archangels, carry our prayers up to
God's throne, that the mercy of the Lord may quickly come and lay hold of
the beast, the serpent of old, Satan and his demons, casting him in chains
into the abyss, so that he can no longer seduce the nations...." Lowering
his hands toward the figure, a peal of thunder ripped the starry sky as a
bolt of lightning struck the figure, eliciting an unholy cry....
When Tom was able to continue on his way, the disembodied voice cried
out, "THIS IS NOT OVER...."
The heaviness lifted and the light returned, and everything seemed
normal enough. But Tom rushed home for supplies and returned to the
hospital, finding Peter still awake, reading. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I ... I was approached on the way home by a dark figure...." Peter
sat upright in his bed, his hands trembling. "Nearly seven feet tall and
surrounded by shadows like clouds, and its eyes glowed black when he got
close to me. Tell me, Peter, tell me the truth.... The man who stabbed
you, is that what his eyes looked like?"
"Yes," the young man stuttered. "Like a radiant black...."
"The man who attacked you was possessed ...."
"I know...."
"I kind of expected you to be ... shocked."
"I wish...."
"Explain...."
"I don't even know where to begin, Doc.... I was like eleven when I
found it...."
"Found what?"
"The spirit board.... It was my dad's.... Later, I found out what my
dad's true 'religion' was.... At the time, I had no idea, I was just
screwing around with the board.... Apparently there was a spirit my dad
had been dealing with that got let loose. It was terrible, but finally it
got put back, wherever...."
"How did it get free again?"
"I'm guessing that my dad turned it loose to get rid of me...."
"Shit...."
"Doc, how come you aren't freaking out more? How come you know
anything about demons at all? I don't suppose it's part of your
classes...."
Tom looked at him with a smirk, as he pulled out a few amulets and a
smudge marker. Above the door on the doorjamb, he marked symbols which
disappeared as they were completed, a process he repeated above the
windows. Then he handed a defensive amulet to Peter, and slid a bag of
herbs under his pillow. "Keep the amulet on your person at all times...."
The young man looked at him appreciatively. "Who are you, Doc?"
"Just an independent student of magic...."
"So it wasn't a dream...."
"What?"
"After I was stabbed, I dreamed that an angel, who, come to think of it
looked a lot like you, dragged me back and healed my body and fought the
demon...."
"Probably a dream.... But not unrelated to what was actually going
on.... I'm no angel...."
"Doc, I think you have no idea what you are...."
Ignoring that, Tom said, "This stuff won't keep him out long, but
should do long enough for me to get here.... And if it does get in, the
talisman should keep you safe...."
"I'm sorry I dragged you into this, Doc...."
"You didn't drag me.... I seem to be running headlong into this. I
felt his presence for days before I found you. I think he did it there to
rub it in my face, never intending I'd save you.... I just don't know what
to tell Aiden.... He freaked out when the demon spoke when I healed
you...."
"I hope it doesn't screw things up for you, but the man is seriously
into you.... I think he'll deal...."
"Peter, the demon threatened to go after Aiden if I didn't let him have
you and your brother. Apparently it has plans for both of you...." Both
the threat and the idea that the demon wasn't only after him floored the
young man, who was again reduced to tears. "Peter, it's not your fault,"
he said, trying to soothe the distraught youth. Finally he sat on the edge
of the bed and laid back, letting Peter cry on his chest, patting the boy's
back.
****************************
More to come soon. Thanks to Tarton and Darryl the Radio Rancher for
reading and commenting on an earlier draft. If you enjoyed this story, you
might consider my other on-going stories at Nifty, Fantasy/SciFi, Things
that Go Bump and A Light in the Darkness.
Or, better, send me a note and join my Yahoo!Group,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jaygordon_1981/
jaygordon_1981@hotmail.com