Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 01:40:32 -0800 (PST)
From: einhard <einhard@excite.com>
Subject: Vengeance, ch. 4

Vengeance, ch. 4

by einhard

PLEASE NOTE: This story is fiction from beginning to end. The characters
don't exist, and the things they do, never happened.



Leo, December 22nd, 2000

Bishop Flanagan was standing at the altar, holding the chalice aloft. All of
a sudden, somebody stepped out into the aisle, opened his shirt, and a flame
shot out from this person, burning the bishop to a cinder.

Leo woke up with a start. Yikes! Please let it all be a dream!

He was in bed. Rafe's bed, and he was fully dressed. What time was it? 5 pm.
That didn't make sense; it had been 3:30 when Radu left, and surely that was
long ago. What day? There was nothing in the house to indicate that. Of
course, the TV. He rushed downstairs and turned it on. December 22nd? A
whole day since Radu's visit? Timidly, he opened his shirt. Oh, God, it was
there! The tattoo, or whatever it was. He could see it plainly now. A
flaming sword. That part, at least, hadn't been a dream. But the
flames-in-church bit had to have been. He sure hoped the divine retribution
thing wouldn't be like that.

He was hungry. Anything in the house? Nothing. Of course, he hadn't done any
shopping since he arrived. His cell phone rang, and he hurried back upstairs
to answer it.

"This is Leo Ghiberti."

"Hi, Leo, it's Radu."

"Oh, hi, man, it's just you."

"Just me? Were you expecting some big shot to call you?"

"Well, yeah." Leo giggled nervously. He'd been half expecting, half dreading
that it would be the other Leo.

"Anyway, I wondered if you might like to come over to my place later
tonight, maybe have a bit of supper, watch a movie or something?" Radu
sounded a bit nervous.

"Sure. Listen, Radu, could I come see you sooner? Like, in half an hour?"

"I guess. I won't be home, though. But maybe you could come down here."

"If you tell me where "here" is, I probably could. Is it far?"

"No, no. It's downtown, quite close to where I live. I'd get away, only I
sort of have an appointment. Do you know the "Narcissus" on Fulton Street?
It's a private club."

"No, but I know the street. I think."

"Fine. It's # 820. Ring the bell, say you're my visitor, and they'll let you
in. Oh, and wear something nice. They're a bit picky about these things
here."

"Sure. See you in a while."

Leo hung up, jumped in the shower, washed and towelled himself furiously and
shaved with equal fervor. A taxi, and he was at the club within 35 minutes.

He rang the bell and was admitted into an anteroom, where the most snobbish
young man he'd ever encountered looked him over. Saying Radu's name only
brought on a pair of raised eyebrows, but eventually he was admitted.

Inside, he almost understood the supercilious attitude of the young
aristocrat. Thick carpets, more chandeliers than you could shake a stick at,
waiters in striped trousers, dark leather furniture all over the place. He
never knew clubs like these existed outside pre-war London. He caught sight
of Radu over in a corner, talking to a young black man almost as tall as
himself. Radu waved Leo over.

"Leo! Glad to see you, man! This is Calvin Peterson." He indicated the
young, black giant. The two men shook hands, and Calvin excused himself.

"I'm sorry I wasn't at home, but I had promised Cal I'd see him here to help
him figure out some shit in his life. So, did you get past His Highness in
one piece?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sorry, I was just looking at this place. I never knew there
was such a club in this city."

"It's a bit much, though, don't you think? You know what kind of club it is,
don't you?"

"No. Should I?"

"Maybe not. It is kinda exclusive, and the membership fees don't allow you
to forget it. It's a club for gay men. Rich gay men."

"Wow! I certainly never suspected that any of that kind existed. But don't
you like it?"

"Not really. Most of the guys are a lot older, and I get this feeling they
don't like me. Maybe it's because I'm so tall, but I can't shake off the
feeling it's because I'm don't have the right background. You know, because
I'm a Slav."

"So why are you a member, then?"

"Good question. What they do offer, is privacy and creature comforts. And
good cooking. When you hate spending time in the kitchen, these things
matter. But you wanted to see me about something?"

"Yeah, I did. It's kinda weird. Oops, sorry!" Leo's stomach let out a loud,
rumbling sound.

"Hungry, huh? Well, let me prove to you what I said about the cooking."

Radu went over to a desk, exchanged a few words with the bowtie behind it,
and came back. He beckoned Leo to follow, and soon they were in a small
room, sitting at a table. A waiter came in with food: Smoked salmon
sandwiches, ham sandwiches, toast, caviare, white wine, stuff that Leo
associated with the occasional fling into luxurious life. It was certainly
not what he was used to.

"I just ordered something cold, because we can get that quick. Now we're
private again, so maybe you could tell me what all this urgency is about?"

Leo pondered how to begin, then related his story. The visit from Leonardo
the angel, the mission he'd received, the advice.

"Holy shit!" Radu exclaimed after he'd heard the whole story.

"Well, I guess "Holy" is right, but I'm convinced it's no shit."

"But it's so wild!"

"I guess. But somehow, I don't doubt it. And there is this." He pointed to
the sword on his chest.

"Yeah, you're right. Can I see it again?" Without waiting for an answer,
Radu reached over, pulled the shirt open and examined the tattoo.

"It is pretty strange. You know, it sort of flickers, like it's actually
burning."

"I know. It feels that way, too. So, do you believe me?"

"I believe what you say. As for the rest of it, I'll have to suspend my
judgment. But what do you think this angel guy meant about life makin' you
an offer you can't refuse?"

"I don't know for sure, but I have an inkling. At least of what I want it to
be." Their faces were really close now.

"What?" asked Radu, in a low voice. Leo could feel his body heat.

"You", he answered in a low voice, not trusting himself to say anything
more.

"Me?"

"Yeah. You know, I felt something yesterday, and even stronger now. And
anyway, this Leonardo guy told me life was about to make me an offer I
couldn't refuse. What else can it be, if not you?"

Radu didn't answer, but leant a bit further forward, and their noses
touched. Leo tilted his head, shut his eyes and waited. He didn't see the
tears in Radu's eyes before another pair of lips touched his own. Leo felt a
warmth around his heart again, but this was different from before. It wasn't
the tattoo blazing; it wasn't his mission intruding in his life. This was
him, responding to the fires within both of them.

They kissed long, but softly. Leo felt Radu withdrawing, and opened his
eyes. The younger man's face looked like it shone.

"Let's get out of here", Radu said. "My place is only a ten-minute walk."

"Yeah, let's!"



This story is copyrighted by me, einhard, February 2001.

Any comments? You can mail me at: einhard@excite.com