A stinging pain jolted through his arm waking him up. Skye sat in bed and rolled up the sleeve of his borrowed pajamas to expose the cigarette burns on his right arm. He winced as he rubbed his fingers against them gently. He couldn’t believe Jane had done that to him and all over a stupid argument. Skye took a deep breath as he pulled himself out of bed and walked lazily into the bathroom, turning on the water and washing the burns at the sink. The cool water felt good against the wounds. When he had finished, he pulled his sleeve down and returned to the room. He saw the sunlight seeping through the top of the black satin curtains that covered the windows. He wondered what time it was and how long he had slept.
He walked over to the curtains and drew them back; the dark room filled with light causing him to shield his eyes. As he gazed out over the estate, he was startled when there was a soft knock on the door. The teenager shut the curtains hastily and jumped back into bed. “Come in.”
The door opened and Arden stepped in holding a tray. “Good morning, young sir,” he said placing the tray on top of the desk.
“Morning.” Skye answered as he sat up and leaned against the headboard. He watched as Arden laid out a fork and napkin on the desk and filled a glass with orange juice.
“I hope you like your eggs over easy,” Arden said, stepping back and removing the lid from the plate. His stomach growled as he smelled the eggs and ham. Skye nodded his head, and pulled the chair out and took a seat at the desk.
“Thank you,” he said biting into a piece of toast slathered with butter.
Arden bowed slightly. “Master E-an has asked me to get you a fresh pair of clothes and then take you into town.”
Skye glanced at the butler. A knot formed in his stomach. I guess my stay here is over, he thought as he tried to finish his breakfast quickly. He didn’t to prolong the20inevitable. Arden noticed the teen’s hurried behavior and smiled to himself. “To get you some new apparel,” he added with a grin.
Skye felt his cheeks heat up. “Oh,” he said.
Arden’s smile widened. “We’re not going to kick you out just yet, after all, you're Master E-an's guest,” he said walking over to the closet and looking through the clothing. Skye let out a relieved sigh as he finished his breakfast and downed the rest of this orange juice. He watched as Arden laid out some clothes on the bed. “Alright, you know how to use the shower,” he said pointing in the direction of the bathroom. “When you have finished, come down stairs and we’ll head into town.”
“Alright,” Skye answered trying to hide his blushing as he picked up the clothing and walked towards the bathroom. “Oh, um…will E-an be coming with us?”
Arden’s smile disappeared and took on a serious expression. “No, Master E-an has other business to tend to,” the older man answered as he turned to leave the room, shutting the door behind him.
Skye stepped into the bathroom, setting his clean clothes down on top of the sink and stripping down to his boxers. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. Staring back at him was a seventeen-year old teenager who, if he had longer hair and a little make up, could pass easily as a teenaged girl—except, of course, for his lack of cleavage. His blue eyes peered from behind his long-ish auburn hair as he examined his half-naked body closely.
He hated that he was short, 5’7", and had been the same height for the last three years, so he was pretty certain he wasn’t going to miraculously sprout a few inches in the next year or two. He was skinny and didn’t like his ears—not that anyone really noticed because they were hidden beneath his hair. He watched himself in the mirror as he ran his fingers gently up his right arm, over the burns causing his body to shiver. Skye took a deep breath before stripping off his boxers and getting into the shower. He didn’t want to keep Arden waiting.
When Skye had gotten out of the shower, he dried his hair and dressed quickly then headed down stairs to find Arden sitting by the front door with a small black cardholder in his hand. “Are you ready to leave?” he asked rising to his feet. The teenager nodded his head as Arden opened the door and motioned for him to precede him. They walked out onto the portico. The mid-afternoon was chilly, but nothing out of the norm for early September. Skye followed Arden to the black car E-an had picked him up in the previous night. “Do you want the heater on?” Arden asked as he pulled the car out of the driveway.
“It doesn’t matter,” Skye answered. He leaned his forehead against the window watching the beautiful country scenery flash by. “E-an isn’t a very social person is he?”
“I do not wish to speak about my master, young sir. I don’t think it would be appropriate of me,” Arden said.
“Oh,” Skye uttered, biting the nail of his index finger.
Once in town, Arden parked the car in a deserted area of the Truway Mall. “Alright, so here’s some money,” he said, handing Skye the cardholder. “There’s two hundred dollars, which should be enough to get you some things to wear and personal hygiene items you may need. I’ll meet you here in an hour and a half.”
Skye nodded and mumbling a thank-you, took the cardholder and headed towards the mall entrance. Sky felt fortunate. Not many people would give a complete stranger shopping money just because they didn’t have clothing.
At 5 o’clock, Skye made his way through the crowded mall to the parking lot with his bags of new clothing. When he got back to the car, Arden was waiting for him. He opened the trunk for the teen so he could put his new things in the car before coming around to the driver’s side and getting into the car. “Did you find the things you needed?” Arden asked with a smile as he started the car.
Skye buckled his seatbelt and replied, “Yes, I think so, thanks. Arden smiled and said, “I’m sure your most welcome,” as he pulled out of the parking lot.
It was dark when they returned to the manor. E-an was sitting on the front steps toying with what looked like a paper crane. When the car came to a halt, he looked up at them. “’Bout time you two got back,” he said, his voice sounding a little annoyed.
“Sorry sir, traffic was jammed up,” Arden replied, while taking the bags out of the trunk. “I’ll hang these up in your room,” he said to Skye.
E-an nodded his head as Arden went up the steps and disappeared into the house. He then shifted his eyes back to Skye. “Did you have enough money to get what you needed?” he asked placing the paper crane on the step below him.
“Yes.” Skye answered walking towards his benefactor. “Thank you so much.”
“Don’t mention it,” the blonde said rising to his feet. The teen watched, then E-an motioned for him to follow. Skye smiled, then ran up the stairs to catch up to him.
“How long has your family owned this property?” Skye asked as he followed E-an into the main sitting room. Skye took a seat on the couch by the fireplace, which was the only source of light in the large Victorian furnished room. He watched E-an walk over to the window and started to draw the velvet curtain open.
“The Morganti family has lived here since the late 1780’s,” My great grandfather built this place after moving from Eastern Europe. E-an answered looking around the room. “He had inherited a large fortune from his father and decided to move his family here since he no longer wished to remain in his homeland.” E-an turned to look at Skye who was listening to him attentively.
“So your family has really been around to see this town go through all its changes.”
E-an nodded as he drew the curtain shut and walked towards the fireplace. “Carnite, when my grandfather was growing up was a tiny town of maybe two hundred people, so yes, you can say my family has seen the town go through many changes.”
Arden walked into the sitting room a moment later with a pitcher of iced lemonade and two glasses; he placed it on the coffee table in front of Skye then turned to leave. “Thank you, Arden,” E-an said as he looked at the lemonade and motioned for Skye to help himself. “I think my family will always be here.”
Skye reached for the pitcher and poured the lemonade into one of the glasses, nodding at E-an. “I guess that’s kinda cool,” he said taking a sip from the glass.
E-an shrugged. “My family’s history is pretty boring when you come to think of it.” He then sat next to Skye. “But enough about me and our history, what about you? Why20did you run away?”
Skye looked down at the floor nervously, he really didn’t like being asked such personal things, but he owed an answer to E-an, didn’t he? After all he did take him in when he had no where else to go. “I had no choice. I was in a situation that if I would have stayed, I dont think i could have handled it.,” Skye answered, trying not to get too emotional. “Like I told you before, my parents are dead. They died in a car accident four years ago… on my thirteenth birthday. I had gotten sick with the flu and had a really high fever and my mother had told my father that I had to go to the E.R. I don’t remember much but, on our way there a drunk truck driver ran a stop light and crashed his 18 wheeler head on into our car. It killed my parents instantly.”
E-an glanced at Skye and placed a hand soothingly on his knee. “I’m sorry for your loss, but unfortunately that’s life. People die. No one ever knows when their time is up. I guess their time was up.” His remark sounded uncomforting and almost cold.
Skye wiped the tear away that had begun to form in his eye. “It was a long time ago,” he said taking another sip of his lemonade.
“My parents died when I was pretty young so I know how you feel,” E-an said realizing how cold he had sounded. “As you said, it was a long time ag o for me as well.”
Skye bit at his nail again. “What happened?”
“I’d rather not talk about it,” E-an answered looking down at the floor. “So… um,” he said, trying to dart the conversation away from his personal life, “do you have a girlfriend?”
Skye shook his head as he stared into the glass of lemonade.
“A stud like you? I find that hard to believe,” he said teasingly.
The teen felt his cheeks flush. “I’m not into girls,” he said as he nervously tapped his fingers against the glass.
“Oh really?” E-an questioned, raising his eyebrow. “You’re into guys?” he asked leaning back on the couch, watching the teen fidget nervously.
“No I’m into cats.” Skye answered smartly. “Yes I’m into guys.”
E-an grinned, “Interesting.”
Skye glanced at E-an curiously. “How is that interesting?”
E-an shrugged his shoulders as he reached over and poured himself a glass of the lemonade. “Just is,” he said, taking a sip of lemonade.
The teen glimpsed at E-an. “Are you?”
“Am I what?” E-an asked, taking another sip.
“You know.” Skye said turning to face the older male.
“Know what?” The blonde said, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth, he was clearly amused.
“Never mind,” Skye replied, turning an even brighter shade of red.
E-an’s smirk widened as he set the glass down on the coffee table then turned to the teen. “Am I into guys?” he asked cockily. “Do I think you’re cute? Attractive? Alluring?” he asked as he slowly moved closer to Skye making it so that he was boxed in between the back of the couch and E-an’s arm. E-an positioned himself so that he was just barely leaning over Skye; his finger’s brushing light ly against the teen’s chest. Skye took a deep breath and thought for sure his heart would leap out of his throat if E-an didn’t stop.
“What do you think of me?” E-an whispered seductively in the teen’s ear, as he brushed his lips against Skye’s cheek, making the auburn haired young man shiver. Skye closed his eyes for a brief second; E-an was so close he could feel his breath on the side of his face, giving him goose bumps. E-an smelled good… sweet. Something he hadn’t smelled until the night before when E-an had given him his coat to keep warm.
The silence was broken by the sound of glass shattering. E-an pulled away quickly, making Skye blush even more. “I’m so sorry,” Skye said turning away quickly. He had gotten so lost in E-an’s scent that he had let go of the glass in his hand; broken glass and lemonade was all over the floor. “I’ll clean it up,” he said hurriedly.
“Don’t worry about it, Arden will get it,” E-an answered. But before he could finish, Skye had already picked up the larger piece of broken glass. “I said don’t touch it.” E-an said forcefully. Skye jumped from the tone of his voice, making him drop the piece of glass.
“Ow!” Skye said looking down at his hand; across the palm of his hand was a thin 3-inch cut. The boy winced as he applied pressure to the wound.
The color drained from E-an’s face in a matter of seconds. “Get out of here…” he said brusquely, and swiftly rose to his feet.
“What?” Skye answered looking at him confused.
“I said get out of here.” The blonde answered not looking at the teen. “Now!” The faint smell of blood was becoming intoxicating. “Damn it, NOW!” he shouted furiously.
Skye rushed from the room before E-an could say another word.
“Someone in a pissy mood?” Emalyn asked as she walked into the sitting room just as E-an punched the mantel hard. He winced then began pacing angrily back and forth.
“Want to vent?”
“He should have fucking listened to me, I told him not to touch the fucking glass,” he said. “Leave it alone I told him.”
She glanced down at the shattered glass on the floor. “Oh, that glass?” she said laughing. “Come on little brother, a little broken glass isn’t such a big deal.” She walked over to him, wrapping her arms around the blonde’s waist and kissing his cheek. “He’s just a child, relax,” she whispered into his ear.
“I don’t care,” he said pushing her away. “He cut his hand and…”
Emalyn rolled her eyes. “Then why did you bring him here?” she asked taking on a serious tone. She watched her brother as he walked across the room and collap sed into an armchair.
“I honestly don’t know why…” he said as he began twirling a strand of his blonde hair between his fingers. “I keep asking myself that and I can’t come up with a single logical reason.”
She let out a heavy sigh, then went to sit beside him on the arm of his chair. “Maybe you’re more human than you let on. Maybe you have feelings…,” she hesitated, then ran her fingers through her brother’s golden locks.
He sighed and took in a deep breath then turned to look at her. “Normally I would jump down your throat for a comment like that but like I said, I honestly don’t know right now…he, well he looked so lost,” he said before burying his face in his hands.
Meanwhile, a confused and hurt Skye was cleansing his wound. He could feel sweat running down the side of his face, he didn’t understand why E-an went from almost seducing him on the couch, to going into a furious rage in just a matter of seconds. He cleaned the cut and wrapped it with a washcloth .to keep the blood from getting on his clothes. He was truly baffled. So many things were running through his head he couldn’t even begin to understand them. He couldn’t comprehend E-an’s reaction. He guessed he blew it—again. “God, I really am a screw-up.” With tears trickling down his face, he went to the closet in search of his backpack.
