by Pelaam
“Hello, Ferdinand, old chap. I’ve missed seeing you around. Been doing anything of interest?” Voltaire’s voice rang out in the silence as he sauntered to the table. “This my spot?” he indicated an empty chair.
“It should have been the place of Hunra-Tentamun’s.” Maximus gave a dismissive gesture. “But she displeased us. She is confined to her room for a couple of days.” He glowered at Voltaire then at Midnight.
“Yes, well, poor dear. She did seem flustered earlier. Bit forgetful.” Voltaire tapped the side of his head. “Can’t be helped, though. But I’ll take a different seat. Do the polite thing, don’t you know?” Voltaire indicated where a row of chairs at the end of the table remained empty. “I think we’ve been relegated.” Voltaire tossed the comment casually as he pulled back a chair to allow Aurora to sit.
Hurrying to another chair, George did the same for Dru who made a point of ignoring Dryden.
“Don’t you dare do the same for me.” Midnight growled his warning and Tresilian chuckled.
“I wouldn’t dare. I’m too attached to my balls.” Tresilian winked and Midnight stifled a snicker.
“Just for the record, I’m rather fond of them, too.” Midnight returned the wink and Tresilian guffawed out loud, and when all heads turned in his direction, he simply shrugged before sitting next to Midnight.
“Private joke.”
“Indeed.” Maximus shifted his gaze to look directly at Midnight. “You seem to have fully recovered from your brush with the polymus. The gods have smiled on you, Midnight-Pendragon.”
“Ah, yes. Perhaps. If you believe in such things.” Midnight instinctively leaned toward Tresilian, but that only made Maximus curve his lips in a parody of a smile.
“How can I not, when there is such a vision before me?” Maximus bared his jewel-encrusted teeth. “Do you not agree, Tullia Maat-hor?”
“Indeed, Maximus Sa-Ra. The gods blessed us indeed with your presence. That is why we must ensure you are safe at all times. Atlantis was a place of freedom and light and will be again. But for now, there are dangers that as your hosts, we must shield you from.”
“We’re very grateful to you, Tullia.” Voltaire rose and bowed. “As I’m sure Ferdinand and his man are. I know them of old. As you know.” He leaned forward, a wide smile on his lips as if to impart a flattering comment. “And as a consequence of which, if I were you, I’d never turn my back on them.”
“How dare you—” Ferdinand lunged to his feet, as did Lynch, but Voltaire and Tresilian seemed ready and waiting.
Before the Atlanteans could react, the four men were engaged in a fight that none of them wanted to lose.
Midnight was on his feet without hesitation but could see no way in which he could help his lover without getting in Tresilian’s way. Lynch was bigger, but Tresilian was faster. He also used his feet as well as his fists. Midnight’s heart was in his mouth as Lynch landed a blow to Tresilian’s side, but although his lover grunted and bent over, he quickly bobbed back up, his foot connecting solidly to Lynch’s gut.
Taking a couple of seconds to see how Voltaire fared, it seemed his battle with Ferdinand was more equal. A mix of blows, from fist and foot, were continually exchanged as the men circled one another, each looking for the perfect opening.
“What’s the matter, Lynch? The fact you couldn’t jump me from behind hindering you?” Tresilian seemed to be purposely goading the other man.
“I don’t need to get the drop on you, Hawke. I can beat you any day.”
“Prove it.” Tresilian taunted him again. “Show Ferdinand the money he pays for you to be his strongarm man isn’t wasted. Because I think it is.”
The breath caught in Midnight’s throat as Lynch charged Tresilian, but it seemed to be exactly what his lover had wanted. Lynch swung wildly, trying to land a killing blow, but his anger made him careless.
Dodging the punches, Tresilian slammed his fists hard into Lynch’s kidneys, causing the other man to stagger forward. As he whirled around to swing at Tresilian again, his guard was down.
With a perfectly executed uppercut, Tresilian caught Lynch under the jaw, the force of which lifted the bigger man off his feet to come crashing down to the ground. Tresilian kicked at him cautiously to ensure Lynch wasn’t feigning, then looked to see how Voltaire was faring with Ferdinand.
With a move that an acrobat would envy, Voltaire avoided a blow from Ferdinand, grabbed his arm, and twisted it to force the other man to his knees. With his usual amiable smile in place, Voltaire looked directly at Tullia and Maximus.
“You really should be more careful who you trust. Ferdinand is renowned for, shall we say, for embellishing, or omitting entirely, the truth. I don’t know about the rest of you ladies and gentlemen, but I’d prefer to eat in my quarters than with these persons.” He looked pointedly at Ferdinand, and the still-unconscious Lynch.
“Same here.” Tresilian folded his arms.
“And here.” Midnight went to stand beside his lover.
“Enough.” Maximus held up a hand. “You may all return to your rooms and food will be served to you there. You’ve given us much to consider, Voltaire-Crevin.”
“Hoped I might.” Voltaire smiled and bowed. “Ferdinand serves only himself and whoever offers the best deal for him at any given time. Be seeing you.”
As they turned to leave, Midnight cast a quick glance at Tullia and Maximus. Both wore matching masks of undisguised hatred and he shivered, pressing closer to Tresilian.
“Why did Voltaire do that?” Midnight asked in a whisper. “He purposely goaded Ferdinand into the fight.”
“It’s called muddying the waters.” Tresilian leaned down to reply in a quiet voice. “The Atlanteans thought they had us all nicely figured out. Now, we’ve shown them we’re a force to be reckoned with and, more importantly, that for them to trust Ferdinand and Lynch is a mistake. They’ve been jolted out of their complacency, and their confusion can only be to our advantage. While they’re reconfiguring things about us and Ferdinand, we can press forward with our plans.”
“I hope it doesn’t work against us.” The memory of Tullia and Maximus and their expressions of hatred made Midnight shiver.
Chapter 25
When Midnight opened his eyes, he was totally disorientated. But then he remembered he was sharing a bed with Tresilian and he smiled, a thrill tingling through his body from his scalp to his toes.
“If it’s morning, I don’t want to know.” Tresilian’s voice was deep and husky, and his breath hot against Midnight’s ears.
“Impossible to tell in this place.” Midnight wriggled back, then gasped softly as his bare ass cheeks encountered Tresilian’s very erect cock.
“Don’t be surprised.” Tresilian kissed Midnight’s bare shoulder, trailing his lips along Midnight’s neck to suck on his earlobe. “I have a beautiful man in my arms, but not just beautiful. Intelligent, resourceful, talented…” Tresilian’s voice died away as he gently urged Midnight to face him.
His cheeks burning from the compliments, Midnight closed the distance between them. He was every bit as erect as Tresilian and the feel of his lover’s furred chest against his own along with the way their pricks rubbed together only served to arouse him even more.
“Please. Please.” Midnight panted out the words, unable to even voice his need to Tresilian.
“Shh. I have you.” Tresilian sealed his mouth over Midnight’s, swallowing the whimpers of need that escaped Midnight’s lips, and took both their cocks in his hand.
It only needed a gentle squeeze as Tresilian stroked for Midnight to spill, shuddering through his climax as he clung to Tresilian’s shoulders. As his own prick was released, he covered Tresilian’s hand with his own as his lover speeded up to spill a moment later, his hot seed cascading over Midnight’s fingers.
With a sigh of Tresilian’s name, Midnight tried to get closer still, and Tresilian wrapped his arms around them, rolling onto his back so that Midnight lay on top of his bigge
r lover. He gazed down to look into eyes filled with warmth and…
“I love you.” Midnight tensed, unsure of how his unplanned declaration would be taken.
“Don’t be afraid to declare your love for me.” Tresilian reached up to hook Midnight’s hair behind his ears. “You’re the most precious thing in my life, and I—”
Whatever Tresilian had been going to say was lost in loud rapping at the door and a bellow that Midnight recognised as belonging to Voltaire.
“Tresilian! Are you up, man? We’re meeting in my room. Hurry up.”
“We’ll be there in a couple of minutes, Voltaire.” Tresilian’s smile was wry and he shrugged. “We’d best go. He’s not the kind of man to keep waiting too long. Sounds to me like he’s got a plan in mind. The sooner we’re out of here, the sooner we can look forward to a life together.”
“Yes. I’d like that.” Midnight nodded. It was hardly the declaration of undying love that for a moment Midnight had hoped for. But keeping a smile in place and, ignoring the sense of disappointment that washed over him, Midnight crawled carefully off Tresilian’s body.
He looked down at his own body and wrinkled his nose.
“We’d best bathe quickly. At least we don’t have many clothes to worry about.”
“That’s one thing this place has in its favour.”
“Tresilian!” Midnight was as much scandalised as he was amused at his lover’s words and the wolfish grin on the older man’s face was another to make his sated cock twitch once more. No time for that.
“When we do get back home, you’ll end up covered in a multitude of layers.” Tresilian got to his feet and swept Midnight into his arms effortlessly. “You have to admit, I can hardly be blamed for preferring seeing you in just the toga as worn here.”
That Tresilian was speaking of a life they’d share once free of the Atlanteans lifted Midnight’s spirits. It may not be the declaration of love that I’d like, but I have to accept that Tresilian isn’t romantic like me. I’ll have to take what I can.
* * * *
The group met together in Aurora’s room, only Dryden was absent.
“I’d like to get down into the catacombs.” Voltaire paced back and forth, hands gesticulating frantically. “I want to see if there’s any way we could get out through them. My feeling is not, but best to be certain, and since Tsillah assured us they aren’t going to kill us, it seems a reasonable thing to try.”
“I’ll see if I can get Tsillah to spend time with me, and she could go with you.” Aurora stood up. “They may not be dangerous to one of their own kind, but we can’t be sure about those down there having the same view. They may react very differently to us since we look more like Atlanteans.”
“Mmm. Yes, well, that’s possible.” Voltaire sighed. “One other thing. As you can see, Dryden isn’t here. I think Dru is a very capable gal, and a trustworthy one. But I don’t feel the same about her fiancé. I’d rather we kept this between us. George, I realise you’re their servant, but I promise you this, I’ll find you a much better job at a better salary than your current employer.”
“You don’t need to worry about me, sir. I like Miss Dru, but as far as Mr Dryden goes, he’s a very self-centred man. He’ll put himself even above his fiancée. If you need me, I’m your man, never you fear.”
“Thank you, George. I appreciate that. We need all the good men we can get.” Voltaire slapped the man’s shoulder and George grinned.
“You have need have no concern yourself in regard to me, Voltaire.” Dru stood up and folded her arms. “I choose you and this group over Dryden”
“Well, if you’re sure—”
The tap on the door stopped any more conversation, and Voltaire opened it.
“Tsillah. Good morning.”
“The Nisut-bity and Princeps extend morning greetings to you. You may breakfast with them if you wish.”
“We do indeed.” Voltaire nodded. “Come inside.” Closing the door, Voltaire leaned against it. “We have a favour to ask of you. It’s dangerous but let us be honest with one another. You have no love for those who keep you and your people in slavery. We have no desire to remain here. Without overtly endangering yourself, can you help a couple of us to leave this palace? I would like to examine the catacombs if you think your people would accept my presence.”
“Yes.” Tsillah spoke slowly as if measuring each word. “I can lead someone to get them out of the palace.” Tsillah looked around the group. “But I can’t leave. I’d be missed, but I can direct you. However, you must remember that unlike my people in the catacombs, there are creatures out there roaming the city that will attack. The Atlanteans…experimented frequently. They created things with fangs and claws, and a taste for flesh and blood.” Tsillah shuddered. “Monsters.”
“I’ll accompany Midnight to find the ships.” Tresilian laid his hand on Midnight’s shoulder. “But if we’re to meet monsters, we need to be able to defend ourselves. Can you get Midnight a weapon, Tsillah? Perhaps one of the axes the soldiers carry?”
“I-I don’t know.” Tsillah shook her head. “There is a place where weapons are kept.”
“Why don’t I accompany you?” Aurora stood up.
“And me.” Dru got to her feet, too. “Dryden keeps telling me we have to defer to the Atlanteans, he believes they will create an empire that will be bigger and greater than any before, and so be the new rulers of the world. He wants to be part of that world. I don’t trust them one bit.”
“Very wise, Miss Dru.” Voltaire nodded.
“If you distracted the guards…” Tsillah stared, then her voice trailed away. “Oh, but the armoury will be locked.”
“Then perhaps if you ladies do the distracting, I can step in. I still have my,” Voltaire coughed, “shall we say tricks of the trade. You still have your katana, don’t you, Tresilian?”
“Yes, but I think we need to stow some extra weaponry away. If we’re ever to get out of here it may be a case of storming our way past some of those guards.” Tresilian’s face was grim and Midnight’s stomach knotted at realisation of just how dangerous their situation was.
“You’re right. Well then,” Voltaire drew himself to his full height. “The ladies will create a distraction, Tsillah will get me to the armoury where I will lighten its collection. I’ll pass a couple to Tresilian and Midnight, who will then go with Tsillah to find our transport home. George, can I count on you to help me with a few weapons?”
“You can indeed, sir.” George stood to attention. “The Atlanteans don’t tend to take much notice of me. Not since Mr Dryden made sure to tell them I was just a servant.”
“You’re a great deal more than that.” Voltaire stuck out his hand. “I’d be proud to call you a friend.”
“Thank you.” George accepted Voltaire’s hand. “Voltaire.”
“Miss Dru, do we know where your fiancé is?”
“I think he was going back to the library. And…and I’d prefer you didn’t call him that anymore.” Dru’s voice was shaky and she clasped her hands to stop them shaking. “He can stay here with the Atlanteans or return to the surface as he chooses, but I shall not be marrying him. When the time comes, I shall leave his ring behind. I do not want to have a reminder of him.”
“Good for you, Dru.” Aurora hugged the other woman who blushed scarlet, and Midnight looked around at each one in wonderment to think how they had so quickly become such a tight-knit band.
Chapter 26
Desperately trying to ignore the butterflies in his stomach, Midnight waited with Tresilian, the pair of them pressed tightly into a niche in the stone wall. Voltaire and George stood with Tsillah, her hand clasped tightly by George as he nodded and smiled reassuringly at her. The truth of it is that none of us knew what the outcome will be if we’re caught.
It was Voltaire’s belief that they’d punished with confinement to their rooms, or at worse, in separate cells. But Midnight couldn’t help but think that his friend hadn’t seen Adam, o
r the way he was treated. That made him certain that the Atlanteans were far more ruthless than even Voltaire imagined.
From behind the broad frame of his lover, Midnight watched as Voltaire drew out and played once more with a strange set of keys; skeleton keys he’d called them.
“Don’t worry.” Tresilian leaned back, close enough to whisper directly into Midnight’s ear. “Voltaire is an expert cracksman. He’d put more than a few burglars to shame with his lock-picking skills. So long as the ladies ensure those guards are led away long enough for the weapons to be taken. That’s the bigger concern.”
“I think it was wise of Voltaire to leave investigating the tunnels under the palace to another time.” Midnight leaned into his lover. “I feel we’re all doing so much, that one more thing might just make everything collapse like a house of cards.”
“Shh!” Tresilian placed a finger over Midnight’s mouth. “Here they come.”
“Bit trickier than I thought, but here we go.” Voltaire beamed with delight, only the sweat gathered at his brow and trickling down his temples gave away his real emotions. “George and I will take the rest of the weapons and store them away. Pick one you feel most comfortable with.”
In his arms Voltaire carried several swords and George held a couple of battle axes.
“Sword is more my weapon.” Midnight selected a slender blade, weighing it in his hand before sliding it carefully through the belt at his waist.
“This for me.” Tresilian’s selection was a bigger, heavy, sword.
“Excellent. Tsillah can now lead you into the catacombs. Good luck.” Voltaire nodded to them, unable to do more since his hands were full.
“This way.” Tsillah gestured, and Midnight followed Tresilian after her. “There is one way out of the palace from the catacombs. My people can’t use it as it involves a long time without water. But they will help you.”
Stopping at a corner, Tsillah leaned forward to look around, and then indicated for the others to follow her. She led them to a statue of an ibis-headed Egyptian god who held a quill in his outstretched hand. With a last glance around, she pulled the arm down and to the left, and Midnight heard the click and whirr of cogs turning.
