“It’s up!” Jaydon shouted and hopped up to sit on the bar.
Alex pulled Kaydon with him to join Jaydon and Jeff. His eyes kept darting to their faces so as not to miss the expression of recognition, but he also wanted to see Daniel step up to the throne.
Without taking his eyes off the screen, Jeff shoved a beer at Alex. He took it and drank from it while he watched as a hall filled with people. How many people could fit in there? The camera panned, and Alex got it. The Cubi walked up spiral staircases, and they were long. Alex almost finished his beer watching the naked or beautifully dressed Cubi pouring in before the camera settled on the throne. Actually, it was more of an old chair on top of a small pyramid of steps.
“Not exactly impressive.”
“Elakdon’s throne is a chair carved by the Incubus who dosed him the first time his eyes clouded over with gold,” Kaydon said. “It was the night he was reborn as Prince. It’s beautiful yet simple, and so old he can’t sit in it.”
Alex tried to see the chair mentally, but he had nothing but movies for visual reference, and he didn’t think any of it stood the test of time. Half-naked men and women with purple eyes walked in and parted the crowd.
“Who’s that?” Alex asked.
“Guard Lords and Ladies,” Kaydon said. “That’s their formal wear when a Royal is having some special Cubi celebration. And the best part is that they dose and fuck anyone interested once they’re off duty. And those doses are strong.” Kaydon sounded like he wished he was there.
“You’ve been dosed by a Guard Lord?”
“Sure. I lived close to Nol-Elakdon, and when he rounded his thousandth year, he held a week-long party. I was group fucked by three Lords. It was heaven.”
Alex chuckled at the mental image of a Lord screaming for mercy while being plowed by Kaydon. “Can a Guard Lord take it as hard as I can?”
Kaydon smiled. “I already told you, nobody can. And I was at the bottom of that pile.”
Very different images went through Alex’s head, and he found them wildly entertaining. A gasp and murmurs sounded in the bar.
“Oh, wow, those are Royals. All five Royals,” Kaydon said, almost in a whisper. “The first one, the dark blond man, that’s Nol-Elakdon, brother of the Great Lady Dahlidin.”
He was hot. They were all hot. People milled to stand behind the throne.
“Those are the family and others who are officially close to the King,” Jaydon said. “See the clothes?”
The camera panned.
People shouted the names of those they recognized here and there, and Alex felt even more excited to see Jeff and Jaydon’s reaction.
The Royal spread out as Nol-Elakdon climbed the steps to the throne and sat. Silence grew.
The camera angle changed to the big doors, and two Royal Guards opened from the outside. Judging by the colors of their clothes, a Sire and a Lord stood on either side of what looked like a naked man bedazzled in nothing but gold, silver, and gems. He wore a long cape and the hood covered his face.
The three began walking, and the camera zoomed in.
“That’s Sire Seldon,” Jeff said, pointing.
“And House Lord Caledon!” Jaydon exclaimed, pointing, and they looked as eager as children. “Oh, wow, Sire Seldon is growing into his Lordship! He’s…” Jaydon pulled a face. “He’s younger than I am.”
“House Lord Roardon!” Someone yelled and several pointed.
“Is the Prince from House Eight under Grand Lord Neardon, then?” someone close by asked.
“You’re enjoying this,” Kaydon said. Alex glanced at him before nodding. He was.
Jeff turned to stare at Alex. “It’s Daniel?”
Alex leaned closer to whisper, “Spoiler alert.”
“Oh, my God,” Jeff exclaimed.
“Shut up, Jeff, look.” Jaydon grabbed Jeff’s arm and pointed toward the screen as Nol-Elakdon stood and declared that he stepped down to let Daniel, Nol-Beaudon rise. The King stepped down, and a ritual involving all the Royals commenced before Daniel climbed the stairs and turned, still with his face covered so no one could see him. A Lord and a woman with green human eyes stepped up next to Daniel.
It irritated Alex that he didn’t have the insight to understand the ceremony. “What’s happening, do you know?”
“I’ve never witnessed this, I have no idea,” Kaydon said, staring agape.
The Lord and woman grabbed the heavy cloak and pulled it off, revealing the future King of the Cubi people. He raised his head, and a groan went through the room. It ended with Jaydon shouting, “By the Gods!”
Jeff laughed loudly. “House Three under Grand Lord Ildon!”
Everyone in the club cheered and someone took the initiative to pop the first bottle of champagne. Kaydon grabbed a bottle and popped it, pouring for everyone who shoved an empty flute at him.
“I should have guessed,” Jeff said, grinning.
“Damn, I can’t believe I already met him,” Jaydon said.
Alex couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, and he laughed when Jeff hugged him.
“Holy shit, watch! They’re all dosing!” someone shouted.
Silence fell over the assembly, and they stared at the screen. The camera panned to Daniel, and he looked almost high. Then he came and stumbled back. Alex had no way of even being able to imagine what brought that on, but the Cubi in the room cheered.
“Oh, wow, I wish I was there,” Kaydon said.
“Why?”
“Royals can make their people spontaneously orgasm. That’s what just happened.”
“You ever tried that?”
“Yeah. Nol-Elakdon does that sometimes. He’s done it at the summer games. Hell, he’ll do it for kicks. He’s a pretty playful guy.”
They all watched and listened to the next part.
“Guess him and Sire Seldon worked out their differences,” Jeff mumbled when Daniel promoted Seldon. Alex’s throat closed up, and he even spilled a tear when Daniel talked about all that Seldon had managed. And Caledon. He was definitely a worthy man. Alex had always liked him.
Finally, Grand Lady Geodin spoke, and the Cubi on the screen chanted a rhyme. Every Cubus in the club joined in, Kaydon standing up and looking proud and joyful as he repeated the Cubi sentence.
The ceremony ended, and the screen faded to black.
“Oh, wow, he is beautiful,” Kaydon said. “But I gotta admit I like a bit more meat on the bones.”
“He’s like nineteen,” Alex said, grinning and squirming as Kaydon fondled his arms, shoulders, and thighs.
“Nineteen? Yeah, he looks that young, but he’s at least twenty-two.”
“Actually, no, he’s not,” Jeff said. “He was accidentally empowered when a red-eye tried to grope him. I was there when it happened.”
Kaydon looked horrified. “Keep that information to yourself at all times.”
“I agree,” Jaydon said.
“Yes, Sire,” Alex and Jeff said in unison.
“Now,” Jaydon exclaimed and jumped off the bar. “Music and more champagne…and let the feeders in!”
“More champagne for you?” Kaydon held up the bottle, smiling goofily. Alex smiled and held out his flute. He was getting tipsy and figured he should feed Kaydon before he got too drunk since too drunk could impede pleasure from being sucked out. A little tipsy on the other hand could enhance the human’s understanding of the pleasure he or she was in. Maybe it could make the difference between dosed and pure energy. At least Alex felt a bit braver, and as his eyes roamed Kaydon’s body while the Incubus was singing a song with a friend and waving the champagne bottle, Alex wanted to explore it further. He wanted to have sex with Kaydon and make him moan like he had while sucking Alex off. He even got hard thinking about it.
Alex left his high chair to snuggle up to Kaydon who smiled brilliantly at him and kept dancing. Alex danced along, taking a swig from the offered bottle of champagne. Kaydon danced closer to Alex and once close enough, Kaydon appare
ntly felt the boner because his eyes darkened further, and he grabbed Alex’s ass to pull him closer and grind against him.
Alex grabbed the back of Kaydon’s neck and kissed him greedily. Oh, man, he was definitely brave enough to explore that night.
Loud noise filtered out as they deepened their kisses, but suddenly Kaydon jerked back and dropped the bottle which shattered against the floor. The sound of more bottles shattering reached Alex’s ears, while bursts of light confused his senses.
Fire. The club was on fire, and Alex had no idea what to do. Finally, Kaydon tackled him and pushed him toward the back door, while Sire Jaydon climbed onto the bar, bellowing for everybody to calm down. He then sent three teams of Cubi to different corners of the club to make sure that side was free and to report back who the assailants were.
The military was the first fear that hit Alex, but he finally realized that it was Molotov cocktails being hurled through a broken window. Military didn’t use those.
The music died, and he could finally make out the rest of the noises. People shouting, fire extinguishers hissing, an alarm blaring somewhere, Cubi shouting for each other, and someone ramming the front door repeatedly soon joined in.
“Lords and Ladies, front attack!” a Lord yelled.
“Stay here, keep your attention on Sire Jaydon’s instructions,” Kaydon said, pushing Alex to crouch behind the bar. He then left through the back door.
Well, that was a wakeup call. Alex definitely wasn’t the soldiering type because he didn’t know what to do, and he barely felt like he could manage an overview. Jaydon, however, stood on the bar, his eyes bright and fierce, and he directed several projects to extinguish the fire, help the wounded, hide the feeders, and to get the safe and money out of there.
“Twelve humans, civilians, they cover front and exit!” Kaydon shouted as he returned in leather armor and the broadsword. “My Lord, may I join?”
“We’re not going to kill humans, so no! We are combatting the fire. You are at too vulnerable an age for that, so help them escape.”
“Yes, My Lord.” Kaydon came to Alex, looking like he absolutely didn’t agree with the Lord. “I’ll just keep this here in case they come inside because then we may defend ourselves.” Kaydon pulled a face, looking eager to participate with sword and all.
“What did the Lord mean by a vulnerable age?”
“Red-eyes heal slowly compared to them, so fire will be a big problem.”
“Retreat from this room in an orderly fashion!” Sire Jaydon ordered.
Kaydon grabbed Alex and moved him in less haste than Alex thought prudent since the fire was spreading, and the ceiling was almost gone in smoke. Orderly fashion, yeah, the Cubi knew how to follow an order.
Lords and Ladies remained, some already coughing.
“Shut that door,” a Lady shouted.
Jaydon was the last man through, and he did, locked it, and pushed at it. “Get out and stay safe!”
Alex heard the Lords and Ladies yelling for attack, while Kaydon followed the line of people out the back door. An explosion made Alex scream from shock and turn to see where it came from. Jaydon had been slammed into the wall opposite the door and flames licked down the hallway.
Kaydon tackled Alex and landed on top of him heavily. “Are you okay? Alex? Alex?”
“Yes! I’m fine.”
“Sire?” Kaydon called out. No answer. “Get out, Alex. Hurry.” Kaydon got up and ran back down the hallway.
Alex hurried ahead, his mind spinning with worry and thoughts he couldn’t control.
Jeff sprinted over and grabbed Alex’s shoulders. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m good.” Alex looked around, and smoke billowed out from windows higher up. His room was probably on fire.
“Jay? Where’s Jay?” Jeff shouted, looking around.
A rush of cold dread tore through Alex because Kaydon had gone back for the Lord. “Kaydon?”
The big Incubus showed up with Jaydon over one shoulder, and a Lady cradled against his chest. “Take over!”
More rushed to aid them.
“Oh, thank God!” Jeff exclaimed. Jaydon was conscious, but he looked pissed and dirty. Jeff checked over his husband, asking him a million questions and leaving no room for answers.
“Anyone who can fight, get around front,” Jaydon said. “Killing them is the last option! Take prisoners!”
“Yes, Sire!” Kaydon looked relieved that he’d be allowed to defend his home. He took Alex’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Hold that thought, baby.” He winked and ran off with his broadsword. That was all man running off right there. Why was Alex such a wimp?
“Alex, help me!” Jeff shouted. Alex ran to him, and together they helped move stuff that the Cubi tossed out the windows and others caught. Being strong helped, yet Jeff and Alex and the other humans worked the periphery of the chaos while the blare of sirens moved closer.
“Alex? A human breeder of the House of Dahlidin!” a Lady shouted.
Alex ran to the fierce looking woman with sod on her face. “Yes, My Lady?”
“Come.” She turned and walked away. Alex followed, and his stomach dropped when he saw Kaydon’s sword lie abandoned on the ground. He picked it up, but the Lady reached across and took it from him. “Your attention is needed there.” She pointed to where three figures were lying still.
“Oh, no,” Alex whispered and set off in a sprint to reach Kaydon. He was burned, and glass shards were sticking out from his leather like a freakish porcupine. “No!”
“He’s not dead,” a Lord said, half his face and torso scorched.
“Kaydon?” Alex took in the damage. Kaydon was lying on his left side, and one arm was burned along with his neck and one side of his face. Part of his pants were gone, and his blistered and red skin fit the missing patches.
Alex slapped a hand across his mouth to not cry out, and he squeezed his eyes shut hard not to cry.
“Was it the military again?” he finally managed to ask the burned Lord next to Kaydon. He looked less burned, but that had to hurt like hell.
“No. Humans. Shouting. Shouting sin.”
Anger filled Alex which was welcome compared to the fear and sorrow and uselessness.
The fire department arrived and began doing their stuff, and someone was waving the ambulance over.
“We need more ambulances!” someone shouted.
“He’s most critical!” someone else shouted, and Alex looked up to see who they pointed at. It wasn’t Kaydon—it was a human.
Sire Jaydon and a Lord marched up to the ambulance people grabbing one each, and they half carried, half pushed them to where Alex sat. “He is in most need of medical attention!” Jaydon said, pointing at Kaydon.
“He’s unconscious,” a Lady said. “Has been since the Molotov that set him on fire was extinguished.”
Alex gasped.
“The guy with a missing leg might bleed out,” the EMT man said.
“He’s missing a leg because he did that!” the Lord said, pointing to Kaydon. “A doctor is stopping the bleeding, you will take this man to the hospital first, or we won’t allow you to work here.”
“My Lord!” Alex stood and turned to the EMT worker who looked pissed. “I’m sorry, but that’s how they’ll treat the situation. You will not win if you play stubborn. They always get their way, and he’s hurt!” Alex pointed at Kaydon.
Thankfully, the other EMT worker had already knelt next to Kaydon. She pulled a little flashlight from her pocket and shone into his eyes, jumping back. “You need to remove the lenses. I can’t work with this.”
“Those aren’t lenses.” Jaydon pulled out his phone, which he handed to the male EMT worker. “Call this number. It’s the U.S. Department of Health Cubi Subdivision. Tell them you have Cubi coming in.”
“What?”
“We are a mutation, or do you think our eyes are for show?” Jaydon’s shone brightly from anger, and the EMT worker stepped back before putting
the phone to his ear. The female tried shining in Kaydon’s eyes again, but he woke up, whimpering.
“Kaydon, I’m here,” Alex said, taking his good hand.
“Sir, please look at me,” the woman said. “Can you tell me your name?”
“Kaydon Nahleo-Nil.”
“And how old are you, Kaydon?”
“One hundred eighty-nine.”
The woman snorted and looked at Alex.
“I’m twenty-eight, he’s one hundred and eighty-nine years old. Nothing but a big child, really.”
Kaydon growled, then whimpered again.
“What?” she exclaimed.
Her partner knelt next to her. “They aren’t fully human. We’re to take all three in along with that…green-eyed one.”
“And me,” Alex added.
“No, only eye colors,” the guy said.
“Sire Jaydon!” Alex shouted, angrily. “I‘m going with Kaydon!”
Jaydon looked at the male EMT worker. “He’s going with Sir Kaydon!” Jaydon ordered and turned back to talk to the cop.
“Jesus Christ.”
The woman whistled the first four tones of the Twilight Zone.
“Yeah, that was my reaction,” Alex said.
“I’ll get the stretcher.” The EMT guy left.
“How are you with morphine?” the EMT lady asked Kaydon.
“Maybe nauseous. Might throw up. Fucking hungry.”
“I’m sorry.” Alex let go of his hand so as not to provoke the Incubus’ hunger. “I can’t help here, not yet. They’re gonna move you now.”
The EMT guy came back. “We’re going to slowly roll you so that we can get this under you and lift you.”
“Move,” someone said. Three Lords and a Lady stepped around Kaydon. Then they stood and moved to the side and around the gurney. Kaydon whimpered as they gently put him down and left.
The EMT guy glanced at Alex. “Or we could do that.”
“If you can avoid touching him and letting her do it, that would be a big help.”
The EMT guy gave Alex a tired stare as if he wanted to protect his female colleague from inappropriate touches.
“That’s exactly why. Except you’ll be the one he’s inappropriate toward.”
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