by Nichols, TJ
Saka hung up the wrap he had worn. Its soft, thick weave made it ideal for drying. He had no hair to comb through, but he liked to use the paste to rub himself down. He was aware as Angus watched him pour a little water into a bowl and then select a pot full of salt and ground fruit seeds. He added enough to make the paste, then started rubbing it all over his skin, scouring away dirt and sweat.
“Comb through your hair. Scrub yourself, then shower.”
Angus picked up a comb. “Everyone uses this?”
Saka nodded. “There are people who restock and clean the baths. However, it is bad manners to leave a mess. When we rinse in the shower we also wash out the bowl before stacking it in the pile to be reused.”
He knew enough about humans from his previous warlock to know that humans didn’t bathe like this. He also knew that, while they lived together, they lived apart as though what they did didn’t affect anyone else. Here everything was interwoven.
Saka stopped his own preparation. He offered Angus different pots to smell. “Which one do you like?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged.
“There is no right or wrong choice. People like different things. I like the salt and tang of the seeds. Others prefer something a little subtler.” Saka handed Angus one that was slightly green. “This one has the bark of the darrinka tree.”
“You have trees?” Angus gave it a sniff. “Smells kind or sweet… a little like cinnamon?”
“Of course we have trees. But not at this site.” Saka mixed up the paste. “Maybe they are the same tree, or were the same tree thousands of years ago when there was more free interaction across the void.” He handed over the palm-sized bowl. “Now you scrub.”
“Then I shower.”
“Yes. Then you finish off with something to moisturize.”
Angus lifted an eyebrow. “You moisturize?”
“Everyone does. The desert is drying.” Saka went back to scrubbing himself. When he was covered head to toe in paste, he walked under a spout, gave the handle a couple of pumps and let the cold ground water sluice over him. He tipped his face to the stream. The river below them was strong and fast. It was the one they wanted to follow to Lifeblood Mountain. It was his job to make sure that when they moved they didn’t wander away from water. As long as the hunters were bringing home meat, they wouldn’t have to move too soon. Being able to tap into the river also meant that they didn’t have to live close to a watering hole. That was dangerous.
The stream became a trickle. Then stopped. That was it. He was cool and clean, and tired. He watched Angus shower. While there was hesitation, Angus wasn’t running or whining. He was getting on with what needed to be done. Even if Angus didn’t see it in himself, there was strength of will many warlocks lacked. When trained he would be powerful, and hopefully not dangerous to Demonside.
Saka rubbed in the moisturizer. If showering with friends, they would help each other. Scrub the places that were hard to reach. He and Angus weren’t friends, and he suspected that if he offered, Angus would pull away. Angus went through the same process of sniffing before selecting what to use. His skin was pink from being scrubbed.
Saka caught him glancing his way.
“Would you have… been intimate… with whomever you pulled through?”
Saka considered him for a moment. What was the answer that Angus was looking for? Did he want to be special or know that it was just magic? “No. If I didn’t like the warlock’s attitude, I’d have been more than happy to use my knives more ruthlessly.”
Angus took half a step back. “You said blood and souls went together.”
“They do, and they can all be used together. So can sex and blood, or even sex and soul. Most mages have a preference. I prefer inflicting pleasure over pain, although there is a fine line.” He ran slick hands over his horns. There was nothing worse than dry, cracked horns.
“You have taken other warlocks.”
“No. I have been gifted other humans to rebalance the magic. Some were wizards or warlocks who weren’t retrieved and taken back to Humanside.” Saka put his wrap on. His skin was cool and damp. It was a nice way to end a very long day. He would sleep well for what was left of tonight.
“What happened to the others?”
Saka drew in a breath, then sighed. He looked Angus in the eye. “If no one comes for them, they become ours.”
“What happened to them?”
“They died eventually.” Mages kept humans who had bridged the void without proper precautions. Another unwritten rule. They kept whomever wasn’t retrieved. Only those who were specifically asked for had to be returned. Most were left in Demonside. Some humans were deliberately sent across the void, criminals that the humans thought nothing of. The warlocks in charge knew the cost of magic but didn’t share the truth.
“If no one comes for me tomorrow….” Angus swallowed, his Adam’s apple bouncing.
“Then I will not trade you on or gift you to another mage. You have my word.” But that didn’t mean that Miniti couldn’t order Angus away or decide that the warlock’s death would serve a greater purpose. If Angus wasn’t his warlock, then Saka would be free to take another. There would be a lot of magic to be regained from taking warlocks and keeping them for ritual. Not all would be retrieved.
Chapter Nine
In the dark Angus lay awake on the mattress, naked except for the sheet that covered him and Saka. Saka was sleeping. He should be sleeping, but he was sharing a bed with a demon. His skin smelled of strange herbs and lotions, and his body ached from the magic and the sex—how could a simple hand job have felt so good?
His mind kept skipping to tomorrow. What if no one came? He would be stuck there with Saka to rebalance magic. His fingers brushed the almost fully healed cuts on his arm.
How easy would it be to raise magic on his own at home? He’d have to look up some of the wizard practices—not at the college, though. That could get him thrown out. As much as he didn’t want to be a warlock, he wanted to be a rogue warlock even less. He sighed. There he was assuming that he would be going home.
He glanced at the demon next to him.
Several flaps of the tent were now open, and a cool breeze swept through, but it was too hot to sleep and he couldn’t get up and start wandering around. He’d seen the animals around the tents, and he had no idea if they ate meat or plants, and he didn’t want to find out by getting bitten. He didn’t want any demon to bite him.
Angus turned onto his back and folded his hands on his stomach. He closed his eyes, determined to find sleep even if it took the rest of the night. Saka reached out and put his hand over Angus’s. A feeling of heaviness followed. He wanted to ask if Saka was doing something to him, but the next thing he knew, he was waking and soft morning light was bathing the tent.
Talking and the sounds of cooking dragged him further out of sleep. Was it morning already? His dreams had been full of things that could have happened last night and the way Saka had felt pressed against him. Angus blinked a few times. His eyes were gritty. He threw his arm over his face. He wasn’t ready to face the day or the demon.
“It has been a long time since I have woken up with a man in my bed,” Saka said.
Angus glanced at Saka from beneath his arm, but Saka’s eyes were half-closed.
“Same.” Too long. The demon’s dick was lifting the sheet. Angus closed his eyes. He should not want sex with a demon. But lust was waking up and his body was remembering how good Saka had been with just his hand.
His dreams of doing more than that resurfaced and added to the heat in his blood.
He’d already broken all the college rules; what did it matter if he broke them more than once? He opened his eyes, his gaze on the demon. He’d glimpsed the demon’s penis last night while they were showering. It had looked surprisingly normal.
Everything here was normal. Demons weren’t the bloodthirsty beasts the college claimed they were. Saka probably knew more about magic than some of his lecturers. He would be a
fool to waste what time they had.
“What would you normally do with the man in your bed?” He hoped that he didn’t sound lame, or desperate. But he was.
Saka’s warm fingers trailed over Angus’s stomach, down to his very awake dick.
As Saka’s hand gripped and stroked, Angus let himself sink into the rhythm. Saka took the arm that was covering Angus’s eyes away and pinned the hand above his head. The demon’s body was pressed close. He kissed Angus, his tongue thrusting deep.
A circle went up around them, and Angus groaned. Couldn’t they do anything without magic?
“Shh. Enjoy.” Saka’s voice was soft in his ear, his hand firm on Angus’s shaft.
Angus gave a halfhearted attempt to break free, but the kisses and the caress felt too good. Besides he’d been dreaming of it all night. He reached for Saka with his free hand.
“No. You will get your turn later. Put it behind your head.” The strokes slowed.
Angus hesitated then obeyed, and Saka placed his hand over both. If he really wanted, he could probably slide them free, but why would he? It felt too good… and he was doing his bit for Demonside. He closed his eyes as the burn of lust consumed him.
“You make this easy,” Saka murmured, his thumb rubbing over the glans with each stroke.
Angus thrust into Saka’s hand, expecting the demon to stop him at exactly the wrong moment. The strokes became slick. Angus’s breath caught and his back arched as he came. Saka stole his moan of pleasure with a kiss. The rush of instant release instead of the delayed gratification of last night made his skin break out in gooseflesh. He shivered, despite the heat of the demon’s body against him.
As he drew in a couple of breaths, he became aware of Saka’s thick cock pressed against his thigh. Angus opened his eyes. Saka’s metallic-looking skin gleamed in the magic. Saka released Angus’s hands, then rolled onto his back. His fingers ruffled Angus’s hair, then drew him down, leaving no doubt about what he was expecting.
Angus licked his lower lip. Saka’s other hand was already holding his cock and stroking. Not wanting to be caught in an awkward position, Angus moved between the demon’s legs. As he moved willingly, the pressure on his hair decreased.
He licked the demon’s smooth skin, paying close attention to the ridge around the base of the head. He took the time to learn the shape and taste of the demon. After not getting any release last night, Saka was probably eager to get some pleasure for himself. Angus took Saka into his mouth. Saka’s fingers moved through his hair in a caress as Angus worked his mouth over the demon’s length. He took him a little deeper each time. The heat of the cock filling his mouth. Would he have to swallow?
He wanted to. He liked to.
Saka’s chest lifted with each quick breath. His hips started rocking in time. The pressure on his head increased as Saka thrust up, deep into his mouth. The demon growled, and come filled Angus’s mouth. He swallowed, and swallowed again.
“All of it.” Saka thrust again, deeper.
The sweet come slid down Angus’s throat, leaving that burned sugar taste. Saka lay down, finally spent. Angus pulled back. He wiped his mouth just in case; there had been more than he’d expected. Next time Saka was going to suck his dick and swallow. But he couldn’t imagine Saka on his knees in front of him.
Saka spread his hands and drew in a breath. Angus looked up. The glass orbs were glowing softly, filled with magic that they had created. Then they went out, and the circle came down.
“We need to get ready to see Miniti.” Saka got up in one smooth motion.
Angus sat back on his heels.
Saka’s tail flicked his cheek in a caress. “Try to obey and not ask questions in front of Miniti. It would be better if it looked as though I have you firmly in hand.”
Exactly what he was supposed to do to his demon on the human side of the void.
Saka tossed him a damp cloth. “Don’t put your shirt on.”
Angus wiped himself, stood, and handed the cloth back. He walked through the tent to where he’d left his clothes on the floor the night before. That seemed like so long ago. Now that he was no longer distracted, the fear came back. If no one came for him, it was very clear what his life would be like. He would be Saka’s.
That was infinitely better than being Miniti’s—although he wouldn’t live long enough to regret it. He shivered and pulled on yesterday’s briefs and jeans, then shoved his feet into his shoes.
“Take them off.” Saka pointed at the shoes.
His shoulders dropped, and he took them off again. “Why?” They were his favorite sneakers, and he didn’t want them lost in Demonside forever. “She can’t kill me before the time is up? Can she?”
From the look on Saka’s face, she could. Saka picked up the small vials that Angus had seen last night. “Hopefully not. But it would not be wise to keep her waiting, so eat and then we will go. She will not appreciate being rushed as she will know exactly when the minimum time you are to remain here is up.”
Angus ate half of what was left of the bread. It was drier this morning. And while he wasn’t hungry now, he would be later, and whatever happened he’d rather have food in his stomach.
Saka put on his machete, then put on a black arm guard. Angus stared at it for a moment before he realized what he was seeing. Small ceremonial blades. Four of them.
He choked down the food in his mouth. “What do you need them for?”
“Precautionary.”
“Against what?”
“The demand for blood. Better me than another mage.” Saka’s head tilted, and his brow ridge rose.
“The rules keep changing.”
“The rules have stayed the same; you just aren’t well versed in them. There are etiquette and demands to be met the same as on Humanside. Remember what happens here when you go back. Remember that I could have handed you to her yesterday—you wouldn’t be the first to die accidentally during the twenty-four-hour wait—eventually another warlock would’ve tried to summon a demon and I would try again.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Instinct… so far it hasn’t led me astray.” Saka ate quickly.
Angus’s stomach was made of lead and sinking. He had no doubt that he would feel the bite of Saka’s knives again before he went home.
He was going home.
Too soon he was following Saka to that central tent. The sand burned the soles of his feet, and it wasn’t even midday yet. The sun struck his bare shoulders, and he was sure he was burning already. This time as they walked through the market where he had appeared—there was a demon on a mat in that spot and people walked around it—people looked at Angus and spoke softly. A few made some kind of gesture.
Saka dropped Angus’s shirt and shoes on the mat and kept going.
Someone at home would be using something of his to locate him across the void. He glanced back, the mat was the location and his clothes an anchor. It was deliberate and everyone knew that. No one wanted to be standing there when the void opened.
He returned his gaze to Saka’s back. Saka seemed to know everyone, from the other metallic-skinned black-horned demons to the white-as-a-ghost vamprys, and every other demon in between. The men mostly just wore pants; some of the women wore little more, just a band around their breasts. Other demons wore what seemed to be a sundress, for men and women. No one was worried about being burned to a cinder except him.
As the patterned tent got closer, Angus thought blistering would be a safer option than going in. The guards let Saka in immediately. As before Miniti was reclining by a table. This time instead of being covered in papers, there was a selection of food. There were a couple of other demons also in attendance.
Angus knelt behind Saka, the same as yesterday. It rankled. He didn’t want to be kneeling, but if Miniti was something like a queen and Saka a high-level lord, then perhaps it made sense. It also made him the human captive. The reality of his situation hit home. That was exactly what he was.
&nbs
p; Saka walked up to the table and placed the vial down. “A gift from last night.”
“I have been looking forward to it. There was quite a release I am informed.”
Every inch of Angus blushed. He knew it wasn’t sunburn. Hopefully no one else would notice the difference.
Saka inclined his head. “A modest first try.”
Miniti laughed. “You have always liked to play.”
“You have always enjoyed my games.”
She removed the stopper and drank the contents. Angus winced at the idea of her getting a taste for him.
“Very pleasing.” She got up. Her pink dress trailed behind her as she moved around the table and stopped in front of him. She cupped Angus’s chin and forced his head up. “You think they will come for him?”
“Yes. From what I have learned, his father is high ranking.”
She nodded and stared into him. Angus tried to clear his thoughts, but they scattered and memories of last night tumbled to the surface clearer and sharper than he could recall them on his own. She released his jaw and walked around him.
“His flesh is too unmarked. I don’t want them knowing how much he enjoyed his time here.” She leaned down. “And I know exactly how much you did. You even went back for more. Tough soldier or weak whore?”
Angus said nothing. He stared at the ground, uncomfortable with how much she knew. That was probably her magical skill. Everyone here had magic… but not all dedicated their life to it. Why?
She stood. “Wiley warlock. You will have your hands full with that one, Saka.”
She motioned to two of the demons in the room. “Hold him.”
Angus looked up. Saka gave a small shake of his head. Then the demons had him. They forced him to his feet. Their hands gripping his arms tight as they held them out horizontal. Angus curled his toes against the rough fabric of the floor.
Miniti sat on her lounge. “I do love some entertainment in the morning.” She leaned forward and rested her chin on her hands. Her smile was too wide and her eyes too bright.
Angus clamped his teeth shut. He was not going to give her anything to enjoy.
