All better for now -- Bizmar's Medieval Tavern

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Subject: All better for now

Author:
Eremis, and Lonta
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Date Posted: 18:15:32 07/01/02 Mon

After Cas disappeared out the window, Lonta searched the place until she found a broom. The damned thing was in terrible shape but at least it got the job of sweeping up all the glass done. Once she deposited all the shards in a tall copper container that stood near the door, she tried to right the table. A frown crossed her face when she noticed that one of the legs was broken. Now they'd have to hold dishes of food in their laps because of Cas and his silly temper!

The thought of food made her hungry again. She helped herself to a couple more pieces of ham and cheese from the counter then grabbed the bottle of wine before plopping down on the couch. As she bit into the ham she thought about the two youths that now sat out on the roof. In her opinion, Cas was the cutest of the pair but she preferred Eremis' temperament. The healer was refreshing because he was kinder than anyone she had met since having to learn to survive on her own at the age of eight. She was used to bigmouths like Cas because she had to deal with them on a daily basis. When she was younger people like that used to frighten her but nowadays she could trash talk with the best of them and knew how to fight her way out of a jam.

Lonta washed down the rest of her food with a gulp of wine then set the bottle on the floor before stretching out on the couch. She liked it here and had every intention of staying for as long as possible. Cas probably wouldn't like the idea but she was pretty sure she could wrap Eremis around her finger in no time. The young healer looked like he needed someone to take care of him and Lonta knew she could do a better job of it than Cas did. She wouldn't have any qualms about his going off to whore himself with that hotspot Belald or anyone else as long as he brought home the money! It was pretty lucky that she found these youths now when their relationship seemed to be on awfully shaky ground. If she played her cards right, it shouldn't take long for Eremis to get rid of Cas and start sharing his money with her instead!

*^*^*^*

Eremis tried to swallow his fear when Cas sat down beside him. After seeing how violent the demon boy could get he doubted that he'd ever feel truly comfortable around him again. He flinched slightly when Cas tossed an arm around his shoulder then finally managed to relax a little once the youth began to rub his back in a comforting manner.

He kept his head bent forward, his long blonde hair hiding his face while Cas spoke to him in a gentle voice. When the youth apologized for his outburst, Eremis shrugged but kept silent. He really didn't want to think about the fit of rage that had overtaken Cas. In fact he wished he could wipe the memory from his mind because it continued to haunt him. Suddenly, the thought of living with someone that could snap at any second wasn't very appealing. He felt like he'd have to walk on eggshells around Cas from now out for fear of saying or doing the wrong thing that would set him off again. But, he didn't have any place else to live and had no friends in Bizmar that he could contact other than Kisa, so he supposed he'd have to make the best of his living arrangements for now.

Eremis forced a smile to his face when Cas brushed hair from his tear-filled eyes. How could the demon boy be so gentle one minute yet so sarcastic and violent the next? "I really don't mind working for Belald," he finally said, hoping that Cas wasn't going to get pissed over what he was about to say next. "When he first comes near me, I feel all panicky with fear but then he kisses me and everything's all right. Then I can't wait to get closer to him. He's very gentle with me all the time, and I enjoy making love to him more than any of the other customers I had at Seb's place."

The healer stared at the tall chimney jutting up from the roof across from them. "Belald pays good plus he gives me expensive gifts. What more could I possibly want? You once said that he'll get tired of me sooner of later so I might as well try to get as much money as possible from him before he dumps me in favor of someone else."

He rubbed his eyes, which were itching like crazy now because of his intense weeping then turned to face his friend. "I wish I didn't have to whore either, but it�s the only way I'm able to make a decent amount of money right now. I won't know how much I'll be able to make as a painter until I complete a picture and sell it. For some reason I don't think it'll be a lot cause there's plenty of starving artists around, but who knows."

His eyes dropped to the ground, a large O forming on his lips when he noticed the cuts on Cas' bare feet. "Let's go inside so I can bandage those up for you." He pulled away from the demon boy, got to his feet and gingerly made his way back across the plank. He was surprised to see that all the broken glass had been cleaned up but disappointed to find that the table leg was cracked in half.

Without saying a word, he retrieved an old shirt from the trunk along with his aloe plant before nodding for Cas to sit down on a chair. One of the gashes could have used a couple of stitches but since they didn't have any needles or thread in the apartment, he simply packed the wound with sticky aloe then wrapped it tightly with a strip torn from the shirt. "Maybe you should think about wearing shoes a little more often, Cas."

"Eremis sweetie, my head hurts," Lonta called from the couch.

The healer finished bandaging the rest of the cuts on Cas' feet then moved to sit beside their temporary roommate. He felt her head, relieved to find no fever present. His healer instincts couldn't find anything really wrong with her at the moment except for the malnutrition. "You're probably just tired," he told her. "I'll make you some Valerian tea. That will help you sleep." A grin played at the corners of Eremis' mouth when she slid her hands around his neck and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.

"Thanks for bein' so nice to me," she whispered, after letting her hands drop to her sides.

"And thank you for cleaning up the glass." He gave her a wink then hurried off to fill the pot with water from the barrel outside the door. While out in the hall he took a small dose of Opium after noticing that his hands were beginning to shake. When he realized how much easier it was to not have to ask Cas for the drugs, he decided he'd stop giving them to the demon boy to hold. The Opium relieved more of the tension that had build up within him because of the earlier argument with Cas, and he found himself whistling a tune as he made his way back inside. He set the pot on the stove then sat down on the bed to count the remaining money they had saved.

"We've got about 1100 gold right now, Cas," he told his friend a short time later. Ignoring the gasp of surprise that came from Lonta, he kept his eyes trained on Cas. "I think we should take 200 out to pay next week's rent and 50 more to pay for another week of your sword lessons. Then we can hide the rest in a safe place and add to it when we can. Since things cost so damned much I think we should have at least 5000 gold saved up before we leave Bizmar. Hopefully, that will be enough to hold us until we can both find real jobs. By then you should be a fairly decent swordsman too. We'll use the money I get from Belald tonight to buy another table and more food and other necessities."

He placed 250 gold in a smaller sack and set it on the small table beside the bed before scooping the rest of the coins into the larger sack. Whatever drugs he had stored in the safe at Seb's Place went into his pocket. He intended to hide them someplace in the apartment later, perhaps when Cas and Lonta were asleep. After hefting the heavier sack, he slid off the bed and handed it to this friend a moment later. "You can put it in the bank if they have one in the city, and if not bury it someplace safe I guess."

The healer moved on to the stove and prepared the Valerian tea for Lonta. "Do you want me to go with you to your lessons Cas, or would you prefer to go alone tonight? Remember I have to be ready by eight for Belald."

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[> Subject: Another plan

Author:
Cas
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Date Posted: 22:37:46 07/01/02 Mon

�I really don�t mind working for Belald.�

Eremis�s comment took Cas a little off guard for some reason. He almost turned and asked his friend if he was crazy or something, but he held his tongue. (He was doing that a lot lately, he realized. Wasn�t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, either.) After all, this was the guy who�d somehow managed to find the guts to ask him about sex between people of the same gender. But hadn�t he only been anxious about it because of his supposed feelings for Belald? Maybe. On the other hand, Cas could clearly remember warning him, not just about Belald himself, but about all clients�they felt nothing for their whores, no matter how much it might seem otherwise.

He had to actually bite his tongue when Eremis bluntly referred to his encounters with Belald as �making love.� Whores don�t make love! he wanted to retort, but he was scared he�d get real mad again and scare his friend even more. Eremis was so obviously uncomfortable with having his arm around him, even though he was just too shy and polite to do anything about it. Cas stubbornly refused to move; he liked holding his friend, and it hurt too much to physically acknowledge that his presence wasn�t wanted right now.

If ever. He and the healer didn�t seem to agree on much of anything, lately, and he bet he wasn�t the only one to notice, either. Although his financial situation was a dream come true, he sometimes felt so emotionally drained it wasn�t worth it. He and Eremis didn�t exactly fight all the time, but the healer�s naivete and rather sweet simplicity made Cas worry about him almost constantly.

Take Lonta, for instance. Suppose the healer decided to make a habit out of bringing the rubble in from the streets to doctor them up in his home? All it took was one nasty-minded little thief or beggar to fake an injury or illness for things to go horribly wrong. Alone, Eremis would be utterly defenseless should one of his �patients� try to turn against him. Rape, greed, the desire to kill those weaker than oneself�any myriad of motives could apply. And if he even so much as mentioned that to Eremis, the healer would simply refuse to believe that such a thing could ever happen.

Cas sighed. Which was why he HAD to stay, whether he was wanted or not. Maybe Eremis found his presence stifling, but he needed Cas around to protect him. By no means did the demon boy consider himself a hard-hearted person, but under normal circumstances, he�d turn the other cheek and mind his own business. He helped those he was capable of helping, but he didn�t exactly go out of his way, changing his entire lifestyle, just to lend a helping hand. It just wasn�t practical. Only nothing he did or felt about Eremis was practical, but he did it anyway. That bothered him, maybe even depressed him a little.

Cas wasn�t used to feeling depressed. Usually, he could bounce back from hardship, no matter how tough, but lately it just seemed like he kept coming up against a brick wall�and falling flat on his face once again.

�Belald pays good,� Eremis was saying, �plus he gives me expensive gifts. What more could I possibly want?�

Cas stared at him in disbelief, the healer�s remaining words fading into the background for a while. What more could you possibly want? he thought in amazement. How about your life back? What was happening to Eremis? Had he really accepted this new life he�d once professed to hating so easily? Here was Cas, moaning and groaning about how much his life had sucked up to this point, and there was Eremis, actually looking forward to meeting up with Belald!

It�s just the money, he convinced himself, shifting his wounded feet uncomfortably. But he knew that wasn�t entirely true. He�d seen the look on the healer�s face after Belald had kissed him. There was fear, then slight desire�but there was real feeling there, too. Cas almost felt like crying, he was so frustrated. Stupid, stupid, STUPID Eremis! Was he actually falling for the arrogant mercenary?

That�s when Cas began to get one of the ugliest Ideas he�d ever thought up. It made him flush from shame just to think about it, but it was there nonetheless. If he could get Eremis to sleep with him�then the healer would turn his affections away from Belald toward him. Once he had his friend fawning all over him, for however long the effect would last, he could get him to do whatever he wanted. No more Belald, no more drugs, no more�

He frowned, annoyed with himself for even thinking about doing something like that. Not only was it wrong to trick Eremis like that, but it also wouldn�t solve any problems. They�d still need money (or so the healer said), and they�d STILL have the drugs to worry about. Just because Cas made him stop taking the things wouldn�t make his body crave them any less. Next thing you know, he�d be going through withdrawal, and then something awful would occur; he�d get sick, really, really sick, maybe even pass out and never wake up.

Eremis pulled him back to the reality of the present when he finally noticed his torn up feet. �Let�s go inside so I can bandage those up for you,� the healer suggested, and Cas noticed he wasted no time shrugging away from his arm and standing up. Once back in the room, he wondered if their tentative friendship would ever be the same�whatever the case, it didn�t bode well for the fact that he was determined to stick around, no matter what.

�Maybe you should think about wearing shoes a little more often, Cas,� Eremis muttered while bandaging the wounded soles of his feet.

�Too damn noisy,� Cas returned under his breath, although inwardly he was cringing a little. Eremis might as well have suggested he learn to control his temper, too, since that was the obvious cause of his injuries, and not his distaste for shoes. Neither one of them seemed to want to talk about what had happened any more, though, so again, he kept his mouth shut.

He made a face when Lonta spoke up to complain about a headache. His dutiful healer friend finished his feet up quickly to rush to the little charlatan�s bedside again. He wanted Lonta to scram almost as much as he wanted Eremis to not visit Belald�but the healer didn�t seem to value his opinion at all, so there didn�t seem to be any reason to voice it any longer. Cas wasn�t sure how long he could take watching the fruits of their hard-earned labor feed money-hungry lowlifes like Lonta, but he didn�t think it�d be for long.

When Eremis began to talk about money, he snapped to attention. His heart actually leapt in his throat when the healer said something about leaving when they reached 5000 gold. Finally! He had an actual goal to reach for! 5000 gold, he thought frantically, his eyes glazing as the figure ran through his mind. It was so impossibly high�but it was something! Immediately, he began to hatch a plan. Waiting around to make that kind of figure could take months. So all he had to do, really, was be willing to take a few necessary risks, mainly, to learn a new trade: thieving.

Cas was a pretty good pickpocket, but he was no thief. But THAT was where all the money was; he knew it. He�d never been desperate enough to risk life and limb burglarizing some rich noble�s property, but if it would keep Eremis safe and at home�

Wordlessly, he accepted the large sack of money his friend eventually handed him. He didn�t trust in any old bank, that was for sure�but he did know a safe place. A place he�d kept most of his stash for years, a place NO ONE knew about. There they could store their gold, and come to collect it when the time was finally right.

When Eremis went on to ask him about his sword lessons, he frowned, mostly because the healer followed it up with a reminder concerning his appointment with Belald.

�You make it sound like a rakin� date,� he muttered, somewhat pleased at the flush of both shame and anger that crept into Eremis� face. �Anyway, I don�t care if you come with me or not,� he added, trying to appear nonchalant, when he felt anything but. �I LIKE having your company, but if you don�t wanna come, there ain�t nuthin� I can do about it.�

He wriggled his toes experimentally in the bandages swathing his feet. He wondered if he�d even be able to walk to the sword smith�s place, let alone practice for an entire hour. �But you can bet I�ll be back by eight,� he continued, still staring at his feet. Abruptly, his eyes moved back up to stare at his friend. �Because I�m goin� with you.�

Eremis was too stunned to say anything at first, so Cas barreled on stubbornly. �I�ll follow along so nobody can see me. I can do it; ain�t nobody can follow as quiet as I can.� He shrugged. �I don�t think it�s safe for you to wander off at night by yourself�and I don�t count that jerk Belald as someone you can trust, neither!� He scowled, rather absently. �Though I gotta feelin� I�d better get used to seeing him around. He�d have to be stupid�� He paused, surprised by what he was about to say, but decided to say it anyway, shrugging again as he met his friend�s somewhat glazed blue eyes. �He�d have to be stupid to get tired of seeing someone like you.�

He glanced at the table next, his gaze lingering guiltily on the broken leg. �We don�t gotta buy a new table, neither,� he added more quietly. �I�ll fix it.� Eremis looked like he was about to protest, but Cas decided to put his foot down on just this one thing. �I�ll fix it,� he repeated steadily, even though he had no real idea how. Still, the more money they saved, the faster they could reach their goal�and the faster Cas could attempt to be happy about his life again.

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[> [> Subject: How about this idea?

Author:
Eremis
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Date Posted: 13:34:16 07/02/02 Tue

"You make it sound like a rakin' date," Cas muttered.

When Eremis felt a blush rise to his cheeks, he turned away from his friend and tried to force down the anger that rose within him again. He really didn't think he could deal with Cas' nasty attitude problem much longer. The youth made it sound like he enjoyed whoring himself when the only reason he did it was for the money that Cas craved so damned badly!

Cas wanted him to paint yet gave him dirty looks all morning long while he spent money on art supplies. The demon boy also wanted him to practice his healing craft by offering his services to the poor for a cheap price, but they had no decent medical supplies for Eremis to use and he wasn't about to suggest they buy any since more spending of the money they BOTH earned would only piss Cas off again! His friend wanted them to make gobs of money as fast as possible yet now he was all bent out of shape about his going off to fuck Belald tonight even though the merc would pay him a small fortune for a short amount of his time! Eremis was at his wit's end when it came to knowing just what the hell Cas expected of him.

Hoping to calm himself down a bit, he drew in a couple of deep breaths then lit up a Lotus cigarette. He stared at Cas for a moment, silently daring him to say something about his drug use. Maybe if the youth would stop harping at him about every little damn thing, he wouldn't be seeking an escape from reality so often! He took a few drags from the cigarette then brought the mug of tea to Lonta before walking over to the painting supplies that sat on the counter.

"Since you really don't give a shit whether I go with you or not to your lessons, I'll stay here and start working on a painting," he said, unable to keep the hostile tone from his voice. "And don't worry about rushing back by eight because Belald said he was going to pick me up so I won't be wandering off at night by myself!" Cas' concern for his well-being might have touched him if he believed that the youth really cared about him, but he now knew that the only thing his friend cared about was money, pure and simple. But even that part was difficult to understand. If Cas only wanted him around because of the money he could bring in then WHY was he so raking upset about Belald?

He also likes having me around to kiss but refuses to go any father because he says I'll fall in love with him or some shit! Meanwhile, it suddenly seems like he don't want me going too far with anyone else either lately! Eremis shook his head. Cas was a living, breathing contradiction and he was driving him crazy because of it! Were ALL incubuses like that? He thought about Kisa then decided that anyone with an ounce of demon blood flowing through their veins got off on causing havoc with people's emotions!

After a deep sigh he pulled up a chair and straddled it, resting his chin on the high back as he gazed at Cas. "I don't think it's going to work out between us," he said somewhat reluctantly. "I really like you a lot, Cas, but I'm tired of pissing you off all the time. Why don't you just take that sack with the 900 gold and go off and start your new life now, without me? I'll keep the 200 gold to pay for another week's rent here since it's close to Seb's brothel. Hopefully, it'll reopen next week then maybe I can find myself another roommate from one of the whore's there since I really don't want to live by myself."

"I'll stay with you Eremis," Lonta called out from the couch. "I know the streets just as well as Cas does and I ain't prone to hissy fits like some people. I'll keep the joint clean and even learn how to cook iffen you want. And I can be the exclusive model for all them paintings you're gonna become famous for one day."

Eremis shrugged although he really wasn't paying much attention to Lonta. All he could think about was Cas, and how much he would miss waking up to those vibrate green eyes of his each day. He took another drag from the cigarette and tried to ignore the strange fluttering is in stomach as he stared at his friend, waiting for his reaction to the possibility of them going their separate ways.

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[> Subject: First day on the new job

Author:
Eremis
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Date Posted: 08:13:07 07/10/02 Wed

Eremis thought he'd faint from the mind boggling dizzy sensation he felt when Cas kissed him. A tiny pinprick of fire seemed to ignite somewhere in his legs making him moan softly as it slowly spread throughout his entire body. He shivered when he felt Cas' tongue flick across the roof of his mouth before the demon boy pulled away from him. No, don�t stop! he wanted to say, but the look in his friend's eyes kept him from voicing the words.

Mutely he watched Cas slip off the mattress and strap on his sword then forced himself to move once the ache in his groin subsided. How the hell did Cas always manage to turn him on so damn much with a simple kiss? He shook his head then dressed in clean clothing in hopes of making a good first impression on the proprietor of the Silk Palace. Since he'd be the newest worker at the place, he'd need to figure out how to go about making the customers notice him when there'd be so many whores to chose from. If madam Ninta liked him, she might convince some of the regulars to give him a try at least. As much as he hated his new profession he'd hate it even more if he sat around the brothel for seven hours twiddling his thumbs because that wouldn't help pay for their expenses!

He glanced at Lonta, who sat on the couch eating the burnt food. It made him happy to see her stuffing her face because that meant she would regain her strength faster. Once that happened he'd give her a little money to tide her over for a couple of days then send her on her way. Surprisingly, he wasn't too concerned with how Lonta would survive after that since she managed to do pretty well for herself before he and Cas came along. Without saying a word to her, he scooped up their money sack and followed Cas from the apartment. "You forgot this," he said, handing the sack to his friend. "You might need money to buy whatever's needed to repair the table, and we could use more food for dinner tonight as well as another bottle of wine."

A crooked grin formed on his lips when Cas put an arm around him. He knew his friend only did it to ward off the ruffians that tossed him lewd looks, but Eremis liked to think he did it because he enjoyed holding him close as much as he enjoyed being held close. After they boarded the rickety wagon, Eremis sat down beside his friend rather than across from him. He let his hand rest on Cas' thigh while staring at all the buildings they passed. Maybe someday he'd actually be able to find his way around the huge city of Bizmar. As soon as I know where I'm going it'll probably be time for us to move! His heart really wasn't into adventuring, but he'd follow along after Cas if that was what he wanted to do once he mastered the sword.

When they got off the wagon, Eremis decided to take the initiative this time, tossing his arm around Cas' shoulders before they made their way inside the small inn. Once again he took a seat next to his friend at the table then ordered a hearty breakfast so that Cas wouldn't have to worry about his recent lackluster appetite. While listening to the demon boy talk about the pills Belald gave him he sipped the ale a boy brought to the table.

"I don't know why I took the Black Lotus, Cas," he admitted. "My body wasn't craving anything because I downed some Opium before Belald picked me up at the apartment. I just remember wanting to make Belald happy at the time so I stuffed the damn capsule in my mouth. Later, I regretted it of course." He stared intently at his friend for a moment before lowering his eyes. "I just feel really strange when I'm with Belald sometimes. It's like I suddenly exist only to please him. Maybe subconsciously I'm terrified of him and that makes me do whatever he wants me to do to keep him from getting mad." He shrugged before continuing. "I promise that I'll try really hard not to take anything else he offers me. And if he gives me something other than Tazreen or Opium as a present I'll hand it over to you to sell again."

He smiled pleasantly at the serving girl who set plates of food before them. As usual, Eremis wasn't hungry but forced himself to eat more for Cas' sake than his own. His eyes widened in surprise when his friend asked if he wanted him to stop working for Belald; he didn�t think he any influence over what Cas did or didn't do. Having his friend ask for his opinion made him feel oddly special.

"I know how unsafe the streets of Bizmar are, and I worry about you getting hurt." He set down his fork and took his friend's hand in his before meeting his eyes. "Where would I be without you Cas? Don't you realize I need you? Course I'd rather you find a safer job if you want to work, but I can't stop you from working for Belald, if that's what you really want to do. I don't think the merc would hurt ME if you quit, but he might get pissed at you. Right now I might be able to convince him not to hurt you if he gets angry. Once he looses interest in me, I won't have any influence over him at all, so it might be best for you to get out now. It's your decision, Cas."

Eremis gave his friend a tight smile then pulled his hand away and continued eating. As he chewed his bacon, he recited a mental prayer to the gods, asking them to keep Cas from getting deeply involved with Belald's organization. He didn't want the merc's minions trying to assassinate Cas one day like Tegol's men had tried to do to Marz.

Once they finished eating and paid the server, they headed back to the wagon. Eremis slid his arm around Cas' waist and rested his head on his shoulder. Thinking about moments like this would help get him through the rest of the day. When the cart came to a halt, the healer sighed deeply. The ride had been much too short. Regrettably, he pulled away from his friend, jumped to the ground, and stared at the tall building that loomed up before him.

Together they mounted the steps that led to a bronze door. A tall, shapely brunette let them in shortly after Eremis knocked. The healer glanced around the brightly lit foyer before his eyes followed the girl to a large oaken desk that sat before a single door. "I'm sure that each of you will find the man or woman of your fantasies in the lounge that lies beyond those doors," she said, nodding at the set of double doors at the east end of the foyer. "The rate is 80 gold for 30 minutes."

Eremis stepped closer to the desk and cleared his throat. "My name is Eremis. I was hired by Belald last night."

The woman raised a brow then looked him up and down. "So, you're his new infatuation eh? I'm Leta. Welcome to the Silk Palace." She pulled a key from a one of the drawers and handed it to the healer. "The door behind me opens to a hall that leads to the kitchen and a staircase that will take you to the upper levels of the Palace. You can use room number 8 tonight. You'll find quite an assortment of clothes in the closet. If you look hard enough I'm sure you'll find something that will fit. There is another staircase on the east end of the upper floors. When you're ready, take that one down to the lounge where you can make yourself comfortable while waiting for a customer to chose you."

"This is my friend Cas," Eremis told her. "Is it all right if he hangs around for a while?"

After turning to face the demon boy, Leta grinned before speaking to him. "I've seen you running around the city. Only workers and paying customers are allowed upstairs, but you can go buy yourself a drink in the lounge and wait for Eremis. Just don't bother anyone or our bouncer Chem will toss you out on your ass. It might not be a good idea to stay by your pretty blonde friend too long because he might miss out on customers if they see you with him."

The healer muttered a thanks to Leta for the information then glanced at Cas. "I'll meet you in the lounge as soon as I get settled in then we can have a drink together before you take off." He made his way to the single door and was running up the stairs a moment later.

The room they gave him to use was similar to the one he had at Seb's place. Besides the walk-in closet it held a huge bed, sunken tub, and a long plush couch that sat before a fireplace. Instead of a makeup table, a small desk with a mirror hanging on the wall behind it was situated near the door. The only thing that seemed to be missing was a liquor cart, and if there was a wall safe Eremis wasn't sure where it might be hidden. He supposed that he could keep his tips and personal items in one of the desk drawers.

Because he was in a bit of a hurry he didn't spend too much time searching through all the clothing that hung in the closet. He settled on a pair of black pants that were a little too tight since he figured that might help him attract a customer more readily. He pulled on a black silk shirt and left the laces untied, thinking that it looked a bit sexier that way. After brushing out his long hair and letting it hang freely, he took a little more Opium to help eliminate his nervousness, then left the room and went in search of the east staircase.

A few minutes later he entered the dimly lit, smoke filled lounge and took a good look around. Although it was early afternoon and quite warm outside a fire blazed in a fireplace on the south wall. A number of scantily clan whores lounged on pillows spewed about the huge room or sat on one of the many couches present. When he spotted Cas sitting at a bar positioned at the north end of the room he hurried to join his friend, slipping onto the stool next to him.

"I'm Gus," the burly, bearded man behind the bar said. "I'll be tending bar today. Gimme your name and I'll keep a running tab open for you that you can pay before you leave at the end of the day."

After Eremis supplied the man with his name he ordered a glass of brandy then turned to Cas. "Well, wish me luck for my first day," he said with a half grin. "You'll come pick me up at nine, right?"

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[> [> Subject: Can you keep a secret?

Author:
Eremis
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Date Posted: 13:40:41 07/15/02 Mon

Inwardly, Eremis grinned when he sensed how much Rowan was enjoying what he was doing to him. Slowly but surely, the healer was learning that in some situations, sex could be used as a weapon. It was rather fascinating to see how easily many people could be manipulated because of a simple thing like lust. A week ago, the thought of pleasuring another to get what he wanted would never have entered Eremis' mind, but now he found nothing wrong with using his new skills to gain the upper hand over someone. Of course the drugs he consumed made Eremis' job much easier but he wasn't thinking about that at the moment. The only thing on his mind at present was that Rowan would probably give up on the idea of killing him if he promised to be available to take him to a state of erotic bliss free of charge from now on. He could work a deal with the elf similar to the one he had with Belald. It would be easy to sneak off and meet him at a nearby inn so he wouldn't have to pay the proprietor of the Silk Palace for his time.

Eremis sat back on his heels, cocking his head to the side while smiling at the look of utter contentment he saw on Rowan's face after his intense climax. He returned his hands to the elf's thighs with the intention of sliding them up to ease Rowan's pants off but stopped when he saw the man tying his laces. Surely the elf wanted more than one quick round of fulfillment! Why else would he have paid Leta for an hour of time with whatever whore he chose? He grew worried, thinking that Rowan might be considering killing him again now that he was no longer consumed by lust.

"No one's going to KILL you, you little ninny!" the elf said, as if reading his mind.

A look of disbelief crossed the healer's face as he listened to the rest of what Rowan had to say. There wasn't a massacre at the tavern? Anger welled up inside him when he realized that Belald had been feeding him lies! All this time he had been living with unwarranted guilt that had him contemplating suicide quite often before meeting Cas. Although his new friend gave him a reason to live, he still found himself consuming more and more drugs to dull the memory of Tomad and the mass murders he thought he was responsible for.

Eremis had also been under the assumption that Marz and Tristan hated him for telling Tegol about the secret entrance to the tavern, and giving the man the location of their whereabouts in Neromba as well as telling him where the Rovers could be found. He was relieved when he learned that the crimelord's men couldn't find the Rovers and had failed in their attempt to kill his friends that were still adventuring in the desert lands at the time, but continued to believe they despised him for what they would see as his betrayal. And raking Belald always managed to strengthen that believe in him whenever he talked about his old friends! The merc constantly told him that it was better to forget his past and learn to make the best of his new life.

His eyes widened in astonishment when Rowan suggested he quit his job. He frowned after hearing him say that he was going to take him shopping for a new outfit before taking him back to the tavern. How the hell was he supposed to answer Tristan and the others when they asked him how he was and what he had been doing in order to survive after he escaped from Tegol? He was too damned ashamed to admit to being a drug addict and having to take up prostitution in order to support his addiction!

After gazing into Rowan's blue eyes for a few moments longer, he moved to sit beside him on the couch. He crossed his long legs and fiddled with the laces of one boot while staring off into the distance. "There are a few things you need to know Rowan. I'm not the same person you knew a few weeks ago. A lot has happened to change me since you last saw me in Neromba."

He shook hair away from his face then shifted slightly in order to face the elf. "Right after Tegol kidnapped me, he had a woman I once loved get me addicted to drugs so that I'd be easier to deal with. While I was his prisoner, one of his mercenaries brutally raped me. His name was Tomad." Eremis shuddered involuntarily then lowered his eyes before continuing. "After he submitted me to things that I can't even talk about, he promised that he would rape me again and again because he liked�the sound of my screams. His violent attack left me scarred both physically AND mentally."

The healer glanced at Rowan, wondering if the man had any idea how difficult it was for him to talk about his recent past. "Another mercenary named Belald took me under his wing and vowed to protect me from Tomad as long as I gave myself to him without any complaint. Of course I agreed because I really didn't have any other choice did I? Well, Belald fucked me several times a day, but at least he proved to be a more gentle lover and I came to trust him since there wasn't anyone else around to trust. During that time I was continuously given high doses of an expensive, drug called Tazreen, and now I can't get along without it. Belald once told me that it's impossible to kick the Tazreen habit because the withdrawal symptoms are more severe than those experienced from any other drug. I tend to believe him since I tried to stay away from the drug once, and found the initial pain unbearable. I can't make it past an hour when the craving for Tazreen kicks in so there's no way in hell I can survive the three days it normally takes to eliminate the body's need for a drug it has become accustomed to having!"

Remembering that Rowan never seemed to like being around Jeremy when he smoked, Eremis got to his feet and crossed the room before lighting up a Lotus cigarette. "I'm too ashamed to admit to Tristan and Marz that I've become a prostitute to support my drug habit, Rowan. Of course the money I make is enough to help me pay the rent, and buy food, clothing, and other necessities as well. I'm only doing it part time so that I can devote myself to painting and continuing my healer studies." He took a few drags from the cigarette then filled a glass with water from a pitcher on the desk. Right about now he really missed the liquor cart that was available in all the rooms at Seb's place. Later on, he'd have to remember to buy a bottle of brandy from the bar in the lounge downstairs, and keep it hidden nearby for moments like these.

After a final drag from the cigarette he tossed it in the fireplace then gulped down the water before moving to take a seat next to Rowan again. "I know you're probably thinking that I should give up the drugs, but I'm not ready to deal with that pain right now, especially so soon after the shit I had to go through while I was Tegol's prisoner. I'll give you the address to an apartment I share with a friend and you can pass it on to Tristan, but only if you promise me you won't tell him about the drugs and my present job as a prostitute. "

He tossed one arm around the elf's shoulder while his other hand found its way under the man's shirt, his palm running over the smooth skin that seemed to grow warmer from his touch. Perhaps it was time to try using sex as a weapon again to get what he wanted. "What would it take to convince you to keep my secret, Rowan?" Eremis leaned in closer then let his tongue slowly slide along the elf's bottom lip while he stared deeply into his eyes.

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[> Subject: A day in the life......

Author:
Eremis
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Date Posted: 09:48:32 07/23/02 Tue

Eremis warded off the advances of another potential customer before glancing at the double doors again. Where the hell was Cas? He was growing impatient waiting for his friend, and began thinking about heading home on his own. The drugs gave him courage, blinding him with an, I don�t give a shit what happens to me, attitude. He drained the rest of this drink and was about to order another when Cas slipped onto the stool beside him.

Although Eremis was very happy to see his friend, his face remained expressionless. Bitterness continued to eat away at him, making it impossible to smile. He nodded when Cas told him it was time to leave then snuffed out his cigarette before rushing toward the door. Cas was beside him instantly, offering support when he stumbled. After his encounter with Rowan, Eremis convinced himself that he was a worthless piece of garbage that didn't deserve any friends, and such thinking made him want to push Cas away. He couldn't bring himself to do it though because he enjoyed having the youth's arm around him too much.

While Cas talked, Eremis kept his head down, the scene with Rowan constantly replaying itself over in his mind. Hearing the elf accuse him of liking his present lifestyle hurt deeply, but maybe he was right. For the first time in his life, Eremis felt important! Strangers were willing to pay a lot of money to have sex with him, and he even managed to capture the attention of influential people like Belald and Manny. He smirked when he remembered the surprised look he saw on Manny's uncle's face when they spotted one another in the lounge of the Silk Palace a couple of hours ago. Redric Crillnor went on to pay for a full hour of his time, and seemed to enjoy having Eremis as a bed partner.

"My nephew, Manny certainly has excellent taste," he said afterwards. "I almost hate the thought of having to share you with him. He had a fit when we learned that Seb's Place closed down because he really wanted to share an entire day with you."

When Redric asked if he would be willing to spend some time at his estate serving both him AND his nephew, Eremis declined the offer. But, once the nobleman said that he'd pay him triple the amount he would normally make at the Silk Palace in one day, the healer changed his mind. After all, he was in this business for the money wasn�t he? Rowan had given him an out, but he really wanted to get Belald off his case before he took that out. Making a ton of money while waiting for the merc to get over his present infatuation with him seemed like a great idea at the moment.

The cool night air managed to clear some of the cobwebs in his brain caused by his recent overindulgence of drugs. By the time the wagon pulled up in front of their apartment, Eremis was feeling a little better. He wondered if he'd ever get used to the drastic mood swings he experienced lately. It didn't take much to piss him off, or plunge him into an abyss of depression any more. Rarely, did he find anything to be truly happy about. Cas tended to lift his spirits for a time, but then something always seemed to go wrong, leaving him to sink in emotional quicksand again.

Eremis was rather numb from the drugs in his system yet he was able to feel a sense of shock when his glazed eyes saw the improvements Cas made to their apartment. "The place looks really�cozy now," he said, a smile finally working its way across his mouth.

He drew in a deep breath, the aromatic incense relaxing him immediately. His stomach actually rumbled when he saw Cas stirring a pot that sat on the stove. "I haven't eaten anything since breakfast," he admitted. His eyes fell upon the flickering candles and new dishes that graced the top of the newly repaired table. "I see you were able to fix it." Now, I'm the only thing around here that's still broken.

Eremis brushed off the thought and slipped into a chair by the table. He was so stunned by how nice the place looked, he didn't even realize that Lonta was absent. "You did a great job, Cas," he said, while filling two glasses with wine from the bottle. He stared at his friend, wishing he had the ability to make him feel as happy as he felt at the moment. But I'm only good at upsetting those I'm close to nowadays.

A sigh escaped him when Cas asked how his first day at the Silk Palace went as he set a bowl of stew before him. "I met an old friend and got some enlightening information." Thinking about Rowan's low opinion of him made his appetite vanish. After some coaxing by Cas, he shoved a few spoonfuls of stew into his mouth, impressed with the taste. Who knew that the demon boy was such a good cook?

When Cas pressed him for more details on his friend and what he had learned, Eremis' foul mood returned. "Well, my old friend Rowan thinks I enjoy being a whore, especially since I sucked him off with no problem," he said, heatedly.

His shoulders slumped as depression mixed with anger overwhelmed him again. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment then opened them wide to stare off into the distance. "I found out that Belald's been lying to me all this time. There wasn't any massacre at the tavern, and nobody hates me for passing along that information to Tegol. In fact, Tristan and Marz are supposedly anxious to see me again. Of course they don't know about my whoring and drug addiction but I'm pretty sure Rowan will tell them about it since our meeting ended on a sour note."

The healer gulped down some wine then met Cas' eyes. "I'm gonna confront that bastard Belald about all the bullshit he's been handing me! I want him to hate me and get infatuated with someone else instead. Once that happens, I'm going to turn my life around, I swear. Getting off the drugs won't be easy but knowing that I don't have to worry about running into Belald and having him possibly stuffing them down my throat again will help."

Since he really didn't want to get into another argument, he decided not to mention his plan to leave Cas and return to Moltare once he was free of Belald. He was too damned emotionally unstable to deal with more than one problem at the moment anyway. Cas once told him that he wanted to get married one day and settle down to raise some kids. He'll have a much better chance of meeting a girl without me tagging along beside him all the time.

"Other than being made to feel like shit by Rowan, and my inability to make him understand why I didn't want to involve anyone with Belald, I had a fairly profitable day." He untied the sack from his waist belt and set it on the table. "After expenses, I made 350 gold today. Oh, plus I got that new dagger from Belald which should bring in lots of money once we pawn it."

Eremis hated the merc now and didn't care if he got angry with him for selling the item. "We can pawn the stupid chain he gave me too," he added, pulling the thing off his neck and setting it next to the sack and the fancy dagger. After refilling his wineglass he got to his feet and moved to sit on the couch. "I fucked Manny's uncle today, Cas."

He smirked as he stared into the roaring flames in the fireplace. "The man made me a deal I couldn't refuse. Lucky me gets to spent an entire day on his estate playing the merry prostitute for him and his nephew!" Sighing, he closed his eyes and leaned back against the cushion. "Did I ever tell you how much I love coming to this apartment at the end of each day and sharing the rest of the evening with you, Cas? Sometimes I wish the night would never end, you know."

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