Eliana (6 page)

The papers also included school records, military records, and handwritten anecdotes of Viktor’s early years as a Warden in the Berlin and Vienna enclaves, mentioning his growing interest in cambions and the creation of them. There was a typed translation of a letter—the original handwritten in German—from Karl von Rainer, a civilian geneticist recruited by Viktor to find a way to manufacture cambions who lacked the usual sexual drive. Karl had succeeded with his own child, Lukas, but had sabotaged the formulas after finding out Viktor wanted to use the cambions to further the Nazi cause. Altering the serum had inadvertently led to the deaths of dozens of cambions while Viktor tried and failed to recreate Karl’s experiment. More notes followed regarding Viktor’s escape to Barcelona, where he’d continued his research.

“He did good work,” Kon said. “It’s because of him we know so much about cambions and how they function.”

Because he killed so many cambions first
. Dane didn’t dare say such a thing aloud. It was almost as if Kon had regressed twenty years and become his father’s naïve captive once more.

“That’s my room.” Kon pointed to a new collection of pictures. The entire house had been documented, including the room Kon had lived in for a few months. “We sat on that couch. My father read to me in English so I could learn.”

Dane took a closer look at the picture of the bookshelf. None of the titles were those he’d consider appropriate to a fourteen-year-old boy. They were all subversive political texts which extolled the virtues of eugenics and racial dominance. Dane drove a fist against his mouth to keep from voicing his disgust. He didn’t want to send Kon over the edge by saying the wrong thing, but he wondered how Kon could possibly think fondly of a childhood as little more than his father’s guinea pig.

More disturbing were the photographs of Viktor’s laboratory dated last month. Vials, microscopes, piles of books and papers. Computers. Calculators. A whiteboard covered with diagrams and explanations in German. On the far wall were rows of reports on clipboards, each with a portrait of its subject.

The next item in the folder was Kon’s file, topped with a picture of him at fourteen, wide-eyed and innocent. “Aw. You were a cute kid,” Dane said.

Kon read over his shoulder while Dane flipped through the English translation. Dane’s heart became leaden the further he read the neatly typed pages. There was the exact date and time Viktor had lain with the incubus, complete with notes on physical reactions to the creature, which remade itself to resemble Viktor’s greatest sexual fantasy. Exactly twenty-four hours later came Kon’s moment of conception when the incubus had lain with an unnamed woman.

“I’ll never know who my mother was.” Kon’s voice was hollow. “Probably some poor whore who agreed to play along in exchange for food and shelter.”

Dane had no reply. He continued reading pages listing the drugs Kon’s mother had been given in an attempt to change Kon into the perfect cambion—one with Sensitivity and an ability to manipulate energy but without a demon that needed to feed on sexual energy. Next—on May 2, 1958, at 4:53 p.m.—came Kon’s birth and the specialized, drugged formula he’d been given as an infant.

He read on, sickened by the reduction of Kon’s life. It was a wonder he wasn’t deformed or crazy from all the experiments his father had performed. On paper he was reduced to growth statistics and various other measurements. Blood tests. Reactions to certain drugs.

The final entry read,
All chemical experimentation has failed. Subject relocated under duress. Demon removed by a Sensitive capable of manipulating energy. Subject lives with no apparent ill effect. No further contact.

After that came a file compiled by Kon’s mentor, Luisa, after Kon had been taken from his father. Intelligence tests. Psych profiles. More personal notes and observations about Kon’s progress and his treatment by others in the enclave who mistrusted a teenager who’d had his demon removed and was the son of one of the most notorious Wardens ever known. Dane couldn’t help but admire how far Kon had come in the intervening years. He loved Kon all the more.

Dane set the papers aside, mind burning at the horror of what he’d seen and read. Kon was frozen, staring at one page in particular. “Darling? You all right?”

Kon started to laugh.

“Kon?” But the laughter grew hysterical. Dane saw that the file was open to the last page, the one relating the details of Kon’s conception. “Enough.” Dane wrapped his arm around Kon and tried to tug the papers from his hands. “Let go.
Now
.” He found the pressure point on Kon’s wrist and squeezed.

The papers fluttered to the ground. Kon sank back against Dane as the laughter turned into uncontrolled sobs. Dane shed a few tears of his own, heartbroken at the thought of what it must have been like for Kon to grow up bearing such a heritage.

Dane held him until the sobbing ceased. Then he went utterly still and quiet, a condition which worried Dane far more. The last time he’d been like this was just after Valerie had finished with him. “Talk to me, darling. Don’t clam up on me.”

“I’m a lab rat. A fucking lab rat and because of the damn Wardens, I’ll never get to ask my father who my mother was or why he fucked up my life. ”

“Who says it’s fucked up? You have me. We’re happy together. We both have careers to be proud of.”

“You write porn for a living.”

“I write articles and short stories for adult magazines. It pays well enough that I can afford to buy all those toys
you
enjoy so much.” He tightened his embrace, rocking Kon back and forth, and wished he knew what to say. “You help people in ways no one else can.”

“Because my father pumped so many drugs into me and turned me into a monster.”

“You’re
not
a monster. Well. Maybe like one of the Muppets on
Sesame Street
, all fuzzy and sweet with a nose I can honk.” He squeezed Kon’s nose between the knuckles of his first two fingers. “I have a catalog left from Halloween. I can order some horns and glue them on your head, and then I’ll tie some feathers in your hair. Yeah. Such a fearsome monster you are.”

At last Kon began to laugh, hard enough Dane had to let go for fear he’d choke. “If I’m a fuzzy monster with horns, what does that make you? Snuffleupagus?”

“I’m not your imaginary friend. I’m real. I’m like Kermit. I run the show, and I’m very
green
if I don’t get my way.”

“More like Miss Piggy. She slaps people around when she loses her temper.”

“Just wait,” Dane said fiercely. He bent down for a kiss, driving his tongue between Kon’s teeth. Inside, his demon stirred, hungry for nourishment. Now wasn’t the time, though, not with Kon upset.

“It’s all right,” Kon whispered. “Let it feed. I’m worn out too.”

“Excuse me? Are you telling me what you think is best?” Hungry as Dane’s demon was, he wasn’t willing to endanger either of them, and neither could he feed as well as he wished if Kon’s mind was elsewhere.

Kon stiffened. “I’m sorry.”

Now that his lover was venturing into a better headspace, Dane had a few ideas about a low-intensity session which would do them both good. “Take your clothes off.”

“Yes, Sir.” Kon complied, shivering as he bared his skin. As many times as Dane had seen and touched that beautiful body, he never tired of it. The beauty was deceptive. Except for the genitalia, Kon looked far more female than male, but his inner drive was entirely masculine.

Dane pulled their toy box out from beneath the bed and dug through for a blindfold. He gave Kon a peck on the forehead before covering his eyes. Blinding Kon was the best way to get him to clear his mind and focus on the physical.

“You’ll feel only what I want you to feel. Understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Dane found a pair of earplugs and gently inserted them into Kon’s ears. Then he took out his coil of silk rope and proceeded to wrap it around Kon. He used a karada tie to create an elegant diamond pattern, one that went down Kon’s front, around his cock, and up his back. Dane found peace in turning Kon’s body into a work of art. Kon calmed as the bonds tightened. Tension left his muscles, leaving him limp and malleable.

Dane said nothing, not wanting to ruin the spell. Once Kon was trussed and lying on his back on the bed, knees bent but wide, Dane stripped and moved the chair so he had a good view of Kon’s exposed cock. He sank down, already erect from the effect the rope had on his lover.

His demon stirred. Dane gasped as the familiar feral heat filled him, merging with his mind and tripling the arousal he already felt. The demon was hungry, wanting to feed
now
, but Kon needed time to relax and truly descend into the soothing, meditative state.
Soon.

Little by little Kon’s breathing evened out. Only then did Dane touch him, starting with gentle kisses between the rope diamonds. Kon didn’t outwardly respond, but being robbed of sight and sound left him far more aware of touch.

Dane lightly nipped Kon’s nipple.
There
. Kon squirmed. Continuing downward, Dane licked and sucked Kon’s belly, running his tongue beneath the ropes, pausing to swirl it around Kon’s navel. Kon’s breathing quickened. A moan escaped his lips.

Bad boy. He knows I don’t like him to make noise until I let him
. Dane slapped his ass cheek, which only served to elicit another moan.

Now he’s playing with me.

The only
real
punishment was withdrawing his contact altogether. He pulled back, gratified to see the shiver that ran through Kon. There would be no begging, no pleading. Kon would lie there waiting until Dane deemed him worthy of attention.

Dane gave him five minutes, each ticking second punctuated by the blood pounding within his veins. Yet the waiting itself nourished the demon. Kon loved being helpless and vulnerable. Dane had made him so—all in the name of pleasure.

When the time was up, Dane didn’t bother with gentleness. He went straight for the cock which had been taunting him. Kon choked off a groan. Dane ran his tongue around the head, tickling the tip.

Better
. Pleased that his lover had learned his lesson, Dane tapped him on the throat, the signal which gave Kon permission to vocalize. He rather enjoyed this part. He licked and sucked. Kon squirmed and swore in Spanish, German, French, and a couple of others.

There was no need to penetrate him in order to reach climax. Watching that handsome, pale flesh contract within its bonds, seeing that body twitch and pulse as orgasm hit drove Dane to the brink. His cock tightened, and he had just enough time to get into place and spend himself on Kon’s belly.

Dane’s demon lapped up the energy. Once it was sated, it retreated, leaving Dane feeling oddly empty. Only when Kon stopped twitching did Dane loosen the ropes and cradle him in his arms. Dane removed the blindfold and earplugs. Kon’s eyes were closed. The lines of strain had vanished, but Dane could tell he was still deeply unhappy.

Dane pulled a blanket around him, then picked up the scattered papers and replaced them in the manila envelope. He was tempted to shred or burn them to erase them from Kon’s life.

Except they
were
Kon’s life, and destroying them wouldn’t change Kon’s past. He settled for putting them on the coffee table so Kon wouldn’t see them when he woke. Then, too wired to sleep, he crawled into bed and held the man he loved.

Chapter Seven

It was well past one o’clock when Kon woke and lazily stretched. He would have liked to continue napping in the warmth of Dane’s arms awhile longer, but he had errands to run.

“Good afternoon, darling.” Dane kissed him, and Kon responded in kind. “Feel better?”

He knew what Dane was asking but wasn’t ready to talk about it. Viktor Jäger was dead. As for the rest of that file… “I’m fine.”

“I’ll grab lunch while you shower.”

“I’m only hungry for you.” Kon nibbled at Dane’s earlobe.

“Funny. But you need to eat.”

By the time Dane returned to the room with potato chips and sandwiches, Kon had already showered and was packing a duffel bag. “Are we going somewhere?” Dane asked.

Kon shook his head. “I’m going to drive Eliana up north tomorrow. I’ll be back in three or four days.”

“I’m going with you.” Dane grabbed his duffel bag.

“There’s no need. I’ll get Evan to check on you.”

“I wouldn’t let Evan kiss my ass. And if you think I’m leaving you alone with a woman, you’re wrong.” Dane threaded his fingers through the hair on the back of Kon’s head. He twisted and pulled. “I’m going with you, darling. No arguments.” Dane layered kiss after kiss upon Kon’s bared throat.

“Damn you,” Kon said, but he didn’t really mean it. Resistance soon faded as he gave himself up to Dane’s attentions. “I never could tell you no.”

“It’s a good thing you don’t.” A few more kisses, and Dane released his lover. “Eat your lunch like a good boy.”

Kon submitted, gratifying Dane by finishing everything on his plate. “I need to pick up a few things for Eliana. Clothes, a coat, and stuff.”

“Are you sure you’re up to shopping? I could go.”

Kon glanced out the window at the overcast sky. The clouds weren’t quite dark enough to herald snow. “I won’t know what to get her until I see it.”

“Uh-huh. You’ll have to introduce us. I want to see if she’s worth your fascination.” Dane tossed a couple of shirts and a pair of jeans into his bag.

“She is.”

They cruised both the 16th Street Mall and the Tabor Center before Kon was satisfied. He ignored the price tags, caring more that the clothing suited. Dane didn’t quibble about being laden down like a pack mule. If Kon was happy, he was happy.

They returned to their suite to find a pile of mail on the table. Kon pawed through the envelopes and pointed to a medium-sized box. “Open it.”

“It’s addressed to you. I don’t know where it came from.” Dane used his pocketknife to cut the tape.

Inside the box was a flat metal case. Attached to the top was an envelope reading
Konstantin
. No one called him that anymore.