Warning: This story contains m/m, and this first part is very mushy. There will be some violence and some sexual stuff but nothing really messy.

            This is the sequel to ‘The Life Of A Gay Slayer’ and you’ll probably understand it more if you’ve already read that. This first bit might be a little confusing but please just bear with me, I promise it will all make sense in the end.

            All comments are appreciated!

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            Prologue…

            My first real assignment. I was so thrilled, that had been until I had found out that it was to merely watch over a prisoner, checking they didn’t try to escape. I think it was more of a test than an actual assignment, since it required a large amount of stamina and mind control to stay astral for extended periods of time. Sulkingly, I had assumed my astral form and travelled to the assigned cell, before settling in one of the corners against the roof. Only then did I let myself observe the one I would watch. My astral eyes widened as I realised the true level of my assignment.

            The prisoner was no mere thief or runway but a political prisoner… an angel. I knew he had to be someone important because they were the only ones that were kept as prisoners, not killed on the spot. I didn’t recognise him myself but that wasn’t unusual since I’d never left my king’s lands before, and had seen very few angels in the short times of peace. Perhaps he was one of their royalty; he certain was stunning enough, despite the dishevelment of his appearance.

            Time passed and I began to wonder again as to why I had been sent to watch the angel. He hadn’t even moved from his listless position on the floor, let alone tried to escape. Was I watching for another reason? Maybe they feared a particularly prejudiced guard would come in and damage him? Then a key clicked in the lock and I feared I had been right. I hadn’t been told what to do if someone entered; should I continue to watch to find out what crimes are committed or should I go back to my body and call for help?

            All my speculations turned out to be useless when the visiting demon entered the room, closing the door softly and once again locking it before moving towards the angel. I was certainly intrigued now, if a little squeamish. Vincent Nathair, the third general of our king, and a demon known for the ruthless ways in which he acquired information, paused. He appeared to be studying the slender angel and I hoped he wouldn’t do anything too bloody and sickening, I don’t think I could handle that. Vomiting while in astral form was not a pleasant experience.

            The angel didn’t look up, even as Nathair took off his weapon’s belt and placed it on the bed before moving to kneel in front of him. Gloves came off next and I could only watch stunned as the general reached out long fingers to brush aside golden strands with a lover’s tenderness. With such a gesture I was made far too curious and I found myself drawn closer to what appeared a very intimate scene.

            Touching the other’s chin gently, he forced the angel to look at him. Sorrow filled his heart as he caressed the pale-gold cheeks, smoothing away salty dampness. “Lucian.”

            The rich violet eyes finally focused on him, blinking dazedly, “Vin…cent…” Such a quiet, gentle voice… so adored.

            “Are you harmed?” His eyes slid over pale skin and once elegant clothing, finding very little blood but more bruising than he would have liked. Delicate fingers touching his hair pulled him from his study and he looked again to his angel’s face, this time seeing the quiet pleasure there. “You fool!” Lucian winced at his harsh words and there was almost regret.

            “I needed to see you again, my dark love. What other way was there?”

            “I could have met you past the border, somewhere safe for us both.”

            “How would we know when and where to meet? I could surely not send you a message.” The angel smiled, hands tangling in long dark hair, pulling his love closer. “It was worth every mark of pain to see you again, even if you can only stay a short while.” Soft lips touched and Vincent eventually gave in, encircling the willowy angel tightly and deepening the kiss. It felt so good to hold his gentle lover again, his sweet bringer of light. He knew he should go, try and find a way to get Lucian freed, but all he could do was push his beloved back against the stone floor, covering the slightly smaller body with his own.

            “You can not survive in a place like this, my love.” Toying with pale hair, he paused looking worriedly into those gorgeously innocent eyes. “You need sunlight and gentle summer breezes… How will I get you free from here?”

            Lucian smiled, placing one finger against the demon’s lips. “Do not worry for I have a plan that does not involve your aid, but I will be free. Please, let us just enjoy these few moments we have. I need you to take me…”

            “I am not sure that is wise.” The general glanced back at the heavy iron door, unease in his voice. “What if someone were to enter unexpectedly?”

            “Then you can tell them that you were trying out a new form of inquisition.” Warm, tinkling laughter filled the dim cell but halted with the harshness in the demon’s expression. “Do not worry so, beautiful darkness, all will be well in the end. And if it is not then at least I have experienced love.”

            “Why must you be so tediously romantic?” Vincent sighed, unclasping the angel’s tunic to caress smooth silky skin. “Pain and death are not things to take lightly, someone who has seen as much as you have should know that.” Closing his eyes, he momentarily blocked out the sight of sculpted jet contrasting starkly with the bare skin it lay on. A snake wrapped around a soaring swan; a symbol of their eternal love… Some of the angel’s romantic nature must have rubbed off on him, for him to have given such a gift. But was it romance, or was it simply a symbol of possession?

            “What do you think so hard about?”

            Opening his eyes he stared down at the pendant, brushing his fingers across the cool surface. “Why didn’t they take it from you when you were captured?”

            “They did not search me that carefully; after all I am just a harmless trophy. A noble prize, nothing more in their eyes.”

            “But much more in mine.” He couldn’t help chuckling himself at his automatic remark. “Such mush you have me speaking, beloved. What shall I do with you?”

            “I have already made my suggestion, Vincent Nathair, there is little more I can do.”

            “Hmm.” He smiled, once again stroking soft skin, “Little more but lay there looking so thoroughly tantalising.” Teasingly he drew fingers down the fine neck, past shoulders to brush against a small pink bud. The angel whimpered from the feather-light touch, reaching out to try and pull the other’s warm body closer.

            “Please, my love… I need you.”

            “I do not recall you being so wanton the last time I saw you.” Smiling he bent down, torturing his lover with soft licks and kisses, encircling sensitive flesh before nipping at it lightly. Nimble fingers gripped his hair tightly, as small sounds of pleasure left the angel’s sweet lips, causing him to continue his careful efforts. He would never grow tired of pleasuring his Lucian, not even if they lived an eternity.

            “You have not touched me… for over a year… how could I not crave your touch… so deeply?”

            “Has it really been so long?” He smiled, moving back up to hover over the supple lips of his love. “It seems like only yesterday I had you in your father’s stables.” With such a fond memory in mind he leaned closer but Lucian turned away before their mouths could meet. Frowning, he pulled back, worried at the pained expression on the angel’s face. “What is wrong, beloved?”

            “I no longer have a father.” The words were quiet, sorrowful. “He has disowned me.”

            “What? How could he do such a cruel thing?” Sitting up, he clenched his fists; he would have beaten the angel lord to a bloody pulp if he were within reach. “How dare he hurt you so!”

            “Please, my love, calm down.” Reaching out a hesitant hand, Lucian cupped the side of his face, thumb caressing tenderly. “He had no choice. He found out I was no longer pure and my betrothal had to be broken. If he had not disowned me then he would have lost everything.”

            “How can you be so forgiving?” The general sighed deeply, covering the hand on his cheek with his own, squeezing gently. “It is a weakness you would be better off without.”

            “If I were not so forgiving, my dear Vincent, then I would not be with you. No, forgiveness is not a weakness, passivity is. And that is not one of my attributes, or else I would not be here… with you.”

            “Lucian… Why did you come here? Why now? Please tell me it wasn’t some last drastic act because you believe you have nothing left. Tell me you didn’t come here because you were disowned. Tell me you weren’t lying when you said you had a plan to free yourself from here. Please, tell me!” The dark eyes wouldn’t meet his and he felt a sickness in the pit of his stomach and a clenching of the heart. “How could you doom yourself this way?”

            “I had nowhere to go…” Lucian’s large innocent eyes finally met his, as they filled with tears and his shoulders shook with suppressed sobs. “I… I… had to see you one last… time.”

            “Oh, my dear, sweet love.” Drawing the smaller being tightly into his arms, he offered what comfort he could as the quiet tears turned to harsh weeping. Vincent was sure he felt worse than his love did, and tears threatened in his own eyes with the continuance of the heartbreaking sounds. To think only moments before his beloved had been making sounds of pleasure instead. “Please don’t cry, I can not stand it.”

            “I’m…sorry.” Lucian sniffled pitifully, pulling back to wipe at his tears with trembling fingers. Vincent was sure he had never felt such emotional pain. It was torture seeing his sweet, innocent lover in such a state… knowing he had caused it.

            “No, I’m sorry.” Clasping the shaky hands tightly he stared deeply into Lucian’s eyes finally seeing the dismay that had been there all along, lurking in the violet depths. “It is all my fault. You have lost your family, your home because of me.”

            “I made my own choices and I do not regret them. I meant what I said, all the pain… it was worth it to be with you.”

            “I won’t let you die.”

            Lucian smiled, pleased with his lover’s determined words. “I am glad, for I do not wish to die yet… But what can you do for me? You can not defy your king… And I can not be parted from you, I would rather die than that.”

            “There must be something…” Drawing him into a loose embrace, Vincent thought for several quiet minutes, what could he do? There was one way… “Would you really be able to do anything to be with me?” Lucian nodded hesitantly, and he studied the angel’s face careful as he continued. “I could claim you as bounty. None would question it, for all know of my love for beautiful things… But it would make you my slave…”

            “But I could be with you?”

            “Yes.” It worried him that Lucian didn’t seem to understand the depth of what that would mean, it also worried him that the angel really would do anything to be with him. Did he deserve that kind of devotion? Especially from one so young, so innocent? “But you would be treated badly by others… and I would have to pretend in public… I would never hurt you, you know that, but…”

            “I care not, my love, as long as I am with you. As long as you will make love to me many, many times.” The angel smiled, delicate fingers toying with dark hair. “I do not care what the other demons think of me.”

            “I’m not sure you will still feel the same in a month’s time.” He sighed deeply, “But I want you with me as long as you can stand to stay.”

            “Then you will be stuck with me forever.”

            When the general finally left I came back to myself, shocked by what I had witnessed. Two lovers pledging themselves to each other, and so much more. I felt like an intruder, I also had no idea what I should do. Should I tell of the general’s betraying love of an enemy? It was certainly my duty to expose him.

            “Please, do not.”

            My astral body gasped with the shock of the angel’s soft words and I was startled further as he looked directly at me. How could he possibly know I was there?

            “Like you, I have a gifted mind.” Kneeling on the ground before my wavering form, he gave me a pleading look that melted my heart. “Please, let us be happy, do not tell.”

            Stabilising myself I let my senses drift over him, seeing his sincere love for the general, backing up all I had witnessed, yet there was something else. Something the general certainly didn’t know. “What of it? Your father discovered it and Nathair will also, he is not blind. Worse, others will see and know the timing is off for him to have just acquired you now.”

            The pain in his beautiful eyes almost made me regret my bluntness and I was beginning to understand how such a ruthless demon general could have fallen for this creature. “I can hide her… With your help, will you help me? Please?” His delicate hands rested protectively over his abdomen and I found myself unable to refuse. It would be hard, and I was risking a lot but I would help him and I would make sure his and Nathair’s child was kept safe. The smile he gave me for my thoughts almost made it worth all I would face.

            “Does manipulation always come so easily to you?”

            “No, or I would still have a home with my family. But I shall be eternally thankful for you help, perhaps I will name her after you, Mithra.”

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