Ivan awoke slowly, at first not truly believing he had awakened. He felt as if he was not truly one with his body. Someone seemed to be calling from far away. He heard words, but in this strange fugue state they were without meaning. “Ivan, mój miłość, come back to me.”

Someone is calling for Ivan, he thought dreamily. How worried he sounds. It would be good to be cared for like that. How I should like to be this Ivan. But I am only—Ivan!

Ivan’s eyes snapped open to meet those of the Prince.

“Oh, mój anioł,” Paderewski breathed. “I feared I had failed somehow and that I had truly lost you.”

Ivan struggled to sit up, the sudden movement leaving him lightheaded. He fell against the kneeling Paderewski’s shoulder, resting against its solid warmth.

They were in a meadow. Nearby, a horse, his reins trailing on the ground, munched the new mown grass with satisfaction. Above his head a clear sky was filled with countless stars. A hundred scents he could not identify tickled his nose. Ivan closed his eyes and sighed content to relax in his beloved Prince’s warmth.

A frown creased his brow and he looked up at the Prince. “Why are you warm? What has happened?”

The Prince’s smile was sad, his eyes dark as he answered. “I am not warm. It is you who no longer feels the cold.” Seeing that Ivan did not yet understand, he continued, “Mirovich was planning to free you and proclaim you Czar. Catherine would have killed you before allowing that to happen.” He paused as Ivan nodded, remembering Catherine’s orders to the guards.

Paderewski continued, “As soon as I learned of Mirovich’s plot, I came to you in Shlisselburg.”

“I remember,” said Ivan slowly. “You asked for forgiveness. You bit me.” Understanding began to dawn.

The Prince buried his face in the curve of Ivan’s neck. “I could not live if you were gone. And so I, I….”

Ivan stroked the silver white hair as joy blossomed in his heart. Never again would he be separated from the Prince.

“I killed you,” said Paderewski. His voice was husky. “I had to, to save you. I left you dead by mortal standards, but they didn’t see that. When Mirovich came, your guards….” The words caught in his throat, then he continued, “They stabbed you. Through the heart. Then they threw your body outside the fortress walls to be picked apart by the birds and the beasts.” The Prince’s face was set with deadly rage. “I would have killed them all for that alone, but it was more important to take you away.”

Ivan touched his chest. His shirt was stiff with blood and ripped open, but the flesh was whole and without scar.

The Prince smiled slightly, sadly, “A gift of our curse. We do not scar and we heal quickly. There are other changes also,” he said. He made to speak again, but Ivan stopped him with a finger across his lips.

“Enough, my angel,” said Ivan. “I am free and with you. We have time and enough for other things, moj melodyjny szatan.”

Prince August Paderewski looked deep into the eyes of Ivan Antonov’ich who was no longer human and seeing no regrets there, allowed himself to smile. “It is enough, moj melodyjny szatan,” he agreed.

And that's a wrap. Thanks to everyone who stuck with Ivan and the Prince all the way through. Hope you've had fun. Someday I'd like to do a story about the Prince's family. I'm pretty sure they're an interesting bunch. :) If you liked this one, you might want to pop over to fantasy and try my Legends of Atlantis: Sae. The style is different, but it's an interesting story. At least I think so. I'm reformatting it so it's easier to read. Thanks again to all my reviewers.