Rising from Dust (Light from Aphelion Book 1)

by Carlsson, Martine

  “No. You inspire me.” Louis smiled.

  “Do I?” Selen grinned and traced a finger on the bulge in Louis’s pants. “How do I inspire you now?” Louis put a hand on Selen’s neck and pulled at Selen’s lower lip with his lips. Selen opened his mouth and let Louis’s tongue roll against his. There was something savage in the way his friend kissed. Louis always took his mouth in the most avid way, ravaging it with his tongue, as if he needed to taste the life essence in his breath. It aroused Selen, but it could make his jaws ache for hours. His hand pressed and rubbed Louis’s crotch. His friend’s pants were getting tight.

  “Maybe I could write something inspiring,” Selen said cheerfully. He rose and turned around to bend over the desk. With the quill in his hand, he tried to find something relevant to add to his friend’s words. While he composed the words in his head, Selen felt Louis’s hands on him, unlacing and pushing down his pants. His friend cupped his bare bottom firmly in his hands. “If you let me,” Selen said, frowning as Louis pulled him backwards.

  Selen had written a few words when the quill crossed the paragraph sidelong. Selen stood gaping. The rapturous feeling still lingered on his flesh. “That was mean.” Selen turned his head and smiled lewdly.

  Louis gazed at him, licking his lips. “Didn’t it help?”

  “Maybe you need a break,” Selen suggested. His eyes narrowed. He stepped out of his pants, grabbed Louis by the waist, and carried him up.

  “Put me down!” His friend laughed, holding on to Selen’s shoulders.

  Selen laughed as well and threw Louis onto the bed. He removed his tunic and untied his hair. As Louis rose on his knees, Selen knelt on the bed and embraced his friend.

  “I love you,” Selen whispered. They pressed their foreheads together. His face gleamed. His life had never been so happy.

  While Louis removed his jerkin and shirt, Selen unlaced Louis’s pants, rubbing his friend through the cloth at the same time. Louis pulled off his pants. Soon, both of them knelt naked, holding each other tight in a warm cuddle. Selen breathed in the scent of violet with a hint of woody amber on Louis’s skin. They kissed and caressed. With the tips of his fingers, Selen played with Louis’s earring. With the other hand, he grazed a finger on every detail of Louis’s face.

  “You are so beautiful,” Selen breathed dreamily. His friend took the finger into his mouth and sucked on it, his tongue licking the sensitive pulp delicately. Selen emitted a little squeak. A shiver ran like lightning from his finger to his groin.

  Louis let go of his finger. “No, my love, you are,” he whispered. He bent his head and nibbled at Selen’s neck and collarbone.

  Selen tossed Louis on the side. Still kneeling, Selen stroked his length as if he were alone and let Louis stare at him. When he judged his friend had gaped long enough, Selen grazed his mouth down on Louis’s chest, on his abdomen, and through the fuzz of dark hair, tracing a line of kisses around the swollen organ. Selen’s tongue flicked on the sticky, moist head of his friend’s erection and around the rim before swallowing it as far as he could. He heard how Louis enjoyed it. While he slid a hand between Louis’s legs, Selen felt Louis’s hand on one of his cheeks, pulling his bottom over him. Louis’s mouth teased him in ravishing ways. Selen’s muffled moans joined Louis’s loud breathing as he felt the tips of Louis’s fingers push inside him, sliding deep, until he turned slippery.

  When his fingers felt that his friend was as ready as he was, Selen turned around. “Do you want me?” he whispered in Louis’s ear.

  Louis only smiled and lay on his side. Selen slipped behind him and pressed his chest against Louis’s back. Selen would have never guessed that Louis fancied being taken so much. In front of Louis’s crushing confidence, Selen had considered himself to be the vulnerable one. Yet, he could not be weak if Louis put him in charge of his body.

  Louis turned his head to kiss him. Selen placed his erection against Louis’s tight entrance. With a light push, the head popped inside with a delicious feeling. He took hold of Louis’s leg and raised it over his hip. As Louis pressed himself onto him, smoothly working the length in, Selen uttered a deep moan. The feeling of Louis’s tightness around him blew his mind every time. Never had he considered or desired to take someone before. Though he refused to stand on top of his love, Selen was grateful to Louis for giving him such sensations.

  His hips rocked, trying to balance the bold part of him that craved to dig inside his love and holding back, which had proven a lot more difficult than he had thought. His attentions were rewarded and encouraged by soft moans. Selen’s hand went from Louis’s long leg to pinch a nipple. Selen loved to feel like one with his friend. He kissed the side of Louis’s face. Louis had closed his eyes, his head dangled, and his open lips searched for his. Selen covered them with his mouth. The fire in him was intense. Selen’s hand went down to Louis’s loins and folded around him.

  His friend’s hand grabbed his wrist. “No. Stop,” Louis murmured. Selen let go and looked into the sapphire eyes staring at him. Louis turned around. Selen gulped and bit his lip with expectation.

  Louis pushed him firmly up and with his back against the high headboard. Selen did not resist the greedy assault. He grasped the wooden rim, as his legs hooked around Louis’s waist.

  “Tell me if it hurts,” Louis whispered. “I mean, your back.”

  “Make a mess out of me,” Selen whispered back, lustful.

  Selen slammed his head back against the wall when Louis impaled him onto his hips. He felt Louis slide one hand behind his head, while the other hand supported his bottom, the fingers nailed into the flesh. His friend was needy. The moves of Louis’s hips were lusty and fierce. Selen’s short nails raked on the wood. Louis raised his head to reach his mouth. Selen approached his swollen, damp lips, but the frantic moves made his head twitch. Without thinking, he pulled at Louis’s hair with one hand. Louis howled, yet his love did not complain and let Selen move his mouth against his.

  Selen craved more. His brain was melting. “Louis, Louis… Faster. Cleave through me,” Selen mewed, his eyes half closed.

  His back slammed against the wood. Sweat covered his chest and neck. He looked at Louis. His friend’s face was tense. He had bloody bite marks on his open lips. His long, sweaty hair fell on his brow and brushed his cheeks. Behind the curls, his eyelids twitched in blue sparks. Selen saw that Louis was desperately holding back his orgasm. He felt Louis’s hand leave his head, and he shouted when it closed firmly around his erection to rub the wet head.

  “I can’t hold on,” Louis breathed. Selen thought his friend had already held out longer than usual. He improved with each of their communions.

  “Me neither,” Selen gasped.

  His heart was on the verge of exploding with every rub against his spot. Fire pooled in his loins, and his legs shook. His vision blurred. He heard Louis cry out and sensed him release inside of him with long spasms. Louis’s head rubbed against Selen’s sweaty chest as his body swayed. Yet, Louis did not pull away but kept moving, turning Selen’s thighs wet. Louis stared at him, feeding on his pleasure, his stroking hand commanding Selen to come. For a few seconds, Selen was no more. He closed his eyes, opened his mouth wide to scream, and felt his seed splash over his chest. His whole body trembled. As his legs slid down, he clenched Louis’s shoulders. Still catching his breath, his friend held him tightly.

  “I love you,” Selen murmured, nearly in a sob. He opened his eyes and was struck with terror.

  One of the young maids stared right at him, shocked, with the water jar in her hands. The jar fell and exploded into pieces. The water gushed all over the floor. Louis swiveled his back in a fraction of a second and let Selen fall onto the bed. Selen’s first reaction was to cover his mouth and to curl, to hide himself from the face of the world. He saw Louis grab his pants.

  “Wait!” Louis shouted, but the maid was already gone.

  Selen’s brain came back to reality, and he swiftly made for his clothes as well. When he
was dressed, Louis was already outside. Selen rushed for the door but stopped. He did not know if he should run outside as well. Should people see him, it would only confirm the girl’s version. Still, he felt a trap, and Louis may be in danger. He ran out. There was no one in the garden. It was still a peaceful late afternoon. At least, it had been. The door leading to the gallery stood ajar. Louis knelt over the guard that lay on the ground.

  “He is dead,” Louis said. “Merde!” He hit the wall with his fist and slid down with his back against it, his head in his hands.

  “No! Get up!” Selen shouted. He dragged Louis up again. “Think! It’s her version against yours, and she killed a guard.”

  “Do you really think such a frail little girl could kill a royal guard?” Louis asked, shattered.

  “Not for a second. But it’s the only version that can save us,” Selen said, looking straight at Louis.

  Guards came their way. They hustled once they saw the guard on the floor.

  “Your Majesty! What happened?” they cried out.

  “Someone killed the guard. I saw a young maid run away,” Louis said, stoic. “Search the palace. And I want one man to watch that door.”

  While Louis spoke, Selen backed slowly into the garden. He realized he was barefoot and disheveled. When he was sure that no one could see him, he hurried back into the solar and finished dressing.

  “Where are you going?” Louis exclaimed when he came back.

  “To the city. I need to find Folc,” Selen answered, fastening his cloak.

  “No. I won’t let you go. It’s too dangerous. This was a trap,” Louis said, blocking him.

  “I know. Yet, if they wanted us dead, they would have killed us. What they wanted was proof. I don’t know why, but I know we have a few hours. You are the king. They can’t throw you down so easily. This was Folc’s watch, and they knew it. They have the boy somewhere.”

  “Take some guards with you, or let me come with you,” Louis insisted.

  “No, it’s better I go out hiding under a cloak. You stay here and reinforce the palace. I will be back soon,” Selen said.

  “But where in the whole city do you think you can find the boy?”

  “I think I know who is behind this,” Selen responded. “The same as always.”

  It took only a few seconds for Louis to understand. “Segar Mills.” His eyes were filled with rage.

  “Please, let me go. I swear on the gods I will be back.”

  “Turn around and hurry back here as soon as you see trouble.” Louis held his wrist tight.

  Selen kissed Louis and left.

  The city was peaceful as always. Whatever Segar schemed, it had not started yet. With his hood over his forehead, Selen strode towards the docks. The Crown controlled the high districts and the market area where each building had been listed. If the man hid somewhere, it was probably near the river, in the city slums. Selen would have to be careful not to be seen, or it could become dangerous for him. His decision to stroll around in this area may be foolish, but should the boy die because of him, he would not forgive himself.

  Selen tried to think of which place would be best for Segar to hide the boy. Actually, it could be anywhere. Yet, Folc did not look like every boy. Maybe someone had seen him. A harlot leaned against a porch. She had a red gown and orange petticoats. Though she wore heavy makeup, she was still young and fair. Her huge bosom was pressed high in her corsage. Selen had never approached a harlot, but he thought that a woman may have noticed a young boy, and harlots used to stare at people. He tugged on his hood to hide his forehead and approached the girl.

  “Excuse me,” he said timidly.

  “Can I do something for you, pretty one?” the girl said with a smoky voice. She caressed his chest with her hand. Selen squirmed but still faced the girl.

  “I am searching for a boy.”

  “Oh, I see. Yes. It was obvious,” she said, looking at him with a half smile.

  Selen realized his mistake. “No, no. I mean…he is my brother.” Not plausible, but more realistic than my son, Selen thought. “He is around fifteen and has freckles all over his face.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I have seen no boy with that description. Are you sure I can’t do anything for you?” she carried on, intensifying her advances. “I could give you a very special price. How about a few things for free if you don’t take the whole package? We don’t see men like you around here.”

  “Thank you, but I’m not interested.” Selen tried to twist off politely from her grip. “Do you know someone who can help me?”

  “Hmm, there is a pimp up there on the street who owns quite a lot around here. But sweet men like you should not go there. The man is nasty.”

  “How can I find him?” Selen asked.

  “He will find you if you step into his territory,” she cooed, a hand still on his waist.

  Selen thought it was time for him to leave. He thanked her again and kept on walking up the street. As he progressed, the smell of piss and rancid water increased in the air. The houses looked even worse. Some were abandoned, spiked shut. Others, full with casks, must be used as warehouses. He hoped he would not need to enter the taverns. They were gloomy, dirty, and probably crowded with prowlers. The perfect place for him to get trounced.

  There were people going down the street. Probably workers who had finished their day. A group of men came from the other way towards him. They looked joyful and shared bawdy jokes. Selen lowered his head and pulled his cloak around him. The men did not care about him, but one of them stepped out of the group and pushed him roughly by accident. Selen fell onto the ground. His hood slipped off his head. As he tried to rise, he heard a shout in the crowd.

  “That’s him! This is the king’s fag!” Selen looked up and saw an angry man in a grey frock. The man pointed at him and shouted and spluttered with exaltation. “He is an insult to the Holy Scriptures! A spit in the gods’ faces!” The rest of the crowd turned towards Selen with disgust.

  “You dirty whore! Sick vermin!” they shouted aggressively. Some spat towards him.

  “Bugger! Suck my cock!” a man shouted, grabbing his crotch. A woman threw a fish head.

  Selen felt terrorized. His heart beat faster. He knew no words could stop them, and it was too late to run. While reaching for his dagger, he shrank against the wall of a house. Killing himself would still be better than what they would do to him if he was alive. Yet, he could not do that. Louis was waiting for him. The group closed around him. Selen’s hand tightened on his dagger. He would fight back. Shouts came from down the street.

  “Get lost, you rascals!” a man shouted. A group of guards marched against the crowd. The angry mob did not linger against armed men. They spread into the alleys and disappeared.

  “Are you all right, Selen?” Selen turned his head and saw Hernays standing next to him.

  “Yes, thank you so much.” He calmed down. “I should not be here. I was looking for Folc.”

  “Oh, I think I know where Folc is,” the man said, grinning.

  “You do?” Selen exclaimed with joy. “Can you lead me to him?”

  “With pleasure,” Hernays answered.

  They went back down the street together and turned into an alley. If the main road had been dirty, there was no word to describe the pavement here. Selen spotted dead rats on the side. It reeked of excrement. He put a hand over his face. He wondered what Folc did in such a place. “Is it far?” Selen asked.

  “No. It’s just here.” Hernays said.

  The alley opened into a small yard. A decrepit house stood in front of them. The shutters had been nailed closed. Selen wondered if the building would collapse if someone entered it.

  “He is inside,” Hernays said. The man stepped on the porch and pushed the door open. The wood creaked. The place was dark, lit only by a lantern in the room on the left. It smelled musty and damp.

  “Folc?” Selen said with a low voice. He felt insecure. Something was amiss. He entered the
room to the left. There were casks and old chairs but he couldn’t see anyone. Selen turned towards the exit. “There is nothing here—”

  Hernays punched him in the stomach. Under the pang, Selen bent over and collapsed on the ground.

  “Oh, yes. There you are,” the man growled.

  He kicked Selen hard in the chest, sending pain through his ribs. Selen coughed. The man was strong. Why hadn’t he killed him already? He needed to escape. He wouldn’t find any help here. Hernays kicked again, walked behind him, and knelt. Short of breath, Selen tried to rise. Hernays slammed him on the back with his fist. Selen fell back on the floor with a groan.

  “The king’s fag, right? You have fooled us well. Let’s see if I can make you squeak like the king,” Hernays said. He grabbed Selen’s arm, twisted it around his back, and shoved a vigorous hand between Selen’s legs, pressing on his crotch. “Not bad, not bad at all.”

  Repulsive pig, Selen thought, repressing a scream. That’s why you keep me alive. I’ll cut your hand. Selen tried to reach for his dagger, but Hernays pinned him to the floor with another blow and cast the dagger away. “Don’t be foolish now. You may even like it. Boys say I’m hung,” Hernays grunted, his hand and thumb pressing harder onto Selen’s lower parts.

  “So remove your filthy hand and go fuck your horse,” Selen grunted while looking around for something to grab. At least get mad at me and do something foolish.

  As he searched, Selen scraped the floor with his nails, trying to escape the disgusting grip. He heard Hernays’s panting behind him. His twisted arm hurt. On the floor, a long fragment of a board got loose. With all his strength, he swiveled and threw the pointy sliver sideway towards the man’s face. The wood hit Hernays under the left eye, tearing out pieces of skin and sending splinters into the eye. Hernays screamed and pulled back his hand, placing it against his wound. Selen jumped free. With rage, he kicked his boot into the man’s face. Blood spurted from Hernays’s mouth and nose and spattered the wall. It’s not enough. Selen went for another kick, but the man blocked his foot and pushed him backwards with a grunt. Selen fell down and hit the back of his head.