Sentries Box Set

Chapter 2-2

Todd knew she was right. He couldn’t leave the wagon unattended on the street all night. Even if he didn’t care much about his things, Nick’s were in there, and it was all Nick had in the world. It wasn’t much, but Todd had seen how carefully the books, weapons, and other things he’d sent Nick over the years had been packed. They obviously meant a great deal to Nick.

“Thank you” he said.

He hated leaving Nick alone in the strange place, but he didn’t have much choice. It only took him two trips to haul his and Nick’s things up to the apartment. He stopped at a small store along the way to the livery to pick up some food and supplies for them for the next few days. The livery was only two blocks from his building, so taking the wagon and horses there and getting everything settled in and back to his apartment didn’t take much time.

Shortly before midnight, he took Sasha down to the apartment lobby and waited with her until Dr. Oberon arrived to pick her up. He thanked both of them profusely.

Even though it was midnight, and many hours since Todd had woken to the sound of Nick trying to vomit drown in his own throat, he was too wound up to sleep. Pacing about the small apartment, Todd busied himself with unpacking his gear and putting things away. Next he turned to Nick’s trunk and bags. Not knowing exactly how Nick would want the books arranged, Todd shoved them onto the shelves in the room he’d prepared. That done, he went about unpacking Nick’s few articles of clothing, making a mental list of what Nick would need. After carefully folding each item, he placed them in the tall dresser opposite the shelves. Nick’s collar was stored in its box and set on top of the dresser.

Twice, Nick became restless, acting as if he were trying to move away from some unseen attacker, mumbling and sobbing softly. Both times Todd was able to calm him with some quiet words and less-than-steady hands, stroking softly over his arms and chest, brushing his unruly bangs away and smoothing his hair.

It was nearly 03:00 a.m. when Todd finally felt the pull of sleep. He shed all clothes, other than his thin undershirt and boxers, and climbed into the bed with Nick, gathered the young man close, and wrapped the thick comforter around them both. Horror and tension from the trip bled out of him, leaving him feeling drained. Nick would be in pain for a few days, but he’d heal. It was fortunate, Todd decided, that neither his father nor any of his friends were anywhere to be seen. They’d most likely taken from him something he’d waited for, wanted for so long, and had been working to keep.

Todd fell asleep, wondering how he’d ever get Nick to trust him now and hoping that sweet smile might be given to him again someday.

* * * *

Nick shuddered into consciousness. That slight movement alone started a dull throbbing radiating out from his chest and wrists to swirl through his entire body. He’d known he’d have to be branded with his master’s mark of ownership, and he understood why. Collars and piercings—even tattoos—could be removed, but a brand was there forever.

He’d had no idea whisky would be forced down his throat and he’d be tied down, that the entire process would be so brutal. Nick had heard Todd trying to shout through his gag, watched him struggling to get loose. Nick saw the tears in Todd’s eyes and how they dripped down his cheeks. He knew Todd had nothing to do with the way the brands were applied. Most importantly, Nick saw it in the horror and anger in Todd’s face.

There was the vague memory, more like a feeling of being moved, of Todd’s voice and hands instilling calm where there was panic and of being washed and soothed.

Pounding in Nick’s skull and a churning of his stomach joined the pain. Moving his head as little as possible, Nick took a look at his surroundings. No longer was he tied to a wagon. There was no foul-breathed man groping him and forcing the liquid down his throat, liquid that viciously burned a path to his stomach.

He was in a bed, tucked snugly against Todd, his heartbeat next to Nick’s ear and heavy blankets covering them. Across his shoulders and over his waist was the warm, comforting weight of muscular arms. One of Todd’s legs was slung over Nick’s.

Shifting carefully so he didn’t wake Todd, Nick saw that the apartment had a ceiling fan and electric lights. Only the village elders and the rooms reserved for guests where Nick grew up had the solar panels needed for electricity.

The apartment was mostly one large space divided by archways. Along one wall was the bed. To the side was a smaller room with shelves and a couch, and next to that was a small bathroom. The opposite side of the space was a lounge area with a small bar, two large chairs, an overstuffed couch, and a small kitchen. Nick saw the table was ready, with two sets of everything needed for a meal.

Nick’s eyes were drawn to the length of wall running from the lounge to the bedroom area. Hanging there in a wooden frame was a drawing Nick had done when he was about sixteen. It was what Nick imagined the landscape around New Colorado City might have looked like before the volcano erupted. Nick wasn’t much of an artist, and it was hardly a good drawing. He remembered sending it to Todd, because if he didn’t, the tutors would have destroyed it, and for some reason at that time Nick wanted someone besides him to see it.

Nick had never imagined Todd had paid much attention to it, let alone put it in a frame and hung it in his home.

Todd moved, and some sleepy noise rumbled from deep in his chest, giving Nick a sudden and unexpected feeling of security. Inhaling deeply a few times, Todd shifted more, one hand moving to Nick’s head, stroking across his hair. “Nicky? You awake?”

Nick nodded, surprised when a feeling of overwhelming shyness washed over him. That first morning waking up next to Todd was different. Todd had been fully clothed and had been lying on top of Nick’s blankets. This morning, Nick realized they were both nearly naked. There was nothing between him and Todd other than some very thin layers of material. Nick felt every movement of the hard, muscular chest he rested against. He had been taught many things, but not how to interact with others. He had no idea what he should do.

After pushing back until he was sitting up, Todd moved Nick back and looked him over. “Nick, I’m sorry. I didn’t want it to be done that way. There’re better ways, medications that can be used ahead of time. I told them. They said…” Todd’s words choked off. “I’m sorry.”

“I heard you and your father right before they…before. You were arguing about me.”

“Yeah, we were.”

“It hurts.”

Todd slid away from him and out of the bed. “I have to clean those twice a day, put this stuff on and change the dressings.” Words tumbled out of Todd’s mouth. At the same time he snatched a jar from the table beside the bed and held it up. He perched on the edge of the bed. “Are you thirsty? Hungry?”

“May I use the bathroom?”

“Oh…gah…I’m sorry.”

Nick took the hand Todd offered and eased to a sitting position, swinging his legs around so he could set his feet on the ground. “I could feel your emotions while they…You were angry and horrified and scared.” He looked away for a few seconds. “Like me. None of it was your fault and you couldn’t stop them.”

Todd’s shoulders relaxed, and Nick could see the tension leave Todd’s face.

Nick’s stomach picked that moment to revolt. The change in position caught up with his head. The room tilted and spun a slow, lazy path around him, making everything inside him suddenly and rather forcefully want out and want out now.

Clapping one hand to his mouth, he couldn’t stop the odd burp from escaping. Todd’s eyes widened for a second.

“Oh s**t, I should have known this was…c’mon.”

Nick wasn’t quite keeping up with everything, it happened so fast. Todd closed the distance between them and looped one powerful arm around Nick’s waist, levering him up, and propelled him toward the bathroom. Nick dropped in front of the toilet just in time to empty the very meager contents of his stomach. The heaving didn’t stop until nothing but thin, yellowish strands oozed from his mouth. The acid burned his throat, making him gag even more. “I’m…I’m so-so-orry.”

“Shh. Don’t. It’s not your fault.” Todd rested one hand at the base of Nick’s neck, fingers massaging gently. “You’ll feel better in a day or two.” He picked up a bottle from the bedside and held it out to Nick. “Hangover cure, or so I’m told. You might want to sip it.”

He helped Nick to one of the cushioned chairs in the lounge. “I’d better get those”—Todd waved at the bandages—”Changed. We’ll get some food into you, and you’ll feel way better.” He yanked open a drawer in a dresser near his bed and pulled out another thick, soft shirt and pants made of the same material. “Here, you can put these on after I clean your wounds. Tomorrow or the next day, we’ll head out and get you more clothes, but these will work for now.” Todd was moving around the apartment, talking fast and looking shy and awkward and scared all at once. “I haven’t lived here long. It was just assigned to me, not even a month before your birthday—”

“You know when my birthday is?” Nick looked up, startled.

Todd stopped and gazed down at him, head c****d to one side. He grinned sheepishly. “Of course I know when your birthday is. It’s the day I came to get you, take you away from that place.”

Todd knelt in front of Nick and carefully unwound the bandages around Nick’s wrists, then peeled away the one on his chest.

“Not looking so bad now. These were a mess before. I don’t mind telling you, I was worried. Normally when we’re out working, if we’re hurt we patch each other up, but this was beyond me. I didn’t want to take any chances.”

The entire time Todd talked, he used a cotton ball to gently dab something against the wounds. It stung for a few seconds until Todd took the jar of cream and carefully spread some of it over Nick’s skin.

Wrinkling his nose, Nick said, “Ewwww…that’s sort of nasty.”

“Yeah.” Todd laughed. “But it’s only for a week. And this will make them not hurt as much.”

Nick sniffed the contents of the bottle he still held then took a sip. “It’s not bad and does make me feel better.”

Todd stood up and studied Nick for a moment. One hand settled lightly on Nick’s shoulder then Todd moved it away and he rubbed the back of his neck a few times before letting both hands drop to his sides. “I know you probably don’t feel like it, but you need something in your stomach, and water or juice if you want. I bought some juice last night when I took the wagon to the livery.”

While Nick stepped into the pants, Todd watched him curiously. When Nick pulled the sweatshirt over his head, his hair frizzed out for a few seconds before coming to rest, messier than it had been Todd chuckled softly.

Tugging on Nick’s sleeve for him to follow, Todd crossed the apartment to the small room near his bed.