Auctioned

Just a warning to let you know that there are no sex scenes in this chapter. I'm feeling quite distressed these days =P But I hope you enjoy it anyway. Comments and feedback are always appreciated!

--Kai-- wai808@yahoo.ca

ps... Midterms suck!

AUCTIONED IV

"Goddammit!" Alik slammed the entrance door shut; yet not quite satisfied with the amount of ringing and wood shuddering that resulted. He did not even think twice of the crack in the frame that developed from the sudden impact. "He is not at the bathhouse, he is not at any of the cafes and we have checked every shop in that blasted market. How hard can it possibly be for a blond foreigner to disappear into thin air?"

Yuri stood silently, patiently listening to his employer blast out an explicit list of Arabic and English syllables. He was certain that some Greek ones easily made it into that list as well. A piece of paper by the hall phone caught his eye and he went to retrieve it as Alik continued on with his uproar.

A name and phone number was written, highlighted as urgent. No other detail of the nature of this phone call was offered. Yuri looked up and watched as his Greek employer had now resolved to pacing. He knew that the violent outlet was just this great man's way of masking his fear for the missing Canadian. Yuri smiled wryly to himself... that man would never admit it, but he has grown quite fond of the golden haired foreigner. He has never seen his emotionless employer react in any other way before, except for the occasional calculated cold detachment of feelings.

"Sir," Yuri began, "You should take a look at this."

Alik stopped prowling for a moment and looked every bit the predator in that stance. He glared at the piece of paper in Yuri's hand. "Do I look like I have time to make idle chatter on the phone?" he asked incredulously. He resumed his pacing.

"It might have something to do with Nick, Sir," Yuri offered. He shrugged slightly. "There really is no harm in trying."

Alik scowled and snatched the piece of scrap from the Egyptian's hand and, almost resentfully, punched the numbers in as written.

The phone rang and Kassel picked it up on the second shrill. "Hello?" he inquired.

"I need to speak with Kassel Eraydu," the other voice barked.

"This is he," Kassel retained a calm voice despite the other's rude nature.

"This is Alik Terzakis. You required my utmost priority in returning your call it seems."

Kassel settled down into his leather recliner and leaned back. "Ahh... Mr. Terzakis. I have been anxiously waiting for your phone call. How are you this evening?"

"Mr. Eraydu, I am an extremely busy man, as I am sure you are as well. Let's get to the heart of this conversation. What is it that you need from me?" Alik breathed impatiently.

"Mr. Terzakis," Kassel injected, "It is not what I need from you, but it is what you need from me."

Kassel heard laughter in the voice. "You sound rather confident of yourself. Alright then, let's hear what you have to offer me that I can possibly be interested in."

Kassel smiled. "Mr. Terzakis, I have in bed a certain beauty, possessing the energy of the sun's light in his hair. His eyes are the most delightful shade of green..."

Alik froze and he clutched onto the phone receiver until his knuckles became white and the plastic underneath creak. His eyes glared brightly.

"... I believe he said his name is Nick. He was wearing quite an interesting piece of jewellery around his neck..."

"If you so much as touch a strand of his hair, I swear in the name of Ra I will..."

"Mr. Terzakis," Kassel soothed. "Please calm yourself. I am your ally, not your foe. I am merely calling to assure you that your lovely companion is safely kept within my residence for the time being."

"Give me your address," Alik commanded.

"In good timing I will. But first I need to know that you are in good standing with him. He does not seem to be too pleased with you at the moment."

He heard the Greek on the other line sigh heavily. "I have said some upsetting things that I have regret saying."

"Ah, a lover's quarrel perhaps?"

"Mr. Eraydu, you can call it whatever you want but it really is not any of your concern now is it? I can be physically abusing him if I so choose and you still will be obligated to give him back to me under decorum."

Now it was Kassel's turn to sigh. "Mr. Terzakis, you are absolutely correct. Fortunately, I did not detect any sigh of physical trauma, no deep welts, no bruises, no scars. However, what I did find is a poor soul sitting exposed to the harmful sun, looking absolutely miserable and tired. And in that soul I also found someone who is reluctant to talk about his Master; instead he withdraws himself from his surroundings at just the thought or mere mention of the man."

Alik remained silent as he considered this. "Mr. Eraydu," he finally spoke up, "I need to make amends with Nick. Please let me do this, tell me where I can find him."

"Of course I will tell you." Kassel smiled into the receiver. "I have never intended to keep you two separated, Mr. Terzakis. I had only wanted assurance that you were no threat to Nick." He relayed the necessary information to the other man and then placed the receiver back onto its cradle.

He looked up when he heard a soft knock at his door. It was his beloved Omar. The younger man approached him, walking gracefully and a smile on his lips. "Master..." he purred. Kassel returned the smile and opened his arms out. Omar walked into them and Kassel pulled him onto his lap, one hand supporting Omar around the waist and the other one rubbing soothingly across his back. Kassel kissed him along the clavicle and inhaled the scent of his skin.

"Mmm... You smell good."

"It must have been from the bath I gave to our young guest." Omar reached out and played with his master's hair. "I must say, he is very beautiful." He sounded somewhat wistful.

Kassel continued to kiss but chuckled lightly against the skin at that spoken comment. "Omar, are you fishing for compliments? Very well, my love, the ray of your beauty pales those of the foreigner. Only a fool would choose someone whose hair is sickly white when they can drown themselves into the midnight power of your hair and eyes. And what kind of a name is "Nick" anyway? Is that not also what they call an irritating little cut?"

Omar tried to frown sternly, but failed and laughed, secretly pleased by what his master said. "My Lord, I believe I am in love with you."

Kassel raised an eyebrow at him. "I surely hope so. Unless you have an identical twin, that I am unaware of, who has been claiming to have loved me for the last ten years." His companion grinned, his black eyes sparkling back at him. "So now, tell me what you think of our young guest?"

He loved the way Omar's eyes lightened as he considered this. "I must say that when I first heard of the great Alik Terzakis having taken in a companion, I have pictured the man differently. I imagined a weak will that would succumb to every wish, whim and command of his master. But, I see a flame of defiance in Nick. He is a stronger breed of mind and thought. I only hope that the cold, overbearing power that Terzakis has been reputed to have won't smother that flame and will."

Kassel nodded and gazed lovingly at Omar. "I am glad that I have not destroyed your own flame."

Omar looked him in the eyes. "My Lord, do not think that it has not come close to extinguishing a few times." Kassel winced visibly. Omar reached up, with his left hand, to caress his master's face, tenderly. "But, my love, you finally came through and now, fuelled by the strength of our love, it is burning stronger than ever."

Kassel reached for the hand that caressed him and looked down at it, his eyes focussing on the golden band that encircled the fourth finger. The simple dark green initials of his own insignia imprinted it. He kissed the jewellery and looked up, lost in the dark depths of his lover's eyes. "I love you, Omar."

"As I love you, Kassel." The two met each other in an embrace and shared a kiss that only two who truly loved each other can share.

Alik sat back in the leather seat as he carefully regarded the man sitting comfortably across from him. Kassel Eraydu, another powerful man in the industry, was perhaps five years older than his own 35. His build was not as formidable as Alik's is, but Alik knew that the Egyptian could be a challenging adversary if he chose to. He sat with a calm aura around him, letting himself be freely studied by the Greek. He sat patiently, waiting to answer any questions that Alik may have.

Next, Alik studied the younger man who sat close to Kassel. He sat with his feet tucked underneath him, and an arm draping behind Kassel. Alik guessed him to be about 30, but the wisdom he saw in those eyes, that openly studied him in return, contradicted that.

"Where is Nick?" he finally spoke up. He was surprised when Kassel began to smile, laughing slightly. The younger Egyptian said nothing, but continued his own quiet assessment of Alik. The Greek frowned, a little disconcerted by the two. "What do you find so humorous, Mr. Eraydu?"

Kassel subdued his laughter and smiled at his visitor. "I insist that we forgo the formalities and that you call me Kassel. Do you mind... Alik?" Alik shook his head. "Now, I do not mean to appear rude but your bluntness amuses me. Those that talk of you were not kidding when they say you cut into the heart of the matter like a master surgeon."

Alik raised an eyebrow at him. "Shall I take that as a compliment?"

Kassel grinned at him. "Such solemness. You must not be so serious all the time, Alik."

Alik smiled back wryly. "I thank you for your concern. Now, forgive me for being blunt once more, but I ask again, where is Nick?"

"What are your intentions for that man?"

Amber eyes narrowed. "What do you mean what my intentions are? Why do I suddenly feel like I'm seeking a father's permission to take his daughter out?"

"Alik, you have a reputation for being a cold, heartless, uncaring man. I have seen the path that your wrath may take, however I find that you always act fair and justly. You must never expose Nick to that. He is unaccustomed to our ways and you should be forgiving."

"I see gossip travels much quicker than I have anticipated."

"Well, you could have resolved it in a more subtle manner, you needn't have overreacted and humiliated him in public like that."

"Kassel, why the sudden interest in Nick? Why are you acting like his caretaker?"

"No Alik, answer me first. Are you here for Nick because he ran away or because he scared you?"

The Greek glared at the other man, who has now adopted an intense attitude himself. The room was silent as the two challenged each other. The tension in the room was almost static and tangible.

Kassel was the first to break that silence. "Very well, I did not expect you to answer that question anyway. But what about this one... Did Nick run away from you because he despises you, or because he's terrified of you?"

Alik sucked in his breath and widen his eyes slightly at the other man. Kassel had not spoken in a resentful cutting tone; instead he voiced concern and sincerity.

"When one scares and the other terrifies..." Kassel shakes his head ruefully. "That cannot be the way to a long lasting relationship."

"Tell me what you know of long lasting relationships," Alik coolly requests. "I am most interested."

"More than you would believe, my young friend," Kassel sighs. "I know your type. You are a powerful authority who is used to having things run in a smooth, calculated manner. You are helpless when it comes down to anything impulsive and uncontrolled. You have no idea how to behave when it comes to Nick. It frustrates you that he does not act in the manner in which you are accustomed to. You have trouble relaying this new found frustration and confusingly take it out on Nick."

"I have had enough of this idle chit chat. It is you who are confused about me. How can you possibly understand what is going on between me and Nick?" Alik was enraged. Here was this stranger describing almost exactly how he felt; it was as if the Egyptian can read into his thoughts, clearly voicing out what Alik himself have been so unsure of for the last few hours. And Alik despises the other man for effortlessly understanding his own feelings more than Alik himself did! "Now are you going to tell me where Nick is, or do I have to tear through this house myself and..."

"Do you love him?"

Alik stopped in mid-sentence and stared at the man who sat beside Kassel. The inquiry was spoken so softly that Alik wasn't sure he heard correctly. The man stared back at him, calmly and faintly curious.

"What did you say?"

The man tilted his head and stared at Alik expectantly. "Do you love Nick?"

"Of course not," Alik replied bluntly.

"Liar," he whispered. Alik glared at him yet the man continued to remain calm, never breaking his stare. Kassel moved and whispered something into his ear. "Certainly, My Lord," was the response and he got up to leave the room, but not before placing a kiss upon Kassel's lips.

Kassel watches fondly as Omar walks out of the room. He felt that the Greek was about to short fuse and decided that his lover's challenge to him did not help matters. "Forgive Omar, Alik. He can be quite opinionated at times, but that is what I love about him."

He heard Alik grunt something incomprehensible. Kassel smiled at him and shrugged his shoulder. "We have been together for over 10 years now, which is quite remarkable if you consider what we went through those first few months." He felt, more than saw, Alik calm down. He continued on with his explanation. "I was much like you are today, Alik. I grew up with servants around me to do as I beckoned, everything was done my way and the word "no" was never used on me. And should that word every managed to rear its ugly head at me, I threw God-awful tantrums at the poor soul who didn't know any better.

"This continued on into adulthood, where I grew to be a cruel, heartless entrepreneur. I have by now acquired this huge empire, yet I had no one to share it with. I thought I would take care of that problem by getting myself a companion. That is where Omar comes into my life." Kassel chuckled at the memory. "I was naive to think that I can easily control and manipulate him in any way that I wanted. But he challenged and defied me in everything and anything. I had never been so frustrated in my life! I wanted to wring that lovely neck of his more times then I'd care to count.

"Then one day, I swear that Omar had stepped on my last nerve. I did a horrible thing and slapped the back of my hand hard across his face." Kassel took a deep breath as recalling the memory of that day begin to hurt. "The look of fear in his face was bad enough, but then he ran off on me. I went after him, and my heart froze as I saw him running right into the direction of a moving vehicle. I yelled at him to stop, but he wasn't listening, he only wanted to get away from me. The driver never saw him either, he was too fast." Kassel paused and looked up at his visitor.

Alik was staring at him in slight horror. His mouth opened to voice something, but words never came out.

Kassel shook his head and shrugged again. "As you can see, Omar is back to his self again and I have learned a great lesson from that ordeal. I am a changed man now, Alik. I do not regret what I am today. You may think I am weak for having softened to a servant, but that day when I realized that I can not imagined life without Omar, however exasperating he can be, was the day that I came to also realize that I have fallen in love with him. With that confession he no longer was my servant, but became my equal.

"Alik, I did not bear my most vulnerable moment in life to you so that you can ridicule it and use it for your own empowerment. I tell it to you so that you can learn from my foolish mistakes and avoid making those yourself. When I found Nick, looking as he was, all alone in the market, I knew that he was in misery. Then, I saw your insignia around his neck, and knowing your reputation, I was concerned for both Nick and yourself. I was afraid that history might repeat itself in the form of you two and I was determined to interject."

"Kassel," Alik said slowly. "I am honoured that you shared your story with me. You are right, I am quite frustrated when it comes to Nick. I have no idea what comes over me when I'm around him. I feel like I'm not in control, a feeling I am unaccustomed to." He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. "I have never been more scared in my life when I couldn't find Nick anywhere in that damned market. I began to envision him being abducted and raped and God-knows-what, and I do not think that I would have been able to forgive myself if any of that had happened to him."

Kassel smiled at the younger man. "Alik, my only suggestion is to take it slowly, one day at a time. Learn to be patient. Show him that you are human; let your guard down. I promise you that he will not judge you, nor look at you any less." He got up and motioned for the Greek to follow suit. "I will take you to Nick now."

It was the time for the sun to retire as Helios draws it away in his great chariot across the brilliantly red sky. He confidently steers his army of fiery horses and heads in the western direction. The magnificent Apollo supervises the activity from his stance by the large bay windows. The warm rays from the golden orb reflect off the dark hair and flawlessly bronze skin.

This God of Light detects movement behind him and he turns his head away from the spectacular view of the sunset. He offers a smile that reaches his eyes, eyes like the brilliant sun itself. "Hello, Nick."

Nick smiles back, still in a dreamlike haze. For a brief moment, he wonders how this beautiful being knows his name. "Apollo," he whispers. Nick watches as the God before him tilts his head in amusement.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," he sighs as he feels himself succumbing to the persuasion of sleep once more. His eyelids fought to stay wide opened as Apollo moves from his stance by the window and approaches towards him. The Greek God sits on the side of the bed beside Nick and reaches a hand out to stroke tenderly through Nick's hair. Relaxed and content with this gesture, Nick lets his eyes close and falls back into a peaceful slumber.

Can he imagine life without Nick? Of course he can.

Riiight... for about as long as you can live life without oxygen. Alik scowls at himself, but softened again as he gazes down at the man sleeping by his side. He runs his fingers through the soft silky strands of the blond hair and carefully bends down to inhale its scent. Tea tree? Nick stirs slightly as Alik holds his breath in, trying not to awaken the man.

It somewhat frightens him how in a matter of just a few days the Canadian have made such an impact on him. He considered the conversation he had with Kassel and tried to assess his feelings concerning Nick. It was true; he cared deeply for the man. But love?? Alik shook his head in confusion and stares out the window from where he sat. The sky by now had darkened and stars began to appear.

Nick had thought he was Apollo. Alik chuckled slightly, greatly flattered by the mistaken identity. But Nick could have easily been mistaken for a God himself. Alik studies the sleeping form: the perfectly tanned skin, the arch of the nose, the strong lines of the jaw... Alik can easily imagine the emerald coloured iris that hid behind the delicate skin over the eyes.

Taking his study further downwards, he marvelled at the lines of the musculature: the rise of the trapezius and pectorals, the valleys between the abdominal layers and deltoids. Nick shifted in his sleep and innocently buries his face into Alik's lap. Alik gritted his teeth and felt himself hardening.

Theos, he suddenly felt depressingly adolescent as every line in his body yearned to wake Nick up to make mad love to him. But he will not. He promised himself that he would not inflict any more pain upon Nick and having sex against his will is certainly not going to help him uphold that vow. Alik silently fought this internal conflict within him when he suddenly felt a stirring in his lap, and he was quite sure that his own anatomy was not the cause of the light movement.

He looked down straight into the green eyes of Nick. The blond blinked a few times, clearly confused. "Alik?" he asked.

Alik reached out to stroke along Nick's face. He let out a breath he had not realized he was holding when Nick did not flinch away at the touch. "Nikkos," he began. "It is not easy for me to say this. I want to apologize to you for my actions earlier today. I had no right to demean you like that in public. I had no right to treat you like an incompetent. And I certainly had no right to pull a hierarchical attitude on you.

"I should have explained my reasoning for the way I wanted you to behave in public. I did not want to make you feel like an underclassman, but I simply wanted you to act like all other companions so that you would not draw attention to yourself. And dammit, I was so scared when I turned around and I no longer found you walking behind us. I thought that you were abducted. When instead I found you standing there, looking at the souvenirs and I was so relieved that I did not know how to express it. Anger took over and my first instinct was to take you back home where no harm can come to you."

Alik took one of Nick's hands in his own and held it tightly. "Nikkos, I am sorry. My actions are inexcusable but I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me. But I will certainly understand if you choose not to." Alik stared down into the eyes of the other man and waited. Various emotions played through the expressive eyes and Alik was relieved that hatred did not appear to be amongst them. But spirits of Ra, beautiful as he was the blond man would not put him out of his misery for not a word had been spoken.

"Nikkos, please say something," Alik appealed. "Even if it is just to say that you can no longer stand the sight of me and that you wish to be left alone, just say anything I beg you."

"Alik," Nick whispered. "You are hurting me." Alik looked down at the hand he still held, now in a vice-like grip, and quickly let go.

"Theos," Alik muttered. "My God, I cannot seem to be able to do anything right, except to hurt you. Perhaps I should go now."

"Alik," Nick ignored the pain that lingered in his hand and reached out to grab the retreating man. The Greek looked down at him questionably. "Please don't leave me." He waited as Alik resumed his position at his side on the bed.

"I did not accept your offer to return home to Vancouver yesterday, nor will I accept it today. But you are right; you should have explained yourself and your decisions to me earlier before you went all out with this "Great Lord" attitude. I am staying here on my own free will when I declined your offer of my freedom. It seemed like you were taking that fact for granted and decided to treat me like your acquired property anyway.

"However, I abided by your wishes without putting up too much of a fight, and then you decide you needed to humiliate me in front of strangers anyways." Tears began to pool along the edges of his eyes and he angrily brushed them away. "You wouldn't let me explain myself, you wouldn't even hear my apology!" Nick was screaming by now. The tears were now freely streaking down his face and he could not make out anything more than blurry images.

Alik sat there, taking in all the words as if they were direct physical blows. And he deserved every one of them. But it hurt him more to see Nick in such a distressed condition.

"I BEGGED for your forgiveness, and you threw my apology right over your shoulder!" Nick continued. "What makes you think that I wouldn't do the same to you?"

"I would never think in a million years that you would accept my apology, Nikkos," Alik spoke quietly. The honesty in that voice touched Nick and brought him back down to a calm state. The tears ceased and began to dry. Nick frustratedly ran his hands through his hair and turned to look at the solemn man sitting next to him. The emotionless amber eyes stared back, waiting.

Nick imagined seeing those expressionless eyes once sparkling with warmth and smile. But he could not recall how that image ever implanted itself into his head. "Alik," he whispered, "It is getting late. Lay down with me... sleep with me tonight. We will continue this conversation tomorrow morning when we are thinking more with our minds and less with our hearts."

Alik nodded and got up to undress. He turned his back to Nick as he unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off his broad shoulders. Nick stared hungrily from where he sat, watching the taut back muscles stretch and flex with each movement. His hands yearned to reach out to touch the yielding skin overlying the firm hardness of flesh. His heart ached as he watched Alik step out of his pants and socks. Nick watched as the powerful muscles on the two legs contract and lengthened as Alik moved to carefully drape his clothes on the back of a chair.

Nick wished that Alik would take him in his arms and assure him that everything will be all right. He wished that Alik would kiss him senseless and make slow, passionate love to him all night long. He wished that Alik would care for him almost as much as Nick did for him. But... did he LOVE Alik? Nick sighed inwardly in despair, as he knew that he was pretty darn close to falling for the Greek. He shifted his gaze away as Alik turned towards the bed, for it actually hurt to look at someone who didn't share such deep feelings.

Alik decided to keep his boxers on. As he slowly hung his clothes on the chair, he painfully urged his erection to dissipate. The last thing he needed was to scare Nick into thinking that he would try to make sexual advances, however much he wanted to. The other man must not even be conscious of how seductive and tempting he looks, simply sitting there in bed with his hair all dishevelled and wrapped loosely in nothing but a layer of satin sheet. Finally, he was somewhat satisfied with the state of his libido and turned towards the bed, just in time to catch Nick jerking his gaze away from him.

Alik sighed inwardly. Already he cannot stand the sight of me, he thought. Oh, how he wished he could take Nick into his arms and kiss all his worries away. How he wished he could make love to him all night long and reassure him that everything will be okay. But he mustn't... not even to touch for the act of Nick recoiling from his touch would simply be too much for Alik to bear.

As Alik stood next to the bed, Nick shifted over so that there was plenty of room for Alik to lay on. When Alik slid in between the sheets, there was enough room between them still so that they could easily avoided touching the other.

The two men lay on their respective sides, both painfully aware of the other's presence across from them. Silently and fitfully, they slowly surrendered to sleep.

Omar contentedly listened to the heartbeat of his lover as he lay his head upon Kassel's chest. The older man absently stroked Omar's back as he rested against the pillows, slowly drifting off to sleep.

"The yelling have stopped. Do you suppose everything is better now?" Omar wondered aloud.

"I'm sure that they will resolve their conflict," Kassel yawned. "Haiti, go to bed now. I am not as young as I used to be, I don't think I can keep up with you anymore." Kassel opened up one eye and tried to peer down sternly at his love.

Omar grinned up at him. "I will slow down to your pace. Anything for you." He reached to kiss him on the sternum and snuggled up again to listen to that steady heartbeat. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, content in knowing that he was in the arms of a man who loves him.

The moonlight filtered through the window and kissed the two men who now lay asleep in bed. Some time in the middle of the night, as if drawn by an invisible magnetic force, the two bodies began to instinctively reach for the other, coming together as one in the middle of the bed. Nick lay on his side with his back to Alik, who held him firmly against his chest. Alik's arm wrapped around Nick's flat stomach in a possessive, but protective hold. Their legs became entwined with each other's.

Their breathing harmonized and the fibres in the bodies relaxed. Unlike their conscious state, when they acted warily of the other, their subconscious bodies naturally reached for the other... most content in this position and at peace at last.