Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

the floor. Near the top were two iron rings, one on each column. It was to these rings that the boy's wrists were tied. Con allowed his eyes to roam over the manacled form.
    The long, lithe body was naked save for a brief loincloth. The arms that strained at the lashings were tanned a golden brown and muscular. The boy stood a full head shorter than Constantine. His dark brown hair curled at the nape of his neck. Con found himself wishing the boy would raise his head so that he could see the face that the shadows hid. As if reading his mind, the boy glanced up, but not to look at Con, rather to look directly at Anzel.
    Frustrated by the fact that he still couldn't fully see the boy's face, Con turned his attention inwardly to the nagging feeling that there was something about this boy that was familiar. Suddenly, Con's thoughts were distracted by Anzel who began to uncoil a whip that he held down at his side. It was clear that he intended to use it on the boy and Con's hands itched to snatch it away from Anzel. Being a commander of the army, he knew with a certainty that a whipping rarely produced loyalty or obedience, which is what Con figured Anzel was attempting, in his own twisted way, to instill in the boy. No, a gentle but firm hand would be a much better way and any leader worth his salt knew that.
    He watched as Anzel took another step forward and spoke to Gael, all the while keeping his eyes fixed directly on Constantine. It slowly began to dawn on Con that Anzel had deliberately set up this entire show for him. But why? And confound it, who was this boy? The answer was soon made all too obvious.
    "So brother, I see you've brought your lap dog with you."
    Con felt Gael stiffen next to him. The slight affected Gael more than Con, who had long since ceased to be bothered by Anzel's obvious delight in leveling insulting names at Con whenever he saw him. As much as it galled him to do so, and in the hopes that a show of subservience would avert another argument between the brothers, Con stepped forward and bowed slightly to the Lord of the lower realm. "My Lord." Con began to step back into place only to be stopped by Gael who had moved forward as well and now held Con's arm in a bruising grip.
    "I'll be damned if you'll bow to this piece of shit, Con. I should have known this was just another chance for you to act like a prick, Anzel. What do you want? I have a kingdom to run and your inability to keep your rabble in line down here doesn't interest me in the least. Now tell us why you really summoned us to this hellhole or so help me you'll feel the regret of wasting my time in every bone of your body."
    To the untrained eye, Anzel's arched eyebrow and twisted smile communicated only contempt and indifference to Gael's insults. But Con could see the telltale stiffening of Anzel's back and noted that the hand holding the whip clenched it more tightly when Gael spoke. Silently, Con swore to himself and then began to scope out their fastest avenue of escape, just in case they needed to leave in a hurry. They were at a distinct disadvantage without their weapons and it was not above Anzel to use that to his benefit. Con had no desire to see anyone's blood spilled should this argument turn nasty.
    "Now dear brother, surely Constantine can take a bit of good-natured ribbing. Isn't that right Con ?
    Con felt himself tighten at the tone and use of his nickname. This is where he drew the line on Anzel's insults. No one called him that except his best friend Gael and he'd be damned if Anzel was going to get away with using it so pointedly. Once again, the punishing grip of Gael's hand on his arm pulled at him as he made to move forward and made him stop short and draw in a shaky breath. Gael's fragile hold on his temper eroded further.
    "Get the fuck on with it, Anzel, or I and my men are leaving!"
    Anzel turned toward Gael's harshly growled command and smiled; the polite mask briefly slipping from his face to reveal a look of pure hatred for his brother. Just that quickly the glaring eyes were hooded once more and Anzel's oily voice spoke.
    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, such impatience dear brother, in good time…all in good time. Now observe if you will this pathetic piece of scum I've so nicely displayed for you. Do you notice anything familiar about him Constantine?"
    The boy's head finally lifted in a jerky motion. The green eyes looked wildly around, finally settling their gaze on Con and recognition coupled with fierce longing