Brothers

Chapter 13

“Your brother will be here around twelve o'clock, dear. He always comes at that time. I didn't know this man was really your brother. Maybe I was a bit harsh to him. I really thought it was a joke. I'm so sorry, darling,” with those words Lucia excused herself, truly ashamed of the way she had treated the older brother.

“Mr. Koiranos says he should help Pedro,” Julian said miserably, still using Orion's last name as he preferred to keep things quiet for the time being. “In the garden.”

“That would be wonderful. His back is killing him,” the woman commented as she served Julian breakfast. “Lýkos missed you a lot. He was so happy when he realised we were going to get the plane.”

“Don't expect Carlos to do much,” Julian mumbled as he warmed his hands on the hot cup of tea.

“He looks rather different to you, doesn't he?” Lucia busied herself to unpack the groceries she had bought that same morning.

“We are half-brothers. Different father,” explained Julian feeling worse than before as he realised his brother would be there in less than two hours. The smell of the scrambled eggs made his stomach churn and the boy gave up to the idea of finishing them.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Chapter 12

'If this is Orion's idea of a romantic date, we could have saved it,' thought Julian as his head fruitlessly dodged a large branch in the middle of the night. He bit his lips to suppress the customary “ouch!” and hated each step he was forced to take through the practically invisible steep path bordering a cliff over the river.

'Has he not heard about flashlights before? Even lanterns or torches could be handy right now.' He thought but the deafening roaring of the waters bellow him drowned his thoughts.

The slippery mud track made Julian's lose his stability once more and almost fell off the cliff but the strong hand of Orion caught him just on time. “Be more attentive,” he chided him as he pushed the boy against the long, covered with ferns, stone wall. Julian opened his mouth to answer but Orion was already away. Mumbling his discomfort, the youth followed his lover's track more carefully than before, taking his steps hesitantly, hoping the ferns he clung to would provide him enough stability.

The VIP Lounge

The VIP Lounge

December 21^st, 2011

Amsterdam

'Back to the land of the ordinary people,' Goran smirked as he took a seat next to the Duke, who kept huffing his displeasure at the unexpected delay even as he opened his laptop to catch up with the lost time. 'At least we were able to get tickets in a normal flight. Everything is completely full.'

The secluded area on one side of the elegant VIP lounge allowed both men some peace after a nightmarish week of non-stop work before the holiday season; the soft beige and brown tones of the decoration soothing their frayed nerves. The small crystal coffee table in front of them was perfect to spread their papers on, and Goran asked the Duke if he wanted a coffee to which the other replied that a mineral water would suffice.

Goran stood up and went to look for the drinks, and as he did so, he saw a tall man, informally dressed and accompanied by a very small, blond and thin youth, approach their area; the only one that was not occupied by businessmen. For some reason, the man—about Goran’s age—looked very upset. Still looking at them warily, he watched the man take the seats opposite the Duke and how he proceeded to unceremoniously drop his shoulder bag over one of the sofas before crumbling on top of it.

“Now, please, you and your thing stay here. Don't move, and certainly don't run away, Marcial!” the stranger whispered furiously. 'Fucking, crazy Crusader,' Carsten thought.

“I've told you a hundred times that Pelayo is not a Crusader. He's older than that,” the youth said in accented English.

“If he misses this flight too, it's his problem, not mine.”

“He will not miss it. He will be here soon. He just went to see those Dutch wafers. I think he wants to bring home some. The ones at your mother's were very nice, and he liked them a lot. Maybe you could buy them for him?”

“I won't! Period, Marcial. I had enough with the ham story! When we are back in London, I hope the flat does not reek of that rancid fat!” the man exploded, and Goran settled down to enjoy the show.

You Can't Choose Your Family

Chapter 11

Lascaux- Les Eyzies

Since Julian arrived to St. Etienne in Les Eyzies, everything had been perfect; The large house set in the middle of a dense forest that abruptly ended in the greenest fields Julian had ever seen; his reunion with Lýkos, glad that the boy was back in his life; the weeks lazily spent walking around, reading or doing nothing at all. Even Orion's dark mood had improved while visiting “his ancestors' lair” as he called the old estate.

He had visited alone some of the attractions of the area, mainly the Prehistory Museum and two castles with Lýkos trotting behind (and growling-howling in displeasure when he was left at the entrance) but the beauty of the area had not taken his fancy. No, Julian preferred to walk and get lost in the old forest or visit the scenic village of Sarlat alone.

Orion, on the other hand, preferred to stay at home reading or writing at his desk. Much to Julian's dismay, the man, after his earlier athletic performance, had significantly cooled down when they had arrived to Les Eyzies, only cuddling or randomly kissing Julian. In a way his brooding had disappeared but he always seemed to be stressed over something his lover couldn't find out.

In fact, he had simply refused to accompany Julian anywhere. He loved to stay at the large estate or leave it for a walk in the late afternoons in the only company of Lýkos.