A Strained Relationship

Chapter 17

“The girls say you didn't sleep in your bed.” Carlos closed the library door with a push.

“Aha,” Julian didn't pay attention to his brother, busy as he was with some books laying in disorder on top of his desk at the library. “Where did I sleep then?”

“At the master's bed,” Carlos replied with a big smirk.

“Good, you got confirmation of what you already knew, dumbass.”

“Yeah I knew it, but the girls didn't, Einstein. They're quite shocked.”

“I'm sure you already told some stories about me.”

Carlos looked at his brother and thought for a long minute. “No, not yet. Good idea.”

“Is that what you came to tell me?” Julian asked dryly, already starting to lose his patience with his brother.

“No, in fact you're supposed to go to Sintra and buy a magazine for Mr. Koiranos. Lucia says you know which one,” Carlos answered with a sweet smile. “At least the guy makes you work,” he added with real satisfaction.

Julian softly swore as he had forgotten everything about The Economist or the books he had planned to buy in the morning. He rose from his desk and barked at his brother “get the boxes down and don't touch the books.”

“Little prick,” Carlos said just to keep the family tradition alive. “Ah, the wolf wants to come with me to the sawmill.”

“Did you ask him?” Julian asked ironically.

“I said I was going there to buy more wood for building a bench near the new fence and he jumped inside the van. Guess he wants to go.”

“Just be careful.”

“I always knew you loved me,” Carlos smirked.

“Just take care of Lýkos,” Julian corrected him dryly. “Try nothing funny or he'll bite your head off.”

“I'll keep that in mind.”

“And keep distance from Inspector Clouseau. He thinks you might have done the former librarian to get me a new boyfriend,” Julian said and Carlos gasped, unable to say a word.

“Yes, that's right. Don't look so shocked. If you can push Ahmed down the stairs, you can travel time one or two years before I came here and do the same with the teacher, whose job I have now.”

“That's bullshit!”

“Figures,” smirked Julian. “My beloved brother was doing his best to get me a decent boyfriend,” Julian taunted Carlos.

The older youth messed his hair. “This is bad for me. What if he goes around telling stories?”

“To whom?” Julian huffed. “The minute he tells his big theory, the D.A. will torn him into pieces. Relax and don't let him come close to you.”

“Look I work in the garden and get my money. Nothing else. I want nothing to do with you or this guy's messes,” Carlos said seriously. “I'd rather be in Spain.”

“Then take a flight back to Madrid. Mom will love to have you back.”

“You'd love that. Wouldn't you?”

“You can read my mind.”

“I won't go away.” Both brothers looked at each other with the particular glint in their eyes they always had before jumping at each other's throats.

“If you need money, I can lend you some and you disappear from my life,” Julian said after a long pause.

“Don't want your money,” slurred Carlos. “I don't know. This is crazy.” He squeezed his eyes hard.

“Take the first plane back to Spain. It's for the best,” Julian said softly.

“I don't want to leave you alone here,” Carlos said as he noisily dragged the chair and sat on it. “There's something not right here. I don't know what it is.”

“Wrong?”

“Not wrong. Not right, I said. That's different.” Julian looked at him, biting his lips to avoid to laugh at his brother's face, already mentally revelling in the more than probably ridiculous theory his brother's brain might have concocted.

“I already told you there's something weird about Koiranos. Don't know what it is, but the man gives me the creeps. The cleaning ladies think the same. They stay because of the money.”

'And you weren't here yesterday afternoon,' thought Julian. “Oh, you and the cleaning ladies were gossiping at Mr. Koiranos' back. He won't be happy.”

“I'm sure he already knows it!” Carlos blurted out. “That's weird. He knows everything before you even think about it!”

“Carlos, you're not a master of subtlety. The word finesse is not in your dictionary,” Julian chortled. “I already told you. He has seen more world than you.”

“When?”

“How would I possibly know?” Julian answered and rolled his eyes, unable to believe his brother's obtuseness.

“You live here since four years more or less and in all that time he didn't go anywhere. Then, he goes to Paris, the same minute when his past lover's body is found... in his garden. The guy is living in this town since fifteen years and he has not changed a bit. Not a single wrinkle.”

“Really?” Julian asked sceptically. “Did you check?”

“Women know such things! They come with a serial... “wrinkle ruler”! And the dog looks always the same! At almost twenty years, he should be arthritic!”

“Leave Lýkos alone.”

“You have to admit this is all weird.”

“Having you here, playing big brother is weird,” Julian said but Carlos only looked at him in the eyes. “Yes, Orion is not a normal person. I'm the first to admit it. He's not easy going; not nice to the girls; ignores the rest of the world; has uptight friends, but he has been very kind and decent to me.”

“That's what drives me nervous. Why?”

“Thank you, Carlos.”

“No, really. Why? There are many boys like you if he wants an adventure. Why you? You're nothing special.”

“Carlos, you can always come back and claim my body,” Julian answered dryly, upset that his own brother didn't consider him as somebody who could be someone. “Don't worry, Orion will pay the coffin's trip back to Spain,” he snorted but his brother didn't go along with his taunt.

“Just be careful. There's something fishy here and I can't still say what it is. I don't like to be here.”

“Carlos, just don't try to ruin my life like you normally do,” Julian sighed with utter tiredness. “I'm fine.”

“No, you're not. You never were.”

“I had four years of peace, unlike at home. I'm normal now.”

“Normal? You? Don't make me laugh.”

“I have to go now,” Julian preferred to leave the battlefield to his brother. He had enough for a day. “Just don't go around spreading stories, will you? Just go back to your nationalist propaganda activities and leave me alone.”

“Julian, there's something really... bad about this place,” Carlos finally said. “You always liked to play with fire, but this time you might get burnt.”

“I'm going now,” Julian said as he opened the library's door. “See you.”

* * *

For Julian there was something very wrong the minute he arrived to the bookstore he had learned to love over the years. He squeezed hard the two magazines he had earlier bought for Orion.

There was nothing left of the old, dark, crammed with new and old books, wooden shelves business. Not even its old sign was there.

Instead, a bright cafe-bookstore-souvenir shop had taken its place: “Fairy Island”.

“Hello,” Julian greeted the good-looking woman standing between two large white shelves filled with blue and white pottery, honey “from the Ancient Monastery”, filled with lavender bags and other souvenirs. “I'm looking for a book.”

“Hi. Everything we have is on those shelves over there. We've got the latest releases.”

“I want “Alice in Wonderland”. Do you have it?”

“Children's section,” she answered with a smile. “I think there's one from Tea Stilton.”

Confused, as Julian believed it had been a man who had written the book, Julian walked towards the small aisle with smaller shelves and a set of red Ikea table and chairs for children. He stood in front of the shelf and only saw different collections of adventures books. Carefully looking, he found “Tea Stilton in Wonderland” and wondered why Alicia had turned into a rat with a pink chequered apron.

He took the shiny volume out and flipped the pages over. 'No, I doubt Orion has ever read this.'

“No, I needed the original version,” he said aloud. “In English, if possible.”

“The original? These one follows the story pretty well,” the woman said as she approached him. “Children love it. It's a best-seller.”

“I want the original. Is Mr. Medeiros around? He could order the book for me. I'm from the Dois Leões estate.”

“Are you Mr. Koiranos?” the woman asked with great curiosity. “Mr. Medeiros told us so much about you when he sold us the store.”

“No, no. I just work there,” Julian said embarrassed.

“I'm afraid we don't take orders any longer. We only buy a few books, and only what could be sold for tourists,” she replied contrite. “Why don't you try in Lisbon?”

“Yes, that's right,” mumbled Julian, already imaging how upset at the news Orion would be.

Uncertain of what to do next, Julian looked both sides before he crossed the empty street. 'At least I could have a coffee,' he thought as he walked towards his favourite place. 'That will give Carlos enough time to ruminate another super theory while I'm out.'

His favourite table, the one outside, next to the large sycamore was free and Julian hurried to get it before a group of indecisive tourists would come to the idea that drinking a cola, looking over the street and the large kitchen chimneys of the National Palace of Sintra was a fantastic way to end their morning.

Glad to have gotten the place a second before the people would walk out of the scorched by the sun esplanade, Julian motioned to the waitress he knew.

“We have almond cake today. Would you like some?”

For a second Julian wanted to order it but the image of the Monster High girl flashed through his mind. “No, just coffee. Maybe I'll go to Lisbon later,” he answered instead.

'Yes, I could do that and return at three,' he thought as she served him. Mind absently he tore the sugar pack open and poured it into his coffee, still considering if it was not too hot to take the bus to Lisbon and buy the book.

'I'm getting worse than Orion!' he chastised himself as put his mobile phone out. 'I don't need to go anywhere if I can download the thing.'

Huffing as he briefly considered that he was becoming an outdated hermit like his lover with each passing day, he searched for the file on Google and began to read.

“May I?” a voice asked him and before Julian could have lifted his eyes from his mobile screen, the man had occupied the seat in front of him.

“Didn't you go back to Russia?” Julian greeted the older man who had been at the house.

“Not yet.”

“Mr. Koiranos does not wish to speak with you, sir.” Julian pointed out belligerently but the man seemed to be unmoved.

“My name is Lermontov. You already know which interests I represent.”

“No, not really, but it's none of my business,” answered Julian and for a second wished Lýkos would be there with him.

“I was highly impressed by your skills, Lord Guardian,” the man said. “I never witnessed anything like that before.”

Julian ostensibly placed the mobile in front of his eyes and continued to read. “Please, Lord Guardian, hear me out,” the man nearly implored.

“You saw nothing,” Julian said.

“Of course we did. You know we did.”

Julian sighed and left his phone aside. “All right. What do you want me to do. I hope you're not thinking that I can get you a cure because I sucked at Chemistry or Biology in school.”

“The people I represent assume the worst case scenario...”

“The people you represent? Who? The Russian government? Be more specific.”

“I prefer to leave my patron's name out of the picture, sir.” the man answered stiffly. “This is a public place.

“As I said before, we are working on contingency plans based on Lord Koiranos' worst case scenario. A nearly total destruction of the human race preceded by a series of civil unrest, famine, economic collapse and environmental catastrophes due to the lack of personnel to maintain nuclear plants, dams or any other kind of strategic construction, if you follow me.”

“Nice,” Julian smirked.

“Of course we are looking for a way to counteract the effects of this kind of prions, but we are no fools; we are looking for a way to protect the specimen who could be spared. We understand the link between transgenic crops and the disease and have developed a series of test that can quite accurately determine in a person is sick or not. We hoped to find some free-disease people and study them.

“Alas, 78% of the research subjects we tested are already infected but have not developed any symptoms yet. Another 3% are already sick.”

“You still have some people resistant.”

“No, they are not really immune. They had not been contaminated yet. We banned most of transgenic seeds in our country, but this measure could only slow down the full outbreak.”

“Why?”

“Globalization, Mr. Santos. Globalization. Do you have any idea of where is produced the flour you eat in your bread? The yoghurt you took this morning? The steak you ordered yesterday? What ate the pangasius you baked last week?”

“No, not really.”

“It's just a matter of time we all become sick, Mr. Pardos.”

“If so, why are you so concerned? Get a bunker and die there if you want to avoid the masses' desire to cut you into pieces when people find out they had been lied for so many years. Orion is right when he says this is our fault because we were greedy. Why didn't you hang the ones who sold this shit from the nearest tree? That's the first thing you should have done. Years ago.”

“I will not discuss issues of high politics with you, Mr. Pardos.” The man said sternly and Julian huffed.

“We took the decision of safekeeping the babies who are born disease free, just as Lord Koiranos told us to do.”

Julian gaped at the man. He was horrified. “Do you take babies away?”

“Yes, we chose the best candidates and kept them isolated from the prions' way. We trust they will build a new society once this tribulation is over.”

“Who takes care of them?”

“Everything has been designed thinking on the children's welfare.”

“That's very reassuring,” Julian answered sarcastically. “Very well, if you have everything under control, why do you want to speak with me?”

“The new schedule you set yesterday forwards the event too much for out taste. Our expectations located the outbreak in some twenty or thirty years more. The children will not be mature enough as to fend for themselves. We have asked Lord Koiranos to visit the facilities where they are being educated and stay with them as their leader till their coming of age.”

“I'm afraid you got the wrong person. Mr. Koiranos is not exactly the fatherly type.”

“He has refused to every offer we have made. You have heard him yesterday; he says he's not a leader anymore or that if he were to accept it, the coming society would be moulded after his own vision. “All diversity would be lost then,” are his words. “Mankind is the result of thousands of different cultures. To think that one person can rebuild civilization is very dangerous. The result will not be a civilization but a totalitarian regime.”.”

“Mr. Lermontov you have to admit he's right.”

“Even with the best automatized systems, the children will not be able to fend for themselves if we are not there. Mr. Koiranos has to stay with them.”

“Do you want me to convince him? Is that it?”

“No. We have already tried and it's useless,” the man said. “Bending him to do our bidding could be dangerous for the survivors.”

Julian said nothing and wondered why the Russians, no less, were so afraid of Orion. 'Not that Lýkos is going to bite them all.' “Why is that?” he asked.

“Going against a Seer's wishes could turn into a disaster.”

“A seer? Do you really believe in that?” Julian asked. “What's next? Dragons?”

The man ignored the last comment. “Our people already witnessed their powers unleashed. The legend goes that if the triad is complete, the Seer's power increases tenfold; endlessly. A Seer and a Warrior together is already very dangerous to anyone or anything that crosses their path.”

Julian took the spoon and stirred his cold coffee, thinking on the old man's vehement speech. 'The world is nuts.'

'Politicians are nuts.'

'I am nuts for wasting my time with this idiot.' He fixed his blue eyes on the man and looked at him.

“We could offer you anything you desire,” the man gulped under the scrutiny the youth subjected him; the glint in his eyes frightened him as it was very similar to the Seer's. The young man was not at all the toy he had him believed to be, judging from the photos he had seen.

“You would only have to stay with them. There are no limits.” Lermontov said finally.

Julian frowned, thinking hard how to get out of the absurd and pointless situation the man was forcing him to partake.

“Can I become King of Spain?” Julian asked out of the blue.

“Well that could pose some problems,” the man coughed nervously.

“Then you can't offer me anything I want. Pity, I was going to settle down for a night with Justin Bieber or George Clooney.”

The Russian looked very uncomfortable at the turn of events. The Guardian again looked (and behaved) like the poor bum the reports described; uneducated, selfish, whimsical and with no known allegiances.

“All right, I'll go for Ricky Martin,” smirked Julian and ordered another coffee, not minding any longer about the Russian. The less he needed was trouble at home with Orion only because of an old man's whims and delusions.

“Mr. Santos Pardo, you don't seem to understand the full consequences of what happened yesterday. Your talent is greater than any other I have ever witnessed. What I saw.”

“You saw?” Julian interrupted the man and chortled with deep disgust. “You saw nothing,” he said disdainfully. “If you want some weed, I can get you some of the “rosemary” that was there. But believe me, dude, nothing will ever be like the first time you do drugs. You'll spent the rest of your existence looking for that first and unique perfect fix. The best is to leave it behind.”

“Is that your answer?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Everything you showed us matches with what Lord Koiranos wrote seven years ago,” the man said seriously. “We saw it too.”

Julian sighed. “It was a scam. Get it into your head.”

“Lord Koiranos refuses to receive us. He has severed all communications with us.”

“You will not get your money back. People never do. You are old enough as to know where you put it.”

“The Seer has never asked for money!” the man seemed to be truly incensed with Julian. “Impudent, foolish youth.”

“Hey, I'm not the one here peeing on my trousers because of a... bug.”

“Is it a bacteria? Not a prion?” The man asked frantically.

“No, it isn't,” Julian sighed as he remembered the odd name given to the cause of the pandemic. “Do you really believe that most of the world population will die tomorrow? We survived the Cold War. You'd probably were there.”

“We have already many documented cases, Mr. Pardo. The number increases each year. It will become a critical mass at some point, and according to you, very soon.”

“If you're looking for a way out for your precious elites, there's none,” Julian answered back. “If you believe in this shit, you already know it. You can't stop eating or get rid of it. Besides, why do you care? You'd probably be dead in five years.”

“Do I only have five years left?” The man went livid.

“No, it's three and a half, actually,” answered Julian and heard the man's loud raspy breathing. 'God, the twerp is gonna have a stroke.'

“Oh please! Don't tell me you believe this!” he whined aloud. “Nobody knows when we are supposed to die.”

“You do not seem to take this seriously.” The old man breathed haggardly and loosened his tie. “This can not be.”

“I would be crazy if I would,” said Julian. “All right, let's suppose only for a minute that we all had the same trip all together and visited a land devastated by disease; that crops are killing us; and that our brains will turn into purée. Is that right?”

“Lord Koiranos spoke of great violence before the end.”

Julian sighed. “Do you really think that our future is written in a stone? That I'm going to stand up and leave without paying? Or would I pay? What if I don't pay, does the waitress get fired? Let's assume so. What if I do pay and go home, uh? Nothing happens.

“Nothing happens because nothing is foretold. The future is free. Millions of things could happen tomorrow and change all what you believe today.”

“You must help us, please.”

“I cannot help you because I don't believe at all in this shit.”

The man grasped, all his years of diplomatic training forgotten. “You don't believe?” he repeated aghast.

“Exactly. Now you get my meaning. Why don't you rule -this time thinking on the people-, and leave the tarot cards aside? How do you think I could possibly help you?”

“You'd be surprised of how many great statesmen used the services of seers, young man.”

“Yes, I remember that story. The Delphi Oracle. How did it end for the Greeks? And coming to think. Was not Rasputin a fortune teller? Where's your Czar now?”

The man remained silent.

“You should all get a grip to reality.”

“Everything Lord Koiranos foretold us has proven to be true.”

Julian nearly rolled his eyes and remembered how his grandmother used to tell him that it was useless to argue with children, people in love and lunatics. They would always find a way to reassert what they believed in.

“No, sorry. I can't help you. I will not go against Mr. Koiranos wishes. He must have reasons I don't understand but do accept.” Yes, that was right; surf the wave.

“Very well. Thank you, sir.” The man said and rose from the table.

“One second. Have you ever been to Siberia?” Julian asked without any reason and the man gaped at him.

“Yes, several times.”

“Arkhangelsk is a good place to start anew.”

“This city is in the north of European Russia, not in Siberia.”

“Yes, you should know better than I. Arkhangelsk. Think of that place.”

* * *

“You were out long, today,” Orion took his glass of wine and drank from it.

“There's a new owner in the bookshop and they will not take orders from us. The old man is gone.” Julian answered as his own radar detected the touch of jealousy in his lover's voice.

“Nothing else?”

“Yes, there's something else,” Julian said drily, leaving the cutlery aside. “The older Russian of the two who were here dropped by the café where I was having something -during working ours, I admit it-, and asked me to save the world. He also called me “Guardian” and this is most annoying. He also called you “Seer” and I think this is all getting out of hand. I would really appreciate if people would stop calling me funny names.”

“What did you tell him?”

“To get a life and leave alone. If you said no, then I say no too.” Julian huffed, upset that Orion was taking it seriously. “Ah, also Arkhangelsk is a good place to be. Maybe he's planning to move his human farm there.”

“Why did you choose that place?” Orion asked. “It was very nice, but I don't know how it's nowadays.”

“Do you hear yourself? Human farm, I said. The psycho told me they keep babies isolated to have some survivors. You're supposed to lead them and help them to form an Empire.”

“I will not do it. It's none of my business,” Orion said and continued to cut his meat into small pieces.

“They breed babies as if they were animals. What about their mothers?”

“I don't think so. Most probably the mothers volunteered them or abandoned and the state took them under its protection. It is not the first time it happens.”

“Is there any government upon this earth that believes in this... shit?” 'There, I finally said it.'

“Many,” replied Orion. “Not all are fools.”

“I can't believe it,” mumbled Julian and began to fondle the greens in his dish with the fork.

“You can or you cannot believe. It is your choice, but it will not change the outcome or what you are.”

“That's right. I choose not to believe. The future is free no matter what you or your friends believe. A week before I came here, my future was to work in a sorry place and do my best to save some some to leave home. Something happened. My boyfriend decided to marry and kicked me out. Nothing big, but big enough as to make me to turn the tables. I didn't like the game any more. I changed my future.”

“That is why I don't want to partake in any human enterprise. There will be survivors -people like you-, who can turn the tables to their satisfaction. Not everybody will be infected and die. The new specimens will be stronger and more determined than the actual ones.”

“You don't look the fatherly type too.”

“No.” Orion said sadly.

“Do you have children?”

“No. I don't want any.”

Julian only nodded and continued to eat in silence. “Do you?” Orion said.

“Do I what?”

“Do you want children?”

“Never thought about it,” shrugged Julian. “Most probably not, but I can change my mind later.”

“Good,” Orion said dryly and fixed his stare on the window, getting lost in the darkness of the night. “From now onwards, take Lýkos with you if you leave the house or its premises. Nobody would dare to raise a hand against us here, but outside people tend to behave foolishly.”

Julian sighed long but a stern look from Orion prevented him to whine. “I always go out with Lýkos,” he said instead. “Fine,” he mumbled exasperated but knowing his own leash was very short that night.

Both men remained in silence, one finishing his dish and the other still looking at the darkness surrounding the house.

“What will we do? I mean, when it happens.” Julian asked and gulped. Orion seemed to be so far away.

“Nothing. I said that before.”

“That's not an option. We should tell.”

“And then? Pointless chaos and destruction? Fear at your coming death?”

“No, you're right. Telling is not an option.”

“If the future is free, as you tell, then I could be mistaken,” Orion said softly. “Alarming the world population, if there would be any common person ready to hear us and believe in us, is pointless. It would only cause more suffering. Perhaps a doctor or a researcher understand the true origin of this disease and publish his or her results. It's hard to say at this point.”

“I meant us. You and me. What are we going to do?”

“Go away from people. Like always.”

“Only that? Where? What about my family?”

“Your brother can come with us if he wants.”

“Carlos?” Julian was shocked.

“Yes. He will not be a liability. Lýkos appreciates him.”

“Carlos dislikes you.”

“He still does not understand my nature. Therefore he is afraid of me,” Orion said slowly. “Nevertheless he is to be trusted.”

“You were not there when I was fifteen.”Julian said resentfully.

“Quarrels among pups,” Orion shrugged but the furious glare Julian gave him, made him pause and avert his eyes from Julian's shinning ones. “But we still have time to think about it,” he conceded.

* * *

“Lýkos, I swear you're a natural born bully,” Julian sighed the minute he saw the wolfdog had taken for himself the newly built wooden bench. “Can you not share?” he asked and pushed the animal's rear to make some room for himself.

Almost crushed against the bench's arm, Julian did his best to get comfortable and read his book. For a second, Lýkos seemed to be interested in the mobile phone, but quickly lost his interest and preferred to doze under the sun.

“You're going to get sun scorched with your black hair if you sit there for long,” told him Julian but the wolfdog was already lightly snoring.

“You have a good life, indeed,” he mumbled and returned to the reading of Alice's adventures, becoming more and more convinced of the widespread use of psychedelic drugs in Victorian England.

'Nothing makes sense,' he concluded after he finished the story. 'The only sane person here is the dodo. I guess that the one with the mirror will be more of the same.'

He yawned and envied Lýkos, now sleeping deeply, stretched out under the sun rays. He shuddered with the cold breeze sweeping over the trees and sighed before he turned the electronic pages with the point of his finger. A few pages later, the desire to skin alive a cat named Dina and her owner rose inside his chest with vengeance.

The Queen's speech and the jabberwock dude -what kind of a word was that?- was too much for Julian's patience. He switched off the mobile thinking how on earth Orion could read such a rubbish -and like it- if he was an intelligent and educated person.

Frustrated, he carelessly dropped the mobile inside his light jacket's pocket. 'Does Orion really read this or is this another of his games? This Carroll was as high as he is when his buddies come home.'

A slight noise made him look upwards and Julian saw the figure of a man resting his elbows over his brother's new fence, looking down at the exact spot where he had found the former librarian's body. 'Great, a tourist trying to get a glimpse of the blood. We might well be included by now at the Thrilling Sintra Tourist Guide.'

“Excuse me, sir,” Julian said out loud and cleared his throat. To his astonishment, Lýkos didn't wake up. 'You're also getting old and deaf,' he thought and walked towards the man, dressed in old faded jeans and a blue-orange jacket.

“This is private property. You have to return to the main road,” Julian finished the speech he had given to many tourists over and over during the past years.

“Sorry,” the man replied with a thick accent Julian couldn't identify.

“You have to leave now, I'm afraid. The owner dislikes to have people in his lands.”

“I imagine so,” the man shrugged and fixed his dark blue eyes on Lýkos sleeping form. “Quite an animal it is. Do you look after it?”

“Yes, I do,” answered Julian. “He doesn't like strangers too.”

“Yes, your dog looks more like a battledog.”

“It's a wolfdog in fact.”

“Have you been for long here?”

“A few years,” answered Julian shortly and wondered why the stranger was so inquisitive. He didn't seem to be one of the bodyguards who were always coming with Orion's visitors and one of them, would not speak to him.

“Oh, don't worry. I used to know the owner. Koiranos,” the man said and Julian relaxed his stance, but still eyed him with distrust. “Looking after Lýkos is all what you do?”

“No, I also try to figure out the mess the former librarian left behind,” the boy replied a bit belligerently.

“Are you even qualified to understand that library?”

“I'm History graduate. I will survive,” growled Julian and the man smiled sadly.

“Books will take you nowhere in this house,” he sighed. “What is your problem with the library?”

“It's a mess. Everything used to be classified, but those files are lost. I have to start from the scratch so to speak.”

“What happened?”

“I really don't know. I guess the super-clever computer guy formatted the disk inadvertently and then told Mr. Koiranos it wasn't his fault. As he cares nothing for computers, he let it go and the shit landed on my desk. There's nothing left but a few files with a partial inventory. My predecessor could have made the world a favour and printed the bloody thing. Now I will have to guess the nature of every book that it's gathering dust in there. ”

“Have you looked well inside the desk? Koiranos is not what it seems,” the man said.

The sound of an unearthly howl made Julian turn his face and see Lýkos standing in his four legs and growling at their direction. “My, you really have a bad awakening, don't you?” he admonished the bristling wolfdog and walked towards him.

“What's the matter with you?” Julian said as he crouched next to the animal, partly concerned that the wolfdog would attack the stranger without any provocation.

“Never seen a tourist before?” he passed his hand over the nape in tension in an effort to make Lýkos calm. “He's too old and ugly to make a go, don't worry,” he whispered in the animal's right ear as he now ruffled the wolfdog's hair.

“Now be nice and don't eat the guy,” Julian took hold of the animal's choking collar just in case Lýkos didn't want to cooperate and be friendly.

The man had vanished.

Julian was puzzled. He moved his head in both sides, but there were no signs of the man. 'How?'

“Congratulations, Lýkos,” he said instead, dismissing his bewilderment at the magical disappearance. “You scared him in less than a minute. Must be a new record,” Julian smirked. “Carry on like this, and the stupid policeman will take you down just because of your character.”

Lýkos bared his teeth at the obvious lie; whatever entity had been with the youth didn't belong to the human race yet the boy was trying to fool him. The wolfdog walked towards the place where the Guardian had been standing and sniffed the fence vigorously.

“Trying to catch the scent to get the one who got away?” Julian grumbled. “Sometimes, you can be a lot, Lýkos,” he added as the dog ignored him and continued to inspect the place with a fierceness he didn't know Lýkos could posses.

“Middle age guy, lost tourist or not, knew your master and gave advice over the library,” Julian informed the wolfdog with as much irony his voice could muster, but Lýkos still ignored him in his search of the place. “Just saying it if you want to type it in your report.”

Lýkos turned around and growled warningly at the youth. As usual he had no idea of what he had been doing and it was the Seer's duty to explain or punish his actions. The Seer had been very clear; he shouldn't do anything if they were not present. Everything was disturbed and the air stank of death. Lýkos hated when both humans were tampering with the righteous order of things. Time to go home as he had had enough.

“Fine! We go home.” Julian agreed, unable to stand the accusing yellow eyes fixed upon him. “It's tea time and you're probably hungry,” he added for his pride's sake.
On the way home, Julian felt as if Lýkos were the one pulling the invisible leash to get him to the house as soon as possible. 'The poor guy is getting old and cranky,' Julian thought as he increased his pace under the close scrutiny the wolfdog subjected the human.

'He's taking too seriously his role as watchdog. I did nothing and he goes berserk. One simple guy who looks like a teacher and he thinks I'm trying to get a new boyfriend. Maybe spending so much time with my brother is contagious. Must be,' brooded Julian. 'Both have the same brain size.'

He slowed down and Lýkos unceremoniously gave him a header on the leg. “Yes, I got it before,” snarled Julian. “You're not happy with me.”

The boy started another battle of looks with the wolfdog but soon he walked again, faster than before.

Whilst Julian preferred to use the backdoor, Lýkos ignored him and went inside through the main door brushing aside one of the cleaning ladies doing extra-hours.

“Hey, you!” the girl shouted the animal when she saw the mud footprints on her shining wooden floor.

“Don't bother,” Julian smirked as he cleaned his feet well. “He's in a mood.”

“This dog is impossible! I'll have to do it again!” The girl whined.

“Be glad he didn't stain the walls or bit your vacuum cleaner.” Julian shrugged, already knowing the wolfdog was going to his master's office. “He has something to tell.” he mumbled when he heard the heavy door slam.

“Sorry?” she asked.

“Forget it. Sorry for the trouble. New to the job?”

“No, sir. I've been here for three weeks.” She seemed to be surprised that the youth didn't recognize her. “I'm Paula.”

“Yes, I remember you now,” Julian lied in a hurry, clueless about who she was. “What are you doing here so late?”

“I have to serve dinner tonight,” she replied as she contemplated the disaster on her floor. “Double pay,” she chuckled and loudly submerged her mop in the bucket. “Are you Carlos brother?” she asked shyly while she vigorously scrubbed the floor.

“Yeah, I have the honour of being his brother. Not my choice.”

“Does he... have a girlfriend?”

“I don't know. I think not.”

“Do you think you could do something? I mean, tell him that I'm...” she bit her lips embarrassed.

Julian looked at her olive skin for some time. “Don't get too many hopes,” he answered. “You're not his type and you miss nothing.”

“I can try.” She said stubbornly. “Or is he...?”

“What?”

“What they say about you.... And the master.”

“Perhaps,” Julian shrugged and she gasped. “Maybe he changed his mind back in prison,” he added evilly. “See you later, I have to work,” he turned around, leaving her speechless.

Alone in the library, Julian sighed. He had done nothing wrong but he felt as if he were the most dangerous criminal in the world. In an effort to ease his nerves, he decided to sort out more books and finally begin to elaborate the new catalogue.

The words of the stranger came back to his mind and he watched the desk for a long time. The ordinary table seemed awkward, strange; an alien waiting and bidding its time for the final assault.

There was nothing out of the ordinary in the desk. The same pile of papers he had left in the morning was there, the computer was off and Carlos had cleared up the final boxes.

'I'm seeing things,' he thought as he opened the drawers, to thoroughly search them, hoping that inside could be a lost flash memory, a cd-rom or a disk. Slowly, he removed the papers inside, lifted up the folders where he kept some notes taken in an attempt to organise the shelves.

“What are you doing?” Orion asked from the door and Julian hit his head with the border of the desk when he jumped startled at the sound.

“Trying to figure out this mess,” he said as he rubbed his head and Orion entered in the room.

“I've seen you have cleared up the boxes.”

“That was the easy part, Orion. The new books are more or less distributed along the shelves. Now I have to find a way to make everything make sense.”

“It's all right. This is not a public library. If I want something, I will look and find it,” Orion answered with a soft smile and put his arms around Julian's waist.

The youth laid his head on Orion's chest and also laced his arms around his torso. “I have to justify my salary,” he said with a playful smile, playing with the buttons of the shirt. “Also, a bit of order would be nice.”

“Where were you today?” Orion asked and Julian sighed.

“Lýkos was going with stories to you?”

“Is there any story to tell?” Orion asked seriously.

“A fascinating one indeed. We were out, he occupied the bench and slept and I read a book in my mobile -more than 500 metres away from the house-. Then a guy came out of nowhere, we spoke, and Lýkos woke up in a sour mood.”

“Which man?”

“I don't know. A tourist maybe. Or perhaps not. He knew you.”

“What did he tell you?”

“Nothing really. He was more interested in knowing what I was doing here.”

Orion's eyes bore holes in Julian's, trying to find any deception in the boy's voice what there was none.

“Why was he there?”

“I don't know,” shrugged Julian and moved away, upset that he was obviously being interrogated. “Lýkos went crazy and he disappeared while I was trying to calm him down. Honestly, I think it was a creep trying to see where the body was found. Nothing else.”

“Did he say something?”

“Nothing. Only to look well inside my desk when I complained of the mess we have here.”

Orion took several steps away from Julian and frowned. Lýkos, as usual was right, but Julian was still too young and skittish to comprehend the full consequences of his mindless actions; just as it had been with his former lover. “Do not go there any more. Is that understood, Julian?”

“Why?” the boy almost shouted.

“That place is not good for you.”

“There's nothing wrong with it. I'll be careful. Carlos fixed it.”

“Take Lýkos somewhere else,” Orion lost his patience and Julian was taken aback by the harsh tone he had never heard before.

“I did nothing wrong.” he defended himself.

“Stay away and I will set things in order. Do not speak with strangers.”

“I did nothing at all!” Julian was incensed.

“I do not want you there or in the city for the time being, Julian.”

“You can't order this!”

“I can and I will.”

“I don't want to.”

Julian never expected to be grabbed by the neck and pinned against the wall in less than a second. Still dazed by the acute pain in his head and the burning constriction in his throat, he fruitlessly fought against the furious giant.

“Hear me well, Julian,” Orion hissed as he increased his hold over his lover. “Your nature is to be submissive. I decide what is best for all of us. You follow and don't challenge my lead.”

“Let me go,” whined Julian and tried to push Orion away but it was as if he were trying to move a rock. He felt the panic rise inside him as the images of their first encounter assaulted him. Orion was much stronger than him and had important friends as he had nothing.

“Is that understood?” the man hissed again.

“Yes, I will not go there,” Julian agreed defeated. The pain was almost unbearable.

“Good.” Orion released him and took two steps away from him. “Wear a turtleneck sweater tonight.”