Flash Fiction Friday Part 2

Yes it is in fact Saturday...nope make that Sunday. Sorry for the late post. 2am is the only time I've had to myself all week.  So here is the second part of my FFF story I realized I never named. We'll call it Cambion for the time being. 

This Week's prompt was one of the following:

1. Holiday - Crollifus is a cultural holiday celebrated on the summer solstice. It is associated with wildness, a reunion and peace. Traditions include private games of chance, exchanges of gifts and atonement. 

2. Flag - an oriflamme with two stripes of olive and pale yellow, and a cross of dark green. The emblem is an oak tree. (oriflamme - any triangular banner with pointed ends, not to be confused with a pennant which is simply a triangle)

3. Superstition - Finding a poppy in a grove of ironwood trees is a sign that soon you will encounter a duel. 

4. Tarot Card - The Lauded Arcanist - The card depicts a proud youth involved in a search near a lake. It is bordered by mountains. The back is bronze with an ear of corn involving repeating design. It is bordered by glyphs. 

5. Ritual - Fighters trying to be protected from spirits can sacrifice a raven in a temple under a quarter moon 

I'm sure you've already checked out fellow FFF writers Night Tempest, Elaina M. Roberts, and Tempest Wolf but they're worth another read.

(Cambion part 2)

“I don’t entirely know how to answer that.” Liam released Quinn’s hands posting himself against a near by bookshelf. 

So many times he’d started this conversation in his head. He wanted to tell him everything but always chicken out in the end. Not quite making out Liam's expression, Quinn only hoped it wasn’t anger. 

“Sorry about going through your stuff. This book just looked cool in that whole Indiana Jones ancient relic way.” 

Liam ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Fuck it.

“Do you believe in demons?” Caught off guard, Quinn pondered for a moment.

“I guess. I believe in angels so the opposite could exist.”

Liam grunted his approval assuring Quinn he’d given the right answer. “Is that what it is?” 

Nodding Liam dared to reveal a little more. “You’ve heard of a Succubus or an Incubus right? I suppose succubus is more common than incubus. I think more people of heard of that.  Actually I don’t really know what other people know.” His nerves kicking in, he was starting to babble. There was no easy way other than to blurt it out but his lips refused.

“Yeah” Quinn shrugged not sure where this was going but still willing to ride it out. 

“Do you believe in them?” 

Walking over he pulled Liam into his embrace. He wanted to kiss away the terror in Liam’s angelic face and make it better. Make them better. “You know that’s not real don’t you?” 

Liam shook his head needing to plead his case. He couldn’t take the pitiful look or the tender voice Quinn used as if he was speaking to a child afraid of monsters under the bed. 

“You’ve never thought it was strange the way people react to me? The way you reacted to Richard?”

“Richard? What does...”

“Think about it?”

He was sure Liam was losing his marbles but something about the whole thing was indeed off. “Yes people go a little crazy over you but look at you” grabbing Liam’s face bringing his sweet chocolate eyes closer “You’re beautiful how could anyone not want you.” 

“It’s more than that. I know it sounds crazy but I’ve seen what happens to men I lose control with. What happened to my mother after my father.”

“So you think you’re an incubus?” Quinn scoffed. 

“Cambion. Half.” he corrected.

“Oh excuse me” Quinn threw up his hands in mockery. “Cambion because being a full incubus that’s just crazy!” 

He regretted the comment as soon as it left his mouth. Liam braced his hands against Quinn pushing himself off.

“Listen to me. I don't want you because you’re was some monster. I want you because I love you. I love you with everything I have. You’re not a demon or a whatever. You’re an amazing person. And Richard, he’s an attractive guy. That’s it!” As logical as his argument seemed and as insane as Liam sounded, he still couldn’t shake the feeling there was some truth in Liam’s words. He wouldn’t admit it but part of him wanted to believe. 

“Maybe you should talk to someone.”

Liam already felt like a freak and Quinn was sending him over the edge. Even though he knew he could never have him the way he wanted, he still hoped Quinn would at least understand him. He could accept him, let him know everything was ok. It was naive but he still hoped. Now he realized how foolish he was.

“You’re right. I’m not making any sense right now.” Liam conceded making his way to the bedroom to grab Quinn’s shoes. Quinn hot on his trail, he handed them over ignoring his attempts to continue this conversation. He couldn’t stand the sound of Quinn’s voice right now. He was about to lose it with every passing moment. 

“Liam...” following him to the living room, Quinn knew he needed to apologize.

“We’ll talk later”  Holding open the front door, Quinn got the hint. His eyes pleaded but Liam never looked up. He hated himself. The man he loved had finally given him a moment of vulnerability, a look behind the curtain and he’d thrown it back in his face. The tears built up as he heard the door shut behind him. 

Liam was tired. The guilt and loneliness had taken their toll. His conversation with Quinn went just as he knew it would. The cool floor soothed the soles of his bare feet as he walked into the bathroom. He noticed his surroundings in a way he never had before. The beckoning of curtains from the open window. The bumps on his arms from the breeze caressing his skin. His body reacted to the energy in the room. He had become a shell of himself resigned to live out the rest of his life moving, existing but never indulging in the things closest to him. Never savoring anything. He stood to face the mirror. He wanted to feel something staring back at him.  He wanted to know what these men felt when he touched them. Pain, pleasure anything. He was spiraling out of control. His choices were limited but he needed someone to talk to before he completely lost it.

Richard pried his lids open to the most annoying sound imaginable. His hand searched the table frantically for the culprit he planned to kill. Success came as he felt buzzing under his palm. Looking at the screen, he remembered exchanging numbers with Liam and Quinn to get in contact should anything important come up. He never expected Liam would actually use it and certainly not first thing in the morning. Curbing the urge to hurl his phone, Liam didn’t strike him as the type to call for nothing. He was thankful he'd answered hearing the desperation in the few shaky words Liam managed. Insisting he come over, Liam made a sound of protest but Richard hung up before anymore was said. 

Liam knocked softly at the door already regretting having called in the first place. Dark brown locks in disarray, sipping his coffee, Richard opened the door waving him in. Liam took in the sight of the man in only low hung sweats as he walked back into the kitchen gesturing at the empty chair next to the island. He took a seat watching Richard pour another cup. 

“Alright so what’s going on?” sliding the cup across, his baby blues burned into Liam. 

He’d already made a fool of himself. What was one more person. He poured himself out right in front of Richard. His relationships, his mother being institutionalized, Quinn, all of it. Though stunned at some of his admissions, Richard only nodded along as he took everything in. 

“I know we’re a rare breed but it’s hard to believe you’ve never run across another anything.” Now wonder the kid was a mess Richard thought. He had no idea who he was, where he came from, or where to go from here. Richard had the benefit of his mother’s teachings. Spent time with his own, both a blessing and curse at times. He never considered himself a role model but he wanted to help. There was something about this kid he liked. He saw a little of himself in his youth. 

“I’m not much of a consolation but I can show you the ropes if you’d like.” 

Liam didn’t know how much he could learn from this man but if nothing else he was grateful to have someone to listen.  

Scratching the stubble on his face, he pondering a thought."You might want to join me at Crollifus. It’s a holiday celebrated on summer solstice. It is associated with wildness, reunion, and peace. There’s games and gifts. It’s also a time of atonement for the few full bloods that attend. It’s being held in upstate Pennsylvania this year. I wasn't planning on going but I think it would be good for you." Some time with his own that didn't involve death or madness would be good for him.

"What kind of games and gifts?"

Richard cocked his head with a devilish smirk. 

“Oh.” Liam lowered his eyes willing the rosy blush in his cheeks away. 

“What?” sensing the question growing in his mind, Richard bent down to meet his eyes.

“I don’t know how. I mean I know how but...”

Richard’s lips curled understanding his unspoken predicament. “We have an advantage over full Succubi and Incubi. May not have as much power but we can control the damage we do. They can’t. They’re kind of like trying to catch lightening in a bottle and expecting the bottle not the break. They simply can’t help it.”

He urged Liam to stand stepping behind him. Richard wrapped his arms around him pressing their bodies together. 

“First problem is you fight your power. You can't master what you're afraid of or don't understand." 

Liam tensed at the sudden contact struggling against his body’s natural instinct to run.  

"Relax."

Liam closed his eyes. Breathe in breathe out he repeated. Trust was something he’d struggled with his whole life. Mostly he didn’t trust himself. Even with Richard, his constant nagging fear crept into his consciousness. He didn’t think he had the ability to harm Richard but truth was he didn’t know what he was capable of. As hard as he fought, there was something calming about Richard’s presence. Something that made Liam welcome the feel. His worrisome thoughts began to fade as his body gave into Richard’s. An inviting aroma assaulted his senses so thick he could taste it on his tongue. The only sounds were the rhythmic breathing that took the room. His skin dampened as the air warmed around them. The body behind him feeling more like an extension than a separate being, the separation of their skin by his clothes disturbed him. That warm sensation trailed the hands that ran under his shirt, over his chest, and down his stomach. His body tingled with electric sparks under his skin. The power engulfing him sizzled against his own. Draping itself over every inch like a second skin igniting the tiny jolts that fondled his most sensitive places. Letting his head fall back he nuzzled the shoulder behind him. He'd spent so many nights fisting himself screaming into the darkness for the closeness he felt right now. A small piece of him knew he should be embarrassed at the cock stiffening in his jeans but he was lost to the touch. Instinctively fighting for dominance, his own power pushed back intertwining. His energy blended returning the sparks of passion onto his captor. Soft lips whispered across his neck eliciting a moan. That incredible warmth pressed harder into him bring a gasp from his lips. His energy submitted to the power forcing it’s way inside while his body did the same. He ground his ass into the reciprocating erection behind him panting for more. It was the first time he'd made a connected to another person without stifling fear. Unwrapping itself from the tangled knot of lust that surrounded them, the foreign power retreated without warning leaving only his own grasping at the lingering sparks.

"Feel that?" 

Several moments passed before the whispered question lulled Liam from his haze. Fuck. "Sorry." turning an undiscovered shade of red he immediately tried pulling away.

"Stop it" Richard held tighter dismissing his self consciousness. "That feeling was our energy.  We constantly release a bit of it. It’s what draws other to us but when we are at our peak is when it becomes dangerous. Human’s have their own energy that draws us though no where near as powerful. That’s why it’s so easy to overtake them. The key is not to suffocate or feed on another’s energy. Simply intertwine.” Richard locked his fingers with Liam’s for emphasis. “ Let it build then summon it back to you. Just yours. Remember that feeling. Practice it. Embrace it. This is your first lesson."