THE CRUCIBLE

Chapter 10

The New Flower

When last we left out Heroes.....!!!

         "Get out of him at once, you vile creature!" Justin commanded.

         "Very well," said Guardian in that deep voice that did not fit Hunter at all, "Bring me a carving knife...the bigger...and sharper...the blade, the better."

         Justin went into the kitchen and rummaged through the drawers and found a wicked, curved, carving blade. When it was brought to him, Guardian hissed/sighed in satisfaction.

         "You have chosen well, young Prince," Guardian said, "Now....Slit...your...throat!"

         "Wh- WHAT!!" gasped Justin and Brian.

         "Come now! It's only fair! If I leave my host now, I will die! If you can ask me so callously to kill myself, then why can't I return the favor? Come now! Who do you love more? Hunter? Or yourself? Slit your throat!" Again Guardian laughed unkindly but he was deadly serious.

And now...

         "I'll do no such thing!" Justin cried, throwing the knife down on the counter. "This has nothing to do with who I love more or less!  It's about getting a parasite out of our son!"

         "I will be ready all too soon!" Guardian declared, "As for Hunter being your son, you are not quite there yet. However, you are closer than you were. Your apology earlier made a deep impact on the both of us. Therefore we have decided to dispense with the second test and move straight to the third."

         "Which is?" Brian asked angrily.

         "All in good time, King of Earth, all in good time! We shall be in touch...." Hunter's eyes started to flicker.

         "Wait!" cried Justin.

         "Yeeessssssssss?" hissed Guardian.

         "Those snake dreams...the nightmares...those are your doing! Aren't they!?"

         "Regrettably," admitted Guardian. He is only subconsciously aware of me and they manifest in those dreams where I can then talk to him. However, he only has them when he is ready to make the next step in his emotional growth. I'd expect another one soooon. As he was so ineloquently trying to convey to you, his heart is no longer fallow. It is fertile and love is ready and willing to bloom. However, beware...the flower of love that will grow from this ground will be more delicate, more fragile than the last. It will require more care, more nurturing. It will not just grow over his heart but be a part of it. And if you crush this one, you will kill him! Moreover, if you fail the last test, he will be mine for a hundred years!"

         "So you never tire of telling us!" Justin groused. "Care to be more specific?"

         "Not yet! All in good time! Grow the flower! Pass the test! Prince of Water! Kings of Earth! Do not fail!" Hunter's eyes flickered and closed. He slumped forward into Brian's waiting arms.

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A short time later...

         Hunter's eyes were wide with undisguised horror. The three men were in the Jeep and Brian and Justin had just filled him in on the latest developments.

         "In my throat"... he repeated, barely able to believe it. "There's something alive...in my throat!?"

         "Yes," Justin said, "I'm so sorry my son. It seems that Guardian was much more than what I had thought he was."

         "But this is wonderful!" burst out Hunter.

         Brian swerved the Jeep over into the wrong lane in surprise.

         "What!!?" they both cried, "What are you talking about?"

         "Oh, well, it completely disgusting, of course," elaborated Hunter, "But it explains so many things!  That's why the snake always bites me in the throat in my dreams! And that must be why I don't have full control of my emotions! I have this thing inside me!"

         "That may be, Hunter. But you mustn't stop trying to control them. Don't use this as an excuse to lash out at us. Don't let this...this thing...dominate you."

         "All right, Justin. I won't."

         After Hunter had awakened in Brian's arms yet again, Hunter was groggy yet annoyed. He'd had no recollection of the incident and for a few minutes his surly side had cropped up again. However, this time, Justin and Brian knew his behaviour was not entirely his fault and so they ignored his snarkiness. They treated him gently and sat him down in a booth and Brian got him a tall glass of water.

         "My head hurts!" he whined as he plopped down into the soft booth.

         "Just hang on, Hunter!" Brian said as he ran for the tap.

         Suddenly a wave of sadness overtook him as he flashed back to that night after he had drove them out. He began to weep softly.

         "Why?? Why did they do that? What will I do now? I'm all alone! I'll always be alone!"

         "No Hunter! You won't! We're right here! We're not like that! We're never going to be like that again!" Justin went over to comfort his son.

         "Don't you touch me!" he reared back, his eyes wide with pain and rage. Justin ignored him. Hunter struggled in his embrace and then slowly returned it. "Don't do that again," he whispered in tears.

         "We won't...we won't! Try to calm down." Justin soothed.

         "Here, drink this," Brian arrived with the water.

         "It's not poisoned, is it?" Hunter snarked. Brian only smirked.

         "I'm going to talk to the Twins. I'll be right nearby if you need me. Brian will stay with you," Justin said as he smoothed his hair and kissed his temple. He left the booth and Brian took his place and fairly enveloped Hunter in his embrace.

         "Are you the man you said was K? Are you really? Are you really?" Hunter whimpered as the big man's arms encircled him. He was overcome with fear again and he couldn't remember what was real for a few moments.

         "Yes. Yes. I am K I am Brian. I am K. Drink your water now. Drink it now. That's it."

         Hunter drank a bit. He embraced Brian fiercely. "Oh K! I couldn't find you! I couldn't find you! I was scared!" His eyes were still a trifle wide and unfocused.

         "Shh, Hunter. I've always been here. I was always watching you. And I'll never leave you again. Drink."

         So Hunter drank and slowly his moods and memories stabilized and in the meantime Justin explained to Fred and Red what the hell was going on. There were many questions and then repeated questions and attempted answers and in the end not all of them were answered but enough got through so that the Twins were satisfied that Hunter was not going to keel over and die within the next few minutes. And in the process the rift that had developed between then had finally started to close.

         Meanwhile, Hunter had drunk and had gradually returned to normal.

         "Oh! You're Brian! You're Brian not K! Oh...I'm sorry! Oh, I feel dumb!"

         "No Hunter, You don't need to feel that way. I am K! I am Brian. The Two are one! K was just an alias but everything I was as K, everything I am now is the same! Call me K if you want! The two are one! I promise!"

         "Really?"

         Brian gave him one of those dazzling bright smiles that although were very rarely shown, could make an iceberg melt when they were. "Really."

         And Hunter returned it with a sweet, watery smile that melted a part of his heart that Brian didn't know existed.    

         "Now," Brian said, "How about we close up this d - uhhh....joint and get the hell outta here!"

         "Nice save," Hunter said, punching him in the bicep, "I think that's a very good idea."

         And so after the glass of water was quickly washed and dried and everyone had gathered their stuff together, they did.

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         They packed up and checked out of the inn in record time. They said goodbye to Ilsa who had been the one bright spot in this medieval place and then got the hell out of there.

         After that, they jumped into the Jeep and drove to a small street with nice shops lining both sides and got out to do a little window shopping (and maybe more!)

         Brian bought them all ice cream and they walked up one side of the street and down the other. They just enjoyed the sun and talked animatedly and just enjoyed being away from hot stoves and soap and small sinks and dishes. Oh, most of all, nobody mentioned dishes!

         They were feeling so happy and carefree that they weren't exactly sure when it happened. One minute, they were all together, Brian and Justin talking over Hunter's head, not-so subtly eye fucking each other, and the next, they were alone.

         "Hey, where's Hunter?" asked Justin, looking around.

         "What the - He was just here!" Brian replied, looking around in consternation. Then he breathed a sigh of relief. "There he is! Back there!"

         Hunter had just...just stopped about three shops back and was gazing, entranced in the window. His eyes were glazed and fixed and his arms were limp at his sides. His ice cream cone lay forgotten on the cobblestones.

         Brian and Justin ran back. "Hunter, you mustn't get lost like that! We might get seriously separated!" they admonished.

         "But I wasn't lost. I was right here." He answered back in a dreamy voice.

         "Why did you stop?" Justin asked.

         "I saw that." He pointed. "Isn't that...just the most...most beautiful thing you ever saw?"

         "What, a dressing dummy?" Brian asked.

         "Silly, Brian! Always being..."he sighed hugely, "Always being silly. No. What's on the dummy!"

         "Oh!! Well, gee...Hunter...I - I didn't think you were into that sort of thing."

         "It shimmers so..." Hunter breathed out in that dreamy, soft voice that was rather spooky.

         "I guess..." said Brian. He looked at Justin. Justin shrugged. He tried changing the subject. "Oh, Hunter! You dropped your ice cream!"

         "My what?" Hunter was still staring into the window. Everything else was forgotten.

         Suddenly, he turned to Brian desperately. He grabbed his arm in beseechingly and his eyes were wide with child-like desperation. "Oh please!" he begged, "Please Brian! Please buy it for me! I've never wanted anything so much in my life! God, it's like an ache! Please buy it for me! Please, Daddy K! Please!"

         "Hunter, remember, you don't have to call me that unless..."

         "Oh, but I want to this time! You said you were still my K! Like from before! Please be my Daddy K from before! I want this so much. And I'll try harder to change into the son you want me to be. Only please buy that for me!? Please!!" He stroked Brian's arm in supplication and stared wide eyed and puppy dog as much as possible.

         Brian was a little alarmed. It was like Hunter had regressed somehow back to the Hunter they had enjoyed before the third test, before they had stolen his innocence. The innocence was back but was it an act?

         "Hunter, would don't have to change anything! We love you just the way you are! You know that, right?"

         "OK, Daddy K. Please can - may I have it then?"

         Brian cupped his chin and stroked his cheek. And Hunter leaned into the caress and at that moment, Brian didn't care whether or not he was faking or not. This just felt -felt so good to touch Hunter without him yanking away or jerking his shoulders or slapping his hand away.

         "Of course, Hunter. You know I will deny you nothing," Brian agreed.

         "Oh, thank you! Thank you K! Thank you Brian! Thank you!" Hunter hugged him fiercely and pulled back and seemed a bit more normal. "Oh!! I dropped my ice cream!"

         "We can get you a new one later," Brian laughed, "Shall we go in first?"

         "Oh yes! Yes! Yes, please!" Hunter grabbed his wrists and fairly dragged Brian into the store. Brian "struggled" and pretended to be a POW.  Justin followed, laughing at their antics

         The street outside was left fairly quiet. Other people passed by admiring everything. In the window the male dressing dummy stood vigil. It was wearing a black wifebeater and a pair of shining, shimmering silver shorts.

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         They bought more ice cream and walked leisurely back to the Jeep. Hunter held his bag with his new clothes in it tightly with one hand and his cone in the other. He had looped the arm holding the bag through Brian's arm and he leaned his head against his arm in exquisite pleasure. He looked a little like Brian's catamite. But both of them knew this wasn't the case so fuck what anyone else thought. Justin walked on his other side; his arm looped through Brian's other arm and leaned in, in an identical fashion. Brian held onto both arms and walked along straight and tall, feeling like the cock of the walk. Which he was. And for a few minutes he just pretended that the third test had never happened. For that moment...it was as if in hadn't.

         At last they reached the Jeep. Before they got in, Hunter leaned against Brian one last time and said: "Thank you Brian. You've made me so happy!"

         "You're welcome, treasure. Are you ready to go see the babies now?"

         "Oh yes! Oh yes! I've missed them so much, you know! I thought I wasn't welcome....and then I just felt like...oh...like I didn't deserve it anymore, like I was punishing myself. But I missed them every day! Please believe me!"

         "I know my son...I know," replied Brian, rejoicing in the fact that although Hunter did not confirm that fact, he did not deny it either.

         They all jumped in and soon they were zooming out of Spitzenburgher. As they zoomed along the countryside, Hunter suddenly had an idea.

         "I know!" he screamed from the back seat, "Let's take Gus and J.R. to the beach! Let's go swimming! Let's teach the babies to swim a little and then make sand castles! And have a picnic!"

         Justin made a strangled, choking noise in the back of his throat. Brian looked worried but tried to cover. "Uhhh, Hunter, it's getting a bit late for that! How about another day, OK?"

         Hunter slumped back. He saw he was being rejected. Then he remembered. "Ohhh, yeah! I'm sorry! I forgot about your hydrophobia. Well, maybe we can do something else."

         Justin made more strangled, choking noises. It sounded like he was desperately trying not to laugh, which was the case.

         "Our what?" he asked in disbelief.

         "You know...Your fear of water. Remember, when you took me swimming that one time? You wouldn't get in the water? So, you know, I just assumed....I mean I thought..." he started rambling, feeling very foolish indeed. "Oh. I guess I was wrong. Why wouldn't you come in with me then?"

         "Well, Hunter....it's complicated," Justin said awkwardly.

         "What do you mean complicated?" asked Hunter suspiciously.

         "Well, there is a reason why we couldn't swim with you...but we can't really explain right now," said Brian. "You wouldn't - you wouldn't believe us. But there will come a time when we will be able to explain. When we will explain."

         "I don't understand," objected Hunter, "I mean, are you afraid? You can tell me. Or is it that you just can't swim? Please tell me!"

         "No Hunter, that's not it,' replied Justin, "We can swim....quite well. Better than most, really."

         "But that day then...I mean....why....why didn't you want to come in? Didn't you see how much I was trying to entice you? Didn't you see how much I wanted you to play with me? How much I needed you to!"

         "Yes Hunter we did," said Justin, "But we could no more explain to you then than we can now. All I can say is that we would have frightened you out of your wits. Please trust us and leave it alone for now! We will explain everything in the due time."

         "Oh, tell me now! I can handle it! I ain't no siss..."

         "Hunter, you heard your Fath - you heard Justin! Leave it alone! The subject is closed!" Brian yelled rather harshly.

         Hunter reared back as if he'd been slapped. Then his face hardened.

         "Ohhhh, I get it! This is another test, or whatever stupid game you guys wanna play! Well fine! See if I give a shit!"

         "Hunter, that's not it! Really! We..."

         "NO! Screw you! I thought we were getting better! I guess I was wrong!  The next time I ask you about swimming will be the time I ask you to take me home! Which'll be never!" he reiterated unnecessarily in his rage.

         After that, he just shut down and did not talk to them the rest of the way there. He felt hurt and betrayed and confused. The good feelings he had been starting to feel and let himself feel disipitated again. The day was ruined.

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         When they got to the castle, Hunter jumped out and stalked, stiff-backed toward the castle doors. The Queer Kings ran and caught him easily.

         Brian grabbed him from behind and pulled him flush against his chest like he had in the restaurant. Hunter struggled but then was further hemmed in when Justin hugged him from the front and Brian too, sandwiching him in.

         "No! No! Lemme go! Lemme go!" yelled Hunter, struggling violently.

         "Ah! Ah! Ah!" Brian admonished, holding him easily, "You may be the Hunter, but I have captured you!" he taunted.

         "And we love you! So, so much!" said Justin, "Please don't let all the good that has been done be ruined! There is no test! We promise! Just please trust us! We cannot share any more on this subject right now but there is a very good reason! It's just not really something that can be told. We have to show you! And we will show you, in due time. We promise."

         "I'm not used to trusting you, anymore," Hunter said sulkily. He had stopped struggling as he could see there was no escape, but he didn't hug them back either.

         "I know, Hunter. And we're not helping things here, we realize that! But we're really asking for your patience and trust in this one thing. And if you do wait, the rewards will be very great." Justin said.

         "Promise there's no test?" Hunter asked in this, small, vulnerable voice that he hated, couldn't believe came out of his mouth but he also could not stand, could not bear the thought of another heartbreak.

         "We promise," Justin said, hugging them both tighter.

         "Absolutely," agreed Brian.

         "All right then. For now! But I'm not sure how much longer I want to wait! Now ease up on me willya? Leggo! I can hardly breathe here!"

         And chuckling at his bravado, they did.

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         And a few minutes later, inside the castle, Hunter got to hold J.R. and Gus again to his relief and delight.

         "Hunn'er! Hunn'er!" Gus yelled, toddling up on just learned to walk legs. He held out chubby pink arms to be picked up.

         "Hunter gaped. "Oh my God! He really does remember!" He picked up the precious bundle and was entranced as Gus snuggled in and almost at once started to drowse off. "I'm so sorry," he whispered to the little boy, "I promise I won't stay away so long any more." He whispered other sweet nothings and tickled his ear and sang him the rest of the way to sleep.

         "We told you," Brian said, who was ecstatically holding J.R. who was just a helpless bundle at this point.  He and Justin switched off a few times, sharing her, sighing as if they were drinking water after a week in the desert. Which was sort of the case. After a week without seeing their children, they had felt deprived as if that was indeed the case.

         They all spent several hours in the nursery, playing, reading, and just cuddling with the children. They didn't want to give them up. But at last it was time for them to go to bed and time for dinner for them.

         Hunter agreed to stay for dinner but stalled when he was asked to stay over. Finally, he agreed but only as a guest.

         "I want to be treated as a guest, looked at like a guest, and have a guest room," he dictated.

         "I know just the one," Justin murmured, a smile playing softly upon his lips.

         They took him to the second floor, down a hall, and to the first door. It was a palace of a room, with red carpet, a huge king size bed, a wardrobe, desk, and a living room suite in front of an enormous fireplace.

         "It was, in fact, the very bedroom that Justin had stayed in when he had first come to stay.

         "No! No way! This is too much! I said a guest bedroom!"

         "But Hunter, this is a guest bedroom." Justin said reasonably, "You're at the palace, remember? And it's near the stairs, which will make us feel a lot better until you get used to the place."

         "If you get used to it," said Brian, "I've lived my whole life here and I'm still finding secret passages behind fireplaces and whatnot!"

         "Wow! Cool!! Is there something behind this one?" Hunter rushed to check but it was immovable.

         Brian chuckled at Hunter's antics. "Could be," he said deadpan.

         Justin nudged him and chided, "Now Brian...Don't rile the young'un. Sorry Hunter. That one's been triple checked. Believe me." After they had got back, he had made it a mission to check the room and the rooms around it for secret passages to see how Hobbs had been watching him but they had come up empty. Whatever the secret was, it had died with Hobbs.

         "Ohhh." Hunter wilted visibly with disappointment. "Well, anyway, we're getting off the point. This is way too fancy for a guest room!"

         "I'm afraid this is the least fancy room this near the stairs," Brian said, "Unless...."

         "What?" asked Hunter.

         "Well, I guess we could always check out the dungeons. They're definitely less...fancy."

         Hunter gulped.

         Justin sighed and rolled his eyes. "I think that's Brian's way of saying, stop your grousing and just say thank you. Enjoy it Hunter. It's OK to let yourself enjoy something once in a while."

         Hunter relented at last. "I guess you're right Justin. Sorry Brian. Thank you."

         "Your welcome. And if it makes you feel any better, we'll be right across the hall, in a room just like this. No more or less fancier. OK?" The Queer Kings turned to go.

         "Wait! You're staying across the hall?" Why? Surely you must have a bedroom that...that...well that surpasses even this."

         "We do. But we want to be near you tonight. Guardian warned to be ready for another nightmare and we want to be close in case you need us."

         "You - you want to do that...for me?"

         "Yes Hunter! I know you want to be treated as a guest...and you will be... but in spite of the travesty that was the third test, that's all it was...a test. And you passed it! And we consider you our son. And we want to protect and take care of you as if you were our son. So until Guardian is gone, we'll be on hand to be there for you...no matter what."

         Hunter couldn't speak.

         And then he had taken a step and they had taken a step and suddenly they were all together and they were all sandwiched together again and this time Hunter wasn't struggling at all.

         "Thank you..." he whispered, "Thank you."

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         The meadow really was beautiful in the moonlight.

         The moon was full and huge. It was low in the sky, just rising, and was so enormous that it filled Hunter's vision. It was the most magnificent thing he had ever seen. He couldn't look at it hard enough.

         The long grasses waved gently in the breeze. Both the grasses and the flowers that grew abundantly were iced with silver and the entire meadow was lit up like day.

         Hunter walked slowly toward the forest this time, taking his time and somehow able to take his time. As he grew closer to the forest, he saw the trees and branches were all glowing silver as well.

         The path beckoned. Hunter went in.

         This time, the walk through the forest was more tranquil than before. There were still some bad thoughts that threatened but they were few and far between now and Hunter paid them little mind. Most of the memories that were showed to him were of the last week, of his fathers at work, enduring hardship, and earning his respect and love back. And he did love them again. Well, a little. Well, he didn't hate them viciously anymore.

         There went Justin serving the twins, as heavily laden as a mule.

         Brian scrubbing the floor, so monumentally sad. Hunter felt a stab of guilt. Oh, how had he not noticed?

         "Servant's shoes....servant's shoes..." Hunter shrugged it off.

         "We'll raze 6 or 8 people's houses to the ground...ground...ground..." My how far away that seemed now!

         "You ungrateful, sadistic, snot-nosed little shit!....Can you imagine sitting in that dark recess now? Can you imagine being that dirty boy who sold himself out for 50 and 100 dollars at a time!? Can you?? CAN YOU!!?

         Hunter didn't like that one. But he knew he deserved it so he moved on.

         Holding onto Brian when they were window shopping.

         "And we consider you our son. And we want to protect and take care of you as if you were our son. So until Guardian is gone, we'll be on hand to be there for you...no matter what."

         "If you are not careful, that life will slip away from you forever! Brian, even now, is engaged in the process of letting go. And trust me, I know Brian now, like I know my own soul! Once he lets go, he will have given you up forever and he will never pick you up again! Be glad you have made arrangements with the Twins, for if he does let go, he will cut all ties, all help, all relationship. He will not require Debbie to help you any more. As far as he is concerned you can go back to the alley from whence you came!"

         "He wouldn't! You wouldn't! You're bluffing! You're just trying to scare me!"

         "And is it working? Are you scared, my pet? You should be! For alas, I am NOT bluffing! As it is, I am letting go! And if Brian goes with me, this working class life, this life you are trying to prove to us what a Hell it is, will be your life, forever!....forever...forever..."

         "You offered me Heaven once before...before...before....And you snatched it away! How do I know you won't do the same thing again if I let my guard down!?"

          "OK. I'm going to say this once more. Once. Then, as far as I'm concerned, it's over, it's past. I'm not saying it again. I'm. Sorry. Sorry. S-O-R-R-Y! I'm sorry for that night and everything we said and did. I'm sorry for servant's shoes. I'm sorry for the stuff about razing houses.....Sorry....sorry....sorry....sorry for everything....last time I'm going to say it....sorry....sorry..."

         The apologies washed over him like a soothing balm. He felt vindicated at last and the anger he had been holding onto like a comfortable security blanket slipped away bit by bit and it was a relief to let it go now.

         "Can I go back to work now sir?"

         "But don't call me that unless you mean it. I told you, it's all or nothing. So don't force it out like it's a fake or dirty word. Until you can say it for real, don't say it. I guess you're right. I'm not your Dad."

         "He's put in his week and he's done a good job. And he said he was sorry for what he did that day and...and for a lot of other stuff too...and...and I forgive him for it..." (Justin stilled) "So if I can forgive him, can't you guys forgive him too?"

         When that showed up, Hunter resolved to be kinder to the two men who seemed to love him. He had promised to forgive them after all.

         "I missed you, Hunter. I still miss you."

         "I'm so sorry Hunter," Brian said.

         Hunter spun in his arm and faced him. Brian's hands were now laced together at the small of his back. Hunter reached behind him and grasped one in each hand. "Don't be sorry....Just don't do it again. Now go on, get back to work!"

         "Yes SIR!"

         Hunter smiled at the memory of Brian's arms around him and rubbing his back. He had almost lost that. Maybe he still had. Things were not set in stone yet. He walked slowly on, sadly. He hoped he hadn't. Nobody had hugged him, wanted to hug him since he was 5 years old and even most of the tricks had about as much imagination as a sink full of damned dishwater. As soon as they had got their dick sucked they fucked off.

         "Take a look! Take a good long look at where we found you!" Hunter shied away from the vision and ran away from it but it would not be denied until it had finished, "Can you imagine sitting in that dark recess now? Can you imagine being that dirty boy who sold himself out for 50 and 100 dollars at a time!? Can you?? CAN YOU!!?"

         "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!" screamed Hunter as he ran along the path in his signature black wifebeater and silver shorts. The clearing was up ahead. "NOOOO! I can't go back there! I won't!!"

         "Are you scared, my pet? You should be! For alas, I am NOT bluffing! As it is, I am letting go! And if Brian goes with me, this working class life, this life you are trying to prove to us what a Hell it is, will be your life, forever...forever...forever....What's it going to be Hunter? Are you with us or against us? Make your choice soon! The window is closing fast!"

         "Make your choice soon....Make your choice....your choice...your choice....choice...choice...choice..."

         And Hunter ran into the clearing with those last words still echoing about him. Thankfully, within the clearing, they faded and vanished away into silence.

         "Hunter fell on his knees and wept. "No! No!  I don't wanna go back there! I'm not a dirty boy anymore! I'm not! We're getting better! We're getting better! I won't go back! I won't!"

         "Calm yoursssself, my Princccce! You are ssssssafe here. It's always ssssssafe here."

         Hunter looked up. He gasped.

         The snake was enormous tonight. Just huge. It was still a cobra in nature but it was as thick and as long and as huge as an anaconda. I hung from tree branches and around a tree trunk and then down to the ground itself when it was simply just too big.

         Slowly, Hunter stood and trembled in its presence.

         "Yes, I remember. It's always calm in the clearing. Isn't that right?"

         "Indeed, that's right, my Prinnnccccce," the snake answered. He rose up on powerful belly muscles to look Hunter in the eye. He seemed to smile. "Ahhhhhhhh.... Ssssssooooo....you do not deny it any more. Havvvvve you accepted your fate, my Princccce?

         "I will not confirm it. But I will not deny it. We are moving closer to an understanding. But they are holding back. They are keeping secrets. So I must hold myself back as well."

         "Some knowledge isssss like a great weight and cannot be carried," said the snake, "Would you expect them to make you carry a trunk full of heavy gold bars?"

         "Of course not!" objected Hunter indignantly.

         "Indeeeeeed," agreed the snake, "And would you believe that they were mermen?"

         "That is ridiculous!" Hunter answered.

         "The snake seemed to shrug. "Sssssssooo you ssssssssaaaaayyy," he hissed.

         Hunter gave him a look. "Wait! What are you saying? Is that it? Are they...do they think that they are mermen?"

         The snake gave a hissy chuckle. "I will not confirrrrrrm.....or deny it.....my Princcccccce."

         Abruptly, he turned and slithered deeper into the clearing. "Come," he hissed, changing the subject, "And I will shhhhhow you ssssssssomething wonderful."

         Hunter followed him. "What is it?"

         "Jusssssst thisssss," the snake said, stopping abruptly.

         In the very center of the clearing, a flower was growing. The stalk was as clear as crystal and seemed just as fragile. Two leaves grew out of it and they were pale green. They shimmered as if water was continually running over and through the leaves itself. The petals were wide and about 6 inches long. There were about 8 of them and they were closed. They shimmered and pulsated with an inner light and colors ran over it and mixed and changed constantly. Red melted into blue, which melted into green, which ran into purple, which turned black, then back to blue again. Yellow shimmered forth mixed with the blue and suddenly the entire flower burst forth into green. The red came back again and some blue and then it was all over purple. Blue and red and yellow poured over and orange mixed it and it was multi-coloured again Green came again and then...

         On and on, over and over, mixing, melding, changing to a solid, back to a mixed, on and on, always different, always in a fabulous variety. Hunter watched, entranced for a long time.

         "What is it?" he asked at last, in fascination, wonder and delight.

         "It isssss your new flower. The one you have finally allowed to grow in your heart. You can ssssssee it here, in your dream but it issss not real, of coursssssse. It is a symbol of the new affection and love that you are feeling toward your fatherssssss. It issssss nnnnnnot quite ready yet but when it openssssss your love will be manifested and it will be a part of your heart, forever. Unlessssssss...."

         "Unless what?" Hunter said, looking up.

         "Come and ssssspinnnn." The snake turned abruptly and slid away toward the ever present spinning wheel.

         Hunter followed him but he was angry. "OH NO!!" he yelled. "Not this time! Not until you tell me what you were going to say! And if this is a dream, then I remember. I know what you are now! You're not a snake at all! You're some...thing growing in my throat!"

         The snake whirled on him and gazed into his frightened eyes with his own almond ones hungrily. "Yessssssss... That'ssss true. What do you wanna do about it?"

         "I - I want you to get out!" Hunter said angrily. In truth, he was scared to death but he couldn't let the snake know that.

         "Sorry, sweet cheekssss. Not going to happen. I sssstill need a while longer. I was ssssaying...It will be a part of your heart, unlessssss....You join me and share your lifeforce with me.....for one hundred years."

         "What!? No! Never! Even if I left Brian and Justin, I'd never hook up with you!"

         "Don't be so quick to decccccide. Think of it....You'd be young....beautiful for a hundred years. And then another whole lifetime ahead of you."

         Yes! A new life...in a new world! A strange world, with no friends, no family, completely alone! No dice!"

         "Who says I'm giving you much of a choiiiicccccce? When the time comessssss, I will take what I need. Come and spin."

         "What! How dare you! I thought you were supposed to have been helping me! But you're a monster!"

         "I am helping you, Hunter. But we all must do what we need to, to ssssssurvive. If you were in a desert and you found an oasis of water.....wouldn't you drink it?"

         "Well yes! But that's completely different!"

         "Isssssss it? When I am born, I will be exssssstremely hungry. You will be there, and I will feeeeeeeed on you. You will be deliciousssss! Unless of course....Come and spin.

         "Yes?" Hunter crossed his arms and planted his feet waiting for an answer. Suddenly there was that odd skip in time again and he was on the spinning wheel seat. He began to spin.

         "Unlesssss, your fathers care enough about you to try and stop me! But they will have to try.....hard!" The snake laughed nastily.

         "They care! They will stop you! I will stop you!"

         The snake hissed in laughter. "You cannot even stop yourself from spinning. You cannot stop me!"

         It was true. Hunter could not stop spinning, even though he tried mightily. "What is this? What have you done to me?"

         "Jusssst a portent of what is to come! What must be! Soon my Princccce! Soon, you will be minnnne!"

         "Never! NEVER!"

         It was only a matter of time before Hunter pricked his finger on the spindle.

         "No! Noooooo...... Not again! Damn you... Dammmmmm........" And then Hunter was falling onto the flowered bed which was softer and smelled sweeter than it ever had before.

         The snake was so big it didn't even need to wrap him, probably couldn't. He just slid up to him and prepared to complete the ritual.

         "My sweet Prince! My ssssweeeeet Princccccce! You WILL be mine! And not even your wannabe fathers will be able to sssssstop me!'

         "You....leave....them...outta this!" Hunter said in his drugged condition.

         The snake only laughed his hissy laugh and raised up high. Venom dripped from his fangs. Hunter tensed, preparing for the inevitable.

         The snake struck.

BJHBJHBJHBJHBJHBJHBJHBJH

         Hunter jackknifed up and screamed as if he were being murdered.

         Brian and Justin had left Hunter's door ajar as well as their own. They were across the hall and in his arms in less than a minute.

         Dawn's rosy glow was peeking over the horizon and anyway there was no way Hunter was going back to sleep, so they all went down to the kitchens, where they asked the fat, grandmothery, kitchen workers and bakers for some hot chocolate and some baked treats. The bakers and workers agreed readily and were furthermore ecstatic to meet yet another youngster staying in the castle. And as soon as they found out that Hunter had had a nightmare, he found himself enveloped in more smothery embraces than he could imagine. They fussed over him, mussed his hair, called him "poor sweet darlin'" and ‘poor little lamb' and claimed they knew what would ‘fix him up'. They foisted him with more croissants and cookies and scones and brownies and tarts and banana bread and the like than he could possible eat in a month much less a dawn-time snack. Then they sent them out to an adjoining small dining room and came in a few minutes to bring them steaming hot chocolate served on a silver platter. At last they were left alone.

         Justin watched all this with high amusement. He remembered a time, not too long ago, when he was on the receiving end of all that "love". Afterwards, when they were done, Hunter looked on in consternation at the mountain of pastries still left and wondered what to do.

         "Don't worry," Justin told him, "We'll go for a walk a little later and I'll show you what we can do about it."

         Hunter couldn't stop shaking all throughout the repast. He wanted to tell them to go back to bed, to not worry about him, but he just couldn't. He just didn't want to be left alone. The dream had been so vivid, the climax so devastating. He could remember the pain of the bite before he awoke; he'd actually felt it. He told them all about it, the things he'd seen in the forest, how sorry he felt, the size of the snake, the flower that was growing anew inside him. Both men were entranced.

         "It sounds wonderful, Hunter," Justin commented.

         "It was wonderful," said Hunter wistfully, "But then the ending part came up some after that and...and he bit me again," He began to weep softly. "Oh God, that part's so horrible!"

         "Don't worry, Hunter. We're here now. It's over now. And we'll be here for you until that thing is out of you for good." Brian enfolded him into his big embrace.

         "But how!? I can't ask you guys to give up your lives! You can't be with me always, waiting for this...this thing!"

         "No, but you can live with us and be near us. Please Hunter, now that you are over your anger, won't you stay with us? Let us help you?" Justin asked.

         "Well, I'm over my anger and I hope we are starting to come to some common ground," said Hunter slowly, "But I can't come to live here as your son while we're still keeping secrets and playing games. I meant it when I said, I would only ask to live here when you took me swimming."

         "OK, Hunter," they agreed.

         "So...won't you take me?"

         "I'm sorry Hunter. But it's still not the right time," they answered.

         "Then I cannot stay fully. I will only stay as a guest. I'm going to keep my job at the Diner. Which means I'll need a ride there and back every day. I'll want to stay in that guest bedroom."

         "No problem Hunter. And we'll arrange for you to have a driver to take you wherever you wish, whenever you wish. And we'll pick you up ourselves every night."

         "On the motorcycle?"

         "On the motorcycle," Brian agreed.

         "And if I come, I'll bring the Rolls," said Justin.

         "But you have to make sure you treat me like a guest! Make sure everyone else does too. Promise me!"

         "Of course, Hunter. We promise," the Queer Kings said.

TBC