Lacrimosa (Scomiche)

Initium II

Mitch was cleaning up the food i'd accidentally knocked off of a table with my clumsiness when my door opened without warning.

It was Alexander. 

"Your Grace, please. You must save me." 

"Why are you here? I told you to hide!"

"I'm sorry I did not listen... I couldn't stay away from you. But you were right, your brother has already ordered me to his chambers after dark. Please, I beg of you." 

There really was nothing I could do at that point. My brother was the crowned Prince and while Alexander loved me, I'd made my own feelings rather clear, at least so I thought.  I wouldn't risk the executioner's ax for him. 

"I'm sorry, Alexander. You should have stayed away." 

"How can I stay away when you need me." He stepped closer, reaching out for my face and I stepped back.   "I love you." 

I shook my head at his words. "You are misguided. I am sorry for your misfortune, but you should have listened! I tried to protect you." 

"But I-" He stopped as his eyes found Mitchell who had gotten to his feet behind me. "Is this why you sent me away? So you could replace me? So you could find a new whore!"

That did it. "You will NOT speak of him in such a way!"

"Why is he here? He's a stable boy!" 

"Alexander you are dismissed." 

"Scott." 

"GO"

I'd never seen him as hurt and as angry as he was then, a strange darkness clouding his features. I never liked to raise my voice at him, but he had overstepped his boundaries. He moved close, glaring into my eyes. 

"Fine. I will let him use me like a dog because that is your wish. But know this... you will regret this day and you will regret choosing... that... over me." 

"Are you threatening me?"

"Never, Your Grace. It's only a promise."

He gave Mitchell one last dark look and then he was gone. 

His words meant nothing to me. What could a simple servant ever hope to accomplish? 

"Scott?" 

I turned to a very confused and upset Mitchell. He knew of Alex as my manservant but also as a previous lover.  I tried not to keep anything from him if I could help it. "Come here." I pulled him into my arms.

"Can't you do something? Save him?"

I shook my head. "Why do you think I'm keeping you so close."

He squeezed me just a bit tighter and I did the same.

My heart went out to Alexander and what he would soon be forced to endure. There was a heaviness that sat between me and Mitchell, even more when I held him in my arms later that night. Both of us were more than aware of what was happening somewhere else within the stone walls, and the idea of the same happening to the beautiful boy by my side made me even more clingy than usual. Mitchell was happy to snuggle in and I let the warmth of his body and the beat of his heart slowly soothe my troubled mind.

Finally I let  myself drift off to sleep.

That's when my nightmare truly began.

~

I awoke freezing. It took me barely a moment to realize the man I loved was no longer by my side and the curtains around my bed were no longer drawn. My heart slipped to my feet as I saw him, suspended in mid air.... hands raised to his neck and his fingers clawing at the invisible force holding him.