Heathen

The Boy And the Young Master

Dal is walking hurriedly through the people in the market. He came here to sell his mother's humble goods and buy what they need, only to run into that awful man again. The arrogant and useless second son of the noble Kim family who instead of looking for a bride keeps pestering him. He is disgusted by the mere thought of him. Dal almost threw up the last time that man had his clutches on him, holding his arm with such force, dragging him to the back of the inn. He tried to kiss him! Dal shudders at the thought. His friends brushed it off, because the young lord was clearly drunk. But Dal knew better. This was just one of many small incidents in recent months. This time, it simply happened in front of witnesses.

And now, here he is again!

Maybe Dal will be lucky. Maybe that bastard did not notice him. He takes the road that leads outside the small village, towards the forest. He wants to get home as soon as possible.

He hears hooves clattering behind him. Alarmed he looks over his shoulder and sees the wretched man following him on horseback. He hurries into the tree line, so the idiot cannot follow him, he hopes. Unfortunately, the other, guessing his intentions, cuts him off, the horse precariously galloping in front of the boy.

"Stay away from me!" Dal yells at the other. There is an evil smirk on Young Master Kim's face as he uses his horse to block Dal's way, preventing him from running. "What do you want from me?" "You know what I want." "I am... I am not interested. Leave me in peace!" "I am not used to being denied what I want. Let alone from the likes of a mere servant boy." "I am not your servant." Dal retorts angrily. The other pretends not to have heard him. He keeps getting in his way, dangerously close. As Dal tries to escape once more, he trips losing his balance and falls to the ground, hitting his head. Kim Jun dismounts and approaches the unconscious boy. He has some blood from a small cut on his forehead but he is still breathing. "He is alive." he mutters to himself. He looks around. There is no one else except the two of them. Smirking, he takes some rope from his saddle and ties the boy's hands. He picks him up and lays him on the horse's back, before mounting it and riding off.

*******************************************************

Dal stirs, waking up. His head is throbbing and he feels dizzy. He senses someone near him and opens his eyes. His vision is blurry. He can't distinguish the person standing in front of him. "Where am I?" he asks cautiously. "You are my guest." The slurry voice of the most despised person alerts Dal. He tries to sit up and he realizes his hands are tied.

"Why am here? Untie me!" The other clicks his tongue. "I do not think so." "Bastard! Let me go!" The boy tries to stand up but a sharp slap to his face knocks him back to the floor. He gasps in surprise. "Let me go! You have no right to hold me against my will!" Another slap cuts him off, filling his eyes with tears. "I can do whatever I want. Who is going to stop me?" Young Master Kim spoke with malice ringing in his voice. He crouches down, his face close to the boy's, eyeing  him like prey. Dal takes a shaky breath, having the other so close makes him very uncomfortable. He looks around nervously. He is in a place he does not recognize. The windows appear to be boarded up. There are chains wedged into the stone floor and some short of wooden bench or table. "Let me go..." he repeats weakly once more with tears streaming down his cheeks. "You will stay here until you learn to respect me." Young Master Kim grabs the rope the boy's hands are tied and yanks it, dragging him towards the wooden bench. The boy tries to resist. The sudden sharp sting of the horse whip landing on his back makes him cry out in pain. The man throws him onto the bench, face down. He secures the bindings, so the boy cannot move. He looks at Dal with a malicious glint in his eye. The despair and fear he sees written on the boy's face excite him. "No one is coming to save you this time."

He turns and stands behind him. He tears the shirt off his back, leaving him half naked. He takes the whip in his hand and strikes the boy again. Dal bites his lip, keeping himself from crying out. He tries to keep the tears that fill his eyes again, from spilling.

"Oh, you decided to be brave, I see." The man mocks him. He rolls up his sleeves and hits him again, harder. He keeps on until Dal cries out in pain. He laughs at the poor boy's agony. He keeps on until red bloody marks appear on the flesh. Indifferent, he stops and looks at his handiwork. "One must soften up one's prey first... But, enough with playing around." "What... what are you doing?" Dal asks in a small voice, scared. The other does not speak. He just puts his hands on the boy's waist and yanks his clothes down. "No!" Sudden realization hits Dal and he writhes trying to get away from those prying insulting hands. He feels the man's erection touch his thighs. He tugs at the ropes desperately, trying in vain to free himself, to escape.

A sudden loud noise and a gust of cold air makes the man stop and look behind him "Who dares... You again!" He yells seeing the stranger from the inn. "Get away from the boy." Endymion is standing at the door. His eyes are blazing red as he glares at hm. "I said get away from him." His voice sounds like a deep guttural growl, blood chilling. Young Master Kim reaches for his whip and lunges at Endymion. The other just grabs the whip midair, pulling the man to him. He wraps his free hand around Kim's neck and looks at him letting out a low growl, revealing his fangs. The latter stares at him wide eyed. "What... what are you?" He shakes with fear, no longer arrogant. "The last thing you will ever see." Endymion mutters going for the jugular, ripping the man's throat. Kim does not get a chance to say another word. He can only stare into the void, before falling lifeless to the cold hard floor. Endymion spits in disgust, wiping his mouth. "I am not going to sully myself with this scum's blood." He mutters under his breath.

Jeongin walked in right after him and takes a look at Kim's body. "I will leave him in the forest. It will seem like the beasts got to him." Endymion nods in agreement. He turns his attention to Dal, taking his heavy cloak off and covering the boy who is still silently crying. He then unties Dal's hands. The boy flinches when he sees Endymion's face close to his own. His red eyes and bloody mouth make Dal shrink as far as his binds allow him from the tall dark haired man. "Do not be afraid. You are safe now." Endymion says in a hushed tone trying to sound reassuring. The boy rubs his wrists and tries to get up, not letting Endymion out of his sight. "What... what are you?" He is still scared with tears on his cheeks. "We will talk later. For now, let us take you home."

Endymion keeps his distance to make the boy feel calm. Dal tries to put his torn clothes back on as best as he can, embarrassed, and gives him back his cloak. "Keep it. It is cold outside." "What about you?" The boy whispers. "Just keep it." They walk outside. It is snowing. "What do you think?" Endymion asks Jeongin who has come back. "If we set the place on fire we might attract unnecessary attention, alerting the villagers and raising questions." "You are right." Endymion agrees. He goes back inside and picks up the whip and the rope, shuffling the hay on the floor along the way to cover the blood stains. He walks out and hands them to Jeongin who tucks them on the saddle and sets the horse loose. It will either find its way home or fall prey to the beasts of the forest.

Endymion and Jeongin mount their horses. The former extends a hand to the trembling boy.

"Come." Dal looks up at his saviour, both grateful and scared. After a moment's hesitation he takes his hand and gets on the horse behind Endymion. He wraps his arms around the other's waist and buries his face in his back.

"Thank you." he whispers, shedding silent tears again. Endymion pats the boy's hands and ushers the horse to move. They make their way to Dal's house slowly. The heavy snow falling around them muffles any sound and covers their tracks. It is already dark.

Jeongin glances at Endymion who has his eyes fixed straight ahead. He glances at the boy who is now probably sleeping, clinging to Endymion's body like a cub. He sighs. Who knows where these will all lead. He still feels some premonition. He hopes he is wrong.