SINUOUS

Two

Lord Clyde prepared an extravagant feast instead of a normal welcome. There were two dining tables cramped into a spacious room. Extinct cuisines and tasty pastries were laid out on both.The other one was from where they were seated and the other one were full of Alphas who were throwing a curious look at Elliot and Nile occasionally.

“Would you like some aperitif, sire? “

Elliot glanced at the nervous looking Nile who was surprised to hear the servitor’s politeness. His eyes darted to the Lord and the Lady of the house who were both engaged in a juicy conversation on the alphas on the next table. The male servant was still waiting for Nile’s answer.

Elliot knew that Nile couldn’t handle even a small about of alcohol on several occasion. Elliot cleared his throat and snatched the glass offered to Nile and drank it.

“He only takes water. I’ll have one more, if you please.“

The servant was shocked at his behavior and Nile’s eyes were already starting to throw sharp ones at him. A hand was stretched out for another drink and this time, Elliot took it more gently and thanked the servitor.

Nile felt a burning sensation at the back of his neck. His eyes scanned the whole crowd of alphas and sure enough, some were glancing at them while they ate until his eyes landed on a pair of coffee colored eyes.

It was the head butler at the foyer. He was staring at him without batting an eye and Nile choked a huge intake of air. He felt the familiar feeling of fear spreading in his throat like wild fire. His eyes scanned frantically at all the alphas and now they seemed to be looking at him with distaste. He dropped the fork he was holding and continuously rubbed at his wrist.

He needed to feel something again.

He needed to feel pain.

Pain was better than fear. It was quicker than any kind of punishment. It was less painful. It was his heaven. It makes him feel safer because it was a remainder that he was still alive.

“--Nile!”

Elliot’s frantic voice was like a cold water thrown at his raging thoughts. A soft material was pressing on both side of his cheeks and his eyes darted to Elliot’s gloves. Nile tried to fight the nausea back by pressing his face to the fabric.

A minute later, he was already feeling Elliot’s warm hands and not the gloves. His eyes opened occasionally to glance at the whole room. He was thankful that the buzzing just continued and his small exhibition was not noticed.

He was still staring at him.

“Nile, you need to eat. “ Elliot’s warm hands were on his cold ones. He felt the coldness of the fork that he didn’t feel before. He nodded and took a lettuce at his plate, forcing himself to chew the rancid green.

“Elliot, is everything all right? “ Nile stared blankly at Lady Eve’s worried expression. Her husband also stopped talking and as if on cue, the room became silent as if Elliot’s answer excites them.

Nile smiled timidly at the couple and flashed everyone around the room a reassuring smile.
“Everything is all right, Lady Eve. “

“Thank Goodness! Is the food according to your liking, Nile? “

Nile forcibly gagged the lettuce down nodded at the brunette. “It is my honor to taste such fine delicacies, my lady. “

Lady Eve seemed happy on Nile’s response. She seemed flattered enough to ignore Nile once again to converse a tall and bulky woman whispering in her ears. The woman left and Lady Eve relayed what has been said on her husband. A sudden look of joy was on Lord Clyde face the moment Lady Eve finished what she said.

They both stood up and raised their glasses. All the Alphas and even Elliot followed the gesture until he was the only one sitting down.

His knees were still shaking yet Nile forced himself to stand up while leaning his lower body to the table. A hand was also at his waist and he recognized it as Elliot’s. He never dared to look at Elliot for the fear of letting the butler show his vulnerable state.

His cheeks were burning as his insides slowly warmed up to the gentle hand wrapping his waist.

“Caspian will be arriving any minute from now but I just can’t wait. Let’s have a toast for this fine evening!”

“A toast for Lord Clyde, Lady Eve and Master Caspian! “

All of them shouted ‘toast’ and Nile gulped down the rest of the drink. He soon regretted it by feeling the rusty sensation as it made it’s way to his stomach.

His eyes were closed the whole time he was gulping down the drink and he was still forcing his eyelids shut for the fear of the sudden nausea.

“You do know you can’t handle your drink right? “

“Uh huh. “

“Then why? “ His eyelids fluttered open and gazed at Elliot’s worried eyes accusingly.

“I’m a man, Elliot. I have to learn the ways of a Man. Giving a toast is a sign of a man giving respect. “

Elliot still has his soft gaze focused on him. And suddenly, it was not the alcohol that was making him feel the burning sensation on his cheeks now. Elliot’s stare was too intense that he immediately broke free of the eye contact and pushed the hand wrapping in his waist down.

Elliot was always treating him like a fragile--woman. He was suddenly ashamed for letting himself be dependent on Elliot his whole life. Being so used to him gave him the illusion that he needed to be protected. Elliot has always been there and Nile relied on him as his haven. His Armour.

He himself was the reason on why he’s been looked down his whole life. He was always the needy one. The thought that he was an omega still hasn’t buried itself deep into his being. He has no right to be needing anything. He is an Omega.

Yet he is here to prove that he is not weak. He is here to serve the Alphas. He has no time to be afraid to face the reality that he is an Omega.

“I’m not a woman. “ he felt the need to tell this to Elliot. His thoughts were building up and for the first time in his life, he was lucky to have gulped down the rusty alcoholic drink.

He feel stronger. Braver. His self-pity was now hiding in the corner.

“I know. “ He heard Elliot said in a meek voice.    

Nile noticed that they are still standing ever since the toast. He heard the strong roar of an engine outside and he saw how all the Alphas were giving off an excited scent. The females were giggling loudly while making the creases in their uniform smoother. The males were almost doing the same.

Nile wished he could have heard a conversation to distract him but his nose picked up a strange scent. He glanced at Elliot and saw how the man hurriedly placed a cloth to cover his nose and breathing passageway. Seconds later, he found himself pressed into the man’s chest.

The scent was getting stronger and stronger each second. He heard loud gasps and footsteps approaching him and he kept trying to break free form Elliot’s grasps but they were getting firmer and firmer while the scent continued to make him weaker and dizzy each second.

“Caspian? Caspian--CASPIAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! “

Somehow, he was stolen from Elliot’s tight embrace and was pulled down to another. The scent was in his system now. His dizziness was slowly getting ten times stronger and a tingling voice was shouting in his head. He managed to look up and saw the firm jaw of man who’s been baring fangs at everyone.

His head was tilted in an awkward angle but his ears never failed to hear what he said.

“Why are you here? “