Page 53 of Across Space and Time

“Yes, of course,” Adam said. “The employees have the black masks on, they can assist you if you have need of anything.”

Jack nodded, noting one employee dressed in all black with a black mask standing off to the side of the room. If she found any part of this disturbing, she showed no outward sign of it. “Thank you. I think I’d like to peruse the wares, if that is all right.”

“Yes, of course,” Adam said, waving his hand like he had to dismiss the monstrous crowd. “Please, enjoy yourself. If you have need of anything, please do not hesitate to request it.”

Jack nodded, wondering if Adam was going to perhaps stay to observe him, but the man simply nodded his head before turning and walking out of the brightly-lit stone room.

Jack almost ran to Hugh, but he glanced over at the black-clad employee again. He had to assume that they were under the control of Adam and would report anything suspicious to him, so he wandered over to one of the other boys first, a darker-skinned man a little older than Hugh, with short, curly black hair and long lashes. He reached out his hand with its clawed fingertips to grasp the young man’s chin, tipping his face up to look into the glassy eyes. The young man smiled softly, leaning in to nuzzle his nose over the front of Jack’s trousers. Oh dear, that would not do. Even if he had come here alone, Jack knew he would not be all right with this situation. These boys might have been here as their job, if they came from Mr. Galloway’s brothel, but they were drugged and helpless and were not of a mind to consent to anything. He patted the young man’s umber cheek. “Maybe later,” he said. The young man looked disappointed, but Jack was all right with disappointing him if it meant he was not going to take advantage of him.

Instead, he moved over to where Hugh lay, still asleep on the pillows. He knelt by him, shifting a little so his back was to the black-masked employee, spreading his cape out a bit to try to block Hugh as much as possible as he gave his shoulder a light shake. “Wake up,” he whispered. How drugged was Hugh? And how long would it last?

Hugh stirred, blinking, a hand going up to shade his eyes, though his movement was sluggish. “Jack?”

“Shh,” Jack said, placing a fingertip lightly on Hugh’s lips, careful to angle the sharp points of them away from his skin.

Hugh reached for Jack, groping blindly where he seemed to think the man was. His hand connected with Jack’s chest. “Are you all right?” Jack asked, concerned.

“Uh huh.” His voice came out slurred as he leaned up toward Jack’s embrace.

“I thought you didn’t drink the champagne,” Jack whispered.

“N… Din’t,” Hugh said, turning his eyes up, though they looked a little glassy. “But go’sum in my mouth.”

Jack made a soft sound in his throat. “Whatever was in it must have absorbed through the inside of your mouth.”

Hugh frowned. He clutched at Jack’s chest, groping for anything he could grab. “Everything ishso shiny an’ warm.”

Jack couldn’t leave Hugh alone like this. If one of the monsters came back to take him, Hugh was in no state to defend himself. Jack glanced over at the black-masked woman. “Could you please bring some water?”

The woman bobbed her head in agreement before she turned and hurried down another small hallway. This whole place was an absolute maze. Jack had no idea if either of them would be able to find their way out without being spotted, so they might very well be stuck here until the end of the event. But if he could get Hugh coherent again, they could go look around and find out more about this strange, creepy underworld.

Hugh sat up, squinting in the light. Jack was so handsome. The man who traveled across space and time to help him solve these mysterious murders, who was supposed to be his soulmate.

“Jack,” he said, nestling into his arms. Jack was surprisingly warm and soft. “I love you.”

Jack smiled and stroked his hand gently through Hugh’s hair, careful to not catch his curls with his claws. “Do you?”

“Mm-hmm,” Hugh said, looking up at him. Jack’s face was so white in the light, a halo being cast around his horns. “Do you love me?”

Jack laughed and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I do,” he said softly. “I love you.”

Warmth flooded Hugh, and he held tighter to the man. “Kiss me.”

Jack shook his head. “No, darling. You’re not in your right mind.”

“But I want you to,” Hugh replied, sticking out his lower lip in a pout.

“And I want to,” Jack replied, brushing the pad of one finger over Hugh’s lip. “But only when you are in full charge of your faculties.”

“I’ll charge your faculties,” Hugh said with a giggle.

“You already do,” Jack said with a chuckle, just as the woman returned with a tray baring a pitcher of water and two glasses. Jack took them with a gracious nod at her, then poured a glass for himself before he poured one for Hugh like it was an afterthought, offering it to him. Hugh took the glass and sipped at the water. He was not in his right mind, but whatever the drugs in his system were, they had definitely loosened the young man’s tongue, and it was strangely adorable. But Jack wanted to get him some place they could talk privately. So, he scooped Hugh up from the pillows and made for the archway. He glanced at the black-masked woman to see if she would object, but she just stood with the same smile on her face, and Jack made his way out of the large room.

One of the little rooms off the hallway was empty and held a plush bed. Jack set Hugh onto it. He glanced around to see that they were alone before he turned back to Hugh. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” Hugh said, rubbing at his eyes. “I’m sorry.” His movements were still slow but a bit more coordinated as he swiped at his eyes and adjusted the fabric around him. He realized to his chagrin that he was still sporting an erection, and he tucked it down as best he could. Jack was kind enough to pretend he did not notice it.

Chapter sixteen

---