Page 72 of Seth
“What do you want me to do? Send them away and ask them to come back tomorrow?” Diego shrugged. “They are already here.”
“You are unbearable today. And don’t think I forgot about the pictures. You will delete them. Now, let’s go.”
* * *
Just as Ignaz’spresencewrapped Seth in the blanket of his quiet aura, it calmed the dying god of his dreams. He had abandoned his search. Instead of walking the desert, he silently kneeled before the boy, watching him with his glowing, red eye as if trying to see something in the depth of his soul. The sandstorm around them weakened but didn’t die out. However, SkyBlade visible on the horizon stopped spewing ash.
Seth’s sclera regained its normal color; the bubbles on his palm flattened and hardened. He felt pressure every time he tried to use his hand, but with Ignaz by his side, he deliberately avoided doing anything. Watching Ignaz move around his place pleased his eye. Even if they didn’t talk much, Seth felt they were growing closer.
The scabs covering Ignaz’s back peeled off, and the welts lightened, turning pink. With the wounds healed, the need returned in his gaze.
At the end of the fourth day, he stood before the drafting table. Palm covering hand, Ignaz stopped Seth from shading the design. Seth lifted his face. He didn’t need to ask questions to recognize the familiar fervor.
Without a word, he put the pencil down.
* * *
Ignaz shiveredasthe last piece of his clothing landed on the concrete floor of the basement. His toes lifted and curled. He looked around, then settled his haunted eyes on Seth. His pupils pushed the blue ring of his irises to the edges, and behind them, Seth read the maddening thirst.
“Can you really do it with only one hand? I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk after.”
“There’re many ways to hurt that don’t require blood, whip, or me using both hands.” Seth peeled off the bandage wrapped around his hand, then tossed it away.
With a lift of his chin, he pointed to a wooden pillory standing opposite the St. Andrew’s cross. Racks and workbenches lined the walls, boasting floggers and sex toys. The boy tilted his head and skirted around the pillory, fingers tracing the polished wood. He bent down and presented his neck and wrists for cuffing. Seth shook his head.
“No. In front of it. Back to the wood, feet wide.” Seth approached; their bodies leveled. Never looking away from Ignaz’s eyes, Seth knelt and wrapped soft strips around his ankles. Ignaz swallowed. His chest rose in a sharp inhale then dropped. A shiver ran down his limbs, and his stomach tensed.
Avoiding looking at Ignaz’s private parts, Seth got up. “Lean backward. Arms behind the pillory. Wrists in the loops.”
The small of Ignaz’s back pressed against the wooden boards, his back arched, and he looped his hands into the holes from behind. Their chests almost touched when Seth lifted and lowered the top bar of the pillory, fixing Ignaz’s wrists in place.
When he stepped back, his throat was dry and tight. A light nervousness unsettled his emotions as the decision formed in his chest. Today, no matter what, he wouldn’t let Ignaz sink into another reality. Today, he would chain his attention to himself and his actions.
He yanked the top drawer of the workbench out and extracted a lighter and a dozen thick wax play candles.
“Umm… It won’t be enough for me,” Ignaz said, voice wavering with uncertainty. “I told you, I need more than most…”
Seth wondered if he heard indulgence in Ignaz’s voice. “You wouldn’t know until you let me try. What are you afraid of?”
Giving the boy a reassuring smile, Seth pulled out a soft flogger and a long, slim knife. Ignaz’s head tilted, gaze brimming with doubt. A condescended smile invaded his face. “I’m not afraid, not of a flogger and some candles. You can’t scare me with those.”
“There’s always room for surprise,” Seth rustled, expression hardening. “Indulge me. I promise, I won’t stop until you are satisfied, even if you beg me.”
One by one, Seth lit up all the candles. While waiting for them to melt, he approached the wall and slapped the switch. The electric light went out; only trembling flames of candles dispersed the dark.
Grabbing a candle, Seth circled the pillory. His hand inched closer and traced a restrained arm, keeping the flame a mere inch away from Ignaz’s skin. He smiled as the boy straightened up, attention focusing on his hand. Washed in the firelight, Ignaz looked surreal, as if his skin had turned into fine, translucent glass, with veins streaming beneath the milky surface. Even the scars on his back glinted, resembling pink quartz peeking from inside the rock, adding to the texture. Red gold shimmered in his hair.
So pure.Seth lifted the candle a little higher, and the first drop of melted wax hit Ignaz’s skin.
Ignaz’s smile became broader but somehow sadder. He sighed and knitted his brows. “Lower, please?”
Seth obeyed. This time, the fallen drop made Ignaz give the candle another look. His expression became thoughtful as if he was processing the afterglow of the burn.
“Huh…” Ignaz’s teeth reflected fire as his lips parted. “It’s been forever since I tried it. It does feel good. Warm.” He sighed. “This is nice, Seth. I appreciate the romantic atmosphere, but this is not enough to take the edge off. Maybe a whip?”
Looking into the glinting eyes, Seth brought the candle to Ignaz’s chin. The boy flinched away from the heat.
“No whips. Tonight, I’ll kiss you with fire.” He tilted the candle, and a dribble of wax skidded down Ignaz’s collarbone, extracting a gasp. Ignaz’s breathing hastened. Seth nodded. “That’s it. Concentrate on me because if you lose attention, I’ll burn you.”
