Into Another World - Sean's Story 18

Into Another World - Sean's Story

Part 18

Posted: May 4, 2007
Title: Into Another World - Sean's Story
Author: Ian Howe

Warnings: Branding.

*****

The morning after their return, Ian had approached the Sheik in hopes that with a slight change of tactics, Sean would once again settle. Karl had accepted his valide's suggestion to discontinue Sean's sexual education lectures for a while and agreed to give the blond more time. Sean was finally beginning to accept that his sexuality was determined by more than just his cock. To scare him off now might result in him never voluntarily experiencing the pleasures one could only share with another man.

Following that discussion, Ian had invited Sean for a "nice cup of tea" prior to another meeting with the Sheik. The relief in the blond's eyes at the disclosure that the lectures were to be suspended had spoken volumes. Sean had looked immediately more at ease, and Ian had hurried to further reassure him. "The next time you feel threatened by Hugo or anyone else, please come and see me before doing anything – rash."

With a sheepish smile and in hindsight, Sean had agreed that seeking Ian's counsel might have spared him his ordeal, but how was he supposed to have known that Ian would have gotten Hugo off his arse? And of course, it still hadn't solved his problem of escaping altogether. However, not knowing what was to come, he had decided to display a meek face; he was an actor after all. "I will."

Ian had been satisfied. The blond had appeared composed, so he had addressed another precarious point. "Sean, Sheik Brosnan isn't exactly Karl's best friend, and there are reasons for that. Please tell me, did Pierce do anything you didn't want him to do?

"You mean, besides returning me here?" Sean had growled.

Ian had chuckled. Apparently, the younger man hadn't lost his spunk. "I take that as a no. Now listen carefully. We'll see Karl in a moment, and the less you say about Pierce, the better. In fact, it's probably best if you don't mention him at all."

While they went down the corridor to the Sheik's office, Sean silently agreed, albeit for completely different reasons. His mind was still in turmoil about his fantasy in the shower the night before...

*****

"...had your punishment, let's not speak about it anymore. I have news I meant to share with you the day you left us, and I think you'll like it." Karl had smiled.

Sean had snapped back from his thoughts and blushed. Good thing Urban didn't know what he'd been thinking about! "Yes?"

"My lawyers report that your custody appeal doesn't look completely hopeless, legally speaking, and your ex-wife Mel has apparently convinced Evie's mother that the girl will be happier when she's allowed to see her father. She sent you this," – he had pointed at a large brown envelope, – "but you'll want privacy to open it." Karl had paused when he'd noticed that the other man wasn't listening anymore. "Sean!"

The blond had had to tear his eyes away from the envelope to face Karl.

"Sean, please trust me, I'm trying to help. A few weeks ago, you wouldn't have stood a chance in court."

Sean had blushed when he'd noticed the sincerity in the Sheik's voice. He'd dropped his defences and met Urban's eyes openly. "I know. Thank you. It doesn't mean that I agree to staying here, but I appreciate your support."

Smiling, Karl had handed the envelope to the blond. "You're welcome." He'd dismissed Ian and Sean with a nod.

A few minutes later, Sean had torn the envelope open with shaking hands. It contained a pile of photographs and letters from his girls. He'd swallowed hard at their "we're waiting for you". If the Sheik had read that... Urban simply had to let him go! Mel had also sent her regards and encouraged him to write and keep in touch with his children.

When Sean had met the other men later that day, his eyes had been suspiciously reddened, but the hunted expression from his eyes had been gone.

*****

It was a good week now since Sean's attempt to flee and he felt almost at ease. Without being forced to partake in the abundant sexual activities, he found that he could enjoy the amenities of the oasis. The food was delicious and healthy, and the Sheik's gym and pool made him feel less guilty for indulging. He'd even gotten rid of some flab, and generally felt in much better shape.

Doggedly ignoring the tiny voice in his head that reminded him of the events at Brosnan's oasis, Sean kept himself busy. Most of his afternoons were spent in the library, often in the silent but amiable companionship of Christian. The younger man whose back was slowly healing was still an enigma for Sean. Usually shy and withdrawn, Christian turned into a totally different animal as soon as he entered the pool.

Right now, Christian was fighting a fierce battle against Craig over an inflatable crocodile. It involved much splashing and caused Eric, who was reading close to the pool, to beat a hasty retreat.

"Look at these kids!" The Australian shook his head good-naturedly and sat down next to Viggo and Sean a safe distance from the raging battle.

"The young ones must exhaust their excess energy, and there's only the pool and the gym when you don't count certain other activities." Viggo grinned and ducked his head to escape a beach ball thrown from the water.

"Yeah, I noticed that Karl doesn't encourage us to blow off steam in the neighbourhood." Sean caught the ball and held it out to a glistening wet Christian, who had left the pool to retrieve his weapon. "He wasn't exactly pleased when I took a hike to Sheik Brosnan's place a few days back..."

A high-pitched wail from Christian interrupted his sentence. The younger Brit's face had turned ashen. The beach ball dropped from his hands and he ran toward the house.

Eric glared at Sean, then he went after Christian, shouting, "I'll see to him," at Viggo.

"What?"

Viggo remained silent for a few seconds, then spoke softly. "Pierce Brosnan was the man who hurt and betrayed Christian before Karl took him under his wing. You couldn't know."

"I'm sorry." Sean was genuinely shocked.

Sighing, Viggo replied, "I know you are. You're a good person, Sean, and you had no intentions of harming him. Don't fret. Eric and Ian will take care of Christian. No one will blame you." He gave the blond an encouraging smile.

Sean nodded. "It wasn't my fault, but I still wish I wouldn't have mentioned Pierce."

Viggo was curious, but Sean didn't look like he'd elaborate on the other Sheik, and so the two men sat in silence until Craig reminded them that it would soon be time for dinner.

Neither Ian nor Christian joined them in the dining hall. The Sheik was once again away on a business trip, and the group at the dinner table dispersed soon after Eric had informed them that he had left Christian asleep with Ian at his bedside.

*****

Sean awoke in the middle of the night. Finding that sleep eluded him, he went to the window of his small room and noticed a lone figure sitting by the pool. Despite the distance, he could tell by the body language that whoever it was appeared to be in great turmoil. But Sean already had a pretty good idea who it was.

"Christian?" Afraid to startle the other man, Sean approached him slowly. Christian's eyes were unfocussed, gazing into the distance.

"Everything all right?" As soon as he had said it, Sean knew this was a stupid thing to ask. Of course, nothing was alright, not after what he had learnt this afternoon. He could have kicked himself for asking a question that sounded more like an invitation to small talk. But at least his question offered the younger man an easy way out.

To Sean's surprise, Christian faced him, and when he responded in his quiet and lilting voice, "No, everything is not all right," Sean saw that the hazel eyes were clouded and moist with unshed tears.

After a moment of silence, Christian continued with a question himself. "What did he do to you?"

Sean blinked and tried to stall. "What do you mean?"

"Pierce. What did he do to you?"

The blond's brain was working overtime. "Oh, Brosnan you mean. Well, he was probably too inebriated to do anything. He just made a few snarky comments concerning Karl's virility and parentage, and that was it."

Christian gave no indication as to whether he believed this or not, so Sean hurried to change the topic of their conversation. "I'm sorry about earlier. Viggo once said you were betrayed by a recent, uh, lover, but I had no idea it was Brosnan."

"You aren't to blame; it was between Pierce and me. Besides, how would you have known? I try not to think about the time with him, so I never speak about it." Christian shuddered.

Without thinking, Sean reached out and put his arm around the younger man who stiffened, but then accepted the embrace. "Would you like to tell me?" he asked in a soft voice.

Christian nodded and began to speak haltingly. "I met him in London last year. We did a few scenes together and it was very good." His voice turned dreamy. "Pierce is an amazing Dom... When he offered me a contract, I didn't hesitate to accept it and so I ended up at his place."

Sean wasn't sure he understood all the references, but he got the gist of it. "You mean you went there to live as his slave? I'm sorry; I don't mean to belittle your relationship, only trying to understand." He gave the other man a sheepish smile.

"No, you're right to ask. It's true, I went there to be his slave, but this type of contract is based on mutual consent. For example, it was agreed that Pierce was allowed to hurt me, but he had to stop when I used my safe-word. Also, there were certain things I wouldn't do and his duty was to respect that and take care of me after a beating." Christian smiled wistfully. "I know this must sound strange to you, but being a sub makes me feel secure. It feels good when somebody else is taking responsibility."

This was something Sean could relate to. Hadn't he often wished for some Deus-ex-machina to bring order into his chaotic life, take care of him? Not in the sense the younger man was referring to, of course, but to have somebody lift the weight of his responsibilities from his shoulders now and then.

Christian continued. "It was wonderful in the beginning, but when the contract ran out and I wanted to go back to England, Pierce refused to let me go. I had missed my friends and family too much to sign a longer contract without time off, but he wouldn't hear it. He tied me up and beat me senseless. No way of safe-wording out; he meant business. Then he chained me up in my room to give me what he called time to think. At that point I simply couldn't believe that he wouldn't let me go."

"But when I refused to sign the contract, he grew meaner every day, and he began to really hurt me. Now," he looked into Sean's eyes, "you're probably thinking that since a masochist enjoys pain, what's the point in hurting one, but it makes a huge difference if pain is administered in mutual agreement and you have a say in how far it goes."

"In the end, I signed the contract, if only to be allowed to leave my room. I thought to find a way out and go back to England. Since he broke the rules I didn't feel bound to abide by them either. In particular, since he kept breaking them. He ignored my safe-word, and did things to me that I had explicitly ruled out when we made the original contract."

Sean tried to convey strength and support by holding the young man close, but the other's story shocked him more than he had expected. This was so different from what he had experienced with Urban!

"Finally, I managed to run away, like you did. Pierce had his people hunt me down, and when they brought me back, he decided to teach me and all of his slaves a lesson. On arrival at his oasis, he had all his slaves and staff assemble at the herding place for the camels..."

Christian's voice sank to a whisper and Sean was not sure he wanted to hear this, but he kept his embrace tight. "...where he branded me with his mark, with the same iron he uses to mark his cattle." Christian was shaking violently, as if he were going to fall apart.

Sean vividly remembered the ugly red mark on Christian's hip, and he tightened his arms, pulling the other closer. He noticed that the younger man's skin was cold and clammy, so he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around him. Christian didn't seem to notice.

"After that, he did everything he could to break me. He had nearly succeeded when Karl Urban came for a visit." He blushed. "One of the things Pierce liked to do was to show me off to his guests, whom he then encouraged to debase me. His friends loved this game, but Karl is different. He took me to his tent and looked me over, then decided he wouldn't have me. I begged him to change his mind, knowing that Pierce would punish me if I failed to serve one of his guests, but Karl refused and said he'd talk to Pierce. I was scared Pierce would finally have me killed as soon as Karl had left."

"I don't know what they discussed, but Karl took me with him the next morning. As soon as we were out of eye-shot of Pierce's camp he untied me, then brought me to his place and suggested that he'd return me to England. But I couldn't face the world, so he invited me to stay." Christian smiled. "Karl is looking after me until I'm ready to go home."

"But he treats you as if you were his slave!" Sean protested.

"He offered to be my master and protect me," Christian explained gently. "He provides me with what I need and I thank him for it. Karl would never harm me."

Adoration shone from the young man's eyes and Sean realised that Christian meant what he said. It made sense in a twisted way. Although Urban inflicted pain on Christian, he'd never harm him. Neither would he harm Sean, he was more like a father figure for them – a father figure who fucks his sons up the arse! Great! Sean snorted.

Christian shivered. Time to play the father figure yourself, Bean. "You must be tired. Shall we go in? Come on, you need to sleep."

Trying to remember where the others had their sleeping quarters, Sean noticed how Christian was clinging to him. No, he'd better not leave the lad alone. "You can sleep in my room if you like, no need to wake the others, and, uh, you seem to be cold, it's warmer if we share..." The blond wasn't sure whom he needed to convince, himself or the man in his arms.

Snuffling and rubbing his nose, Christian nodded. Sean kept an arm slung around his charge's shoulders and led him to his own bedroom. Sitting down on Sean's bed with slumped shoulders, Christian let everything happen.

Sean removed the towel and replaced it with a soft blanket, insecure about what to do next. He had vowed to never share his bed with a man, but... He mentally kicked himself. Christian needs you now, and this has absolutely nothing to do with being gay! It's like comforting your daughters. What are you waiting for, Bean?

"Come, lad, lemme keep you warm..." He pulled the younger man into his arms again. Christian struggled and Sean let go immediately.

"I'm sorry; I need to go to the bathroom..." Christian left for the cubicle and returned a minute later. In the soft light, Sean saw that he had removed his piercings. Christian followed his gaze and smiled shyly. "I thought you'd feel more comfortable if I took them off." His tongue flicked nervously over his lips. "May I still stay here?"

"Of course, c'mere!" Sean opened his arms and Christian melted into the embrace. The younger man's head buried against Sean's chest, the blond began to gently rub his back until he finally felt the other's breathing turn even. A few minutes later, Sean was deeply asleep, too.

*****

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