Lust and Chastity - 16. Chapter 16

Finian had never come across a man who frightened him as much as the Elder before him. Not even the playful dominant Nightmares that appeared in his dream, and not even Dale himself made him want to take off running to that alarming degree. As the older man approached him, Fin flattened his back against the couch.

"Show me your chest." Elder Galamin ordered. His words were spoken in a neutral, but commanding tone of voice.

The human shook his head. "Why?"

"Don't question me," Galamin hissed. He moved too fast for Finian to see. One of his hands clutched Finian's throat while the other roughly lifted up his shirt. The way he was held, the human couldn't see the way that the Elder glared furiously at the promise mark on his chest. "That most certainly won't do."

Then, just as suddenly as he launched out at him, the aged Unicorn moved towards the door of his study and spoke to the two men outside. "Take him to my quarters and relieve him of his clothing." He instructed as he stepped back to let the men inside.

Finian tried to run, but he was easily caught. He struggled, more wildly than before, but once again he saw a brief flicker of light and fell unconscious.

When the human next opened his eyes, he was sprawled on a queen sized bed in an uncomfortable position. His neck ached as he carefully sat up and turned his head from side to side to try to alleviate the soreness. He was naked, but a quick glance at the full sized mirror near the door clearly showed his promise mark still intact.

Before he was able to breathe a sigh of relief, Elder Galamin entered the room and locked the door behind him. The young teenager scooted back to the headboard and covered himself with one of the pillows.

The Elder let out a condescending sound. "In spite what you may think, you do not appeal to me in the slightest, young Maiden."

For a moment, Fin thought that perhaps he had misjudged the older man's intentions. But, his fears were once again confirmed as Galamin began to undress one article of clothing at a time. "Why are you doing this?" Finian hissed, his heart lodged in his throat and his stomach quivering in fear. The man was only half a foot taller than Fin, but his menacing aura made him appear much, much larger.

"Why?" Galamin countered. "One would think it obvious. The Montcroix will use your Maiden status as means to reclaim their power. I refuse to allow that to happen." He reached out with a hand, the crest on his forehead glowing. It was in the shape of the rune for separation.

Finian suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Not because his breath was stolen but because his lungs, as well as the rest of his body, could barely move. He couldn't even open his mouth to speak.

Galamin held Finian's face for a moment. "So young and good looking. It really is a pity." He drawled as he rolled Finian onto his stomach and lifted the human's hips. His spell would easily keep him in place. "If you were older, this entire scenario might have played differently. I would have tried to win you over to my side." He commented dryly.

Fin began to feel the panic building, the pure panic of being helpless to whatever was going to happen. He couldn't move, he could barely breathe enough as it was. He couldn't run, couldn't scream. All that he could see were the plain white sheets beneath him.

"I can see it now," Galamin mused as he closed his eyes. "The Montcroix dwindling back down to nothing, nothing but an empty name.Their corporate buildings becoming chains shackling them once again into a mundane existence. And I, Galamin, will hold more power than any other Elder before me!"

A tear began to trickle down the human's cheek. 'Forgive me Alistair.' He thought to himself as he felt the Elder's slicked, foreign fingers stretching him. More tears fell when he felt the older man breaching him.

"A Maiden you were, indeed. Almost painfully tight," Galamin complained. Before his member flagged once again, he closed his eyes and began to rock into the heat, imagining that he was driving himself into Armand Montcroix instead, Alistair's grandfather. "I would have had him better than this. I would have had him until he couldn't walk! Proud and revered Armand Montcroix, reduced to staggering shamefully in front of all Zirao Zion."

Galamin reached down to pull him back roughly by the hair. The Elder's eyes were finally open, but it was as if he didn't even see the human beneath him at all.

"Vain," He snarled, accentuating each word with a violent thrust. "Arrogant. Smartass. Infuriating Montcroix." The last tug was as painful as the grip that the Elder had on the human's hip. Elder Galamin came hard inside the virginal flesh and then quickly pulled back, disgusted with the sight.

With a wave of his hand, the Unicorn released the spell on Finian's body. Without a word, he pulled his clothes back on and left, locking the door behind him.

Finian sobbed and shut his eyes tight as he slowly lowered his knees down, wincing at the pain of that simple movement at all. He had never been in so much pain, not even when Dale beat him up and pinned him with heavy rocks. His body, mind, and spirit were aching to a degree that made him briefly wish for death as a respite. The young man didn't know how or when, but somewhere amidst his weeping and throbbing aches, he blacked out once again.

"So, what do you think?" Synan asked his mate as he turned around.

Quinton let out a low, appreciative whistle. The pewter-haired Nightmare had on a collared shirt with no tie and with the first button undone. His jacket and pants matched the hue of his hair. His shoes were elegant but modern. Overall, he looked ready to take on any corporation, even without that blasted tie. The wheat-blond Unicorn had a feeling that Synan preferred the open collar for both comfort and to show off his silvery, Pisces mating mark.

Quin most certainly approved. "I think you'll be hired on the spot," He admitted.

"I can only hope so," Sy responded, a hint of nervousness in his voice. "To be able to work with the Montcroix is a goal I never knew I wanted."

"You'll be fine." Quin encouraged as he walked over to the Nightmare and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "I'll be waiting for your call."

"...and if it's the bad news?" Synan questioned.

"Then there are other companies," Quin replied with a shrug. "There are other semesters and other internship opportunities."

"Can I still have a slice of chocolate cake even if I don't get the job?" Sy wondered out loud.

"Baby, good news or bad, that slice has your name all over it." Quin countered with a chuckle.

Synan grinned happily, throwing his arms around his muscular mate.

"You're the best!" Sy announced, nuzzling against Quin's chest. The Nightmare sighed heavily as he pulled back. "I suppose I should go before I jump on you and rumple my suit."

Quin leaned down for another kiss, a much sultrier one that time. "Mmm, I think you better go before I jump on you and rumple your suit." He teased back. However, he forced himself to take a few steps back and pressed a kiss to the palm of one of Synan's hands. "I'm proud of you Sy. Now, go show the Montcroix why hiring someone like you will only be a benefit."

The Nightmare turned and took one step out the door only to turn back to face the Unicorn and leaping into his arms again, wrapping his legs around the blond's waist. He gave Quin a kiss that the taller man felt all the way down to his shaft before hopping off and dashing away. "Better have that slice of cake ready for me, among other things!" He called over his shoulder.

When Synan reached the main path, he shifted into his equine form and trotted his way towards the Montcroix headquarters at a leisurely pace. When he was about a block away, he shifted back into his human form and re-adjusted his suit a bit. He frowned when he saw a brief struggle from across the street. The young man that had been hauled onto a Unicorn's equine back had a familiar face, but Sy just couldn't quite place it. The Unicorns that grabbed him looked familiar, too. They were undoubtedly one of the Elders' henchmen. Should he notify the security guards in the building? Since they were between two buildings, which building should he notify?

The young man's head began to spin as he wondered what he should do first. He frowned as he looked up at the Montcroix headquarters. Royal or not, there was a saying that had persisted throughout the years: One should never keep a Montcroix waiting. Figuring that the Montcroix themselves could do something about what he just witnessed, Synan rushed across the street and entered the building. "Hi, my name's Synan. I'm here for the possible intern position." He told the receptionist so quickly that he had to repeat himself before she could understand.

"Mr. Raj will be right down in just a moment, please have a seat." The mixed Nightmare at the reception desk responded as she quickly dialed Raj's office extension.

Not a moment later, Raj Montcroix stepped out of the elevator and extended a hand out to greet him. "Raj Montcroix. You must be the student I've heard so much about, The Negotiator, in Scholar Neleus's class."

"Yes, that's absolutely me, and I'm really looking forward to the interview," Sy's voice dropped to a whisper, "but I think I saw some of the Elders' guards, well, kidnap some poor guy. I think he was human, but I'm not sure." The Nightmare wrung his hands nervously, certain that he was completely screwing up his chances at the internship. He couldn't just leave it, though. He'd been taken by an Elder himself when he was younger, weaker. He couldn't stand to just look the other way like so many others would.

"I need to report it to someone. But a lot of the City Guard are in the Elders' pockets." Synan wrapped his arms around himself as his stomach tied itself in knots. "Somebody needs to help him." He clenched his teeth and straightened his spine. He wasn't some poor helpless street kid anymore. "I'll go bang on the Elders' doors myself if I have to."

Sy tightened his hands into fists and tried to think brave thoughts as he turned away from Raj and started to march toward the entryway.

Raj frowned. "A human, you say?" He questioned. "What did-"

However, before the mixed Nightmare could ask any further, his cousin walked over to him.

"Raj," Alistair said quickly. "Have you seen Finian today?"

"Fin?" Sy piped up, spinning on his heel, eyes widening. In a flash, memories of the blue-eyed human flickered before his eyes, followed immediately by the face of the blonde human that had been assaulted. "That's who the guy looked like! But his hair color was wrong. It was super blond!"

"You've seen Finian?" Alistair demanded. "Where?"

"I..." Synan flinched backward as the larger Nightmare loomed over him. "I don't think it was him. It was a blond guy." Sy shook his head, his voice lowering. "Somebody has to help him, though. The Elders' men took him. They'll hurt him. The Elders like to prey on the weak. They chew them up and spit them out broken!"

Alistair couldn't think, couldn't process what the young Nightmare was telling him. The Elders had taken Fin?!

"Our Finian is blonde!" Raj explained. "Blond with navy blue eyes and a small mole just beneath his eye."

"Fin's blond now? Oh, fuck!" Synan paled. "The Elders have him...He was very nice to us. I'd never have found Quin if it weren't for him." He looked beseechingly into Raj's eyes. "I'll do anything you want! Please, help me help him. You don't know what they'll do to him!"

Raj swallowed hard. For an Elder to kidnap Finian could mean many things, and not a single one of those things were of good intentions. "Could you tell us more about the men you saw? Can you think of which Elder it could be?"

"I'm not totally sure. It's not the one that took me...I mean, shit." Synan ran a hand through his hair, messing up the careful style. "I think..." He closed his eyes, trying to remember. They popped open a moment later. "It looked like Galamin's crest on their shoulders. I'm not sure, though."

"Galamin," Alistair growled, his cobalt eyes darkening. "I'll gut him," he hissed.

When Finian came to, the first thing he saw was white. They were Elder Galamin's white sheets, which meant that he was still on the Unicorn's bed and it wasn't all just a nightmare from hell. He had been taken against his will.

With a start, the human shoved himself away from the white sheets, unable to stand the sight of them. The momentum was more than he had anticipated because he ended up rolling right off the bed and onto the floor.

"Hah!" he hissed in agony as his hip collided with the ground, the tension of his body amplifying the pain of his core. For a moment, he couldn't bring himself to move. The pain continued to radiate up his lower back and out towards his entire midsection.

Finian gritted his teeth and turned until he could use his knees to pull himself upright. He then stood on shaky legs. As his gaze fell on the bed, he saw the area where Galamin's seed had leaked onto the white sheets. The young man took a sharp intake of breath at the sight and then began to furiously tug the sheets off the bed and onto the floor. For that small moment of pure anger, he managed to ignore the pain that his frantic movements had caused.

"AAAARGH!" he yelled, clenching his fists and curling into himself until his vocal chords began to ache. He then took several shaky breaths, unaware of when tears had started to roll down his face.

A small glint drew Fin's attention to the mirror. A coldness surrounded his heart like a blanket of snow as he approached the mirror one step at a time. He could no longer feel the physical pain of his body. As his hand pressed against the full-length mirror, he felt a pain of an entirely different sort. The promise mark was gone, the one he had meant to bestow upon Alistair. Finian's throat closed up into a tight knot as the tears continued to flow. He collapsed down onto his knees, his body hunching over.

'Allie, forgive me!' he thought to himself as he slammed the bottom of a closed fist against the mirror.

:::

Raj, Alistair, and Synan rushed over to the Montcroix mansion to plan their next step. Sy called his mate to have him meet up with them at the mansion, as well. Jack and Lee'en were already there, as was Habacuc, who had just returned from watching over Robert in the other dimension.

"Wow, the whole gang seems to be here," Jack mused as he nodded a greeting towards Quin and Synan, Lee doing the same. Both were surprised to see them there. "What's going on?"

"Fin has been taken by an Elder. We think it was Galamin, that conniving bastard," Alistair told them, his voice tight and hard. "We don't know the why of it yet, but we have a good idea." The Nightmare's hands clenched into fists as he tried to control his anger. "The Elders have stewed in bitterness for longer than I've lived over the power and influence of the Montcroix. Over the years, they've lashed out at our family with foolish and petty machinations that have always failed. However, they've never acted directly, so we were limited in our ability to retaliate."

Alistair began to pace as he spoke, needing some sort of outlet for the turmoil inside him.

"If Galamin has Fin, he's in serious danger. I'd like nothing more than to kick down the viper's door and choke him until they produce Finian, safe and well." Alistair glanced to his cousin, Raj. "But cooler heads have made me realize that we can't simply storm the Elder's mansion. If Fin is there, they'd...they'd likely hide or kill him before we can reach him." He looked to his family and friends imploringly. "We need a plan. We need to confirm Fin's location and then extract him safely."

"Finian...are you seriously saying an Elder kidnapped Finian?" Lee'en questioned out loud. The Unicorn knew about some of the Elders being corrupted, but he couldn't fathom that the Head Elder, Galamin, would go so far.

"Don't sound so shocked!" Synan snapped. "They may leave their precious Unicorns alone, for the most part. But the Elders have been kidnapping Nightmares for decades. You have no idea what they're capable of."

"Even so, why take a Maiden?" Lee countered.

"To hinder the Montcroix," Raj explained. "A Maiden mated into the Montcroix would give our family more influence. Enough, perhaps, to even reclaim our previous royal status."

"That could happen?" Synan asked, shocked. "The Elders would lose nearly all their power if the Montcroix were royals again." His hands shook as he reached for Quin, needing the comfort of his mate. "They'd do anything to keep that from happening."

Quinton held Synan against him. He, too, was worried about their friend. "So, how are we going to confirm Fin's location?" He asked out loud.

"They have wards that trigger an alarm if a Nightmare or Unicorn enter uninvited...or leave," Sy explained from the safety of Quin's arms. "There are too many wards to sneak through, as well. They have them overlapped."

"What about a human?" Jack asked. "Would I set off the alarms?"

A moment passed where the Unicorns, Nightmares, and mixed Nightmares in the room all set their gazes on Jack.

"No, absolutely not!" Lee'en huffed. "It's too dangerous, big guy."

"As much as I agree with Lee, I don't think there's any other choice." Raj countered.

"Finian would have my hide if I put you in danger, Jack," Alistair said seriously.

"He won't have the chance if we can't get in there and find him!" the human said, voice rising. "I won't let you bench me when I have a chance to help. He's my best friend!"

Lee's hand dropped from where it was on Jack's shoulder. He felt a pang in his heart at his words, because Finian had become his best friend, as well. The Unicorn never had someone close enough to call a friend before he came across that young man, and many new friends presently surrounded him because of Fin.

"Alright," The pink Unicorn whispered as he took a step back and tried to hold back his tears. If Lee started crying, he just knew that Synan would start joining in until the two of them were bawling messes. "Where should we be while Jack does his thing?"

Jack's expression softened. He stepped towards his pink-haired mate, pulling him close.

"Hey, I'll be alright," the human whispered. "I'm too stubborn to let some assholes get the best of me." He kissed the heart crest on Lee'en's forehead. "But if you tell me not to go, I won't. Fin's my best friend, but you're my man, my mate. Ask me anything, and I'd do it for you, baby."

"Go," Lee responded softly. "Find him, find our bestie."

"There is a farm just beyond the border of Galamin's mansion." To everyone's surprise, it was Habacuc who spoke up. "If he truly is the Elder that kidnapped him, then that is where we could potentially pave the way for young master Jack to enter the mansion."

"How do you know of this?" Quin wondered aloud.

"The farm sells fresh produce to the chef on a regular basis," Habby explained. "It is run by my sister."

"Perhaps your sister might need another employee," Alistair suggested. "An employee with a tendency to wander off into Galamin's mansion."

"That's funny," Jack said with a grin, as he looked at the Nightmare over the top of Lee'en's cotton candy pink hair. "I was just thinking about getting a job on a farm. I do tend to take breaks, though...Very long, investigation-type breaks."

"Then, I'll contact her right away." The scholar stated. His thoughts instantly went to the young man's father. "Sir Robert!" He gasped as he glanced towards Alistair. "He must be notified about this!"

"Pfft, if you can pull him out of the bottom of a bottle long enough to listen or care," Jack snapped bitterly. "Look, I don't say this shit in front of Fin. He loves his dad. But that drunk has never been there for him, not even when his mom died. All you'll accomplish is giving Robert another excuse to drown his liver."

"Sir Robert is trying his best, he lost his life partner and did what he could to keep his son fed and sheltered!" Habacuc countered. "And he would be hard-pressed to drown his liver once I cross him over."

"Habs, you want to cross him over?" Raj questioned. "Isn't that infinitely more dangerous for non-virgin adults over the age of 25?"

A slight tinge of red formed on the Nightmare scholars cheeks. "Not for a virgin adult over the age of 25."

"What are you talking about, for him to have had Fin in the first place-" Lee'en thought out loud only to let out a loud gasp. "Habby, are you a Nightmare Maiden!?"

"If Habacuc can bring him over safely, I support it." Alistair raised a hand, halting further comment. "His status as a Maiden is his own business unless he asks for advice or support." Alistair gave Jack and Lee'en a hard look. "That means no attempting to find him a mate or lover unless he directly requests assistance."

Jack's mouth snapped closed on whatever he was about to say, though keeping his sex-positive words behind his teeth looked almost painful. Jack loved sex like Finian loved food.

"We won't, we won't," Lee grumbled in response, folding his arms across his chest in response.

"Good. Jack, get what you need in order to stay at the farm for a few days," Alistair nodded to the human. "Habacuc, let me know if there's any assistance you might need." The Nightmare turned to Synan. "I'm going to be investigating and planning to free Finian, assuming that Galamin has him. Any help will be welcome. I'll likely see if Master Lucien and my parents would help as well."

"Of course." Sy nodded, his pewter-tinted fauxhawk bobbing.

"Raj? Lee'en?" Alistair inquired.

Raj wrapped his arm around Lee's waist. "We'll be at the farm waiting for our mate and gathering intel from Galamin's servants." He suggested as he gazed down at the pink-haired Unicorn.

Lee'en let out a sigh of relief and snuggled against the gentle giant. "I'm with you, Colossus."

"We're getting Finian back," Alistair growled. "And if it is, indeed, the Elders who took him, they will tremble when we bring our wrath down upon them."