Secrets Of The Souls

[DonQuixote]

Angelus,
I know how you feel. My post wasn't picture perfect, either!

Enjoy the process. We don't want to make you crazy over the syntax. We want you to be able to just slip into an easier to step back and see the work as it is, mode! That's a tricky thing to accomplish, when you're the author.

Thanks for the exact quote, Autolycus. I hope you agree it's an appropriate one for Angelus -- there is a lot of promise before us in his offerings.

And, yes, I'm afraid my Mother In-Law was fond of Lead On instead of Lay On, and I tended to echo her words. My children, who have inherited their parents' obsessive tendencies in at least language, I'm afraid, as well as a flair for the dramatic and literary, have taken serious exception to this and chastised me severely over the years.

Keep up the good work, Angelus. The editing ability will improve with practise and time. I was really trying to pay you a compliment, not beat you up.

 

[Autolycus]

My High School English teacher would be really disappointed that I didn't recognise that Macbeth quote.

Anyway, thanks for the comments guys, gonna go over them again carefully, and DonQuixote I read over that last installment at least thrice before posting and didn't notice the missing pronouns. I swear they disappear in the process of posting, will try to be more careful in future.

The next chapter will be up later tonight or tomorrow.

It has been my experience that when text is uploaded onto the story board there is some degree of error generated by the process. I always use Microsoft Office to create text, I spell and grammar check it before posting here and sure enough I find words get replaced!

So, I accept what you say and that is why I check so many of the stories posted here, not only for content but also to ensure that the computer has not been playing naughty games!

Thanks for your story - it makes an excellent read.

 

[angelus]

Hey there everyone. Here's the new chapter. I tried to doing the final edit after I'd posted it, and I hope that that minimises the grammar errors and so on. DonQuixote, I know it's all constructive critique, which I greatly appreciate and to try to minimise further the errors I've done my final edit on the JUB, and not on Microsoft Word. Sorry about the length, it's kinda short but it's integral to where the story's going (or so I hope you think...)
Enjoy!


Chapter 5

Daniel Keller sat impassively behind his desk. He was into the last thirty minutes of his consultation time and was waiting for Carter Winthrop. The moment he'd seen what was happening between Carter and Eric the night before, he'd known for certain that something had to be done, he had to stop it. There was no way that Carter would get in his way. Because if there was one thing he knew it was this; Eric was his, his chance to find what he’d always been looking for, somebody who’d be there for him through everything, always be the support that he needed. And though Eric didn’t know that yet, he, Daniel Keller, did, and that was enough. With time, Daniel was certain that Eric would appreciate the very special nature of the relationship that was budding between them and if there was one that Daniel would not stand for, it would be for Carter to get in his way.

Pouring himself another cup of strong black sugarless coffee, the smell wafting through his office, Daniel thought about Carter Winthrop. While Daniel had never actually had much to do with Carter he was fully aware of whom he was, it wasn’t as though Illyria was over-run with members of the British aristocracy. But there was another thing that had brought Carter to his notice; Carter was one of those people.

Although nobody was ever willing to say it outright to Daniel, Daniel was fully aware of those people. People who when he joined a group discussion at a faculty event, would suddenly find that there drinks needed topping up or that somebody whom they had not seen in a long time was in the room, those people who just couldn’t stand to be where he was.


He knew it was because they disapproved of him, believed that he preyed on innocent unknowing students. But Daniel didn’t care, as far as he was concerned, these people just didn’t understand him. They didn’t know that every one of those students he’d been with, he’d loved. They didn’t know that every time that they turned on him, when they suddenly changed, when it became clear they were not who he was destined to be with, he was let down in the hardest of ways for it was yet another failure, another disappointment, another hope dashed. And Carter was one of those who failed to understand that basic truth. Daniel had seen the disapproving looks he received from him, the taciturn way he always was towards him whenever forced to interact with him. But today all that would change.

Mostly Daniel didn’t care that this was how people saw him, there was only one thing that Daniel sought after and that was love, and with every fibre of who he was, Daniel was certain that Eric was the one and only person who could give to him what he wanted.


Slowly Daniel let his mind wander back to Eric, the way in which he hid those deep brown eyes of his underneath his heavy fringe, afraid of what they didn’t want know, afraid of the feelings that were clearly there between Daniel and Eric. The memory of Eric’s stop-start speech whenever they spoke brought a gentle smile to his face. The smile slowly slipped off as he began to think of Carter and the danger that he posed, there was no way that Carter or anyone else for that matter would endanger Eric, he would protect him by whatever means necessary.


At that moment Daniel was awakened out of his reverie by a gentle knock as the door gently opened, “Professor Keller,” asked Carter as he walked in softly.

“Aah, Mr. Winthrop, or would you prefer Lord Winthrop,” asked Daniel, the most genial of smiles on his face as he hid the contempt he felt for Carter, fully aware just how much his plan depended on Carter's total trust.

“Carter’s just fine sir,” replied Carter, visibly relaxing, although also plainly embarrassed at his title being brought up.

“Well in that case, Call me Daniel,” said Daniel, pleased to see Carter seem less apprehensive at the surprise call in. Pouring himself another cup of coffee Daniel asked offhandedly, “Care for some coffee?”

“No thank you, Prof…”

“No no – Daniel, please.”

“Alright – Daniel,” swallowing hard before speaking, Carter said, “I hate to seem impolite, but I was rather surprised at your message this morning, so I’m quite perplexed at what all this is about.”

Calmly leaning against the desk in front of the chair Carter sat in, purposefully in Carter’s personal space Daniel calmly said putting on a studied air as he sipped on his coffee, “Yes. Well I understand, it must be unnerving to receive a phone call from a professor you have no prior relationship with so early in the morning.”

Laughing a bit Carter replied, “Well unnerving is certainly one way to put it I suppose.”

“I apologise for that. However, I’m certain that my proposal will be quite welcome to you,” at the mention of a proposal Carter’s eyebrow lifted slightly. Leaning in close to Carter and lingering there a moment before reaching to the small coffee table behind Carter’s chair, Daniel said rifling through the papers he’d pulled from the stack on the table, “I’ve recently realised that despite everything that I’ve said to the dept heads about not needing research assistants it turned out I was wrong. I’m sure you’ve heard of the epic fights.”


Laughing politely Carter replied, “Oh I have. I was even outside Professor Friedman’s office once when he tried to get you to take one of us on last year.”

“Oh that was quite a big one. But either way it’s good you witnessed that, you understand how passionately I feel about this. When I realised I needed a research assistant I started going through all the grad students’ work that was available for me to get my hands on and the second I came across yours, it immediately jumped out at me, I just had to have you,” Daniel said, gently shaking Carter’s essays and papers at him.

Smiling again, Carter said, “Thank you, Prof… I mean Daniel. I’m very flattered you’d consider my work…”

“I don’t like where it sounds like you’re going with your answer Carter,” said Daniel hiding his irritation at Carter’s seemingly imminent refusal behind a good-natured tone of voice and beguiling smile.

“No no, Prof… I mean Daniel – It’s gonna take some time for me to get used to that – what I wanted to say was that you’re offering, to work with you, is like the holy grail to us grad students, and that’s not an exaggeration at all. But the thing is, my research interests and yours don’t really intersect, I mean for me it would be a boon just to work and learn from you but you’d be much better served by somebody whose research interests lie in your field.”

Smiling while inwardly breathing a sigh of relief, Daniel said, “That may be true, but the thing is I want a fresh insight into the material I’m working with. Something that you, as somebody with not much prior knowledge of Popular Cultural studies can certainly provide. Also, your skills in writing and research are truly astounding, that’s clearly apparent from your work. I don’t even need to read the referral from that old fart-bag Franklin Meyers to know that.”

Now smiling broadly and noticeably much more at ease Carter said, “Wow Daniel, thank you. You should write that up, it’s even better than what Professor Meyers wrote in my referral. I don’t know what to say.”

“Well I certainly know what I think you should say,” Daniel replied, a broad smile of his own on his face, “Come on, you said it yourself, it’s the holy grail of opportunities and nobody says no to the holy grail when it’s being handed to them.”

“This is totally unexpected,” said Carter looking off his smile dropping for a second before it returned full force as he said, “but as you said yourself, I couldn’t say no to this. I accept!”

“Well I’m very glad to hear that,” said Daniel pleased to see his plan coming together, “But there’s a lot of work ahead of us. I think to reacquaint yourself with the basics of the work that we’ll be doing, you should sit in on my History of Popular Culture lectures.” Getting up from where he sat and walking round to grab some papers for Carter to sign Daniel said, “If that goes well, perhaps you could even take a few of the tutorial classes.”

“That would be amazing,” said Daniel beaming from excitement at the prospect ahead of his as he signed the papers making it all official.

“Well – I’m sorry but you’ll have to excuse me, I have to prepare for my lectures,” Daniel said, ushering Carter out of the office.

“Thank you again and I guess I’ll see you this afternoon,” said Carter as he walked out of the office.

Daniel gave him one last goodbye smile before he closed the door. “Yes, it was all going according to plan,” thought Daniel to himself.

 

[Autolycus]

Excellent continuation and you still have us on a hook waiting for more!

 

[DonQuixote]

Angelus,
I agree wholeheartedly. The intrigue keeps building. The question that pops into my head instantly is, Is Carter sincere in his surprise and acceptance of the "TA" position, or is he completely aware of the Professor's duplicitous nature, and on the ball enough to have already planned on using the position proactively to protect Eric?

Based on his banter with his bedmate, I have to believe he is extremely smooth in accepting the position as a means of running interference. But, since we are informed of the situation, if you will, from Daniel's perspective, it's difficult to discern definitively.

I feel poor Eric is about to become a severely disabused shuttlecock in this game, as The Good Lord Winthrop, grad student, tries to protect him from the sadly misunderstood, aka Psychotic, Professor Keller.

I've just finished catching up in Watching Brad, so my reading appetite is suitably whetted, and ready for your next installment! I love a good, well stirred plot as it thickens in the cauldron!

 

[nakhoncon]

it is so touch and i don't think this will happen in real life but it exist. cool

 

[angelus]

Hey there, sorry for the lack of the chapter last week, I went away for a wedding and when I got to where we were, there was a total lack of internet connectivity and this at quite a pricey beach hotel/resort, sometimes I forget that I live in the developing world. Anyway hope you enjoy and please post your thoughts, even if it's to say you don't like it. I wanna hear from as many people as possible. Not only do I enjoy them some of the comments actually cause me to rethink and rewrite aspects and outcomes in the story.
Thanks
Angelus

Chapter 7

Eric sat at his computer with his shirt off, just whiling the time away the time till his next lecture. Even with the windows open the heat of the late summer sun made his room just a bit too hot. Sitting there, letting his mind drift from what was on the screen, slowly sipping on a ice-cold cola, Eric smiled softly as his mind drifted off to the memory of the night before. For a night that had started so horribly the end had been rather wonderful.

Those hours that he and Carter had spent together at both the hospital and the diner had been amazing. The captivating manner in which his eyes twinkled, always as a precursor and warning to those little quips of his. The accent that seemed to grow stronger and more pronounced as the time passed. The way in which even without purposefully trying to do it, he seemed to get Eric to open up more and more about himself, more than he’d ever been able to talk about to anyone ever since – ever since what had happened. All these to Eric, had made what had made the night a memory to cherish for Eric.

As quickly and as wonderfully as the memories of Carter and the night before had entered his mind, Eric’s mind wondered back to Professor Keller. The way in which his eyes bored into him, seeming to desperately claw away at the layers and walls that Eric had built around himself. Everytime that Professor Keller had fixed his eyes upon him, looked at him, stared at him, Eric had felt his heart skip not a beat, but multiple beats, there was just something about the Professor...


While they were different, there was something that Eric could not deny, was so similar in both Carter and Prof. Keller. In their own ways, Carter so softly, gently, calmingly called to him. Whereas with Prof. Keller there was such a fervour there, such a desperation, which however different from Carter also ultimately called to Eric.


“Well whatever this all is. None of it’s coming to anything. Carter or Professor Keller, totally off bounds,” Eric announced to himself loudly, attempting to clear his mind of both Carter and the Professor.

“I knew it!” came a shout from Donna as she bounded into Eric’s room surprising home as she did so. “I knew it, you were just playing dumb yesterday with Professor Keller and," she said drawing out the syllable as though savouring the moment, "there was something going between you and your lil’ James Bond!”

Eric rolled his eyes as he got up from his desk clearing stuff up around the room, “Ok Donna, you got me, but as you eavesdropped it’s all gonna come to nothing, it’s stupid little crushes.”

Flopping onto Eric’s bed fanning herself with a loose sheaf of papers Donna said with a breath of exasperation, “That may be what it is right now and if you do your usual thing and just sit here daydreaming about it that’s where it’ll stay.” Unexpectedly flipping around and turning to Eric she said plaintively, “Come on Eric, you’ve got to get out there, you’re like a hottie-extraordinaire. Like a million guys would kill to get with you…”

Jumping in Eric said, “Not to say that I think you’re right about the whole million guys thing, but I don’t want to be gotten with.” Looking off a bit he said, “Donna I don’t wanna do the usual young gay guy thing, sleep around with anyone and everyone who gives me the slightest look. I did that, and I don’t wanna go back there. I want more. I want something special.”

Lifting an eyebrow sardonically “Guess who’s been watching to many Julia Roberts movies?”

“No Donna, I’m serious. I know it’s a cornball thing but it’s what I want. I want something that’s gonna last more than one night; I just want that thing that they’re always going on about.”

“ ’kay, I get whatcha saying but in-between all this love and happiness for ever and ever thing you have going, have you ever thought that you’re only gonna be young once, and that’s what we are, young. This is our time to have fun, to explore, to find out.”

“You’re not hearing me are you? I just said that I’ve already done that…”

Sitting up from the bed and looking at Eric head-on, Donna said, subdued, “But Eric, that – all of that – what you went through, It was all because of…” The look that Eric shot her stopped her dead in her tracks. Pausing a bit noticeably anxious about this side to Eric, Donna kept on, “it wasn’t because you were looking for fun, you were trying to get away from everything else. You still need to give yourself a chance for fun, for play,” her usual exuberance slowly returning as she lay back onto the bed and went on, “to find cute boys and just let go.”

Grabbing a towel, to get ready for his 2nd shower of the day, exasperated Eric said, “No Donna, you’re not getting me at all on this, I don’t want fun, I want something more meaningful. You of all people should understand why…” Eric’s voice slowly trailed off as the memories started to flood his mind.

Lying there as Eric got ready to go take his shower, Donna was silent for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip, “Okay, I get what you’re saying, but either way, you need to get out there, show people that you’re open to finding, actually looking for this ‘something special’ you want.” Her usual jokey nature coming forth again, Donna continued, “Something special is out there and as I said, as a result of too much Julia, I think you believe that it’s gonna happen magically. This is life, no ‘diffident’ British chap is gonna bump into you pouring a cup of orange juice down your shirt resulting in – sparks! Seriously though, don’t be so busy looking for the sparks that you miss what’s right in front of you.” With a playful glint in here eye Donna said, “Actually maybe I’m wrong – you know the blonde plays with the brain – because come to think of it, you’ve found yourself a diffident British guy, he sorta-kinda bumped into you, okay there may be no orange juice, but hey it would never be perfect would it?”

Laughing at that last statement Eric said as he towards the door, “You know Donna, you were on a roll there, for a second, and the Donna that I know just had to come back.”

“Just think about what I said,” shouted Donna as Eric left the room.

* * * * * * * *


“Hello there, anyone home,” asked Carter gently knocking on Eric’s door, “oh, I’m sorry – uhhmm – I was hoping to catch Eric before Professor Keller’s class,” Carter said stepping back slightly as Donna opened the door.

The smile on her spreading as she saw who it was at the door, Donna said, “Aah, Prince William, so strange that we should be standing like this, I pretty much expected you to be letting me in this morning.”

Carter laughing and shaking his head said, “Firstly it’s Carter, and if you really want to be proper, it’s Lord Winthrop, don’t know William that well, he’s a nice enough bloke and all, but I wouldn’t want to be him,” whispering he finished, “crazy family and – I do like my hair.”

Flopping back down onto the bed Donna looking over her nails, “Lord is it? Well, that’s interesting, but forget that, you know the prince.” A faint smile on her face as she stared off she said, “I’ve always figured myself as somewhat royal – Princess Donna, fits well – so can I have his number?”

A strange look on his face Carter stammered a bit before answering, “somehow I don’t see her majesty approving of an American to take over her title one day, besides, monarchs-in-waiting marrying Americans… Not a good history there.”

Rapidly turning her attention back to Carter, Donna said slyly, “Oh I see, a lowly American commoner is not good enough for your dear motherland, yet here you are, deeming yourself good enough for my Eric, how presumptuous.”

“As I said last night…”

“No, this morning dear.”

“Ok, this morning then, but not in the ‘this morning’ you’re insinuating – you’ve got the entire story between Eric and me wrong. We’re only friends, actually I’m not even sure we’re friends, I’ve known him less that 24hrs…” Carter stopped speaking for a second, the strange look on his face even stranger, looked at Donna and said incredulous, “You don’t care?”

A look of pure innocent bafflement on her face Donna asked, “Care? About what?”

“What I said!”

“That there’s nothing going on between you and Eric – like I’m an idiot or something – that hardly surprises me.” Seeming to find her nails fascinating again Donna said carefully inspecting them, “All I’ve heard you say since I’ve met you is either, ‘I’m sorry,’ or ‘there’s nothing going on between me and Eric.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about! The Lord thing!”

“What Lord thing?”

“The fact that I’m a Lord, I’m Lord bleeding Winthrop”

With feigned shock Donna leapt from the bed asking, “You’re bleeding?!?”

It was at that exact moment Eric walked into a scene that thoroughly threw him. They all stood there for a moment Carter and Eric unsure what to make of the situation, particularly the situation that Eric was dressed in nothing but a towel, a towel that had barely been used as he was still dripping water.

With a simpering smile Donna said, “Well boys that’s my cue to leave. Don’t think my mother would be too pleased to find me here what with 2 boys one naked and a bed, no not at all, mother would most certainly disapprove.” Slowly walking up to Eric, Donna whispered into his ear, “Hope that shower wasn’t cold, wouldn’t want you embarrassing yourself, and think about what we were talking about earlier.” Looking to Carter she said, an eyebrow arched suggestively, “Goodbye, milord,” looking back to Eric she finished sashaying out the door, “So very presumptuous.”

The door closed, leaving Carter and Eric alone, very much uncomfortable, Carter was the first to crack, “I’m sorry – uhhmm – I just came to check up on you.”

“Oh I’m fine.” Another awkward silence descended between them after Eric’s abrupt answer.

“Where’s your crutch…” “A Lord…” they both spoke at the same time, desperate to fill the silence that engulfed the room.

Laughing slightly as Eric gave a shy smile, Carter said, “Yes – a Lord, you’re friend had me going there for a minute.”

“Well Donna can get to people like that. It’s best not to get into a back and forth with her. I’ve known her for years and I’m yet to see her gotten the better of,” answered Eric as he awkwardly grabbed a second towel and started to vigorously towel himself off.


In that second he totally forgot about his injured ankle and with a yelp of pain went tumbling headlong into the arms of Carter. After a moment of silence, where neither Carter nor Eric dared nor sought to move, Carter said in a breathy voice, “Well by now you should certainly be comfortable here.”

Careful to not to step too heavily on his left ankle, Eric again found himself disentangling himself from Carter’s arms and went for his crutch, “Sorry about that, the whole injured ankle thing totally left my mind,” lifting the crutch apologetically, he went on, “thought showering would be easier without this.”

Straightening his clothes out with a tight smile on his face, Carter answered with a terse, “Makes sense.”

Eric was concerned as another uncomfortable silence descended upon the room. In all the day-dreams that had slipped through the tight gates he’d constructed to hold his imagination at bay, when he and Carter were together uncomfortable silences were not a feature, conversation flowed freely between them, as freely as it had last night. Something was different today, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, but something nonetheless, “Is everything okay?”

“Of course, why would you ask that,” Carter asked, the distinct absence of his usual easygoing smile signalling to Eric that he wasn’t exactly being truthful.

Hobbling to his wardrobe to get some clothes unsure of what to say, “Well, I don’t know really, you just seem… kinda different from last night. I dunno really, less talkative?”

A smile returning to his face again Carter said, taking Donna’s place on the bed, “Oh so you enjoyed my conversation last night did you. Even the parts that you seemed to not enjoy,” he finished that patented twinkle in his eyes again.

Smiling as he slipped a t-shirt over his head Eric said, “My teachers always said be careful what you wish for, shoulda listened to them.”

With a playful sound of disappointment in his voice Carter couldn’t stop himself from saying pointing to the t-shirt, “Now why’d you have to go and do that, I was thoroughly enjoying the view.” A shy laugh from Eric brought a warm feeling through Carter, a feeling that should’ve told him what was happening, but Carter was so oblivious to it, too busy living and enjoying the moment between him and Eric.

Surprising both himself and clearly Carter, Eric said, deciding to take Donna’s advice, “Well seeing as I’ve shown you mine, maybe you should show me yours.”

“My isn’t our little Eric getting ballsy all of a sudden.”

“Harder to take it than it is to dole out?”

Laughing out loud now as he got off the bed and started going around the room, looking at the books and magazines scattered about Carter said, “I’ll overlook the obvious double entendre there, it’s much too easy.”

“So a Lord you say, that’s – uhhmm – I don’t know what it is. What’s the protocol when someone tells they’re a Lord?” asked Carter once having successfully gotten himself into a pair of shorts.

“Yep, a Lord.” Standing up straight Carter formally intoned, “Carter Richard Edward Winthrop, son and heir apparent to Henry Winthrop, the 9th Duke of Lincolnshire, and 120th in line to the British throne,” taking a seat opposite from Eric he continued, “I’m particularly proud of that, just need to bump off 119 people and I get to be King. But in all seriousness though, it means nothing to me, that whole system is so ridiculous,” looking down and his voice dropping a bit as he spoke Carter said, “people think that it’s just a bit of fun, but even in this day and age that whole system can be so destructive.”

Seeing that there was clearly something there, Eric was quiet a bit before asking, “Was it why you left England?”

Quietly, frowning slightly, Carter answered, “Part of the reason. I also wanted to get to know where my mother came from, what made her who she was. But let’s forget about all that,” said Carter visibly brightening, “There was actually another reason why I came here, I’ve got some news.”

Eric as somebody who himself knew all there was to know about keeping things hidden, immediately recognised in Carter, something there, something that was being hidden away, something that Carter hid behind his front of bravado and flirtation, but decided to let things be. He hated being forced to talk about all the things he’d have rather forgotten and would never do that to somebody else, if Carter wanted to tell him what was up, he would. “So what’s the news?”

“Well, today I got a call from none other than Professor Keller,” he’d no sooner said the name before that same look that had been on Eric’s face the night when they’d discussed him, returned again, and this time Carter pressed on, “What’s with you and Keller?”

“What do you mean,” replied Eric not being entirely effective in hiding his blush as he pretended to search for a pair of shoes.

“I mean that thing, whatever it is, that comes over you whenever it is I mention Professor Keller,” looking harder at Eric, “has he – I don’t know – come onto you or something?”

The question hung there for a moment before Eric forced out a laugh, “Are you joking? You cannot possibly be serious with that.”

“Eric I’m not joking here. Has he said or done anything that’s you made you – I don’t know – uncomfortable.”

Getting up off from opposite and grabbing himself another Coke from the bar fridge that hummed away in the corner, “Okay Carter this is seriously ridiculous. Firstly he’s my professor, there’s nothing going on there. But more importantly and to be honest with you, I don’t like the way you asked me that.”

Getting off from the bed moving towards Eric, “I know that’s what you think, but Daniel’s – Daniel can be so insidious. He’s dangerous; I’m just trying to look out for you.”

What Carter said set off a side of Eric that Carter had never seen before. Whipping around eyes flashing a different sort of fire Eric said, barely able to hold himself together, “I’m going to say this one time and one time only Carter. I don’t need you to look out for me; I’m more than capable of looking out for myself.”

“You’re not getting me…”

His voice rising as the anger in him rose Carter forcefully placed the soda can on the table, “Carter. I’m getting you just fine. It’s just that I don’t like what I’m getting. I can look after myself!”

His own anger rising in turn Carter replied, “You know Eric, saying it over and over again won’t make it true. You’re in a whole different world here, you’re mother isn’t here to protect you from the big baddies out here, I’m just trying to make sure that you don’t get yourself into something that you’re not going to be able to handle!”

Drawing in a deep threat to steady his nerves as he started tried to pace around the room, held back by his ankle, Eric said tightly, “You don’t know a thing about me, or my life, I can handle myself, I’m not some kinda kid…”

“But that’s the thing Eric. Here, you are. There’re a lot of people out there who want to take advantage of the naiveté of you Freshmen – from Greek jocks playing pranks, to the worst of advantage takers, Daniel Keller and his ilk.”

“Leave.”

“What?”

“I asked you to leave. I think that’s pretty much a simple request.”

Standing condescendingly, Carter said, “Don’t you think you’re being a bit melodramatic?”

Standing by the door after having opened it and desperately trying to keep himself in check, but still incensed, Eric said, “I don’t need you here patronising me, so please – leave.”

Carter stood there for a minute and took a breath before he said, “I’m sorry Eric,” Eric’s face began to soften somewhat at Carter’s conciliatory tone but immediately began to harden as Carter continued, “But I’m just trying to warn you here. You don’t know what you’re getting into when it comes to Daniel; I just wanted to help you out here.”

Waiting for him at the door Eric said sardonically before slamming it in Carter’s face, “Well thank you a lot, you’re aid has been noted and will be taken under advisement.”

Carter stood outside Eric’s door taken aback at Eric’s reaction. This was most certainly not what he’d wanted nor expected. Slowly walking away from the Eric’s dorm he just couldn’t understand where he’d gone wrong, he’d tried to be as gentle as could be when it came to this, particularly when he’d realised that Eric was taking it rather personally. Carter gently shook his head and smiled to himself as he thought that with a bit of time to cool down, Eric would calm down; that he’d just gotten huffy over nothing at all.

Carter didn’t understand though, it wasn’t nothing at all, Carter had touched on a nerve, a raw and painful nerve that Eric tried to keep under control and hidden, but a raw and painful nerve it nevertheless was.

 

[Craiger]

Boy, there certainly is something in Eric's past that has hurt him deeply to make him react as he did to both Donna and Carter. I know we will eventually find out what it is, but in the mean time, the tension keeps building. I see this little event pushing him closer to Keller. Can't wait for more of this intrigue.

Craiger

 

[DonQuixote]

Angelus,
You definitely have a gift for crafting a tale. The intrigue just keeps building day by day, chapter by chapter.

A couple stumbles in somw sentences, grammatically, but nothing major by any stretch.

You're getting us hyped - we want more - we want to know that deep, dark, secrets hidden beneath that handsome, young, HOT, exterior. WHY is he Oh So defensive about the good Lord trying to look out for him and give him good counsel?

All in good time. All in good time. BUT, will it be soon enough to keep our sanity?!
Keep writing - we'll keep reading.

Thanks for the efforts - they're well worth it!

 

[willybob]

omg i can't believe i missed two updates! can't wait for the next one Angelus

 

[harry113]

Thanks Angelus.
Poor Eric, I can see it all going pearshaped for him.
Will Lord W. be there to pick up the pieces??
More please
Harry

 

[angelus]

Hey everyone, here's the latest chapter. This one's quite short, what is now Chapter 9 had originally been part of this chapter but it felt this part deserved it's own chapter. Hope you don't mind the lack of length here. Chapter 9's picks up, length and action-wise, so please bear with me. As always, your comments are greatly appreciated and I always wanna hear more, so please comment. Thank ya!

Chapter 8

Donna walked into Professor Keller’s lecture and seeing that Eric had failed to keep a seat open for her she cast her eyes around looking for a a place to sit and was surprised to see none other than one next to Carter in the last row.

Taking the seat next to him she quietly asked, “And what are you doing here mi’Lord? I mean really, for somebody who says they’re not interested in Eric at all suddenly you seem to be finding yourself at all the places he’ll be in ‘cause I’m pretty sure that grad students don’t take Freshmen history courses.”

Carter not missing a beat answered just as sarcastically, “While I’m sure that your Eric could inspire that kind of fervour in some, that’s not the case with me. Daniel just chose me to be a research assistant and a TA so I’m sitting in on a couple of lectures to see what’s up with you kids.”

“I see what Eric was talkin’ about,” Donna said slowly.

“Excuse me?” Carter asked, thrown by Donna’s sudden seeming change in topic.

“You kids,” Donna quoted back to Eric before continuing underneath her breath as she tried to catch a bit of what Daniel was saying. “He said that you saw him as some kind of kid or something.”

“Oh I see now,” Carter said, a slight smile on his face, happy to finally clear up the mornings misunderstanding. His accent became even further pronounced as he intoned, “I think Eric mistook what I was trying to say to him entirely. I was not being patronising, and if I came across in that manner, please pass on my deepest apologies to him.”

Donna sat up and looked at Carter and said with a light laugh, “Okay – The more I hear that accent, I think I just might also fall for you as well.” Her eyes cast downwards as her pen stopped writing, Donna turned to Carter and said slowly, “Look, it’s not my place to tell you everything, but I’ll tell you this. Eric’s been through a lot. Like really there’s a lot that he’s had to deal with, and I mean a lot. He’s had nobody but me for quite a while, so when you say to Eric, that you want to look after him…” Donna stopped, her eyes tearing over as she spoke.

Carter slowly clasped Donna’s hand soothingly saying even gently, “it’s okay,” he paused for a moment before he continued; “You haven’t talked about it much have you?”

Donna wiped away at the tears, “No. Not really. Eric never wants to talk which I kinda understand, but I guess he doesn’t get that it...” Donna stopped suddenly. Lifting her head and turning towards Carter she said, a soft smile on her face, “You’re incredibly sweet Carter but I can’t do this. I know you say that there’s nothing going on between you and Eric and even if there isn’t and you two are just friends, it’s not my place to tell this story. Eric will tell you when he’s ready to tell you.”

“Fine. But right now, I’m worried about you. Are you okay?”

Squeezing his hand gently, Donna said, “I’m fine. Just be patient with Eric, give him time, he’ll come round,” with that Donna turned back to her notes.

Though Carter had been listening to what Donna had been saying and truly was concerned with her, his mind went back to what she’d said before. It was clear to him that Donna had missed what she’d said to him, but the reverberations of what she’d said had been ringing through his mind, also fall for you… A small smile extended across his face as he realised exactly just what Donna had said to him – also…

 

[DonQuixote]

Angelus,
You continue to ensnare us with your story. Yes, this was a brief chapter, but it was by no means inconsequential.

I don't know what follows, but I suspect you were right to prune this exchange from the larger, next chapter, and tease us with this vignette, independently.

I look forward to your next installment.

 

[calmhunk]

This is a very well developed story! I enjoy the differing character dynamics present thus far.

By ensnaring Carter, it seems Daniel would be able to use the very rules of the university to carefully watch these two develop and, when necessary, force them apart. This is all just conjecture, but I really enjoy a story that makes me think about the possible outcomes.

 

[harry113]

Thanks Angelus, intriguing chapter .... 'also' !
Daniel is dangerous, he wants, so he takes.
Hope Carter can watch over Eric
More please
Harry

 

[angelus]

Here's the new chapter...

Chapter 9

Standing there after the lecture, inattentively answering the boring questions that the over-eager students peppered him with, Daniel thought over what he'd spotted during the lecture. As was becoming the norm, nothing that involved Eric escaped his notice, and Donna and Carter Winthrop sitting next to each other and holding a deep discussion as though they were the best of friends was certainly something to note.

Their failure to pay attention to the lecture didn’t bother him in the slightest but the fact that they knew each other, and were seemingly so close, did bother him somewhat. Daniel had not expected Carter to have gotten to the point where he had begun getting friendly with his own best friend – much less almost be the best friend himself – and had there been any doubt about that, the hug they shared before they left cemented the idea in his mind that Donna and Carter were getting close.

Although unexpected, this development didn’t cause consternation for Eric, with time, he knew, he’d find a way to utilise it to his advantage and to rid Eric's life of them both. If there was one thing that Daniel was more than certain of, it was this. Once he and Eric were together, Eric wouldn’t need anyone else, he would be all that Eric wanted or ever needed, for one simple reason, nobody could understand Eric in the way that he would and nobody could ever love Eric the way he could.

Catching sight of Eric out the corner of his eye, standing back, clearly unsure of himself Daniel dismissed the group of students in front of him assuring them that as the course progressed, their questions would be answered. Abruptly he turned to Eric, “Eric, could you please join me in my office?”

Eric looked up at him, his eyes conveying his mixed emotionst, and slowly he walked from the lecture theatre behind Daniel.

“I’m sorry if I sounded a bit cold there,” said Daniel as they stepped out into the summer heat, “I wasn’t sure what to say to you…” his voice diminishing as though he was uncertain of what was happening.

“It’s okay, I understand,” Eric replied falteringly. They walked in silence, Daniel adeptly mirroring everything that Eric truly felt, the self-consciousness, the reticence, the anxiety and apprehension at what was going on.

Finally Daniel broke the silence before his voice trailed off as they walked into the cool air of his air-conditioned office, “I’m sorry if I put you in an awkward position this morning…”

“No, it’s okay, I get what you…” Eric’s voice trailed off as well.

“I just really,” Daniel paused a moment, seemingly in doubt at what he wanted to say before continuing, “I just couldn’t stop myself. Everything I said to you, I meant.” He looked at Eric, the softness of his voice feigning hesitancy, “I don’t know if you feel the same as I do so…”

Clearly spurred on by the look and sound of unease in Daniel’s face and voice Eric spoke with his words tumbling out with all the fervour he’d felt that morning, “I do. I don’t know why I was being so quiet now. After this morning all I could think was to get to you, speak to you, and just like you said ever since I yesterday when I saw you in the lecture theatre all I could think of was you. So when you said – what you said, I – I just…” his words trailed away as he looked away, embarrassed, by the ferocity of his emotion.

A moment passed. Daniel stared intently into Eric's eyes, eyes which try as he might, Eric could not stop from darting everywhere but right back at Daniel. Slowly, Daniel walked around the table and softly took a hold of Eric’s hand, “You’re trembling,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Eric gulped down as Daniel caressed his hands, still staring ever so intently at Eric, drawing him towards him little by little, Eric whispered back, his voice as hesitant as his heart, “I don’t know, I mean – no. It’s just that I’ve just never felt like this…”

“I think very few people ever get to feel this,” Daniel said, his one hand breaking away and slowly snaking around Eric’s waist, softly pulling him in slowly until it was only the slightest of breadths that separated them.

“I’ve dreamed of it for so long, wanted this, for so long, I’m just so…” Daniel silenced Eric, his lips gently, tentatively, brushing against Eric’s before pulling back.

Eric’s lips, sought Daniel’s looking to see where this would lead. He kissed Daniel, tenderly, gingerly, fearfully.

Led by Daniel, the passion of the kiss intensified, responding to a raw animal hunger he sensed hidden beneath the sensitivity and gentleness of Eric’s lips. Daniel, arms wrapped around Eric, pulled him away from the desk where they had been standing and pushed him down onto an overstuffed sofa mindful of Eric’s ankle.

Daniel’s muscular frame lying above Eric, his arms propping him up, he pulled away from Daniel, looking into his eyes, his own eyes and voice filled with emotion, “You’re beautiful – you’re perfect. I don’t know…” Daniel cut him off, grabbing him and pulling him back into the kiss, clawing at Eric’s shirt, the yearning to have Eric overwhelming Daniel.

A knock at the door interrupted them. Daniel placed his finger on Eric’s lips. The knock came again, “Professor Keller?” Shocked by the unmistakable British accent Eric knocked over a pile of books.

“I think he knows we’re in here now,” Eric whispered, his face with an apologetic grimace as he gently moved Daniel off of him.

“Hang on a moment, Carter. I’ll be with you soon – with a student right now,” Daniel said loudly, getting up off of Eric.

“I’m sorry Daniel, I just didn’t…”


Straightening Eric’s shirt, Daniel said, “No, it’s okay. It was an accident, I know,” a roguish smile spreading across his face he said, “It didn’t seem like you were so desperate to get out of here.”

Eric cast his eyes downwards, blushing as his usual reticence came to the fore. Helping Daniel straighten things up around them as much as he could, Eric asked, “That’s Carter Winthrop at the door right?”

Pretending to be surprised Daniel said, “Yes, You know him?”

“Well yes. He’s the cause of the crutch; he hit me with his car last night on my way to work.”

“What?”

“No, no, it wasn’t his fault, it was an accident.” Turning and picking up his bag, ready to leave Eric said, “Just wish I didn’t have to run into him here of all places.”

Thinking to himself, whilst allowing the comment to go without interrogation, Daniel knew that Carter had already begun sounding the warning bells, but clearly to no avail. Wrapping his arms around Eric, Daniel said softly, “I have to see him now, but could I come see you tonight?”

Looking into Daniel’s eyes and drawing strength from him, Eric said, “I’ll be waiting.”


Daniel strode to the door, Eric behind him, his mind racing with the knowledge that Carter was standing behind that door, knowing that after everything that Carter had said to him before about Daniel, there was no way that Carter wouldn’t know what had been going on between him and Daniel in the office. “Excuse the wait Carter,” said Daniel opening the door and letting him in, “I believe you’ve met Mr Thompson.”

There was a slight pause before Carter replied, “Yes, we’ve met. Fancy seeing you here Eric?”

“Hi Carter.” The look that Carter gave Eric wasn’t what Carter had expected. In place of a look of smugness, the resignation that Eric saw in Carter’s eyes was everything but smug. For a moment there, Eric thought he saw shock, but more importantly – for a moment Carter thought he saw pain and disappointment, feelings that to Eric, from Carter, made no sense. Too surprised and ashamed to hold Carter’s gaze, Eric said as he backed out of the office, “Well I guess I’ll leave you two to it then, see ya’round.”

As he rushed off to his dorm, his mind raced as wildly as his heart beat, trying to take stock of all that had just happened. The moment with Daniel had been so intense, and had been the last thing he’d expected when he’d gone to Daniel. What it was exactly that he’d expected was unclear to him as well. But that – what had happened, had certainly not been it. In those brief moments for Eric, it seemed as though life had come to a stop, yet at the same time still, it was as though he was experiencing more life than he had ever experienced. Even thinking of it made his already racing heart gallop even faster. And to think of what was to come later that evening…

Eric came to a sudden surprising the girl who’d been walking behind him. Carter... Slowly walking again, his mind turned to him, who was the one thing that Eric just could not seem to get his finger on, who was still such an enigma to Eric. As Eric remembered their angry run-in in his dorm room that morning his mind ran the gamut of emotions that Carter could with a look, a word, a smile, raise in him. From the most blinding of rage – anger that scared even him, to such a sense of calm, a serenity that had been sorely lacking in his life lately, to happiness, and even to…

Love... That was the word that had come to Eric’s mind, but as quickly as it entered, Eric pushed it out. Love was not a word he could use regarding anybody, not Daniel and certainly not Carter. No, love was something that had not been judged upon yet, Eric thought to himself, and were love ever to enter into his life, to think about it and have it involving anyone besides Daniel already felt disloyal.

Even though Eric pushed it into the deepest darkest recesses of his mind, those recesses knew what he denied to himself – either way, Carter, not Daniel, was the one who’d brought the thought of love into Eric’s mind. He was the one who was there, and pretending that he wasn’t would in no way get rid of that diminishing but ever present voice in his mind and gnawing in his heart that constantly seemed to seek to remind Eric of that.

 

[DonQuixote]

THe suspense and intrigue continues to build.
Daniel., the dastardly dick of a professor deigns to control our poor protagonist, While Carter, Keeper of Chivalry from of old, and perhaps a good case of the hots, himself, tries to run interference for our hapless lad!

And then, there's the loyal lady lying nearby, to make sure no one hurts her friend, if she has anything to say about it!

A good read altogether, as you drag us deeper into this menage a trois, with tart on the side!

Thanks for the efforts. I'm looking forward to your next installment.

 

[willybob]

!!!loved it!

 

[angelus]

Hey everyone.

Here's the latest chapter.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on where the story's going.
Thanks!



Chapter 10


Carter slowly strolled from the library in the warm glow of the setting sun. It had been a futile visit, his last refuge, his work, had failed to do what it always did, get his mind away from everything else that was bothering him. Despite burying himself in the deepest recesses of the library, what the staff and students not so affectionately called ‘the dungeons,’ with a number of articles he’d been saving for a day just like this, he’d been unable to get his mind away from what he’d walked in on in Daniel’s office that afternoon.

As he unhurriedly ambled with no particular destination in mind, in the vibrant colour of the dappled late-afternoon sunshine, his mind returned to the moment when he’d seen Eric with Daniel; the surprise, the sting of pain, all that in that moment he’d felt. But for Carter, more than seeing Eric with Daniel, it was the way Eric hadn’t even wanted to look at him which had hurt the most.

As Carter walked, he found himself drawn instinctively to one of his favourite places on campus, the dam. A place where one could practically forget that they were in the middle of a university campus. Serenity and beauty could be found there, and serenity was the one thing that Carter hoped he’d be able to find.

Carter's favourite spot was underneath a large willow, branches hanging over the dam its leaves skimming the surface. Walking through the brush to get to the dam Carter’s heart dropped as he realised that somebody was sitting there. Turning to walk away, his eyes caught sight of a crutch leaning against the tree. “Eric?”

Eric turned quickly surprised to hear his name called out here, but immediately knew who it was as his mind registered the accent, “Carter,” he answered resignedly, “What are you doing here?”

Taking a seat next to him Carter said, “I just wanted to think for a bit, and this is where I usually go to do that,” he paused a moment as his eyes looked over the dam, “it’s beautiful isn’t it.”

Eric replied just as softly his eyes following Carters over the view, “yeah it is…” The sat in silence for a while, each soaking up the splendour before them, thinking about the one thing they both were certain, they were thinking about. “So you're not gonna ask about today,” Eric asked, finally breaking the silence.

“Well Eric - I don’t know what to say, if there is anything to say. I know what I saw, you know what you did, I’ve told you what I think, anything beyond that and it’s your business..”

Desperate to get Carter to change his mind on Daniel, Eric said, “Carter, you don’t know him. You’ve got it all wrong. Daniel’s a wonderful," he paused for a moment before continuing, "I mean, I don’t know, he gets me, like for real… in a way that nobody has understood me… not even Donna.”

Carter was silent for a moment, not sure whether to broach what it was that Donna had alluded to that afternoon, but the way in which Eric was already so enamoured with Daniel made his mind up for him, made him forget what he'd said, not seconds before regardless of the reaction, he had to make Eric see, make Eric understand. “Do you ever think that it’s because you don’t give her a chance to understand, that you never talk to her… about what happened.”

Ice entered into Eric’s voice as he said slowly turning to get ahold of his crutch, “I’m gonna kill her, who the hell does she think she is telling you about my parents, she knows I don’t…”

“Eric calm down,” Carter said forcefully, surprising both himself and Eric as he grabbed Eric and pulled him closer to himself. Shocked, by Eric’s sudden closeness Carter took a breath as he let him go saying softly, “Donna didn’t tell me anything, but I’ll tell you this. She’s a really good friend and she loves you dearly but you’re hurting her,” seeing that Eric was calming down Carter carried on, “I don’t know what it is that gets you like that… but whatever it is, whatever happened to you, it affected Donna as well.”

Still unsure of whether he wanted to entertain this conversation, Eric bit back at him, “I know that, and I don’t need you to tell me how to be a good friend.”

Trying to remain composed, Carter said with a wry laugh, “You don’t make it easy for somebody to hold a civilised conversation with you at all do you?”

His voice dripping with scorn, Eric said, “I didn’t know it was my job,” seeing the reproachful look Carter gave him Eric said slightly more subdued, “Sorry, I didn’t mean that.”

“Apology accepted – but what I was trying to tell you is that Donna’s still in so much pain. From the way she reacted this afternoon…”

“The way she reacted,” asked Eric, confused.

“Well, she started crying. I think firstly whatever it was that happened had something to do with it, but I think mostly it was because of you.” Eric’s silence spurred Carter on, “The way in which you’ve dealt with this – or rather not dealt with it, judging from your reaction – was and is the cause of Donna’s pain. She’s worried about you.”

Eric looked at the setting sun over the dam again and said quietly, “I never meant to hurt her, she’s been the one person I could always count on through everything that happened…” Eric stopped for a moment, catching his breath as his emotions began to overwhelm him before he continued looking into Carter’s eyes asking about Carter’s consideration of Donna, “Did she tell you that?”

“No…”

An edge returning to his Eric said, “Well how do you know this then. How can you be so certain?”

“I know because I think I have a pretty good idea of the type of person Donna is, and the type of friend she’d be. You’re lucky to have somebody like that in your life, somebody who cares so deeply for you, don’t forget that.”

The anger seeping from his voice again, Eric said resignedly, “I’m the last person you’d ever have to tell that to. I know all about that…” Eric sighed deeply. “I’m sorry for getting so difficult with you… now and this morning.”

“It’s fine Eric, I can see whatever it is that happened really hurt you.”

A silence fell around them again, before Eric broke the silence again, “Aren’t you gonna ask?”

His eyes on the setting sun, Carter said quietly, “I’m not going to lie to you and say that I don’t want to know, but if and when you’re ready to tell me, you will. I mean, I’ve only known you for a day…”

His voice barely above a whisper Eric said, “It doesn’t feel like it though,”

“I know… sometimes it feels as though…” his voice drifted off into the silence. They sat there, both silent, both engrossed by the thoughts in their minds, both desperate to reach out, both too scared…

Breaking the silence, his voice jagged with emotion Eric said, “This was the place where it seemed as though everything was normal, as though nothing of all that had happened had happened, the last place we were happy together, right here at this dam.” Carter turned and wordlessly urged Eric to carry on, silently supporting him, support that Eric immediately could feel.

Eric took a deep breath before he went on, “This all began about two years ago – everything was… I don’t know, I guess, perfect. It was my mom, my dad and me and everything was fine. School was great, I wasn’t Mr Popular, but I was happy with Donna and people whom I thought were my friends, only to find out…” Eric’s voice trailed off for a moment, the memories overwhelming him before he carried on, “I guess nobody knew that I was gay, but it wasn’t so much of an active decision not to tell them, more than I wasn’t too sure myself what I was. I mean, there’s not much chance for gay consciousness raising in a small farming town out in the mid-west,” he said with a small smile. Eric stopped again, his attempt at a joke, failing to lift his spirits, a single tear sliding down his cheek.

Carter reached over and gently touched his shoulder as he said, “You don’t have to tell me…”

Cutting him off Eric said desperately, “No – I want to. I have to. I need to.” Carter tightened his grip on Eric’s shoulder, as he went on, “Everything was okay until one day some guy spotted me on a gay youth’s forum in the computer labs. One stupid decision and my world turned upside down. Pretty soon, everyone in school was certain of something that I was still trying to figure out. Then the insults started, the name calling behind my back – that was nothing though…”

For a second time Eric stopped speaking, as the memories threatened to engulf him, taking a steadying breath, he carried on, “All of sudden, all my friends – except for Donna – were too busy to take calls from me, had other places to be either than where I was. That was what hurt the most, people whom I’d known my entire life, had grown up with, turning on me in a heartbeat. But things got worse, it spread through the town beyond school, then somebody saw it as their Christian duty to inform my parents that they’d raised a sexual deviant, pederast; I believe is the word that Mrs. Appleby used to describe me to my mother…”

A slight smile flitted across Eric’s face as he spoke, “But out of everything that was happening, that was the one of the bright spots. My parents couldn’t have cared less, as far as they were concerned, I was perfect the way I was.” The rising moon, casting a ghostly pall across his face as a stormy look came over Eric’s face as he struggled on, “That was the last straw for some people. Letters started arriving anonymously, all of them said the same thing; they couldn’t understand my parents standing for my perversion and warned them, told them to send me to one of those gay-reform camps or just turn me out. When my parents ignored those letters, they turned nasty, mom and dad wanted to move, wanted us to get out of there, but I wouldn’t let them, farm life was all my parents knew.”

Looking away, his voice falling to a whisper Eric continued, “Somehow, I convinced them, that they’d be able to protect me, so we stayed… My parents knew that I’d always wanted to come to Illyria, so they decided to bring me out here for the weekend,” a slight smile flitting across his face as the happy memories came to him, Eric continued, “For that weekend, we got to forget everything that was going on back home. That Saturday evening before we drove back, we came here to the dam to watch the sunset.”

Eric stopped speaking, stood and walked to the water’s edge as he went on, “When we got back home that Sunday, everything was fine, we went to bed like usual, I woke…” Carter stood up and stood by Eric as his voice began to crack with emotion, tears streaming down his face as he spoke, “I woke up, to my father screaming for me to get out of the house. He said he was going back to get my mother; that was last time I ever heard his voice… The paramedics said they died of smoke inhalation, that they…”

The last wall that had been holding in his emotions finally collapsed. Between the heart-wrenching sobs, Eric said, “Because of me, my parents are dead.” Carter drew Eric into his arms, gently trying to sooth his frayed and tattered emotions, desperate somehow to make it better even though he knew it was in vain. Eric leant into him, crying, letting out all the pain that he’d been bottling up ever since his parents death. The pain that had so irrevocably changed a young man and the path his life was leading, a pain that had led him here, to Carter. Carter, who stood by him, with him, who in that moment, holding Eric tightly against him swore to himself that nothing but mainly nobody would ever hurt Eric again, not as long as there was a single breath left in his body.

 

[King08]

Wow. Nice chapter. Now all we need is for Carter to run over Daniel but do a better job of it than with Eric.