The windows showed a night sky covered with clouds, an announcement of another storm. Inside, with the dim fire creating shadows all over the room, Lodan sat in his rocking chair, looking at the form curled between the sheets. 

The boy had eaten like there was no tomorrow, the Key had had to save a small amount of food in his plate and thank the gods that he wasnít really that hungry. He had more or less expected his new Master to fell sleepy after such a heavy meal so, the sight of the black eyes trying to close had been expected. It was another good chance to take the smaller figure in his arms and he gladly took it, pleasantly surprised when the boy, instead of mumbling protests, laid his head on Lodan´s shoulder, letting the blond take him to bed and tuck him like a small child. He had even catch himself kissing the little one gently in the forehead, at which the other had smiled before curling himself like a ball and closing his eyes. 

He still marvelled at the reactions this Master provoked in him. But, of course this one was different than others; to begin with, he was a slave. 

It wasn´t hard to get to that conclusion, the haunted look, the tension and fear when the door opened unexpectedly, the doubts before beginning to eatÖ even the terror that the word `Master´ seemed to evoke in him. He had to be a runaway slave that had somehow gotten his hands on a Key. If it was so the boy was clever, noone would look for a fugitive between the Masters of the Palace. And yet, the reactions of the boy, the confusion as he heard where he was, it made it obvious that the arrival had been an accident. But then, what was the reason for the key that still hanged from his neck? Why such a reaction as he heard a simple date? He obviously was not used to have people around, or at least not people taking care of him. It seemed Lodan had managed to disconcert him by just being there. 

Never before a Master had offered such an intriguing riddle, usually he would know all about them and the way they thought by now. But this one was not only still a mystery, his mind worked strangely fast, apparently jumping from one idea to the next in a matter of seconds. Pity Lodan could not read minds, he would have given a lot to know what this one thought of him. 

A soft sound coming from the sleeping boy made him blink. Only this morning he had been a broken doll, blood covering his body like a second skin. The healer had bandaged fractured ribs, disinfected deep cuts, immobilised an ankle and virtually bandaged the all body. He had even spoken about poison, and stated that if the boy woke up in some days, or at all, he would be extremely lucky. 

Nightshade had woken the evening of that very same day. Those cuts should have hurt, he should have needed something for the pain. He didn´t seem to. 

Of course, it wasn´t as if he knew much about healing. Still, the possibility of having a non-human Master was not to be discarded. It would definitely be something he had not encountered before. Yet, it was hard to conciliate the weak and scared boy with the dangerous creatures he had read about. And both theories seemed to exclude each otherÖ 

He had not realised heíd been smiling until that point and, if only, his smile widened. It was a challenge. Lodan loved challenges. So far no Master had been able to keep mysteries from him, this one would be no exception. 

Suddenly he was once again knocked back into the present. Nightshade was again moving restlessly, his mouth uttering muffled cries of terror. There were some words as well, words in a language he could not understand, yet again strangely familiar. Worry overcame him and he stood, stepping forward to get to the bed. The boy was moving too much, but the Key managed to touch the sleeping face with his fingertips as he whispered soft words in a calming tone. 

Nothing happened at first, but slowly, the movement and frantic sounds seemed to slow. Following a sudden impulse he used the moment to get inside the bed and lay beside the little Master, impulsively passing an arm along the sleepy boy´s waist. With the other hand he took his nipple chain off in a practised movement, it was uncomfortable to sleep with its tiny angles trying to pierce his skin. His sleeping companion muttered a few more words, curling up against him. The silver chain fell forgotten to the floor as Lodan slowly drifted to sleep, with the smaller figure in his arms shivering occasionally, as if the nightmare had not quite gone. 

The announced storm broke lose slightly before dawn did, rain falling angrily over the few Masters who had chosen to take a walk in the gardens before they got packed with people. Lighting was closely followed by thunder and it was that first thunder what made Nightshade´s eyes open. Trying to shake his confusion and sleepiness he lifted his head an inch, looking briefly at a closed window before laying his head back onÖ Lodan´s chest?! 

That woke him up in a record time, and almost made him sat on the bed, if it wasn´t for the alien arms around his body that is. One of the Key´s hands was even grabbing some strands of his hair, which would make moving a painful experience. Not that he wanted to move, decided after the initial paranoid panic, he was quite comfortable like that, he was warm. Besides, Lodan smelled nice and did not snore. It had been ages since Nightshade had any kind of human contact, or rather, a contact that did not came as a fist or holding a weapon. 

The thought brought back the memory of the hunters, terror came back and he held back a small whimper, trying to keep himself from trembling. How could they have been so precise? So skilled? Knowing were to find him, using the full moon to their advantage, keeping him weak with poison and beatingsÖ Why wasnít he death? Where did they plan to take him? The humans had talked of course, he could remember the sound of their voices in the distance. But that was all it was, discordant sounds mixed with pain and desperation. They held no answers. 

Lifting a hand he took a strand of blond hair between his fingers and began to play with it absently, looking at Lodan´s relaxed face. The Runic Key, who would have thought? All was so different, and it would keep changing, this human would keep changing, would grow old and die. And, where did that left poor little Nightshade? Stuck in an unchanging eternity of pain and fear, with nowhere to go and nowhere to rest. For a second he hated the man who held him, so happy in his tiny cage of silk and gold. Bitterness filled his heart like a wave and confusion suppressed the little self control he still had. 

There was a light pain in his skull, his abrupt separation from the other body had left a few hairs between Lodan´s fingers, he did not care. Using that same impulse he rolled to the side of the bed and put his feet on the floor to stand. For a second he did manage it, but just for a second. The room began spinning out of control and his body, empty of all its strength fell like a puppet with its strings cut. 

It took his mind a couple of seconds to realize that his fall had been interrupted and, oddly enough not by the floor. He was still trying to focus his gaze when the familiar hands he now realized held his body, pushed him back on the bed. 

ìNightshade, I beg you please don´t try something like that again. You are hurt, it´s much too soon for that. A fall will not benefit your wounds.î The body over his was little more than a blur that little by little began clearing up. It was the voice what hit him, the sleepiness, the surpriseÖ the worry? Yeah, there was worry in his voice and, as soon as he could distinguish the face could see it in his blue eyes as well. It wasnít faked. ìYou are lucky I woke up in time little one.î A smile was born on the Key´s lips and he paled, the conflict inside him practically tearing him in two. 

ìLucky?î He managed to utter in a disbelieving tone of voice. ìFool,î said next, closing his eyes and facing away from him. 

He seemed miles away, just like that. With not a single warning the boy was just not there, with his body tense as hell and the little fists tightened. Lodan wasnít sure if it was anger what made the small body tremble, but felt like kicking himself for his poor choice of words. Of all things he should have foreseen a reaction. But, even so he would never have supposed it would be so extreme. ìI´m sorry Nightshade, I really did not mean to upset you. You are badly hurt and I´m concÖî 

ìI´m not,î the remark was firm and rigid, pushed out of tightened lips. 

ìSorry?î the boy did not keep talking so he had to insist. ìI don´t know what you mean. If anything I´m almost sure you are upset.î 

ìÖî 

ìLook, if I said something inconvenient I´m deeply sorry, I did not mean to hurt you.î Disconcert and worry was clearly reflected in his voice. But the smaller boy paled even more and shivered, almost as if Lodan would have hit him. 

ìGo,î the word was cutting, almost piercing his ears. 

ìNightshade?î 

ìGo! Leave! Stop touching me!î The sudden outburst felt to the Key almost like been hit by a hammer, Nightshade struggles were weak, almost nothing, but somehow Lodan´s hands lost hold and the boy got free, curling again in a tight ball, facing away from the confused Key. 

Lodan blinked once, then twice, trying to understand how things had gone so abysmally wrong. Anger was fighting his way up his feelings, why? He was only trying to help! Well, fine then! With a snarl he stood and walked away from the bed, determined to leave the wear brat for good. But reason had not given up and managed to make itself heard. Wait, he is doing this for a reason, there was desperation in his voice, and something else, perhaps fear? What if it was fear? Was he going to give up that easily? 

He looked back at the unmoving form on the bed, so still he doubted it was breathing. No, of course he was not giving up. With a determined expression he walked back to the bed and sat beside the tense body, crossing his arms. 

ìI said go,î came the cutting voice after a few minutes of silence, once again with the slight hint of desperation. 

ìAnd I heard you. And I see that there is obviously something wrong and you are trying to push me away. Well boy, I´ve got news for you, it´s not working. I´m worried and I´m going to stay here until you give up and tell me what´s wrong.î 

ìLeave! Go! Why are you doing this?î the boys cries stopped suddendy as he sat abruptly on the bed, grabbing the tanned arms suddenly in front of him to try and fight the weakness and the once again spinning room. The next words were ragged and weakening every second. ìWhat do you want?î 

Lodan was not listening thought, he just blinked, the bandage on the left arm was loose, he could see the skin underneath and a white line where there had been a grave wound yesterday. ìAh, so that´s the reason.î The comment that escaped the blond´s lips was only mildly surprised and tinted with a shade of triumph as he felt the boy tense even more. One of his theories was right then. The smile got back to his face and his voice recovered the warm quality as his anger melted away. ìYou can really be a big baby when you put yourself to it. Now relax and let me take off the bandages, you must be uncomfortable as hell. I guess weakness is the price to pay when the body gets so enthusiastic about its healing process, seems worth it tough.î As he kept talking with a smile on his lips made the boy lay back into the bed. Nightshade could only look back, puzzled beyond belief at the unexpected reaction as long skilled fingers took care of the bandages. 

ìOkay, now that this is over with you still need to gain some strength. I´ll tell you what, you´ll be a good boy and let me take these off and take care of your sore muscles until breakfast arrives. Then, as soon as you´ve eaten I´ll get a nice hot bath ready for you. Does that sound good? By the way, if something is still not properly healed tell me, okay? We´ll have to leave the bandage a little longer.î 

The smaller man could only nod, looking oddly at Lodan´s smiling face. He could not understand the blond man, none at all, had to be a little bit mad or something. But it made him feel so safe and cared for, besides, he was so gorgeous. The treacherous thought made him blush and the Key chuckled, kissing lightly the crimson cheeks before continuing his work.