Change of Skin: Chapter Four (part one)

Hey people! Here's the next chapter of Change of Skin, I know I promised to add more of Insignificant Other but this story keeps compelling me to write it, so I adhered to my plot muse and did just that. So without further delay I present to you chapter four:

[Chapter 4: Adored pt. one]

Walking unhurriedly Christoph continued on his way home deep in contemplation, failing to notice that all the streetlights behind him were steadily going out. ‘He said they are watching me, but for what? What would they want from me?’ Christoph pondered. Realizing that he was back in front of the temple again, Christoph finally saw that it was pitch black on the road he stood where normally it was quite well lit. Something bright caught his eye, and he turned to look up at the stained glass All Seeing Eye illuminated on the building. Then a scream rent the air causing Christoph to almost jump out of his skin.  Then more strange sounds could be heard, seemingly coming from the temple.

Gathering his nerves, Christoph nodded to himself and decided to ascend the stairs of the temple. He wanted to see if he could ascertain any information from listening through the door. Placing a shaking hand on the door and leaning to press his ear against the cold surface, Christoph listened intently. Within the bowels of the temple he could hear various different sounds, some that sounded like people screaming in either bliss or abject pain. The other voices he heard sounded like men cheering as if they were watching sport. And the other sound he heard, he could not place, it sounded like a snarling beast but there was a pattern to the growling...as if it were communicating to those around it. 

Christoph scrunched his brow at what he heard, not being able to decipher the meaning of any of it. Suddenly a sharp pain flooded his head causing him to fall away from the door.  The voice of the man from the library sounded in his mind as his cold blue eyes flashed in his conscious. “Do not linger in front the temple on Goldendämmerung Strasse.” Christoph then felt something thick and wet trickle out of his nose. Putting his hand up to wipe the liquid away, he blanched when he saw that it was his blood. Scrambling to get up, he flew down the stairs and pretty much ran all the way home earning weird looks from the few people that were still out.

Finally making it home and locking the door behind himself and breathing a sigh of relief, he called out for Paul. When no response was heard, Christoph sprawled out on the couch exhausted from sprinting back home. As he laid there his body began to relax, but Christoph tried to fight the sluggish feeling off and lost the battle to slumber.

{Christoph’s Dream}

“Mother…Mother?”  An eleven year old Christoph said as he pulled on his mother’s sleeve.

“Yes, what is it Christoph?” His mother asked, finally acknowledging him. “Why are we leaving father? And why do we have to go separately? I don’t want to go on the train by myself.” Christoph whined, not quite understanding the situation.

Sighing and looking around to make sure no one was near; she knelt down and grasped Christoph’s small hand in her own. “We must leave your father because he is not a good man. He wants to involve you in things... that I don’t approve of.” She explained. “You mean the family business.” Christoph asked innocently. “Yes, the so-called family business.” His mother said cryptically.

“But why are we leaving because of that? Don’t we need the family business so we can have money.” Christoph countered. Heaving a sigh at her child’s inquisitiveness she replied “Yes, but when something is wrong and it goes against ones morals, it does not matter how much wealth is attained . There is much you don’t yet understand, but you will in due time my son.” She kissed his head. “Now come your train has arrived, your aunt shall retrieve you from the station in Dresden and from there she will bring you to my hotel. Understand?” She said. Nodding his head solemnly, Christoph allowed his mother to lead him to the train.

Pulling him into an embrace, she said in voice choked with tears. “Remember I love you and if anything happens to me avoid your father at all costs and remember to remain pure in heart in mind.” With that statement, his mother kissed him once more on the face, handed him his luggage bag and pushed him onto the train.  “Good bye, Mother!” Christoph shouted as the train began to depart.

{End Dream}

Waking up with tears in his eyes at the last memory of his mother, Christoph tried to sit up but found that his body was paralyzed. Struggling to get up again the pressure increased on his chest pushing him further into the couch, he then tried to cry out but found out that his mouth could open but his voice wouldn’t work.  Trying to thrash around more to dislodge himself from the couch, he was pressed even further into the couch; now looking as if the couch was trying to swallow him whole. What made the situation more terrifying was that the more he struggled the more prevalent an incorporeal growl could be heard throughout the room. Christoph then stopped struggling, eyes darting about the room trying to place the frightful sound but finding nothing.

Then the hem of his shirt began to rise on its own accord and Christoph began his struggle anew earning an even more beastly sound that seemed to come from right next to his ear. His shirt continued to be pulled upward until all of his creamy skin was exposed. By now he had given up fighting and was panting heavily as he waited to see what would occur next, still unable to move. The growling had decreased to a low rumble as if sensing that Christoph had stopped his attempts at escape. Christoph then felt hands, no, claws being trailed slowly up and down his torso, stopping to circle around his nipples. Christoph let out a breathly sigh at the feeling of his nipples being toyed with and he then heard what sounded like a pleased growl. Realizing that he was enjoying the attentions of who knows what, he began his fight once more, this time earning thin scratches along his ribs; causing his mouth to hang open but no sound escaped.

Suddenly the front door burst open and Paul stumbled through drunkenly. As soon the paralysis was lifted from his body and he flung himself away from the couch and ran straight for the bathroom to expel the contents of his stomach. Seeing his friend scramble to the bathroom the way he did, Paul  walked over to the door to the toilet “A-are you alright?” He slurred a bit. After hearing retching for a few more seconds, the weak reply came “Yeah, I’m fine. Give me a sec and I’ll be out.” At hearing that Paul went to go sit upon the couch not trusting his legs to hold him up much longer.

Flushing the toilet and standing, Christoph then picked up his tooth brush and began to brush the nasty taste from his mouth. Once he was satisfied with the cleanliness of his mouth, he then stepped back and began to lift his shirt; pausing in fear that what he’d just experienced may have actually occurred. Lifting the shirt further he saw the tell-tale abrasions informing him that what he’d felt earlier was indeed real. Letting his shirt fall back down into place, he mechanically left the bathroom. Wary of the couch, Christoph sat in an arm chair to the right of Paul.

Wanting to banish the ordeal from his mind for the time being he turned to Paul and began to speak. “So how was the party? It must’ve been a lot of fun if you’re just now getting back today.”

Looking over at Christoph with a spark in his eye, Paul replied “You don’t even know the half of it! Those rich boys sure to know how to party, I’ve never had so much fun in my life!” Raising an eyebrow Christoph asked “Really? What made this party better than any other party you’ve attended?”

“Well for starters, it was a nude all-male party and all of the guys were spectacular. Then there’s the fact that I got to do the dirty with Richard. The only weird part was that everyone was wearing these weird masks, you know like the old Venetian ones? Though in retrospect that made things interesting in it’s own way.” Paul rambled.  Absorbing the information a question manifested in Christoph’s mind. “Was Till there?” “Yes, he was there.” Paul replied and the quickly added when he saw the look upon his friend’s face. “Till only stayed for a few minutes though , and he was clothed. He asked about you and said that he’d be trying to contact you really soon.”

Perking up a bit at that information Christoph smiled a small smile. “Well, I’m glad you had fun, my night was far less eventful.” He said though he knew it was anything but uneventful. “Well Richard said you are welcome to come the next time he throws a party.” Paul placated. Shaking his head in the negative and smirking a bit, Christoph said “No, I think I’ll pass. That doesn’t sound like my scene.” Scrunching his nose in distaste, Paul retorted mockingly “Listen to you! ‘That doesn’t sound like my scene.’ That is the reason you are still a virgin.” Rolling his eyes at Paul’s words, Christoph picked up the remote to the TV intent on shutting Paul up before he continued on his ‘This is why you’re a virgin’ tirade.

The scene on the television was a familiar one to Christoph, the news caster was standing outside the house of the psychic he had visited last night. “Somewhere between 12.00 and 3.00 this morning a local psychic was brutally murdered. Authorities are saying that this killing seems to be a possible ritual killing due to the symbols painted on the wall with the victim’s own blood. Currently they are not releasing how the man was killed, but this is the first ritual killing in the city since the mid-eighties when cult activity was quite prevalent. Now back to you Hans.” The news caster finished and then the weather began to play. Feeling the bile rise up in his throat, Christoph threw himself from the chair and stiffly walked to the bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower, I’ll be out soon.” He tossed over his shoulder.

Turning the shower knob to hot, he stripped himself of his clothing and stood under the warm spray. Christoph closed his eyes, trying to block out the vision of the body bag being carried from the house. Leaning onto the cold tiles he began to sink down to the floor of the tub, with his hands on his face. ‘What the hell is going on? Why was he having all of these dreams suddenly? What the fuck clawed him earlier? And was that psychic killed by the very people he had warned him about?’ Christoph thought frantically. None of this was making any sense, the more he searched for answers the more confused he became but none of this stopped his hunger to know more.

A hash knock startled him out of his deep contemplation. “Christoph!? Are  you alright? You’ve been in there for an hour!” He heard Paul’s voice on the other side of the door. “Y-yes! I’m fine, I’m almost done.” Christoph replied shakily. Hearing Paul walk away, he pushed himself up into a standing position and began to quickly wash his body. Not five minutes later he was out and drying himself off, realizing he hadn’t brought any clean clothing with him he wrapped the towel securely around his waist and left the steamy bathroom.

Heading to his room and throwing on a band shirt and some black jeans, he put more vigor into his step when he realized he had to be at work in less than thirty minutes. “Fuck!” He cursed knowing his boss was going to bitch him out. Exiting his room and walking over to the kitchen and tossing a piece of bread into the toaster, he called over his shoulder. “Paul, do you want anything to eat?” Only hearing light snoring in response, he snorted in laughter and said to himself. “Figures, plus I’m sure he’s had more than enough to eat where he was.”

Snatching the toasted bread from the toaster and hissing at how hot it was, he stuck the bread into his mouth ignoring the pain and sat down to lace his boots up. Standing up and leaving the apartment, he rushed down the street, intermittently taking large bites of his toast.

He finally made it to his job, twenty minutes late. After getting bitched out by his boss, he fell into his usual routine at work; cleaning, manning the register and generally pretending to be busy. When business trickled down to almost nothing around lunch time, Christoph took the opportunity to look through his favorite drumming magazine. Sighing wistfully, wishing he still had his drum set, he flipped through the pages, looking covetously at the shiny drum sets displayed in on the page. Sighing again, he lamented in his mind about how he would kill to just have the bass drum he used to play in military school, he missed making music dearly.

Hearing the bell above the door ringing signaling the entrance of another customer, Christoph quickly looked up from what he was reading intent on greeting the person who walked in but his voice caught in his throat at the vision before him. Standing there regally was Till dressed in cream colored suit with a black shirt and cream colored tie underneath the jacket. Almost drooling at the statuesque man, Christoph thought he had to be the only man in the world that could look downright sinful in such a pure color.

“Hello Christoph.” He purred in the sensuous voice of his. Regaining his wits, Christoph greeted him shyly. “H-hello Till. What are you doing here?” Smiling warmly at Christoph’s bashfulness, Till came closer and leaned languidly on the countertop. “Why I’m here to see you.” He said as his deep blue eyes roam Christoph’s body. “How did you know that I work here?” Christoph asked confused.

Smiling slyly Till replied as he reached out and caressed Christoph’s cheek “I have my ways.” Trembling at the feeling of his fingers tracing his jawline Christoph mumbled out “I-is there anything I can help you with?” A fire lit up behind Till’s eyes and he smiled a smile that could rival a shark as he brushed his thumb over Christoph’s soft lips. “There are many things you can help me with, Christoph.” At that statement Christoph let out a soft moan as he felt a heat pool in his lower abdomen.

Pulling away from Till as he heard his boss make his way out into the store front he heard an angry “What the hell is going on up here Christoph? I don’t pay you to converse with your friends! You know why don’t you just clock out for the day and don’t bother coming in tomorrow. If I need you then I’ll call you, until then get out of my store.”

Walking to the back, Christoph clocked out angrily almost breaking the keyboard in rage. Returning to the front expecting to see Till waiting for him, his face scrunched up in confusion and he stormed out of the building. He stopped when he saw that Till was leaning against the wall smoking a cigarette. “I’m sorry if I got you in to trouble.” Till apologized. “It’s not your fault, that guy is a total shithead. That was bound to happen eventually, I can tell he’s wanted to get rid of me for a while.” Christoph explained. “Well since you have no other pressing obligations, would you like to spend some time with me?” Asked Till.

Crossing his arms over his chest defensively, Christoph answered “What makes you think that I don’t have anything else to do?” Laughing out right at Christoph, Till responded “Well what other things does an eighteen year old have to do that’s important?” Huffing angrily, knowing that the older man was right, he didn’t have anything else to do he said. “You’re right I don’t have shit else to do. So what did you have in mind?” Taking a drag of his cigarette, Till grinned and said “Would you like to visit my estate?” Fighting back the urge to roll his eyes at the formality that Till used in his everyday speech, Christoph agreed. “Yeah, that’s cool. Only if you give me a cigarette though.”

Laughing at the request, Till produced a cigarette and handed it to Christoph and then lit his cigarette for him with an expensive looking lighter. “Holy shit! Is that a real gold lighter?” Christoph exclaimed. Looking at the lighter as if it were just an ordinary lighter one picks up at a supermarket, Till replied “Yes, what of it?” “What do you mean ‘what of it?’! Very few people carry around 24 karat gold lighters, you aren’t worried that someone will try to mug you for it?” Christoph said incredulously.  Till’s eyes darkened a bit “I highly doubt that someone would want to accost me for a mere lighter, and if they did they’d regret it…eternally.” He stated matter of factly. “What are you a trained fighter or something?” Christoph questioned. Smirking a bit Till simply replied “You could say that.”

“Come let us be on our way.” Till said as he tossed his cigarette away and took Christoph by the hand, leading him to a red convertible. “Is this what I think it is?” Christoph asked astounded. “If by it you mean a 1965 Mustang, then yes you are correct.” Till said smugly. “How the hell did you get this?” Christoph marveled as he slid into the black leather seat.  “Let’s just say it’s the spoils from the family business.” Till then started the ignition and the car growled to life. ‘The family business, huh?’ Christoph thought to himself, thinking about how much he heard that phrase as a child.

Author's Comment: YAY! Another chapter down! I know there was a lot of dialogue but  the build up is very important to this story. But worry not! The slash will soon be delivered, there's gonna be so much slash that you'll be sick of it!  Scratch that, we all know there's no way in hell one can get sick of slash, especially hardcore, steamy, bloody slash! *drool* Until next time, my wonderful readers! (P.S.: I love you guys! You rock! :P)