Abyss

Chapter 5: Meeting the family

From the lines under his eyes, Pheus could tell that Ayve had not slept much during the night. Neither had he. The pull to accept Ayve’s invitation and feel him one more time had been hard to overcome. It was better, however, to end it on time so Ayve had a chance to get used to the fact that they needed to keep away from each other. From what Pheus could read in Ayve’s face, he had been right. To plant (more) false hopes in him would not help them.

Before they set out for the last time, they inspected their luggage, discarding the hides that had received too much damage over time. On their way up the mountains, they hunted down an ibex that had left the heights in which such animals usually climbed due to an injured leg. One of the horns was broken off as well; perhaps he had fought with another male of his kind. Its legs bound, they carried the animal with the help of a thick branch on which they hung it.

Higher and higher they climbed, an undertaking that cost strength. At last, Pheus halted. Voices sounded from above. He told Ayve to set the prey down. “Check your face,” he mumbled in nymph language while tows were thrown down, “you give us away.” He started to fasten the tows on the animal. Reluctantly, Ayve followed his example. “And remember to hide your thoughts,” Pheus reminded him hissing. He had checked several times during their journey if Ayve was skilled enough in this field; had he not been, Pheus would not have taken him to his father. That would have been too risky.

The animal was hauled upwards. Using the uneven rock wall, Pheus climbed after it. Reluctantly, Ayve followed suit. The nervousness over meeting new people distracted him from other feelings at this point.

As he reached the rock nose and climbed onto it, he was immediately scrutinised by a female guard. The ibex was gone. A little further, in the entrance to a cave or – remembering what Pheus had told him – the tunnels stood Pheus in the company of a male guard. He motioned with his head towards the entrance and turned around to go.

A torch lighting their way, they passed several caves with people inside and branching tunnels. Eventually, Pheus entered one of the rooms. “Drop your stuff here. This is the room where the adult members of our family live that don’t yet have a family of their own.”

Ayve headed for a corner far away from the bed Pheus put his luggage next to.

“Don’t be stupid. Come here. People will notice otherwise. It’s only logical that you would cling to me first since we’ve had time to get used to each other whereas everyone else is strange to you.”

Ayve dropped his belongings next to an empty, man-sized depression in the floor. There were several of them in the room; many filled with hides and clothes like beds.

“Come. Let’s not let my father wait,” Pheus called upon him and went back into the tunnel.

Ayve inhaled deeply, feeling lost at that moment. He had left his tribe in the hope of finding the place he truly belonged to. Pheus had given him this feeling of belonging, just to take it away again, saying his father was against such relationships. If that was true, if the people living here were not letting him have what he most craved for, was this the right place for him? Silently, he followed Pheus. What other choice had he, so far away from everything that he knew?

Pheus led him into a larger cave area where the ceiling was high enough to light fires without suffering from the smoke. Dripstones came down from above and piled up on the floor. There were several small fires burning in the cave. In the centre, there was a small lake forming out of the water that ran through the stone above. Around one fire, Ayve detected a group of nymphs. Seated around another, there sat a bunch of children. Ayve had never seen so many at once. Two other, larger fires were surrounded by several dozen men and women that looked very interestedly at the two of them. Some sent out greetings; others did not seem as pleased by their coming.

In front of a fourth fire stood a single man, merely darkly outlined against the flames that flickered behind him. Pheus went towards him.

As they came closer, Ayve could make out details. The man was tall and impressive in his whole stature and in the manner in which he held himself. He had thick, long, black hair and bore a remarkable resemblance to Pheus, only that Pheus was slimmer and his facial features a little finer. All in all, he was intimidating. He looked very strict, very cold.

“Rekr,” Pheus said after stopping a few feet away from him. ‘Rekr’ was a word similar to ‘sir’ or ‘master’, a respectful form of address.

“You took your time,” the man replied, eyeing Pheus before his gaze drifted over to Ayve.

“We were delayed by snow storms in the winter,” Pheus replied with a steady voice.

That was a little exaggerated, Ayve thought. He could feel the man’s scrutinising stare on him. One of his eyes narrowed. A corner of his mouth moved upwards. He turned his attention back on Pheus.

“We have had no news of you whatsoever for months. When your brother first made the journey, he was spotted all the time by other travellers; however, none of the people who returned from journeys or passed us by could give us any news of you.”

Pheus still stood confidently in front of his father, holding his gaze without blinking.

“I see my efforts in teaching you were not completely in vain,” the older man finally concluded. He now turned officially towards Ayve. “You have fulfilled your task?”

“Of course, Rekr,” Pheus replied. “This is Ayve, officially the son of the leader of the nymph tribe on the island you sent me to.”

The man stepped closer to Ayve and seized his jaw tightly to have a proper look at him. Although it was not easy, Ayve held his gaze as well, following Pheus’ example. “He seems talented,” Pheus’ father finally stated.

“Yes, he is,” Pheus ascertained. “I believe you might find him an interesting addition to the family.”

Ayve threw a side glance at Pheus. He had never heard him speak like that.

“We will see,” his father countered sceptically. “Do you think he can hold out against you in training?”

“I…” Pheus halted. He seemed irresolute what he should say. “During our journey, I have found that we can render each other useful assistance in our training,” he finally stated. Ayve could read in his face that he was not pleased to have to say that. Did he not want to spend his time with him anymore?

Pheus’ words seemed to intrigue his father. He eyed both of them interestedly. A smile crept upon his face. “Fine. We will test that tomorrow.”

They sat at one of the big fires for the rest of the evening. Most of the women looked friendly, interestedly, at them and asked about their journey. One of them actually looked at Pheus in a way that made Ayve feel very strange. Some of the men, however, were very tight-lipped around them.

After a while, a group of people left to go hunting and fetch wood. Pheus looked up when Ayve got up to withdraw into the sleeping cave, but said nothing.

When Pheus woke up the next morning and opened his eyes, he looked right into the sad, grey eyes of the man who lay next to him. After a short moment, Pheus turned away and got up.

A little later, they sat in the grand dripstone cave again, helping with skinning and smoking the outcome of the night’s hunt. The women engaged a little in small talk. A couple flirted by teasing each other.

A man came up behind Pheus. “Rekr wants to see you and your appendant.” His face did not look too friendly.

Pheus stood up and sneered into it. “Ayve,” he called out, without averting his eyes from the other man. Ayve got up, having overheard the exchange. Abruptly, Pheus turned away from his opponent, motioning for Ayve to follow him and went ahead.

When they were out of listening reach, Pheus turned to Ayve who went a few feet behind him. “By the way, Mr. Charming is the reason that you’re here.”

“The reason why I’m here?” Ayve frowned. “Do you mean he is my father?” He turned around to look back. A hand seized his shoulder. Ayve winced at the unexpected touch and looked saucer-eyed at Pheus.

“You have experienced what he’s like; keep away from him.” There was a strange severity in his face and his tone.

“Why is he like that?” Ayve asked.

Pheus sneered. “Why should I care? He’s been a bastard as long as I can remember.” He turned around and moved on.

His father waited for them in a side cave. “Let’s test him,” he said as soon as the two younger men came into view. “Fighting techniques first. Has he inherited any of our physical features?”

Pheus took off the upper layer of his clothing, and from the looks he gave Ayve, Ayve knew that he was to do the same. “No; from what I can tell he hasn’t. I’d say he is physically inferior to me. At least it seemed so during our hunts.”

His father looked at the young nymph once more. “Very well. No claws. A clean, fair fight. I just want to see his abilities.”

Ayve looked insecurely from one man to the other. “A fight? Against Pheus? Why?”

Pheus’ father smirked. “In contrast to your people we defend ourselves. To be prepared properly, we need to train.”

Pheus, meanwhile, had stripped down to his second pants. His upper body was naked. Adhering to the advice Pheus had given him about not being prude, Ayve did the same. Still, he felt stupid when he positioned himself on the spot that was indicated to him. He had never fought against another person; he had no idea how to.

The following weeks were spent in that fashion – monotone days with little contact since Ayve lacked any sense for the kind of conversation topics or flirting that was common amongst the people around him and endless hours of training that could not enhance his mood because that was the only contact he had with Pheus.

It was interesting to watch the other people. They were not as constrained as the nymphs were and lived out their emotions much more freely. At times, Ayve felt more accepted amongst them, but there were also people who eyed him suspiciously.

Some days after their first training, Pheus displayed his newly acquired power. His father, however, only showed a mild interest in it, calling it ‘a start’. Ayve could tell from the way Pheus behaved afterwards that he was indescribably upset.

As often as Ayve could, he sought to escape the cold and dark caves and walk about outside in the sunlight. His muscles were sore from all the fighting. Of course, Pheus had been right. He was stronger. The fights were hard but not unfair, however. Even when Pheus’ father ordered the use of claws (Pheus could extend his fingernails the way a cat could extend its claws. It had intimidated Ayve when he had first seen it.), Ayve never received more than a few light scratches. In a way, he was even glad to have these lessons. They gave him a regular task. Nonetheless, it was good to jump into the cool floods of a nearby stream under the warm summer sun and relax for a change.

Pheus wandered aimlessly through the tunnels. A dark, suffocating feeling had settled in his stomach again. He was so sick of this. No matter what he did, there was no way to get any kind of acknowledgement for his performance. Pheus had so hoped to impress his father with what Ayve had taught him. It had all been in vain. Well, perhaps not entirely in vain, it had at least kept his father from the ranting he had indulged in in the past, but Pheus had wished for more.

On his journey he had felt so free. He had enjoyed the time away from all the pressure, from all the expectations that were constantly loaded upon his shoulders. The time alone had given him the opportunity to think, to find himself away from all the negative influences, to find a balance. When finally he had found Ayve and come closer to him, there actually had been moments of bliss. He had forgotten all his troubles when lying with him.

Now everything tasted shallow. It was torture to rest beside the nymph every night, knowing what Ayve tasted like, his smell engulfing him, the thought that Ayve wanted him as well enticing him. Pheus had thought it would be easier to forget their time together, to forget the man. In his opinion his fascination for Ayve had only been an infatuation produced by his lack of other opportunities to have sexual intercourse. He had been proven wrong. Naturally, Pheus had taken advantage of offers from the young ladies courting him. Even if his body had not commanded him to do so, he would have been forced to. Everything else would have been suspicious. Yet, Pheus was not able to enjoy their ‘services’ as much as he had used to. It just was not the same as being with Ayve.

In any case, there was no solution to Pheus’ problems. As far as he could tell, they had avoided disaster by a whisker. His father had been very suspicious the first weeks due to Ayve’s strange behaviour. Of course, Pheus had known that Ayve would be the weak point. Only the continuance of Ayve’s reservation on the one hand and his silent compliance in the training on the other hand seemed to slowly reduce his father’s constant vigilance. It looked as if he started to think that Ayve simply was like that. It surely fitted the stereotype nymph.

Pheus had entered a rarely used part of the cave system. Moaning reached his fine ears. Upset as he was, he decided he could use some distraction and sneaked towards the place the noises came from. Clothes were distributed all over the floor. Men’s clothes. He spotted their owners. Busy as they were, they took no notice of him. They were no members of his family; he could only dimly remember them. After all, there were a few hundred people of his kind living in the tunnels. Flesh bouncing against flesh, growls and moans rising out of their throats, the two men were having sex on the floor. The strange thing was the manner in which they did it. Pheus had not been aware that it was possible to be intimate like that.

For a few moments, he stood there watching. Then he turned away, pictures of Ayve yielding to his touch and the taste of his moist mouth flooding his brain.

His father reprimanded him again. “How are you going to fight anyone with these meagre powers? Are you going to say ‘wait, I need a moment to concentrate’ to the human who is just slaughtering your people in order to set his garments in flames – flames that he can put out easily, small as they are? What use is this?! Stop being idle and enhance your abilities!”

Pheus was just not able to concentrate at all under all this pressure. Enraged, he stormed through the tunnels, people jumping out of his way. One or two sneers accompanied him from people who enjoyed seeing him fail. Pheus steered towards the exit, jumping down from the rock nose onto the path ten feet below and hurried down the mountain.

At first, the warm sun, the birds and insects buzzing around and the sweet fragrance of blossoming plants that lay in the air only enraged him more. The peaceful environment seemed to mock him, the way it clashed with his feelings. Eventually, however, it mildened his anger so that it only simmered in the bottom of his stomach instead of threatening to boil over. He dove into the woods, running past the trees.

He had run for quite a while when he heard water flowing nearby. After another short sprint, he stepped out into the sun that shone onto the banks of a stream that reflected the light blindingly. Pheus inhaled deeply and looked up at the sky. Kingfishers flitted past him. Pheus closed his eyes, enjoying the fresh air that filled his lungs.

Strange sounds caught his attention. Something or someone must have fallen or jumped into the stream a little further up. His senses told him that it was someone. Not having anything better to do, Pheus followed the sounds. The stream took several bends. Finally, a small clearing came into view. Pheus stumbled over a pile of clothes. Not seeing anyone around, he took it up and sniffed. Ayve.

Pheus went a little further along the bank and saw the naked form of the nymph under the surface of the water. His heart beat a little faster.

Water splashing around him, Ayve came up and stared right at Pheus. His senses must have told him that someone was close by as well. They held each other’s gaze, Pheus’ face turned into stone. At last, Pheus slowly started to undress as well. Damn his father. Damn all these rules.

His foot broke the surface of the fast running water, diving into the cold depths. He waded through the floods further and further, until finally he stood face to face with Ayve, the water reaching up to his chest.

Ayve’s face showed his uncertainty. Pheus had hardly paid any attention to him lately; he had no idea why he was here, now. The proximity of their naked bodies irritated the nymph.

Pheus reached out and touched his lips. It was a test; he wanted to see Ayve’s reaction. The nymph parted them, his eyes betraying his desperate, yet insecure longing for Pheus. Pheus seized his wrist and led him to the opposite shore.

Shivering a little from the water that evaporated on his skin, Ayve stood in front of Pheus, feeling Pheus’ eyes wander over his body. Pheus went around the other man and caressed his butt cheeks.

Ayve was still visibly uncertain about this situation.

Pheus pressed his loins against his back and pulled him close with one arm on his chest. “Ayve,” he whispered seductively. “Do you promise me to do everything in your power to keep this secret?”

Ayve wanted to turn around to look into Pheus’ eyes, but Pheus kept him in place.

“Promise me, please.”

Ayve guided his arm behind Pheus’ head to make it come closer and be able to rub his cheek against Pheus’.

Pheus led a hand over Ayve’s thigh, towards Ayve’s sex. As if by accident, he grazed it. Ayve shuddered. “I want you Ayve. I want to see you, to touch you regularly. I so long for you.” Pheus felt Ayve melt into his embrace. Both of their members hardened. “But please, Ayve, we need to hide this.” His voice was urgent.

A high clicking noise.

“Yes?” Pheus asked to confirm.

“Yes,” Ayve replied breathlessly, his own longing obvious.

Assuaged, Pheus pressed his lips on Ayve’s neck, wanting to feel his skin. He licked and tasted for a while, his member rubbing against Ayve’s behind, one of his hands caressing Ayve’s sex and eliciting small whimpers out of the nymph’s throat that excited him all the more.

“Kneel down,” he finally requested. “On all fours. I would like to try something.”

Ayve complied immediately.

Kissing down his back, Pheus advanced to his bottom and examined it. How was this supposed to work? Pheus reluctantly placed a finger at the entrance. This was so tight. It did not look like there would fit anything in, least his member. And yet he had seen it done.

Carefully, he pushed the tip of his smallest finger in. “What does that feel like?” he asked.

Ayve tried to look back. “I don’t know. It tickled a little when you touched me outside, but I can hardly feel this,” he answered with blunt honesty.

Pheus pushed deeper in. He had no fear of contact with this part of the body. Moving his finger, he noticed that indeed there was more space than he had thought. He drew the small finger out and replaced it with his middle finger. Ayve’s hips moved a little. “You feel that, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Pheus could not help but smile in amused excitement. “What does it feel like?” Pheus was curious to know.

“I’m not sure. It feels strange to be touched inside.”

Pheus admired the trust Ayve had in him. “But you like it?”

Ayve hesitated. “Yes, I think I do.”

Knowing that his member was bigger, Pheus added a second finger. It did not fit in completely. After perhaps a third of its length, Ayve winced when Pheus tried to push it further in. Pheus halted. “Are you okay?”

Ayve waited a few moments before he answered. “Yes. It hurt, but the pain has ebbed away.”

Pheus distributed saliva on the opening and carefully moved his fingers in it some more. Doing this alone turned him on. It was amazing how Ayve let him do anything he wanted, how much faith Ayve had in him.

He pulled out and caressed Ayve’s sex once more, marvelling at the way Ayve’s hips moved forth and back, his imagination providing him with pictures of Ayve doing the same movements while Pheus’ member was buried deep inside of him. He let go of Ayve’s erection and placed the tip of his own needy arousal on his opening. “Tell me when it hurts,” he said, hoping with every particle of his body that it would not. Slowly, already relishing in the pressure on his glans, he pushed in. It was not easy, Ayve’s bottom was still tight, but suddenly, the head of his member disappeared in Ayve’s depth, making Pheus moan in pleasure and surprise. A similar moan came out of Ayve’s mouth.

For a few moments, Pheus just remained still, breathing in deeply, overwhelmed by the sensation. At last, he started to move in deeper, bathing in the warmth and tightness of Ayve’s inside. He moved in until his testicles were pressed tightly against Ayve’s butt. He felt the other man press himself against him.

Pheus moved a hand over Ayve’s back as he pulled out. Then he pushed back into him with all his might. That was what he had seen the other men do a few days ago. An outcry of pleasure escaped Ayve’s mouth. Pheus had never heard him like that. They breathed loud and heavily. Pheus repeated the movement, his loins and Ayve’s butt colliding hard with each other. He felt his testicles twitch. He was close. Again. He sped up. Again. And one more time. With a loud moan, he felt his seed flow into Ayve.

He slumped down on Ayve’s back, kissing the nape of his neck, bathing in perfect bliss. His hand moved over Ayve’s belly and found a still hard arousal. With a sigh, he pulled out of Ayve and lay down beneath him. “Come down. Put it into my mouth,” he invited the nymph. He loved to feel the hardened flesh. Pheus had to widen his throat to take in Ayve’s full length. When he pushed a finger into Ayve’s butt once more, the nymph whimpered in delight. He came soon and louder than Pheus remembered from previous encounters. Ayve’s breath hitched.

They lay together in the sun, Ayve’s head resting on Pheus’ chest, his breath gently flowing over Pheus’ skin. Pheus held his eyes closed, desperately trying to stay in this moment, to forget the troubles that were waiting for him only a few miles away, up in the mountains. His hand gently brushed through Ayve’s hair. He could not forget.

“Ayve, you need to help me, please.” In fact, Ayve had helped him already by doing as he had asked him and keeping the full strength of his own power hidden. “Please teach me. Perhaps we can even use it as a good way to go out here without having to sneak out. We could tell Rekr that we train together. Please help me; I need to advance or…” He broke off.

Ayve looked up at him and cupped Pheus’ cheek with a hand. He smiled benignly and kissed Pheus. Their eyes locked and Pheus understood that Ayve did not even have to think about his request. They kissed.


What about sharing your opinion on this?