The Pearl Key

Chapter Two

Michele fumbled with the old key, nerves making him clumsy. Everything up
until now had just seemed so surreal. He couldn’t imagine what he would
find on the other side of that door. The pearl key turned smoothly in the
lock and the heavy door swung in on its own. Inside the room was dark. A
single oil lamp burnt on the wall, casting a circular pool of orange light
on the far side of the room, but the rest was all shadows. Michele felt
around for a light switch, but he could find none.

"Hn," he said aloud, perplexed and a little intrigued. "Must be one of
those rustic get-away type places." From what he could see in the dim
light, the room was rustic indeed. The walls were bare except for the back
wall on which several decorative swords, spears and other weapons hung and
the room was empty of furniture. In the corner, there was what looked like
a thick mattress of some sort; the bed, Michele guessed.

At first glance, it certainly didn’t look like he was going to get what
Joce paid for.Michele let out an explosive breath and ran a hand through
his tangled brown hair. He was beginning to wish he hadn’t packed so light
when he thought he saw a movement in the corner. Michele tensed, suddenly
uncertain. Was there someone in his room?

He held his breath. The oil lamp cast wildly shifting shadows on the walls.
My imagination, he told himself. Just my imagination. You're too tense.
That’s why Joce sent you on vacation. But, no. Something told Michele it
wasn’t just stress playing games with his head, something the receptionist
had said… Do you have a preference…?

A soft rustle of cloth on cloth, another movement, barely perceptible.
"Hello?" Michele called out with an authority he didn’t feel. "Is somebody
there?"

A solid shadow detached itself from the wall in the darkest corner of the
room where the bed was. It resolved itself into human shape and Michele
stepped back a space. By the light coming from the hallway and the open
door, Michele could tell that the person was a man, but not much more. "Who
are you?" he asked the stranger.

The stranger stepped into the light. He was a tall, solid-looking man with
an angular face and long… very long… pale hair woven in dozens of thin
braids and swept back from his face. He wore what looked like a thick cloak
of iridescent purplish feathers. As nervous as he was, Michele couldn’t
help but think that the man possessed a hard-edged elegance, seeming at
once fierce and beautiful. The man stood with his arms crossed, head
raised, a stance of calculated arrogance. He offered no answer to Michele,
but pointed to the open door.

At first, Michele thought the man was ordering him to leave, that the
white-garbed woman had accidentally taken him to the wrong room, but then
he thought otherwise. Cautiously, he turned to look in the direction that
the man was pointing. On the door was a plain card that read ‘Karnage’ in
pale
violet script. Odd, he didn’t remember that being there. Michele looked
back at the man and swallowed heavily. "Is that…" his voice croaked. He
cleared his throat and tried again. "Are you Karnage? Is that your name?"

The man shrugged impassively. "Sometimes." His voice was sibilant, hoarse,
but powerful - like a bird’s - Michele thought.

"Well, I’m Michele. Michele Homais. That doesn’t ever change," he said,
trying for a smile, anything to relieve the tension. Nothing. "Um… I’m in
the right room, ‘cause that woman…"

"Yes," the man interrupted. "This is your room, master."

For a moment, Michele was almost relieved until his brain caught up with
him. "What do you mean, ‘master’?" he asked.

The man frowned. "You are my new master, aren’t you? I am the Pearl Key.
You asked for me, didn’t you?"

"You’re the key?" Michele choked, everything coming into place.

"Yes," the man replied, clearly confused and a little annoyed by Michele’s
surprise.

"Of course! The Pearl Key!" Michele put a hand to his head. "So… what do
you do, exactly?"

"That’s not up to me." The man turned away from him and went back to sit,
straight-backed on the bed. It seemed that would be the extent of the
introductions.

* * *

The Pearl Key sat on his bed, legs drawn up, leaning against the wall’s
comforting solidity. His new master was watching him and pretending not to
and Karnage didn’t bother to hide his returning stare as the man moved
about, looking for a place to put the few clothes and personal belongings
he had brought with him. None of his other masters had ever brought much of
anything with them. Just where did the man think he was, anyway. What would
he need with two changes of clothes?

Karnage didn’t know quite what to think of this master. The man, Michele,
he’d said, was obviously lost. He’d never been to the Palace before. Still…
no one chose the Pearl Key without knowing what they were getting into.
This master didn’t look particularly strong. Did he think he could charm
his Key into doing what he wanted? Hn. Did he really think no one had
thought of that before? Karnage had seen everything - everything one human
being could do to another. He wouldn’t let himself be tricked.

* * *

The Key was still sitting on the pile of furs that served as a bed. He
hadn’t moved since Michele had spoken to him. He watched Michele like a
hawk, not even bothering to try to disguise the fact. Michele smiled at
that thought. How could he be angry? He himself was totally unable to take
his eyes off the other man as much as he tried to hide it.

He was so fierce, so mysterious, so dangerous and all of that only made him
more beautiful. Michele tore his eyes away, worried that the Key would
somehow know his thoughts. After everything else, that didn’t seem so
impossible. It was something Michele had never been able to tell anyone,
not even Joce. How could he tell his boss and best friend that he was
attracted to other men? What would she think of him then? Tentatively,
Michele sole another peek at the Key.

It seemed the man had lost interest in him. His held lolled against the
wall and he looked up at the ceiling with closed eyes. What was he here
for, anyway? Was he going to be staying in the room with
Michele the whole time he was here? What would he do then? Michele was
uncomfortable enough just having him this close for this short time.

"Stop staring at me," the Key suddenly said without opening his eyes.
Michele nearly jumped out of his skin. He quickly looked everywhere but at
the Key.

"Sorry," he murmured, thinking that he was probably blushing and glad that
the room was so dark. He was even more embarrassed when the Key opened his
eyes and actually turned to look at him, seeming at once astonished and
almost confused. He smothered the expression immediately and his face
turned hard again. "Hn," was all he said.

* * *

Karnage turned away from his master in a huff, but he couldn’t help but
sneak another sidelong glance. The man stood slumped, staring at his feet.
Karnage had never seen anyone look so defeated. He just couldn’t figure the
man out. His master had apologized to him. Actually apologized when Karnage
technically had no right to tell him not to stare in the first place. No
one had ever apologized to him before. Perhaps he had been too harsh in
seeking to hide his surprise… No! He couldn’t start thinking that way. He
was a prisoner. Courteous or not, this man was his enemy. He wouldn’t drop
his guard again.
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