Beloved
Writers:
Jo B. purplefox7@aol.com (Lead Writer)
Nicole Czara18@aol.com
Michael too@amorous.com
Eli_Anne e_ocon@ix.netcom.comRating: NC-17
Keywords: M/Sk M/K SLASHDisclaimer: The X-Files characters Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, Walter Skinner, Jeffrey Spender, CSM, the Lone Gunmen, etc. are the property Chris Carter, 1013 productions and Fox Broadcasting.
Summary: Alternate Universe. True love never dies, Mulder and Skinner find out how deadly it can be.
Author's note: This story was inspired by the movie "The Candyman." It is being written as a collaborative round robin. If you enjoy the story, please send feedback to one of the writers listed above.
Warning: This story contains sexual interaction between members of the same sex. If the subject matter offends you *do not* read any further.
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Old Spender Plantation
July 28, 1999
Cape Town, North CarolinaThe man stumbled and fell bruising his knee on the hardwood floor. He stared fearfully at the object he had tripped over and felt the bile rise in the back of his throat. The object was the body of the psychic medium they had hired to cleanse the manor house of its malevolent spirits. The old woman laid sprawled on the floor. Her throat had been ripped out. The full moon from window at the end of the hallway shone on her face, death had twisted it into a grotesque mask. The moon provided the young man with enough light to see by as he desperately regained his feet and race for the main staircase. He came close to falling again; this time over the paint cans and tarps left, piled there, by the workmen renovating this house. He grabbed the hand rail and flew down the steps two at a time. His eyes avoided looking at the body of his wife who hung swinging by her neck from the chandelier over the foyer.
The man made it to the front door and tried frantically to open it, but it wouldn't budge. He heard an evil chuckle behind him and spun around. "No. Please. Don't. Stay away. Nooooooo!"
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Spender Plantation
August 13, 1822
Cape Town, North CarolinaThe three people in the dining hall were silent as they focused on their evening meal. The clatter of dishes and the rustle of fabric from the house slave's skirt were the only noise, as she rushed from one end of the long sturdy oak table to the other waiting on the master and mistress of the house, and their twenty-five year old son.
"Well, Fox, you've been home from your travels for six months now, and I think it's time you to start learning the family business," the stern older man said, selecting a cigar from the humidor that Becca held open for him. "I've been very patient with you, boy, I've tolerated your lengthy education and allowed you to sow your wild oats. Now it is time for you to start contributing to this family," he growled.
"Sir, I have no interest in growing tobacco. I can't even stand the smell of the stuff," Fox said. He wished he could have stayed in Europe, but his father had cut off his allowance forcing him to come home.
"You're a Spender, Fox, and we Spender's have been growing tobacco on this land since the early 1700s! You *are* going to follow in your ancestors footsteps and I want no arguments! Is that clear, boy?" Spender's face was livid as he puffed on his cigar, realizing he had allowed his son too much freedom, but that would change starting today.
"Yes, sir," Fox sighed, trying to placate the old man. The two years he had spent in Europe had been the happiest in his life, that was until four months ago when he had met Alexander. He was not going to stay here when the whole world was out there just waiting for him to explore it. He was going to leave with his beautiful lover in September, and travel with him down south for the winter. After that maybe they would visit the orient together.
Spender glared at his son who had a faraway look in his hazel eyes. "Good. Now stop daydreaming and finish your meal, Son, you're as skinny as a rail," he ordered.
Mrs. Spender gave her son a sympathetic look as he pushed the collard greens around on his plate. Her husband never tolerated wasting good food and she knew how much her Fox despised that particular green vegetable, which was one of Charles' favorites.
"Eat, Fox, don't make me take my strap to you!" Spender growled.
Fox quickly forked the greens into mouth, trying not to gag. He couldn't wait to get out from under his father's thumb. Even if he would be leaving here penniless at least he'd be leaving with the man he loved. After he finished cleaning his plate Fox looked up at his father. "I'm going to take my horse out for some exercise, sir."
"It's going to be dark soon, see that you're back before then. I don't want you injuring that horse by stepping into a gopher hole," he growled. Spender sensed that his son was up to something and he was determined to find out what.
Fox rose to leave. He leaned down and kissed his mother on her cheek, goodbye. As he made it to the doorway his father's voice stopped him cold. "I've invited the Fowley's over for Sunday dinner. Their eldest daughter is in need of a husband again; her last one was killed in an unfortunate hunting accident a year ago. She'd make you a good wife, Fox," he said.
"Father, that was her fourth husband in ten years. Don't you find it a bit odd that they all died in freak accidents?" Fox asked.
"God works in mysterious ways, Son, it is not our place to question why he chose to take those poor souls. However, the Widow is a handsome woman and extremely wealthy. She would bring a substantial dowry into this family. I want grandchildren before I die, Fox. I want to die knowing that there is someone to carry on the Spender name."
"Is there anything else, father?"
"No, Fox. Go and enjoy your ride."
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Fox slowed his horse as he approached the small gypsy encampment. He'd come here almost every day for the past four months. The men and the women of the camp greeted him by name, while the children ran up to him as he dismounted. He held onto the horses reins as he listened to the children beg him to tell them about his travels abroad.
"Stop pestering Fox, he is here to see me. If you're good I might share him with you later," Alexander said, pulling Fox into a hug.
"Oh, Papa, do you promise to allow Fox to tell us about Europe before he leaves?" the oldest child in the group whined. He was Alexander's son. His pretty wife had died giving birth to this child, and the whole clan helped Alexander raise the boy.
"I promise, Vlad, but only if Fox wishes to," he smiled. His green eyes sparkled with delight as he ruffled the young lad's dark hair.
Fox chuckled as Alexander grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the camp to their secret spot next to the river. Fox tied his horse to a tree and they ducked beneath its low hanging branches then through some bushes and came out on a small clearing, and immediately fell on each other like hungry wolves.
"My lovely Fox, I've missed you so. I hate it when we are apart. I have a hollowness inside me that only you can fill. I love you so," Alexander murmured, between tender kisses.
"Alex, I love you, too. I only wish that we could leave here this minute, instead of waiting until September. My father is now trying to marry me off to the Black Widow of Caswell county. I shudder at the thought of going anywhere near her. There is much talk that she is a witch," Fox whispered fearfully as he dropped to his knees and started unbuttoning Alexander's breeches.
"Don't worry, my beloved, I will never allow her to bewitch you. I'd kill her if she even dares to look at you funny! You're mine, Fox, and I will never give you up," he said, moaning softly as Fox pulled his cock free of his breeches and deftly unbuttoned the cuffs from around his knees.
Fox stripped Alexander's breeches off as he sucked on his cock. His hazel eyes gazed up at the beautiful man who he had come to love with all of his heart and soul. "Will you love me forever and always, Alex?" he asked, kissing the leaking head and lapping up its delicious juices.
"I will love you throughout eternity, beloved," Alexander moaned. He hauled Fox back up to his feet and started undressing his lover slowly; he enjoyed exposing every inch of that wonderful body. "Beautiful," he murmured and kissed the dusty pink nipple as he dropped his lover's shirt to the ground.
Fox growled with need as his tore at the bindings on the gypsy's large, ruffled shirt. "Look who's talking, my sweet beautiful Alex."
Soon they were both naked and sinking down onto the cool river bank. They hungrily explored every inch of each other's bodies. Alexander reached behind his Fox's head and untied the ribbon that held his silky brown hair in a short ponytail. The gypsy enjoyed running his fingers through his Fox's thick hair.
Alexander gazed lovingly into Fox's chameleon colored eyes. "No, my love, there has never been anyone more beautiful than you. I love the way your eyes change colors with your moods, and God himself must have designed your lips explicitly for kissing," Alexander said softly, kissing Fox deeply on his full lips to emphasize his point. "Mm, Ambrosia never tasted as sweet."
Fox lay blissfully underneath Alexander's body, and he ran a gentle finger over his lover's perfect bow shaped lips. How could someone so perfect think that he was beautiful? Fox shook his head in awe as he caressed up and down the man's muscular back, while relishing the warm weight covering him, possessing him. He wanted to be claimed and owned by this man who he loved above all others. "Make love to me, Alex. I want to feel you plow deep within me and fill me with your seed," he murmured huskily.
"Mm, you want me to sow your fields, my little farm boy," the gypsy chuckled happily as he rubbed a finger over his lover's tight opening, then pushed it inside.
Fox spread his legs and raised his hips to offer himself totally to his lover. "Yes. Oh, yes. Take me, I'm yours, and only yours."
"Forever and always, beloved," Alexander murmured, slipping another finger inside his Fox.
"Throughout time, my love," Fox moaned, pushing against those delicious fingers and raking his nail across Alexander's back. He groaned and arched his body as his lover inserted a third finger and twisted them around inside him. He gazed up at the love of his life with passion filled eyes, he was in heaven and Alexander was his dark angel.
Alexander couldn't hold back any longer, the sight of his lover's wanton body was driving him insane. He coated his cock with the sweet oil that he always carried in his coat pocket. Then he positioned Fox's legs over his shoulders and stared down into the lust filled hazel eyes that had changed to a deep shade of green. "Green is the color of life and you are my life," he said as he positioned the head of his cock against the small opening, straining hard until he broached the ring of muscles and sunk into his lover's hot, willing body. It felt almost like a religious experience to Alexander each time he took Fox this way.
The wet grass and pebbles under his back didn't distract Fox from the wonderful feeling of his lover's thickness sliding into his body, filling and completing him. "Oh, so good," he moaned.
The two men were unaware of the pair of cold jealous eyes that watched them angrily from her hiding place in the dense bushes. She had become enamored with the beautiful young Fox Spender and had begged her father to arrange a marriage through the elder Spender for her and his son. This one she just might keep around longer than she did her other husbands all of whom she had married only for their money and not out of desire or love. She felt her loins burn with hot desire as she stared upon the naked body of her Fox.
Her face contorted with hatred as she watched the gypsy's large organ slide in and out of her future husband's tight hole. Her fingernails dug painfully into her palms at the sounds of pleasure issuing from the lips of both men. That filthy gypsy will pay dearly for touching what is to be hers, she would see to it. It was providence that she had spotted her Fox on his horse and followed him here. It was God's will that she should save Fox from the cunning gypsy who had used his remarkable beauty to blind her Fox from seeing the evil demon hidden inside. All gypsies are in league with Satan, they were all sinners from the oldest to the youngest. Fox was too innocent and naive to know this. He would make her an obedient husband, someone she could shape to her will.
Diana felt a dampness between her legs wetting her undergarments as she lustfully watched Fox wrap his long legs around the gypsy's back and pulled him in deeper, arching his back off the ground as his milky white seed spilled from his penis. The gypsy's powerful arms pulled Fox's legs tighter around his body and he ground his hip into the beauty's creamy ass forcing his organ in as far as it would go. Alexander came with a roar, his body jerking in time with his shooting cock as he filled his lover with his seed.
They fell exhaustedly into each other's arms into sweet sated bliss. After twenty minutes Fox interrupted their peaceful silence. "It will be dusk in less than an hour, Alex. I promised my father that I'd be back before then. Can you apologize to the little ones and your son? Tell them that I'll be back tomorrow to tell them stories to their hearts content," he said. Rising he stepped into the river to clean the sticky semen from his body.
Two pairs of appreciative eyes watched him as he sloshed water over his flat stomach and long, toned legs. Fox's beautiful round ass was facing Alexander and he wanted to sink back in between those firm cheeks and lose himself inside this man. He slowly rose and wadded out into the river, pulling Fox back into his arms. "I will talk to Ivan, Fox, and see if we can leave before September. It tears my heart in two every time you leave me."
"I don't ever want to leave you, Alex. I would love to spend the night sleeping in your arms, but if my father were ever to suspect … I'm afraid of what he would do," Fox replied sadly, stepping out of the river he pulled his clothes back on over his wet skin.
Alexander watched silently as his lover made his way back to his horse. He had never known such love in all of his twenty-nine years.
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Spender Plantation
Sunday Evening"Charles, you have a fine looking lad there. Although, he's a little thin, but no worry my Diana's cooking will put some meat on his bones. It's about time the lad settles down and starts giving you and your wife some fine grandchildren," Edward Fowley rambled, sipping on a glass of port. It was a joke of course and Spender laughed. Ladies of quality did not cook; they let the slaves do that type of work.
The women had withdrawn to the sitting room as the men discussed the marriage arrangements for their children in the study.
Fox leaned against the mantel feeling like a piece of meat as the two men arranged the rest of his life for him.
"I expect a larger than normal dowry, Edward. Your Diana is no longer a virgin, and she is getting up there in age. I'll admit that I am concerned that she only bore one child out of her four previous marriages," Spender said.
"Little Edward is proof that my Diana isn't barren, it isn't her fault she married men who were. I will agree with you on her age. Thirty-one years is rather old, but she still has a lot of childbearing years left. What about your son? How are his teeth? Does he have any health problems?"
"My son is in excellent health. Fox, show Edward your teeth," Spender ordered.
Fox slowly walked over to Mr. Fowley's chair and opened his mouth. The portly man grabbed his jaw and pulled down his lip with his thumb, studying Fox's perfect teeth and gums.
"Edward, have you ever seen a set of whiter or straighter teeth?" Spender asked with pride.
"No, I haven't. Your lad is certainly attractive, I'm surprised that he isn't already taken," Fowley replied, releasing Fox.
"I wanted him to get an education first and travel. It's important for a young man to get the wanderlust out of his system before he settles down. Fox has done that and is now more than happy to marry and raise a large family. Isn't that right, boy?" Spender asked his son who had gone back to stand beside the mantel.
"Yes, father."
"Very well, Charles, I will draw up my offer tomorrow. We'll want to get our children married as soon as possible. How does the first Sunday in September sound to you?" Fowley asked.
"Fine, Edward," Spender said happily. Even without the large dowry, he wanted Fox to marry the wealthy widow. His son would by law take over his wife's assets. Then there was the woman herself, she would tame his son of his wild ways. Yes, this was the best arrangement for all of them.
"Father, if you don't need me anymore. I think I shall retire for the night," Fox said. He was planning to sneak out to see Alexander tonight.
"Of course, son. Don't forget to say goodnight to your mother and Mrs. Fowley, and your future wife," Spender replied.
"Yes, sir. Goodnight, Mr. Fowley," he said, heading out of the room.
After he said his goodnights to the women, he climbed the main staircase up to the first floor landing then headed down the hallway and climbed a small set of stairs up to the third floor where his rooms were. Fox wanted to get the picture books that he had promised to show the young gypsy children.
Fox crept back downstairs by way of the servant's staircase and out the back door of the manor. He didn't notice that he was being watched.
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Fox contentedly snuggled up against his lover's nude body. It was pleasant inside Alexander's small wagon. It smelled of cinnamon and spices. He looked forward to spending many long nights inside making love to Alex as they traveled together. He was just drifting off to sleep when the sound of horse hooves and shouting brought him back to full consciousness.
Alexander shot upright, he was reaching for his knives when the back door of the wagon was yanked open and rough hands pulled the two young men out. They were dragged struggling over to the large campfire.
Fox stared in shock at the mob of angry men holding the gypsy clan at gunpoint. Then his eyes locked with those of his father, and his world dropped out from under him.
Charles Spender swung down from his horse and walked over to his trembling son who was held firmly by two of his neighbors. He backhanded his son across his face. "Sinner! I will take care of you at home, Fox!" he snarled. "Find a blanket and cover up his nakedness," Spender ordered.
Alexander was struggling wildly; he wanted to kill the man for hitting his lover. It took four men to hold him.
Spender walked over to the struggling young gypsy. He stared contemptuously at the man's naked body marked with signs of passion. The young man was beautiful; it was no wonder he had been able to lure his son into his evil clutches. "Devil's spawn, you shall pay dearly for touching my son! Tie the *heathen* to that tree," Spender barked and grabbed a horsewhip from off his saddle.
"Father, NO! DON'T!" Fox shouted, struggling with the two larger men holding him, he had been wrapped in a blanket so tightly that he wasn't able to move his arms.
"Fox, this devil has beguiled you! You shall watch him punished for it! I shall beat him back to hell where he belongs!"
"Please, Father. Don't hurt him," Fox begged as he watched his lover tied to a tree with his back and buttocks exposed the angry men. "I'll do anything that you say, please, just let him go."
Spender stared thoughtfully at his only child's tear stained face. The future of the Spender bloodline rested in his son's loins. "Very well, Fox, I won't touch him. However, you will be punished severely for sinning, and for your sake you'd better pray that the Fowley's still want you for a son-in-law," he said, dropping the whip. "Conrad, take my son home. I will join you there as soon as we run these gypsies out of our area."
Fox sighed, calming down, he knew his father would beat him when he got home, but at least Alexander will be all right. He gazed one final time upon his lover as tears of regret and anguish streamed from his eyes. Pulling the blanket around himself Fox mounted his horse and followed his father's friend back toward the manor house.
Spender watched as his son's horse disappeared into the night before bending to pick up the whip. He waited until he was sure that no sound would reach his son's ears. The other men grinned wickedly as he brought the whip down with all of his might across the gypsy's smooth back.
Alexander shrieked as the whip flayed the skin off his back. Young children and women began crying hysterically as the whip was brought down again and again. They pleaded and begged Spender to let Alexander go. A pretty and young gypsy woman shielded Alexander's eight year old son's face from seeing the beating. She took Vlad to the edge of the camp and held his shaking and crying body against hers. The mob of men kept their guns trained on the gypsies as the whipping continued it didn't stop until every inch of skin on the young man's back had been torn to shreds. Blood pooled in the dirt around Alexander's bare feet.
"Cut him down," Spender ordered as he walked over to a woodpile and picked up an ax then motioned for his neighbors to drag the semiconscious young man over to the chopping block. "Lay his hand on the block," he ordered. "Gypsy, this is what we do to *heathens* that touch our sons and daughters. You will never touch another man's son again."
Alexander struggled weakly as his hand was laid upon the wood block. "Fox, my Fox," he murmured, over and over. He was too weak to cry out as the ax blade cut through his flesh and bone.
Alexander watched in a fog as his hand laid there next to his bleeding stump, he watched as Fox's father picked up his severed hand and tossed it into the fire. He realized then that he was dying. The wounds on his back and now the blood spilling out of his wrist were too severe for his body to handle. //Fox, beloved, I swear on all that I hold most dear that I will never stop looking for you. Death will not be enough to keep us apart. We shall be together again, forever and always,// he prayed silently. Then stared up at the elder Spender and started to chant in the ancient language of his people.
Several of the gypsies around the campfire backed away from fear. No one in centuries had dared to cast a curse such an unmerciful curse upon another human.
Spender noticed the fear in all the gypsies as they backed away from their dying kin. "What is he saying? Why are you afraid?" he asked as the final word left Alexander's mouth and he smiled up at the old man. "You can never keep Fox and I apart. Our love is for eternity," he said, dying with a blissful smile on his radiant face.
An ancient gypsy woman stepped forward, covering Alexander's body with her shawl. She looked upon Spender and said, "You have been cursed man. Alexander has had his revenge on you. Never again will your soul know true happiness. Not in this life time or any other. All that you hold the dearest will be destroyed. Every time you find love -- you will lose it. The only way the curse can be lifted is for Alexander to be reunited with his beloved."
Spender's eyes grew wide with fear. "Never! I will send my son away from here, someplace where he can never be found. Spirits cannot cross the ocean, I will send Fox to England," he exclaimed. He was no fool, he believed in the powers that he could not see. His mother had been from Russia and she had told him of the powers of the gypsies.
Spender ran to his horse and leapt upon its back, he must get back to his son. He looked up at the crescent moon. According to his mother, spirits only had the power to kill during the full moon. He knew that for the gypsy to claim his son for eternity he would have to kill him. Sending his son away was the only hope he had of protecting him.
Vlad's sad emerald eyes watched the horse race across the field vanishing into the darkness. His eight year old heart had learned to hate this evening. When he is old enough he would kill these men as cruelly as they had killed his father.
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J. Edgar Hoover Building
Washington D.C.
August 3, 1999"Well that certainly is the most beautiful tie I have ever seen," Walter Skinner choked out from behind his desk.
Mulder closed the door behind him as he entered Skinner's office. He locked the door quietly. He held up the simple blue tie and shrugged, "You think?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, I only wear it because my lover gave it to me, and he is extremely sensitive."
Walter stood and walked around the desk. "Is that right?"
Mulder smiled slightly and then deliberately drew in his lush lower lip, trapped it between his teeth and then let it slowly slide out again. He could see Walter's reaction to that bit of seduction. Walter was a large man and any sign of excitement was quickly apparent.
"Yeah it is, he is *very* sensitive."
Walter pounced on his agent and drew him tight into an embrace, "You drive me crazy, Fox," he groaned before he devoured Mulder's mouth almost violently. He repeated Mulder's move and bit Mulder's lower lip and let it slide between his own teeth. Mulder was driving him crazy and the man had just walked in to the office.
"Want me to tell you where he is the most sensitive?" Mulder's voice was husky with passion and Skinner wanted nothing more than to slam that pretty body over his desk, rip down those expensive trousers and boxers and fuck him raw. He'd done it before, but that had been after hours when the Hoover was nearly deserted. Now it was in the middle of the morning and with how loud Fox was when he was getting fucked, Skinner couldn't risk it. He thought about gagging that beautiful mouth, but hearing the cries and the begging was half the fun.
"Well? Do you?"
"Mulder!" Skinner begged. In fifteen minutes the meeting would start and he was as rock hard as he'd ever been.
Mulder licked at Skinner's face but wouldn't let Skinner kiss him again.
Skinner growled and pulled the playful man to him tight and devoured the mouth that haunted his every lustful dream.
Mulder wiggled free and slid down to his knees. "I guess I'll just have to show you where he is most sensitive."
Skinner's cock jumped and Mulder purred hungrily at the big meat trapped under the wool blend. He bit at the fat organ and Skinner's breath hissed out in one quick sigh.
"You're so big, Walter. I think that people who say they aren't into big dicks are liars. I for one love yours. So fat…so thick…so long." Between every adoring description Mulder bit his way to the fat, mushroom head that was beginning to leak under all the clothes. "I can't believe this even fits inside me…oh God, I've missed being fucked by it."
It had been a long week. Separated for a week by a case was nearly too long for both of them. Mulder pulled the huge cock out of its confines and moaned. It did look too big to fit into anyone's body. "God, that should kill me instead of making me feel so good. It doesn't look possible."
"Oh, well it very nearly isn't, Fox."
Mulder nodded, it did take some doing to get that enormous, fat cock inside him, but oh gods once it was there and pounding in and out…it was heaven. He licked the sensitive head and Skinner groaned. "One sensitive spot."
"Mulder, baby, the meeting." Skinner was entranced by the sight of that beautiful face so close to his cock. Those plump, cock-sucking lips parted around his head, that pink tongue lapping like a kitten's.
Mulder took pity on his lover and opened his mouth wide. He could barely fit the large head in his mouth, but once there his tongue swirled madly about the slippery apple sized head. His fist claimed the shaft and he squeezed and pumped it. He had nearly died when he'd seen this magnificent cock, four months ago when he and Skinner had become lovers. His first words had been, "Why the Hell are you in the FBI and not making millions as a porn star?" Walter had laughed and told him to stop being such a pain in the ass. That had led to Mulder's obvious crack about what would *really* be a pain in the ass. But for all Skinner's size and his intimidating physical strength, he was incredibly gentle and he had made sure that Fox's pleasure was attended to over and over during that long night, before he had ever tried to work that baton inside Fox.
Fox slurped hungrily on that baton and he whimpered at the sweet taste of precum. His second hand rolled Walter's balls around and felt them tighten just seconds before Skinner came with a strangled, quiet cry. Mulder greedily swallowed and only a small bit of semen escaped to drool out, hotly on his red, swollen lips.
Walter stared down as Fox stared up. Walter's thighs were shaking with the effort of standing and with the sheer pleasure that had been sucked out of him. He groaned as Fox licked the hot semen off his puffy lips and then kissed the tip of Walter's softening cock. He nibbled and licked at the slit, cleaning every last drop of cum from Walter's cock. Walter drew Fox up and kissed him passionately, tasting his own semen on the hot, wet tongue. They both shook and Walter felt Mulder's erection against his hip.
"Baby, what about you?"
Fox grinned and said, "You'll take care of me tonight. I wanted to take the edge off you, so you can make me scream…and beg."
Walter grinned and kissed those ripe lips again. "You are such a little slut, did you know that?"
Fox pulled away with a small grin. "You love that I'm a slut."
"I love that you're *my* slut," Walter growled possessively. "I'd kill you if you cheated on me."
Mulder sobered with a small, nervous smile. He'd never cheat on Walter, but the man was extremely possessive. His possessiveness wasn't to a frightening level, was in fact rather sexy most of the time, but Mulder shuddered to think of what the man would do if he even *thought* Mulder had cheated. He had fucked Mulder over his desk, hard and fast, making Mulder say his name over and over after he had thought Mulder had been flirting with another agent during a meeting. Mulder had been so turned on he had come twice, sobbing his lover's name. Walter had been so tender afterwards and Mulder had decided then and there to force himself to flirt with others every now and again to experience that type of raw, powerful sex.
"I need to straighten up…so do you. The meeting is about to start," Mulder teased and went toward the bathroom.
Walter followed and slapped the tempting round ass. "So you want to be tormented tonight huh?" He knew that what Fox wanted was to be teased and pleasured until he screamed, and still to be teased even more. The vision of his beautiful lover writhing in passion and begging to be fucked threatened to reawaken his sated organ.
Fox moaned, "yeah, I want you to make me beg for it."
Walter groaned and hurriedly washed up, and tucked his cock away. "Get cleaned up, baby."
Fox was breathless imaging the things Walter would do to him. God he loved the big man. But even if he didn't love the man, he would crave the sex. Put plainly, Walter was the best fuck he had ever had. He knew where to touch him to drive him wild. Mulder shivered remembering the time that Walter had spent two full hours just rimming and licking at his anus. That particular intimacy seemed to be one of Walter's favorite things. And that was more than fine with Mulder who loved what that tongue did to him.
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The meeting droned on and Scully was tapping her pen lightly on the side of her notepad. Mulder grinned at her. He wrote on his pad, "Can I interest you in pizza for lunch?"
A small smile curved her pouty lips. She shook her head slightly.
He wrote, "No? Okay…chili dog?"
She rolled her eyes and shook her head again.
Mulder slid back and grinned, he reached over to write another tempting offer when he caught Skinner's look. Skinner was not quite convinced that their relationship was platonic, and his considering stare masked jealousy that he didn't dare show Mulder.
Mulder cleared his throat and whispered, "Tacos"
"Shh!" She admonished.
"And that brings us to this latest case. Agent Mulder, you may find this more interesting than your partner," Skinner growled.
Mulder flushed and sat up straighter as the rest of the agents snickered.
Skinner perused the case file again, and regretted that he had even brought it up. It had only been a way to show Mulder that he didn't appreciate the little flirting games he played with Scully. But as he looked even closer at the case file he knew Mulder would latch on to it and that would mean Mulder would be going away again. He cleared his throat. "SAC Morgan in Raleigh-Durham is asking for some assistance on an on-going case." He looked at his lover, and saw that he was still flushed. "There has been a series of…occult style murders…south of Raleigh-Durham. The murders have occurred near Cape Fear River in a small town…Cape Town. Over the last thirteen months there have been twenty-one murders…each one ritualistic except for the last three which took place a week ago in an old Plantation House."
"Excuse me, Sir, but what do you mean by 'occult style?'" Mulder leaned forward eagerly, his moss green eyes alight with interest.
"I believe, agent Mulder that he was referring to the ritualistic drawings found on the bodies, the missing body parts…"
"I bet he requested ole Spooky himself," agent Thomas quipped.
There was general chuckling and Mulder tightened his lips.
Skinner glowered at the weasly agent and said, "SAC requested agent Mulder personally, as did several others this month." His point was clear and all the agents in the room got it. No SAC had ever requested any of them personally and they were working at the Hoover in violent crimes. They were the crème de la crème and still Mulder out-shone them.
Agent Stark who had a secret, and illicit desire to show Spooky some really hot times in that little basement, leaned over and whispered in the beautiful man's ear, "I wish I could go with you on this one…that's beautiful country."
Mulder turned to the stocky man and gave him a small, distracted smile.
Agent Stark wanted to wet his lips, but didn't. Would Spooky like being fucked, or would he struggle and cry out for help? These were the questions that drove agent Stark crazy. That profile, those puffy lips, that pretty mole…he'd probably like it, but pretend to struggle. He didn't realize that he was staring with abject lust at Mulder until a harsh throat clearing from the terrifying A.D. startled him out of his fantasies and he turned to see the most ferocious look on the big man's face.
"May I see the file, Sir?" Mulder asked and Skinner promptly passed it to him. Mulder opened it and placed it between he and Scully so they both could look at the contents.
"The three last victims…they weren't killed in the same way…or by the same killer, but they are related," Mulder mused after looking at the photographs for less than a minute.
Skinner felt the hairs rise up on the back of his neck, and he saw the same look of awe and fear on the other agents face, save for Scully's…she was used to Mulder's brilliance. It was frightening. And he was almost always right.
"The last three…they were personal…the first…they were rituals…strangers." Mulder looked at Skinner. "I'll need some time to come up with a profile, but I would like to go down there."
Skinner nodded brusquely, "You can leave tonight."
Mulder flushed, he didn't want to leave tonight; he wanted to spend tonight with his surly A.D. "If you don't mind, Sir, I would rather leave tomorrow morning. I just got back from Washington and I need to get some sleep."
Scully seconded that and the A.D. quite happily agreed, though he wasn't sure how much sleep his sweet agent would be getting.
^^^^^^^^^^
"Oh please tell me that I am dreaming!" Scully plopped down in her chair and glared at Mulder.
He grinned. "Sorry, Scully. It looks like we are off again tomorrow."
She shook her head. "We still have all these reports to do."
He smiled. "Why don't you take them home…now…and work on them from there." At her look of surprise he said, "I'll start profiling this case, so we can wrap it up quickly."
She grumbled but gathered all the necessary forms and left.
He found himself staring at the picture of the mansion. Spender. Was that a coincidence? Something about the building, the structure, the weeping willows struck a chord in Mulder and he stared hard. The green of the trees and grass reminded him of Alex's eyes. He cursed himself. Why did he think of that man? Why did the image of those beautiful eyes haunt him? He hated the man, hated what he did, but there was something, had always been something that had drawn him to the rat. Those brief, passionate nights, the instant lust, and the feeling of something precious lost when he had betrayed them all.
He shook his head and with little effort he concentrated on his case. Cape Fear River ran nearly the length of the state and bordered some of the most fertile agricultural lands in the region. The Spender Plantation, however, had not produced a crop in over one hundred years. How it had remained such a lavish estate without being productive sparked a small bit of research. Mulder found that the wealth of the family had sustained the plantation…that one of the European branches of the family had kept the estate up, and thereafter the people of the village had taken care of the estate. Pictures of the caretakers dated back to the early 1800's and they were distinctly Slavic looking. Gypsies by the look of them. Colorful clothing and golden earrings. He felt uncomfortable after a bit, as if someone had walked over his grave.
The Plantation House had been occupied several times over the last century, and always the occupants either disappeared or where found in the house, slaughtered. It had the reputation in the region of being an evil place, a classic haunted house.
"Work, work, work, agent Mulder," agent Stark said from the doorway.
Mulder looked up, surprised. Agent Stark had been down here before but never had he stayed to talk. He had always just looked at Scully and gone on his way.
"Scully is gone for the day," Mulder said tiredly.
Stark smiled and sauntered into the room. "Oh?"
Mulder raised a brow. "Can I help you?"
Oh yeah you can help me. Stark thought. Take off your clothes and spread your legs. "Just wanted to say I hope you enjoy Cape Fear River. It's a lovely spot."
Mulder tilted his head, "Oh? Well thank you. I am sure I won't…there's the matter of the murders."
Stark loved watching Mulder speak. Those lips were made to suck cock, so hot, so full. "I wondered if maybe…"
"If maybe what, agent Stark?"
Both Mulder and Stark turned to the big A.D. in the doorway.
"Just…just if he needed any help, Sir," Stark stuttered.
Skinner just stared at the man until Stark slinked out of the office.
"Where's Scully?" Skinner barked. He hated when other men panted after Mulder. It was hell, because Mulder never saw it. Stark was even obviously hard and Mulder had no clue that the man wanted to jump him.
"She went home with the paperwork."
"Well, meet me at my place in two hours. I am not going to wait for tonight," Walter growled.
Mulder flushed. He nodded obediently, eagerly.
Skinner turned to find Stark lingering near the elevator and he wanted to slam the man against the wall and inflict damage. Instead he turned his fierce gaze on the man. "Is it that you have nothing to do, that you linger down here? If that is the case…follow me. I have plenty for you to do."
"Oh no, it's just that, Mulder and I are friends, and he was going to tell me some things…personal things."
Skinner glared at the lying bastard. "Agent Stark, I am going to tell you this once. I am not a fool. If you sexually harass this man, I will personally see to it that you are driven out of the FBI...is that understood?"
Stark nodded, shocked that his sly intentions were so visible. "I would never… I am straight…"
"Save it." Skinner said no more but made sure the man got on the elevator, and glowered at the bastard the entire silent ride.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Viva Towers
12:30 PM"Are you going to stay dressed all night?"
Mulder smiled, and closed the door. "I was wondering why you were letting me stay dressed all these seconds."
Walter slammed Mulder against the door. And began to pull at the irritating clothes. Within seconds Mulder was nude and shaking already with anticipation of what his lover would do to him.
Walter grabbed the sexy body to him and easily threw Mulder over his shoulder and took him up the stairs. He threw Mulder down on the bed and Mulder grinned.
"You're so butch, baby."
Skinner smiled, "Turn over and spread your legs."
Mulder sobered and flushed with passion. He turned over on his stomach and spread his legs wide.
"Raise your hips."
Mulder complied and Skinner placed several pillows beneath Mulder's hips to keep Mulder's hips high.
Mulder waited for only a few seconds before his ass cheeks were spread wide and a hot tongue laved up an down the sensitive skin of his most tender places. He groaned as Walter's tongue began its skilled attack. It flicked, and dipped, teeth nibbled and scraped, and Mulder became a shivering mass of need.
Skinner loved the taste of Mulder and the way Mulder responded. At first Mulder would pump his ass gently, pleasured by the tongue and teeth, but eventually he would need more. Skinner would simply tongue the prostate from the outside and then Mulder would beg for a true fuck. Skinner wanted to do him immediately, but he knew his lover. He knew Mulder loved the tease. Normally he would make his sweet lover wait and beg for hours, but for some reason he needed to be inside Mulder.
He slicked his large cock up and pressed it to the slick, pink anus. Mulder gasped in pleasure and he pumped his hips, "Oh yeah, baby, fuck me."
Skinner groaned and complied. It took several minutes just to get the big head inside the tight body and then after that initial penetration, Skinner began the slow easy fuck he had to use. Once Mulder's body had remembered its lover he began to drive in and out with hot determination. Mulder squirmed beneath him, his pink flesh spread tight and his head tossing on the one pillow that wasn't pressed to his throbbing cock.
Mulder came screaming Walter's name, and Walter let himself go. He wanted to hold on to the feeling of pleasure, of possession, but it lasted only a few moments and then he stilled, his cock still deep inside the tight, velvet sheath.
It wasn't until later that Mulder roused himself enough to say, "And you send me away again?"
"I'm a glutton for punishment, what can I say?" Walter asked.
Mulder snuggled up against Walter with a satisfied sigh. "You couldn't tease me for long tonight."
"No."
"I'm glad. I needed you."
"I love you."
Mulder turned with a happy sigh and kissed Walter's lips. "Oh, Walter, I love you so much."
"Take care of yourself on this assignment. I have a bad feeling."
Mulder nodded. "I have a bad feeling, too."
Skinner nearly choked. If they both had a feeling, than why was he sending his lover? This man, so sinfully beautiful, and so gifted, he was not expendable.
Mulder slept then in the strong, possessive arms of his lover. In the night he dreamed of green eyes and black hair…and he ran in fear from them, even as his heart cried out to be with the lovely man who wore them, to know his love and to know the pleasure of his touch.
Skinner woke briefly as Mulder cried out in his sleep. He tightened his grip and soothed his lover until Mulder stilled again. One day Mulder would tell him what his dreams were about, and why he sometimes cried out in his sleep, "No, no Alexander…I can't!" He kissed the sweet, tempting mole and wished Mulder would never have to leave him again.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Skinner turned and squinted through heavy lids at the clock, damn, seven o'clock. He didn't want to wake his lover who was peacefully sleeping with his head resting on his broad chest. Mulder's warm breath caressed his nipple and a small amount drool had escaped those perfect lips dampening his chest. Skinner ran his fingers through Mulder's silken, chestnut locks, watching him with love and undisguised affection. Fox was at his absolute cutest when he slept. He wondered what agent Stark would say if he saw Fox now? In his arms. //Personal note. Transfer agent Stark to the Bismarck, North Dakota field office and partner him with Tom Colton,// Skinner smiled at the thought, he would never do it, but sometimes it was nice to dream.
Mulder stirred. "Morning," he mumbled, lifting his head he followed it with a quick, "Sorry." As he wiped at the drool on the larger man's chest.
Skinner chuckled at the embarrassed flush on Mulder's face. "No problem, Fox. We need to take a shower any ways," he said, pulling him into a brief kiss. "And to brush our teeth," he grimaced.
"God, what time is it?" Mulder groaned, lowering his head back down on Skinner's chest, and fitting his body against the pleasant warmth of the larger man. His leg was thrown over Skinner's, and his penis was pressed against his lover's hip.
"A little past seven," Skinner said, rubbing Mulder's back.
"Shit!" Mulder said, leaping out of bed. "My plane leaves at nine o'clock, and I still need to go home to pack." He looked around for his clothes, spinning around in panicked circles.
"Your clothes are still downstairs next to the front door," Skinner chuckled, climbing out of bed.
Mulder gave him a slow smile, "Oh yeah, right, Caveman."
"You know it drives me wild when you smile like that, don't you?" Skinner growled, pulling Mulder into his arms he devoured his mouth, morning breath and all.
Mulder grinned against his lips. "I'm finding that a lot of things drive you wild, Walter. If I ever piss you off I'm planning to use them all on you. So be warned."
Skinner swatted the younger man playfully on the ass. "Brat! So is that what you do to Scully?"
"What?" Mulder asked, confused.
"She never stays pissed at you for long, even after all the times you've ditched her. I figure you must be doing something to placate her," Skinner quipped, but he really wanted to get a feel for how deep his lover's feelings ran for Dana Scully.
"Walter, you're not jealous of the relationship I have with Scully are you?" Mulder asked, seeing right through Skinner's casual question.
Skinner sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "Fox, I wonder sometimes what someone as drop dead gorgeous as you would want with a middle-aged, bald, surly, paper pusher when you have a beautiful partner there for the asking."
"Come here." Mulder grabbed his lover's hands and dragged him in front of the full-length mirror. Standing behind Skinner, he ran his hands down the large man's bulging biceps then over his muscular pecs and flat abs, stopping to grasp the large penis. His fingers didn't come close to circling its girth. "This isn't the body of a mere paper pusher," he said, kissing the side of Skinner's jaw. "I've never been with a man who was better built than you, Walter. Or one that was more endowed. But even so, I'm not with you for your incredible body, but the intelligent, witty man inside. I look forward to the time we spend just being alone together."
Mulder turned Skinner around to face him and leveled him with an intense look. "Now I will only say this once. I love Dana Scully. She means more to me than anyone else in my life with the exception of you. But I love her as a friend, a sister, not as a lover. Scully knows that, and for your information she would shoot you if she ever heard that *there for the asking* comment. You are my lover, Walter S. Skinner, not Scully. Is that clear?"
"Very. I'm a complete ass, aren't I?" Skinner smiled sheepishly.
"Yeah, but you're my complete ass." Mulder squeezed Skinner's butt affectionately and Skinner hugged him tightly until Mulder pushed him away. "Now let me go. I need to get dressed," Mulder said, turning for the doorway.
"Why don't you at least take a shower first? I'll retrieve your clothes from downstairs and make a pot of coffee. You're going to have to take one at your place any ways, you can't go to the airport smelling like you do," Skinner said, pulling on his robe.
Mulder smiled brightly and headed toward the bathroom. "Thanks, Walter."
Fifteen minutes later Mulder was pulling on his wrinkled suit and pocketing his blue tie. He headed downstairs and Skinner handed him a covered mug.
"For the road," Skinner said.
"Thanks. You're spoiling me." Mulder took a tentative sip at the hot coffee.
"Fox, I want you to call me twice a day from North Carolina, is that clear?" The bad feeling Skinner had had was only getting worse, he wanted to clear his calendar and go down to the Raleigh-Durham field office with his lover. If he could only figure out a way to explain why an Assistant Director was accompanying a Special Agent on a case.
"Yes, Walter. Don't worry, Scully is very good at watching my back," he said, kissing Skinner quickly.
"That is suppose to comfort me? Fox, between the two of you I'm not sure which one has been injured or abducted more often," Skinner growled.
"It's a draw, Scully's been abducted more and I've been injured more," Mulder quipped, smiling back at the large man standing scowling in the doorway, his smile slipped slightly, and he mouthed 'I love you' before stepping on the elevator.
Skinner's heart sank as he watched the elevator doors slid shut, he slowly closed the door to his apartment.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Raleigh-Durham Field Office
August 4, 1999SAC Morgan walked briskly across the room with his hand held out. "Mulder, it is nice to see you again."
Mulder smiled, shaking his hand. "It been a long time, Brian. This is my partner Dana Scully."
Scully had entered the room ahead of Mulder, but had been subsequently ignored until the introduction.
"Ah yes, Agent Scully, I've heard a lot about you," Morgan said, shaking her hand. "Thank you both for coming down. Mulder, I know you haven't been profiling for several years, but we could really use your expertise on this one. Now that the killings have started up again, it has the local townsfolk in Cape Town afraid to leave their homes," he rambled, guiding the two agents into a spare office he had set aside for their use.
"What do you mean *again,* SAC Morgan?" Scully asked.
"Brian," Morgan corrected, indicating the high stack of file folders, some of which looked decades old. "The MO is the same as these other cases. The killings start up every twenty years then end after a year."
"This wasn't in the case file that was sent up to D.C.," Mulder said, shuffling through the stack.
"Agent Andrew Piquet made the connection yesterday. The people in Cape Town are pretty tight lipped, but Andy was able to get one of the residents talking. He's going to assist you on the case. Andy is from that part of the state," Morgan replied, going to the doorway he motioned to someone across the bullpen.
A tall young African-American male stepped into the room. "Sir?"
"Andy, these are Agents Mulder and Scully," Morgan introduced.
A smile lit up Piquet's handsome face. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Agent Mulder. I've followed your career since I was in the academy," he said in awe, shaking Mulder's hand firmly. "Agent Scully, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, too. I envy you, it must be fascinating working with Agent Mulder."
Scully raised a delicate eyebrow. It sounded like Mulder had a fan club in this office, unlike D.C. where he was usually viewed as a joke until someone needed him. "Yes, working with Agent Mulder is far from boring," she replied.
"Agent Piquet, we would like to head out to Cape Town today and view the crime scenes," Mulder said, looking up briefly as he read the oldest file in the stack, it was from 1939.
"Please, call me Andy. I can take you out there right now. It's only an hour and twenty-minute drive from here, we can discuss the case on the way," he said excitedly, thrilled at the opportunity to work with the FBI legend.
Mulder collected several folders to study on their way out to Cape Town. "Thanks, Brian, we'll be in touch," he said as they followed Agent Piquet out the door. "Andy, have you checked the newspaper archives for any stories that might match the MO prior to 1939?"
"Not yet, Agent Mulder, I was going to today. According to my source these killings have been going on since 1839. The hard part will be determining what is factual and what are only myths and ghost stories. That area of the state is ripe with wild tales of witches, black magic, ghosts, and curses. The stories have been passed down for generations," Piquet said, opening the car doors for the two agents.
Scully climbed in the front seat, leaving Mulder and his folders to spread out in back.
"What no vampires?" Scully quipped.
"Hey, Scully, we've done vampires, but we have never investigated witches before," Mulder teased from the backseat while rolling down his window to relieve the sweltering heat from within the car. He had already shrugged out of his suit coat.
"Really? Vampires! Cool!" Piquet exclaimed starting the car, he couldn't wait to hear more. "Where did you run into vampires?"
Scully rolled her eyes. "Andy, don't encourage him."
Mulder snickered at Scully's disgust. He was flattered by Andy's interest; he hardly ever met a fellow agent who was genuinely intrigued by his cases. Except Krycek, he thought sadly then quickly pulled his thoughts away from that minefield.
"Chaney, Texas and Los Angeles, but they are both long tales and I would prefer to stick to the current case for now," Mulder replied. "The SAC said you are from the area near Cape Town can you tell me what you know of the Spender Plantation?"
"I lived in the next town over. The plantation is suppose to be haunted and cursed, most sane people know enough to stay away from it. Except the Kriuchek family they are the caretakers of the plantation. They have been for over a hundred years. I went to high school with one of them. Dmitry. He's the sheriff of Cape Town now," Piquet said.
"Krycek family? How do you spell that?" Mulder asked turning pale he felt his stomach flutter.
Piquet noticed the shocked look on Mulder's face through the rearview mirror. "K*R*I*U*C*H*E*K. Why?" he asked.
"The last name of my former partner in the bureau was Krycek. But he spelled it differently," Mulder said, relaxing slightly. "The Kriuchek family are gypsies aren't they?" Mulder recalled the old photographs of the caretakers he had seen in the case file.
"Their ancestors were, but the current Kriucheks are all upstanding citizens in Cape Town and Sexton," the young agent replied, changing lanes and speeding pass two slow moving trucks. "Not that gypsies can't be upstanding…I just mean they don't wander…like the typical…they are part of the community," he added quickly.
"You said they were caretakers for the Spender plantation for over a century. Why didn't they buy the plantation? And who were the new owners?" Scully asked intrigued.
Piquet glanced briefly over at her, then returned his refocus on the road and said, "From what I've heard the deed for the plantation was always in the Spender family and they won't sell it. The plantation had been rented over the years, but the renters always fled or disappeared, and there were six unsolved murders at the manor house over the decades, but nothing recently, until now. In fact, no one except the caretakers lived there since the 1940s. The new owners were … "
"Jason Spender and his wife Bridget from Liverpool, England," Mulder filled in quickly pulling the names from his memory. "They were going to turn the manor house into a Bed and Breakfast, but it appears they ran into problems with the resident spook and hired a medium to evict it."
"Yeah, that must have pissed the ghost off," Piquet said.
Scully snorted in disgust. She had enough problems with Mulder always taking the supernatural slant on investigations *now* she had two of them. "Well it seems rather obvious. The Kriucheks wanted the plantation, but the Spender family wouldn't sell it. So they murder Jason and Bridget Spender out of greed," Scully reasoned.
"That doesn't make sense. The plantation is still in the Spender family. If they killed them, they accomplished nothing," Mulder reasoned.
"Do you have a better explanation?" Scully asked.
"Not one that I'm willing to put forward at this time," Mulder replied as he opened one of the file folders and leaned back in the seat to read for the rest of the trip.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Cape Town
Sheriff's Office
August 4, 1999"What's wrong, Dmitry?" Deputy Boris Paiva asked the young Sheriff whose face had turned a sickly shade of gray.
Sheriff Dmitry Kriuchek looked up from the computer monitor and met his cousin's dark eyes. "The FBI is sending two of their Special Agents from headquarters to assist in the investigation of the killings at the manor house and the occult killings. I was curious as to their capabilities so I hacked into the bureau's mainframe and downloaded their personnel files."
"Are you nuts? What do you want to do get arrested?" Paiva snapped.
"Boris, it's not likely that I will be caught. I know a hundred times more about computers than the FBI's best programmers.
"Even so, Dmitry, it is still incredibly dangerous, not to mention stupid. Okay, what did you find?"
Kriuchek turned the monitor so his cousin could get a good look at it.
"Holy shit!" Paiva gasped.
"Remarkable resemblance isn't it, and check out his name," Kriuchek encouraged.
"Fox Mulder. His first name is really Fox? Do you think it's him?" Paiva asked.
"Who else can it be? His face matches the portrait in the manor house, and how many people do you know whose first name is Fox? You should read his personnel file. It appears he is the FBI's bad boy, I've never seen so many reprimands, or, for that matter, a higher rate of cases solved. The man is a fucking genius!" Kriuchek exclaimed his green eyes flashing with delight.
Paiva threw cold water on his excitement. "What do you want to do? If he goes to the manor house he will end up dead."
"We have time. He can't be killed until the next full moon and that is on the twenty-six, three weeks away. Boris, if he dies, it will end the curse and free us of our responsibility to this town and the plantation. Isn't that what we want?" Kriuchek asked, closing the file and shutting down the computer.
"I don't want his blood on my hands, Dmitry. There has to be another way! Too many innocent people have died because of this damn curse. Those who were guilty died a hundred and seventy-seven years ago."
"Boris, we'll ask the others what they want. We'll leave it up to a vote." Kriuchek stood, putting on his sheriff's hat. "I'm going over to the diner for lunch. Man the station until I get back." His pale blue shirt was pulled taut over his muscular chest as he sauntered out of the station.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
They were driving alongside Cape Fear River when Mulder, who had been engrossed in his files, happened to look up. "Stop!" he yelled.
Scully started and Piquet immediately pulled the car to the side of the road.
Mulder stumbled out and made his way to the riverbank. He stood staring at a patch of earth near the seductive, slow water.
Piquet raised a dark brow and Scully shrugged. After several moments of silence she made her way to her partner. She was stricken by his lost look, the look of sadness on his face. "Mulder? What is it?"
He turned to the cleansing water and shook his head, "I don't know…it's…" He stared at the soft, grass covered soil and he wanted to touch it, smell it. Something about the spot…something familiar, though he'd never before stood on the banks of Cape Fear River.
"C'mon, Mulder. Let's go."
He nodded and followed her back to the car.
Agent Piquet looked to Dana for direction, knowing somehow that Mulder was lost in his own thoughts.
Scully ignored the young agent's curious looks and opted to act as if nothing was amiss with her partner.
After driving in silence for another ten minutes, Piquet suggested they stop at a local diner to refresh themselves. They swung away from the road that would have brought them to the Spender Plantation in a natural route by the river, and headed west toward the center of town.
Scully and Piquet entered before Mulder and she immediately saw the man who, for an instant, looked just like Krycek. She started to draw her gun and send the man to his maker, when she realized that it was just a man who resembled him greatly. The man was staring at her suddenly, warily, as if he knew she had reacted to him strongly.
Piquet bent to the petite woman, "Is there something wrong?"
She shook her head and after one last look at the dark-haired officer, made her way to the ladies room.
Piquet nodded at Dmitry and the sheriff nodded back, the gesture rather cool considering their history, and their ties of loyalty to this town. Suddenly the young man's face paled and a strange look of excited fear crept over his angular features. Piquet turned to see what had caused the man to go pale and he saw Fox Mulder. Mulder still looked somewhat dazed, his hazel eyes wide and somehow innocent.
Piquet turned to look again at Sheriff Kriuchek, and he frowned, the man was smiling now, like a man who had seen something he had never expected to see. Piquet thought of his little girl, Bria, who had woken him one night to tell him she had seen Santa, and the look of delight was the same, only on the sheriff it was less innocent and more secretive,.
Mulder made his way to a table near the sheriff and when he looked up and saw the man, he gave an audible gasp, "Alex." His voice was, for a moment, filled with tenderness.
Th sheriff paled even further. "Alex? Did you call me… never mind I know that you did. So it begins."
Mulder quickly realized that the man was not his beautiful, ex-partner, but still the words the man spoke, struck him, and he wondered, silently, what was beginning. He stared intently at the man who was, on closer inspection, not nearly as perfect...or as pretty as his treacherous ex-partner. Had he been that man…Mulder would have felt very happy to shoot him…at least he assured himself that that was what he would do.
"I'm sorry, you look a lot like someone I used to be partners with." Mulder was embarrassed by what he perceived to have been a passionate declaration, the way he had gasped the hated name. Which, in itself, made no sense. He had only a few passionate moments with Krycek and not one equaled the pleasure he had with Walter. It was crazy.
"No problem. I am Sheriff Dmitry Kriuchek. And you are?"
Fox paled even more, his lips a splash of color on his face. "Mulder, Special Agent Mulder…Sheriff Kriuchek."
"Ah, you are here to solve the murders…I can assure you, I will appreciate all the help I can get"
Fox nodded, a flush of color staining his face so prettily that Dmitry understood finally, why his ancestor had been so obsessed. He watched the full lips in motion and the heavy sweep of lash that alternately revealed and hid, dazed, amber-flecked green eyes. Had he the courage he would have tried to invite himself into the sensual man's bed.
"I think we should go to the Plantation House…as soon as possible, agent Mulder." He regretted that this beauty would have to die, but his ancestor would never rest without his return, and without the return the deaths would continue…and the need to commit them would always be on his family's shoulders.
Fox nodded eagerly. "I want to get on this as soon as possible."
Dmitry nodded and watched those seductive lips move. He could watch that mouth forever, he could imagine it on his cock. Like many of the males in his family he was at ease with the joys of sex with men as well as with women. That too was their legacy. "I'll take you…there...take you there."
Fox looked up and tilted his head adorably. He smiled gently. "You needn't worry about that, Sher…"
"Dmitry."
Fox seemed surprised. "Oh. Okay, Dmitry. I have a ride."
"I know. Andrew right? We grew up together…I know we don't look it, but we're family."
Mulder looked shocked and then he grinned. "Typical. I can never have just a normal…no surprises day."
Dmitry smiled at him. "C'mon I want to take you there."
Mulder nodded. "I can understand. If this were my town I would want these killings to end too."
Dmitry smiled slowly. "I do want them to stop, agent Mulder. I really think…no *believe* that you will be able to stop them."
"He too has heard of your excellent field work, agent Mulder," agent Piquet added quickly as he came up quietly.
Mulder blushed a bit and said. "I am going to the plantation with Dmitry."
Piquet pursed his lips and stared at Dmitry, "Oh? Is that wise, Dmitry? I mean, shouldn't Mulder focus on the *other* crime scenes?"
Dmitry gave Piquet a heavy stare. "It's up to him."
Mulder stood. "I would like to go now. I feel that the Plantation will be the best starting point."
Piquet was left to explain to Scully where her errant partner had gone.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The plantation was surprisingly verdant, for one that would not grow lucrative crops. The stables were empty now, but Mulder could picture the horses being taken out for their grooming and the elaborate shows, the hunters and the jumpers. The Spenders always had the finest horseflesh. He didn't question why he knew that little bit of knowledge he simply stepped out of the car and made his way to the Plantation House, the scene of so much death over the last century.
He paused outside the doorway and jumped a bit as he felt Dmitry's hand on his elbow.
"C'mon, you have to see the inside."
Mulder nodded and walked into the well-kept mansion. He felt dizzy for a moment and he had to lean against the doors. He looked around and tired to keep his composure as a feeling of dread overcame him. As if something was rushing toward him from someplace far away, a distance not measured in miles…someplace dark and cold. All he wanted to do was run, but instead he looked around the plush interior, hiding his fear with a sarcastic wolf whistle, "This is something."
"The only way to really investigate this house…is the old fashioned way, I am afraid."
Mulder looked at the sheriff's smiling face. "And that would be?"
"Staying the night…maybe several nights."
Mulder forced a smile. "I'll try to convince, Scully." At Dmitry's curious look, Mulder smiled. "My partner."
Dmitry nodded, "Just look around. I know you'll want to stay…it is a fascinating house."
Fox nodded his mind starting to wander. He could hear the delicate clinking of china and crystal, the soft sliding sounds of expensive fabric over lush, feminine curves, the smell of tea and cinnamon and fine tobacco burning in distant rooms. He tilted his head and concentrated, hearing the patois of imported slaves…imported from New Orleans for their beauty and grace…octoroons or at the very least quadroons, only the best for the house. He licked his lips and tasted the pungent flavor of capers, lemons and salmon…then the slight pop of Sevruga caviar and crisp, cold wine. Phantom music played on a harpsichord, the sound travelling to the foyer from a room further away than some satin and velvet parlor, but close for all that.
He came back to himself when a soft touch stroked his cheek and soothed him. He leaned into the loving caress and then his eyes stared wide at Dmitry standing a few feet from him, looking at him with utter curiosity and confusion as the federal agent sighed with his face tilted into an invisible hand. Mulder brought his head upright with a flush. The caress was gone but the feeling of comfort and love lingered near him. He straightened totally and cleared his throat, his eyes unconsciously wide and innocently beguiling.
Dmitry was unable to prevent himself from reaching out a hand to touch that lovely face. "What is it, agent Mulder?" He asked as his hand stroked the angle of Mulder's jaw, resisting the sudden urge to thumb those plump lips.
Mulder drew back in shock at the caress, and he looked at the green eyes so like his ex-partner. "I'm fine…really Sheriff."
Dmitry smiled again. "Yes, I know you are."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Hoover Building
Washington D.C.Walter Skinner was looking over his files and frowning, his mind on his beautiful lover and all the reasons why he was needed in the nation's capital.
Suddenly, and without any announcement, Spender walked into his office, a Morley held securely in surprisingly agile fingers.
"Get agent Mulder off this case immediately, Skinner. This is not a request. Get him far away from Cape Fear."
Skinner frowned darkly at the man, "What are you talking about now? What makes you think you can tell me where to place my agents?"
Spender leveled his intent gaze on the big man behind the desk. "He shouldn't be there…I want him back here."
Skinner stood and walked to the old man, with heavy, menacing steps.
Spender gasped to find himself pulled forward by his cotton lapels and lifted easily from the floor. He stared into the big AD's burning eyes and felt a flicker of fear.
"Let's get this straight, Spender, I don't work for you, or your partners anymore…and I will *not* stand by and let you play Mulder like some valuable chess piece."
Spender wanted to bring his cigarette up to his lips, but his position, dangling in the A.D.'s grip like a child's toy, forbade it.
"His life is in danger, Skinner. He'll be killed if he stays…" He was cut off abruptly as he was shaken fiercely.
"You dirty bastard. If you are threatening him…"
"No, you fool! I am trying to save him. You know how valuable he is to us!"
Skinner released the man abruptly and stood back. "Talk to me."
"I can't say…" he scrambled back in a most inelegant move as Skinner made to descend on him again. "It has nothing to do with politics or schemes…just get him off that case and away from Cape Fear." With that Spender quickly made his exit and Skinner let him go.
He buzzed Kim, "Get me SAC Morgan on the line."
In a matter of minutes Skinner had instructed the Southern SAC to get agent Mulder to call in for a status report. The SAC's surprise was genuine, as Mulder had just arrived, but he quickly agreed. Skinner slammed the phone down and began to pace. If one hair was touched on Mulder's head, he'd…he'd what? Kill the smoking bastard? Kill himself? He rubbed his bald head and waited for his lover to call.
After ten such minutes he demanded that SAC Morgan be called again.
^^^^^^^^^^^
Scully was steaming mad; that *SOB* of a partner had ditched her again! When she got her hands on him, he was going to rue the day that he was ever born. He couldn't even wait long enough to eat lunch, before dashing off to a crime scene that was a week old. Scully angrily stabbed at a cucumber slice in her salad and looked up, finding Agent Piquet watching her.
Her china blue eyes flashed dangerously, "This isn't the first time he's taken off without me. He will pay! Oh yes, he will pay big time. I don't know how, and I don't know when, but he will pay one way or another," she grumbled, popping the cucumber slice into her mouth.
Piquet swallowed nervously, he did not ever want to be on this woman's bad side. "I'm sure Mulder didn't intentionally ditch you, Dana. It probably didn't even occur to him that his heading out there with Sheriff Kriuchek would upset you. I'm sure he just didn't want you to miss lunch."
"Mulder knows very well how I feel, we've had this discussion on numerous occasions," Scully snapped.
"Dana, it probably slipped his mind, you know that most *geniuses* are absent minded," Piquet said, as he scooped up a forkful of mash potatoes.
"Agent Mulder is anything but absent minded! He is inconsiderate, headstrong, and self-absorbed, but he is never absent-minded. The man has an eidetic memory for crying out loud," Scully huffed.
She wasn't even sure why she was having this conversation with Agent Piquet. Usually she never talked about her partner this way in front of other agents. However, Andy was a fan of Mulder's unlike most other agents, with the exception of those that were constantly hitting on him like Agent Stark, and Mulder being Mulder was too oblivious to notice their overtures. She supposed that if Mulder were gay he might have picked up on the obvious signals. She was interrupted from her contemplation by the ringing of Agent Piquet's cell-phone.
"Special Agent Andrew Piquet speaking," he answered. He listened and looked over at her. "Agent Mulder has gone out to the Spender Plantation with the Cape Town Sheriff, but Agent Scully is here, sir," he said. "Okay, sure, I'll tell her."
Piquet disconnected, looking at Scully, he informed her, "Assistant Director Skinner called SAC Morgan. He wants Agent Mulder to call him immediately and report on the status of the investigation. Morgan said the second time he called, he sounded sort of angry. Don't either of you carry your cell phones?"
"Damn, neither one of us has our cell phones with us. Mulder forgot his back in D.C., as he was in a rush to get to the airport, and mine was damaged on our last case two days ago. I haven't had the opportunity to replace it, yet." Scully set her fork down and pushed her remaining salad away. "I better call Skinner, he can be really ornery if kept waiting. May I use your phone?"
"Sure, Dana," he replied in awe. //Wow, to report directly to an Assistant Director, Mulder was even more important than he had thought.//
"Sir, it's Agent Scully," she said.
"Agent Scully, I want to talk to Agent Mulder, please put him on the line," Skinner said hastily. He pushed the remains of several pencils out of the way that he had snapped them in two, while he impatiently waited for Mulder's telephone call.
Scully thought he sounded anxious and upset. "Sir, is there something wrong?" she asked.
"Scully, no there isn't, please let me talk to Mulder," he growled.
"Ah, Mulder isn't here right now. I can have him call you back when I see him," she said weakly.
"Scully, where is your partner?"
"He's at the old Spender plantation with Sheriff Kriuchek."
"Krycek!"
"Sir, the name is spelled differently," she wasn't about to tell Skinner the strong resemblance between the Sheriff and Alex Krycek.
Skinner sighed, relieved it was not *that* Krycek. The rat bastard was the last person he wanted around his lover. Fox had never said anything, but he sensed that he had had a sexual relationship with Krycek while they were partners. "Scully, you're not with Mulder because … what? You're involved in an autopsy? You're doing research for the case?"
"I'm not with him because . . ., " she wanted to say because he'd ditched her, but she didn't want to get Mulder in trouble. So instead she said, "I'm going through the local newspaper archives to see if we could tie in the murders with any cases prior to 1939."
"You have reason to believe that these cases weren't isolated and that someone has committed the same MO . . . over sixty years ago?" Skinner asked, and feeling the pounding of a headache growing, he pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes.
"Yes, sir, Agent Andrew Piquet made the connection. He's tied the killings to as far back as 1939. We think they could go back even further, but that is as far as the FBI files go."
"None of the bodies were missing their livers were they, Agent Scully?" he asked only half jokingly.
"No, sir. I don't see anything supernatural about these killings. I think it is over the property. The same family of caretakers has been looking after the estate for over one hundred years, but the Spender family won't sell it to them. I think they have been trying to scare the family into selling," she reasoned.
"Does Agent Mulder share your assessment?"
"No . . . but he doesn't have a theory, yet," she said.
"What is the caretaker's family name?" Skinner asked, grabbing a pen and a notepad. He couldn't go down to assist Fox personally, but at least he could help track down information on Scully's prime suspects and see if they panned out. "Scully, the name?"
Scully's face had gone pale. "Its Kriuchek, sir."
"The same as the Sheriff?" Skinner growled.
"Yes, sir. But that doesn't mean he's involved or even that the family is involved, it was only a theory on my part," she replied, as butterflies danced around in her stomach.
"Agent Scully, I want you to get out to the Spender plantation immediately, and report back to me from there the moment you arrive!" he barked.
"Yes, sir. Agent Piquet and I are leaving now," she said, disconnecting the phone and handing it back to Piquet. "C'mon, Andy, we need to get out to the Spender place and check on that wayward partner of mine," Scully said and tossed some money on the table for her salad and ice tea.
^^^^^^^^^^^
cont'd in Beloved II