Huluppu Tree, Ch. 2

Addair moved slowly closer to him yet, and smelled his neck. He hummed with pleasure and Gaston felt the air in the room change. Hands crept to the collar of his shirt, running along the inside rim of it. Being paralyzed, there was little he could do to stop it.

 

“I’ve given you a small amount of my blood, it will allow me to track you wherever you go. It also, gives you an advantage over everyone else here on the doomed island. You will likely survive, though I can’t say for sure, so no promises. I want you to continue the work you are doing, but discovering nothing further that will promote an evacuation. Talk to them, give them facts, whatever makes you happy. Above all, just be happy with the idea that you are doing your best.”

 

Addair’s tongue was now licking his neck while his tie was being loosened. Buttons popped off his shirt and a mouth was kissing his softly.

 

“I don’t usually go for men, but you are a handsome devil.” he chuckled like it was a joke, the tone conveying a pun that Gaston didn’t understand. His shirt was now open and fingers were pressing his head to the side. Panic welled up in him again. He didn’t know what was going on, he wanted to leave, leave right away. There was absolutely nothing he could do at the moment except close his eyes and hope that it would be over soon.

 

First there was sharp pain, and then wetness trickling down his throat and into his shirt. He couldn’t see anything save for Addair’s dark thick hair, it was suffocating him. A pulling started from his heart and crept upwards towards his shoulders and through to his head. Bursts of pain radiated starting at his toes and upwards as well, it traveled along his torso, inside his body and out. All he could think of was the pain, not even screaming out for help was reaching his mind. His eyes drifted closed, he willed them open but there was nothing he could do. Blackness filled him and he dreamt of the sunny days that he spent in St. Pierre. Shopping for gifts to send home to friends. Chatting with students at the Lycee. Happiness.

 

There was a whisper in his mind, telling him to do as it instructed, something was happening with Pelee, and he didn’t know enough save for what he discovered with his telescope and saw when he ventured to the mountain itself. He told them about it all, but admitted that he was not knowledgeable enough to warrant concern. He would continue his observations but that there was no immediate danger, nothing to worry about.

 

He was sitting in Addair’s chair, holding his glass of rum, watching the sweat drip down the glass, how long had he been daydreaming, seemed like an amount of time that could be considered rude to his host.

 

“Thank you so much Landes for sating my desire and quelching my worries. I appreciate it so much.”

 

“Oh, um yes,” he turned towards the other man, he was calm now, before Addair was rife with worry concerning the possible eruption of Pelee, which was just plain silly.

 

Addair stood up and Gaston followed his action, “Thank you for the drink and allowing me the pleasure of your company, I apologize for my lack of attention a moment ago.” Gaston smile sheepishly at him, embarrassed.

 

“No, do not think on it, we all get pulled somewhere else from time to time. Especially with the way things are going here as of late.”

 

Gaston followed him to the door and stepped out, “If there is anything else you need, just let me know. I’m at the Lycee, if you weren’t aware.” Addair nodded.

 

“Oh sir, here, let me straighten your tie, it seems to have come loose.”

 

Addair’s nimble fingers quickly fixed it and set a hand on his shoulder. It raked across his back as Gaston turned down the hallway. “It was a pleasure Landes, we will definitely have more chats I should hope.” The door closed and Gaston walked towards the stairs at the end.

 

Such a kind host, forgiving me for that.

 

Through the streets, everyone was running to get out of the mess, St. Pierre was not destroyed and they felt relieved for that. Addair could sense that panic was high, confusion was great but most were relieved to be finding their loved ones safe. Horses were gagging on the dust, choking on it in their lungs, somewhere collapsed on the road, still tied to carriages. People were not concerned with the animals when there were people struggling to breath themselves. Everything was like a symphony to him. He hadn’t seen this level of panic in a long time. It made him crave the flesh covered in dirt. The women and men that barely made it in the doors of their homes, only found them to be covered in it as well. It was an instant dump of heavy snow in the bright caribbean town and no one knew what to do but run around.

 

The shouts were becoming less as people learned to keep their mouths shut. He turned back to Gaston who struggled to follow behind him. He wouldn’t lose him, but he didn’t feel like having to search for him, so he grabbed his arm and pulled him. Gaston’s face was of wondering, presumably because he had no idea how Addair was managing without having to cover his face and how he knew where to go. Addair so did like confusing people, he didn’t like talking or explaining things to people, he kept his full thoughts to himself. He keened at the thought of confusing poor Gaston. The man was delicious and he would hate to see anything happen to him, but he liked making him question. Question he did too, entering his mind, it was a flurry of them. Too many to make sense of. Gaston also kept a lot to himself, too much in fact. His questions are what drew him in in the first place.

 

They reached the Lycee, Gaston walked up to front door, eyes squinting, hoping it was the right one. It was closed but not locked. They rushed inside and was greeted with more people frantically moving around. The dust and ash was everywhere they went. It was insidious.

 

“I need to find Marcus.” Gaston went up a flight of stairs and down a hall into a small room, filled with the ash of course.

 

“Oh! Gaston, thank you, you’re here! What happened?” Marcus’ voice rang out and Gaston went towards him.

 

“What a bloody mess.” Addair’s voice was deadpan. Ignored by the other two.

 

They went to the corner and discussed things. Apparently the mess was recorded on the seismoscope there were still tiny tremors being recorded.

 

“Hopefully that was it. It covered everything. When things clear up, we need to go and inspect for ourselves. For now, we need to clean things up and I need to record this.” Gaston commanded Marcus and they got to work.

 

Addair attempted to dust off a chair at a table along the wall. It was futile and he was already messy, but the action was mostly out of a boredom. He wished things would just move along and he could leave with her.

 

“So do you really think this is it Gaston?”

 

“Well, look around you. It’s not at all what we expected, I can’t say. This isn’t slow lava flow, so I don’t know. I, just. Don’t know.”

 

“You two go up and take a look yourselves.”

 

They turned to him, “Of course.” Gaston answered.

 

“I will be going too, but not with you, I need to look for someone dear to me.”

 

“I didn’t know you came with anyone to Martinique Addair.”

 

Marcus’ look on his face was clearly of wonder, where did this guy come from?

 

“Marcus, I am Addair, Landes here helped settled some of my worries and has been very kind, aside from a friend I am waiting on, he is the only person I know here.” Addair said.

 

“Ahh, ok, I see.” Marcus dropped his gaze and turned around the room bewildered, unsure of where to start.

 

“Addair, also helped me reach the Lycee safely. I don’t know how he did it, but here I am. Very grateful as well.”

 

“You’re very welcome Landes. To answer your question, I didn’t come with her, she was already here for a long time.”

 

“Oh, perhaps I know her, what is her name?”

 

“You wouldn’t know her, she is a recluse and has been holed up her entire visit. Now if you would excuse me, I am going to go check on her.”

 

Addair stood up and walked towards the door, confidant that Gaston would continue his work, hopefully with the idea that that was eruption they were waiting on. He was concerned that they wouldn’t understand what was happening, a modern eruption of this type wasn’t within their scope and a mystery still to be discovered. Gaston was a smart man, he will wonder yes, but something won't settle right. He just needed everyone to stay in St. Pierre.

 

“Addair, thank you again. I hope you find your friend safe and intact. Please come to me if you need anything.” Gaston shook his hand shut the door behind Addair.

 

Safe and intact indeed. He brushed the dirt out of his hair as much as he could and pulled out another cigar. He enjoyed just having them in his mouth and the smell pleased him. He walked leisurely out of the building and onto the street. Most people were inside now, with just a few mothers outside looking for their children. How he enjoyed it all. The scrambling and screaming. Children crying. It made him excited, taking his time walking, he took it all in. The air was still messy and the few scragglers had their faces covered. He struggled not to grab them and take one them as his own. No, he had to leave every soul he could.

 

Instead he breathed in their smell, getting as close to them as he could, feeding on their current fear. Drinking it and savoring the feel of it. He feigned rudeness and confusion when they noticed him near. He walked forward and eventually found himself leaving St. Pierre. By then things were calming down and cloud settled over Pelee. While unsure of what to do about the mess, people brought out their brooms and went to work. Martinique was never short of hard working people, white and colored alike. He liked the island and all of its uniqueness and society, but he longed to go home. Longed to take her back to where she belonged, to fix everything her absence created.

 

He wanted to feel her bare arms around him, grinning wildly, heady with desire and blood. He sat down in a chair at outskirts of St. Pierre. He needed a moment to revel in his memories, the people around him took over his senses. Addair leaned forward and set his face in his hands, closing his eyes.

 

She was joyous and happy. A wild creature that captured your being. Her hair always a tangled mess and in the way. Falling into his face when she straddled him. Her hips circling around on him. Dark fingernails breaking the skin on his chest. Her small, pert mouth sucking the blood out of his body. He struggling against her, pain radiating throughout and pulling his desire out of him, trying to force him to do something. She challenged him, but he didn’t want to fight back, he just wanted to give her everything in that moment. She was everything right then. Their time together was soon at a close, even if they didn’t know it. It wasn’t until then that he realized what she meant to him, a human emotion that reached him too late.

 

“What’s wrong?” She stopped her ministrations on his chest and he hadn’t noticed.

 

“Nothing.”

 

Her face twisted, she was good at figuring things out, even if he didn’t vocalize them. He wouldn’t be able to hide it if he tried.

 

“I love you.” He spoke evenly, but looked away from her, not being able to meet her eyes. He didn’t want to know her reaction.

“I know.”

 

Her hair dropped around his face and she turned him to look at her. She smiled softly. Something rare and beautiful, not many had been able to see this side of her. Did she love him back? She didn’t say so. Emotions that weren’t anger, passion, or psychotic joy were the only ones she ever expressed. He let himself be vulnerable in that moment and decided that no matter what, he would be by her side. The sweetness he was looking at was the closest he was going to get to her loving him back.

 

Lips touched his and he grabbed her head roughly, pushing his tongue into her mouth and flipping her over. The wound she placed on him was already healing but blood smeared on her bare skin, he could smell it. It drove him as he placed his hips between her legs and shoved his dick inside of her hard. She let go of his mouth and a cry escaped, eyes rolling from side to side. She was desperate to kiss him, to lick, bite, anything. He thrust into her purposefully and hard. Taking everything he felt for her and showing what she was to him. His hands grabbed at her hair and he pulled her chin up. Teeth sank into her neck and blood flowed into his mouth. There, there it was. She couldn’t say to him what she felt, it was something that was absent and out of her control. Something close is what she felt, it was enough for him. He had more from her than anyone else had been given. He was content in that.

 

The daydream faded and Addair came out for breath, so close. She was right here, just a little longer and she would be his to hold again, to serve; to follow. If it were up to him, he’d rip her out of the godforsaken thing. No, Azazel made it difficult. For all of his invincibility, he wasn’t strong enough to dig and pull her out. Azazel made sure of it. Made sure she was weak and wounded, burned and dry. He reveled in small deaths, but death on a massive scale as was necessary, he wasn’t particularly fond of. It was too much of a mess and it weakened him. It took too much to control himself during those times. Afterwards when people were cleaning the mess, that’s what he liked. The desperation and emptiness people felt. Women who lost their husbands, agony ripping their hearts apart, that’s when he leapt and took them.

 

Azazel placed her here long ago, underestimating the will of human beings. Their ignorance of nature. He could have never guessed that he entombed her in the best place for escape. Addair laughed knowing they were going to get him this time. He wondered if she lay there awake and knowing all that was going on around her, or if she was unconscious dreaming of who knows what. Would she be coherent and remember everything? He suspected that she would be wild with a need for revenge. To watch her become more beautiful with it, more powerful, to be what she was once before, long ago.

 

Looking around there was no one. It was eery and quiet. He still had a long ways up the mountain to go. Not bothering with getting a horse,doubting any would be available, he was happy just walking. Not even wanting to use any of his abilities to reach the top either. Considering the coming possibilities, and feeling Gaston down in the Lycee busy away with interpreting the readings, recording them and studying the outcomes. His blood he gave him and subsequently had taken back had been a good idea, he was drawn to the man for reasons unknown, not bothering to think about them, just letting them be.

 

He planned in his mind what she and him were going to do. Take Azazel down, and recover everything. Her, his queen, him, the faithful.

 

Something alerted him. Up. Leisurely walking no longer an option he moved faster. It called to him for answers. When running was no longer enough, he willed himself forward yards towards the pull. It was her, she was stirring, waking up. at the very bottom of the now large crater. He could see the heat, distorting his vision. There was burning on his skin, it cracked and popped, in the middle of a large leap he fell straight down hitting a large rock and rough brush along the way. The pain was unbearable and he yelled loudly, breaking his own eardrums. The distortion and agony raked through him and he wasn’t sure what had happened. He couldn’t breath and never had he felt this before, there was nothing he could do and he was healing. No, he was healing, but it just burned him again. Over and over repeating it. Healing and burning, it wasn’t stopping.

 

No longer able to open his eyes he willed himself to calm. He pushed towards sanity even as it was breaking. His body lay on the side of the mountain, writhing against sharp rocks and the dust that had fallen earlier that day. Dirt, debris and vegatation being smashed into the ground as he rolled around in it. He attempted to do anything to take control of what was happening. Beginning with moving his legs with his own will, then his feet. They did as they asked, the more he moved them around on his own, the more the exhausting pain subsided there. But it seemed to move up into his chest twofold. Screaming again and thrusting his body in the air hips on the ground, then rolling again face down choking on the dirt and rocks.