TITLE: Icarus Manor, chapter 11

AUTHOR: lillywhite1, but you can call me Casey.

SUMMARY: In a mysterious mansion in a secluded part of North America, a man 
discovers that he is far from alone in the world. Here at Icarus Manor several species of 
non-human description live together to survive in a world that does not know they exist. 
LAST CHAPTER: William and Dominic spend some time alone. Sean tries for a 
midnight reunion with Elijah. THIS CHAPTER: Continuation of William and Dominic’s 
night. Elijah and Orlando grill Dominic the morning after.

PAIRING: DM/BB, hints of EW/SA

RATING: R; still setting up the base for the affair.

FEEDBACK: is my neutella on a spoon that makes me go all gooey and melty and 
mmmmm...

A/N: Text in asterisks (*) represents italics or general emphasis. This is a book and a 
work in progress. Be gentle. Comments to cswann1@gmail.com.
	
Chapter 11

Elijah awoke early on Saturday and struggled to remember why he had set his alarm for 
such a ghastly hour. He bushwhacked through hideous amounts of fog in his mind 
created by the excessive libations of last night. He pushed aside snippets of things that he 
may or may not have dreamed and found his reason: Today was the day that he was 
supposed to discuss Grady’s allowance, call the investors in Mexico, go over the records 
from last year’s medical shipments, and last but not least, visit the dungeons. He had to 
get a move on if he was going to get it all done before his energy dissipated, and he 
collapsed once more.  

After a hot shower most of the fog that shrouded last night in mystery had lifted. He had 
returned from swimming to find Orlando swaddled in admirers and Dominic was no 
where to be found. He immediately remembered to worry, but since the night was over, 
there was not much point. Dominic was in his room or he wasn’t. Maybe he’d gotten 
lucky and slipped off to spend the night, or a generous part of it, with some hot little 
number he met at the club. If that was the case, then Dominic got luckier than he did. 
Orlando, on the other hand, always got the pick of the crop. He had an innate talent to 
single out the most sought after hottie in the club and bend them to his libido. 

Elijah laughed quietly to himself as he popped out the salt filter on his showerhead and 
turned on the cold water. He’d been pruning his fins last night before they had left for the 
club. He took pride in being in tip-top shape just in case someone managed to catch his 
eye. No one ever did, really. Elijah was more the romantic. He had trouble just picking up 
some hot little number and letting them leave in the middle of the night. There was no 
emotional attachment, and therefore the sex wasn’t ever great enough to bother. Anyway, 
there was no time to clip and preen this morning; a quick, cold shower would do nicely to 
wash off the last traces of last night, then it was off to work.

Elijah selected something from the closet to wear and was out the door with his satchel 
over one shoulder, ready to do business/battle with the world at large. The door shut with 
a satisfied click, and Elijah sighed as he sensed rather than heard Orlando struggling with 
his keys down the hall. He peered over his shoulder to see Orlando desperately trying to 
keep his temper, but his hair was already changing from brown to that telltale fiery red. 

“Orli!” Elijah chimed. “Hold on! You’ll melt the lock again.”

Elijah hopped to the side of a disgusted Orlando. 

“Did you just get in?” Elijah asked amazed as he flipped through Orlando’s hideously 
adorned keychain in search of actual keys.

“Yes, I had the most fabulous time. There was a lovely redheaded Irish pixie, a buxom 
middle-aged witch, a heavenly telepath called ‘Dijon’…” Orlando stopped mid-sentence, 
“I’ll give you all the details later. I’m a bit tired, but a quick nap will fix that, then it’s 
back to the sweatshop.”

Elijah shook his head in mild disbelief. The keys jingled and the door opened finally.

“Thank you, Sweetie.”

“Orli, I honestly don’t know how you do it. If you were my species, you’d be dead on 
your feet. I could never keep the hours you do.”

“People rarely do keep hours like mine, but then again, few have such overwhelming 
demand for their services as I do.”

“By the way your breath smells I can tell what kind of services you provide.”

Orlando smacked Elijah playfully in the stomach and entered his room. Elijah glanced 
around. The room was never how he remembered it. Orlando changed it every few 
weeks. He said it felt stagnant. Elijah thought it had more to do with the fact that Orlando 
couldn’t find any matching flame-resistant furniture. 

“Speaking of services, what happened to Dominic last night?” Elijah asked.

“Dommie? The last I remember, he was dancing with some sweet little number in white. 
Perhaps he was swept off his feet?” Orlando threw Elijah a devious grin, “Should we 
‘check up’ on him?”

“Okay, but just this once, and only if he doesn’t answer the door.”

“Of course! What do you think I am? A criminal?” Orlando said in a tone of melodrama 
that could never be taken seriously.

“Orli, you know what I’m talking about.”

Orlando strode past Elijah, his brown curls bouncing, and the two tropes walked down 
the hall to Dominic’s door. Orlando placed a knock on the door so light that a church 
mouse wouldn’t have stirred.

“Well, that’s it. Door’s locked, Dominic’s not answering, so it’s time for a little magic!”

Elijah rolled his eyes at Orlando’s pathetic attempt at authenticity. Within a millisecond 
Orlando had retrieved his keys from his room and was searching through the knick 
knacks for something. He chose a key that had been hideously deformed and lit his 
finger, softening the metal. Then, by inserting the key into the lock of Dominic’s door, he 
turned it and pulled out the key which had now formed to the specifications of Dominic’s 
door lock.

“You’re just a thief in the night, you are.” Elijah teased.

“Shush you.” Orlando pushed open the door to Dominic’s room and the two of them 
peered quietly inside. 

In the nearly characterless room, the two thropes spied Dominic still sweetly cuddled in 
bed. The sheets were tousled and he lay on his bare stomach, the early-morning sun was 
pricking through the curtains and drew in glitter on his exposed flesh like a silent lover. 

“C’mon, we’ll pry him for details later, when he’s awake.” Orlando whispered.

“Alright.” Elijah said and as Orlando began to close the door, Elijah gazed curiously at a 
long, thin object in Dominic’s sleep-heavy hand. If Elijah had thought it would have 
made any sense, he could have sworn it was a white feather. Orlando clicked the door 
shut, and the two friends left the third to a well-deserved rest. 

~

It was normal for William not to sleep for weeks on end, so he was surprised that he 
crashed after such a night. So much had happened:

*After a brief flight with his rediscovered wings, William’s toes touched solid ground 
again. He knew it was excessively dramatic, but so what? It was supposed to be dramatic. 
Dominic rose to his feet, his nose shrinking back and coarse hair retreating.*

*“William?”*

*He had smiled down at Dominic. He was amazed, but so was William. It had been so 
long since he felt so good. He hadn’t flown in decades. His wings shuddered and 
stretched of their own accord. Dominic stared at the massive appendages.*

*“Yes, Dominic?”*

*Dominic approached on two legs with uninhibited curiosity. He touched the wings 
lightly at first as if they would fall off. They responded to Dominic’s stroking and pulled 
away. Startled, Dominic jumped back. He held his offending hand in the air as he stared. 
William reached out and grasped Dominic’s hand and placed it tenderly on his shoulder. 
He moved it gracefully out toward the wings as they shook with revival. Soon Dominic 
was stroking them without aid.*

*“Oh wow.” Dominic whispered into the folds of long, white feathers. The wings 
explored Dominic as he explored them. Their tips flitted across his calves and tickled him 
as he let out a small giggle. They became bolder as they traveled sweetly across his bare 
back.* 

*“They’re beautiful.”*

William had slept the dreamless sleep of those who had just lived a dream. He was 
refreshed and rejuvenated like never before. A cancerous secret had been purged and life 
was deliciously light this morning. Why on earth had he let himself become so closed off 
and isolated? The real answer to that question was obvious, but he’d had no idea how sad 
and cloistered he’d allowed himself to be or how huge an effect it had on him till now.

*“They work, too. Would you like to see?” William’s eyes glinted as he waited for 
Dominic’s reply.*

*“Of course,” Dominic said, pulling back from the wings, “I’ll wait till you get back.”*

*William grinned. He wrapped his arms around Dominic and began to beat his wings. 
The ground descended slowly and Dominic let out a quick cry of surprise and gripped 
William tighter. The beating wings drew wind about them and still they climbed higher. 
As soon as they had enough altitude, William began to fly towards the far mountains.* 

*“Open your eyes, Dominic!” He had to shout over the wind.*

*“I can’t. I’ll be sick!” Dominic pushed his face further into William’s shoulder as he 
was being cradled. William bent down to Dominic’s ear.*

*“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t let you fall.”*

*“Why? Because you don’t want to finish the library yourself?”*

*“No, because I’m an angel.”*

*Dominic’s eyes snapped up to meet William’s. His eyes were the color a stormy sky.* 

*“An actual angel?” Dominic almost squeaked.*

*William laughed into the wind and looped back around to the cliff.*
	
On second thought, perhaps it had been a bit pretentiously over-dramatic, but what was 
done was done. The night had been nonetheless wonderful. He was walking on air it 
seemed; nothing could spoil his great mood. He couldn’t wait until Dominic came into 
work. He would be late. William smiled as he imagined to himself his newfound love 
interest snuggled in bed, warm and alive with his hair all mussed and his nose twitching 
at the slightest movement, like a dog’s nose. And his lips hanging open in such a tiny 
little inviting…well, it was probably best not to get ahead of one’s self. Dominic had a 
few very significant learning experiences last night, and it was easy to rush things while it 
was all new. Angels, by make, love to create and therefore are veritable sexual addicts 
when let off the rein. William didn’t want to push it. 

*It hadn’t taken long before Dominic had gotten used to flying. He even suggested 
getting home that way, but William had insisted that they take the car back. Perhaps that 
way they could avoid the rumors for a little while longer and put off testing the tender 
relationship that was forming between the two thropes.*

*Once back at the manor, William walked Dominic to his door before parting.*

*“Well, I guess this is goodnight, even though it’s very early morning.” Dominic shifted 
bashfully. “I had a great time.”*

*“I think I can safely say that it was the best night I’ve had in millennia.”*

*Dominic gawked, “Millennia? As in more than two thousand years?”*

*William nodded sadly.*

*“We’ll have to go out more often, then, if not only solely for your sake.”*

*Dominic laughed, William chuckled. Then stormy blue-grey eyes met emerald green, 
and the world slowed down for just a few seconds while they kissed.*

*“I had better get back upstairs.” William said softly. Dominic’s eyes dropped a little in 
disappointment. William almost caved right then and asked Dominic to come back to his 
bed with him, but it would have been unwise. He gave Dominic an apologetic smile.* 

*“See you later today, then, William.”*

*“Goodnight, Dominic.” William turned to walk back down the hallway to his own 
chambers.* 

~

Dominic was staring at his eggs and toast when someone who smelled like a pack of 
struck matches and the cologne aisle in a department store slammed something like a 
binder onto the counter and startled him from his musings.

“We want details, you dog,” Orlando gushed.

Dominic fumbled, “Huh?”	

“You sneaky mutt. You left the club with some hottie and didn’t bother waving 
goodnight to us! If he swept you off your feet *that* fast, we are entitled to a full account 
of the night’s events after you scampered off.” Orlando’s brown eyes were glowing and 
he gave no indication that he was going to back off, Elijah on the other hand, stood 
embarrassed by his side and looked halfway ashamed.

Dominic smiled. “You want details?” 

Orlando and Elijah nodded.

“It was amazing. We looked down on the city like gods, ran though the woods like 
animals, and talked till the night wore thin.”

Elijah smiled. 

“I don’t care about that stuff,” Orlando waved off the explanation like an insult, “What I 
want to know is did you get any action!”

“Orli!” Elijah shouted.

Dominic laughed. “Why? Didn’t you get enough action not to need mine as well?”

“Don’t tease. You know very well I’ve had my fill, but I still want to hear everything 
about what you got,” Orlando leaned in closer, “why? Was it really that *bad*?”

“Dominic, you don’t have to tell us anything. It’s your own business—”

But Dominic had already taken the bait, “Oh, no. It wasn’t bad at all.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Orlando drew him out.

“But I’m not going to lie. Nothing happened.”

“HA! Liar. C’mon ‘Lijah. He’s not going to dish.” Orlando sighed in mock 
disappointment as he took Elijah’s arm and pulled him out of the kitchen.

“But who says it won’t happen soon enough?” Dominic took a slurp of his tea.

Orlando and Elijah stopped in their tracks and returned to the counter twice as fast as they 
had left. This time it was Elijah who was interested.

“You’re going to see him again!?” 

“When!?” 

“I don’t know when. I haven’t talked to him yet.” Dominic skewered more eggs on his 
fork.

“Ah, the day-after phone call. Don’t worry, puppy. I’m sure he’ll call after the necessary 
two day waiting period.”

“You must really like him.” Elijah’s blue eyes swelled with the same hope that played 
around Dominic’s smile.

“Well, then he simply has to call! You’ll let us know, won’t you?”

“Of course I will.”

“Well, then I’m putting my pretty little nose back to the grindstone. I’ve got to go pick 
out new curtains for a redecorating project.” Orlando grabbed both men and kissed them 
warmly on the forehead before departing.

“What’s he like?” Elijah perched on the stool next to Dominic’s.

“Are you really interested or is this another act in the ‘Grill the New Guy’ play that 
seems to be going on this morning?”

Elijah rocked his stool gently. “No, I really want to know.”

Dominic mopped up the last of his eggs with the last of his toast and began. “Okay. Well, 
he’s sweet, charming, and sort of shy in that ‘I’ve been hiding from the world for so long’ 
type of way.”

“The loner type?”

“Perhaps.”

“Does he have a motorcycle?”

Dominic chuckled, “I don’t think so, but it’s possible.”

“Nice. What else?”

“He’s smart. Very smart. He knew things about werewolves that I thought only we knew. 
He just knew exactly what to do.”

“Telepath?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think he was just reading my mind all night.”

“And what else?”

“Full of surprises.”

“Eh…”

“Good surprises.”

“Oh, okay. That’s fine, then.”

“What, are you going to date him?”

“Well, he just sounds so sweet, charming, shy in that ‘I’ve been hiding from the world 
for—”

“Alright, alright. I know I sound like a dreamy-eyed school-girl, but I’m kind of falling 
for this guy,” Dominic frowned, “I just want him to like me so badly.”

“I know it’s corny, but be yourself, otherwise your relationship no matter how good is 
just an act. Believe me; you don’t want to act your life. I grew up that way.”

“Point well taken.”

~

Please email comments to cswann1@gmail.com.