Holiday Gift Exchange: The Package Part 2

[kaelaaw]

“ I set the gun on the kitchen table before running over to Sergei.

Forgive me master.” Sergei gasped sounding very much in pain. I didn’t think you could hurt supernatural being with guns. He was bent over on his hands and knees. I squatted down in front of him.

“You don’t need forgiveness. I shouldn’t have shot you I was just….you were really scary in there...and I panicked.” I jabbered away as I pushed him up so he was sitting back on his heels and pushed up his shirt to reveal his chest. “Look I will take you to the hospital they will get the bullets out and patch you up, everything is going to be fine.” I realized I was crying. I didn’t want him to die. I hardly knew him and he had (I would later discover) literally scared the shit out of me, but I did not want him to die.

“You aren't going to make me keep the bullets inside as punishment?” Sergei looked up at me with tear filled eyes. He bent forward and twisted around so his face was at my feet. “Oh thank you master!” He exclaimed before literally kissing my feet.

“Whoa wait a minute.” I protested and pushed him back up. “Stay still.” He obeyed. I pushed his shirt up again. While there were blood stains on his shirt there were no wounds on his chest. “You aren't dying?” I asked dumbfounded.

“No master.” Sergei answered. “I can not die unless your bloodline dies.”

“So bullets can’t kill you?” I asked even though it was a stupid question.

“No, master.” Sergei bit his lip as if contemplating something and then spoke again. “But they hurt a lot. How long do you want them inside?”

“I don’t want them in at all. Umm let me think….” I was going to think of way to cut him open and take them out except I am not a surgeon. However it was a wasted thought for before I could finish my sentence six bullets burst out of his chest like pus from six pimples and landed on the floor.

Before I could comment on that I heard a pounding on the door and a gruff voice yell “Police Open up!”

“Sergei I need you to go in my room and change your clothes. You can wear anything of mine you like.” I spoke quickly and as quietly as I could. “Just a minute I yelled at my door.” Once I was sure Sergei was doing what I told him I picked up all the shell casings and the bullets and threw them in the can of grease I keep under the kitchen sink and put my gun back in my nightstand. I then went to the door and opened it.

However the police were not knocking on my door. Instead the neighbors door was open and remembered that Sergei had told Kelly to call the police. I then recognized the voice I heard as Todd’s. I did a lot of work on a lot of his cases. We had developed a friendship over the last few years.

“Hey Karl.” I heard his voice again and realized he had come out of the building while I was lost in thought.

“Hey Todd, I didn’t call this time.” I held my hand up as if I were swearing an oath.

“Yeah I know. Can you believe it? Kelly called in.” Todd looked equal parts surprised and relieved.

“Really?” I acted completely surprised. I hoped it was convincing.

“Yeah, and funny thing he admitted it. Said he has a problem and he needs help.” Todd went on.

“Wow, I never would have seen that coming!” Which I admit was the honest truth.

“I know right.” Todd agreed and then he had that look of a man switching gears. “Another funny thing. Kelly says she heard shots coming from your apartment a few moments before we arrived. You know what she might be talking about?”

“Yes, I know exactly what she was talking about. I had turned up the t.v. when Mark started yelling….you know to drown it out.” I didn’t miss a beat with my lies. Todd was the only person who knew how much listening to Mark reminded me of my dad and what it did to me. He knew I tried everything I could to drown them out. “It was some action movie so there was lots of gunfire she must have heard that.”

“Just so I look like a good cop can I come in and look around?” Todd asked. He believed me but he was was not just trying to look like a good cop. He was a good cop, he would never just take someone’s word for it.

“Sure come on in.” I was so thankful that Sergei didn’t bleed on my floor.

Todd came in and was checking the walls for bullet holes when Sergei came out wearing my old Star Wars t-shirt and a pair of jeans. I briefly noticed they were slightly big on him. I didn’t think it was possible for a guy to be skinnier than me.

“Master, are these clothes to your liking?” He asked.

“Master?” Todd asked and looked over at me. My heart started to pound so hard in my chest I was afraid it might explode. Then he grinned and winked at me. “Trying to drown out the neighbors or trying to keep them from hearing you?” He patted me on the back. “I never would have pegged you.”

I was completely clueless as to what Todd was hinting at, so I did the only thing I could think of. Ignore it and make introductions. “Todd, this Sergei.” I motioned to Sergei. “Sergei this is Officer Todd Bailey. Kelly next door called the police.” I added as an explanation.

“A pleasure to meet you sir.” Sergei demurely greeted Todd and lowered his eyes.

“Good to see Karl here has a friend who isn’t also a co-worker.” Todd smiled. “Sergei were you here when they were fighting?”

Sergei looked to me for a few moments I wondered why he wasn’t saying anything so I spoke up. “Come on Sergei don’t be shy answer him.” I spoke encouragingly.

“Yes sir, I was here.” Sergei answered.

“Did you hear Mr. Lewis yelling at his wife?” Todd asked his smile was replaced by his serious cop face.

“By Mr. Lewis do you mean the man next door, sir?” Sergei asked.

“Yes.” Todd answered.

“Yes he was yelling and cursing and saying all kinds of nasty things. It disrupted my master’s interrogation of me. So I….” Sergei explained. I quickly cut him off before he could tell Todd what he did.

“He doesn’t want to hear about that Sergei.” I interjected nervously.

“Yes, actually I do.” Todd looked at me still serious cop face. “You don’t have a problem with that do you?”

“Uh...no it’s just….oh go ahead, Sergei.” I tried to sound nonchalant inwardly I was foreseeing my doom.

“So I suggested Master turn up the t.v. really loud to try and drown them out, sir.” Sergei answered and I could have kissed him at that point. How did he know?

“I see.” Now Todd has his notepad out and was taking notes. I wanted to die on that spot except I didn’t want to do that to Sergei, (I was very torn). “Now you said earlier that Karl was interrogating you?”

“Yes sir. He had me tied to the chair and was asking me all kinds of questions and he threatened to hurt me if I didn’t answer correctly.” Sergei answered a happy smile on his face. I no longer wanted to kiss him.

“Oh that explains this then.” Although it was fairly well lit in my apartment Todd used his flashlight to point to the chair with the ropes and cuffs. I could have slapped myself for not thinking to clean that up. There was absolutely no way this was going to turn out good.

“Look, Todd I can explain….” I knew I couldn’t but somehow I thought I could buy time.

“Hey you don’t have to explain anything to me. The rest of the guys might have some questions though.” He chuckled. Why was he laughing? Was that legal for a cop to laugh you you before he arrested you for slavery and abuse?

“You two have a good night.” He turned his flashlight off and gave me a wink, (that I know has some kind of sexual indendo to it but I’m not very sexual so I didn’t know what) before he walked out the door.

I literally fell to the floor like I was a melting witch from Oz. I couldn’t believe I got away with it. Todd must be looking out for me. I was sure I’d have to have a psych evaluation when I got to work the next day and he would come back to make sure I had let Sergei go or something. I didn’t know what was going to happen my mind was reeling. Or wait I should concentrate on that wink what did it mean? Did he think Sergei and I were lovers? Oh great! The whole precinct would think I was gay! Which I’m not, well not really. I experimented with sex in college. I didn’t really like anal sex but I didn’t mind if it was a guy or a gal sucking my dick. I liked sex with girls although it didn’t occupy my every waking thought like it did my room mate. While I liked girl sex and blow jobs I found it much easier socially and more efficent to just masterbate when I needed to. I didn’t know what that made me sexually. I could look into it but I have so many more interesting things I could research.

“Master, may I clean up the house?” Sergei asked out of nowhere, pulling me from my thoughts.

“What? No we need to talk some more.” I leaned my back against the wall and pointed down at the floor. “Sit.” Sparky couldn’t have done a better job of sitting like a well behaved dog then Sergei did sitting before me.

“Look for starters you can’t call me master.” I explained.

“But I have to call you master. It’s what a good slave does.” Sergei responded and I might have been mistaken but he was almost pouty about it.

“I know but….” I tried to think. “Um...how about not around other people or refer to me as master around other people. They will get the wrong idea you see slavery is not allowed here.” I scratched my head trying to think of another explanation. “Didn’t my grandfather ever ask you to call him something else around people?” I mean surely he didn’t let people think he owned a slave.

“Yes, around strangers I was supposed to call him, papa.” Sergei answered. Well that was definitely not helpful.

“Um...okay how about around strangers you call me…..Lapin. That would be considered formal right using my surname?” I didn’t tell him that sometimes guys who grew up together called each other by their surnames. I never did understand why they did that I think it had something to do with sports had having their surnames on their uniforms or something, but I never played sports so I don’t really know.

“If you wish it, master.” Sergei replied sounding disappointed.

“Yes, I really really wish it.” I added. “Now next thing. You can not go off and get all glowy evil red eye on people like you did next door. What the hell was that anyway?”

“I am not sure what you are asking master. Are you asking why my eyes changed color?” Sergei looked as confused as I felt.

“Well no but I would like to know that too. I meant how did you get Mark and Kelly to do what you wanted? And how did you make the bullets come out like that? And why didn’t you bleed on my floor but on the shirt? And how can you make ropes and handcuffs move on their own? And why didn’t Sparky treat you like an intruder like he’s trained to?” I had been holding in so many questions and they all just came out at once.

“Shall I answer all those questions in the order given, master?” Sergei answered with a question of his own.

“Uh..yea.” I answered lamely.
“My eyes change color when I am using my gargoyle powers. I can force my will on most evil spirits and those that are being harmed by them. My body responds to the commands of my master and you said you did not want the bullets in, so my body pushed them out. I did not bleed on your floor because making a mess on your floor goes against my second nature. My second nature does not concern my personal clothing. I can move any objects in my master’s house. Sparky wants me to like him. Does that answer all your questions, master?” Sergei recited his answers. Unfortunately they only brought on more questions. I thought maybe he was being brief so he could answer them all quickly so I tried to limit myself to one question.

“So Mark and Kelly were evil spirits?” I asked.

“No but an evil spirit was controlling them. I chased it away and then I used it’s own control of them to get them to do what I wanted them to before the connection broke.” Sergei answered.

“So once the spirit was gone why did you have them involve the police?” I asked.

“It is what you wanted master. You wished that the police could take Mark away but they couldn’t unless he admitted what he did or Kelly complained so I made both happen.” Sergei answered.

“But….if a spirit was controlling them…..it wasn’t Mark’s fault….I don’t want him to go to jail for something he didn’t mean to do.” I spoke my thoughts as they came to me.

“Mark does not respect his wife or the home she has made for him, master. As long as he has those feelings the evil spirit can control him. The evil spirit can not make him do anything he doesn’t want to do it can only encourage him to do it more often and keep him from feeling remorse about it.” Sergei explained. “I could not change the way he thinks I could only make him seek help from someone who can. Your police will take him to someone. That is what you wanted yes?”

“Well I guess. Let’s talk about something else.” The subject made me uncomfortable so I changed it. “What are your gargoyle powers?” I started back at first of his answers and tried to get more information from him.

“I can chase away evil spirits. I can force my will on them as long as they are in the place where I dwell or are causing harm to my master. I can not fight or destroy them like a full gargoyle. I can also turn to stone at any time, but I must turn to stone during the day. Unlike a full gargoyle I can not take on any shape when I turn to stone. My stone state is whatever state I am in when I turn.” Sergei recited his powers and then added in more formal tone. “master.”

“Right uh...what other states can you be in?” I asked picking up the one thing he left out.

“I can appear as any member of the house in which I dwell as well as any of the family pets, master.” Sergei answered.

“You could look like me?” I asked suddenly.

“Yes, master.” He lowered his eyes. “But that is not proper for a slave.”

“Yeah well the idea kinda creeps me out too. So let’s not have you do that okay?” I replied.

“As you wish master.” Sergei answered smiling at me.

“Glad we settled that so what else..” I tried to think back to what other questions I had.”Oh you said something about a second nature? What is your second nature?”

“I am half gargoyle, half domovoi. Domovoi is my second or other nature, master.” Sergei answered.

“What’s a Domovoi?” I asked.

“An animistic deity, master.” Sergei answered.

“You’re a demigod?” I asked. My inner geek was on cloud nine. I had a demigod as a slave? This could only be super cool.

“More of a half demigod, master.” Sergei answered blushing slightly. “And a minor god that.”

“What are you a half demigod of?” I asked hoping it was something cool.

“Domovoi are household deities, mostly called house spirits, master.” Sergei answered. Not as cool as I hoped.

“I see...so what powers do Domovoi have?” I asked maybe it just didn’t sound cool but really was.

“Domovoi can move around anything in the house, even permanent fixtures. They can complete any household chore with a thought. A Domovoi will bless the members of the household with good health. Domovoi will protect the daughters of the house and keep them pure and find them good suitors. They will care for your horses and crops. That is if the members of the household treat the house and it’s members with respect. If not the domovoi will play harmful tricks on those who live in the house until they change their ways. A disrespected or angered Domovoi can even strangle a person in their sleep.” Sergei answered and I found his explanations far easier to listen to than any of the lectures I attended in college.

“Can you do all those things?” I asked hoping the strangling in one’s sleep was off the list.
“I can do all except the blessing of health. And the horses I am not as good with horses. But I am very good with small animals like dogs and cats. I can not bring anyone harm or strangle them without my master’s permission no matter how I am treated, master.” Sergei answered.

“You said before that the bullets inside hurt you. Does anything else hurt you?” I asked it was always good to know the weakness of demigods if they had them.

“All metal hurts, not just inside but outside, except the one you call cast iron, master.” Sergei answered sounding as if it hurt him to admit it.

“What do you mean hurts outside? Do you mean like touching it?” I asked. I had a guilty feeling about the handcuffs earlier.

“Yes, master.” Sergei answered.

“So the handcuffs earlier...those hurt to touch you?” I asked to confirm my feelings.

“Yes, master.” Sergei’s eyes got a brief fearful look to them before he dropped his head.

“Hey, it’s alright.” I reached over and lifted his chin. “I’m sorry I didn’t know I thought you were just a ordinary human burglar. I promise I will never put them on you again.”

“Thank you master. You will never have to worry about burglars again. I will protect this house and all your belongings, master.” Sergei promised most sincerely.

“That will be very nice, Sergei.” I stood up. “How about I go put those cuffs away so you don’t even have to look at them and then I can make dinner and we can play video games. Would you like that?”

“I have never played a videogame before, master.” Sergei answered sounding curious.

“Oh you will love it Sergei it’s the best way to pass time.” I assured him.

“As you say master.” Sergei responded as if my saying it made it the gospel truth or something. Maybe for him it did.

“Would you mind if I took a shower before I made dinner?” I asked.

“You may do whatever you please master.” Sergei responded. “If it would please you I could clean the house while you shower and I could make your dinner.” He sounded hopeful.

“Uh...sure there is ramon in the cupboard and it only takes 4 minutes in the microwave.” I told him and was rewarded with an infectious smile. Well he was house spirit maybe he took great pleasure in domestic duties. Perhaps having a demi god of the house would be rather enjoyable. Plus if what I saw next door was a small sample of how he ‘protected’ me and the apartment, then between him and Sparky I feeling very secure in my home. I found myself whistling happily as I walked back to my room to put way the handcuffs and take a shower. My life was definitely looking up.