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The Taming of the Cavern King	By : roryheadmav Category: +G to L > Gankutsuou Views: 3530 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Gankutsuou, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
DISCLAIMER: This story is a
non-commercial work of fiction based on the anime/manga Gankutsuou. Original
copyright of Gankutsuou belongs to Mahiro Maeda, Gonzo/Media Factory, GDH.
Absolutely no monetary gain has been made with this work.

THE TAMING OF THE
CAVERN KING

Original
Highlander version � 2003 By Rory V. Pascual (under the name of Remillard);

Gankutsuou
Version � May 13, 2006 By Rory V. Pascual

PART FOUR

For hours, the newlyweds rode in
silence through the streets of Paris, going out of the huge gates of the city,
and emerging into the picturesque hills. It was afternoon when they, at last,
arrived at Albert Herrera's villa. Despite his apprehensions, the beauty of his
husband's home awed Edmond. The villa was similar in style to the elegant
Spanish houses. It was made of granite and marble, the roof tiled with red
brick.

But what immediately caught the
nobleman's eye was the immense garden surrounding the chateau. Tulips, heather,
sunflowers, buttercups, gardenias, and lovely roses of every variety, shape and
color gave a sweet scent to the air. In a corner of the garden was a greenhouse.
Right in the center stood a quaint gazebo.

Albert felt his heart skip a beat
when the Count suddenly jumped down from the motorcycle before he could make a
full stop. At first, he thought his new spouse was going to escape. Instead, to
his surprise, Edmond went straight towards the plot of blue roses. Albert
couldn't help the small smile that quirked up his lips as the younger man
dropped down to his knees to delicately touch a tiny rosebud. With his blue
skin, Edmond himself seemed like a beautiful blossom in his garden.

"I never thought you to be
the type of person who appreciates beautiful things," queried the
detective as he let his servant take his motorcycle away.

Edmond sniffed a rose in full
bloom. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me."

"Well, since we are married,
that means I would have the opportunity to learn everything there is to know
about you."

The nobleman stiffened at that
remark. "Do you think I'll give you that chance? In case you've forgotten,
I married you against my will."

"That may be so but, still,
you're my wife now. There's nothing you can do about it."

"I'll make your life a living
hell!"

Albert shrugged. "So you said
at the church earlier. However, Edmond, you do not know me and what I'm capable
of. It would do you well to simply drop that horrible attitude of yours and
abide my wishes."

"And if I don't?"

"Then you'll know exactly
what a true bastard I could be. I may be patient with you before, my sweet. But
if you think I will continue to tolerate that kind of treatment, that's where
you're wrong. Force me, Edmond, to act with cruelty and I will hurt you where
it will hurt the most."

Edmond glared icily at his husband.
"Oh, is that so?"

Albert nodded firmly. "Yes,
it is so!"

In a flash, the Count let his fist
fly out, his knuckles connecting with the youthful detective's jaw. But Albert
merely took a step back at that blow and then immediately straightened up, not
even minding the drop of blood that formed at the corner of his mouth.

His sharp blue eyes falling upon
the worm inside Edmond's pocket, Albert remarked, "By the way, I forgot to
tell you. I do not like having pests inside my home."

Before the Count could stop him,
Albert snatched Baptistin from inside his pocket and threw the worm in the
center of the garden.

"BAPTISTIN! NO!" cried
Edmond in horror. He was about to dash into the garden to find his friend, but
the detective grabbed his wrist and started dragging him inside the house.

When Albert's valet opened the
door, the dark-skinned man gaped in stunned surprise as his master shoved his
spouse inside. He was about to assist the nobleman, but the detective gave him
a dismissing wave.

"Leave us!" Albert
curtly commanded, and the valet hastened back to the kitchen. He knew better
than to argue with his young master when he was in this state.

�

Edmond was on his hands and knees
on the floor. As his hands tightened into fists, teardrops fell on his
knuckles. "How dare you? Baptistin was my friend, the only friend I have
in the world!"

The detective shook his head,
clucking his tongue. "You should do something about your choice of
friends. What does a worm know of friendship?"

"Baptistin may not know the
concept, but by his actions, he has shown his loyalty and love to me," the
nobleman argued. "Betrayal, heartache, ridicule... That is all I have ever
received from my fellow human beings. No human could ever replace the love that
Baptistin had given me. You absolutely had no right!"

"He's just a worm,
Dantes!"

"He's my friend!"
Edmond's murderous eyes focused upon the elegant decor of the parlor.
"Tell me, Herrera! Do you think all the treasures in this room could ever
replace the loss of my best friend?"

The Count had his sword unsheathed
before the detective could stop him. At once, Edmond turned his rage on the
decor and furnishings. He slashed the paintings hanging on the walls and tore
the silk curtains to shreds. Edmond ripped the upholstery from the chaise,
carved notches on the oakwood table and chopped off the legs of the chairs. The
silver candlesticks he hurled into the blazing fireplace.

Hearing the racket, all the
servants converged at the parlor, watching their master's new spouse with
growing fear. The valet winced as the nobleman kicked a pedestal, sending the
ornate French vase on top of it crashing down to the floor. Everyone gasped as
the delicate porcelain figurines were smashed one by one.

With stoic silence, Albert watched
the Count's thorough, methodical destruction of his parlor. It took
considerable effort on his part to control the rage that was building up inside
him. He had actually come so close to losing his temper when Edmond hurled his
precious Ming vase at the wall behind him, right beside his head, smashing it
to bits. A tiny shard even cut his left cheek. A vase like that used to cost a
dime a dozen in Ancient China. Now costing an Emperor's fortune, Albert saw his
most prized possession lying in a thousand broken pieces at his feet. The
detective forced himself to blank out his mind to the destruction and the
devastating losses. It took a few minutes for him to realize that the chaos had
stopped and that Edmond was looking at him, a wicked, daring grin on his face,
while he panted for breath.

Out of the corner of his eye,
Albert saw Peppo take a cautious step forward with a broom in her hand. He
waved her back.

Turning to the nobleman, he asked,
"Are you done?"

"No, not yet," Edmond
replied with immense satisfaction that he had gotten even a small measure of
revenge. "This house is still intact. Maybe I should move on to the
bedrooms."

Albert slowly went towards the
Count. Fiercely, he slapped Edmond in the face. The force of the blow caused the
older man to fall to the floor.

Turning to his maid, he demanded,
"Give me that broom!" As Peppo handed the broom to her master, Albert
quickly tossed it on the floor beside the nobleman. Grimly, the detective
declared, "You are going to clean up this mess you made. Selfish bastard!
Don't you have any consideration for the property of others? Don't you even
care just a wit that the people here have toiled so hard to keep my home spic
and span?"

"What about you?" Edmond
rebutted in fury, his head snapping up to look at his husband. "Because of
you, I lost the only friend I have."

�

"No worm's life could replace
what you have willfully and selfishly destroyed! But there is one thing you
have forgotten."

The nobleman's lower lip jutted
out in a pout. "What's that?"

"I own you now! I will damned
well make certain that you will pay for all the damages and the humiliation you
have cost me."

"That will not be a problem.
My riches will cover everything!"

"I'm not talking about
monetary payment. I'm talking about complete servitude. You will obey my every
command without complaint, and I do mean my every whim! If I tell you to clean
this parlor up, you will do it. If I tell you that the moon is shining in the
sky even if it's morning, you will agree with me and you will say it's a
beautiful night." Albert's blue eyes held a sharp glint in them as he said
the next words, "If I want to fuck you, you shall spread your legs to me
wherever and whenever I demand it, even if it be in front of everyone in this
household."

Edmond stared at the younger man
in shock. "Never! I won't play whore to you! I want a divorce!"

The irate detective leaned over
and swatted the stubborn Count at the back of his head. Grabbing a fistful of
Edmond's long hair, Albert hissed into his ear, "After the hell you put me
through to get you, I will never give you a divorce! You are mine forever, do
you hear me? MINE!" Albert's eyes focused upon the nobleman's jerkins.
With a fierce snarl, he tore the older man's trousers off his long legs.

"What are you doing?"
Edmond cried, trying to yank his torn jerkins back to regain even a modicum of
modesty. "Stop it!"

But Albert would not cease,
ripping off his coat next, until the Count was only clad in his silk shirt.
Edmond trembled all over as he pulled his shirt to cover his bare lower body.

"I do not want to see you in
trousers, Dantes. That will do just fine," said Albert. "Don't even
bother to wear underpants. I want you to be prepared for me at all times. Now,
get to work!"

The servants were flabbergasted by
what they had just witnessed. Feeling a twinge of pity for the nobleman, the
valet meekly suggested to his angry master, "Monsieur, that is the job of
the maids."

"Bertuccio is right,"
Peppo put in as well. "We'll be happy to clean the parlor for you and your
spouse."

But Albert shook his head.
"No, not this time. Edmond made this mess. Let him clean it up. If I find
any of you helping him, you may look for employment elsewhere. Now, go back to
your chores everyone."

For a moment, the servants
hesitated. Casting their eyes to the floor, they all slowly walked away.

Albert waited for Edmond to get to
his feet. Broom in hand, the broken nobleman proceeded to sweep the
floor.

"When you're done with
that," the detective began, "see if you could mend some of the things
you've broken, including the curtains."

The Count did not reply. Body
hitching with trying to control the tears that were threatening to fall from
his mismatched eyes, he just went about his work with abject misery.

Not wanting to see the pain on
that beautiful face, Albert strode out the door, closing it with a bang behind
him.

That loud slam caused Edmond to
jump in surprise. Sinking to his knees once more, the nobleman despaired,
"My God! Why do you continue to torment me like this?"

~~~~~~~~~~

It was already late at night when
Albert emerged from the greenhouse. Entering the villa, the detective saw that
the Count was far from half way done. With needle and thread in hand, Edmond
was squinting his eyes to repair the upholstery of the chaise by the flickering
candle.

"What are you doing lazing
about, and in the light of day even?" the detective demanded. "Can't
you see that you still have a lot of work to do?"

"Albert, it's
nighttime," Edmond complained wearily. "I'm having trouble repairing
things in the dark. It's very difficult to see."

"Now, I know that you have
been lazy. Probably must have fallen asleep as well. The sun is shining outside
the window!"

Edmond shook his head. In his exhaustion,
he totally forgot what the younger man ordered earlier. "That's not the
sun! It's the moon!"

Albert slammed his fist on the
table. "If you're going to be this stubborn, you will not have any
breakfast!" With a snort, the detective headed straight into the dining
hall.

When Albert was gone, the nobleman
choked back a sob. In his misery, he did not notice Bertuccio and Peppo
approach him.

"Monsieur?" asked
Bertuccio, laying a gentle hand on his back. Edmond gazed up at that kind,
smiling face. "Monsieur Albert usually takes his time with his dinner. Why
don't you go inside the kitchen and have a bite to eat while we shall clean up
here?"

The Count, however, shook his
head. "It's all right. I can manage."

"But Monsieur," Peppo
argued, "you are exhausted. Let us help you."

"No, I'm fine. I don't want
you to lose your jobs because of me." Edmond took Bertuccio's hands and
shook them gratefully. "Thank you so much for your offer."

Peppo gave him a reassuring wink.
"Do not fret, Monsieur Edmond! Bertuccio has ordered the gardener to look
for your little friend Baptistin for you. He will gather all the worms he finds
and he will show them to you. I am sure one of them would turn out to be your
friend."

Edmond pressed his lips to the
woman's fingertips. "Oh, please! Please find Baptistin for me! I will be
eternally grateful!"

Bertuccio wiped the tear that
trickled down the nobleman's right cheek. "I will have a good long talk
with Albert. I will not allow that he treat a nice gentleman like you in this
manner. I told all the servants that there was a very good reason why you were
so angry, and I was right."

"Bertuccio, you don't know
me. How could you defend me like this? You just don't know how horrid I had
been towards your master."

But the valet readily countered,
"I trust my instincts. I know that you have a good heart." Winking,
he queried again, "Come now, Monsieur Edmond, let us help you!"

Edmond, however, said, "No,
it's quite all right. Truth be told, before I became a nobleman, I used to be
just like you, so I'm accustomed to doing the household chores. But thank you
anyway for your kind offer."

�

Seeing that the nobleman could not
be moved, the servants shrugged helplessly.

"If that is what you
wish," Bertuccio replied, "but if you need anything, please do not
hesitate to ask.

The Count nodded reassuringly, and
Bertuccio and Peppo went back to the kitchen.

Albert finished his dinner after
an hour. Ignoring his spouse, he went straight to his study to finally get to
work on the murder case that he had neglected ever since he'd been distracted
by a certain Count of Monte Cristo. Removing the dirt from Fernand de Morcerf's
journal, the detective opened it right in the middle and proceeded to read.

It was near midnight when the
detective emerged from his study, his eyes red, and not just from his reading.
He found himself padding quietly towards the parlor. Albert felt a painful tug
in his heart, seeing an exhausted Edmond lying asleep on the floor, a piece of the
Ming vase in his hand. The vase itself was standing before him, a third
complete. The plaster the nobleman had been using was already dried up. Edmond
shivered slightly, not surprising since, except for his shirt, he was
practically naked.

Carefully, Albert lifted the older
man in his arms and laid him on the chaise. He brushed away a stray lock
from Edmond's brow. At that tender gesture, those pink marks appeared and
sleepy eyes blinked up at him.

Albert pressed a hushing finger to
his lips in warning to the entity. "Be assured, Gankutsuou, that things
will change from now on."

That was all the reassurance the
entity needed to retreat into the substance of the slumbering Count.

As quietly as he could, the
detective went about cleaning up what remained of the nobleman's destructive
tirade.

Unknown to Albert, Edmond had
woken up, surprised to see his husband tidying up the parlor.

Wiping away the sleep from his
eyes, he quickly got up, wobbling a bit, and stammered, "I'm sorry. I
didn't realize that I had fallen asleep. I'll get back to work."

"No," Albert replied, a
bit more curtly than he had intended. "Get some rest."

The detective heard a soft sob
behind him. Glancing back, he saw that the Count had his head lowered, but he
could clearly see the tears trickling down the older man's cheeks by the light
of the guttering candle.

Probably sensing that the
detective was watching him, Edmond whispered, "I'm sorry, Albert. I didn't
mean to destroy your home like this. It's just that...Baptistin..."
Breathing in deeply, the Count repeated, "I'm sorry."

Sighing, Albert picked up the Ming
vase the nobleman had been fixing. It fell apart in his hand.

"It is I who should
apologize. I shouldn't have done what I did to Baptistin. I know how much he meant
to you."

"You were angry, because of
the cruel things I did to you, because I hit you. I was wrong, I know
that."

Albert knelt down on one knee
before the guilt-stricken nobleman. "Edmond, I know you don't like me. But
can't you at least try to? I want to make this marriage work for both of us.
The way I courted you -- I will admit that at first it was all just a game for
me, a challenge to get you away from your sisters so that Maximilian and Franz
could woo them." Laughing wryly, he remarked, "But then my heart made
a big mistake of falling in love with you." Albert laid a gentle palm on
Edmond's cheek. "Please, Edmond? Can't you at least try to make your heart
learn to love me as well? I swear I won't hurt you ever again."

Edmond bit his lower lip, stifling
the urge to say that he had indeed fallen in love with the younger man.
"Albert, I cannot love you."

"Why not?" asked Albert
in dismay.

"Because...because there are
things you don't know about me -- secret things. If I give my heart to you and
you find out that... I've lost so much -- my family, my betrothed Mercedes. I
don't want my heart to be broken once more if I lose you too. It would surely
kill me, much more than a blade cutting through my heart." Edmond shook
his head. "Please, Albert, do not ask for more from me. Friendship is all
that I'm capable of giving. Please try to understand."

Albert was about to say more. But
Bertuccio suddenly appeared, carrying a pillow and a quilt under his right arm
and a candle in his left hand.

"Forgive me, Monsieur,"
Bertuccio bowed to the detective. "I know you expressly forbade us to
offer assistance to our new master, but I hope that you will not begrudge my
offering him a pillow and a blanket. The night is rather cold."

The detective waved his hand in
reassurance. "It's all right, Bertuccio. I truly appreciate your concern
for my spouse. Would you be so kind as to escort Edmond to the guest
room?"

At that request, the valet's
eyebrow cocked up. "The guest room, Monsieur?"

"Yes." Albert gave
Edmond a meaningful glance. "I just want to give Edmond time to become
accustomed to his new home."

Bertuccio nodded in approval.
"Very good, Monsieur." He then offered his arm to the Count, who took
it wearily.

Pausing at the foot of the
staircase, Edmond looked back at his husband. "Albert...I'm so sorry about
all this."

"It's all right," was
the detective's sorrowful reply. "I understand."

"Good night, Albert."

"Good night, Edmond."

Albert watched as Bertuccio
escorted the exhausted nobleman up the staircase. When the two men were gone,
the detective got to his feet and sagged bonelessly onto the chaise.

Rubbing his aching brow with the
tips of his fingers, Albert whispered, "I understand all right, Edmond. I
understand, probably a lot more than you think."

~~~~~~~~~~

Albert sat on the balustrade of
the gazebo. One long leg stretched out on the ledge, the other hanging down to
the floor, his booted foot tapping lightly on the tiles. He was reading
Morcerf's journal again, now even more convinced of the necessity of the man's
death.

Slamming the journal close in
disgust, Albert thought with a wry grimace on his face, I had hoped that you
were wrong, Mother, but you were oh so right about him. Good riddance to bad
rubbish!

As he straightened up, his weary
blue eyes fell upon his spouse who was hunched over his little corner of the
sprawling garden. The grimace on Albert's face was replaced by a fond smile.

They've been living in the villa
for over three months now and the detective was still amazed by the
transformation that came over the nobleman. Edmond displayed such warm
cheerfulness and charm. A kind smile was always on his face whenever he talked
to the servants. Sometimes, the cook was hard-pressed in convincing the Count
to leave her kitchen for fear that her new master would take over her job. It
certainly was no surprise that she would react that way. Edmond proved to be an
excellent cook himself, always pampering his husband with delicious dishes.

At that thought, Albert's stomach
growled noisily. Don't you start up again! He warned, eyeing his paunch,
which seemed to grow bigger with the passage of time.

The Count had a particular
fondness for his valet, Bertuccio. Despite his constant warnings not to, Edmond
always found a way to sneak a shot or two of fine wine to the valet.
Unfortunately, they were always caught. One had only to look at the rosy color
of Bertuccio's cheeks and that stupid grin on his face to know that the man was
drunk.

When confronting his spouse,
Edmond would always reply to him, "Can't the man find some happiness? It's
just a small reward for his loyalty."

With Bertuccio having been in his
family's employ for over ten years, he certainly couldn't argue with that
logic.

Looking at the nobleman once more,
Albert knew that something has changed since that first night, like a weight
has been lifted from Edmond's shoulders with their arrangement of a mere
friendship alone. It was like he was seeing the REAL Edmond Dantes for the
first time, and to his dismay, it only made the detective's love for his spouse
grow much stronger.

There were many times when Albert
was tempted to demand his marital right from the older man. But he knew that to
do so would only serve to drive Edmond away even further, and he definitely did
not want to do that, especially now that they have become so close.

Still, a demon lay between them
and complete happiness, a demon whose words were weighing down the journal
lying on his thigh. The demon may be dead. His spirit, however, remained to
torment the living. And only Edmond can exorcise him.

Tucking the journal inside his
pocket, Albert sauntered over to where Edmond was working. He couldn't help the
grin that creased the corners of his lips, seeing that delectable rump
alongside those lovely melons.

"Better not stick too close
to the melons, Honeybun," Albert warned, grinning, "or else I might
pluck your ass by accident."

"Albert," began Edmond
in mild exasperation, "melons or not, you always find a way to squeeze my
butt." Turning to the younger man, he granted Albert a knowing smile.
"Am I right or am I wrong?"

In answer, Albert grabbed a
generous handful of the nobleman's right buttock. Edmond sighed, easing his
butt back into that heated caress.

"Your melons are looking
good, my sweet!" Albert remarked, gazing at the melon patch with an
appreciative eye.

"Which ones?" The Count
queried innocently.

For a moment, there was confusion
on the detective's face. Then, they both burst into laughter.

Getting to his feet, Edmond
pointed to the near wall. "The pomegranate saplings have just sprouted.
Plus, I've got watermelons growing behind the greenhouse."

Albert pouted. "No chance of
your melons growing, Honeybun?"

"I don't think I'd look good
with a fat bottom," the nobleman remarked with a grimace. "And why do
you always call me 'Honeybun'? Not that I'm complaining, mind you,
but...Honeybun?"

The detective scratched his head
sheepishly. "You'd probably kill me if I told you."

"Try me."

"Well..." Albert began
hesitantly. "The word 'bun' is in reference to your...you know..."

"I guessed that part. Go on."

Albert blushed a deep scarlet.
"The first time I caught a glimpse of that glorious ass of yours, I've
always had the irresistible urge to slather it with honey and...uh...lick it
all off."

There was a thoughtful expression
on Edmond's face. "Oh, I see."

The detective laughed nervously.
"It's not as if it's ever going to happen. I mean, we are just good
friends."

"Just friends..."
murmured the Count, his voice trailing off.

Feeling uncomfortable all of a
sudden, Albert quickly changed the topic. "Were you able to find
Baptistin?"

At once, sorrow crossed the
nobleman's handsome features. "No, I'm afraid not. The gardener was very
thorough with his search, but none of the worms and caterpillars he showed me
turned out to be Baptistin." Edmond sighed. "I really miss Baptistin.
Not a day goes by that I don't think about him."

Silence. Albert then laid a hand
on Edmond's shoulder. As the Count looked at him, the detective simply smiled
and said, "Come with me."

Together, the two men headed for
the greenhouse.

Albert's greenhouse has always
been a curiosity for Edmond. It was the one place he had never thought of
venturing for fear of angering his husband. Besides, being a botanist, he
didn't want to be the unwitting destroyer of the detective's prized plants.

True enough, as Albert opened the
door, Edmond found himself in paradise. He had never seen such strange but
lovely blooms in his entire life. Of varied shapes and colors, the flowers were
growing out of tree stumps.

As if reading his mind, the
detective said, "Those are orchids. Over there are cattleyas and birds of
paradise. They grow best in a tropical climate. That's why I designed this
special greenhouse."

"Is this what I think it
is?" Edmond queried, pointing to a strange looking plant, almost looking
like a cup.

"Pitcher plant." The
nobleman was about to poke a finger inside the hollow, but Albert grabbed his
wrist. "Don't! It's carnivorous!"

"Yeah, sure! I know my
plants, Albert," the Count declared in sarcasm.

Grinning, Albert said, "So
you know it eats insects, but one can't be too careful. Same also for the Venus
flytrap that's beside it."

The nobleman's eyes roamed eagerly
all over the greenhouse. "Albert, this place is amazing!"

"You haven't seen the best
part. Come!" said the detective. "There's something I want you to
see."

The younger man led his spouse
towards the corner of the greenhouse where midget trees were growing in flat
dishes.

Smiling, Edmond looked closely at
the tiny trees. "They're so cute! They're bonsai, right?"

"Yes, they are. The Japanese
perfected the art of growing tiny trees in bowls."

The Count frowned, noticing what
looked like a puffy ball of cotton hanging on a branch of the bonsai.
"Albert, it looks like you have a pest problem on this tree. There's a
cocoon here."

Albert bent down beside the
younger man to peer at the cocoon. "Oh, I don't know. It certainly isn't
being a pest like it used to. It's nice to see it behaving for a change.
Besides, I just don't have the heart to get rid of the little bugger." The
detective grinned. "It seems we have the same tastes in men and round
fruits."

At that comment, Edmond's jaw
dropped in shock. Slowly, the two men faced at each other.

Then, the nobleman flung his arms
around Albert's neck, a joyful, relieved laugh escaping his lips, saying over
and over again, "Baptistin's alive! Baptistin's alive! Oh, Albert! Thank
you! Thank you very, very, very much!"

Before the detective could say
something, warm, full lips pressed upon his mouth. Unconsciously, his grip
tightened around the Count's waist, pulling him closer. To his credit, Edmond
did not withdraw. Instead, his mouth opened willingly as the kiss deepened,
allowing Albert's tongue to delve into his moist cavern. Albert started,
feeling Edmond's aching erection grinding against his own.

"Edmond, Edmond!" he
gasped, breaking the kiss.

There was such bewilderment in the
nobleman's odd-colored eyes as he looked at his husband, his lips reddened by
that passionate kiss. "I thought this is what you wanted."

"More than anything else in
the world." Albert smiled with such great longing in his shining blue eyes
as he caressed Edmond's cheek. "But I don't want you to do this because
you think you owe me. When we do this, I would like it to be because you want
it, just as much as I do."

Albert cut off what Edmond was
about to say by bestowing a tender peck upon the younger man's lips. Digging
his hands into his pockets, the detective walked away.

Edmond groaned in abject dismay.
"But I want you, Albert," he muttered, "more than anything else
in the world."

~~~~~~~~~~

"ALBERT! ALBERT! Dear God,
where are you? HELP ME, PLEASE!"

At that desperate cry, Albert
started awake, swiftly grabbing his sword lying on the floor beside his bed.
Just as he sat up, there was frantic banging on his door.

"ALBERT! ALBERT!" came
the terrified screams.

Kicking back the covers, the
detective rushed to the door and flung it wide open. At once, a frightened
Count flew into his arms, embracing his husband with the desperation of a
drowning man.

"Edmond, what is it? What's
wrong?" Albert asked worriedly.

"He's after me!" sobbed
Edmond, burying his face on his husband's bare chest, his tears trickling down
Albert's belly. "Oh, please, Albert, don't let him get me!"

Peering outside, Albert saw that
the servants, with Bertuccio and Peppo at the fore carrying cleavers, had
gathered at the corridor. He waved a reassuring hand to Bertuccio, who nodded
and gestured to everyone that everything was all right and that they should all
return to their quarters.

"Who, Edmond?" the
detective queried gently, as he closed the bedroom door. "Who's after
you?"

But the Count shook his head, his
whole body trembling violently.

Ushering his spouse towards the
bed, Albert whispered soothingly, "There, there now! Don't cry. It's all
right, Honeybun. It's just a nightmare." He bade the nobleman to sit down
before him. Cupping Edmond's face in his hands, he wiped away the tears from
his cheeks, smiling reassuringly. "See! I'm here. I won't leave you."

"Albert..." Edmond gazed
into his husband's kind blue eyes. Leaning close, he muttered huskily,
"Hold me, Albert. Please hold me."

With a sigh, the Count kissed the
detective on the lips, his arms wrapping around the younger man's neck. At
first, Albert hesitated, but his lonely aching heart forced him to surrender to
that sweet caress. With intense desire, he embraced Edmond, his hands going
down to that tight ass he knew lay beneath the thin nightgown the Count wore.
He was surprised when his fingers encountered worn jerkins. Completely
oblivious of his spouse's strange discovery, Edmond ravenously kissed the detective's
face and neck, his tongue boldly dipping into his lover's moist depths.

Easing the nobleman's sleeve down
his right shoulder, Albert pressed his hungry mouth to Edmond's chest,
showering the tiny nub with sweet kisses. When he took the sensitive nipple
between his lips, the Count shuddered all over. As his husband continued to
consume the buds of his chest, Edmond slowly laid back on the bed, spreading
his legs, allowing his husband to pull down his jerkins. The detective then lay
in between the older man's shapely limbs. The detective's hand found the
nobleman's hardened shaft, squeezing it with languid strokes. It didn't take
long before Edmond poured out his release into his lover's hand.

Raising Edmond's hips, Albert
dipped his come-slickened hand between the older man's thighs, his fingers
seeking out the rosebud. The Count gasped as Albert poked a long, index finger
inside.

Feeling himself on the verge of
losing control, Albert somehow still managed to ask, "Do you want this,
Edmond?"

"Yes!" cried the
nobleman, just as overcome with desire. "Oh, yes!"

Holding on to his lover, Albert
pressed the head of his member to the tiny orifice, causing a whimper to escape
from the Count's luscious lips. As he pushed inside, there was a moment's resistance.
Before he could brace himself for another minute thrust, the ring of muscle
suddenly gave way, his shaft sheathing itself fully in one smooth glide. With
that easy penetration, however, all desire faded away, giving way to shock and
the devastating truth confirmed.

Edmond immediately felt the
younger man pause. Heart pounding in his chest, he dared to gaze up into his
lover's face, only to find shock and anguish reflected back at him through
those blue orbs. When the detective pulled out of his body, tears started to
well up in the Count's eyes.

"Albert..." he said with
great hesitation.

Then, Albert blurted out.
"You are not a virgin."

Those five words pierced the
nobleman's heart like the thrust of a sword. Shame overwhelming him, Edmond
fled from the bedchamber.

"Damn it, you fool!" the
detective cursed himself. "Why did you have to say it right in his
face?"

Albert quickly donned his robe and
went after his lover. The detective found Edmond in the gazebo, staring out
into the garden. Slowly, he approached his spouse until they stood side by
side.

The nobleman's voice trembled as
he narrated, "His name was Fernand Mondego. He was my childhood friend,
together with my dear Mercedes, in Marseilles. I never knew that Fernand envied
my accomplishments and my engagement to Mercedes, and he sought to destroy me
and steal my beloved away from me. With the help of Justice Gerard de Villefort
and Baron Danglars, they accused me of a crime I did not commit and had me
imprisoned in the Chateau d'If for ten years. Swearing revenge, I made a pact
with an entity that was also a prisoner there, agreeing to share my body with
him. In return, Gankutsuou helped me to escape from the Chateau d'If and gave
me riches beyond my wild imaginings. As he and I became one being, I slowly
acquired his alien features. Five years after my escape, I returned to Paris as
the Count of Monte Cristo.

"I was very thorough with my
vengeance. I brought financial ruin to Baron Danglars, who fled from his
creditors. No one knows what has become of him. Justice Villefort is now
confined in the Avignon asylum, following a shameful family scandal that left
him a crazed man. Despite the terrible things those men did to me, my father
agreed to my recommendation that we take in Eugenie Danglars and Valentine
Villefort, becoming my younger sisters. It's the least I could do for them
after the way I ruined their lives."

"What about Mondego?"
Albert inquired. "What happened to him?"

Edmond continued, "Mondego,
who was now known as General Fernand de Morcerf, was a candidate to the
presidency and husband of my beloved Mercedes. With Haydee's help, we exposed
him as the murderer of her father, the Sultan of Janina, and a traitor. I heard
that Mercedes left him soon after that. It was enough for me to see him living
in disgrace, as he had done to me. But�I became careless. I never counted on
Fernand's discovering my true identity. One night, a storm suddenly struck. My
family, at that time, was at a party, so I was all alone, relishing my sweet
revenge." The Count shook his head as tears trickled from his eyes.
"The next thing I knew, I was lying in bed and Fernand...he, uhm...how do
I say this?" Swallowing hard, he laughed wryly, "Fernand was the
first to stick his sausage up my melon."

For a moment, there was only
dreadful silence. Albert could not believe that Edmond could still jest about
something like that.

Fearing what thoughts maybe
running through his husband's head, Edmond continued, "I tried to fight
him. I swear I did. But he told me, that if I didn't give in, he would take
Eugenie and Valentine. I couldn't let him hurt my sisters. I had no choice but
to let him do what he wanted to me. For three long, hellish months, I was his
whore and my family never knew. One night, I couldn't take his mauling and his
pawing, and I�"

Sobbing, Edmond knew that he could
no longer continue. He removed the ring from his finger. Taking Albert's hand,
he laid the gold band in the detective's palm. "I'm sorry, Albert. I'm so
sorry you had to find out in this manner. This is the reason why I didn't want
to marry you. I should have told you the truth right from the start. I'm very,
very sorry."

But then, Albert's hand closed
around Edmond's. As the nobleman looked on in stunned surprise, the detective
slipped the wedding ring back onto his finger. A dark frown knitted Albert's
brow, a grimace on his full lips.

Breathing in deeply, Albert
gravely remarked, "I have to hand it to Fernand. He truly had extremely
bad taste in men if he always wanted to dip his sausage in your melon."
The detective made an exaggerated shudder. "Seriously though, I definitely
wouldn't want a man named 'Mondego' sticking his bologna up my fruit."

Hearing that comment, Edmond
stared at the younger man aghast. Seeing the poleaxed expression on the
nobleman's face, Albert burst into gales of laughter. The detective's mirth was
contagious that the Count just found himself giggling as well.

When their laughter died down,
Albert laid his arm on Edmond's shoulder and drew him close. "Feeling any
better?" he asked.

"I feel like the weight of
the world has been lifted from my back." Edmond gazed at his husband in
amazement. "You knew, didn't you?"

"At first, it was just a
suspicion of mine. The way you've been acting horribly...it seemed to me that
you were trying to drive away the people you cared for."

"Up to now, I couldn't tell
anyone, not even my parents. I couldn't even sleep in my own bed and I wear
jerkins in case someone might want to... I nearly came close to revealing my
secret to Father Luigi. You're the only one who knows what happened to me. I've
lost so much � Mercedes, my father, my sisters, my friends... Only Haydee loved
me, and I couldn't tell her the truth."

Albert looked the Count straight
in the eye. "Tell me, Edmond. Did you kill Fernand de Morcerf?"

"To be honest with you, I
wish I had," Edmond began. "I challenged Fernand to a duel in
Auteuil. I figured I'd take his life as payback for the terrible things he did
to me. But when I arrived at our meeting place, he was already dead�from a
bullet to his head. He killed himself. I threw his body in the moors. I thought
Fernand's corpse would never be found."

"You're lucky it was only
Fernand's body that was found. That day we bumped into each other in the woods,
I discovered the one thing that could have implicated you in his death �
Fernand's journal. It must have fallen out of his pocket as he was going to
your rendezvous."

Edmond gasped at this revelation.
"Then, that is how you knew..."

"Everything that he did to
you." Albert nodded. "He described everything in perfect detail. But
something triggered the guilt inside his heart. It was a letter from his dear
Mercedes, asking him to repent and to seek forgiveness from his friend whose
heart he had broken with his betrayal. It was this that drove Fernand to commit
suicide." The detective shrugged. "My mother always had a way with
words."

Edmond stared at the younger man
in shock. "Fernand�he is your father?"

"Fernand WAS my father.
Probably because of his secret crimes, he was against my entering the police
academy. He was probably afraid that I would expose the evil deeds he had done
if I pursued that profession. We had a falling out in the end. I was training
in Scotland Yard at that time you returned to Paris. My mother, your precious
Mercedes, wrote to me saying that she suspected that the nobleman known as the
Count of Monte Cristo was her long-lost lover, Edmond Dantes. She begged me to
return to Paris, so that I could protect you from my father. I'm so sorry that
I came too late to stop him from doing those terrible things to you."

"Why didn't you tell me,
Albert?" Edmond queried. "Things would have been different if you had
only told me back then that you already knew."

"The truth had to come from
your lips," answered the detective. "Only you could rid yourself of
the demon that has been tormenting you these past few months."

There was much anguish and shame
in the nobleman's mismatched eyes. "Oh, Albert! How could I have treated
you so abominably?"

"You just wanted to push me
away, just like everyone else. I have to admit I nearly gave up. But I always
remembered what you told me in the marketplace.

Edmond frowned, unable to recall
what he had said. "What did I tell you?"

" 'I could never love you.'
" A breath-taking smile quirked up Albert's lips. "I swore to myself
I'd be patient. That sooner or later, you cannot deny what is already present
in your heart."

The Count embraced the younger man
in intense relief. "I'm so glad you waited!" He paused as he
remembered his former fianc�e. "Uh�Albert? Your mother�Mercedes�she may
not approve�"

"When I told Mother about my
plan to drag you to the altar, she was absolutely thrilled. She was quite
eloquent about it on the telephone."

As Edmond looked at his happy
lover, it seemed to him as though it were Mercedes herself who was speaking.

"Whatever you do,
Albert," the detective began, mimicking his mother, "don't let Edmond
go. He may be so damned stubborn, but he is worth waiting for. I just wish I
hadn't given in to loneliness and married your father. Don't make the same
mistake I had. Be patient, my son. As Edmond himself always told me � 'Wait and
hope.' You'll see. With patience, Edmond's heart will be yours."

Grinning, Albert declared,
"Well, I'm not waiting any longer." His hands cupped Edmond's rump,
squeezing the globes eagerly. "I aim to claim my prized melons at
last!"

"Don't tell me you me want to
lie in my melon patch?" teased the nobleman. "There are bugs, worms,
centipedes..."

"Of course not! To Paradise,
we shall go...away from snooping eyes."

"Snooping eyes?"

Albert swept Edmond off his feet
and into his arms. He then called out, "Bertuccio, Peppo, get the honey,
will you?"

The Count's eyes widened, a blush
rising up his cheeks, when the nosy valet and maid emerged from behind a bush.

"Honey, Monsieur?"
Bertuccio tried desperately to look as if he had not been eavesdropping.
"Would you desire some croissants and tea as well?"

Albert growled, "Just the
honey, Bertuccio."

"Perhaps you would like some
fruit to go with it," suggested Peppo. "Honey goes very well with
sweet melons."

Edmond burst into giggles as his
husband hurled a rock at the duo, who hurried inside the chateau to get the
honey jar.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Albert, I feel absolutely
ridiculous! Are you sure there are no ants in here?"

Edmond gasped as his honey-coated
shaft was sucked into delicious heat. In his surprise, he came prematurely
inside his husband's mouth. With a noisy slurp, Albert withdrew, the tip of his
tongue raised at the right corner of his upper lip.

"Yummy!" the detective
exclaimed in delight. "Did you say something?"

"Nothing!" The nobleman
mumbled, "I should've known there are worse things than ants in here.
Sweet Jesus, what a pervert!"

"Did you say something,
Honeybun?" Albert asked innocently again, as he turned the older man onto
his belly, dribbling more honey into the crevice of his lover's ass.

Edmond laid on the chaise that
reliable Bertuccio and the gardener had carried to the greenhouse, along with
the honey jar. Arms widespread, he propped his feet on the edge of the chaise,
knees bent, thighs parted, giving the detective a most delicious view of the
Count's glistening amber rosebud.

"What are you waiting
for?" asked Edmond impatiently. "Why don't you just get on with it?
My ass is getting itchy!"

There was a wicked grin on
Albert's face as he dipped his fingers into the sweet, sticky fluid.
"What's the rush, precious? I've only just begun."

The nobleman groaned in
impatience, as Albert flipped him onto his back, feeling his lover coat his
nipples with honey. "This is revenge, isn't it? You're getting even
because of the things I did to you in the past."

"Isn't it said that 'Revenge
is sweet'? No, my love," Albert muttered, his fingers tweaking the tiny
teats. "I'm just so hungry for you, I want to feast on your beguiling
flesh all night."

Edmond moaned in pleasure, his
head lolling back, as Albert suckled upon his nipple. "God, Albert!"
he cried, his eyelids fluttering shut. "You're going to drive me
crazy!"

Smirking, the detective mumbled,
"Crazy with lust, I hope!"

Embracing his lover, Edmond
tenderly kissed the top of Albert's head. "No, my young husband! Crazy
with love!"

Suddenly, the nobleman felt
nipping at his other nipple. Glancing down, a smile formed on his lips, seeing
the rainbow-colored butterfly clinging to his left breast. He watched as the
pretty lepidopteran nibbled on the honey sticking to the tip of his teat. Edmond
didn't have to guess who this beautiful butterfly was.

"Hello, Baptistin!"
Edmond greeted warmly, his fingers caressing those colorful wings. Baptistin
proudly flapped his wings, his bulbous eyes swinging to and fro. "Yes, I
see how much you've grown! It's so nice to see you again!"

Albert raised his head to glower
at the butterfly. "Oh, it's you. So you're back." He flicked his
finger at the insect. "Scram, you little pest! Can't you see we're
busy?"

Instead of flying away, Baptistin
bent his little legs, holding on to Edmond's nipple that he couldn't be
dislodged.

"Now, now, Baptistin!"
The Count chided his stubborn pet. "Be a good boy and do what Albert says.
We'll have lots of time to get reacquainted later."

With an angry flap of his wings, the
butterfly took off, but he didn't go very far. To Albert's dismay, Baptistin
settled down at Edmond's right temple, looking like a large ribbon. He even
faced the detective.

"Do you mind?" Albert
growled menacingly.

"Baptistin?"

At the mention of his name, the
butterfly turned his back to the detective.

"That's better!" Albert
then crawled down to focus all his lascivious attentions on the Count's wanting
rosebud, his tongue licking the honey away, moistening the opening for the
delicious joining that was to come. Already, he could feel his cock hardening.

But as he positioned his silken
lance at the orifice, Albert saw that Baptistin's beady eyes were focused on
him again, that he couldn't bring himself to penetrate the older man.

"Albert?" queried
Edmond. "Is something wrong?"

"I can't do it!" the
detective complained. "He's looking at me!"

"Baptistin, turn around. Be
nice."

The way the butterfly's mandibles
moved as he obeyed his master, Albert was certain that Baptistin was grumbling
furiously.

"Are you ready for me, my
sweet?" said Albert eagerly.

However, readying himself once
more, the detective saw that Baptistin had his tail raised, clearly mimicking
his erection.

"I'M GOING TO KILL..."
The Count's tender lips upon his mouth stifled Albert's angry cry. Before he
knew what was happening, Edmond had taken his husband's shaft in hand, impaling
himself upon that large member.

"Ignore him, beloved,"
Edmond whispered. "Take me now. I am yours forever."

It seemed as if an eternity passed
as the two men moved in unison to the rhythm of the waves of love and passion,
taking them to the heights of heaven itself.

Baptistin fluttered happily above
the lovers as they screamed their happiness into the night.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hours later, Albert and Edmond sat
arm in arm before the blazing fireplace, the comforter wrapped around their
naked forms. Baptistin, like a beautiful hair barrette, was perched on the
nobleman's right temple. They watched in silence as the flames consumed Fernand
de Morcerf's journal.

"Albert..." Edmond
started to ask, but couldn't continue. The fear and doubt still niggled inside
his heart � that this wonderful night was just a dream and that he would wake
up alone once more.

Instead, the detective clasped his
lover's hand with his own, their wedding rings shining in the light of the
fire.

"No regrets, Edmond,"
Albert murmured, kissing the nobleman lovingly. "Absolutely no
regrets."

~~~~~~~~~~
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The Taming of the Cavern King

THE TAMING OF THECAVERN KING

PART FOUR

THE TAMING OF THE
CAVERN KING