The Four Horsemen 3 - Famine (14 page)

Famine paced from the edge of the cliff by Victoria Falls back to where Death leaned against a tree, watching him. The Pale Horseman didn’t move or seem worried about Famine. In fact, he hadn’t moved a muscle since they’d arrived at the spot.

“Did you think the only thing that had to happen was you and Ekundayo admitting you loved each other? And poof! You’re back to being mortal?” Death shook his head. “I don’t think it works that way.”

“How would you know if it worked that way or not?” Famine swung around in midstride and approached Death. He poked his finger into Death’s chest, and glared at him. “How much do you know about us becoming mortal?”

Death pursed his lips, ignoring Famine’s impertinence. Death was a loner, and Famine had a feeling it wasn’t just because of his place as the Pale Horseman. The way Death carried himself told Famine the Horseman had been a very private and solitary person before he’d died.

“I don’t really know much. Mostly because I never thought it would happen for any of us, so I didn’t pay attention when the last Death explained the process to me.” Death pushed away from the tree. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Death strolled to the edge of the cliff and peered over into the roaring water below. “All I remember is we have to find a mortal who loves us, and whom we love in return. I think there was something about accepting forgiveness or letting go of guilt involved, but, like I said, I don’t remember much beyond that.”

An instinct in Famine told him Death was lying, but he didn’t have enough courage to call the Pale Rider on the lie. He focused on what Death had revealed.
“Accepting forgiveness or letting go of guilt? But I didn’t do anything wrong before I died. The man I trusted most murdered me. I don’t need to ask for forgiveness, and I’m not guilty of anything.”
Death shot him a glance over his shoulder. “Are you sure about that?”
He tensed. “What are you talking about? I should know how I feel about things.”
“Of course. You do know best about yourself.” Death nodded, and waved a hand vaguely in the direction of the cave where Ekundayo waited for Famine. “You should get back to your boyfriend. He’s probably wondering how long you’ll be gone. I’ll come and retrieve you when I need you.”
Before Famine could reply, Death disappeared, and Famine grunted. How did Death do that? None of the other Horsemen could appear and disappear at will. The rest of them needed their horses to travel through time and space. He whistled, and his stallion arrived with a snort.
“I wish you could talk, because I think you know more than I do. You might even know more than Death does. Maybe that’s why you’re not allowed to talk to us. You might spill all the secrets of the universe.” Famine patted the black horse’s neck before he swung astride.
The horse shook his head, and Famine’s laugh burst from him.
“Let’s get back to Ekundayo. I’ve been away for too long.”
With a gathering of strength, his horse propelled them off the cliff, and Famine remembered how scared he’d been the first time the stallion had done that to him. He’d screamed like a frightened child, but now it was no big deal. He knew the horse wouldn’t bring harm to either of them.
His vision went black, and he embraced the sensation of losing himself. When he heard a gasp, and felt the cool breeze rushing past him, he opened his eyes to see he was standing in the clearing by the cave where he’d left Ekundayo.
Ekundayo stood beside the stream, mouth open and a surprised expression on his face at Famine’s arrival. Famine slid off his horse and walked over to Ekundayo. He slipped his hands around the back of Ekundayo’s head, bringing their lips together.
He moaned as Ekundayo opened for him. Their tongues duelled for dominance, though Famine didn’t care who won. It would end up with him spread while Ekundayo pounded his ass. Famine needed to feel Ekundayo moving inside him and over him.
Ekundayo gripped Famine’s hips, dragging him close enough for their groins to rub against each other. Famine broke their kiss and let his head drop back to give Ekundayo access to his neck and chest. One of the perks of hardly ever wearing a shirt was having Ekundayo’s mouth on his nipples without having to let go of him.
He arched as Ekundayo sucked on one of the hardened nubs. Famine held Ekundayo there for a moment, loving the feel of his teeth and tongue on him. Yet when Ekundayo pushed against Famine’s hand, he let him go, knowing what his lover wanted.
Ekundayo dropped to his knees in front of Famine. Sucking in his stomach, Famine gave Ekundayo more room to unbutton his shorts and push them down off his hips. Famine kicked them out of the way, and Ekundayo moved closer once they were clear.
“Oh fuck!” Famine shouted as Ekundayo swallowed him down. His lover was getting better at giving blowjobs, and Famine was more than willing to help him get more practice.
His knees buckled when Ekundayo ran his fingers down along his crease, pausing to rub harder over his hole. Ekundayo helped ease him on his back, and settled between Famine’s legs. Famine spread his thighs as far as he could, needing everything Ekundayo would do to him.
“We don’t have any lube,” Famine managed to say, as Ekundayo pressed just the tip of his middle finger into Famine.
“I have some.”
Famine whined as Ekundayo eased away from him. It wasn’t more than a minute before Ekundayo was back, with a bottle of lube in his hand. They’d stopped using condoms after they’d confessed their love to each other. It wasn’t like Famine could give Ekundayo any disease anyway.
The pop of the lube startled Famine, and he pushed up on to his elbow to see Ekundayo squirt some slick over his fingers. He watched as Ekundayo slid his fingers behind Famine’s balls to stroke over his opening. All the air rushed out of his lungs when Ekundayo pushed inside, stretching the ring of muscles protecting Famine’s inner passage.
While the burn caused him to tense, Famine didn’t fight it. He knew it would eventually morph into pleasure and Ekundayo wouldn’t hurt him. Soon moist heat surrounded his cock, and Famine let go of his control and worry. He allowed all the thoughts dogging him to be pushed back in his mind, and lost himself in Ekundayo’s loving.
He shuddered as Ekundayo swallowed around him, massaging his length with his lips, hand, and tongue. His body undulated between Ekundayo’s mouth and fingers as his lover drove him higher and hotter. Famine couldn’t decide which sensation he loved more; the feel of Ekundayo’s mouth working his cock, or Ekundayo’s fingers nailing his gland with each thrust in.
All he knew was that his balls were drawing closer to his body, and his climax was pooling at the base of his spine. Famine fought the urge to come, and tugged on Ekundayo’s hair. His lover glanced up through his lashes, questions in his eyes.
“I’m going to come, and I want to do that when you’re in me,” Famine informed Ekundayo, hesitating between words as Ekundayo continued to play with him.
Ekundayo nodded and slipped off Famine’s shaft, leaving a soft kiss on the head. Another pop of the lube top, and more slick in the palm of Ekundayo’s hand. Famine bit his lip as he watched Ekundayo coat his cock with it. Ekundayo’s dick wasn’t quite as long as Famine’s, but it was thicker, and that’s what Famine loved most about it. After Ekundayo finished fucking him, Famine always felt it the next day as he went about his business.
He smiled up at Ekundayo as his lover lifted Famine’s legs on to his shoulders before placing his cock at Famine’s entrance. Famine’s eyes closed as Ekundayo invaded him slowly and steadily. There wasn’t any burning or discomfort. It simply felt like home to Famine.
When Ekundayo was fully seated in Famine, he leaned over to take Famine’s lips in a fierce kiss, practically bending Famine in half. Famine opened to him, all his senses overwhelmed by the emotions flowing between them. Finally, he couldn’t take it any more, and tore his mouth away from Ekundayo.
“Fuck me, love,” he begged, rocking his hips into Ekundayo.
“All right.”
Ekundayo reared up and grabbed Famine’s hips, holding him still as he pounded into him. Famine dug his fingers into the ground around him, not caring about the dirt and grass sticking to him. All he wanted was for Ekundayo to fill him with his seed. He wanted to be claimed in the most intimate way possible, to be owned by the man who held his heart.
His climax continued to climb as Ekundayo hit his sweet spot with each shove in, and Famine prised one of his hands out of the dirt and wrapped it around his own cock. His grip was so tight it almost hurt, but it was just what he needed to drive him over the edge. Cum shot from his cock and covered his hand and stomach with pearly strings.
Ekundayo growled low in his throat as he sped up, reaming Famine’s ass with singleminded determination. He shouted as he bottomed out inside Famine, flooding him with his hot cum. They froze, each absorbing the scent and warmth of the other while their orgasms died away.
Soon trembling set in, and Famine opened his arms to embrace Ekundayo as his lover collapsed on top of him. He ran his hands up and down Ekundayo’s sweaty back, listening to his breathing slow down and even out. Their hearts settled down and started to beat together. Famine didn’t mind Ekundayo’s extra weight, and they slowly drifted off to sleep, satisfied and happy to be with each other again.
Famine jerked awake, staring up at the darkening sky with a frown. Ekundayo must have moved at some point because his lover lay on the ground next to him, his arm thrown over Famine’s waist. Famine trailed his fingers over Ekundayo’s arm, but didn’t try to move or wake him.
What had awakened him? Famine didn’t think it was anything in the clearing around them. Could it have been the nightmare he had been having? He closed his eyes, and thought about what had caused the trickle of ice down his spine.

He was back on the hill, tied spread-eagled, and dying. He looked into the insane eyes of the shaman right before the man stabbed his knife into Famine’s side. Famine saw all the hatred and jealousy the shaman harboured in his soul towards Famine. Rain mingled with his blood, and Famine knew it had been pure luck that the rain had come when he he’d been sacrificed.

Famine opened his eyes and ground his teeth, fighting the rage welling inside him. Whenever he thought of his death, he almost lost control of his own hatred for the shaman who’d used him. At times, he found himself struggling not to go out and kill someone else to ease his anger, which was why he didn’t let himself think about what had happened to him.

“What’s wrong, love?” Ekundayo murmured, half asleep, but obviously Famine’s tension had disturbed him.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. Just dealing with some bad memories.”
Ekundayo nuzzled into his shoulder, and smoothed his hand over Famine’s chest. “What kind of bad memories?”
“From when I was murdered by the shaman of my tribe. I had a nightmare about that day, and every time I think about it I get so angry.” Famine turned his head to bury his nose into Ekundayo’s tight curls.
“Because he took your life away?”
“Yes.”
Ekundayo hummed softly, but it was another minute or so before he spoke again. “Don’t you think it’s time to let all that hatred and rage go? It’s been centuries, and you’re still alive while he’s returned to nothing except dust. He might have gained a few more years, but you gained eternal life. It might not have been exactly what you wanted, but being a Horseman does have its good points.”
“At the moment, I really can’t think of any,” Famine admitted.
“Really?”
Famine caught the hint of hurt in Ekundayo’s voice, and he wanted to slap himself. What an idiot. Of course, there was one good thing about living for centuries and being a Horseman. He’d eventually got to meet and fall in love with Ekundayo. If he’d never been chosen as the Black Horseman, he would have been long dead before Ekundayo was born.
“I’m sorry, love. You are the best thing about being a Horseman. I would never have met you if I hadn’t become one. I’ve just been so angry for so long, I can’t seem to think beyond what was done to me.” Famine kissed Ekundayo’s temple.
Ekundayo accepted Famine’s apology. “I know, and that’s why I think you should let it go. Accept what happened, and put it behind you. Nothing’s going to change the fact you were murdered. I admit it’s a terrible thing to have happen to you. Yet you’ve gone on and survived. We have a lot to look forward to, don’t we?”
After thinking about it for a few moments, Famine realised Ekundayo was right. Nothing that had happened in the past mattered any more. It was all about him and Ekundayo from now on.
“You’re right.” Famine brought Ekundayo closer and kissed him with all the love he felt. When they stopped, Famine grinned. “I’m going to go to where I died, and make my peace with it all.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Ekundayo offered, breathing a little faster because of the kiss.
“No. I think I have to do this on my own.”
Ekundayo kissed him again, as if he wanted to let Famine know he wasn’t alone any more. “You can go tomorrow. We still have to decide where we’re going to live, since we can’t stay in a cave for the rest of our lives.”
They stood up and headed back to the cave. While they cooked dinner, they talked about different places they could move to, and spots in the world they wanted to visit. Famine pushed all thoughts of tomorrow from his mind. He’d deal with it when the sun rose in the morning.

Lightning flashed as Famine stood on the hill where he’d met his death two thousand years ago. Rain poured from the skies, and Famine wondered if it only rained when he was there. He tilted his head up to let the cool water run down over his face, and he licked some drops off his lips.

When he’d arrived an hour earlier, he’d searched for the exact spot where he’d been tied up and killed. Famine hadn’t returned to the site since he’d become a Horseman. There hadn’t seemed to be any need for that. He hadn’t thought he’d ever find it, but right before the skies had opened up, he’d found a barren spot of earth.

Famine looked down at his feet, and the dark patch seemed to shimmer as if it was wet. It made sense, since it was storming, but something made him crouch and touch his fingers to the ground. He lifted them, and rubbed them together. Frowning, he couldn’t quite figure out what was wrong with the dirt. It didn’t feel like mud usually did. It was almost as if whatever dampened it wasn’t water.