The Darcy Boys and the Case of the Secret Skulls

A.J. Ryan

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ “Dash was handed a dagger with a small silver skull at its hilt. “You will be given the Robe of the Secret Skulls once your initiation is over,” Stan told Dash as he laid the weapon in his open palm. Theatrically, Stan then took up an ancient book, opened up its frayed pages and read in a voice loud enough for the entire congregation to hear. “When the blood of the innocent is spilled, when the flesh of the gift is ripped asunder, and the heart of the young and undeniably hot is cut from his virgin chest and thrown to the Dogs of Hell, then shall you be honored with the cloth of the Skulls!”

1

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ The Darcy Boys and the Case of the Secret Skulls © 2009 by A.J. Ryan

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. An Eternal Press Production Eternal Press 206 - 6059 Pandora St. Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, V5B 1M4 To order additional copies of this book, contact: www.eternalpress.ca

Cover Art © 2009 by Amanda Kelsey Edited by Heather Williams Copyedited by Michelle Ganter Layout and Book Production by Ally Robertson

eBook ISBN: 978-1-926704-72-2 Print ISBN: 978-1-926704-80-7 First eBook Edition * October 2009 First Print Edition * October 2009

Production by Eternal Press Printed in The United States of America.

2

A.J. Ryan

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ A.J. Ryan

3

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~

Also by A.J. Ryan ****

Vampire’s Lair ~Miami Moon~

4

A.J. Ryan

Left To Their Own Devices Thomas Darcy turned eighteen the day after his father’s second wedding. His father, Beaumont Darcy, married his new mother Clarissa on a glistening Saturday afternoon; and then spent the Sunday celebrating Tommy’s birthday in the company of his new bride and her son, nineteen-year-old Dashiel, who, by his mother’s request, happily took on the new family name of Darcy. Together the four of them drank champagne cocktails—Tommy’s first ever—on the lawn of the family’s lake house in California and as the sun set over the placid forests on the other side of the lake, Beaumont and Clarissa packed their bags and left for a three-month honeymoon around the world, leaving their sons to get better acquainted. It was the start of summer vacation and little did they know that the two boys were about to become the very best of friends. “Well it was nice to meet you,” Dash announced the instant their newly-wed parents sped off to the airport. “But I’ll be leaving you now. You can have the place to yourself for the entire summer vacation.” “Jeepers! What on earth are you talking about?” With his champagne cocktail still in hand, Tommy chased after Dash as he headed for his bedroom. “I’m going back to Yalebridge.” “Dash, you’re being goofy,” Tommy pursued him. “You don’t have to go back for another three months.” Dash stopped in his stride and turned. He pressed his palm flat against Tommy’s broad chest to stop him. Tommy’s champagne cocktail sloshed so he stopped it from spilling completely by gulping down half of its fizzy, delicious contents. “I know that,” Dash replied, “I’m going back for another reason.” 5

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ As the two boys stood facing each other, it was immediately evident how similar they were. Both were the same height and had the same build—muscular and strong for their age—Dash from all those years playing kick-the-can on the mean streets of New York where they breed them tough; and Tommy from summers spent swimming and canoeing across the lake, that’s to say when he wasn’t reading mystery novels. Tommy always had the latest whodunit within easy reach. Indeed at first glance, the boys were completely identical. Except for the fact that Dash had green eyes and Tommy’s were as blue as the ocean. And the fact that Dash had short shaved black hair and Tommy’s was wild and blond. And the fact that Dash was African American, his black skin flawless, beautiful and shimmering; while Tommy was white, although with all the time spent at the lake Tommy’s skin was in fact more bronze than any other color and the only thing truly white about him was his perfect gleaming smile. “But it’s summertime.” Tommy flashed his pearly whites. “What could be better than summer on the lake?” “A mystery!” Dash replied enticingly. Tommy’s jaw dropped. “Is there a butler involved?”

6

A.J. Ryan

On Our Way Tommy’s sea-blue eyes widened. “Jeepers! Are you kidding? A real live mystery?” “No, I’m not kidding. Yes, I’m talking about a real live mystery. And I haven’t delved deep enough to see if there are any butlers involved yet, but I’ll soon find out!” Tommy beamed with excitement. “I can’t believe it!” But Dash was already shaking his head, “Don’t get any crazy ideas, Tommy. This is a mystery so secret I can’t possibly tell you all about it.” “Then tell me just a little about it,” Tommy begged. Dash hesitated for a fleeting moment, and then eyed Tommy with the dreamiest, most mesmerizing green eyes Tommy had ever seen. “Well, I suppose you are my brother now. “ “Well, not technically speaking.” Tommy was still breathless at the thought of the mystery at hand and caught in the spell of Dash’s dreamy green eyes. “But we can be the best of friends. “ “I suppose we can,” Dash agreed. “And if you can’t trust your best friend, who can you trust? “ “That’s right! “ Tommy nodded. “All right then. Come with me.” Dash led Tommy into his bedroom and pulled a suitcase out from under the bed that, by the look of the weight of it, was already packed in preparation of his impending investigation. He unzipped it. Sitting on top of all the neatly folded clothes was a black envelope. Dash opened it and handed Tommy the letter inside. Tommy read it aloud: “The Society of the Secret Skulls requests the pleasure of your company at the Annual TOP SECRET Secret Skulls Ball. Show this letter to nobody.” 7

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ Tommy stared at Dash. “Wow, sounds super swishy!” Dash took the letter back. “It sounds more fishy than swishy to me!” “What do you mean?” “I’ve heard of the Secret Skulls before and if you ask me there’s something about their secret society that’s not quite right. The whole reason I chose to study law in the first place was to fight for justice and protect the innocent. My real father was a New York cop. When he got shot in the line of duty, I swore to follow in his footsteps and uphold the law. And I’ve got a hunch that when it comes to the law, the Secret Skulls think they’re above it.” “You think they’re up to no good?” Tommy grabbed Dash by the shoulder and squeezed him hard. “Golly! You have to take me with you!” Dash couldn’t resist the chance to run his hand through Tommy’s messy blond hair. “No.” His reply was stern, yet caring. “It’s too dangerous. Besides, you’re just a kid.” Tommy promptly and assertively placed his hands on his hips. “I’m eighteen now! That makes me a man!” It crossed Dash’s mind that with Tommy’s broad shoulders, strong chest and youthful masculine features that indeed he was a man. The thought of conducting a more thorough investigation, right here and now, to ascertain just how much of a man Tommy was crossed Dash’s mind also. But there was no time, and taking on his newly appointed role as protective ‘older best friend’, Dash felt compelled to say no to his new ‘younger best friend’. “Tommy, you can’t come and that’s final.” “But we were supposed to spend the summer together. We told your mom and my dad that we’d get to know each other. We promised them!” Dash sighed. Tommy was right. They had promised. “I never go back on a promise,” Dash said, feeling his choices close in around him. “Me neither!” Tommy nodded. “Which means you have to take me with you, right?” A broad smile slowly spread across Dash’s handsome face. “Right indeed.” The two boys hugged each other tightly. Dash was suddenly aroused and realized as he pressed himself against Tommy that his new best friend was somewhat aroused too. He wasn’t sure if Tommy had noticed. 8

A.J. Ryan “Together we’ll get to the bottom of this. I know we will. After all, two heads are better than one when it comes to a job like this. Blow me if we can’t solve this case. Right, Dash?” Dash suddenly felt good all over. “Right, Tommy! “

9

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~

Welcome To Yalebridge Tommy and Dash Darcy arrived at their hotel room in the small college town of Yalebridge shortly before sunset; with just enough time to shower, change and get Dash to the Secret Skulls Ball by eight. They dumped their suitcases on their beds and Dash began to undress. “I’ll shower and go straight to the ball,” he told Tommy. He peeled off his shirt, revealing his beautiful black chest and ebony-carved six-pack. “In the meantime, you find out as much as you can about the Secret Skulls.” “Jeepers! This is just like a mystery novel! But where should I start?” “There’s a college newspaper called The Yalebridge Scholar. Maybe they know something.” “Great idea!” Tommy said. “I’ll shower and change and go straight away.” He pulled off his shirt to reveal his own young, buff body. “Golly!” He stopped to look at his watch. “There’s no way we’ve both got time for a shower.” Dash unbuckled his belt and shrugged. “That’s okay. We’re best friends now. We can save a few minutes if we shower together. That way we can cover twice the ground in half the time.” Tommy looked at Dash admiringly. “Geez, I’m no expert at math, but that sounds like a swell plan to me.” He unbuckled his belt and slid his jeans all the way down his thick strong legs. Tommy didn’t wear underwear—he often didn’t even wear swimming trunks when he went for a swim in the lake, much to his father’s chagrin, hence the all-over body tan—and now his thick young cock announced itself in a healthy, youthful, meaty fashion. Again, Dash found himself aroused, which was more than evident when he slid his own jeans down to his ankles. 10

A.J. Ryan Tommy’s eyes widened, “Jeepers!” He stared unabashedly at Dash’s hard black cock. “What on Earth is that?” “You haven’t seen a penis before?” Dash asked. “Of course I have. I’ve seen my own lots of times. Plus I’ve got a stack of Mr. Physique magazines under my bed, right next to my stash of whodunits! But I’m not talking about your penis. I’m talking about that!” He pointed to the shiny bright piercing at the end of Dash’s rock hard cock. “Oh that! It’s a Prince Albert,” Dash explained. “Wow! What’s it for?” A broad smile spread across Dash’s face, his white teeth gleaming. “It’s for making me feel good all over.” Tommy knelt slowly and took the base of Dash’s erect cock in his hand. He brought it as close to his face as possible and studied it intently. At Tommy’s tender touch, a ripple of ecstasy shot through Dash’s body and he quivered visibly. Tommy looked from Dash’s cock, down at his own now concretehard shaft, then back at the Prince Albert in front of his nose. The glint of the piercing reflected in his wide, curious, adoring eyes. “I want one,” he pleaded. “You can’t have one. Where you come from, they don’t breed you tough enough. “ It was true, white boys who lived in lake houses seldom had penis piercings. Nevertheless, Tommy couldn’t hide his disappointment. “Doggone it! Not fair!” “Maybe if you spend enough time with me we can whip your hide into shape. But right now, you have to quit messing around! If we don’t shower, we’ll be late!” “Jeepers, you’re right!” Tommy said, jumping up instantly, his fat cock rocking up and down as he sprang to his feet—a pleasing sight that did not go unnoticed by Dash. “We don’t have a minute to lose!” Tommy shouted excitedly, racing for the bathroom. “Come, Dash! Come!” Right at that moment, Dash fought the inclination to do just that.

11

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~

The Boy From The Catch ‘Em Pest Control Company The shower took much longer than anticipated. Tommy didn’t realize how much he needed a good clean, but once the two young men were in the shower together, Dash kindly offered to sponge Tommy’s back…and shoulders… and arms, and even his ass... until every last inch of him sparkled. For some reason neither boys’ erection would subside during their shower; and as Tommy had his back sponged, he kept flinching at the pierced head of Dash’s penis nudging into his butt. “Gosh, sorry.” Dash said, every time it happened. “Jeepers, don’t apologize! I should be thanking you for scrubbing me so clean. You’re doing a swell job!” Dash looked a little disappointed when the shower was over, but Tommy reminded him of the mystery ahead of them that needed solving. “If I’m going to turn up at the Yalebridge Scholar looking for clues, I’ll need a good excuse; a ruse or disguise just like in any good whodunit!” “What about pretending to be a stripper?” Dash suggested. Tommy shook his head, his still stiff cock throbbing and bobbing before him. “Goodness gracious no! I wouldn’t want to give anyone the wrong idea.” He thought for a moment. “I know! I’ll pretend I’m a pest control man.” “But won’t you need a uniform for that? And equipment?” 12

A.J. Ryan Tommy winked. “I’ll be equipped with my wits, brains and brawn like any good detective. Quick, we’ll have to hurry if you want to get to the Secret Skulls Ball in time. Let’s meet back here at eleven and compare notes.” “Are you sure you think you’re clean enough?” Dash asked, pulling his snug underpants over his still stiff black cock. It bulged and strained against his tight briefs, desperately unrequited. Tommy gave a sly smile. “Something tells me I’m not.” That something being his own huge erection. “But if we linger any longer, we’ll be late.” Both boys dressed as quickly as they could and left the hotel. The office of the Yalebridge Scholar was on the fifth floor of the Department of the Arts building on the Yalebridge Campus. Tommy had no problem finding it, nor did he have any problem accessing the building; it seemed someone was still working inside and had left the doors unlocked. When Tommy got to the fifth floor, he knocked on the door to the Yalebridge Scholar office and a handsome young college student answered. “Can I help you?” “Pleased to meet you,” Tommy beamed, offering a handshake. “My name’s Tommy Darcy. I’m from the Catch ‘Em Pest Control Company here for a routine inspection of the premises.” Tommy was exceedingly pleased with the cunning ruse he had schemed up, and he was quite proud of how convincingly he had delivered the lie. Not that it was really a lie. After all, he was indeed out to catch some pests! “Reggie Campbell, editor of the Yalebridge Scholar,” the young man was friendly enough, but there was suspicion in his eyes. “You don’t look much like a pest control guy. Where’s your I.D.? Besides, it’s almost eight o’clock and I’m just about to lock up.” “This won’t take a minute, I promise. I just need to have a quick look around and ask a few questions.” Reggie Campbell let out a bothered sigh, and with one eyebrow still arched said, “Okay, but make it quick. I’m already running late for something.” Tommy kept his cool and followed Reggie into the office.

13

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~

The Yalebridge Virgin Murders The office of the Yalebridge Scholar was crammed with filing cabinets and bookshelves and cluttered desks covered in computers and scanners and piles of paper and mountains of clippings and photographs scattered here, there and everywhere. “Golly, I’d love to work in a place like this some day!” Tommy was unable to suppress his excitement. “Do you ever try to solve any big mysteries here on campus? Gee-whiz, this beats hanging out at the lake!” Reggie’s eyes narrowed. “Lake? What lake?” Tommy gasped, realizing his façade had slipped. He had to think quickly. “Did I say lake? I meant cake. Cockroaches love ‘em! Those cockroaches are always eating holes in cakes. Have you ever had a cockie in your cake hole?” “Ah, n-no,” Reggie Campbell stuttered, unsure whether to be suspicious or embarrassed. “Well, if ever you do, just call me.” “Aren’t you supposed to be looking for bugs or something?” “Oh, yeah!” Tommy snapped back into the act. He dropped to his knees and pretended to look under a desk. “Tell me, have you ever noticed any rats sneaking around here late at night?” “The only thing sneaking around here late at night right now is you. Would you mind hurrying up, I’m already running late.” Tommy popped up from under the desk and saw not one, not two, but eleven front page stories hanging on the office wall, with headlines like THE VIRGIN KILLER STRIKES AGAIN, TERROR ON CAMPUS, and NO VIRGIN IS SAFE!

14

A.J. Ryan The big bold print screamed danger and intrigue so loud Tommy couldn’t believe how a sleuth like himself could’ve have missed them when he first entered the room. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened. “Jeepers, you really do try to solve big mysteries here on campus!” “You never heard of the Yalebridge Virgin Murders?” Tommy shook his head. “Where have you been?” Reggie asked, incredulous. Tommy almost answered ‘At the lake house with my Dad,’ but realized he’d really blow his cover if he did, so he kept his mouth shut while Reggie told his chilling tale. “Eleven male virgins have been murdered at Yalebridge over the last eleven months, every one of them on the night of a full moon. Chief Hagerty—the Chief of Police here in town—has no idea who the killer is. Even the FBI can’t crack the case.” “Jeepers! The FBI!” Reggie nodded. “The investigation has gone straight to the top, but even their best agents can’t solve this mystery.” “Say,” Tommy glanced out of the window. “Isn’t there a full moon tonight?” Reggie shrugged, a little unconvincingly. “Why do you ask?” “Because I walked all the way here across town and I didn’t see a single police officer or FBI agent. Wouldn’t you think they’d be out in force, trying to catch the killer?” Tommy was still looking out the window as Reggie slowly and silently backed into the desk behind him, slid open the drawer and pulled something out. “You know, for a pest control guy you sure do ask a lot of questions. Do you mind if I ask you something?” “Go ahead,” Tommy replied. As he moved away from the window, he noticed a jacket hanging over the back of a nearby chair. Jutting out of the pocket of that jacket was a black envelope. That’s when Reggie asked, “Are you by any chance—a virgin?” Tommy spun about to face Reggie, and suddenly terror took hold as he saw the young editor coming at him with a large stapler clutched in his hand. Before Tommy could so much as gasp, Reggie brought the stapler down hard. Tommy heard the ‘ching’ of a staple being dispensed, and the ‘clunk’ of metal hitting his skull. 15

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ He swooned to the floor. Then everything around him turned black.

16

A.J. Ryan

The Secret Skulls Ball Dash followed the instructions on the invitation to a dimly-lit black door at the end of a cobblestone alley that looked lost in time. He knocked three and a half times, just as instructed on the invitation. The door swung open. A handsome preppy-looking young man smiled and said, “You’re Dashiel Jackson, right?” “How did you know?” “You’re tonight’s guest of honor.” “Actually, it’s Dash Darcy now. My mother recently re-married.” “You changed your surname?” Dash nodded. “My father was a good man, I’ll never forget him and I’ll always strive to uphold the law, as did he. But my new father is a good man too and I believe in family values. I’m happy to take Darcy as my new family name.” “Family values are important to the Secret Skulls. Our traditions go back centuries. My name is Stan Carlson.” The young man shook Dash’s hand firmly. “Welcome to the Secret Skulls.” Stan led Dash inside and down a long, dark, stone corridor. Dash could hear faint noises—voices, the chink of glasses, the sweet melodies of a string quartet—that grew louder and louder until Stan ushered him through a second door and into a cavernous, circular chamber that was filled with men in dinner suits chatting, drinking, and laughing. Flaming torches on the walls added to the medieval atmosphere. Dash was amazed at the size of the large cast-iron chandelier that hung from the ceiling by a rope. His gaze followed the rope from a huge brass ring in the ceiling to an iron cleat on one wall. The chandelier’s rows of brightly

17

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ burning candles shed their light over the raised stone table in the middle of the chamber. Dash frowned. It looked almost like an altar. As soon as Dash stepped into the chamber, everyone turned towards him and the room fell silent. Even the string quartet in the corner stopped playing mid-note. Stan stepped forward and announced, “Gentlemen, as you all know, for the first time in two hundred years the Secret Skulls has introduced a new equal opportunity recruitment policy, put in place by Judge Washington himself.” Stan glanced to an upper level of the chamber, where an older African American man stood in his dinner suit, sipping a glass of champagne. “I’m pleased to announce we have found a new candidate whose father was a hero in the police force, and who is himself now studying law.” From a short distance away, Dash heard an old man whisper to another, “Cops and lawyers. Two of our favorite circles of friends. Wouldn’t you say, Chief Hagerty?” “I couldn’t agree more,” chuckled the other man quietly. Dash eyed them both suspiciously before Stan hoisted two glasses of champagne off the tray of a nearby waiter and handed one to Dash. “And so gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the newest member of the Secret Skulls, Mr. Dash Darcy.” The crowd cheered and raised their glasses, toasting, drinking and applauding. Stan clinked his glass against Dash’s and smiled. “Welcome aboard. You’re almost one of us now.” “Almost?” Dash asked. “There’s still your initiation at midnight.” “Initiation? What initiation?” “You didn’t read the brochure that came with the invitation? Don’t worry, you’ll breeze it in. All you have to do is sacrifice a virgin.”

18

A.J. Ryan

Take Me To Your Virgin “Sacrifice a virgin!” Dash found it impossible not to sound stunned. “Relax,” Stan winked. “It’s just routine really. This is how the Secret Skulls have operated for centuries. We’re here to make the world a better place, but it’s only fair that the world provides us with a little fun in return. And what’s a pretty young male virgin here or there? This year in particular there’s been an influx of hot young virgins here at Yalebridge, and you know what they say—a virgin in the hand is worth two in the bush. Well, that’s what we Secret Skulls say, anyway.” Dash pondered this a moment. “I can’t say I’d agree...” It struck him that two virgins in the bush wasn’t a bad thing at all. “I certainly don’t agree with sacrificing people! Aren’t you afraid you’ll get caught? Aren’t you afraid the law will catch up with you?” “We’re the Secret Skulls, Dash. We’re not afraid of anything, least of all the law.” “Why not?” “Because we are the law! Don’t worry, a lot of guys freak out at the idea of sacrificing someone, but take my advice and have a few drinks. Before you know it the whole thing will be over and you’ll be one of us. After that, you can consider the rest of your life to be taken care of. Any job you want is yours, any house, any holiday, anything and everything you’ve ever dreamed of, the Secret Skulls will make it happen just like that.” Stan clicked his fingers for added effect, and for a moment, his showmanship worked. “Really?” Dash could visualize a beautiful red sports car in the driveway of a beautiful big house with Tommy standing in the window waving to him, wearing nothing but a French maid’s apron, champagne cocktail in one hand and a feather duster in the other. 19

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ But then he remembered his father—his brave, dead daddy—and all he stood for. He wanted to run. He wanted to tell all of them they were about to get into a whole lot of trouble. But the timing wasn’t right, and if Dash had learned anything from his father, it was that timing was critical. You had to know when to step back, and know when to strike. Dash’s daddy had lived by those rules. “This is for you, Daddy,” Dash whispered to himself. “I’m gonna solve this case for you!” “Did you say something?” Stan asked. The music was once again playing and the noise of the crowd made it hard to hear. Dash turned to Stan. “Where is the virgin?” “Downstairs. We have a dungeon we keep them in till the midnight full moon.” “I want to see him.” Dash had suddenly devised a plan: to help the poor captive virgin escape and raise the alarm. He might have trouble finding a cop who wasn’t part of this sinister society, but it was sure worth trying. He was determined to put an end to the Secret Skulls, once and for all. “Are you sure you wanna do that? If you see the virgin, if you talk to him, it might cloud your judgment. You’re not here to make friends with the victim, Dash, you’re here to drive a dagger through his heart.” “Nevertheless, I want to see him,” Dash said firmly. “Take me to your virgin!”

20

A.J. Ryan

The Virgin In The Dungeon Tommy came to and found himself naked, lying flat on his back on a cold stone slab with his wrists chained above his head. His skull was aching, his vision blurred. Slowly he looked around and realized he was in some sort of jail cell in the corner of what appeared to be a dungeon chamber. Someone was standing over him. It was Reggie, editor of the Yalebridge Scholar, only now he was dressed in a dinner suit with a cutthroat razor in one hand and a wicked grin on his face. Tommy flinched. “It’s okay,” Reggie chuckled. “I’m all finished.” “Finished doing what?” Tommy panicked. “Preparing you for the sacrifice.” Tommy looked down over his naked body—his now completely hairless, naked, buff body. Apart from the hair on his head, Tommy’s entire body had been shaved of every last hair, leaving his muscled form smooth and glistening with a layer of oil that Reggie had just finished applying, quite generously too. “Jeepers!” Tommy exclaimed. “You’re gonna sacrifice me!” Reggie nodded. “At midnight tonight, when the moon is at its zenith.” “But you’re the editor of a newspaper. You’re supposed to help solve mysteries. You’re supposed to report the truth!” “I do report the truth—the truth according to the Secret Skulls.” With that, Reggie pulled a long black robe over his dinner suit and lifted a hood over his head. “They’ll come for you soon. In the meantime, try not to catch cold.” Reggie laughed, then placed a terrifying skull mask over his face, exited the cell and swiftly vanished up a set of stone stairs. 21

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ Tommy looked down over his gleaming hairless body, trying to figure out how on earth he was going to get himself out of here. He noticed his cock was harder than it had ever been before; its shaft swollen, veins bulging, its head huge and plum-purple. “Golly, I think I’m gonna explode!” he said to himself. He noticed the shiny silver ring around the base of his shaft and balls, and wondered what this torturous device was. At that moment, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. It was another man in a dinner suit. At first, Tommy gasped in fear. Then he saw the young man’s face. “Da-!” Dash put one finger to his lips and Tommy immediately fell silent. “Here’s your virgin,” said a voice from the stairs, and a second man appeared behind Dash. Fighting with all his might to suppress his shock, his rage, his terror—keeping all of his emotions buried deep inside—Dash said in a calm voice, “Stan, I’d like a moment alone if I may.” Stan shook his head. “That’s not such a good idea.” “You said as a Secret Skull I could have anything and everything I ever wanted.” Stan sighed reluctantly. “Very well. But make it fast. It’s almost sacrifice time. And if you don’t hurry you’re going to miss out on all the good hors d’oeuvres!” “I’ll be back in a minute. I promise.” Stan nodded and winked. “I’ll save you a mini quiche.” The moment Stan was gone, Dash raced across the chamber floor, into the cell and up to the stone slab. “Come on,” he said to Tommy frantically, “we’re getting you out of here now!” “What about these chains!” Tommy said, indicating his bound wrists. “We’ll never get them off without a key!” Dash looked at the chains and knew Tommy was right. They needed another plan. Then suddenly he realized that in a situation like this, there was only one thing better than both a virgin in the hand and two in the bush... and that was no virgin at all!

22

A.J. Ryan

A Good Plucking “Tommy, I need you to listen to me. There’s only one way to save your life.” “Find the key, unlock the chains and escape?” Dash shook his head. “We don’t have time. But don’t worry; my plan is quick and painless. Well, maybe not painless but looking at you right now—what with your buff body shaved and glistening with oil, and your cock and balls about to burst from the pressure of that cock-ring—I can say with all confidence it’s gonna be quick.” Dash felt the fire in his loins. “Oh yeah, it’ll definitely be quick!” Tommy looked down at his own rock-hard shaft and the oversized, plum-purple head of his swollen penis. “Cock-ring? Is that what you call the ring around my cock?” Dash gave one of his dreamy-eyed grins. “It’s supposed to make you feel good all over.” Tommy thought about it for a moment, and then smiled too. “Say! I do feel kinda good!” “Then it’s time to get you outta here.” “What are you gonna do?” With a wink Dash said, “Tommy, I’m gonna pop your cherry. I’m gonna deflower your garden. I’m gonna pluck your turkey.” Tommy looked confused. “But I don’t eat cherries. And I don’t know anything about gardens. And turkeys? Heck, I haven’t had a pet turkey since Mr. Pecker up and vanished just before last Thanksgiving. Now there’s a mystery worth solving!” “Tommy, listen to me! I’m gonna fuck you and fuck you good! Don’t you get it? It’s virgins they sacrifice, not hot young things who get fucked up the ass by their new best friend!” 23

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ Tommy gasped. “Jeepers!” he breathed. “You’re right, even though it sounds oh so wrong!” “It’s the only way to save your life!” “You’d do that for me?” Tommy’s voice was full of gratitude, of genuine awe and respect and adoration. As if to answer, Dash pulled a condom packet out of his pocket and bit it open. He unbuckled his belt and unzipped himself. His overenthusiastic cock swayed heavily from side to side as he climbed up onto the stone slab at Tommy’s feet. He parted Tommy’s legs and knelt between his new best friend’s thighs. “You’re trembling,” Dash said. “Are you nervous?” “A little. But I’m excited too. Do you mind if I whistle?” “Whistle?” Tommy nodded. “I always whistle when I’m nervous. It helps take my mind off things.” “I guess so,” Dash shrugged. “But not too loud. You don’t want anyone to hear us.” As Tommy wet his lips and started whistling, Dash stretched and snapped the condom a couple of times, then slipped it over his monstrous pierced cock and moved into position. Tommy felt the bulbous head of Dash’s penis nudge between his ass cheeks, and unwittingly he began to whistle louder. He felt even more pressure as the head pushed its way inside the opening of his rectum. Tommy’s whistling grew louder still. Louder and faster and higher. He was beginning to sound like a panic-stricken canary. As Dash pushed himself all the way inside the eighteen-year-old, Tommy’s whistle slid up into a deafening shrill squeal, so loud it echoed throughout the entire chamber. Tommy and Dash both gasped as they heard several sets of footsteps rushing down the stairs. They saw shadows looming down the stone steps, getting larger. They knew their one chance to save Tommy’s life, hadn’t just come and gone—it simply hadn’t come at all!

24

A.J. Ryan

The Stroke Of Midnight “Who’s whistling?” Stan Carlson demanded as he and Reggie Campbell charged down the steps into the dungeon chamber. One moment earlier, Dash and Tommy would have been done for, but Dash was already out of Tommy, off the slab, on his feet, and doing up his zipper, although there was no hiding the pulsating package he had just jammed inside his pants. He hoped nobody would notice. “What whistle?” Dash tried to act surprised. “Yeah,” Tommy piped up, playing along while trying to disguise the quavering pitch of his voice. “Whistle?” “There was a squeal,” Stan said. “A shrill, tortured squawk. Like someone was trying to pluck a turkey—” “—with a crowbar!” Reggie added. “You flatter me, gentlemen,” Dash said swiftly. “But we didn’t hear a thing down here.” At that moment, all four of them heard an earth-shattering DONG! It echoed throughout the entire building, sending a tremor through the walls as though the stones themselves were trembling in fear. “The stroke of midnight,” Stan announced. He pointed at Tommy. “Virgin, your time has come!” Dash stood by helplessly as Stan unlocked Tommy’s chains and he and Reggie hauled the defenseless virgin off the slab. Tommy looked back in fear as Dash followed them out of the dungeon chamber, but when he saw Dash make a ring with his index finger and thumb—the sign that everything was A-Okay—Tommy felt unquestionably reassured. Dash’s confidence was, however, only a show of strength for his young friend. The truth was he still had no idea what to do. All he could 25

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ hope for was, that when the timing was right, the spirit of his dear dead Daddy would show him the way out of here. In the main chamber, they laid Tommy on the altar—still naked, glistening, and hard as a rock—to the applause of the Secret Skulls, all now draped in robes and hoods ready for the show to begin. Tommy squirmed as he was tied down with ropes by the wrists and ankles, then he watched in horror as Dash was handed a dagger with a small silver skull at its hilt. “You will be given the Robe of the Secret Skulls once your initiation is over,” Stan told Dash as he laid the weapon in his open palm. Theatrically, Stan then took up an ancient book, opened up its frayed pages and read in a voice loud enough for the entire congregation to hear. “When the blood of the innocent is spilled, when the flesh of the gift is ripped asunder, and the heart of the young and undeniably hot is cut from his virgin chest and thrown to the Dogs of Hell, then shall you be honored with the cloth of the Skulls!” Stan leaned in close to Dash at this stage and whispered, “You’ll love the robe, by the way. It’s one hundred percent polyester and so sensual! I like to wear it around my apartment with nothing else on underneath. Maybe you could come and hang out with me sometime. Oh, and just to let you know, this is quite an old book and the Dogs of Hell died some time ago, so we tend to just throw the heart to the stray cats in the alley these days.” “Thanks for the tip,” Dash nodded. Then, raising his voice and the dagger, he announced to the entire chamber, “Virgin, it’s time to die!”

26

A.J. Ryan

An Altercation At The Altar Dash raised the dagger. Tommy stared fearfully at its glinting point. He glanced at Dash, who shot a wink at him. Tommy smiled. Dash cried at the top of his voice, “Virgin, it’s time to die! The only problem is...” He turned to the hooded faces around him, “...this boy is not a virgin!” A collective gasp of shock swept through the chamber. From the upper levels, the deep soulful voice of Judge Washington boomed down at Reggie. “I thought you said he was a virgin!” Reggie shrugged defensively. “He said he was!” Tommy shrieked. “Can someone give me a little clarification on this?” “Have you had sexual intercourse?” Judge Washington thundered at Tommy. “Yes!” Dash interjected. A second collective gasp swept the chamber as all eyes turned back to Dash, with the realization that the sacrificer had potentially just screwed the sacrifice. “You mean that was it?” Tommy asked Dash, a little shocked and a lot disappointed. Judge Washington leveled his cold gaze at Dash. “Are you telling us you’ve popped our virgin’s cherry? Deflowered his garden?” “And plucked Mr. Pecker!” Dash added defiantly. A huge ruckus broke out as everyone jeered at Dash. “Order! Order in the sacrificial chamber!” the Judge bellowed. “I demand proof!” 27

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ “Proof?” Dash gulped. “I demand proof that you’ve claimed this virgin. I demand details. And make it colorful!” “Well,” Dash began, “I knelt at his ass—” “His tight, juicy ass,” the Judge corrected. “Yes. Then I lifted his legs—” “You mean his strapping smooth legs.” “Yeah, that’s what I meant. And then I shoved my cock—” “More accurately,” prompted the Judge, “your long, thick, hard, black cock.” “With the Prince Albert on the end!” Tommy added. “That’s the one! He shoved it deep into my tight, juicy ass!” Suddenly a wave of melting sighs and gentle groans washed across the room. “Um, yes, that’s right—” “And then?” the Judge pressed. Dash stood silently for a moment, knowing he could not tell a lie. “And then—” “And then you erupted inside him with a scream of ecstasy!” suggested one Skull with a little too much enthusiasm. “And then you grabbed his bulging balls and squeezed them so hard he blew all over you!” offered another. “And then you kissed him!” gushed a third Skull, louder than he realized. With that comment, all the Skulls let out a romantic sigh. Then someone called desperately, “Tell us! Tell us! What happened then!” Dash looked at their eager faces and reluctantly confessed, “And then—Reggie and Stan came down the stairs.” Judge Washington’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Are you telling us, you didn’t come?” Dash shook his head. The Judge turned to Tommy. “And you didn’t come either?” Tommy shook his head. “But I think that’s got more to do with this cock-ring than anything.” Judge Washington ignored him. “Rule 14b of the Virgin Laws stipulates that fluid must be exchanged anally for a man to lose his virginity. Blowjobs do not count. Hand jobs do not count. Jerking off together after a football match and a couple of beers does not count.” At that point several Skulls exchanged nervous glances. 28

A.J. Ryan “Which means this boy is technically still a virgin!” cried Washington from on high, pointing directly at Tommy. “Kill him! Kill them both!”

29

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~

The Right Time To Say Goodbye As Judge Washington ordered them killed, Dash felt a gentle nudge and heard a ghostly whisper in his ear. “Son.” “Daddy?” Dash looked around quickly, but all he saw was the terrified face of Tommy, still strapped to the altar, with dozens of hooded Skulls charging at him. “Son, it’s me,” said the voice in his ear. “I’m here to tell you the timing is right. Do something.” “Do something?” Dash asked. “Now!” Dash looked down at the dagger still clenched in his hand, then at Tommy’s ropes, then at the almighty cast-iron chandelier with the burning candles, suspended from the ceiling by a rope attached to the wall. With one swift move, Dash sliced through Tommy’s ropes, took aim at the wall, and hurled the dagger as hard as he could. It spun through the air and snapped clean through the rope that held the chandelier in place. The chandelier crashed down onto the heads of half a dozen Skulls. Hot wax splashed everywhere as the burning candles launched themselves into the air on impact, spitting fire across the room and setting light to every polyester robe in sight. The Skulls screamed and stumbled, ricocheting off one another as their flaming robes blazed through the chamber. “Golly!” Tommy exclaimed to Dash. “It’s a good thing they didn’t plan to give you a robe till after the sacrifice!” Dash nodded. “Polyester has a lot to answer for!” 30

A.J. Ryan “Do you think we should help them?” “I think we’ve already done enough,” Dash said. “Come on Tommy, let’s get the hell out of here. This is one club we don’t wanna be members of!” With that, Dash helped Tommy off the altar, and together they dodged the screaming hooded human torches and raced from the room.

31

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~

A Cheeky Champagne Cocktail Back at their hotel room, Tommy and Dash celebrated the end of the Secret Skulls—and the success of solving their first mystery together— with a cheeky champagne cocktail. Dash popped open the champagne and poured it, fizzing and bubbling, into two tall flutes, then plopped a plump red strawberry into each glass. “Here’s to our first mystery,” he said handing Tommy his drink. “To us!” They pinged glasses, then Dash asked, “Tommy, why are you still naked? And why are you still wearing that cock-ring?” Indeed the doorman at the hotel had looked at them strangely when they returned to the hotel in the small hours of the morning, both smelling of smoke and Tommy wearing nothing but a cock-ring and a raging stiff cock to go with it. And indeed Tommy had every intention of having a shower and washing the oil from his gleaming hard body and slipping the cock-ring off his rock-hard cock and balls as soon as they returned to their room. But when Dash asked him the question, all Tommy could do was wink and say, “Because it makes me feel good all over!” Tommy drank his champagne cocktail then plucked out the champagne-soaked strawberry and handed the empty glass to Dash for a re-fill. Happily Dash topped it up. When he turned back, Tommy had laid himself out on the bed, flat on his stomach, legs spread and balls bulging at the base of his ass. “Tommy?” Dash said melodically, handing Tommy his champagne. “Are you getting ready to do some whistling?” 32

A.J. Ryan Tommy took a long gulp of his champagne cocktail and giggled. “I’m getting ready for you to save my life, once and for all. And no more whistling for me! I found something better to take my mind off things!” He sloshed down another mouthful of his champagne, and then teasingly planted his strawberry fairly and squarely in the middle of his ass cheeks. “It may not be a cherry,” Tommy grinned, “but perhaps a berry will do instead.” Dash grinned. He peeled off his shirt then dropped his pants. He watched his cock—his long, thick, hard, black cock—spring into the air, ready for action. “A berry will do just nicely,” Dash purred. “Just nicely indeed!” He climbed on top of Tommy then, and as the head of Dash’s huge pierced cock nuzzled up against that berry, Tommy took one last gulp of his champagne. “Say, why do they call them cocktails anyway?” Dash smiled. “Because everybody knows cocks and tails go together.”

33

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~

About the Author A.J. Ryan is a lover of dusty old books, ancient temples, thunderstorms and volcanoes, heart-soaring romance, heart-stopping adventure, handsome heroes, diabolical villains and faraway places on long lost maps—and a good story well-told over a glass of wine. A.J. currently lives in Sydney, Australia.

34

A.J. Ryan

Available now from Eternal Press

Rome’s Perfect Boy By Alex Fox Marcus - a Roman slave boy kept purely for his physical beauty is now sold off by his old master, only to be bought by a new master, the handsome and powerful Equestrian, Antonius Caius Lucien, who intends put Marcus to a new kind of use. The kind of use Marcus has never known before, or could even possibly imagine in his innocence. Will Marcus accept this new life of complete submission with Antonius? Will he be the one perfect slave Antonius has always looked for? And will Marcus truly become to Master Antonius, Rome’s Perfect Boy?

Hurry up and buy me! Bargaining began between two matrons, but the women were stopped by a tall, lean man with short dark hair; he looked like a centurion to me even though he was not in his armour. I took eyes with him, as I should not, but I was so hot standing here, sweating a rivulet down my naked chest. The man eyed me very carefully. I saw him go to speak to my old master and begin bargaining a price. I could not hear them over the noise of the slave market, but my heart began to race with excitement…the tall man was so handsome and lean, muscled and powerful to look at. Yes, I was sure he was a centurion, for he carried a military bearing about him. And he wanted me. He bargained strongly, forcefully, and solidus coins were given out to 35

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~ my old master—how much did I sell for? I saw my old master smiling and laughing, so, I must be a good price for him. And I almost wept when he went off to sign the selling papers and not once did he look back at me. He had owned me for years, and now, not even a goodbye glance…my eyes filled with tears of sorrow, and a fly settled in the corner of my left eye and I squinted it away. The tall man came for me. My heart raced when I took eyes with him again. So handsome! Oh…so handsome…

36

A.J. Ryan

Available now from Eternal Press

Painting From Life By Anne Brooke Love is never what you think. When a painter goes beyond the degree of intimacy that provides the connection between him and his newlydiscovered muse, he is forced to undergo a re-evaluation of the true meaning of love. In a strange wist on the Dorian Gray theme, perhaps the artist steals the subject’s essence as love and art meld into one.

At the corner of my eye, something moved and I turned to see what it was. Fifty or sixty yards away from us on the edge of the sand, an old man was sitting on a bench, gazing towards the sea. The sound we were making must have caused him to jump and the movement startled me. Now his eyes were meeting mine, causing a jolt of recognition, even understanding, to explode in my heart. No, somewhere deeper. In my belly, from where it surged in a torrent of blood down through my legs and feet, and up into my chest, arms, fingers and at last into my mind. I felt as if I might faint. But I didn’t. Instead I gazed at him in astonishment. He was old, a thin wiry body wrapped in a green fisherman’s jumper, faded cords protecting his legs. His hands were gnarled like the rocks, strong fingers burnt brown by the sun. But it was his face which captured me, even at such a distance, and never really let me go.

37

The Darcy Boys & ~The Case of the Secret Skulls~

Available now from Eternal Press

Homecoming By Regina Paul Crew left his older lover Eagle to go into space, realizing his lifelong dream. He was not ready to settle down when Eagle wanted to make their bond formal. Eagle, a professor, has no use for space faring. Crew knows Eagle was deeply hurt and angered by what he believed was Crew’s desertion. Now Crew is back. He’s not sure what kind of homecoming he will find. Will the man who still holds the keys to his heart and desire make him welcome or only tease and then reject him in revenge?

His mind made up, Crew walked over to Eagle, slid the jacket down his arms and threw it aside. Then holding his lover’s black gaze with his own, he unbuckled the belt at Eagle’s waist. He almost smiled when he saw Eagle’s eyes narrow, but kept it inside instead. Grabbing the end of the belt that held the buckle he pulled until it slid out of the loops of Eagle’s dress pants. Then still holding Eagle’s eyes, he dropped to his knees and rubbed his cheek against Eagle’s cloth covered erection. His lover’s scent wafted from the cloth, and Crew’s own cock which had never really gone down from before, hardened even further. He pushed his face into Eagle and continued to inhale the beloved scent. Eagle’s hands tangled in Crew’s sunny locks holding Crew in place as a groan wafted from above him. Long minutes later Crew unbuttoned and unzipped the man’s pants, sliding both the pants and Eagle’s boxers down his legs to his knees. 38