Date: Sun, 01 Jul 2001 21:17:17  0000
From: BlueKat <bluekath@eudoramail.com>
Subject: Eternally Yours, chapter 19    (gay/celeb/boybands)

Legal disclaimer: not true, all fiction. Not meant to imply anything about
anyone. Be old enough to read.

Author's note: another chapter again. Hope it's not too messy.

 - Eternally Yours, part 19 -

The newborn dawn was taking its first unsecure steps outside as the large
house finally quieted down for the day. Having seen both Lance and Justin
off to their respective beds, Joey and JC were in their own bed, talking
quietly.  "So what should I call you now?" JC wondered, his arms around
Joey's chest, head on his shoulder.

"You can call me anything you want," Joey replied. "But I have kinda grown
used to Joey over the years. The only person that still calls me Gianni, is
Vincenzo, but then again, he is the only person left that knew me when I
was still mortal."

"Hmm," JC replied, squirming a bit next to him, before hugging him even
tighter.

"Honey, surely you are not jealous?" Joey moved away a little in order to
be able to see his lover's face. "You are, aren't you? That's why you are
so upset everytime I go to him."

"Well, listen to yourself," JC said unhappily. He lifted himself up on one
elbow. "I know I can never dream of competing with him... I'm..." He was
silenced by Joey pulling him closer and kissing him gently.

"I don't want you to compete with Vincenzo, love, there is no reason for
that..." He looked straight into JC's blue eyes. "He was the one that
turned me, yes...but you are the one I love, the one I want to spend
eternity with. You mean more to me than anybody else either living or
dead." He twirled a lock of hair around his fingers. "Tell you what... As
soon as we get a few things straightened up, we'll leave this place...go
somewhere far away, you and me, and Lance and Justin, and start all over
again. How does that sound?"

"Perfect," JC answered with a smile, he snuggled up closely next to
Joey. "And why do I get the feeling that you know more about this then
you're telling?"

"I might know something," Joey told him, pulling him close again. "But
there's something I don't know too... Whenever something violent is about
to happen, I usually get a warning...this time I am getting nothing. The
only time was when the elder vampire showed me, and that was just what
*can* be. So either I lost my visions, or things are going to be fine."

"Things are going to be fine," JC said surely. He found Joey's hand with
his own. "I know it will."

*****

When Justin entered the room, he wasn't surprised to find Lance still fully
dressed and out of bed. He sat down on the edge of the bed, waiting for
Lance to turn around. The blonde vampire was studying the window. The heavy
blinds made sure that no sunlight got though, not even to light the
room. It was still half dark, as always. Fully lit rooms were more a means
to blend in rather then a necessity. Both Justin and Lance had no trouble
seeing in the light darkness.

"Well, aren't you going to say anything?" Lance wondered, his back still
turned to Justin.

"You're getting stronger," Justin replied. "That's good. Not to mention
that you're probably going to need it all too soon... But to the matters at
hand here... Tonight. We'll go out the four of us. Then Joey and JC
probably will go see Vincenzo or something. The two of us will be left
alone here, with strict orders to stay inside and lock the doors... You get
where I'm going with this?"

Smiling to himself, Lance nodded. "Yep, I most certainly do." Keeping his
back to Justin to hide the emotions on his face, he couldn't wait until the
dark fell again. He would be able to spend most of the night with
Chris. For now things couldn't be better.

*****

The evening, and the hunt turned out to be an uneventful one. None of them
were in the mood to play, not even Justin made that much of an
effort. After a few hours JC herded them all back to the car, and ordered
them back inside.

"Joey and I are going to see Vincenzo..." He smiled quickly at Joey who
took his hand. "So the two of you are going back to the house. The ones
that approached last night might be going after you too."

Justin silently congratulated himself on how well he really knew the two
older vampires. Lance just met JC's eyes with a sincere, innocent
look. Justin hid a snicker.

"You're as bad as me," he thought. "Good."

They waited until half an hour had passed. In the end Lance shook his head
and smiled. "I think we could have walked out straight after them, and they
wouldn't have noticed," he remarked. "I mean, they were tight before, but
now... As long as the two of them have each other, I don't think they care
what happens around them anymore..." In his mind Lance was secretly very
relieved that it did no longer hurt at all to watch Joey and JC together,
his feelings were occupied by another one all together. Deep in thoughts he
didn't notice the look on Justin's face, caused by his words.

A determinated look crossed the taller man's face. "If they don't care,
I'll make them care," Justin thought to himself. "And I know just the way
to do it. And make sure that they don't think that Lance is better than me
too..."

They left the house, each man occupied in his own thoughts about what the
night was to bring.

*****

Standing on their own veranda, Joey was watching the sky. A velvety
darkness that spread over and around the their house, encasing them in star
scattered lights. Vincenzo had been thrilled to see them, and JC, who was
sure that the older man wouldn't like him, due to his past, was almost too
relieved for words. Knowing how important the older vampire was for his
lover, his feelings of jealousy and rivalry was now efficiently wiped away.

"So what now?" Joey thought. "What am I supposed to do with all of this?
It's not like I'm in it alone. Everything I do, effect the people I love
too..."

Staring at the intricate patterns on the stars, he asked whatever powers
had granted him his visions: "Is this it? Just like that? I can walk away
whenever I choose to? Why haven't you let me see anything of this? Isn't
there anything *to* see...or is this the quiet before the storm?" The stars
still blinked in faint colours, the night was still silent.

When it struck, it struck powerfully. A white-hot flash of light, leaving
behind a thousand shocked emotions in his head. It made him stumble
backwards, til his back slammed into the side of the house. Every sense was
invaded with phantom impressions.

In the midst of the mayhem, Joey could clearly see a familar house, a house
he had just been to. Once peaceful and safe, it was now engulfed in dancing
fire, eager mouths of flames devouring it. He heard screams, felt clammy,
dark dust settle on his skin, carried by raging winds. Then it all went
black.

He didn't lose consciouness; it was more like the external world turned
itself off, faded away. The vision was gone, all Joey could feel now was
the sense of warning. A loved presence in his mind made tears form in his
eyes, because he knew that his maker had passed on. All that was left of
him was the warning sent in the last living moment, to try and protect his
children.

All of a sudden the stars had gathered themselves into one massive strobe
of lights, it surrounded him, captured him. Everything went unbearably
bright and pure, the light burning through him, humming with a strange
sound in his ears. It passed, eventually, leaving still small traces
behind, running like lost spirits over his skin.

Nearly in a trance-like state, Joey walked calmly down the stairs and
headed in the direction of the house they had just returned from. He was in
no hurry, knowing that his visions this time had already happened, already
there would still be too late. The flames already touched the sky, flames
hugging every corner of the house tightly, refusing to give up its price.

They welcomed him, forming portals before closing, small, orange demons of
fire bending gracefully to let him pass. Without hesitation Joey stepped in
through the fire, feeling the flames yield in front of him. Outside the
roses were on fire.

The house was all but empty, but he found what he was looking for, in the
last room. Silently Joey touched the outline of a burned man, forever
carved into the wall being devoured by flames. "I'm sorry," he whispered,
tears making their steady flow down his cheeks. "But you were wrong. I was
wrong. You can't loosen bonds that are already broken."

Watching the flames claim the burned shadow, Joey closed his eyes, letting
the last of the images come to a rest. As the human outline of the wall
crumbled into nothingness, he turned and walked back out.

As he expected, they were waiting for him.

Two groups, both with a leader, already eager and nervous. For a moment the
stillness was total.

Then the tall, elder vampire stepped forward, together with a young one,
with black, spiky hair and leather clothes. Each of them awaiting his
reaction. Behind him the house succumbed to the dancing demons, the rose
trees weeping in silent sorrow.

In the end the elder spoke. "You can't stop this," he told Joey. "He was
wrong to let you think so."

"I know," Joey simply stated. "And you're all so eager to have me take my
place as the chosen one..." A smile flickered over his face as one of the
sparks from the fire. "Question is, are you prepared for what will happen
if I do?"

The young vampire moved restlessly around. "Come on, man," he said in a
surprisingly deep voice. "We already know the prophecy, we know what's
going to happen. Might as well have some fun while it lasts." A faceless
mass of persons moved with him.

"You think that you're going to die?" Joey asked, watching him. "That I am
some sort of revenging angel from heaven, coming to wipe the abominations
of our undead souls out of existence? Think again."

Another smile crossed his face. "Have I confused you all now? I guess
so. What a fool I have been...such a coward... But that has changed now. I
am the bringer of the revolution, and I will see that it ends too."

The elder vampire was coming closer, Joey met his eyes. The smile was back,
as the everfalling sparks dancing in the borderlines of the burning
house. Reaching out a hand, a piece of broken wood surged into his hand,
his fingers curling around the smoldering wood.

"I am the chosen one," he spoke. "If my words are to become law, then let's
try out a few things here... Which means, no more mindgames from you..." He
took a step towards the taller man. "Did you really think that this would
turn me in under your control? Killing the man who saved my life, who gave
me eternal life? I think the fool here is you. And you are to pay for what
you did." The stake was driven through the elder's heart, while the rest of
them watched in shocked silence.

It didn't take long, the wind carried the dust away fairly quickly.

"A life for a life," Joey mumbled, lifting his gaze from the ground to meet
a set of black, seering eyes. He smiled. "He killed my father, I killed
yours. And your place isn't with them, child." He locked eyes with the same
darkhaired woman JC had used as a means to free him from the elder last
night. It seemed like an eternity away.

The elders were moving towards him, like a large machine, every part moving
in smooth, fluid movements.

"Anyone else with a death wish?" Joey asked, holding up the stake. "This
time around I call the shots. Which means, basically, that the lot of you
need to get over yourselves. So you were turned a freaking long time
ago. So what? Aint no big deal. No need for us to treat you like some sorts
of dark half-gods. You aint that special."

At the sound of snickering and scoffing among the younger ones, Joey turned
to them. "I'm getting to you, don't worry. Have any of you actually thought
about what this would bring? If you actually were to fight each other?
Anyone? Then you would bring the end on yourselves, my friends. The council
and their pack of slayers are *waiting* for an opportunity like this. They
could move in and dust every single one of your sorry asses, you know why?
Because you would be too busy fighting your own kind to even notice." He
threw the stake to the ground, next to the small spots of dust the wind had
overseen.

"He died because he took the life of someone very special to me, and yes, I
will kill again if someone hurts the ones I love. Don't forget that."

"So what are we to do now?" the darkeyed vampire asked, breaking the
silence at last. "Continue as we were? Pretending that this never
happened?"

"Oh no, not at all." Joey smiled slightly. "Now it's time for me to do what
the council fears."

*****

The moon was bloodred through the smoke. Joey was watching it from a safe
distance, while mortal men tried to save the old house. The nightly winds
brought with them the feeling of loss and regret. "Why did they have to
take you, Vincenzo?" Joey sadly thought. "I am so sorry, this is my
fault. I shouldn't have tried to run away... At least you're in a better
place now...remember all the times you would talk to me about God? How he
still cared, even if we had let ourselves be turned to the darkness... I
guess you were right...I hope you were right. Maybe we'll meet again
someday."

As the fire was extinguished, Joey turned and started the way home.

As he walked in the door, he found his lover waiting for him. Staring into
blue eyes, Joey knew that JC already knew too. When his feet gave out under
him, and the emotions fighting to surface broke through the barriers, JC
was already at his side. For the longest time they just held each other,
shared sorrows, tears and griefs.

"Vincenzo was wrong," Joey stated, his voice still weak, but his eyes were
glowing in a new-set determination. "I can't run away from this, I can't
ignore it any longer. It won't let me." The quiet darkness outside seemed
to quiver at his words.

"I am the prophecy."

*****

"I wasn't sure that you would be here," Lance said, offering a shy
smile. He had been early, and had spent his time nervously biting his
fingernails, which of course grew back to perfect, curved lenghts for each
bite he took. Chris was dressed in the same leather coat as last night,
with a longsleeved T-shirt underneath and jeans. The sight made Lance
smile.

"I was in the neighbourhood anyway, so..." Brown eyes were illuminated by a
bright smile. "Of course I am here. Although 'here' isn't exactly the
nicest place for a date."

"We can go somewhere else," Lance told him. "But to tell you the truth,
with the risk of sounding really, really cheesy... It doesn't matter to me
where we are, as long as I get to be with you."

"That is kinda cheesy," Chris replied. "But it's also very sweet. And
you're right. It doesn't matter where we are. Not at all."

The last comment had a disturbingly long lasting effect in Lance's
mind. "No matter *where* we are," he thought. "But what about *who* we are?
I wish there was some way I could tell, and not lose this. Sooner or later
I'll have to tell him... But not right now."

They were seated on the same low bench where they shared the very first
kiss, Lance couldn't believe it had only been last night.

"You know," Lance started, staring into dark eyes. "I know it's early and
all that, but I... I think I have fallen in love with you." His heart was
doing uncontrolled beats he didn't really need. He could see the battle of
emotions clearly on Chris' face. Then the darkhaired slayer smiled
carefully, yet happily.

"That's ok. I think I have fallen in love too..."

"Good!" Lance smiled, entwining his fingers with Chris'. Slowly he leaned
forward and sealed their confessions with a sweet kiss. Their hands were
still in each other's, fingers making an unbreakable lock.

"Aren't you two just the cutest thing ever," a voice drawled behind them,
making them both jump.

"Justin?" Lance turned, staring at the other. "What the hell are you doing
here?" Sliding discreetly in in front of Chris, he had a very bad feeling
about the smug smile the blueeyed vampire was wearing.

Chris pushed him uncermoniously out of the way, a sharp stake suddenly in
his hand. "You *know* this guy, Lance?"

"You know him?" Lance asked, mentally slapping himself. Of course Chris
knew about Justin. He knew all about JC, and with the reputation Justin
had... Of course Chris knew.

"Of course I know him!" Chris said. "Uhm... Let's just say that I know he's
not going to do any of us any good. Stay back, I'll take care of him." He
stopped when Lance gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

Looking from Lance's serious face, to Justin's smiling one, Chris let his
gaze go back to Lance. "What's going on?"

"Haven't you told him yet?" Justin smirked, stalking like a slender, evil
cat in front of them. "Oh you're bad, Lance. Keeping something like this
from your little boyfriend."

"You better explain this right now," Chris murmured to Lance, shrugging his
hand off his shoulder. "You want to do it before or after I dust this
motherfucker?"

"He won't let you touch me," Justin smiled, looking completely
relaxed. "Don't you get it, slayer? He's my kind."

He didn't wait for Chris to answer before he went on. "Lance is a
vampire. Just like me. Just like JC..." He smiled brightly at Lance. "I
guess you haven't told him about who your new family is either, Lance? That
you live under the same roof as the fallen one, and the one Chris is here
to kill? What a shame..."

Green eyes were nearly black with rage. "You are so, so dead, Justin,"
Lance growled.

"Promises, promises," Justin teased.

Starting towards Justin, Lance was stopped by a punch hitting him straight
in the face, knocking him flat on his back. Looking up he locked eyes with
a slayer set to kill.

"Chris, I can explain!" he quickly said, scrambling back to his feet. For
an answer Chris' bootclad foot rammed into his stomach. He stumbled back,
grimacing at the pain coursing through him.

"Why the hell would I want you to explain?" Chris' voice was colder than
Lance had ever imagined it could be, ice covering the hurt. "What I really
want is to kill you and forget that I ever saw you."

Seeing the next hit coming, Lance caught Chris' hand in his and held on to
it. "You don't mean that."

"Try me," Chris replied. In his free hand he was still holding onto the
stake, his knuckles white from the grip.

There was a second of silence, then Lance took a step back and released
Chris' hand.

"Ok," he said quietly, holding both hands up. "If that's what you
want... You got it."

Chris nearly lost his balance when Lance took his hand away, and stopped
dead in his tracks. The hand holding the stake was visibly shaking. But it
wasn't moving. Lance was just looking at him, standing still right in front
of him.

Chris' fingers tightened even a little around the stake. Then with a forced
breath he threw it away. Packing all his strength in the hit he struck
Lance with his fist, sending the taller man flying backwards.

"Don't you ever come near me again," he snarled, his voice low. "Next time,
I will kill you." Then he was gone.

Getting to his feet, Lance immediately scanned the alley for Justin. He was
all alone. Remaining still, he focused, opening his senses, letting the
fiery rage tune him in to the right way.

*****

Silently Justin closed the door behind him. The house was quiet, if he was
lucky, Joey and JC wasn't home yet. Chuckling a little to himself, he
thought about the slayer. "He's quite the fighter," he admitted. "If Lance
can't convince him to forgive him, I might even find some use for him
myself..."

"Justin?" a voice said. "What are you doing? I told you to stay inside."

"Oh," Justin said, "I was just... Sorry."

"Nevermind," JC interrupted. "Go get Lance. Something's happened."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Justin tried.

"Why?" JC took a closer look at him. "Where is Lance. Don't tell me that
he's not here? Damn it, Justin! The one time it was *beyond* important that
you listened to us and you had to go and..."

"Calm down, Jace!" Justin said, "what's going on? You know I never listen
to you, what are you throwing a fit about now?"

"Just go find Lance," JC said, running both hands through his hair. "We
need to talk to you."

"Again?" Justin asked, "and me finding Lance isn't the greatest idea right
now..."

"Why is that?" JC sent him a narrow-eyed look. "Justin, I swear if you..."

The door opened and closed, loudly. Determined steps sounded down the
hallway, then Lance appeared in the doorway.

"Lance, I told you to stay in the house," JC started.

Lance ignored him. His eyes were fixed at Justin. "I am going to fucking
*kill* you," he snarled. Pushing JC out of the way, he lunged for Justin.

---
"Blessed Are The Cheese Makers"
(Monthy Python's Life Of Brian.)

-Sanity Is Just A State Of Mind-
http://www.envy.nu/bluekat