Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 15:13:10 -0600 From: Jason Gordon Subject: Things that Go Bump 19 Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction, which will include t/t and m/m relationships, and probably some sex too. If it is illegal in your area to read this, or if you are not old enough to read this (you know who you are), stop here. Otherwise, please enjoy. AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story is a companion story to "A Light in the Darkness." The story lines are related and the characters occasionally interact, and the frequency of this will be increasing. The stories begin at roughly the same time, and this chapter pairs with Chapter 5 of A Light in the Darkness--if you want to read the Bonding Ceremony, you'll find it there. My sincerest thanks go out to Darryl AKA the Radio Rancher (darryltheradiorancher@gmail.com) and John AKA Tigger, who kindly edited this chapter. And thanks to everyone for writing such encouraging emails. Things That Go Bump, Chapter 19 "The Rise of the Red Horseman" Sammael sat up in bed; a sheet draped over his nude loins, reading reports from his various research arms. Suddenly he felt it like a blast and sat up stiffly. Even Andrew, across the room quivering in the corner, quieted his soft whimpering. "Mmmm," he began, before clearing his throat, and beginning again hesitantly, wiping the soft brown hair from his teary blue-gray eyes. "My lord?" Sammael shook his head and closed his eyes, but could find nothing, no focus for the tremendous burst of power that had just shaken the cosmos, rippling through world after world like a warm wave. It made him shiver in disgust. Shaking that off, he looked at the young man and made a joke he thought might appeal to his inner nerdiness, "Nothing.... I sense a disturbance in the force...." Andrew had the good sense to be too afraid to laugh, though Sammael hoped he would. He was in the process of trying to make Andrew feel comfortable again. Ceaseless terror, while satisfying, was less fun than the psychological torture of mixing it up. Sighing, he said to Andrew, "Come here," holding out an arm. Despite his fear, Andrew jumped and hurried to him. As afraid as he was of the demon, he was more afraid of what would happen if he didn't respond. Sammael smiled as he felt the conflict build in the young man's heart as Andrew felt Sammael's strong, smooth arms wrap around him and hold him sweetly. After a moment, he allowed his head to rest on Sammael's shapely chest, his hand stroking the light dusting of reddish blond hair on Sammael's belly, and even began to relax. Had he seen the evil grin, he would have known better.... Shortly, as the folks in Richmond were departing from the Temple, Sammael could feel the presence of that power in the world, no longer a single, powerful burst like a painful sudden onset headache, but a low, dull throbbing that can't be isolated.... A chronic pain.... If Sebastian was a foe that would make his straightforward project of bringing the darkness into the light, of terrifying the humans and making their worst nightmares come true, that much more interesting, this represented a definite problem that needed addressing, he thought to himself. But first, there was the matter of Sekhmet. Soon it would be Monday morning in Egypt, and intelligence indicated a great deal of activity at Sebastian's followed by a lull.... Where had the good consul gone? No matter.... Now was the time.... His men had broken the encryption on the video feed from the Temple and he knew about the bombs, which would do little to him, but which could reduce Sekhmet to a pile of ash.... But he had a plan, oh yes, he had a plan.... Sebastian and his convoy arrived at Sam Roth's synagogue in the middle of the night, with Xavier and Aiden following, and the large group congregated inside. "What just happened tonight," Avery asked, impatiently. "That was no normal Bonding ceremony, Sebastian, we all know that...." Sebastian looked at Sam Roth long and hard, and the man shrugged. Then he looked to Aiden and Xavier. "I'm sorry, but I feel like I shouldn't say anything more until I talk to Chase and William alone...." "Damn it, Sebastian, now is not the time!" "Avery," Xavier barked sharply, surprising his old master. Xavier lowered his head submissively, "I'm sorry.... It's just, Sebastian doesn't trust us.... Me.... Perhaps I should go...." Sebastian grabbed Xavier's arm and peered into his eyes. "It's not that I don't trust you, Xavier! It's that you don't trust me.... And what I need to say shouldn't get to Chase indirectly, not even through you.... Xavier," Sebastian stopped midstream, looking into his eyes pleadingly. The young man's shoulders slumped and he nodded. "If you promise me...." Xavier looked into the vampire's brown eyes and nodded again. Sebastian turned his back on his friends and walked into the sanctuary with the group hot on his heels. Sam gasped as Sebastian walked up to the ark and removed a Torah scroll, and began turning. "For those of you who haven't heard through the grapevine, my father was a man named Nahor.... I was born in a city called Ur...." He looked up into Sam's eyes, catching the man off guard. These were familiar names and places. "Nahor had two brothers, Haran and Abram.... Abram was close to my age, and I always called him cousin, though he was my uncle.... In truth, he was like an older brother to me, carefree and strong.... Oh, what a laugh he had, could light up a room.... Just like Chase...." Sebastian sighed and rolled the scroll a little more. "I could always feel there was something special about him.... Not just because he alone was kind to me.... But something changed.... As the time was coming for me to be banished, he suddenly became distant, he had that same faraway look you saw on Chase's face tonight. After I was sent away, they say he went to his father's shop and destroyed all the idols.... There was a part of me that hoped that was because of what they had done to me, what my grandfather had let my father do.... In any case, shortly after that, Abram left his country and his father's land.... And so begins the story of the people of the book: 'And the LORD spoke unto Abram, Go, get ye out of your country, and away from your kinsmen, and your father's house, unto the land I will show you,'" Sebastian read in Hebrew, translating for his friends. "Our paths crossed once more after I had been with Resheph.... His eyes were sad when he saw me, but he greeted me as a brother.... I felt, then, the surge of power I felt when I touch Chase...." "What is he," Avery demanded again. Sebastian looked helpless, until his eyes settled on James, who nodded. Sebastian shook his head and laughed. "The voices.... The voices he hears.... They are the voice of the One...." Sam Roth gasped. He himself suspected something like it, but to hear it confirmed.... To have been in the presence of such a one.... "My friends, Chase is a prophet.... Compared to him, the Oracle was ... a carnival's fortune teller.... Compared to him, what? The only presence I've ever felt that approximates his was that of the Abraham, my beloved kinsman...." Xavier sat down slowly, silent. James was the one to break the silence. "What does this mean?" "Until tonight, I thought we were waging a hopeless struggle against an invincible enemy, but the scale may very well have been returned to balance.... William's freely given gift of devotion, going to the Temple, it seemed to bring Chase's power to fruition at just the time it was required...." Turning to Xavier and Aiden, he softened. "I don't know what part those boys are going to play, but it is essential that they be protected and that those looking after them have all the resources required.... I've already asked Sam to join us again.... I'd like you two to do the same...." Aiden nodded instantly, but looked to Xavier. The younger man shook his head and rested it in his palms. "Of course.... For William," he muttered without looking up. "Avery, you'll be training William along with James from here on out?" Avery nodded and James smiled. "You two don't have to look so happy about it," Sebastian said with a put-on frown. "What, they're nice guys!" "They're handsome boys," Avery said, teasingly, raising his eyebrows at James. "Nobody said training had to be unpleasant," James answered with a bit of swagger. "I didn't think it had been," Avery replied, feigning insult, so the James wrapped an arm around him and put a head on his shoulder. "Don't pout, big daddy, you know we all love you," he said, kissing Avery on the cheek, causing the man to blush as Xavier snorted reflexively. "Well, we should get home," Sebastian announced. Sarah Light called the wizard at the other entrance of the portal to announce their readiness. She walked to the invisible door and placed her hand in the right spot so that the portal appeared. "All ashore who's going ashore!" They all bid farewell to Sam, Xavier and Aiden and stepped through the shimmering door, finding themselves once again in Sebastian's basement. They were all drained, the day's events taking a toll on their energy, and each couple made their way to their respective bedrooms. Sebastian knocked on Richard's door, though James went ahead upstairs. Rather than invite him in, Richard stepped outside. "How was Richmond," he asked. "Unbelievable.... How's Pete?" "Not good.... He's ... hurting and.... I don't know what to say.... He knows he hurt James this morning, but he ... can't see any way around laying blame...." "Maybe with time.... It's all so fresh...." "Here's hoping.... He can't blame you two without blaming me, and ... I don't know, Sebastian, I do feel to blame.... If it weren't for me he wouldn't have come back that night...." Sebastian took Richard in his arms and let the man wipe his tears on his shoulder. "There are four people to blame.... Three are downstairs...." "Three," Richard asked, confused. "Chang is in a plastic baggy on a bookshelf in my office...." "I can't say I'm sorry," Richard sighed. "Problem is, we have Sammael to thank for that, and he's the fourth...." "What are we going to do?" Sebastian shrugged, "After tonight, I give us even odds...." "What happened?" "Can I fill you in tomorrow? I'm actually tired...." "Do you need to feed? I can call someone...." "Thank you, Richard, I'm fine, we're all fine.... I'm going to take James out to hunt tomorrow night, he needs to train.... Get back to Pete, and call me if there's anything YOU need...." When Richard retreated into his room, Sebastian made his way upstairs heavily and, closing the door behind himself, began to strip silently. "Every time I see this, I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," James said softly from the bed, where he lay naked between the sheets. Sebastian crawled in next to him and put his head on the big boy's chest, sighing. "It's amazing how tired I've felt the last few weeks.... I haven't felt this way in centuries...." "It's the stress," James said, running his hand down Sebastian's silky smooth back, squeezing his ass. Sebastian sighed, kissing him softly, putting a hand on James's chest and stroking it gently. "In the morning?" James nodded, squeezing him tightly and drawing Sebastian's body into his, cuddling close and feeling Sebastian slowly begin to relax in his embrace. Neither of them was ready to wake up when Sarah Light burst into their room the next morning. "Sebastian! James! Wake up!" When they looked up at her with bleary eyes, she apologized, "I'm sorry for disturbing you, but there is a CODE BLACK alert coming in from Egypt...." Sebastian sat up straight and knew immediately -- Sekhmet's temple complex. He only took the time to throw on a robe before running to his office to the basement, logging on and finding the consuls beginning to assemble. Sebastian dispensed with decorum and demanded, "What the hell is going on, Musa?" The man sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Sebastian.... We just don't know.... Our cameras suddenly went dead and then seismographs picked up the explosions of the charges we set.... We don't know any more than that.... No one in the complex has answered our communications, but we have a forward team on the surface that is entering the...." Musa broke off as his phone rang and he picked up the phone. A few moments later, he continued, "The scientists, archaeologists, and guards in the temple are all dead.... Bloodbath, none of it on camera...." "The sarcophagus? Was it opened, did we get her," Sebastian asked, wearily. "The sarcophagus is gone; it seems to have been ... teleported out just before the charges blew...." Sebastian drove his hand into his desk and let loose with a string of obscenities fit for a sailor. "What is the significance of this development," the local governor of Germany, Americ's most senior underling, asked, perplexed. "I'll make an announcement this evening.... To the entire leadership of the shadow council.... This meeting is over," Sebastian said, shortly. Shutting down the conference, he summoned Christen, Americ, Musa and Pedro to a private chat. He filled them in partially on the developments of the previous evening, omitting any reference to Chase and William by name and never using the word prophet in the conversation. Nevertheless, the new elements of the prophecy were disturbing to his advisers, despite his assurances that things seemed to be looking up. They were concluding their long conference when Ivan Breslov requested to join. "Excuse me," the man said as he appeared on the screen. "Excuse me for interrupting, but I have news about the dragons that attacked Avery at the Oracle's temple...." "Please, Ivan.... Thank you for coming to us...." "Sebastian, it's terrible, terrible.... I ... had to liquidate them...." "What? Why?" "It's an abomination.... They'd been experimented on, Sebastian.... They ... destroyed their brains' control centers and implanted some sort of mechanism ... for mind control, I suspect.... And there is evidence of genetic engineering.... These dragons were made for this kind of task, mindless killing machines...." "My God," Sebastian exclaimed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Ivan...." The man nodded subtly and shook his head, continuing, "The dragon clan that their genetic material comes from is in central China...." "Chang," Sebastian muttered, shaking his head. If the fucker wasn't dead.... "Do you think they were involved, or do you think they were drawn in unwittingly somehow?" "I haven't been able to discover that yet," Ivan noted with disgust in his voice. "If I discover they were anything other than unwitting participants...." "The Council will stand behind your decision, Ivan," Sebastian said, showing the man a great deal of confidence. "I trust you'll let us know if you require our assistance?" "Thank you, Sebastian.... I'll report back soon...." Ivan nodded as his pane went black. "Sebastian," Americ sighed. "What's going on here? Genetically altered dragons, revivified ancient vampires, it doesn't make any sense...." Sebastian leaned back and looked to the ceiling. "Of all the things I have told you so far, this is the most sensitive, perhaps the most devastating to morale.... For this reason it must not get out.... I know who killed Chang; I know whom we are up against.... The being orchestrating the doom of our world is none other than the archangel Sammael...." The assembled consuls stared blankly, except Musa, who gasped reflexively. "NO," The handsome Arab exclaimed, his face bearing an almost pained expression. "It cannot be...." "He walks among us, Musa.... This being, known to the humans as Satan, Lucifer, Iblis...." These were names that meant something to his faithless colleagues, who shook their heads and tried to dismiss the news. "Think about the power required to do what is now being done...." They paused, and realized how much of what THEY thought to be mere myth had shown itself to be true in the latter days. "What can we do, then," Americ said with a sigh. "All is not lost," Sebastian said with a weary smile. "We have unexpected resources at our disposal.... James.... And others.... When I faced Resheph last, I only had a band of vampires.... Now we're organized, we have weapons that can burn a body to a pile of ash; we have alliances with wizards and dragons.... Resheph, Sekhmet, Aethon ... they can all be dealt with...." "But then there's Sammael," Christen Wheeler added with a note of abject fear in her voice, her green eyes shining, for once not appearing fierce beneath her flowing red hair. "Friends, I am confident.... In a couple of months, I've met two of the most powerful angels known to our kind.... Powerful forces are at work behind the scenes...." "Angels DO nothing," Pedro demanded. Sighing, Sebastian answered, "This is true, generally, but it is not always so.... Why shall we presume that the stories of demon gods are true and not find some truth behind the other myths? When they are given leave to act, then the tide will turn.... Until then, we have no choice but to fight...." Grumbling, his friends logged off until only Musa remained. "Confident words, little Sebastian," he began with a smile. "Do you think He might be real," Sebastian asked, knowing the answer he'd receive. "I want to believe that there's someone up there, someone who'll make this all right...." "Sebastian, after all you've seen, how can you doubt it...? Your kinsman...." "I saw the light in his eye, to be sure, the confidence of spirit.... And the power.... I know he was.... I know someone was talking to him, guiding him, and empowering him.... I can remember that power, clearly now," he added, earning a peculiar look from Musa, who smiled to let him know he should go on, "but was it God? The angels think so, but do they really know? Perhaps just the oldest and most powerful of them.... I don't know, how would we ever know...." "You have to believe, in the end.... You're right, you'll never know.... Not even if he came down and tried to smack some sense into you.... You could still ask the same question -- are you HIM?" "I want to believe.... But in the end, what does it matter? He doesn't care whether we believe or not, if He's up there.... He doesn't need us to believe...." "No, my friend, He doesn't.... But we do.... Be well, Sebastian...." "Goodbye, Musa," Sebastian said, lost in thought, as the man logged off. Shortly, he wandered off upstairs, but, as it was lunchtime, Avery and James were off training, Sarah informed him; Chris and Steve were taking a break, as well, he could hear from downstairs.... Sebastian shook his head and laughed. He knew too well that not even crises like these could interrupt the most intimate of urges entirely. The sound of voices raised shook him from his reverie, however, and he made his way to Richard's door. He was about to knock, when he heard Pete's voice somewhat urgently demanding. "I feel like a prisoner here!" "Pete, it's going to take a while for you to learn to control.... It's not safe for you to go out in public yet.... We're just trying to look out for you...." "Like you were looking out for me when you all got me involved in all this shit?" Sebastian could feel the rush of emotion in Richard as the man winced from guilt and hurt at the accusation. Sebastian felt it, too, though he also felt a sudden rush of indignation. How dare he take it out on Richard? But the man was more than willing to accept a responsibility he scarcely bore. "You know I'd do anything to.... I've said I'm sorry, but I'll keep saying it.... It was selfish of me to want...." "Richard," Pete said, softening. "I ... it's just hard for me.... I can't help it.... I wish they'd killed me.... Put me out of my misery...." "Don't say that," Richard whispered. There was a knot in Sebastian's stomach as he listened to the scene, and he wondered how many such interactions the men had had. Projecting, he thought, 'Richard? Take the boy out, take him hunting.... Try to teach him.... Just ... maybe he needs a change of scenery....' Sebastian felt a sort of mental nod as Richard replied, 'Thank you....' He made his way back through the kitchen, bumping into Avery and James. "How's the training?" "Great," both replied at once, making Sebastian laugh. "I think Horatio's about ready to begin again with Chris and Steve, if you want to join them," he added, winking at James. After the boy ran off, he asked Avery, "When will you start working with William?" "I'll contact him and Sam tonight.... I believe he starts school tomorrow.... James and I can work privately at lunch, and then I'll work with them together in the afternoon, after school lets out.... They should be well-matched, given James's rapidly developing power and William's ability and prior training.... I'm sure Alex taught him well...." "His mother was a prodigy, too...." "No doubt," Avery said with a laugh. "There is the reason I took them with me to the sacred grove when I forged my bond...." Sebastian had wondered if Avery would talk about that. "Why didn't you.... I mean, I'm your oldest friend, and your teacher...." He tried his best not to sound disappointed but did not succeed. Avery smiled a sad smile, grabbing his shoulder softly. "How many times had I heard you lament your fate as a loveless one? You had no faith, not even in love.... I could say I did not bring you because I needed people who knew love and could understand what I was trying to do, but the truth is I didn't want to rub it in your face...." Sebastian took a step closer and felt the man's arms encircle him. He shook softly as he cried, Avery rubbing his back in soft circles. "So many wasted years...." "Not wasted.... Preparation.... How much more do you appreciate it now? You've got as long left as you want, if we can just get through all this shit," he added with a laugh. Sebastian squeezed him and stepped away, wiping his eyes and laughing softly. "Cheery thought, that.... Thank you, Avery...." The man nodded and walked off with a quick glance over his shoulder. In his long years, Avery was one of a handful of men he'd ever allowed himself to be vulnerable with, and they both knew it. Without Avery and James, he doubted he could see this through to its conclusion -- he couldn't be strong for the whole world.... He just hoped he could be strong enough.... In a darkened bunker in his arctic facility, Sammael stood before the sarcophagus of Sekhmet and placed his hand on the lip, speaking the incantation and causing the door to swing open. "Magnificent," a creepy, lisping voice spoke from behind Sammael's left shoulder. His voice left an almost greasy feeling on those who heard it, a need to be washed. It was the voice of the "god" of famine. Sammael looked at Aethon with the look of a gourmand inspecting beef that's a little off. "She was a legend in her time...." "As were you," Sammael responded. "Yes, but she had style.... A lot like you, actually.... A little mad and bent on destruction...." Seeing the anger in Sammael's face at being called mad, Aethon giggled a high-pitched, hysterical giggle and slapped Sammael on the back. "Oh, unknot your panties, Sammy...." Sammael shook his head and returned his attention to the sleeping ancient before him. She had no will to awaken, no desire to slake.... Every perversity she had desired, she had known to the point of boredom. "Wake up, bitch," Sammael said, smacking her face. "That's one way to do it," Aethon giggled, but Sammael could feel only the mildest of flutters deep within her psyche. Placing two fingers on her temple, he closed his eyes and penetrated deep into her mind, not bothering to ease his way in. A human would have died from the pain alone, but Sekhmet was only mildly annoyed. Until Sammael "found" her, that last inkling of will, the will to exist. "You have ten seconds to rouse yourself or I'll reduce you to ashes and send you off to face hell...." Her eyes snapped open glowing a furious red streaked with black. Her features changed, growing demonic, claws lengthening, and she pounced fiercely on Sammael. "How dare you awaken a sleeping god?" Sammael grabbed her arms and easily restrained her before tossing her painfully against the far wall some twenty feet hence. "Shut up, vampire! You are ... no better than a leech.... You are a scavenger, not worthy of serving me.... But if you do, I shall allow you to live...." The fury on her face was awesome to behold, but as she looked into his smiling eyes, she felt something she hadn't felt since before the dawn of civilization in Egypt. Fear. "Who are you," she demanded, with a catlike hiss. With a giggle, Aethon stepped up beside him, shaking his head. "Dear sister, silly girl.... This is the prince of darkness," he added with a silly grin and insanely smiling eyes. "Right," she said dismissively, scowling. "And you are?" "I ... am Aethon...." Her eyes widened at that. "You I know.... And YOU work for HIM?" "My reputation precedes me," he asked with a surprised grin, clapping his hands together with a pleased look. "And this gloomy gus is Sammy...." "Sammael," the demon boomed, causing the room to vibrate beneath her feet. "The first angel to oppose heaven's rule, ruler of this world.... Now, will you serve me, or will you perish?" She glared at him, but nodded slightly. "Very well! What do we do?" "For now, we wait.... There is one more...." "Resheph," she whispered. "Yes," Sammael smiled his hollow smile. "Very good!" "It only makes sense.... After him," she said, nodding to Aethon, "and me, Resheph was the vilest creature known to mankind.... Excepting you of course...." "Thank you for that," Sammael smirked. "But right you are.... Your kind has become soft.... They live amongst the humans, hiding in plain sight.... We're going to drag them into view and scourge mankind as in days of old...." Sekhmet grinned.... Perhaps she COULD still learn some new pleasures from these two. Meanwhile, Aethon bounced up and down on his heals clapping like some clinically insane cheerleader. "Best of all," Sammael added, "my nemesis is an old acquaintance of yours.... Hesed ben Nahor, calls himself Sebastian now...." "Resheph's girlfriend," Sekhmet snorted derisively. "I felt sure he'd get himself killed ages ago.... And he's your opposition! Perhaps you aren't what you seem...." Sammael glowered. "Do not imagine that I need you.... You merely suit my needs," he whispered. "Sebastian is the single most powerful person in this world.... He is the leader of all the beings of our world beneath the angels.... It was he who long ago slew Resheph...." "Resheph is dead? At Hesed's hand," she asked, sounding surprised. "You didn't know," Sammael asked curiously. "It was after I slept.... I knew one day I no longer felt his presence, I assumed he'd gone to sleep as well.... Little Hesed, eh? He always quaked like a servant girl in my presence.... Yes, perhaps this will be fun...." Sammael laughed darkly, as the wind howled outside, swirling the snow around chaotically. That evening, Richard and Pete slipped out of the house dressed in dark clothes. As they walked the streets, Richard explained how to read people, how to discover and lure targets, and some basic rules for hunting. The young football player would have little trouble with the tactical aspect of it, but he was having trouble with the mental aspect. He couldn't seem to dominate the minds of his targets. So he'd have to resort to charm, at least to begin with. After a long evening of practice, it was time to feed. "What about him," Pete asked, pointing to a boy of perhaps fifteen, with olive skin and brown eyes. He was slender and a little effeminate. "Why him?" Richard asked. "Because he'll follow me, even if I can't make him," Pete said, laughing for the first time since Richard could remember. The man just nodded. Pete sauntered out, every bit the cocky jock and "accidentally" bumped into the boy, knocking him to his behind. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Pete said kneeling down beside the boy, casually running his hand down the boy's arm. "Are you alright?" "Yyyyeah," the boy said shakily, his voice soft and smooth, and a little higher than Pete might have expected. He blushed brightly as Pete caught him staring at his package. "Let me help you up," Pete said, taking him under the arm and lifting him to his feet. Then he ran his hand down the boy's side, again casually, and noticed him shift uncomfortably. "I'm really sorry.... I'm Pete, by the way," he added, smiling cutely and looking away trying to act shy. "I'm Rory," the boy answered, taking the offered hand and holding onto it too long. "Listen, I don't know.... I don't mean to.... Would you like to hang out? I'm kinda bored and I don't have any friends in town," Pete said, shifting on his feet, still looking off as if trying not to make eye contact. But he smiled inside as he felt the boy's heart beating faster in his smooth chest. Trying to play it cool, Rory said, "That ... that would be cool...." "You wanna come back to my place? I live over on Mulberry Lane," he added, knowing that that address would put the boy at ease. "I can give you a ride home after...." "Sure," the boy nodded with a blush, and as they walked off, Pete snaked an arm around the boy's shoulders, to the outward world a gesture from a good buddy, but Rory was as hard as a rock in his pants. Out in the parking lot, Pete unlocked the BMW and Rory's eyes widened. When Rory slid into the passenger seat, Pete started the car and put a hand on the boy's leg, middle inner thigh. Hearing him gasp, Pete smiled over at him and asked, "You don't mind, do you?" Swallowing, Rory shook his head, no, and Pete smiled. "Good!" Then he leaned over to kiss the boy, but passed his mouth, planting his soft lips on the boy's smooth, graceful neck, inhaling his clean, boyish scent. He could feel the boy's heartbeat quicken beneath his lips as the hot blood excited him, calling out his fangs. As he kept licking and kissing the boy's neck, his hand went to Rory's crotch, where he unzipped and released his throbbing member. Rory's hand grabbed at Pete's as Pete wrapped his fingers around the boy's cock, and Rory moaned. "Oh God, is this happening," the boy asked. "Absolutely," Pete whispered throatily, before sinking his fangs into the boy's neck. Rory cried out in pain before he began to moan, humping into Pete's hand, moving his other hand to the back of the head at his neck, running his fingers delicately through Pete's dark brown hair. Pete's excitement grew as he felt the Rory's cock spasm in his hand, his hot cum splattering up his chest and onto Pete. Pete was only vaguely aware of Richard opening the door. "Pete! Pete, you're killing him!" Richard pulled Pete's head from the boy's neck and healed Rory's wounds. The boy was weak and would need time to recover, but he would be okay. Richard planted a false memory in the boy's head, and they dropped him at home. "Pete, you have to be more careful.... We can't just kill people...." "It was a rush...." "You did seem to be enjoying it," Richard said, grumpily, and Pete rolled his eyes. "Jealous?" "Frankly? Yes...." Pete laughed, but Richard was obviously not amused. When they arrived back at the mansion, Pete went to Richard's room, but the man went to the garage and tinkered most of the night away. At last, Pete showed up at the door to the garage. "Are you coming?" "Not tonight," Richard said, not looking Pete's way. But he felt his resistance fade as he felt the strong arms slip around him from behind, Pete's chin resting on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, baby.... I got caught up.... It didn't mean anything...." Richard sighed. "I know it can be ... intoxicating.... But you've got to control...." He was cut off by the feeling of Pete's lips on his cheek. Pete grabbed his hand and led him back to the room. When Richard crawled under the covers, Pete cuddled into him and rested his head on the man's chest, and was finally able to sleep. Richard held him softly and wondered whether Pete would ever really recover. Something was missing, something was different, but with the boy sleeping in his arms, he couldn't bring himself to think too much about it. Meanwhile Pete dreamed fitful dreams, dreams of pain and torment, dreams of suffering relieved only by death, dreams of revenge and dreams of silence.