SOULBOUND ‡ clash
By Wes
Leigh
This
is a work of fiction (or is it?) intended solely for the entertainment of my
readers; any resemblance to any real people or places is purely coincidental. Readers
who would like to chat are encouraged to contact me at weston.leigh@protonmail.com.
This
story is the property of the author and is protected by copyright laws. The
author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's
consent.
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I won't give my freedom away to be safe from death. Death
is inevitable... And shall it come for me because I will not change who I am,
so be it."
-- From When Dead Men Bleed by K. Weikel
"Let me see if I understand this," a man said from the back
of the room. "There is a powerful vampire out there—some guy named Ignatius
something-or-another—who has decided to attack Agony. And he's gathering an
army of vampires and werewolves to do it?"
"That's right," Daniel replied. "He's caused trouble before.
He killed a Lakota family and Connor's parents about twelve years ago."
"Wait? What? I thought the Finnigans
died last year," the man objected.
"Gabi and Andreas Finnigan were my adopted parents," Connor
explained. "I lived with my birth parents until I was five. Rogue vampires led
by Ignatius attacked our home and killed my parents. I escaped and lived on my
own until the Finnigans took me in."
A woman raised her hand tentatively, waiting until Daniel
acknowledged her. "Isn't there something like vampire police who can come in
and arrest him."
Xavier shook his head. "The Covenants all operate
independently, with minimal direction and oversight from the ruling council. Vampires
will sometimes join together when necessary, but so
far I haven't been able to convince them that Ignatius is a serious threat.
Making matters worse, he's somehow convinced three Covenants to follow his
lead, so that lends legitimacy to his war against Agony."
"Then what are we going to do about these attacks?" the
first man asked. Others in the crowd murmured their agreement with his
question.
Daniel held out his hand for quiet, then explained, "We've
been preparing. The werewolves and vampires of Agony are working together,
training to repel the attacks. Our strategies worked last night. We drove them
off. They suffered casualties. We didn't."
"What about the government?" another woman asked. "That's
what it's for, right? To protect us."
Daniel frowned, "I doubt they would be much help, and I'm
not sure how we could explain what we're dealing with here."
"We have to try," the woman insisted. "Call the governor. Or
our senator. We need protection."
Trudy stood up and addressed the others. "There's just one
problem with that." She glanced back at Daniel, who nodded at her to continue.
"When Andreas and Gabi Finnigan died last year, it was our government who
killed them."
͠ ͠
͠
Trudy explained all she'd learned about the attacks on Agony
by a secretive branch within the U.S. government. Daniel and Xavier added
comments from time to time, describing how Minerva Smyth had cooperated with
the government, thinking it would help her Covenant, only to have them turn on
her and kill her too. Eventually, Daniel had outwitted the government officials
and forced the President to shut down the operation. Now that it was an
election year, the government was acting peculiar again, and Daniel candidly
admitted he saw no hope of help from them.
"Can we ... I don't know ... threaten to expose them if they
don't help?" one man asked.
"Do you remember Rob Ransom, the podcast guy?" Daniel asked.
There were several nods around the room.
"So you probably recall the
podcasts where he talked about vampires and werewolves living in rural areas
all across our country. We used his program to force the government to show its
hand, and they shut him down completely. You haven't heard any of his podcasts
since then, right?" More nods. "And you won't anymore. He was told to find
another use for his spare time. Last I heard from him, he's a radio broadcaster
for a classic rock radio station in Cleveland."
"Well, we can't just sit here and do nothing," the man
muttered, staring at his hands.
"We aren't sitting around," Connor replied. "I'm calling m'Pack into town. We're moving into the Smyth mansion and
any empty houses we can find. And we're patrolling the streets at night from
now on."
Xavier added, "My vampires will be on the patrols too,
working with Connor's werewolves. We'll protect Agony."
"Can we join you?" a man asked. "I'd feel better knowing I
was doing something to protect my own family."
Daniel nodded. "That's an excellent idea."
͠ ͠
͠
"No. I won't do that," Coach Sean replied, gripping the
school phone in his fist.
The other person was speaking angrily and quickly.
Coach Sean interrupted, "I understand what you're saying,
but cancelling the basketball games is not an option. These boys have been
working hard all year. For some of them, it's their best shot at college. I
won't let you ruin their lives with some phony grade scandal."
The voice spoke again, demanding, questioning.
"I'll take care of it," Coach Sean replied. "We'll bring
extra security for the home games and have armed escorts for the away games. We'll
get the kids there safely and make sure they all get back home again."
The voice snapped out a few more demands, then the call
ended abruptly.
Coach Sean looked up at Daniel and Connor. "That's the third
call I've had from an idiot who thinks we should cancel the rest of the basketball
season." Shaking his head in frustration, he added, "They've all made a good
point about how it's hard to protect our boys during road games. I don't want to
cancel any games, but It WILL split up the Agony defenders, sending some with
the team and leaving some behind to guard the town."
"We'll make it work, Coach," Connor promised.
"I hope so, boys. I'd hate to shut down the program. A lot
of kids would be hurt by it."
Daniel replied, "We won't do that, Coach. We're not giving
in to fear. That's what Ignatius wants. He wants us to huddle in a corner and
wait for him to attack. It's not gonna happen."
Coach Sean blew out his breath, nodded, then pulled out his
playbook. "Okay. So here are the offensive schemes I'm planning for the game on
Friday ..."
͠ ͠
͠
School went on much the same as before, with a few
adjustments. Parents began driving their children to school, and there were
other parents patrolling the hallways between classes.
Ethan McCoy had hoped that school would be cancelled, given
the town emergency, but his parents quickly disabused him of that notion.
"You ARE going to school," Shauna McCoy said, pinching his
earlobe lightly.
"OWWwww, Mum, okay, okay."
"Your pop and I will be there too, keeping an eye on things.
Be glad you're getting an education, and I don't want to hear another word
about cancelling classes."
Donny chuckled at the scolding his brother was receiving. Sure,
it sucked being stuck in a classroom all day, listening to boring teachers, reading
dry stories in textbooks, taking tests, and all the rest. But Donny was also
worried that the "boring" days of school might soon end, and that life in Agony
would never be "normal" again.
͠ ͠
͠
There were no more attacks on Agony, but there were strange
bands of werewolves who roamed the prairies outside of town every night,
howling at the moon, setting nerves on edge.
Residents of the town began snapping at each other over
ridiculous matters, but when you couldn't sleep at night, you tended to have a
short fuse and less patience with those around you.
The streets were empty most of the time. People locked
themselves inside their homes, coming out only to buy food and supplies. Agony
began to look like a warzone, without the bomb craters and demolished
buildings.
As planned, school continued on, although many
extracurricular activities were cancelled. Clubs stopped meeting. The Pep Band
continued practicing, but they didn't plan any performances for away games. Trudy
changed her mind about the next play, choosing A Chorus Line instead,
hoping the lighthearted musical would lift spirits around town. The basketball
team continued practicing after school, while bands of vampires and werewolves
patrolled the school grounds around the gymnasium, on the alert for hostile
forces.
The Agony Cougars won on the road against the Allentown
Mustangs. It was the closest game of the season, with the Cougars pulling out a
last-minute win, 53-49. Daniel's passes were picked off time after time,
something that had never happened before, but he was distracted most of the game,
scanning the bleachers, searching for strangers who didn't belong. After the
game, the Cougar team hurried through their showers and quickly reloaded their
bus to head home.
Connor sat beside Daniel, his arm protectively around
Daniel's shoulders, pulling him close. He didn't care what the rest of the team
thought. He hugged Daniel and kissed him on the top of the head.
"How much longer is this going to last?" Daniel asked, his
voice soft and exhausted.
"I don't know, Big D," Connor replied. "But I gotcha right
now."
Daniel patted Connor's big arm and snuggled back against
Connor's warm chest. He closed his eyes and allowed the rocking of the bus to
lull him into sleep, hoping it would be devoid of haunting visions.
͠ ͠
͠
The cabin became their oasis.
For a few hours every night, they set aside the worries and
struggles of the day, refusing to even speak about it.
With naked bodies intertwined, their lips began the
love-making by gently brushing over cheeks, necks, earlobes, growing more
passionate with each caressing kiss.
On this night, Daniel and Diego were chest to chest,
playfully touching their tongues and giggling.
Connor snuggled up behind Diego, sliding his thick boner
between Diego's legs and up under his balls. Diego reached behind him, grabbing
Connor's butt and pulling him close. Connor nuzzled the back of Diego's neck,
nipping the skin and making Diego shiver in delight.
Xavier lay behind Daniel, nibbling on Daniel's earlobe. Daniel
stopped kissing Diego and turned his head slightly to kiss Xavier. You
taste like cinnamon, Daniel thought.
It's my gum, Xavier replied. Do you like
it?
Daniel nodded and kissed Xavier again. I do. It's
delicious.
I want a taste, Diego said, lifting himself up
to lean over Daniel and puckering his lips.
Xavier kissed Diego, sliding his tongue out for Diego to
suck.
Daniel pretended to be jealous, shoving on Diego gently. You
have Connor. Quit stealing my kisses.
Diego snickered and dropped back on to the bed, rolling over
to thread his arms around Connor's body. That's okay. Connor gives the
best kisses.
Yes, I do, Connor agreed, and he put his
thoughts into action, holding Diego's face in one hand as they pressed their
mouths together.
Xavier winked at Daniel. They don't love us anymore,
Daniel. Maybe we should find another cabin and make wild love to each other,
leaving these two to suck face without us.
Diego giggled and snuggled closer to Connor, enjoying the
feeling of being held against Connor's warm chest and belly. He reached down
and stroked Connor's thick shaft as he nibbled on Connor's lip. Go ahead
and leave, Diego replied, but you'll be back. You both love
Connor's huge cock too much to go without it.
Chuckling, Daniel turned over and spooned Diego from behind.
Reaching across Diego's hip, Daniel placed his hand around Diego's and together
they slowly stroked Connor's thick shaft. Yeah, Big C has a big c, that's
for sure.
They all four laughed, but their silliness soon gave way to
panting and moans as their love-making began in earnest.
Daniel spun around and placed his head at the foot of the
bed, pulling on Diego's hip until he rolled over to face Daniel. Daniel pulled
Diego's smaller cock down and slid it into his mouth, toying with the foreskin
and sliding his tongue all around the cap. Diego was leaking already, and the
taste was sweet on Daniel's tongue.
Diego moved his mouth down to suck Daniel's balls, moaning
at the musky smell. He sucked them both into his mouth, rolling them around
with his tongue, then pulling off so that they popped out, making Daniel jump. Diego
moved back in, sucking first one, then the other. Then he licked his way up
Daniel's inner thigh and began sucking on the tip of Daniel's cock.
Connor rubbed lube on his thick cock while toying with
Diego's pucker. Diego moaned and spread his legs wide, encouraging Connor to
continue. Connor slid a finger inside Diego, moving slowly in and out until
Diego relaxed and Connor was able to add a second finger. He gently pressed
deeper, causing Diego to sigh and say, Quit fucking around, Connor. Stick
it in me.
Chuckling, Connor rubbed his cock tip on Diego's pucker and pushed
gently until Diego's hole opened up slightly. Connor thrust forward again,
sliding the cap inside and past the gripping sphincter. When Diego groaned in
pleasure, Connor continued slowly pushing forward until his cock was fully
inside his young lover, nestled comfortably with his belly pressed against
Diego's soft butt cheeks.
Xavier reached across to Connor and took the bottle of lube.
After coating his own cock, he lubed up Daniel's hole and wriggled his fingers
inside.
I'm ready, too, Xavier, Daniel said, burying
Diego's cock in his throat.
Xavier positioned himself and quickly slid inside Daniel,
beginning long, deep thrusts that struck Daniel's prostate over and over.
Daniel arched his back. The sensation of Xavier spreading
him open, Diego slurping his cock, and the taste of Diego's precum on Daniel's
tongue was more than Daniel could take. His body quivered. His balls tightened.
His cock throbbed, spewing into Diego's mouth.
That was quick, Connor said with a snicker.
The first one always is, Daniel replied,
continuing to suck on Diego.
Diego licked the side of Daniel's cock, slurping up the
salty juices that had escaped his mouth. Keep going, Xavier,
Diego said. I want seconds!
͠ ͠
͠
"So you won't help us?" Xavier
asked, his face flushed with anger.
The members of the vampiric ruling council stared back at
Xavier, unblinking.
Xavier slapped the table before him. "He's an ancient
vampire. He's created an army of werewolves and vampires, and he has plans to
destroy Agony."
The leader of the council leaned forward and asked, "Do you
deny that your covenant allies itself with the Silvermane
Pack? How is that any less a violation of our regulations?"
"It's for our own defense!" Xavier shouted. "We have no
choice. We must work together to protect our homes and our families."
Shaking his head slightly, the council president replied,
"From where we sit, this is a territorial spat. Whoever comes out on top can
apply to the council for recognition and authority to rule over North Dakota as
they see fit."
Xavier snorted. "You actually believe he'll stop with North
Dakota? You know how ambitious he is. Agony is only the beginning. If you don't
act now, he'll continue growing more powerful until none of you will be safe. He
won't care that you are members of the ruling council. HE wants to rule, and he
won't stop until every enemy is destroyed."
"We've reached our decision," the vampire said, closing the
folder in front of him.
Xavier turned and stomped out of the room, fuming at the
short-sightedness of the vampiric council. "Idiots," he muttered as he walked
up to Daniel, who was waiting for him in the outer hall.
"What did they say?" Daniel asked.
"They won't lift a finger to stop him. They're bloody
fools."
Daniel took Xavier into his arms and hugged him. "You did
your best. Now it's up to us."
͠ ͠
͠
Diego hovered in the air above the werewolves as they loped
along, heading across the prairie. He'd been following them all night, using
his spells to hold his position high up in the sky above them.
By dawn, they had reached a small out-of-the-way inn. Transforming
back into their human forms, they walked up the front steps, laughing and
joking around. They opened the door and walked inside, bragging about scaring
the rabbits of Agony once more.
Diego gestured with his fingers, causing the winds to die
down and lower him gently to the ground. He crept around to the back of the inn
and found an open window. Kneeling underneath the window, he used his enhanced vaewolf hearing to pick up the conversation inside the inn.
"They spend most of their time holed up in their houses," a
snarling voice growled. "I doubt they'll poke their heads out when we begin the
assault."
"As I had hoped," another voice replied, deeper and slippery
and foul. "I shall schedule the final attack when Michel returns with the information
I require."
"He is here," the first voice snarled. "He arrived just as
we returned from our patrol."
"Then have him come in."
Diego leaned closer and heard footsteps.
"Ah, Michel, I trust you were successful in your mission? What
did you learn?"
A third voice replied, "I was able to find government
records that documented the reputed abilities of vaewolves."
"Yes? And?"
"They are able to teleport through space like vampires, but
also through time itself. That is most likely how they were able to respond to
our first attack. One of them probably jumped back in time to prepare their
response."
"Interesting. Hmmmm ... witch, the
spells you've been preparing ... will they work against vaewolves?"
A scratchy female voice replied, "Our spells weaken both
vampires and werewolves. They will do the same to these mongrel half-breeds."
"Excellent. Then prepare for the final assault. We attack in
three days at midnight."
Diego focused on a distant cabin, high up the hills above
Agony, and teleported there. He told Connor, Xavier, and Daniel everything he'd
heard.
Connor pulled out his phone. "I'll call Hota. He'll want to
be here."
"I have to tell my family," Diego said. "They need to know."
"They'll insist you stay in Houston," Xavier replied.
"I know. And I'll insist they come back to Agony." Diego
grinned impishly. "We'll see who wins. My dad and his tight lips. Or me and my
puppy dog eyes."
The
end of Chapter Twelve of SOULBOUND CLASH