New
Arrivals
Author-Amanda
Titles
Bad Blood
Part Two
by Amanda
See notes and disclaimer on part one.
Blair and Jim got back to the loft at around midnight. Their search had proven fruitless and Jim was more than annoyed. Hours of driving around mindlessly waiting for one their companions to sense Sagremor’s unhuman presence. Jim was tired and he wanted a hot shower. Corineus and Michael had gone to wherever it was they....what? Hung upside down? Jim couldn’t care less. He also didn’t like his partner’s silence.
“Anything wrong?”
Blair looked up at him as Jim opened the door and steered him in. “Ummm, no. Just tired.”
He felt his arms seized gently and himself swung around to face the Sentinel. A hand held his chin and turned his head to one side and then the other. Jim didn’t know quite what to look for but he had seen the puncture marks on the John Doe’s and Edwards’ necks. No marks. Blair pulled away from him.
“Hey, what you doin’, man? Warn a guy why don’tcha.”
Jim released him. “Sorry. You were just acting dazed, like when Michael worked his way into your brain.”
Blair brushed him off. “M’fine. Just tired. Going to bed. See you in the morning.”
Jim watched his irritated roommate shuffle off to his room before heading for the shower.
**********
Blair wrestled unconsciously with his blankets. He knew he was in the grip of a nightmare but he couldn’t wake himself. He ran through the loft, ran from something...he wasn’t sure. The loft was only partially lit by the wood fire and he was careful where he stepped despite the fear pressing against him. He wanted to ask who was there but was afraid of the answer.
He could see Michael on the balcony watching him. The vampire laughed. Running past the doors he turned to see Corineus sitting on the kitchen bench, a cup of coffee in his hand. He, too, was laughing. A sound behind him. Jim coming down the stairs. Blair rushed to him.
“How did they get in?” No answer. He looked up at his roommate. “Jim?”
His Sentinel pulled him into an embrace. Blair shouted and pushed against the hard chest. Warm lips found his neck and whispered his name. Tiny pinpricks pierced his carotid artery and Blair felt, rather than heard, his Sentinel chuckle as his life bled its way out of him and into Jim. He struggled but made no impression against his Sentinel’s greater strength. Presently he went limp, his body supported in Jim’s embrace. He thought he could hear a ringing in his ears as his blood pressure dropped. A warm feeling spread through him and he grasped at Jim to pull him closer. Jim laughed against his throat again.
Dark, green eyes watched him. Lips pulled back in a grin. The dark figure walked around the sleeping man. A figure listening for the other sleeper in the room above.
Blair’s wrist itched and he wanted to scratch at it. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
---It’s OK, Blair,--- came a warm voice into his mind. The pressure of the Sentinel was gone and he found himself alone in the living room. Jim was gone, so were the other two. Michael’s voice worked its way into him again---It’s not that bad. You’ll feel it soon enough. Just thought I’d give you a little taste---
Blair shot up in bed. His heart felt ready to leap from his chest. He hoped Jim hadn’t picked up on it, but no sound came from the bedroom upstairs so he must have slept through it. He checked his clock. He’d only been asleep two hours. He fell back, kicking his blankets off, suddenly hot. He scratched at his wrist, not noticing the tiny punctures in the dark and smearing a small amount of blood across his bare arm.
The ghost of Michael’s voice resounded in his mind.
---Go back to sleep, Blair, join me again---
Blair closed his eyes, not really wanting to resist the seductive voice that permeated his exhausted mind.
**********
Blair made his unsteady and unannounced way through the door to the coffee pot in Simon’s office, much to the chagrined surprise of the captain. Simon could only just hear the whispered words “...coffee...coffee...coffee...” as the young man blindly reached for the pot, pouring himself a cup.
“Help yourself, Blair.”
Jim grinned at his captain. The door opened to Corineus and Michael. Simon’s smile disappeared. His memories of the previous night were hazy. He remembered being spun some story by these two, something about the killer thinking he was a vampire. Michael walked over to Blair and draped an arm across the smaller man’s shoulders. Blair smiled up at him, sleepily.
“You look tired, Blair.”
“No, I’m fine. A bit of a restless night. Really strange dreams but I can’t remember them.”
Michael squeezed his shoulder. “Don’t you just hate that?”
Corineus didn’t look too happy. He seated himself in a chair in sullen silence. He knew what Michael was doing and he didn’t approve. Michael seemed to sense the other’s disapproval and relinquished his hold, joining his partner in the chair beside his.
“All right,” began Corineus, “you won’t be able to trace Sagremor with the usual methods. He won’t be traceable through hotel records or car hire. He just simply doesn’t go about life like we’re used to. He’ll steal whatever car he happens to see handy. He’ll use it and dump it an hour later. He doesn’t need anywhere comfortable to sleep. The only way we hope to get a glimpse of him is to frequent places where he is likely to meet young men. The seedier haunts of Cascade, if you will.”
“Central Station is a popular haunt. There are quite a few bars nearby. The place is a popular hang-out for male prostitutes,” Simon offered.
Corineus nodded. “That’s a start. Although he prefers his young men to have a bit more class, we should still check this place. He was probably there last night, knowing our luck. We should act like we’re there for a reason and try not to look too....cop-like.”
Blair laughed and was about to offer his opinion when a look from Jim shut him up. His story about Jim sticking out like a sore thumb at Club Doom could wait.
“Act like? As in....” Jim ventured.
Corineus indicated Michael with his head. “Well, I have my boyfriend. Blair can be yours.”
Michael laughed at Jim’s discomfiture. Simon was glad he wasn’t going.
**********
10pm Central Club
Blair nodded in time to the music blaring at them from all sides. Jim had experienced difficulty in dialling the noise down but he eventually managed it. The cigarette smoke caused him even more problems. As they walked through the club, Corineus held Michael close to him with a possessive arm draped around his shoulder.
“They’re not exactly looking like a happy couple!” Michael shouted at his partner. Corineus had noticed it too. The two men just weren’t acting the part. It wouldn’t do. Unless Michael and Blair were seen to be taken they’d be fending off unwanted attention the whole time. Corineus felt certain he and Ellison wouldn’t be faced with such a problem and Ellison may prove problematic himself if he were confronted with Blair being approached. Then again, Corineus thought, Ellison may take a perverse kind of pleasure in watching his younger partner handle any propositions that may float his way.
“Swap!” he shouted into Michael’s ear. Michael moved to Jim and propelled Blair gently toward Corineus. Jim scowled at him but sort of understood the move. He tried not to flinch at Michael’s arm snaking around his waist. The young vampire’s face beamed up at him in undisguised glee at his uneasiness. He could see Blair’s embarrassment from under Corineus’ arm.
The vampire noticed a good table on the second level of the club. It would give them a good view of the dancefloor and the bar. He steered Blair towards the staircase trusting the other two to follow. Once there he smiled at the occupants of the table. They looked at him for a moment and suddenly thought they all needed to be somewhere else, vacating the chairs and moving off.
“Teach me that, will you!” Blair shouted at him above the music.
Corineus waved at a waiter and ordered them a round of drinks. Blair did his best to avoid looking directly at any of the patrons. He dedicated his gaze to the dancers and the people milling about below them. He noticed Jim wasn’t so evasive. The detective watched those around him openly. He only had a verbal description of Sagremor but it should suffice. He didn’t even notice the odd appreciative look thrown his way and Blair knew he had totally forgotten he was in a gay bar. You can be so naive sometimes, too, Blair thought. A hand on Blair’s shoulder drew his attention from Jim.
“Hi,” came the introduction shouted above the din of the music, “would you like to dance?”
Blair took in the young, muscular man that had taken his life in his hands by even coming near such a table. Although he would have been oblivious to the danger posed by the two vampires, Blair would have thought that the two huge men sitting with himself and Michael would have been deterrent enough.
“Umm, thanks for the offer, but I’d like to sit this one out.”
The man nodded his acceptance and left. Blair breathed easy. He buried his face in his glass. Taking his glasses out of his shirt pocket he put them on. Maybe a studious type wouldn’t intrigue anybody. Michael just smiled, they made him look even more adorable.
The next three hours proved uneventful. Blair wanted to go to the men’s room and insisted someone go with him. Corineus offered. Michael going would only increase the possibility of unwanted interest. The tall man steered his smaller charge through the crowd. At one point Blair jumped and squeaked. He whirled around and glared at those nearest him.
Corineus leaned in close to him. “What!?”
Blair laughed, “Someone pinched me.” He shook his head. The other side of the coin was alien and proving to be painful on one’s derriere.
They made it back to the table event free. Jim took in Blair’s silly grin and had to ask.
“Someone goosed me!” Blair laughed.
Jim shook his head, laughing himself.
“I wasn’t quick enough to defend his honour. Sorry, Jim!” Corineus said. Michael joined in their laughter.
Michael stood, the waiting proving too much for him. “I gotta get another drink, anyone want one?”
Blair was also bored beyond all hope. Despite it being a gay club he found himself wanting to get up and dance. Bopping to the music while seated was definitely beginning to annoy him. “I’ll come too!” he shouted. He took in Jim and Corineus’ dour expressions and tried to ease them. “It’ll be OK. I’ll stick with Michael.”
Before either could answer, the young man disappeared into the crowd with the young vampire. Jim shook his head and glanced at Corineus. The older man smiled at him and leaned in closer so Jim could hear him.
“Youth! They spend most of their time deciding on how not to do what you ask! Mind you, I’m amazed they managed to sit still for this long!”
Jim laughed and nodded his agreement. A few minutes dragged into ten and Jim and Corineus scanned the club for their tardy friends. Jim zeroed in on a couple of familiar looking dancers and tapped Corineus on the shoulder. Corineus followed the pointed finger toward the crowd on the dancefloor.
Michael and Blair. Having the time of their lives and dancing for all they were worth. They had decided to ignore the modern music and were going through the motions of some, no doubt, obscure folk dance with each other. The other dancers around them liked what they saw and tried to follow the complicated steps. Luckily it kept in time with the music and didn’t look too out of place. Jim was sure his partner could somehow find a way to have a good time in the depths of hell.
Corineus sighed as he watched the expressions on some of the faces watching the two mad dancers. Ranging from appraisal to sheer lust. He shook his head. Michael and Blair could handle themselves. He could tell by Jim’s face that he hadn’t missed the interest in his anthropologist. Jim saw Corineus looking at him.
“Let’s see how he manages to get himself out of this one. Should be interesting.”
Corineus knew he had Ellison pegged. The man wasn’t as boring as he thought. He, like himself, would like to see how his friend would make it back to the table with at least some of his self respect intact. Blair and Michael continued for another two dances, changing to a different folk dance or native fling each time and thoroughly confusing those trying to emulate them. When they finally decided they’d had enough they made their way off the floor.
Straight into the waiting arms of two of the largest, leather clad men Blair had ever remembered seeing.
Blair wrinkled his nose at the visage in front of him. His nose came to the man’s chest. More hair on that chest than mine, Blair thought absently.
“Like a dance, girls?” came the low rumble that seemed to travel all the way up from the man’s shoes.
Michael smiled at them. The large man blocking his way was only just deciding that maybe he’d leave this pretty one alone but Blair had none of the threatening powers at Michael possessed. He smiled up at the behemoth and crooked his finger, asking the tall man to bend down to listen to him. The large man complied, interested in what this gorgeous little thing had to say.
“It’ll never work, you know. I get attached really, really easily and then I’ll become possessive, you’ll become suffocated. Then I’ll be asking where you’ve been all night, and you’ll want to avoid the issue by not talking which’ll only annoy me. Then I’ll give you the silent treatment and you’ll only get angry with me. Then it’ll all fall apart and we’ll each blame the other when, really, it’s nobody’s fault. People just expect too much from each other. Over time we’ll drift apart and one will be really hurt and the other’ll just want to get away as fast as possible promising to remain friends when we all know it’s only to placate the other one until they’ve had time to heal.” Blair waved at the big man with a dismissive gesture. “Honestly, it’s not worth it!” With that he walked around the big man, a stunned Michael on his heels.
The two men didn’t move. They looked at each other. The one who just suffered the barrage of words could have sworn he only asked the kid to dance.
Presently Blair and Michael made it to the table, breathless and still laughing. They threw themselves into their chairs. Blair sobered when he saw the look on Jim’s face and fell silent, struggling to keep the smile from creeping back.
“‘Over time we’ll drift apart?’” Jim quoted.
Blair laughed again. “Ya gotta admit, it worked. That was, potentially, one ugly scene.”
Michael laughed at his young friend. “Blair? Did you know there’s a species of hawk that catches its prey in mid flight by emitting an ear splitting screech that stuns the prey until it can be attacked?”
Blair shook his head, indicating he hadn’t heard of it.
Michael’s grin threatened to split his face open. “I swear I just saw one in action.” Michael dragged his long blonde hair back from his face. It had been hot dancing. It was his abrupt cessation that sobered the other three. Michael stared down at the dancefloor. His hands gripped the edges of the table and fingernails gouged into the hard wood.
“He’s here!” he growled. Standing quickly, his chair fell back onto the floor. Corineus was at his side in light speed. Grasping his arm he steadied him and followed his partner’s glare to....Sagremor.
Jim and Blair joined them at the railing to see finally what their prey looked like. Sagremor looked to be in his mid thirties, long black hair fell down his back. From where he stood Jim could see the dead, brown eyes that scanned the crowd for a victim. The vampire’s face relaxed into a smile as he spotted the young man he had been following for two blocks. Corineus and Michael left the table and made their way to the staircase. Jim followed with a “Stay here!” shouted at Blair. Blair sat back down again and watched Sagremor from the high vantage point.
As the three of them made their way through the throng of people they failed to see Sagremor look about the room. The young man he had set his eyes on had momentarily disappeared and he sought him again in frustration. The vampire’s dark eyes took in the second floor and noticed....a young man watching him. A smile crept across his face as he drank in the beauty of his victim. Long, curly dark hair and glasses. His hitherto prey forgotten, he decided he would have this one instead and made his way to the staircase closest to him.
Blair nearly swallowed his tongue. He watched in frozen horror as Sagremor moved away from his hunters and toward the other staircase that would see him on the second floor before Jim and the others would know what was happening. He hadn’t failed to see the vampire’s eyes take him in. He had been riveted to the spot until the vampire moved across the floor. He stood and left the table, hurrying for the stairs Jim had used. The man who had first asked him to dance suddenly appeared in front of him.
“Changed your mind?”
Blair grunted at him in frustration and pushed past him. Too many people had appeared and Blair could have sworn they were all there to prevent him from getting to the stairs. His mouth went dry when he contemplated that that was probably the case. Looking behind him he saw that Sagremor had gotten to the second floor and smiled at him hungrily. Blair resumed his slow progress away from the vampire.
Where the hell was Jim! Corineus! his mind screamed. Sagremor was barely feet away and he felt an abnormally strong hand grip his shoulder from behind. A shriek choked in his throat as Sagremor hauled him around to face him. Terrified blue eyes stared into predatory brown. Blair felt himself again pulled backwards by another strong grip, this one nearly tearing his arm from the socket. Corineus’ powerful arms held him close, turning his face from Sagremor and then thrusting him behind him into Jim who caught the stunned young man.
Sagremor had the grace to show his immense shock at the appearance of the one who had dogged him for several decades. His eyes widened even more at the sight of Michael at his shoulder. The blonde vampire was livid and almost insane with anger. Corineus held his arm in a strong grip.
“Not in here!” But Michael would not be restrained. His wife’s murderer was tantalisingly close. With a scream that shocked the patrons around them into silence he shoved Corineus aside and threw himself at his much hated enemy. The two vampires careened into the railing and struggled with a nightmarish slowness before they toppled over and fell the twenty or more feet to the dance floor below. Sheer luck saw the dancers below them notice the outbreak of the fight and none were beneath them when they landed. Without hesitation Corineus leapt the railing after them and landed beside the adversaries. Jim and Blair ran to the edge and peered over. Both Corineus and Michael were tearing at Sagremor, the besieged vampire fighting frantically. They slashed and beat each other with suddenly sharp claws. Sagremor managed a savage blow to Michael’s head and the blonde hit the floor, stunned.
The club’s patrons gave way like a parting sea and left Corineus and the other stalking each other in an ever tightening circle. Michael groaned and stirred where he lay. From where Jim stood he could see that the blonde’s throat was slashed open in a bloodless tear. Corineus glowered at his enemy, all the spectators around them forgotten.
“You die tonight, Sagremor!”
“Then I take him with me!” The vampire lunged for Michael. Seizing his head before Corineus could react he wrapped his hands on either side and twisted. Jim was already in the air and landing across them. Michael’s limp body fell away and, with a roar, Sagremor caught the mortal. Corineus was mad with fear and wrath. He launched towards the Sentinel and vampire. Jim found himself thrown aside, dazed by the incredible strength of Sagremor. He crawled towards Michael and caught the faint heartbeat. Sagremor hadn’t managed to twist his head off. He knew he still lived but Corineus thought him dead. The master vampire’s fighting tactics would surely suffer with thinking his companion lost to him. Corineus was winning while he kept a level head. Sagremor had managed to turn his opponent into a mindless assailant. And with mindlessness came carelessness.
One of the club’s bouncers made the mistake of getting too close. He couldn’t possibly have comprehended the magnitude of the fight taking place in front of him. A single blow of Sagremor’s arm saw the unconscious man dumped atop Jim. Blair had managed to gain the dance floor by then and struggled his way through the entranced crowd. The mortals were stunned at the incredibly vicious fight taking place before them. Even above the music the blows could be heard landing on flesh. The two main protagonists seemed to be the only two not covered in blood. Jim had a bloody nose and a gash across his forehead. The bouncer was bleeding from the mouth. Jim pushed the bouncer off him and dragged Michael away. Blair appeared at his side, not knowing what to do.
Corineus was losing the battle. A sharp blow snapped his head back and he fought the blackness that threatened to send him under. He couldn’t afford to black out. With Michael out of the picture Jim would be no match for Sagremor. The two vampire’s separated again and circled one another. Sagremor took the brief respite to look for Michael. His eyes lit upon the curly haired young man kneeling beside his fallen foe. Corineus followed his line of sight and his pain fogged brain registered the other vampire’s obvious attraction. Corineus moved himself to block Sagremor’s view. The maniacal vampire laughed at him through his own pain and, turning quickly, he bolted away. Corineus was too hurt to follow quickly enough and he turned to Jim.
He quickly lifted the still unconscious Michael in his arms and left the club. Jim and Blair followed. The fight had taken less than a few minutes but to the two mortals it had felt like forever. The four of them got into Jim’s truck and made their way back to the loft in silence. The whole time Corineus cradled Michael closely to him, whispering all the while, “I’m sorry....I’m sorry.”
Blair fought back tears in the front passenger seat as he listened to the immortal behind him.
**********
Upon entering the loft Corineus lay Michael on the lounge. The blonde vampire was finally stirring and groaning in still felt pain. Jim had got himself a wet cloth and dabbed at his forehead. Corineus stood and went to him.
“I’m sorry about tonight. It’s been so long I couldn’t hold him. He’s thought of nothing but Sagremor’s head in his hands for over fifty years.”
Jim couldn’t think of anything to say. What could he say? The circumstances were like nothing he had ever encountered before. He could no more prevent these two from their vendetta than fly. He did, however, damn himself for taking Blair along. He remembered the feeling of horror when he had seen their prey moving in the opposite direction toward his Guide. He nodded to the vampire and went to sit at the dining table. Blair joined him, pushing away the hand holding the cloth to get a closer look at his wound. It had stopped bleeding and he went to get some tape and gauze.
Michael had awakened and levered himself to sit up. He gazed sadly into Corineus’ eyes and then closed them in anguish. Beth’s killer had gotten away again. Corineus gave him a hug and joined Jim at the table. Blair had returned with the first aid kit and handed it to Jim. He then joined Michael on the lounge, resting a consoling arm about the vampire. Michael accepted the comfort quietly, his foggy brain wondering at this one, a fraction of his age, comforting a being such as he.
Corineus had to speak of something and wondered how to broach the subject with the Sentinel. Finally, “Jim, we will have to stay here for a while. Sagremor will come here.”
“Of course you can stay. Why would he be stupid enough to come here?”
Corineus looked over at Blair. Jim followed his eyes and repressed an irritated sigh. A look than Blair saw instantly. “Me?”
“He wanted you in the club. We prevented him from getting to you. Sagremor is nothing if not determined in his pursuit of his prey, especially now that he knows you have something to do with us. You have been marked, Blair.”
The young man slumped down in the cushions next to Michael. “Great,” he mumbled, “what else is new?” Michael squeezed his arm in reassurance.
“I have to know what can harm Sagremor,” Jim pointedly asked Corineus, “Obviously twisting the head off works but I don’t quite have vampiric strength to carry that one off.”
“Would you even if you could?” Corineus queried. Few were as bloodthirsty as vampires when they fought.
“I am more than capable. But I’ll have to know what else I can use against him.”
Corineus nodded his agreement. He had known from the start that this Ellison could be a dangerous man when needed. He knew how to kill and would not hesitate to dish it out to one like Sagremor. It was not in their best interest to impart their weaknesses to mortals but he really had no choice. “Fire. Intense heat will cause so much pain we can’t think clearly to escape it. Explosion. We are very tough creatures, Jim Ellison, sure you’re up to it?”
Jim looked at Blair, “Oooh, you betcha.”
“It’s late. You two should get some sleep. I suggest we all stay in the same room for safety. We can do without sleep so we’ll keep watch. Tomorrow we start our hunt anew.”
Jim agreed. He retrieved his sleeping bag from the cupboard and lay it on the floor. He was used to little luxury and told Blair he could take the couch. Blair was too exhausted and not inclined to argue the point and so he curled up fully clothed on the opposite end of the lounge to where Michael sat. Within minutes he was asleep. This time Michael’s thoughts entered his dreams with scenes of security and warmth. He owed the wonderful mortal that much.
**********
At 4am Jim woke. He didn’t move but first listened to the sounds around the loft, not bothering to use his sight in the darkness. He traced Blair’s steady heartbeat and the slight beats of the vampires. He sat up, stretching sore muscles. Sleeping on the floor coupled with the earlier fight made for a very stiff back. He stood, stepping free of his sleeping bag and saw Corineus watching him in the near darkness, the glow from the fireplace giving the room long shadows. Corineus’ eyes gave off a light of their own. He then took in Blair and Michael. Blair still slept the deep sleep of the innocent and Michael’s head rested against the back of the lounge, his eyes closed. Blair’s stockinged feet lay across the vampire’s lap and Michael’s arms lay atop them.
Corineus smiled at him, “Two of a kind, eh?”
Jim smiled back, “Get some sleep. You know I’ll hear him before he even rounds the block and you’re our main line of defence. You’re no good to us exhausted.”
Corineus agreed and went to Jim’s sleeping bag. The movement disturbed Blair and Michael. Blair’s head raised and he sleepily took in Jim. He then looked at Michael and smiled. Michael patted his feet as if to say it was OK and Blair’s head fell back again. Michael looked to Jim, his eyes glistening in the low light of the livingroom. Jim felt the vampire’s thoughts enter his mind---you are very lucky to have a friend such as this---
Jim didn’t move. He continued to watch until Michael lay his head back again.
**********
Morning saw all of them moving about stiffly. Blair had decided to make them all breakfast. Michael had told he wasn’t hungry but helped him the kitchen anyway. Corineus took the first shower. After they had all completed their morning ablutions they headed for the Police Headquarters. Blair had wanted to go to the university but Jim had forbad it. Jim knew that the university was on a two week break so there were no classes to attend to. He told Blair he would take him there in the afternoon for him to pick up whatever he needed. To his surprise the graduate student didn’t argue. Blair wasn’t stupid, he knew he was safer with the three of them than alone.
Simon greeted them at the door to his office, a grim set to his face. “There’s been another one. A young man not far from the club you went to last night.” His expression didn’t improve when Jim told him all that happened to them at the club.
“Sagremor has had a long time to become an excellent fighter. He proved to us last night that he’ll not be easy to take.”
“Fantastic. I’ve got the Chief coming down on me for seemingly not getting off my arse and catching this maniac. Now how do we find him? He’s knows we’re looking for him now.”
Corineus smiled at Simon, although there was no real joy behind it. “He’ll come to us. All we have to do is wait.”
“And why would he come looking for us?” Simon queried incredulously.
“Because we have a tasty little morsel he can’t wait to get.”
Simon frowned. Why couldn’t the man get to the point. Then it dawned on him. He had noticed that Sandburg was unusually quiet since they came into his office and the young man was definitely avoiding his gaze at that moment. “Don’t tell me you took Sandburg to the Central Club with you last night.”
“OK, we won’t tell you,” Corineus told him.
Simon removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. “I don’t believe you, Jim. It would have been like offering a snack to a starving man.”
Blair didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or complimented by Simon’s remark. He chose embarrassment. “It wasn’t that bad, Simon. I only got one offer.”
The captain dropped his haughtiest gaze on the young man and that shut him up. He then rounded it onto Jim.
“I thought him safer with us, Captain. It backfired.”
“Somewhat. So Sagremor has taken a fancy to Sandburg. When do you think he’ll try to get to him?”
“We were hoping last night but it never happened.”
“He’ll come,” Michael said quietly, “If he can’t have you, he’ll kill you.”
Blair and Jim could tell that Michael spoke from experience. Blair waved Michael over to him and opened the office door, “I’m going to get some muffins. Anyone want any?” Simon and Jim nodded. Michael followed him out the door.
Blair gave little surreptitious glances to the vampire as they walked along. Michael didn’t fail to see them.
“Yes, Scholar, he killed my wife rather than not have her.”
Blair lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to pry. Well, actually I do.”
Michael grinned at him. They had reached the tea and coffee cart and Blair paid for three muffins. He didn’t bother with coffee, Simon had a better brew back in his office.
“Hairboy!” Henri Brown came up behind him. The tall policeman took in Michael standing silent beside him. “Haven’t seen you in a couple of days.”
“Jim’s been keeping me busy. Uni’s on holidays so he’s taking full advantage of it.”
“Yeah, I heard what you’re working on. And you are....?” he held his hand out to Michael.
“British Intelligence, you may call me Michael.” The blonde shook the proffered hand.
Brown didn’t like him. He didn’t know why but he didn’t like this man being this close to Blair. For some unaccountable reason he couldn’t shake the feeling that the man was almost....predatory.
“You working with Blair and Jim on this one?”
“Yes, one of the men killed was one of ours.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Blair’s not going to be exposed to anything dangerous is he.” It hadn’t been a question, it had been a statement to the man he didn’t like.
Blair grinned nervously, uncomfortable with the incredibly polite confrontation between the two of them. Michael clearly understood the underlying threat given by the other man, “I assure you, he will not be harmed. Very protective of him, aren’t you?”
Brown shifted from one foot to the other, uneasy that the man had voiced his motives aloud. “Yeah, we tend to be. Anyway,” he said looking at Blair, “catch you later.”
Blair smiled in return and watched him move off. Michael leaned down to him, smiling. “You are well loved, it seems.”
Blair hit him with his elbow. “Oh, shut it. I’ve been in a few scrapes and Henri tends to be a bit paranoid about me.”
Michael laughed and they returned to Simon’s office.
**********
8pm that night saw them back at the loft preparing dinner. Michael was reading through one of Blair’s textbooks at the kitchen table and Jim and Corineus talked on the lounge. Every now and then Michael mumbled about some inaccuracy in the book, “It wasn’t 1705, it was 1700, year of that bloody great storm....idiots.” Corineus smiled and returned his attention back to Jim.
“It’s hard to comprehend, the things you’ve seen in all your years,” Jim put to the other.
Corineus couldn’t blame the detective for his curiosity. “Michael even more so. He’s two hundred and forty years older than me.”
Jim looked at the other vampire, “He doesn’t look it, or rather seem it. You are far more older in your ways.”
“Michael was only 20 when he was made. I was 40. It makes a certain difference. He doesn’t like to kill. I tend to do it for him,” Corineus could tell that the other man was uncomfortable with the mention of their tendency to kill. “We tend to take those that are deserving of death, or tired of life, we don’t kill them all. I’m just better at it than Michael.” He could tell Jim wasn’t convinced.
“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t imagine a worse existence.”
“The last person we inducted was Michael’s wife. That was some fifty years ago. I am the only other one made by Michael. I’ve never crossed anyone else over. It is not our intention to people the world with our kind.”
“And Sagremor?”
“To tell you the truth I haven’t a clue where he originated from. He could be older than both of us and he could have been born this century, we don’t know. He only came to our attention when he decided he wanted Beth for his own. He killed her in 1945 when she rejected him.”
They remained silent for a moment. It broke when Blair called them to the table. The dinner conversation centred around Michael’s life in the 1400’s. He had been living in France and then migrated to England where he would eventually be tried for witchcraft. Corineus lamented on the lives lost through false accusation. His kind really did exist but were usually too clever to stay in the one place for too long and were rarely found out. Michael had made the mistake of falling in love with the village and couldn’t leave. He had remained a resident for 20 years but his lack of aging inevitably brought suspicion upon him by the superstitious villagers. The only thing to pass for law in the place was an ex-soldier who disliked him. Corineus had been a merchant passing through and had intervened.
Corineus congratulated Blair on his guess earlier that his family had owned Cornwall. The first Corineus had been his ancestor, although by his time his family no longer owned such landholdings. The two mortals listened intently at the stories told by their guests. He and Michael had travelled considerably, there seemed no corner of the world they hadn’t visited. They had even been in Peru at the same time as Jim. Jim would be eternally grateful he hadn’t met them then. It was midnight by the time they decided to call it a night.
Michael and Corineus cleared the table while Jim went to his room upstairs as he had something to show them all. Blair took his coffee and went to the balcony doors to look out over the cityscape. He could hear his guests discussing their earlier lives as they cleaned up. He turned his back on the doors so he could watch them. He could feel the cold leeching its way through the glass and shivered.
The shattering glass brought Jim down the stairs four steps at a time. Blair’s coffee cup was still airborne and they all watched, stunned into impotence, as the young man was bodily pulled through the remains of the door onto the dark balcony.
Corineus roared and ran to the shattered doors. By the time the three of them gained the balcony it was empty, Blair’s scream echoing still. On the street below a car pulled away.
Within seconds they had left the loft and were in pursuit of the abductor. The lack of traffic at that time of night aided them, Jim could centre his hearing on the fleeing car. His two companions knew to keep quiet for the Sentinel to use his talent. They didn’t have the car in their sights but his hearing told him they were headed for the waterfront district.
**********
Blair sat in the front seat, pressed as far into the door as he could, glaring at his abductor. Sagremor’s mouth was drawn into a thin line of displeasure. He would have preferred to take his target unnoticed but had decided he couldn’t wait any longer. He had taken perverse pleasure in demonstrating to his enemies how easy it was to take someone they thought they were protecting. Just like Bethany. He had been one step ahead of them that night and so it was tonight.
They had dogged his way for years and he tired of it. He could never understand what that ridiculous woman had seen in the skinny boy she had married. Michael was pretty enough but he, Sagremor, was far finer. Pious bloody Corineus and his pretty sidekick had made his life hell for decades. He would kill this one, just as he had Bethany, as a reminder to them that they best leave him alone.
He checked the rearview mirror and could see he had shaken off his pursuit. He wrenched the steering wheel around to take a sharp corner and could see his victim struggling to stay upright and away from his side of the car. He would take this victim to the place he had called home for the past few days. He intended to take his time with this one. Corineus would know of the horrors this one suffered before succumbing. He smiled at the young man. The young man that was trying his best to press his molecules through the door
“And what may your name be, little one?”
Blair didn’t answer him. It was two parts obstinance and two parts terror. Sagremor backhanded his leg to get his attention. The young man looked at him.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll not harm you if you do what I say.” The vampire’s voice began to weave its spell.
Sagremor stopped the car and went around to Blair’s door. His prize was co-operating wonderfully. He steered Blair into the closest warehouse by the arm. A veritable somnambulist. The vampire tightened his grip around the slim arm, feeling the lax muscles beneath and knowing his conquest was complete.
His abductor had prepared before taking him. The place was set up with all the comforts of home. Assorted junk lined the walls, an old bicycle lay in one corner. Candles provided the only illumination. The place was huge and the long walk to where some old chairs were arranged, in a parody of a loungeroom in a real home, proved taxing and Blair felt the strong hand straighten him up. The fingers were like steel and they dug in painfully.
Blair was sat down on the lounge and Sagremor sat beside him. The young man tried to quell his shivering but the nearness of the vampire coupled with the strange attraction he felt for him brought the shaking out even more severely. Sagremor laid a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
“It’s OK. I’m here.”
Blair didn’t answer. His muddled mind tried to remind him of the horror he was sitting next to but, damn it, the man’s voice was bloody intoxicating.
“You are very young. How old are you?”
Blair blinked at him, only the realising he had been asked a question. “Umm, twenty seven.”
“Ahh,” Sagremor soothed, “very young by anyone’s standards. I am quite old. You are quite a prize.”
Blair shifted away from him. This kind of talk was making him very uneasy, vampire or no. It was the fact that Sagremor was male being the main reason for his alarm.
“I don’t want this....”
Sagremor ran a finger down his cheek, “My dear boy, I’m not going to make you like me. You’re here to provide sustenance, nothing more. I choose my meals carefully, you should be flattered.”
Rather, Blair stupidly felt insulted. He watched in frozen anticipation as the vampire’s finger ran down his face, pausing at his throat. The smiling lips grew closer and he felt them touch his throat. Sagremor smiled against the warm neck. It was so easy. His teeth nicked the soft skin and he lapped at the slight blood flow. Blair swooned in the warmth the mouth provided. His terror subsided. He opened his eyes briefly and looked at the surrounding candles. The bicycle wheel looked like those of a wheelchair.
Warehouse...
Candles...
Wheelchair...
Poor little Homer...
With a scream he threw himself away from his attacker. His hands were free. He backed away from Sagremor who watched him in fury. The vampire growled something incoherent and rose. Blair felt in his pockets quickly for the lighter fluid bottle. He had pocketed it when Corineus had let drop their vulnerability to fire.
Sagremor shouted at him in a language he didn’t recognise. At the same time the warehouse door was dragged open and Jim ran in followed by the two vampires. Blair couldn’t spare them a glance because he knew they were too far away to help him. He squeezed the lighter fluid over Sagremor as the enraged vampire turned his malevolent eyes on his enemies. Feeling the wetness of it he moved his dark eyes to Blair. The young man hesitated for only a moment before grabbing one of the candles. He backed away from the enraged vampire, holding it in front of him.
“I’ll do it! Stay away!”
Sagremor smiled at him. He could hear the others running towards them. He took a single step forward, one pale hand stretching for the one that dared to threaten him. He watched as the candle flew through the air and bounced against him. The fluid ignited and Blair fell back from the conflagration that erupted. Jim and the others shielded their faces against the walking blaze. Sagremor’s screaming was terrible as the vampire threw himself about the room.
Through the resulting haze Jim could see Blair on the far side of the room. The young man was horrified at what he had done. Jim calling his name, rather than freezing him to the spot, spurred him to run. He had to get away from the awful sight of a man on fire.
Michael and Corineus watched in grim pleasure as their much hated enemy was reduced to a burning shell on the floor while Jim bolted for the direction he had seen Blair run. He caught up to the young man outside. “Blair?”
He suddenly found his arms full of Guide. “Jim? What did I do?”
“It’s OK, buddy. What you had to do.” Jim held him out at arms length and it was then that his eyes lit on the throat wound. “Oh Christ, Blair. CORINEUS!”
The older man was at their side at the screaming of his name. Jim wiped at the wound with his fingers and looked at Corineus questioningly. The vampire took Blair from his arms and tilted back his head, inspecting the wound.
“Blair? Did he give you any blood in return?”
Blair screwed up his face in disgust. “Hell, no.”
Corineus smiled and crushed the young man to him in a hug. “It’s OK, Jim. He’s all right.”
They re-entered the warehouse to find Michael sitting on the floor sifting his hands through ashes. All that was left of Sagremor. He looked up at them, unashamedly crying. Jim steered Blair away and out to his truck. The four of them returned to the loft in silence.
**********
Once home, Corineus explained that there would be nothing left for forensics to sift through. The remaining ashes would not show up as human. He and Michael would return home the next day. Michael sat in silence beside Blair on the lounge and the two other men watched them worriedly. Neither could think of anything to say to them.
Michael shook himself out of it and looked at Blair. “This looks like a meeting of the Self Pity Club.”
Blair didn’t smile. He couldn’t get the image of the burning man out of his mind. Michael and Corineus might be used to this kind of death but he felt sick. Michael put a hand on his arm.
“Blair. You have to get past this....” He jumped in spite of himself as Blair launched himself to his feet.
“Maybe I can’t! God, the smell, what he looked like....I’m not like you! This isn’t the norm for me!”
Jim tried to calm him. “Blair, it’s OK....”
“Shut up, man! I can’t get out of my mind what he looked like....” he yelped as Michael seized his arm.
The vampire clasped a hand on either side of his head, forcing the other to look at him. “I know. I can help you.” The seductive voice instantly calmed him. The vampire rested his cool forehead against Blair’s heated one and impelled the frightened eyes to look into his. “Forget the horror, Blair. Give it to me. I want it. I earned it.”
Blair closed his eyes. And then opened them. He pulled away from Michael, casting an embarrassed look at Jim and Corineus. Michael smiled at him benignly. He now had the memory, it was as if he had had the pleasure of killing Sagremor himself. Blair stood and placed the lounge between him and the others.
“Why are you all looking at me like that?” He went to the kitchen. “I’m famished, anyone hungry?”
After midnight and the kid could still eat. Jim smiled his silent thanks to Michael. He didn’t quite understand what had happened but he knew that Michael had somehow taken the horrific memory from the tormented young man.
**********
The next morning they drove their guests to the airport. Michael had lamented about what they were going to do with their lives now. Sagremor’s hunting had taken 50 years. They suddenly had a lack of direction. Corineus impressed on him that they would find something. The two took their leave of Blair and Jim, promising to keep in touch and asked them to visit them back in God’s own country. Blair agreed with enthusiasm. He wanted to see Britain again.
Corineus had a barge in which they could traverse the waterways. It was called the Nosferatu.
How fitting, Blair thought.
FINIS
Note: I have a weakness for vampires ever since Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire. I may bring Corineus and Michael back if you all like them. I’d like to send the boys to Britain.