Monday, April 26, 2010
Billy finished loading the bags into the Caddy. Rowena stood in the doorway, Dmitrius and Kalius giving her hugs. "Sorry about last night," Rowena said.
"I'm sorry for what I've done to you," Dmitrius said, his head bowed.
"It's all right. I would rather be bound to you than anyone else." She smiled at him, kissed the top of his bowed head. "Go on, before you miss your flight." She took Kalius' hand in both of hers, and squeezed gently. "I'll see you at the wedding."
"Thank you again, Rowena," Kalius said. She released his hand, and waved goodbye to them. She turned to her servants. "All right, who's coming with me to Rhode Island?"
They got to LAX in three hours, and the hotel a half an hour after that. It was 10:30, still early by their standards, but far too late to call Kalius' parents. They walked into the hotel, looking like exhausted travelers. Dmitrius went to the desk and spoke to the woman there. "Evening."
"Good evening, sir."
"We have room 189, I would appreciate if you send the maid after 9 pm in the evening."
"Sir?"
"I sleep during the day, and do not want to be disturbed."
"Yes, sir," she said, and made a note.
The following evening...
Jason Nokimos was finally settling down to watch the game, when the doorbell rang. His wife Lori was working late at the office this time around, instead of him, and he was happy because he finally got to have his everything pizza with anchovies and a bottle of stout.
"Ah hell." He got up from the couch and went over to the side door. The only people who came to that door were family and friends, and if Tony wanted a cup of sugar, he was going to punch his lights out. Jason opened the door, scowling.
"Hi, dad."
Jason blinked. "Kevin? What're you doing here? And..." He looked up at the tall, rugged, dark-haired man behind his son. "Is that...?"
"This is Dmitrius Acheron, my fiance."
"Hello, Mr. Nokimos," he said, and held out his hand. This guy was huge, compared to the last boyfriend Kevin had brought home. Jason shook it, and knew the man was holding back on his strength, even though he shook it firmly.
"Well, c'mon in." Jason stepped aside and let them in. "This is a surprise. Your mother's working late."
"We figured we'd surprise you," Kevin said, walking in. Dmitrius looked around the house, and instinctively ducked from a low lamp. He slowly straightened. It wouldn't have hit him - he probably had a few centimeters' clearance.
"Want a beer?" Jason asked them.
"No thank you, I just ate."
"No," Kevin said, they headed to the living room.
Jason used the remote to shut off the TV. Kevin said, "Dad, it's okay, you can watch the game. I know you like the Lakers."
Jason smiled and put the TV back on. "Mind if I eat?"
"Go ahead," they both said at the same time, looked at each other and laughed. Kevin directed Dmitrius to the recliner, and Kevin sat at the small bar.
"So what brings you this way?"
"We had some business to take care of in Texas," Kevin said, "so we figured we'd stop by so you can meet him before the wedding."
Jason looked at Dmitrius, who kept his eyes on the TV. Something about him disturbed him. He felt like he had invited a wolf into his house and his son was marrying it. "Have you set a date?"
"July 24."
"I'll go online and get the tickets."
"I will," said Dmitrius, turning to slowly face Jason. "Just tell me how many people are going."
"I can't ask you to do that."
"I insist."
Jason was not necessarily a big man. He was an architect, but he wasn't built like a stick. He had stood up to people before, and although he never lorded it over anyone, he could often get his point across. Dmitrius looked at him intently, with a look that brokered no argument, that seemed one step away from a command. Kevin came over and put a hand on Dmitrius' shoulder, and the feeling lessened, but didn't go away.
"Kevin, can I talk to you a minute?"
"Sure, dad." Jason rose from the couch.
Dmitrius got up, "Pardon me, where is the bathroom?"
"I'll show him," Kevin said, and took Dmitrius' hand. Jason went to the sliding door leading out onto the rear deck, and when Kevin returned, stepped outside with him.
"Kevin, I know it's your life. But there's something wrong with him. He's dangerous."
"I know, dad."
Jason narrowed his eyes. "Has he done anything to hurt you?"
"What? No!" Kevin looked at his father. "He's dangerous to his enemies, but not to me."
Jason gazed out at the lawn. "Is he a hero, too?"
"Yes."
"What can he do?"
"He's fast and strong."
Jason drummed his fingers on the deck's railing. "Kevin, I don't know. He's not like Michael."
"He's nothing like Michael, dad."
They heard commotion in the house, and turned around to see his mother drop off something at the counter. Dmitrius was standing in the doorway of the TV room, and she stopped as if she had seen a ghost. She started to back away, heading into the kitchen area and beyond their line of sight. Dmitrius merely stood there, then also retreated into the TV room.
"See?" said Jason quietly.
Kevin said, "He's had a rough life. He's safe to us."
"God, I hope so," said Jason, and let Kevin back into the house.
Lori looked at them enter, her eyes wide as saucers. "Oh, there you are."
"Hi, mom." Kevin went around the counter and hugged his mother.
"That's your new boyfriend?"
"Yes."
"Isn't he kind of old for you?"
Kevin smiled. "Not really."
She looked at Kevin, and then Dmitrius was standing in the doorway again. Kevin looked back at Dmitrius and beckoned him over. Dmitrius came over, and Kevin could tell his mother was practically forcing herself to stay still. Dmitrius held out his hand, and she went to shake it. He deftly turned it over in his hand and kissed the air above the back of her hand, like they used to do in medieval times. "Mrs. Nokimos, it is a pleasure."
She merely stared at Dmitrius and they knew she was trying not to back up. He stood up slowly, gracefully. He moved aside, and leaned against the counter. Kevin came up to him and put his arm around Dmitrius' waist. "We figured we'd stop by, so you could see him before the wedding."
Lori turned to the fridge, just to get herself some distance. "Can I get you boys anything?"
"I'm good," said Dmitrius, and Kevin said at the same time, "No." They looked at each other and chuckled. Kevin looked up at the clock above the stove. "It's late, we better get going." Dmitrius nodded.
"How long will you be in town for?"
"The weekend. We're flying back Sunday night."
"Want us to tell your brothers?"
"Not really."
His parents looked at each other.
"We want to spend time with you."
"We can go out tomorrow night for dinner."
"It's a date, then."
The two men left, and Jason looked at Lori. "What's happened to him?" Lori asked.
"I don't know," Jason said, scowling at the door, "but I plan to find out more about this Dmitrius character."
"I'm sorry for what I've done to you," Dmitrius said, his head bowed.
"It's all right. I would rather be bound to you than anyone else." She smiled at him, kissed the top of his bowed head. "Go on, before you miss your flight." She took Kalius' hand in both of hers, and squeezed gently. "I'll see you at the wedding."
"Thank you again, Rowena," Kalius said. She released his hand, and waved goodbye to them. She turned to her servants. "All right, who's coming with me to Rhode Island?"
They got to LAX in three hours, and the hotel a half an hour after that. It was 10:30, still early by their standards, but far too late to call Kalius' parents. They walked into the hotel, looking like exhausted travelers. Dmitrius went to the desk and spoke to the woman there. "Evening."
"Good evening, sir."
"We have room 189, I would appreciate if you send the maid after 9 pm in the evening."
"Sir?"
"I sleep during the day, and do not want to be disturbed."
"Yes, sir," she said, and made a note.
The following evening...
Jason Nokimos was finally settling down to watch the game, when the doorbell rang. His wife Lori was working late at the office this time around, instead of him, and he was happy because he finally got to have his everything pizza with anchovies and a bottle of stout.
"Ah hell." He got up from the couch and went over to the side door. The only people who came to that door were family and friends, and if Tony wanted a cup of sugar, he was going to punch his lights out. Jason opened the door, scowling.
"Hi, dad."
Jason blinked. "Kevin? What're you doing here? And..." He looked up at the tall, rugged, dark-haired man behind his son. "Is that...?"
"This is Dmitrius Acheron, my fiance."
"Hello, Mr. Nokimos," he said, and held out his hand. This guy was huge, compared to the last boyfriend Kevin had brought home. Jason shook it, and knew the man was holding back on his strength, even though he shook it firmly.
"Well, c'mon in." Jason stepped aside and let them in. "This is a surprise. Your mother's working late."
"We figured we'd surprise you," Kevin said, walking in. Dmitrius looked around the house, and instinctively ducked from a low lamp. He slowly straightened. It wouldn't have hit him - he probably had a few centimeters' clearance.
"Want a beer?" Jason asked them.
"No thank you, I just ate."
"No," Kevin said, they headed to the living room.
Jason used the remote to shut off the TV. Kevin said, "Dad, it's okay, you can watch the game. I know you like the Lakers."
Jason smiled and put the TV back on. "Mind if I eat?"
"Go ahead," they both said at the same time, looked at each other and laughed. Kevin directed Dmitrius to the recliner, and Kevin sat at the small bar.
"So what brings you this way?"
"We had some business to take care of in Texas," Kevin said, "so we figured we'd stop by so you can meet him before the wedding."
Jason looked at Dmitrius, who kept his eyes on the TV. Something about him disturbed him. He felt like he had invited a wolf into his house and his son was marrying it. "Have you set a date?"
"July 24."
"I'll go online and get the tickets."
"I will," said Dmitrius, turning to slowly face Jason. "Just tell me how many people are going."
"I can't ask you to do that."
"I insist."
Jason was not necessarily a big man. He was an architect, but he wasn't built like a stick. He had stood up to people before, and although he never lorded it over anyone, he could often get his point across. Dmitrius looked at him intently, with a look that brokered no argument, that seemed one step away from a command. Kevin came over and put a hand on Dmitrius' shoulder, and the feeling lessened, but didn't go away.
"Kevin, can I talk to you a minute?"
"Sure, dad." Jason rose from the couch.
Dmitrius got up, "Pardon me, where is the bathroom?"
"I'll show him," Kevin said, and took Dmitrius' hand. Jason went to the sliding door leading out onto the rear deck, and when Kevin returned, stepped outside with him.
"Kevin, I know it's your life. But there's something wrong with him. He's dangerous."
"I know, dad."
Jason narrowed his eyes. "Has he done anything to hurt you?"
"What? No!" Kevin looked at his father. "He's dangerous to his enemies, but not to me."
Jason gazed out at the lawn. "Is he a hero, too?"
"Yes."
"What can he do?"
"He's fast and strong."
Jason drummed his fingers on the deck's railing. "Kevin, I don't know. He's not like Michael."
"He's nothing like Michael, dad."
They heard commotion in the house, and turned around to see his mother drop off something at the counter. Dmitrius was standing in the doorway of the TV room, and she stopped as if she had seen a ghost. She started to back away, heading into the kitchen area and beyond their line of sight. Dmitrius merely stood there, then also retreated into the TV room.
"See?" said Jason quietly.
Kevin said, "He's had a rough life. He's safe to us."
"God, I hope so," said Jason, and let Kevin back into the house.
Lori looked at them enter, her eyes wide as saucers. "Oh, there you are."
"Hi, mom." Kevin went around the counter and hugged his mother.
"That's your new boyfriend?"
"Yes."
"Isn't he kind of old for you?"
Kevin smiled. "Not really."
She looked at Kevin, and then Dmitrius was standing in the doorway again. Kevin looked back at Dmitrius and beckoned him over. Dmitrius came over, and Kevin could tell his mother was practically forcing herself to stay still. Dmitrius held out his hand, and she went to shake it. He deftly turned it over in his hand and kissed the air above the back of her hand, like they used to do in medieval times. "Mrs. Nokimos, it is a pleasure."
She merely stared at Dmitrius and they knew she was trying not to back up. He stood up slowly, gracefully. He moved aside, and leaned against the counter. Kevin came up to him and put his arm around Dmitrius' waist. "We figured we'd stop by, so you could see him before the wedding."
Lori turned to the fridge, just to get herself some distance. "Can I get you boys anything?"
"I'm good," said Dmitrius, and Kevin said at the same time, "No." They looked at each other and chuckled. Kevin looked up at the clock above the stove. "It's late, we better get going." Dmitrius nodded.
"How long will you be in town for?"
"The weekend. We're flying back Sunday night."
"Want us to tell your brothers?"
"Not really."
His parents looked at each other.
"We want to spend time with you."
"We can go out tomorrow night for dinner."
"It's a date, then."
The two men left, and Jason looked at Lori. "What's happened to him?" Lori asked.
"I don't know," Jason said, scowling at the door, "but I plan to find out more about this Dmitrius character."
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Dmitrius and Kalius were still standing, covered in blood not their own. When the last creature went down to Kalius' sword, and the silence deafened the area they were in, they turned to look at each other and kissed passionately, thanking the gods that they had survived. Corpses - some still moving, others quiet in death, their blood drained from them - littered the floor. They had moved through the foyer, up the stairs and into the bedrooms. Death and destruction, shattered glass and torn bodies, were throughout the hallway and in some of the rooms. They passed some other surviving Camarilla vampires, a couple of humans wandering in shock, soon to be set upon by the vampires.
Hanging over the stairs was a dead black-furred creature with a huge head and upper body, and tiny legs. Dmitrius kicked it over. It fell to the floor below with a wet plop. "God damn Tszimice."
"I don't think I want to know."
"Flesh crafters of the Sabbat. They alter people and animals into whatever form they want." They reached the bottom of the stairs. The blood was at least an inch thick in the room.
Rowena came around the corner from the kitchen hallway. She looked like she had a fight with a thorn bush, she had pricks of blood all over her. "Dimitrius!" she cried. She deftly jumped over the corpses and ran to him. She put her arms around him, then did the same to Kalius. "Are you two all right?"
"Yes," Dmitrius said, and reached for his lover's hand.
Rowena looked around the room, taking it in for the first time.
A male vampire walked proudly out of the side room. "Rowena! Great party!" He picked his way around and headed out the door.
Josef came out of the kitchen. "We're ready," he said.
"What for?" asked Dmitrius.
"Allard," Rowena snapped, and headed to the kitchen.
Dmitrius and Kalius followed Rowena. There, bound with plastic handcuffs to the chair, sat Allard, his blue suit torn and stained in places with black blood. He looked up and focused on Rowena. Four other people were in the room: Josef, a jaundice-looking man, a long-haired woman in a leather biker jacket, and another gaunt woman who look like she stepped out of some yuppie catalog.
"We have a quorum," Josef said and focused on Allard. "Are you, or are you not, a member of the Sabbat?"
Allard looked up defiantly. The gaunt woman came over to him and scratched his face, then licked the blood from her nail. She turned, and went back to her place. The wound smoked, beginning to fill the room with the stench of sulphur. "Ask again," she said, and sucked on her finger. Josef asked again.
"I am a member." Then he started to scream. The vampires watched impassively.
Dmitrius turned around and took Kalius by the waist, guiding him out. "It's going to be a while."
Two hours before dawn, Josef emerged from the kitchen. Dmitrius, Kalius, and a few other vampires and humans had stacked up the flesh and bodies. The vampires they set outside in the back lawn. The humans and flesh creatures they brought down to the garage. It was from one of these runs that Kalius returned seeing Dmitrius talking to Josef.
"...he was going to try and kill me."
Josef nodded. "So it seems. Rowena was going to be his weapon for that, and then eventually he was going to turn her over to the Sabbat."
"Did he say why he joined them?"
"He was Blood Bonded to a Toreador wench and he wanted to get out of it."
"How did that happen?"
"I didn't ask, and I really didn't care."
Dmitrius saw Kalius. He smiled at him. "Kalius, love, can we ask a favor?"
"Of course," he said, coming up to them.
Josef said, "Allard is sentenced to meet the sun. Can you make sure he does?"
"Of course, I will."
Dmitrius and Kalius manhandled the yelling Allard out to the lawn. Dmitrius gave Allard a glare, kissed Kalius goodbye, and headed back into the house to take a quick shower before bed. Allard shouted at Kalius, "How dare you! Release me now!"
"Oh, shut up," Kalius said, summoning his sword, and running him through the chest with it. It went right through the flimsy wood of the back of the chair, impaling him. The look of horror on Allard's face was priceless.
"You tried to kill my beloved," Kalius snarled at him, getting very close to his face. "This is a mercy. If I had my way I would cut you into pieces and let you heal, and do it all over again for years and years. Remember that as you burn, vampire."
The sun cleared the horizon. Kalius watched it, ignoring the smell of burning flesh all around him. He then turned to Allard, and watched as his skin started burning under his clothes, the smoke wafting up in the air. Within an hour, Kalius was surrounded by piles of ashes. He retrieved his sword, went in the house and took a shower. His bedroom had been spared, so he was able to collapse in a clean bed.
When he awoke, it was raining. Two people were scrubbing the floor, a wet-vac off to the side. Kalius went to the backyard to see the chair still there, the pile of ash much smaller from the rain.
Hanging over the stairs was a dead black-furred creature with a huge head and upper body, and tiny legs. Dmitrius kicked it over. It fell to the floor below with a wet plop. "God damn Tszimice."
"I don't think I want to know."
"Flesh crafters of the Sabbat. They alter people and animals into whatever form they want." They reached the bottom of the stairs. The blood was at least an inch thick in the room.
Rowena came around the corner from the kitchen hallway. She looked like she had a fight with a thorn bush, she had pricks of blood all over her. "Dimitrius!" she cried. She deftly jumped over the corpses and ran to him. She put her arms around him, then did the same to Kalius. "Are you two all right?"
"Yes," Dmitrius said, and reached for his lover's hand.
Rowena looked around the room, taking it in for the first time.
A male vampire walked proudly out of the side room. "Rowena! Great party!" He picked his way around and headed out the door.
Josef came out of the kitchen. "We're ready," he said.
"What for?" asked Dmitrius.
"Allard," Rowena snapped, and headed to the kitchen.
Dmitrius and Kalius followed Rowena. There, bound with plastic handcuffs to the chair, sat Allard, his blue suit torn and stained in places with black blood. He looked up and focused on Rowena. Four other people were in the room: Josef, a jaundice-looking man, a long-haired woman in a leather biker jacket, and another gaunt woman who look like she stepped out of some yuppie catalog.
"We have a quorum," Josef said and focused on Allard. "Are you, or are you not, a member of the Sabbat?"
Allard looked up defiantly. The gaunt woman came over to him and scratched his face, then licked the blood from her nail. She turned, and went back to her place. The wound smoked, beginning to fill the room with the stench of sulphur. "Ask again," she said, and sucked on her finger. Josef asked again.
"I am a member." Then he started to scream. The vampires watched impassively.
Dmitrius turned around and took Kalius by the waist, guiding him out. "It's going to be a while."
Two hours before dawn, Josef emerged from the kitchen. Dmitrius, Kalius, and a few other vampires and humans had stacked up the flesh and bodies. The vampires they set outside in the back lawn. The humans and flesh creatures they brought down to the garage. It was from one of these runs that Kalius returned seeing Dmitrius talking to Josef.
"...he was going to try and kill me."
Josef nodded. "So it seems. Rowena was going to be his weapon for that, and then eventually he was going to turn her over to the Sabbat."
"Did he say why he joined them?"
"He was Blood Bonded to a Toreador wench and he wanted to get out of it."
"How did that happen?"
"I didn't ask, and I really didn't care."
Dmitrius saw Kalius. He smiled at him. "Kalius, love, can we ask a favor?"
"Of course," he said, coming up to them.
Josef said, "Allard is sentenced to meet the sun. Can you make sure he does?"
"Of course, I will."
Dmitrius and Kalius manhandled the yelling Allard out to the lawn. Dmitrius gave Allard a glare, kissed Kalius goodbye, and headed back into the house to take a quick shower before bed. Allard shouted at Kalius, "How dare you! Release me now!"
"Oh, shut up," Kalius said, summoning his sword, and running him through the chest with it. It went right through the flimsy wood of the back of the chair, impaling him. The look of horror on Allard's face was priceless.
"You tried to kill my beloved," Kalius snarled at him, getting very close to his face. "This is a mercy. If I had my way I would cut you into pieces and let you heal, and do it all over again for years and years. Remember that as you burn, vampire."
The sun cleared the horizon. Kalius watched it, ignoring the smell of burning flesh all around him. He then turned to Allard, and watched as his skin started burning under his clothes, the smoke wafting up in the air. Within an hour, Kalius was surrounded by piles of ashes. He retrieved his sword, went in the house and took a shower. His bedroom had been spared, so he was able to collapse in a clean bed.
When he awoke, it was raining. Two people were scrubbing the floor, a wet-vac off to the side. Kalius went to the backyard to see the chair still there, the pile of ash much smaller from the rain.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Kalius didn't know why everyone talked about him so reverently. He was a tall, thin man, his blond hair parted on the side, dressed in a blue suit. Dmitrius looked far more intimidating than this man. He looked better suited in a board room than as what he visualized was a prince.
However, the man walked through, and others showed him deference. Rowena saw the Prince and something came over her, an angry look. The prince headed her way, and Rowena put a smile on her face for him. "Rowena, dear," said the Prince, and kissed her cheeks. "Happy birthday."
"Thank you, my Prince."
He turned to look at Dmitrius. "Hello, Dimitri."
"Prince Allard," Dmitrius said with a bow of his head.
Allard looked at Kalius. "This is the man you left my service for?"
"I am Kalius of Thebes," he said.
Allard looked merely amused. "Indeed." He turned from them to Rowena. "I believe I see Nikoli. Excuse me." He put a hand on her forearm and headed out into the crowd.
"He tried to have you killed, Dimitrius," she whispered to him.
"I know," Dmitrius replied, and kept a hold on Kalius.
Entertainment was some music and dancing out back. The party started to get in full swing, as loaded up humans and equally loaded vampires let loose inhibitions. Dmitrius was talking to Josef, when he saw the Prince walking back into the house, Rowena following behind him. Dmitrius tapped Josef, interrupting him, and motioned with his head to them. Josef looked curious, and sped through the crowd to follow. Dmitrius and Kalius also did.
They found the two in the kitchen. Josef to the side of the door, evesdropping, but Dmitrius and Kalius were in the hallway with a clear view of Allard's back. Rowena was pushed up against the kitchen sink. Dmitrius couldn't see her face. Allard brought his arm up to his mouth, and then put it against Rowena's mouth. They could see Rowena put her lips on it, and then she looked up at him with fury in her eyes. She hauled off and slapped him across the face.
Josef moved, a gun drawn, and Dmitrius instinctively pushed Kalius behind him. He held the gun to Allard's head, and assessed the situation. "You didn't..."
"I did," Dmitrius said, stepping forward.
Rowena yelled, "To protect me from you!" She glared at Allard. "You tried to bond me! A justicar!"
Josef looked to Dmitrius, then Rowena, then Allard. He pressed the gun harder against Allard's head. "Spill it."
Allard drew himself up to his full height. "I don't have to tell you anything."
Rowena said, "That won't work on me anymore."
Josef said, close to Allard's ear, "Or me, either."
Allard stared straight ahead, like a statue. Then something burst through the kitchen window.
It was a huge black thing made out of legs that surrounded it in a circle, like a demented clock gear. It had a distorted face in its center and hands coming out from it. The feet kicked Josef's arm, and the gun went off into the ceiling. The thing seemed to roll out into the hallway. Kalius tried to trip it, and the hands grabbed at Kalius' leg. Kalius summoned his sword and chopped at it, slicing off one of the legs. It fell off in a gush of blood. The thing screamed, a woman's terrified howl of pain.
Josef had tackled Allard, and Rowena dove out of the way of the window. Other creatures came piling through the window. A round ball with bone hooks tipped in metal, barefooted with a mouth on its top and eyes all around it, headed right for Dmitrius. A crocodile-like thing with huge hands and spines for bumps also came climbing through.
Dmitrius punched through the round ball, his arm getting gouged by the hooks. Kalius moved out from behind him and went after the crocodile. Josef was fighting off a wolf-headed creature with a snake's tail instead of back legs. Allard had run out the side door into the garage. Rowena took off after him.
Kalius looked up from his fight with the crocodile and saw a woman behind Dmitrius. She stabbed him through the back with a bone-like spike that came out of his chest, thick black blood all over it. Kalius yelled, "No!" and he rushed at her, sword swinging. In a perfect arc, he sliced her head in half, barely missing Dmitrius' shoulder. He couldn't get a clear shot to behead her, so he pulled Dmitrius by the shoulder, yanking him off the spike. Dmitrius thudded to the floor. The woman laughed, but it came out as a gurgle. Now clear, he swung hard, lopping off the woman's head at the shoulders.
He turned to Dmitrius, lying on the floor, the wound closing quickly. He smiled at Kalius, reassuring him. "Been a while since that happened. I'm getting lazy." Kalius helped Dmitrius up. "Where's--"
Now Kalius heard the sounds of battle in the other room. He had been so focused in the kitchen, that he hadn't heard anything beyond. Dmitrius and Kalius both ran down the narrow hallway, following the blood trail of the multi-legged creature. The room was engulfed in chaos, with creatures and vampires fighting among each other. The floor was slick with blood, and frenzied vampires were everywhere. Dmitrius and Kalius looked at each other, then both turned back toward the room. Yelling the warcry of the Sacred Band of Thebes, they surged forward into the fray.
However, the man walked through, and others showed him deference. Rowena saw the Prince and something came over her, an angry look. The prince headed her way, and Rowena put a smile on her face for him. "Rowena, dear," said the Prince, and kissed her cheeks. "Happy birthday."
"Thank you, my Prince."
He turned to look at Dmitrius. "Hello, Dimitri."
"Prince Allard," Dmitrius said with a bow of his head.
Allard looked at Kalius. "This is the man you left my service for?"
"I am Kalius of Thebes," he said.
Allard looked merely amused. "Indeed." He turned from them to Rowena. "I believe I see Nikoli. Excuse me." He put a hand on her forearm and headed out into the crowd.
"He tried to have you killed, Dimitrius," she whispered to him.
"I know," Dmitrius replied, and kept a hold on Kalius.
Entertainment was some music and dancing out back. The party started to get in full swing, as loaded up humans and equally loaded vampires let loose inhibitions. Dmitrius was talking to Josef, when he saw the Prince walking back into the house, Rowena following behind him. Dmitrius tapped Josef, interrupting him, and motioned with his head to them. Josef looked curious, and sped through the crowd to follow. Dmitrius and Kalius also did.
They found the two in the kitchen. Josef to the side of the door, evesdropping, but Dmitrius and Kalius were in the hallway with a clear view of Allard's back. Rowena was pushed up against the kitchen sink. Dmitrius couldn't see her face. Allard brought his arm up to his mouth, and then put it against Rowena's mouth. They could see Rowena put her lips on it, and then she looked up at him with fury in her eyes. She hauled off and slapped him across the face.
Josef moved, a gun drawn, and Dmitrius instinctively pushed Kalius behind him. He held the gun to Allard's head, and assessed the situation. "You didn't..."
"I did," Dmitrius said, stepping forward.
Rowena yelled, "To protect me from you!" She glared at Allard. "You tried to bond me! A justicar!"
Josef looked to Dmitrius, then Rowena, then Allard. He pressed the gun harder against Allard's head. "Spill it."
Allard drew himself up to his full height. "I don't have to tell you anything."
Rowena said, "That won't work on me anymore."
Josef said, close to Allard's ear, "Or me, either."
Allard stared straight ahead, like a statue. Then something burst through the kitchen window.
It was a huge black thing made out of legs that surrounded it in a circle, like a demented clock gear. It had a distorted face in its center and hands coming out from it. The feet kicked Josef's arm, and the gun went off into the ceiling. The thing seemed to roll out into the hallway. Kalius tried to trip it, and the hands grabbed at Kalius' leg. Kalius summoned his sword and chopped at it, slicing off one of the legs. It fell off in a gush of blood. The thing screamed, a woman's terrified howl of pain.
Josef had tackled Allard, and Rowena dove out of the way of the window. Other creatures came piling through the window. A round ball with bone hooks tipped in metal, barefooted with a mouth on its top and eyes all around it, headed right for Dmitrius. A crocodile-like thing with huge hands and spines for bumps also came climbing through.
Dmitrius punched through the round ball, his arm getting gouged by the hooks. Kalius moved out from behind him and went after the crocodile. Josef was fighting off a wolf-headed creature with a snake's tail instead of back legs. Allard had run out the side door into the garage. Rowena took off after him.
Kalius looked up from his fight with the crocodile and saw a woman behind Dmitrius. She stabbed him through the back with a bone-like spike that came out of his chest, thick black blood all over it. Kalius yelled, "No!" and he rushed at her, sword swinging. In a perfect arc, he sliced her head in half, barely missing Dmitrius' shoulder. He couldn't get a clear shot to behead her, so he pulled Dmitrius by the shoulder, yanking him off the spike. Dmitrius thudded to the floor. The woman laughed, but it came out as a gurgle. Now clear, he swung hard, lopping off the woman's head at the shoulders.
He turned to Dmitrius, lying on the floor, the wound closing quickly. He smiled at Kalius, reassuring him. "Been a while since that happened. I'm getting lazy." Kalius helped Dmitrius up. "Where's--"
Now Kalius heard the sounds of battle in the other room. He had been so focused in the kitchen, that he hadn't heard anything beyond. Dmitrius and Kalius both ran down the narrow hallway, following the blood trail of the multi-legged creature. The room was engulfed in chaos, with creatures and vampires fighting among each other. The floor was slick with blood, and frenzied vampires were everywhere. Dmitrius and Kalius looked at each other, then both turned back toward the room. Yelling the warcry of the Sacred Band of Thebes, they surged forward into the fray.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Kalius was a little shocked. People kept coming all day, standing or sitting around in all corners of the house. It was like the humans were having their own little daylight party, drinking and eating, but taking care not to disturb the decorations, and quickly cleaning up after themselves. All of them were probably ghouls, or some sort of servant to a vampire. Billy brought him to the kitchen and fed him on hors d'oeuvres. He was introduced as "the old sheriff's boyfriend." One man said to him, "So the rumors are true."
"What rumors," Kalius asked, drinking a beer.
"The sheriff left because of you."
"I didn't ask him to. It was his decision."
"Is he going to be sheriff in Rhode Island?"
"No, he's retiring."
Another man snorted. "Nobody retires from the Camarilla."
"Maybe he won't be a Camarilla."
"You're Sabbat, Camarilla, or Caitiff. It's better to run in groups because you'll always need protection."
"He has protection," Kalius said, and drained his beer. "Excuse me." He glanced out the rear windows of the house, and there were cars parked all throughout the driveway and street, so he couldn't take the Mustang out. He sighed, went to his room and locked the door. He picked up a copy of the Iliad that he had found in Rowena's library. Although he had pretty much memorized it over the years, he never tired of its story.
Half an hour to sunset, he left his room to go to the vault. For once, a large guard that he remembered from downstairs stood at the upstairs entrance. He held an Uzi loosely in his hand. "Precautions?" Kalius asked.
"Trust no one," he said, and opened the door for Kalius. Kalius stood outside the vault door, and it opened just at sunset. Dmitrius smiled at Kalius and kissed him. "Good evening," Kalius said, slipping his arm around Dmitrius' waist.
"Rowena's still sleeping. What have I missed?"
"There are a lot of people upstairs."
"It doesn't officially start until eight. We have some time."
Kalius smiled. "Yes, yes, we do."
Dmitrius moaned at the knock on the door. Kalius chuckled, as Dmitrius cast his head back upon his pillow. "Yes," Dmitrius said wearily.
"The mistress hopes that you plan on coming down for the party."
"We thought we'd be fashionably late," Dmitrius said, as he ran his hand over Kalius' bare chest.
"I think you're fashionably late now, sir."
Dmitrius kissed his lover and they both rolled out of bed. "Give us ten minutes. Is the Prince here yet?"
"No, sir, he's not."
Dmitrius scowled. "All right. Thanks."
"Yes, sir." Dmitrius heard him walk away.
Kalius looked at the clock. "Time flies when you're having fun."
"I didn't even realize it." They finished getting dressed and walked out of his bedroom.
The foyer was full of people, vampires and humans, mingling among each other like normal dinner party guests. Dmitrius came down the stairs and someone walked right up to him. "Sheriff!"
Dmitrius sighed. "I am not sheriff anymore, Gavin."
Gavin said, "To me you always will be."
"Gavin, this is my fiance, Kalius."
Gavin looked down at Kalius. "Your WHAT?"
"Fiance," Kalius said coldly. "Have a problem with that?"
"I don't see a ring."
"We don't need one," Dmitrius replied.
Gavin folded his arms across his chest. "You're stooping pretty--"
Kalius punched him in the face. Dmitrius immediately stood between Gavin and Kalius. "Gavin, go away."
Gavin was holding his nose, a tiny bit of black blood oozing out of it. Gavin melted into the crowd. Dmitrius looked around, as if daring anyone to speak. Vampires and people turned away from the scene. Kalius flexed his hand, ignoring the pain of hitting a man. He might have had the strength to break his nose, but that didn't stop him from feeling pain. "Ex-lover?" Kalius asked.
"Please," Dmitrius said disgustedly. "Not for want of trying."
They found Rowena. She immediately brightened on seeing Dmitrius, and hugged him, and then kissed Kalius and hugged him, too. Dmitrius and Kalius introduced themselves as a couple, and most vampires thought that was at the very least odd, at the very most doomed.
Then the front door opened. Dmitrius happened to be looking in that direction, and squeezed Kalius' waist to get his attention. He bent to Kalius' ear and whispered, "The Prince is at the door."
"What rumors," Kalius asked, drinking a beer.
"The sheriff left because of you."
"I didn't ask him to. It was his decision."
"Is he going to be sheriff in Rhode Island?"
"No, he's retiring."
Another man snorted. "Nobody retires from the Camarilla."
"Maybe he won't be a Camarilla."
"You're Sabbat, Camarilla, or Caitiff. It's better to run in groups because you'll always need protection."
"He has protection," Kalius said, and drained his beer. "Excuse me." He glanced out the rear windows of the house, and there were cars parked all throughout the driveway and street, so he couldn't take the Mustang out. He sighed, went to his room and locked the door. He picked up a copy of the Iliad that he had found in Rowena's library. Although he had pretty much memorized it over the years, he never tired of its story.
Half an hour to sunset, he left his room to go to the vault. For once, a large guard that he remembered from downstairs stood at the upstairs entrance. He held an Uzi loosely in his hand. "Precautions?" Kalius asked.
"Trust no one," he said, and opened the door for Kalius. Kalius stood outside the vault door, and it opened just at sunset. Dmitrius smiled at Kalius and kissed him. "Good evening," Kalius said, slipping his arm around Dmitrius' waist.
"Rowena's still sleeping. What have I missed?"
"There are a lot of people upstairs."
"It doesn't officially start until eight. We have some time."
Kalius smiled. "Yes, yes, we do."
Dmitrius moaned at the knock on the door. Kalius chuckled, as Dmitrius cast his head back upon his pillow. "Yes," Dmitrius said wearily.
"The mistress hopes that you plan on coming down for the party."
"We thought we'd be fashionably late," Dmitrius said, as he ran his hand over Kalius' bare chest.
"I think you're fashionably late now, sir."
Dmitrius kissed his lover and they both rolled out of bed. "Give us ten minutes. Is the Prince here yet?"
"No, sir, he's not."
Dmitrius scowled. "All right. Thanks."
"Yes, sir." Dmitrius heard him walk away.
Kalius looked at the clock. "Time flies when you're having fun."
"I didn't even realize it." They finished getting dressed and walked out of his bedroom.
The foyer was full of people, vampires and humans, mingling among each other like normal dinner party guests. Dmitrius came down the stairs and someone walked right up to him. "Sheriff!"
Dmitrius sighed. "I am not sheriff anymore, Gavin."
Gavin said, "To me you always will be."
"Gavin, this is my fiance, Kalius."
Gavin looked down at Kalius. "Your WHAT?"
"Fiance," Kalius said coldly. "Have a problem with that?"
"I don't see a ring."
"We don't need one," Dmitrius replied.
Gavin folded his arms across his chest. "You're stooping pretty--"
Kalius punched him in the face. Dmitrius immediately stood between Gavin and Kalius. "Gavin, go away."
Gavin was holding his nose, a tiny bit of black blood oozing out of it. Gavin melted into the crowd. Dmitrius looked around, as if daring anyone to speak. Vampires and people turned away from the scene. Kalius flexed his hand, ignoring the pain of hitting a man. He might have had the strength to break his nose, but that didn't stop him from feeling pain. "Ex-lover?" Kalius asked.
"Please," Dmitrius said disgustedly. "Not for want of trying."
They found Rowena. She immediately brightened on seeing Dmitrius, and hugged him, and then kissed Kalius and hugged him, too. Dmitrius and Kalius introduced themselves as a couple, and most vampires thought that was at the very least odd, at the very most doomed.
Then the front door opened. Dmitrius happened to be looking in that direction, and squeezed Kalius' waist to get his attention. He bent to Kalius' ear and whispered, "The Prince is at the door."
Sunday, April 18, 2010
"More bunting!"
Rowena rolled her eyes. Why did she ever ask Dwanna to decorate her house for her birthday party? The Toreador childe came well-recommended by one of the few Toreadors that Rowena could stand. Dwanna kicked out her servants and brought in her own, who patrolled through the house like ants.
She sighed, and headed into the library. Sitting at her computer was Dmitrius, his lover right behind him. She felt a small pang of jealousy - she would have wanted to hold Dmitrius like Kalius was doing. However, she knew he loved Kalius with all his heart, and seeing her regent happy was paramount, even if it meant she had to suffer.
Dmitrius told her, in no uncertain terms and in a commanding tone, that she was never, ever, to harm his beloved, and that she should treat Kalius the same way that she treated himself. Something switched inside her, and she nodded, promising to do just that.
She asked, "You can log into my account all right?"
Dmitrius looked over his shoulder. "Yes, I'm booking the flights now."
Kalius turned to her. "We appreciate everything you've done for us."
She smiled, and it was actually genuine - Kalius made her regent so happy. She wished she could do it, too. "I am only returning the many favors he's done for me."
"You are coming to the wedding?"
"Of course. I want to see those tuxes on you. Kalius..."
He looked at her. "Yes?"
"How did you meet?"
"He was 17. I was 19. We met in the Citadel, for military training. I had just gotten my first commission and I chose him as my Patroclus."
"Patroclus?"
He smiled slightly. "Achilles had a partner and lover, Patroclus. I believed that we were made for glory, like the Trojans of old. I was Dimitrius' erastes, his lover and teacher. He was my eranamos, my beloved and student. Those words actually mean more than that, but you get the idea."
Now she understood why Dmitrius surrendered himself to Kalius. "But times have changed. You're younger. He's older, far older than you."
"We're equal partners," Kalius said. "We were then also. He fought beside me, as an equal, defending each other, fighting back to back in battle against all enemies. We swore our bond together, and sacrificed at the temple of Ares."
Muttered Dmitrius, "Even if he is a prick."
"Who?"
"Ares."
A voice yelled from the other room, "Rowena, how's this?"
"Excuse me," she headed back out to the foyer. She looked up to see trails of large roses covering the staircase. "Good," she said, and then wanted to go back into that room. She saw the two of them, Kalius leaning over his lover and kissing him, and Dmitrius holding Kalius's arms against his own chest.
The jealousy was too much, and she left, more afraid of Dmitrius than the Beast.
Dmitrius sighed and sat back, finished with his computer work. Kalius whispered, "She seemed to handle it all right."
"I didn't want to do it." He looked at Kalius. "If I wanted slaves, I would go out on the street and get them. Now I've cursed my best friend." He motioned to the computer, changing the subject. "We leave Thursday night at 7. It's a 3 hour non-stop flight."
"How long are we staying there?"
"I have it booked that we fly east Sunday night, stop in Detroit overnight, and then finish the flight Monday night. We'll be back in Boston at 1 am Tuesday."
He nodded. "That's long enough. I don't really need to see my brothers or my uncle, but I'd like to see my neice."
Dmitrius got up. "Let's hope that tonight things are quiet."
"Tomorrow is her party--"
"Dmitrius!" Rowena called. "Want to come with me to the dress store for a final fitting?"
Kalius stood back. "We can go."
Dmitrius looked up. "I'd rather stay here with you."
"I'd rather stay here with you, too," he said, smiling. Dmitrius kissed Kalius again, he looked beyond him to see Rowena in the doorway, a forced smile on her face.
"We're coming," he said, and rose from the chair.
In the roomy Cadillac, Rowena chatted about the people she had invited and the people who would be there. Dmitrius knew them all, from his time as a sheriff, and some of them had things against him because he hunted some of their childer down. Josef was even coming. Her cell phone went off. She looked at it and answered curtly. "Hello, my Prince."
Dmitrius could hear him, "You did not come to my haven tonight."
"Something's come up," she said, and smiled sweetly at Dmitrius.
"I had told you to come here last night."
Dmitrius raised his head slowly, realization crossing his features. Kalius noted it and mouthed, "What?"
"Like I said," she continued, "something's come up. I have to plan for the party. You will be there, won't you?"
"Of course, dear. Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Good! Then I will see you there tomorrow. I have to go. Goodbye." She hung up and looked at Dmitrius, still smiling.
"He tried to Bond you," Dmitrius said angrily. "That son of a bitch."
"Nonsense," she said, and put a hand on Dmitrius' thigh. "I did see him last night, but it was for business. That's all right, isn't it?"
Kalius watched Dmitrius struggle with something. Finally, he calmed down enough to say, "Yes, that's all right."
She looked at him adoringly, and it wasn't too much longer before the car stopped in front of the outdoor mall. Rowena jumped out of the car and waited for Dmitrius and Kalius. She went to the store with the dress, and tried it on. The two men told her she looked ravishing, and she basked in their praise. Her cell phone rang again while she stood there in the dress. "Get that for me, dear?"
Dmitrius went into her purse and pulled out the phone. "It's the Prince again. Maybe I should talk to him."
"All right, dear." She started to slip out of the dress right in front of him.
Dmitrius pressed the button to connect. "Hello."
"Who's this?" asked Prince Allard.
"Dmitrius."
"Where's Rowena?"
"Indisposed."
"I want to talk to her."
"I'll let her know." He disconnected, looked up at Kalius, barely contained anger on his face. "He wanted to talk to you."
"Oh, he can wait until tomorrow."
They headed home, and Rowena asked them to join her with a movie and asked Dmitrius to pick. He chose No Country for Old Men. She set up the movie, grabbed her version of popcorn, and they settled in to watch. A servant stepped in to say a visitor was downstairs but she had them turned away. She asked Kalius to choose the next one, and he picked Heartbreak Ridge. After that, Rowena chose My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Dmitrius and Kalius laughed, comparing that to what could happen at their own wedding. Rowena smiled, knowing that's exactly whey she picked it.
Rowena took one last tour of the house. Everything was to her orders. There would be more vessels tomorrow night, she was promised, and the two headed off to bed. Rowena looked at Dmitrius, as he settled down on his futon. "You can sleep in here," she offered.
"I never liked caskets," he said. "My servants bought me a silver one, and I never used it."
She shrugged, and lay down. "I love you, Dimitrius."
Dmitrius closed his eyes. "Rowena..."
"I know you love me like a sister, you always have. It's enough." She smiled, closed her eyes. "I want you happy, and you're happy with Kalius."
"Yes, Rowena, I am."
"Good," she whispered, and the sun took her.
Dmitrius could stay up until the sun cleared the horizon. He lay there, still saddened about what he had done, but curious as to why the Prince tried to bond her. He fell asleep, mulling that over in his mind.
Rowena rolled her eyes. Why did she ever ask Dwanna to decorate her house for her birthday party? The Toreador childe came well-recommended by one of the few Toreadors that Rowena could stand. Dwanna kicked out her servants and brought in her own, who patrolled through the house like ants.
She sighed, and headed into the library. Sitting at her computer was Dmitrius, his lover right behind him. She felt a small pang of jealousy - she would have wanted to hold Dmitrius like Kalius was doing. However, she knew he loved Kalius with all his heart, and seeing her regent happy was paramount, even if it meant she had to suffer.
Dmitrius told her, in no uncertain terms and in a commanding tone, that she was never, ever, to harm his beloved, and that she should treat Kalius the same way that she treated himself. Something switched inside her, and she nodded, promising to do just that.
She asked, "You can log into my account all right?"
Dmitrius looked over his shoulder. "Yes, I'm booking the flights now."
Kalius turned to her. "We appreciate everything you've done for us."
She smiled, and it was actually genuine - Kalius made her regent so happy. She wished she could do it, too. "I am only returning the many favors he's done for me."
"You are coming to the wedding?"
"Of course. I want to see those tuxes on you. Kalius..."
He looked at her. "Yes?"
"How did you meet?"
"He was 17. I was 19. We met in the Citadel, for military training. I had just gotten my first commission and I chose him as my Patroclus."
"Patroclus?"
He smiled slightly. "Achilles had a partner and lover, Patroclus. I believed that we were made for glory, like the Trojans of old. I was Dimitrius' erastes, his lover and teacher. He was my eranamos, my beloved and student. Those words actually mean more than that, but you get the idea."
Now she understood why Dmitrius surrendered himself to Kalius. "But times have changed. You're younger. He's older, far older than you."
"We're equal partners," Kalius said. "We were then also. He fought beside me, as an equal, defending each other, fighting back to back in battle against all enemies. We swore our bond together, and sacrificed at the temple of Ares."
Muttered Dmitrius, "Even if he is a prick."
"Who?"
"Ares."
A voice yelled from the other room, "Rowena, how's this?"
"Excuse me," she headed back out to the foyer. She looked up to see trails of large roses covering the staircase. "Good," she said, and then wanted to go back into that room. She saw the two of them, Kalius leaning over his lover and kissing him, and Dmitrius holding Kalius's arms against his own chest.
The jealousy was too much, and she left, more afraid of Dmitrius than the Beast.
Dmitrius sighed and sat back, finished with his computer work. Kalius whispered, "She seemed to handle it all right."
"I didn't want to do it." He looked at Kalius. "If I wanted slaves, I would go out on the street and get them. Now I've cursed my best friend." He motioned to the computer, changing the subject. "We leave Thursday night at 7. It's a 3 hour non-stop flight."
"How long are we staying there?"
"I have it booked that we fly east Sunday night, stop in Detroit overnight, and then finish the flight Monday night. We'll be back in Boston at 1 am Tuesday."
He nodded. "That's long enough. I don't really need to see my brothers or my uncle, but I'd like to see my neice."
Dmitrius got up. "Let's hope that tonight things are quiet."
"Tomorrow is her party--"
"Dmitrius!" Rowena called. "Want to come with me to the dress store for a final fitting?"
Kalius stood back. "We can go."
Dmitrius looked up. "I'd rather stay here with you."
"I'd rather stay here with you, too," he said, smiling. Dmitrius kissed Kalius again, he looked beyond him to see Rowena in the doorway, a forced smile on her face.
"We're coming," he said, and rose from the chair.
In the roomy Cadillac, Rowena chatted about the people she had invited and the people who would be there. Dmitrius knew them all, from his time as a sheriff, and some of them had things against him because he hunted some of their childer down. Josef was even coming. Her cell phone went off. She looked at it and answered curtly. "Hello, my Prince."
Dmitrius could hear him, "You did not come to my haven tonight."
"Something's come up," she said, and smiled sweetly at Dmitrius.
"I had told you to come here last night."
Dmitrius raised his head slowly, realization crossing his features. Kalius noted it and mouthed, "What?"
"Like I said," she continued, "something's come up. I have to plan for the party. You will be there, won't you?"
"Of course, dear. Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Good! Then I will see you there tomorrow. I have to go. Goodbye." She hung up and looked at Dmitrius, still smiling.
"He tried to Bond you," Dmitrius said angrily. "That son of a bitch."
"Nonsense," she said, and put a hand on Dmitrius' thigh. "I did see him last night, but it was for business. That's all right, isn't it?"
Kalius watched Dmitrius struggle with something. Finally, he calmed down enough to say, "Yes, that's all right."
She looked at him adoringly, and it wasn't too much longer before the car stopped in front of the outdoor mall. Rowena jumped out of the car and waited for Dmitrius and Kalius. She went to the store with the dress, and tried it on. The two men told her she looked ravishing, and she basked in their praise. Her cell phone rang again while she stood there in the dress. "Get that for me, dear?"
Dmitrius went into her purse and pulled out the phone. "It's the Prince again. Maybe I should talk to him."
"All right, dear." She started to slip out of the dress right in front of him.
Dmitrius pressed the button to connect. "Hello."
"Who's this?" asked Prince Allard.
"Dmitrius."
"Where's Rowena?"
"Indisposed."
"I want to talk to her."
"I'll let her know." He disconnected, looked up at Kalius, barely contained anger on his face. "He wanted to talk to you."
"Oh, he can wait until tomorrow."
They headed home, and Rowena asked them to join her with a movie and asked Dmitrius to pick. He chose No Country for Old Men. She set up the movie, grabbed her version of popcorn, and they settled in to watch. A servant stepped in to say a visitor was downstairs but she had them turned away. She asked Kalius to choose the next one, and he picked Heartbreak Ridge. After that, Rowena chose My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Dmitrius and Kalius laughed, comparing that to what could happen at their own wedding. Rowena smiled, knowing that's exactly whey she picked it.
Rowena took one last tour of the house. Everything was to her orders. There would be more vessels tomorrow night, she was promised, and the two headed off to bed. Rowena looked at Dmitrius, as he settled down on his futon. "You can sleep in here," she offered.
"I never liked caskets," he said. "My servants bought me a silver one, and I never used it."
She shrugged, and lay down. "I love you, Dimitrius."
Dmitrius closed his eyes. "Rowena..."
"I know you love me like a sister, you always have. It's enough." She smiled, closed her eyes. "I want you happy, and you're happy with Kalius."
"Yes, Rowena, I am."
"Good," she whispered, and the sun took her.
Dmitrius could stay up until the sun cleared the horizon. He lay there, still saddened about what he had done, but curious as to why the Prince tried to bond her. He fell asleep, mulling that over in his mind.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
The Poison Girl was a dive. That's immediately what Kalius thought when he walked into the bar.
Pinball machines lined one wall, the bar lined the other, a jukebox took center stage at the rear wall. The two men walked through the doorway and headed away from the bar so they could get a look at the patrons.
Somebody put "Du Hast" by Rammstein on the jukebox, and the hard guitar pumped through an excellent and loud speaker system. Dmitrius tugged on Kalius' sleeve and pulled him toward one of the pinball machines. The man in the "Night Devil's" jacket shoved against the machine, trying to force the ball to stay aloft. Dmitrius gave it another shove, and tilted it.
"Hey!"
"Where's Josef?"
"How the fuck should I know?"
Dmitrius gazed at him. "Are you sure you don't know?"
The man rubbed the back of his head, the hackles on his neck suddenly rising. "Uh, well, he said he was gonna get somethin' t' eat outside."
Dmitrius thumbed at the door. "Right out there?"
"Guess so."
Kalius shoved open the door that said, "Fire Exit". He looked around the corner, and Dmitrius followed him. Kalius heard sounds of passion coming from behind one of the cars. Dmitrius nodded, and the two men split up to get on either side of a man and a topless woman in a passionate embrace - at least it looked like it from a distance. But upon getting closer, he was sucking her neck, and she was moaning in pleasure, shoving her hips against his.
Dmitrius waited, and when Josef raised his head, he saw Dmitrius standing there, nonchalantly leaning against the car's trunk. Josef turned his head to see Kalius to his right.
"Aw, baby, don't stop," said the girl in a heavy drawl.
"We got company, bitch," he snapped.
The girl looked over to her left at Kalius and flicked back her hair. "You wanna run too?"
"No, thank you," he said.
She looked back at Josef. "C'mon, baby, we ain' done..."
"Yes, we are." He got up, shoving the girl off him. She stumbled up, her huge breasts shaking. Kalius saw her pink tank top and picked it up, handing it to her. She put it on - it barely covered her breasts. She humphed and, grabbing her heels that were almost as tall as she was, stormed back to the bar. Josef turned to Dmitrius. "So what--" Dmitrius grabbed Josef and threw him into the car, making a sizable dent in the trunk. Dmitrius held him down with one hand. "What the fuck!"
"You control the Bloods."
"Yeah, so?"
"They attacked Kalius yesterday."
He was silent for a minute. "I didn't do that."
Dmitrius pressed hard on Josef's head. "Who did? And don't dick us around, because we killed an assassin sent after me last night and we are not in the most pleasant of moods."
"How the fuck should I know?"
"Josef, they're your army." Dmitrius took a fistful of Josef's hair and lifted the head up, then slammed it down again, making a much larger dent. "You're responsible."
"Wait, wait! Fuck, sheriff, wait!"
Dmitrius didn't release his hold. "We're listening."
"Ratchet, one of the boys - he said some of the homies - some guy came along - gave them drugs and made them stronger - never got to check - "
"Where's Ratchet now?"
"City morgue, some guy slashed his chest open."
Dmitrius looked up at Kalius who nodded once. Dmitrius lessened his hold slightly, but kept his hand on him. "You have no idea what guy?"
"Goddammit, sheriff, I told you, I never got a chance to check it out!"
"Let's go check it out now." Dmitrius lifted the Brujah Justicar by the scruff of his jacket and turned him around to face him. "Ride with us."
Brandy opened the door to the drug house and saw Josef there with two men behind him. She put the gun she was holding behind her back. "Joey--"
"Who came here a week ago and talked to Ratchet and Flyboy?"
"Uh, some guy..."
Josef grabbed the girl by her throat. The gun came out and she shot him point black four times before he crushed her hand around the gun. His back exploded onto the two men behind him, flesh and blood covering them. Josef shoved the woman into the house. Dmitrius shut the door as Josef fed on her, draining her dry.
"Ugh, All Five." Josef spat blood. Josef swiveled his head around, his wounds healing near instantaneously. Kalius had his sword, and Dmitrius stood cautiously. He sniffed the air, and headed upstairs. They followed him, and Josef stopped in front of another young man. Kalius said, "That was one of them."
The man was caught in the throes of a drug-induced dream. Josef bent and bit into his wrist, then licked the blood welling there. "What the fuck..?"
Dmitrius and Kalius watched Josef stand up. "Either he's been given blood everybody in the four corners, or he's--"
Dmitrius stated, "Sabbat."
Josef looked at the man. He bent down to drink. Dmitrius sighed and turned away. They went back down the stairs, shoved aside some waif who stood in front of them, demanding money, and went back outside to the car, which was still in one piece.
"Sabbat destroyed my house. Assassins usually work for the Sabbat." Dmitrius was disappointed that the Assamite didn't talk, even as he threw her remaining head and torso into the fire.
"They probably sent those Bloods after me," Kalius said.
Dmitrius nodded. "I can't go after them alone."
"Is there some neutral ground?"
"They don't respect it." Dmitrius drummed his hand on the passenger side door of the car, then pulled it open. "Let's go, then."
The two men pulled into the garage back at Rowena's, and her Cadillac was gone. They went to the top of the stairs in the garage and saw the night butler. "Dmitrius, Kalius, something is wrong with the mistress."
"What?"
"She awoke after you, and she immediately had to go, she said. She didn't feed from any of us."
Dmitrius looked at him curiously. "I'll speak with her when she returns."
She returned about an hour before sunrise. She looked very confused, foggy, and walked right by Dmitrius when he tried to talk to her. She went directly to the vault.
"Rowena, what's wrong?"
She silently went into the vault and tried to shut the door. Dmitrius stood between the vault door and held it back. He was far stronger than Rowena was, but she was determined to pull the door shut. Finally, he stepped inside, and she slammed shut the door, locking it. Without looking at Dmitrius, she went to her casket.
Dmitrius knew what this was. She was under a thrall. Dmitrius paced.
He had told no one, not even Kalius, of his tenuous bond with Rowena. He found her during the Portuguese Inquisition, after her sire had been given the auto-da-fe and was set out in the sun. She was weak and starving, and he gave her his blood. He gave her a taste again, in Colonial America. If he did it for a third time, she would be in his thrall. But someone was beginning to control her now.
Something had happened last night because she was already asleep when he came downstairs. Tonight was probably the second bite. Tomorrow would be a third bite, and she would be in someone else's thrall, absolutely devoted to this other person.
He walked back and forth near the casket. He didn't want to enthrall her. He wanted her to be his friend. But what's to say she wouldn't turn on him in the evening, and then kill his beloved?
Savagely, he bit into his wrist. His face was dark, determined. He slowly placed his gouged out wrist to her lips.
Pinball machines lined one wall, the bar lined the other, a jukebox took center stage at the rear wall. The two men walked through the doorway and headed away from the bar so they could get a look at the patrons.
Somebody put "Du Hast" by Rammstein on the jukebox, and the hard guitar pumped through an excellent and loud speaker system. Dmitrius tugged on Kalius' sleeve and pulled him toward one of the pinball machines. The man in the "Night Devil's" jacket shoved against the machine, trying to force the ball to stay aloft. Dmitrius gave it another shove, and tilted it.
"Hey!"
"Where's Josef?"
"How the fuck should I know?"
Dmitrius gazed at him. "Are you sure you don't know?"
The man rubbed the back of his head, the hackles on his neck suddenly rising. "Uh, well, he said he was gonna get somethin' t' eat outside."
Dmitrius thumbed at the door. "Right out there?"
"Guess so."
Kalius shoved open the door that said, "Fire Exit". He looked around the corner, and Dmitrius followed him. Kalius heard sounds of passion coming from behind one of the cars. Dmitrius nodded, and the two men split up to get on either side of a man and a topless woman in a passionate embrace - at least it looked like it from a distance. But upon getting closer, he was sucking her neck, and she was moaning in pleasure, shoving her hips against his.
Dmitrius waited, and when Josef raised his head, he saw Dmitrius standing there, nonchalantly leaning against the car's trunk. Josef turned his head to see Kalius to his right.
"Aw, baby, don't stop," said the girl in a heavy drawl.
"We got company, bitch," he snapped.
The girl looked over to her left at Kalius and flicked back her hair. "You wanna run too?"
"No, thank you," he said.
She looked back at Josef. "C'mon, baby, we ain' done..."
"Yes, we are." He got up, shoving the girl off him. She stumbled up, her huge breasts shaking. Kalius saw her pink tank top and picked it up, handing it to her. She put it on - it barely covered her breasts. She humphed and, grabbing her heels that were almost as tall as she was, stormed back to the bar. Josef turned to Dmitrius. "So what--" Dmitrius grabbed Josef and threw him into the car, making a sizable dent in the trunk. Dmitrius held him down with one hand. "What the fuck!"
"You control the Bloods."
"Yeah, so?"
"They attacked Kalius yesterday."
He was silent for a minute. "I didn't do that."
Dmitrius pressed hard on Josef's head. "Who did? And don't dick us around, because we killed an assassin sent after me last night and we are not in the most pleasant of moods."
"How the fuck should I know?"
"Josef, they're your army." Dmitrius took a fistful of Josef's hair and lifted the head up, then slammed it down again, making a much larger dent. "You're responsible."
"Wait, wait! Fuck, sheriff, wait!"
Dmitrius didn't release his hold. "We're listening."
"Ratchet, one of the boys - he said some of the homies - some guy came along - gave them drugs and made them stronger - never got to check - "
"Where's Ratchet now?"
"City morgue, some guy slashed his chest open."
Dmitrius looked up at Kalius who nodded once. Dmitrius lessened his hold slightly, but kept his hand on him. "You have no idea what guy?"
"Goddammit, sheriff, I told you, I never got a chance to check it out!"
"Let's go check it out now." Dmitrius lifted the Brujah Justicar by the scruff of his jacket and turned him around to face him. "Ride with us."
Brandy opened the door to the drug house and saw Josef there with two men behind him. She put the gun she was holding behind her back. "Joey--"
"Who came here a week ago and talked to Ratchet and Flyboy?"
"Uh, some guy..."
Josef grabbed the girl by her throat. The gun came out and she shot him point black four times before he crushed her hand around the gun. His back exploded onto the two men behind him, flesh and blood covering them. Josef shoved the woman into the house. Dmitrius shut the door as Josef fed on her, draining her dry.
"Ugh, All Five." Josef spat blood. Josef swiveled his head around, his wounds healing near instantaneously. Kalius had his sword, and Dmitrius stood cautiously. He sniffed the air, and headed upstairs. They followed him, and Josef stopped in front of another young man. Kalius said, "That was one of them."
The man was caught in the throes of a drug-induced dream. Josef bent and bit into his wrist, then licked the blood welling there. "What the fuck..?"
Dmitrius and Kalius watched Josef stand up. "Either he's been given blood everybody in the four corners, or he's--"
Dmitrius stated, "Sabbat."
Josef looked at the man. He bent down to drink. Dmitrius sighed and turned away. They went back down the stairs, shoved aside some waif who stood in front of them, demanding money, and went back outside to the car, which was still in one piece.
"Sabbat destroyed my house. Assassins usually work for the Sabbat." Dmitrius was disappointed that the Assamite didn't talk, even as he threw her remaining head and torso into the fire.
"They probably sent those Bloods after me," Kalius said.
Dmitrius nodded. "I can't go after them alone."
"Is there some neutral ground?"
"They don't respect it." Dmitrius drummed his hand on the passenger side door of the car, then pulled it open. "Let's go, then."
The two men pulled into the garage back at Rowena's, and her Cadillac was gone. They went to the top of the stairs in the garage and saw the night butler. "Dmitrius, Kalius, something is wrong with the mistress."
"What?"
"She awoke after you, and she immediately had to go, she said. She didn't feed from any of us."
Dmitrius looked at him curiously. "I'll speak with her when she returns."
She returned about an hour before sunrise. She looked very confused, foggy, and walked right by Dmitrius when he tried to talk to her. She went directly to the vault.
"Rowena, what's wrong?"
She silently went into the vault and tried to shut the door. Dmitrius stood between the vault door and held it back. He was far stronger than Rowena was, but she was determined to pull the door shut. Finally, he stepped inside, and she slammed shut the door, locking it. Without looking at Dmitrius, she went to her casket.
Dmitrius knew what this was. She was under a thrall. Dmitrius paced.
He had told no one, not even Kalius, of his tenuous bond with Rowena. He found her during the Portuguese Inquisition, after her sire had been given the auto-da-fe and was set out in the sun. She was weak and starving, and he gave her his blood. He gave her a taste again, in Colonial America. If he did it for a third time, she would be in his thrall. But someone was beginning to control her now.
Something had happened last night because she was already asleep when he came downstairs. Tonight was probably the second bite. Tomorrow would be a third bite, and she would be in someone else's thrall, absolutely devoted to this other person.
He walked back and forth near the casket. He didn't want to enthrall her. He wanted her to be his friend. But what's to say she wouldn't turn on him in the evening, and then kill his beloved?
Savagely, he bit into his wrist. His face was dark, determined. He slowly placed his gouged out wrist to her lips.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Narayanan "Sham" Sharma locked up his store. He had hoped to get home before midnight to see his wife before she went to bed, but a jerk dropped a jar of Tostito's cheese and then kicked the glass under the display, making a horrible mess he had to almost scrape up. He adjusted his over-the-body purse - he didn't care if it made him look female, it was a secure way of travelling with his money. He stood under the small light that shined at the door, the only light in the immediate area. The rest was darkness around him.
Sham was a small man, so when the three bigger men in gang colors came up to him and one held a knife to his throat, he merely stood there paralyzed with fear. "Hand it over, towel-head," one said.
He shakily started pulling the purse over his head. Then suddenly, one of the men leering at him was suddenly yanked back, into the darkness. Sham heard a muffled cry, and the other man turned to look into the dark. Then he, too, was yanked by his shirt into the darkness. There was a scuffle, and then silence.
Sham heard water hitting tar and hoped that wasn't him.
"Who's that? I'll kill this mother fucker!"
"No," said a voice, and the man whirled toward it still holding Sham. "You will release him."
"Fuck you, pall!"
Someone stepped into the light from the left - he looked like he was made of marble. His black hair was like a raven's wing, and he had a short neat beard. He was tall, even taller than this other man who held Sham, and wore a well-worn Houston Astros baseball shirt. His jeans were torn and greasy, and he wore no belt. Sham glanced up at his eyes and immediately looked at the Astros logo, not wanting to look at them again, ever.
"Release him."
The knife dropped out of the young man's suddenly limp hand, as he was absolutely frozen with terror. Sham took a step out of his arms. The dark-haired man only had eyes for his attacker. Sham moved out from between the attacker and this man. The last thing he saw before he dove for his car was the man putting his arm around his attacker, as if they were old friends, and guiding him out from the pool of light into the darkness.
He snapped on his headlights, pointing them at the store, but the men were gone.
"Mr. Acheron, if you would sign here..."
Dmitrius took up the A.T. Cross pen the banker offered and began signing. He would sign a paper, and then put it aside.
"Mr. Nokimos, if you could sign here..."
Kalius no longer had the sling, and his arm was fully functional now. He picked up another pen and signed below Dmitrius. He smiled at Dmitrius' flourish of his initials.
"You can just fax over the marriage certificate when you get it."
"Now," said Dmitrius, "the property. You said there were issues?"
"They are treating it as arson, Mr. Acheron. This is what I didn't want to discuss over the phone with you."
Dmitrius rubbed his thumb along the cleft of his beard. Dmitrius had dealt with this bank for over a hundred years, and this particular banker's great-grand-uncle when he first opened it. They've kept him quiet all these years, and he sent them business and helped keep them afloat. He didn't want to move the banking to Rhode Island, and he could still do many things electronically. But he wanted the bankers to be sure that Kalius - Kevin Nokimos - was allowed access to his funds as a domestic partner.
"I appreciate your discretion," Dmitrius said. "Do they have any leads?"
"Not from what I've gathered."
"You will keep me posted?"
"Of course, sir."
Both he and Kalius got up at the same time. Dmitrius pushed up the sleeve of his jacket and bit into his own wrist. Blood welled up, and he held out his wrist to the banker. The banker bent his head and licked the blood, then closed his eyes and suckled. Dmitrius gently pulled his arm away, and covered the wound with his jacket sleeve. The banker sat down, seemingly in a daze, gazing up at Dmitrius.
Dmitrius left the bank, and Kalius put an arm around his waist. "Is that necessary?" He nodded back to the bank.
Dmitrius nodded. Taking a vampire's blood three times usually meant that the person was absolutely devoted to the vampire. This was called a Blood Bond. It was the way most vampired controlled their people. Dmitrius did not like using that ability, and, even among his servants, did so very sparingly. Oftentimes he wanted to offer his blood to Kalius, when he was injured or had his power taken away, but he didn't want Kalius to love him because of the bond.
Dmitrius said quietly, "It's insurance. If I don't claim him, someone else might." He stopped, and turned to face Kalius. "So, how does it feel to marry into money?"
Kalius looked up at him, "I wouldn't care if you were poor. I have you. I love you, eranamos."
"I love you, erastes," Dmitrius said, and the two men kissed under the moonlight.
Sham was a small man, so when the three bigger men in gang colors came up to him and one held a knife to his throat, he merely stood there paralyzed with fear. "Hand it over, towel-head," one said.
He shakily started pulling the purse over his head. Then suddenly, one of the men leering at him was suddenly yanked back, into the darkness. Sham heard a muffled cry, and the other man turned to look into the dark. Then he, too, was yanked by his shirt into the darkness. There was a scuffle, and then silence.
Sham heard water hitting tar and hoped that wasn't him.
"Who's that? I'll kill this mother fucker!"
"No," said a voice, and the man whirled toward it still holding Sham. "You will release him."
"Fuck you, pall!"
Someone stepped into the light from the left - he looked like he was made of marble. His black hair was like a raven's wing, and he had a short neat beard. He was tall, even taller than this other man who held Sham, and wore a well-worn Houston Astros baseball shirt. His jeans were torn and greasy, and he wore no belt. Sham glanced up at his eyes and immediately looked at the Astros logo, not wanting to look at them again, ever.
"Release him."
The knife dropped out of the young man's suddenly limp hand, as he was absolutely frozen with terror. Sham took a step out of his arms. The dark-haired man only had eyes for his attacker. Sham moved out from between the attacker and this man. The last thing he saw before he dove for his car was the man putting his arm around his attacker, as if they were old friends, and guiding him out from the pool of light into the darkness.
He snapped on his headlights, pointing them at the store, but the men were gone.
"Mr. Acheron, if you would sign here..."
Dmitrius took up the A.T. Cross pen the banker offered and began signing. He would sign a paper, and then put it aside.
"Mr. Nokimos, if you could sign here..."
Kalius no longer had the sling, and his arm was fully functional now. He picked up another pen and signed below Dmitrius. He smiled at Dmitrius' flourish of his initials.
"You can just fax over the marriage certificate when you get it."
"Now," said Dmitrius, "the property. You said there were issues?"
"They are treating it as arson, Mr. Acheron. This is what I didn't want to discuss over the phone with you."
Dmitrius rubbed his thumb along the cleft of his beard. Dmitrius had dealt with this bank for over a hundred years, and this particular banker's great-grand-uncle when he first opened it. They've kept him quiet all these years, and he sent them business and helped keep them afloat. He didn't want to move the banking to Rhode Island, and he could still do many things electronically. But he wanted the bankers to be sure that Kalius - Kevin Nokimos - was allowed access to his funds as a domestic partner.
"I appreciate your discretion," Dmitrius said. "Do they have any leads?"
"Not from what I've gathered."
"You will keep me posted?"
"Of course, sir."
Both he and Kalius got up at the same time. Dmitrius pushed up the sleeve of his jacket and bit into his own wrist. Blood welled up, and he held out his wrist to the banker. The banker bent his head and licked the blood, then closed his eyes and suckled. Dmitrius gently pulled his arm away, and covered the wound with his jacket sleeve. The banker sat down, seemingly in a daze, gazing up at Dmitrius.
Dmitrius left the bank, and Kalius put an arm around his waist. "Is that necessary?" He nodded back to the bank.
Dmitrius nodded. Taking a vampire's blood three times usually meant that the person was absolutely devoted to the vampire. This was called a Blood Bond. It was the way most vampired controlled their people. Dmitrius did not like using that ability, and, even among his servants, did so very sparingly. Oftentimes he wanted to offer his blood to Kalius, when he was injured or had his power taken away, but he didn't want Kalius to love him because of the bond.
Dmitrius said quietly, "It's insurance. If I don't claim him, someone else might." He stopped, and turned to face Kalius. "So, how does it feel to marry into money?"
Kalius looked up at him, "I wouldn't care if you were poor. I have you. I love you, eranamos."
"I love you, erastes," Dmitrius said, and the two men kissed under the moonlight.