| Chapter 13 Howie paced back and forth, his cell phone to his ear. He had gone straight to his room after seeing Brian off and grabbed his phone. "Come on, pick up," he said, eagerly. "Hello?" "Eli, it's me," he said. "Howie? What is it?" the older man asked. Howie sat down on his couch, only to stand back up again, "I've had a shitty day Eli." He laughed, "Well, I could tell it wasn't all roses by the sound of your voice. Care to share?" "Well, first Nick and Kevin got into a fight, a bad one. Then Brian vamped out on me, went into a blood lust and almost had me for lunch," Howie explained. "Oh no, are you alright?" Eli asked, concerned. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Tracy got there in time, oh and by the way, she is majorly pissed at you," he added. Eli sighed, "I've already been graced by a phone call from her." Howie raised his eyebrows, and smiled. "Oh yeah? I would've liked to have heard that conversation," he laughed. Eli groaned, "No, you wouldn't have. I'm lucky she's a nice girl with morals and a sense of responsibility or I'd be in some hole somewhere by now. So, is Brian alright? Did Tracy get him under control, or did he hurt someone else?" Howie sat down, sinking into the couch cushions, "No, he didn't hurt anyone. She took him, they left a few minutes ago." "What do you mean she took him? Took him where?" Eli asked. "To her house. Brian isn't learning anything with her just being here a few hours a night. He's falling apart, and we don't have much time. So, she took him with her," Howie clarified. Eli was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I see." "You act like that's a bad thing," Howie said. "No, no it's not ...but, I was just hoping that with you with him, we'd get a better detailed account of what's going on," the older man said. "I know Eli, but this really is the only way. Brian's in danger the longer he goes without learning how to control his abilities," Howie said, "Oh and speaking of danger ... um I need you to check on something for me." "What's that?" Eli asked. "Check with some of your contacts at VSA and see if Nick has joined. Brian is convinced he's the slayer, said there was proof on his computer," he said. "Ok, I'll check it out," Eli said. "Thanks, I'll see if I can snoop around here and maybe see what Brian's talking about," Howie said. "You do that, but don't get caught," Eli warned, with a laugh. Howie rolled his eyes, "I haven't been discovered yet have I?" "No but there's always a first time for everything," Eli said, "And if you have two slayers to worry about instead of one, well ...." "I'll be careful Eli," Howie interrupted, "I promise." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian stared out the window as the limo left the city and moved past the suburbs. The night was clear, and the farther from the city lights they got, the more stars he could see. He wasn't sure what he was doing anymore. He barely knew Tracy, yet he was trusting her with his life. Going to stay at her home. Already she'd seen the worst of him, all the crying and breaking down he'd done. He hated for people to see him at less than perfect, and since this nightmare had started he had been far from perfect. His mental state was fragile at best, a side of himself he'd rarely seen, let alone anyone else. The closest he'd come to this kind of mental break down was when he went in for his heart surgery. Just before he'd been taken back to the operating room, everything hit him, and he cracked. He sighed and looked over. Tracy smiled at him, "You're awfully quiet, are you alright?" Brian had to smile at the question, he'd never be alright again. "I was just thinking," he answered, his voice soft. "You can talk to me if you want," she offered, "I've been there. I know what you're going through." Brian bit his lip and looked down at his lap. She was the only one that knew what he was going through, yet he still felt the need to keep his feelings to himself. To hide them away, hoping they would disappear. The limo slowed and turned, stopping at a massive gate. Brian looked ahead, only seeing a paved drive that lead into a forest of trees. "We're here," Tracy said, smiling. Brian nodded, watching as the gate slowly opened and the driver drove through. The car moved into the trees and wound uphill for a moment before emerging from the forest. Brian's mouth dropped open at the sight of the house. It looked more like a castle than a house. Large stone work, several stories high, ornate detail on the massive doors, huge windows. "This is your house?" he asked. "One of them," she answered, as the car came to a stop and she got out. Brian fumbled with the door handle for a moment, then climbed out, "One of them? How many do you have?" She thought for a moment, "Um, six." His eyes widened, and she laughed. "I've been around a while Brian, you tend to accumulate some wealth after the first hundred years or so," she said, as the driver came around and retrieved Brian's bag from the trunk. She took his hand and lead him to the doors. Brian glanced up at the house, as she pulled him along. Before they reached them, the doors flew open, "Miss Tracy!! So good to have you home," a woman in her mid-fifties greeted. "Hello Nancy, great to be home," Tracy said, entering her house, "This is Brian, he'll be staying with us." Brian pulled his gaze from the house to Nancy, "Hi, nice to meet you," he said, shaking her hand. "Good to meet you too Mr. Brian," she replied, taking his bag from the driver. "That will be all Trent," Tracy said, dismissing him as Nancy headed up the stairs with Brian's bag. "Yes ma'am," the driver said, turning and leaving the house. "Give me a moment to ready a room, then I'll have supper on," Nancy called as she disappeared on the second floor. Brian stood in the entryway, gawking at the house. The furnishings where the finest he'd ever seen. The place was warm, and friendly, inviting. Warm natural wood graced the floors, polished to a high gloss. Natural colors filled the rooms, from the upholstery to the walls. The staircase was a work of art, splitting on the second floor into two. Brian assumed they became one again the higher the floor, but he wasn't sure, he couldn't see that far up. Tracy stood back and watched him. Brian wondered around the first floor, looking at everything. He had a look of awe on his face that she found quite adorable. Much like that of a child who'd never seen a toy store, and then suddenly thrust into the middle of one. Nancy came back down the stairs and hurried off to the kitchen to prepare their supper. Brian turned to face her, "This is amazing." She smiled, "Thanks, I like it." Brian glanced up the stairs. "Go ahead," she said, gesturing for him to go on up, "Anything you find is your's to use as long as you're here." Brian nodded, slowly walking up the stairs, taking everything in. As he disappeared onto the second floor, Nancy came out of the kitchen. "Miss Tracy, your dinner is served," she announced. "Thank you Nancy," she said. Nancy looked up the staircase, "He's easy on the eyes." Tracy grinned, blushing, "Yes he is." "Is he yours?" she asked. "No," Tracy answered. "Aww, to bad. He would've been nice to have around," Nancy teased. Tracy laughed, swatting the other woman on the arm, "You, my friend, are incorrigible." Nancy grinned, batting her eyelashes, "Who me?" Tracy stared at her, "He is a friend, and I'm helping him out. That's all, so none of your matchmaking, got it?" Nancy sighed, looking disappointed, "If you say so." "I say so," Tracy reiterated. Nancy moved to go back into the kitchen, "You can't spend eternity alone," she told her. Tracy sighed, looking back up the stairs, "I know," she whispered, "I know." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie walked down the hall. He found the door he was looking for and knocked. A second later the door flew open, "Oh hey D, whatcha want?" Nick asked, pulling on an overcoat. "Um, well, I was wondering if I could borrow your computer," Howie said, noticing Nick pick up a backpack and sling it over his shoulder, "You going somewhere?" "Yeah," Nick answered, walking across the room and grabbing his laptop, handing it to him on his way out the door. "Thanks," Howie said, "So where are you going?" Nick grinned, "Out." Howie stood there, staring at the younger man. Neither moved. "So what ya want the computer for?" Nick asked. "Um, well ....I saw this commercial about this neat little gadget, and I wanted to look at the web site," he stammered. Nick's eyebrows went up, "Oh? What does it do?" Howie bit his lip, "Um, well it uh ... see it um ....." Nick laughed, "It's Ok D, I won't tell anyone you're looking at porn on my computer." "I'm not ...." Howie protested. "Oh come on, just admit it. That's what A.J. uses it for," Nick laughed. Howie felt his face turn beat red, "You promise you won't tell?" Nick grinned, "Promise." Howie nodded, quickly heading back to his room and shutting the door. What else could he do? Nick stood in the hall, waiting. Finally the door across from his opened. "Finally," he mumbled. Kevin glared at him, adjusting his own backpack, "Be nice little man, or I won't take you with me." Nick held his tongue, he knew better than to push Kevin, especially about this. The two made their way to the elevator in silence. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Brian, supper is ready," Tracy said, walking into the large music room. Brian was sitting in the middle of the floor, looking over some antique music. He looked up, "Supper? I thought vampires didn't eat food?" She smiled, "That's what movies and books have portrayed. We do eat, just not what you would think." He got up and followed her out of the room and down the stairs, "So what do they eat then?" "Fruits, vegetables, the occasional meat and dairy," she said, as they entered the formal dinning room. The table could easily have seated twenty. At the end, the head chair, and one next to it where set. "Allow me," Brian said, pulling the head chair out for Tracy to sit. She smiled, "And I thought chivalry died ages ago." Brian smiled, "Well, I'm kinda old fashioned," he said, taking his seat. The table was set with an array of fruits. Tracy helped herself, then poured them both a glass from the bottle that was already open. "Now, these foods won't sustain us on their own, but paired with the drink, are very good," she explained. Brian nodded, taking a little of each one to try. "The strawberries are the best. They bring out all the flavor," Tracy said. "Like they do with champagne?" he asked. She nodded. Brian took a bite of a strawberry then sipped his drink. His tongue came alive with the distinct sweetness of the drink. "Ohhh that's good," he commented. Tracy smiled at him as he tried different fruits, determining which ones he liked best. So far he had strawberries, kiwi and cantaloupe that he liked. She watched as he took a bite of an apple and then sipped the drink, making a disgusted face and spitting it out, "Eww that's nasty." She laughed, "The apple is an acquired taste at best." The two ate in silence for a few moments, until Brian yawned. "Are you tired?" she asked. He nodded, "It's been a long day." "And your sleep pattern's haven't changed yet," she noted. "Changed?" he asked. "Yes, soon you will sleep during the day, and be awake at night," she explained. He sighed, stabbing another strawberry with his fork, "I can't do that all the time. My job ...I have to do stuff during the day too," he said, biting the berry then taking a drink. "I know," she said, "I'm sure you will find a pattern that will allow you to rest. Everyone is a little different." He nodded, yawning again, "Sorry." Tracy smiled at him, "It's alright, come with me and I'll show you your room." Brian got up and followed her upstairs. This time to the third floor. She lead him into a large bedroom. The walls where dark mahogany, matching the floor. Heavy drapes adorned the windows and the French doors leading out onto a spacious balcony. The bathroom was all marble with gold fixtures. Brian's clothes hung in the huge walk in closet, his bag placed in the corner. The bed was enormous. Covered in dark green satin sheets and velvet comforter, with huge pillows. "If there's anything you don't like, let me know and I'll have it changed," she said. Brian shook his head, "No, it's perfect." "Well then, my room is at the end of the hall if you need anything. Feel free to look around in the morning, Nancy will be up to see to you," she said, turning towards the door, "I'll be up later in the afternoon, then we can go and get you signed up with the Network. Goodnight, Brian." "Night Tracy," he said as she left and shut the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie stared at the computer screen in shock. He closed his eyes and ran his hand through his curly hair. "This can't happen, I can't handle two of them," he muttered, pulling out his cell phone. It rang several times before Eli answered with a sleepy �hello?' "Eli, I know it's late, but I got the proof right here in front of me," Howie said. "Proof?" Eli asked. "Nick is a card carrying member of VSA. He joined a month ago," Howie read, "I need help here Eli, I can't handle them both." Eli sighed, "What's your schedule like?" "We're here for a few days, then we hit Vegas for a few then out to LA," he answered. "And when is Brian going to rejoin you, or is he?" the older man asked. "He is, in LA," Howie said. "Alright, I'll meet you in LA then," Eli said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian had found his pajamas and got into them. Then he went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. By the time he was done with that, he was literally falling asleep standing up. He climbed into the massive bed, sinking into it. He sighed, having never felt more comfortable in his life. The feel of the sheets against his skin was just heaven. Suddenly he was wide awake, the thoughts of tomorrow running through his head. Since he'd been bitten he had refused to acknowledge his life was changing. Sure he did the things necessary to keep himself hidden from everyone, but in his heart he denied it. He couldn't deny it anymore. Tomorrow he was going to get signed up with the Network. He would have to admit to someone besides Howie and Tracy that he was a vampire. He cringed at the thought. Still he couldn't get past his preconceived notions. He still saw what he was becoming as evil, and something he didn't want to be. He turned on his side, and pulled a pillow to his chest, hugging it. A great loss filled his soul as he realized he'd have to give up his beliefs, his belief in God. He'd have to give up his family, for they would never understand what he was now. He blinked back tears realizing he was about to lose his �life'. All the things he held so dear to his heart were the things he would lose. Silently he cried into the silky pillow. He didn't bother to ask God why him? He knew He wouldn't answer anyway, most likely to disgusted with the creature he'd become to care. At that moment, Brian felt alone. He could no longer turn to his God, or his family. He was alone in this strange world ...a world he wanted nothing to do with. The only light at the end of the tunnel was Tracy. For the few days he'd known her, she had been nothing but kind and gentle. He'd seen nothing of the evil he'd assumed accompanied a vampire. Maybe she just didn't let him see that side of her? Or maybe ... just maybe it wasn't in her. Maybe there was hope after all? Hope that he could come through this as the person he was before he was bitten. The same kind, caring, loving Brian that everyone knew. And maybe he was just fooling himself? Brian sniffed, closing his eyes. Either way, tomorrow was the start of something. Good or bad he didn't know, and dreaded finding out. Chapter 14 |