| Chapter 2 Raven walked back into the club licking her lips, "Josiah," she yelled over the music. The large man was immediately at her side, "Yes mistress?" "Take him to his hotel and leave him," she instructed, already on her way back to her table. "You aren't keeping him?" he asked, a little shocked. Raven turned to face him, "Do you question me?" Josiah took a step back, "No, not at all." "Then do as I say," she said angrily, turning on her heel and rejoining the men at her table. Josiah turned and headed back to the room he'd placed Brian in. "Sometimes I just don't understand her," he muttered to himself as he entered the room, finding Brian unconscious on the couch. "Boy, she did a number on you," he said, inspecting Brian's bruised wrist, and still bleeding neck. Reluctantly he licked his fingers and held them to the pierce marks, stopping the bleeding. Then he grabbed the towel and wiped the blood from his neck and face. "Hey Jo, whatcha doing?" Josiah looked up to see Jennifer standing in the door. Even after two hundred years, she still looked out of place. Her long curly red hair flowed down her back, her green eyes could see through the hardest of hearts. Still though, she didn't fit with this crowd. She was to laid back. Maybe that's why he allowed her to hang out with him? Who knows. "Taking him into the city," he replied, hoisting Brian up into a sitting position. "Ohh who's child is he?" she asked, seeing the fresh bite marks. "Raven's," he answered, standing up, pulling Brian up with him and hoisting him over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. Jennifer stared at Brian, "Hey doesn't he look like ...?" "Yes, he does," Josiah said, walking past her and through the club. Jennifer followed him to the door, "Can I go?" "Suit yourself," he replied, grabbing Brian's jacket off the hook as he passed by. Jennifer giggled, "Oh goody! I haven't been to the city in ages!" Josiah turned to face her, "This is business Jen, we can't stay and play." Her face fell a little, "Not even for a minute?" Her green eyes pleaded with him. He laughed and shook his head, "Alright, maybe for a minute, but have to take of him first." She clapped her hands, a huge smile on her face as they approached the car. The stars were just showing through the lingering clouds. She stopped and looked up, "It's going to be a beautiful night." Josiah glanced up as he let Brian down, holding him against the body of the car, "Yeah," he said absent-mindedly, as he tried to find the keys in Brian's pockets. Jennifer looked over and laughed, "Here let me, your hands are to big." He moved, letting her slide her slender hands into the pockets, easily fishing out the keys and handing them to him. "You know what your problem is?" she asked as Josiah handed Brian off to her while he opened the car and moved Brian's bag to the trunk. "No, but I'm sure you're gonna tell me," he remarked. She glared at him in mock hurt until he looked at her. "You're to worried about the mistress's wants and needs. She's got you all worked up. You just need to relax and do something for yourself for a change," she said, momentarily forgetting she was holding Brian up and letting him go. "Jen!" Josiah yelled from the back of the car. She grabbed Brian on his way down, but not before he smacked his head on the car. "Oops, sorry," she said. Josiah walked over and inspected the already forming bruise on Brian's forehead, "Oh great, that's gonna leave a mark." Jennifer raised her eyebrows at him, "Like no one's gonna notice his wrist and his neck? Jesus Jo, lighten up." He grabbed Brian from her and placed him the back seat. Jennifer climbed into the passengers seat, pulling Brian's cell phone out from under her as Josiah got in and shut the door. "Nice phone. He's had three missed calls," she said. Josiah took the device from her and turned it off, tossing it in the back seat with its owner. "Alright, now if we can avoid any more accident's we'll be on our way," he said, starting the car and putting it in gear. Jennifer looked out the window as they drove away from the club, "City here we come!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The drive into the city was quiet. Josiah concentrated on where he was going, and Jennifer stared out the window. "Jo, look!" she said, reaching over and hitting his arm, "Let's go there!" He glanced out the window, seeing an all night diner. "You can go anywhere in the city and you want to go there?" he asked. She looked over at him, twirling her long hair, "Yeah, do you know how long it's been since I've had a real old fashioned milk shake?" He laughed, "Girl, you are to much." She grinned, "I know, that's why you love me." Josiah rolled his eyes, as he turned down the street towards Brian's hotel. "Ok, how we doing this?" Jennifer asked, when they pulled into the parking garage. "Well, why don't you go get the key and I'll meet you at the elevators," he suggested. "Alright, but what if someone's in the elevator?" she asked. "Pick one that's empty," he told her, handing her Brian's bag. "OK, see ya in a sec," she said, tossing the bag over her shoulder, then turning back, "What's his name?" "Brian Littrell," he answered. "Got it," she said, heading into the lobby. She made her way to the desk, seeing a very board clerk on the other side. "Evening madam, can I help you?" he asked. "Yeah, I need Brian Littrell's room key," she said. The man tried very hard to refrain from laughing, "Sorry lady." Jennifer glared at him. "Honestly, most of the fans come up with something a little better than that," he laughed. Jennifer nodded, glancing around the lobby to find it deserted. Good. She reached across the desk and pulled the man by his collar to within inches of her face, "His room key, now!" The man stared into her eyes, "Y-yes ma am, right away," he said, fumbling with the key cards. He handed one over to her and she let him go, smiling, "Thank you, have a nice evening." The man blinked a few times, not remembering what had just happened, "Oh uh, you to madam." She walked over to the elevator and pressed the button, waiting for it to open. When it did, she was happy to see it was empty. She stepped in and pressed the button for the top floor. "So, what does he do that he gets the top floor?" she asked, turning to see Josiah with Brian in tow standing behind her. "He sings," he answered. "Ohh, anything I know?" she asked. "Probably not. He's in some boy group thing," he said, adjusting Brian's weight. She laughed, "He's in a boy band? Ohh that's funny!" "Why's that funny?" he asked. "Cause you know he's in a boy band," she laughed. Josiah rolled his eyes, "Children," he muttered. "Hey! Just because I'm not as old as you doesn't mean I'm a child," she said. "Then stop acting like one," he replied as the elevator doors opened and they stepped out. "I'm not acting like one, I'm having fun. Which is something you've forgotten how to do," she whispered angrily, finding Brian's room and swiping the key card through the slot. Josiah pushed her into the room and slammed the door, "Will you just give it a rest already? Let's just drop him off so we can get outta here." "Fine," she said, flipping on the lights, "Ohh nice." "Yeah, yeah," Josiah said, heading into the first bedroom he saw. Jennifer followed behind him, watching as he unceremoniously dropped Brian onto the bed. She sat his bag down on a chair, "You just gonna leave him like that?" Josiah looked over, "Yeah, what's wrong with it?" Now it was Jennifer rolling her eyes, as she went over and pulled Brian's shoes off, placing them on the floor next to the bed. Then she pulled his shirt off, leaving him in his t-shirt, pulling the covers out from under him and covering him up to his waist. "Now, that's how you leave someone, nice and comfy," she said, going to the balcony doors and opening them. Josiah watched her pass him and hop up on the railing, "Now come on, I want my milkshake," she smiled, jumping into the night. He laughed, following behind her, "I swear I'll never understand women," he muttered, as he leapt over the railing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rrrrrriiiiinnnnnggggg Rrrrriiiiinnnnnngggggg. Brian groaned, rolling over and grabbing the phone, "Hello," he said in a very gruff voice. "Brian? God man what time did you get in? I've been calling for a half hour." "Kev?" Brian asked, opening his eyes and looking around. He was in his hotel room. How'd he get here? "Yeah cuz, man you sick or something? You sound like death," Kevin said. Brian sat up, running his hand through his hair, "Um yeah, I think I'm coming down with something." "Well, we gotta be downstairs in forty-five," he said. Brian looked over to see the balcony doors open, the sun shining through, "Oh uh, Ok." "Bri, you sure you're alright?" Kevin asked. "Yeah, I'm fine, see ya in a few," Brian said, hanging up the phone. He looked around the room again. Yup, this was the hotel room. He was in the city, but how did he get there? He shrugged, throwing back the covers and sliding out of bed, only to grab the night stand. His legs were like jello. He sat back down on the side of the bed, trying to figure out why he felt so weak. He took a deep breath, looking down at his hands. "What the ....?" he said, seeing the dark bruise on his wrist. "How did I do that?" he asked, turning his hand around. Suddenly flashes of memories filled his head, and chills ran down his back. He staggered into the bathroom, flipping on the light and looking at himself in the mirror. There were dark circles under his eyes, his skin was pale, and there was a nasty bruise on his forehead. But it was the spots of blood on his t-shirt that sent him into panic. He quickly pulled the t-shirt over his head, seeing the pierce marks on his neck. "Oh God!" he cried, backing up against the wall. His entire body trembled and he broke out into a cold sweat. "That was just a dream, it had to be!" he whispered, taking a step towards the mirror. Tears pricked his eyes as he gently touched the wound with his fingers. Damn it was sore. The realization that what happened wasn't a dream, that it was real, hit him fast and hard. He wrapped his arms around himself and sank to the floor in tears. He could hear himself screaming, but did nothing to stop it. That was until he heard someone banging on the bathroom door. "Brian! What's wrong?" Brian quickly wiped the tears from his face, looking around for his t-shirt, "Uhh nothing Howie. Everything's fine." "Brian, you were screaming your head off, what is it?" Howie asked behind the door. "Uhh there's a really big spider in here," Brian said, wincing at how lame that sounded. Where the hell did he toss that shirt? Brian turned in horror as Howie opened the door, "That was not a spider scream, now what .....?" Howie stopped in mid sentence, seeing Brian standing in the middle of the bathroom, his hand over his neck. "God Bri, what happened?" Howie said, coming over and looking at his bruises. "I uh .. well I kinda had a little accident," he replied. "Did you hurt your neck?" Howie asked, trying to pry Brian's hand away. Brian stepped back and pushed him away, "Don't! And how did you get in here anyway?" "Our rooms join, and the door wasn't locked. Now stop trying to change the subject and let me see your neck," Howie said, taking a step towards him. Brian felt like a caged animal. He couldn't let Howie see his neck. He wouldn't understand. Hell he didn't even understand it. "Bri, I'm not gonna touch it, I just wanna see," Howie said, once again trying to pull his hand away. Brian stepped back again, bumping into the wall behind him, shear fear on his face, "No Howie, please just leave it alone." Howie stared at his young friend, "Bri, what's so bad that it has you this upset?" Brian slowly slid down the wall, tears streaming down his cheeks. He was to weak to stay on his feet. Howie was instantly by his side, "Jesus Brian, let me get a doc." Brian grabbed his arm, "No! No doc's, I'll be Ok." "Brian, this is not Ok," Howie said, "Let me see what happened to you," he said, taking hold of Brian's hand and pulling it back before he could stop him. Brian closed his eyes and winced, waiting for the horrified scream he knew was coming. When he didn't hear it, he looked up. Howie was kneeling beside him, inspecting the wound, a sad expression on his face. "When did this happen?" he asked. Brian looked down at the floor, breaking into sobs, "Last .. night." Howie pulled his friend to him, letting him cry on his shoulder for a moment, "Bri, did you ... did you drink their blood?" Brian nodded against his shoulder, "I didn't ...w-want to, but I-I couldn't stop ...." "Shhh, it's gonna be Ok," Howie soothed, glancing at his watch. Brian pulled back, "This isn't Ok! What's gonna happen to me?!" Howie took a deep breath, "I know Bri, but we don't have time right now to get into this. We've got about twenty-five minutes before we're suppose to be downstairs. Now, get a shower and I'll get you something to eat. That should help with your weakness." Brian struggled to his feet, Howie helping him. "D, you can't tell anyone about this," he said. "I won't. I promise. I'm gonna help you through this, Ok?" he said. Brian sniffed, nodding. "Alright, get in the shower, if you need me, yell," Howie said. "D? You knew what happened to me as soon as you saw me didn't you?" Brian asked. He nodded. "But how?" Howie held his hand up, "I'll tell you everything later, K?" "K," Brian said. Howie stepped out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Tears flooded his eyes as he heard the water in the shower start. He sat down on the bed and pulled is cell phone out of his pocket, dialing. "Hello?" "Eli," he said. "Howie? What's wrong?" Eli asked. Howie took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, "Eli, they got Brian." The older man dropped the book he was holding and sat down in the nearest chair, "Oh no." Chapter 3 |