| Chapter 23 "Come on Kev, I'm fine," Nick argued. Kevin shook his head, "I said no. You aren't 100% and until you are, we aren't going." Nick sat on the couch in Kevin's room his arms crossed over his chest, "You're being overly cautious." Kevin shook his head, "Nick, you just got bit last night, or did you forget?" "No I didn't forget," Nick huffed, glaring at the older man. "Listen, we've had a long day, and you're not healed, so we aren't going," Kevin said. Nick got up and walked over to the window, peering out at the strip. "There's suppose to be a stronghold here," he muttered. "You aren't going," Kevin reiterated. Nick turned and stared at him, "You don't understand, I have to go." Kevin stared at him, seeing the fire in his eyes, "No you don't." "Yes I do Kevin. I can't explain it, but if I don't go, I'll go insane! It's not that I like doing this, it's that I have to. There's this need inside of me, and if I miss a night, I feel like I failed. I can't do that," Nick said, running his hand through his hair. Kevin stared at him. Nick reminded him of an addict that was on the verge of withdrawals and needing a fix bad. "Nick, I can't let you go. You're not healed, and you could get hurt," he said. Nick chewed on his lip, glancing at the door, "I'm sorry Kevin, but I'll go without you," he said, moving towards it. Kevin quickly got up and blocked his path. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but you aren't going and that's final," he huffed. "You can't stop me," Nick said, faking a right, and easily moving around the other man. He had the door half open when Kevin grabbed him from behind and threw him back into the room, slamming the door shut. "Nickolas, you are not going, even if I have to tie you up," he said. "I have to!" Nick screamed, moving for the door again. Kevin grabbed him by the arm, turning him around and planted a punch right into his left temple. Nick staggered back, blinking his eyes rapidly, still trying to make it to the door. Kevin punched him again, this time sending Nick to the floor, unconscious. He quickly retrieved his backpack from his luggage and pulled out a small bottle. He dabbed a bit of the liquid onto a cloth, careful not to breathe it in, and held the cloth over Nick's mouth and nose for a minute. "I'm sorry kid, but this is for your own good," he told Nick, even though the boy couldn't hear him. After a moment he returned the cloth to his bag and drug Nick to the extra bed, placing him on it. For good measure, he tied him to the bed with some rope he always had in his backpack, just for emergencies. Well, this was sort of an emergency. Someone knocked on the door and Kevin looked in that direction, "God dammit, now what?" he muttered, leaving the bedroom and stalking across the suite to the door, opening it up. "Hey Kevin," A.J. said, "Everything Ok? I heard some yelling." Kevin pulled the door to himself, so A.J. couldn't see into his room, "Yeah J, everything's fine." A.J. stared at him, "Are you sure? I heard Nick yelling." Kevin shrugged, "We had an argument, everything's fine now." A.J. stepped toward the door, and Kevin stiffened, "Kev, something's wrong, I can tell, what is it?" He cleared his throat, "Nothing man, listen I'm really busy so I'll talk to you later, Ok?" Kevin started to shut the door in A.J's face, but A.J. ducked under his arm and waltzed into the room, "Now Kev, I'm not leaving until you tell me what ..........." He stopped in mid sentence, seeing Nick in the extra bedroom. His eyes widened, and he turned to Kevin, "What the hell is going on?!" Kevin looked down at the floor, he didn't need this right now. A.J. rushed into the bedroom, shaking Nick, "Nick, bud, come on wake up." He looked back at Kevin, "What did you do to him? Answer me you motherfucker!" Kevin jumped at the rage in A.J.'s voice, looking up at the younger man, "Alex, listen, it's not what it seems." "Not what it seems?! Nick is unconscious, tied up in your bed. Just what the hell is it if it's not what it seems?!" A.J. spat. "He was going to leave, I couldn't let him. He'll get hurt," Kevin said. A.J. started to untie Nick. "Don't do that," Kevin warned. "You are sick," he said, pointing at Kevin, "I'm getting Nick out of here and then I'm calling the police." "You'll do no such thing," Kevin said, stepping closer. A.J. held his ground, "Or what Kevin? You'll tie me up too? You better fucking tell me what the hell is up or I'll scream so loud they'll hear me in LA." Kevin bit his lip. He knew if A.J. yelled like he threatened to, the body guards would be in the room in no time. He didn't need this, dammit! A.J. started to take a big breath, getting ready for his scream. Kevin held his hands up, "No don't! I'll tell you, just don't yell." A.J. glared at him, "Untie the kid." Kevin shook his head, "No, leave him. Let me tell you first, then you'll understand." A.J. looked down at Nick for a moment, then back at Kevin. He moved toward the door, "Alright, but this better be good, otherwise your ass is grass man, and I mean it." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian walked into a large room. There were several people lounging on sofas and pillows. He looked to the end of the room, seeing what looked like a stage. It had a throne sitting on it, with a large steel table to the side. The walls where adorned with chains, like a dungeon, but noone filled them. He slowly walked through the crowd, drawn to the stage. Everyone he passed, bowed, and kindly moved out of his way. He stopped a few feet from the stage, just staring. "What's wrong my love?" Raven purred from behind him. Brian jumped and quickly turned around. Where did she come from? Raven stepped towards him, tilting her head to the side, studying his face, "What troubles you?" Brian backed up, "Stay away from me." Raven looked hurt, "My love, your throne is being set, see ..." she pointed to the stage. Brian turned to look, seeing several men carrying in another throne, placing it by the first. Raven wrapped her arms around him, "See, I told you we were equals," she whispered. Chills ran down Brian's spine, but he didn't dare try to move. He was to afraid to. Raven crossed in front of him, taking his hand and pulling him up to the stage. "Soon we will have everything we've dreamed of," she cooed, sitting down on her thrown. She pulled Brian down, to sit on his own. He stared at her, and swore he was looking straight into the face of the devil himself. She smiled at him, then clapped her hands, "Bring him out," she ordered. Brian looked to the back of the room, as someone was lead in. They traversed the crowd, coming to the front of the room. Brian couldn't breathe, his mouth dropping to the floor, as the men chained their captive to the wall. "Do you like your present?" Raven asked. Brian shook his head, but couldn't find any words. Nick stared at him, disbelief in his eyes, "Brian?" he said in shock. Raven laughed, the haunting sound filling the room, as she glared at Nick, "There is no Brian here, slayer." Nick kept his eyes on Brian, ignoring her, "Brian, please help me. They're gonna kill me!" Brian couldn't believe the words as they came out of his mouth, "The name's Theophilus, slayer! Get it straight!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tracy sat up, as Brian started to squirm in bed. She moved to his side, seeing the sweat on his forehead, his eyes moving rapidly behind closed lids. He moaned, and his breathing became short and fast. "Brian, wake up," she demanded, shaking him. His eyes flew open and he sat straight up, looking like he'd seen a ghost. "Shhh, it's alright," she said, "You where having a dream." He lifted a trembling hand to rub his face, "That was no dream. That was a nightmare." Tracy looked at him, concerned, "What was it about?" He shook his head, closing his eyes, "I don't wanna talk about it." She sighed, "It was about Raven then?" He nodded. He should know better than to try and keep things from her. She could read him like a book. Tracy pulled his hand from his face, looking deep into his eyes, "Tell me." He swallowed hard, "There were a lot of people there, and these thrones. She made me sit on the thrones with her, and then they brought Nick in. He begged me to help him, and I yelled at him. Told him that ..... um ..... I said my name was Theophilus," he said softly, biting his lower lip. Tracy looked down at their hands at the mention of his name. "Is she making me dream this?" he asked. "I'm not sure," she answered, "She could be." "But how, I don't understand how she can do this," he said, the frustration and fear evident in his voice. Tracy looked up at him, "You share a bond. She will always be able to feel you and speak to you, no matter where you are, because she's your sire. You're bound by the blood you shared." "How can I break it?" he asked. "You can't honey. You will have that bond with her until one of you dies," she said. Brian heaved a great sigh, "Tracy?" "Yes?" "Kill me," he said, staring at her in all seriousness. She shook her head, "I have a better idea. How bout we kill her instead?" He seemed to think about it for a moment, "When?" She smiled at him, "First we have to get you trained. Then we can go after her." He got to his feet and headed for the door, "Come on then, times a waistin." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A.J. stared at Kevin. Kevin had just told him everything. From the time he became a slayer to the moment Nick found out and asked to be one. It was quite a long story, spanning several years. Most of which had been spent with the group. Kevin waited for A.J. to say something, anything. Instead he just sat there staring at him. "Well are ya gonna say something?" he asked, impatiently. A.J. rubbed his goatee, "That's everything? That's the story you expect me to believe? That the world is full of vampires and you and Nick are slayers? Come on Kevin, you've been watching to many horror movies," he spat, glaring at him, "Now fucking tell me the real reason Nicky's in there or I'll hand you over to the police myself." Kevin sighed, getting up and rummaging through his bags. "I didn't wanna do this, but you leave me no choice," he said. A.J. raised an eyebrow, ready for anything that Kevin might throw at him. After a moment, Kevin found what he was looking for. He pulled a video tape out of his bag and walked to the VCR, flipping it on. "This is a tape we made. It has Nick's first kill on it," he explained as the tape started. A.J. watched as Nick ran after someone. He couldn't tell where they were, it was to dark. The tape jerked, as Kevin was running behind Nick, filming. Nick tackled the man, bringing him to the ground. The man twisted in Nick's arms baring his fangs, then tossing Nick off him. The two got to their feet and faced each other. "What are you waiting for?" Nick taunted, raising his hand and motioning with his fingers, "Come and get me fang face!" The man lunged at Nick. Nick ducked and turned at the same time, using the man's momentum to plunge the stake into his chest. "HOLY MOO CAKES!!!" A.J. yelled, staring at Kevin wide eyed. Kevin shut off the tape, "Now do you believe me?" A.J. glanced at Nick in the other room, then at Kevin. It took him a moment to get his composure back, "Um ...." he cleared his throat, "Yeah I guess so, but why is Nick ....?" Kevin held up his hand, "I'll explain later, right now I gotta make a call." A.J. watched as Kevin grabbed his cell and dialed a number. "Yes, this is Richardson, I need to speak to Michael." He waited a moment, "Michael, it's Kevin, I've got a problem. I just had to restrain Nick from going out. He was ranting about how if he didn't go he'd go nuts or something....... uh huh.......yeah......... shit, you sure?............ yeah, alright, as soon as we get there man, ........... you got it..... bye." "What was that about?" A.J. asked. Kevin sighed, "That was my supervisor. I gotta take Nick into headquarters once we get to LA. He want's to run some tests." A.J. looked worried, "What kinda tests?" Kevin shook his head, "Not sure." A.J. sighed, slumping back in the chair he occupied. Kevin sat across from him, "You alright with all this?" A.J. laughed, "What? With all the vampires and slayers? Are you kidding? I'm freaking. I mean, anyone could be a vamp, ya know? This puts a whole new meaning to my dating life. Now along with the usual questions like, you seeing anybody, I gotta ask, Ohh by the way, do you have fangs?" Kevin chuckled, "So your Ok then." A.J. rolled his eyes, "Yeah, hunky dorey. Wait till Howie hears this, he'll flip." "You can't tell him J. No one else can know, got it?" Kevin warned. "So your gonna keep him in the dark?" he asked. "I have to, for our safety as well as his. If they were to find out we're slayers, they'll use you guys to get to us. That's why we didn't tell you in the first place," Kevin answered. A.J. sighed, "Fine, I won't tell him." "You promise?" Kevin asked. "Yeah, I promise," he said, crossing his heart. AN: Thanks 'Leisha and Fel for the quote. LOVE U!! Chapter 24 |