| WARNING: THIS CHP CONTAINS SOME SERIOUS RAPE ISSUES. Chapter 24 Nancy ventured out of the kitchen, heading upstairs to do her morning check. She walked through the great room, and stopped. Tracy was asleep on the couch. "Morning Nancy," Brian said, scaring her. She looked up to see him floating to the ground. "Mr. Brian, you scared me," she said, as he landed and turned to head back up the stairs. "Sorry," he said. "Um Mr. Brian, why are you still up?" she asked. He stopped at the foot of the stairs, "I need to practice." "You need to sleep too," she reminded him. "I'm not tired," he lied. Nancy smiled at him, "Yes you are honey, I can see it on your face. Now go on up to bed." Brian sighed, knowing he wasn't going to win. Nancy had years of dealing with vampires under her belt, and she could read him almost as well as Tracy. Nancy walked over and started to pull a blanket out of a closet. "I'll take her up," Brian said, going over to the couch and picking Tracy up. "Thank you dear," Nancy said, following him up the stairs. Tracy stirred in his arms, "Brian? Where are we going?" she asked, her voice full of sleep. "To bed," he answered. "Mmm K," she said, her eyes closed and asleep again in seconds. Nancy chuckled, making Brian smile. He topped the stairs and allowed Nancy to go in front of him. She opened Tracy's door and turned down her bed. Brian gently laid her down, and Nancy went about taking her shoes off and making her comfortable, before pulling the blanket over her and kissing her forehead. Brian leaned against the door frame, touched by the love that Nancy held for Tracy. Like a mother and child relationship, only sometimes it was hard to tell who was who. Tracy was so much older than Nancy, had practically raised her, but it was Nancy that took the motherly role with her. Nancy turned to leave the room, seeing Brian staring at her. He smiled, "You love her a lot." "Yes I do. She's my life," Nancy answered, "Now, you need to rest too." Brian left the room with her and walked down the hall to his own. The sun was peeking through the windows, and it had been days since he'd seen the sun rise. "Would you like anything before you go to bed?" Nancy asked. He shook his head, "No thank you." "Have a good sleep Mr. Brian," she said, passing him and heading to the stairs. "Goodnight Nancy," he said, stepping inside his room and closing the door. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick moaned, turning his head. He opened his eyes, trying to figure out where he was. His head throbbed, and his arms hurt. He raised his head, and tried to pull his arms down from over his head. They wouldn't move. He glanced up, seeing he was tied to the bed. Suddenly everything came back to him. "Kevin!" he yelled, wincing as the sound made his head hurt worse. He pulled on his hands, but couldn't budge. Kevin calmly walked into the room, towel drying his hair, "Morning Nick." "Don't fucking morning me! Untie me!" Nick spat. Kevin pulled the towel from his head and stared at him, "Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Nick glared at him, "Untie me," he demanded. "Fine, hold your horses," Kevin said, tossing the towel on the bed and moving to Nick's feet. He untied them, then turned to face him, "I want you know that I did this for your own good." Nick rolled his eyes, looking away from him. "Nick, I called Michael," Kevin said, as he untied his right hand. Nick's head shot back around, "What? Why?" "Your behavior last night," he answered, untying his left hand, "He want's to see you when we get to LA." Nick sat up and rubbed his wrists, "I don't wanna go." "You don't have a choice," Kevin said, "He want's to run some tests on you." Now Nick looked frightened, "Tests? What kind of tests?" "I don't know the exact tests kiddo, but you scared me last night. You were like a man possessed," Kevin said, sitting on the edge of the bed and staring at him, "Michael wants to see if something's wrong." "What would be wrong?" Nick asked, moving from rubbing his wrists to his head. Kevin sighed, running his hand through his wet hair, "There have been slayers in the past that couldn't turn it off. They were great slayers, very talented, but the need drove them crazy. We found they carried a gene, that predisposed them to that behavior." Nick looked up at him, "So he wants to see if I have it?" Kevin nodded. "What happens if I do?" Nick asked, becoming worried. "We're working on a drug that will calm it, but it's still in the experimental stage," he admitted. "Oh well that's just fucking great," Nick said, "What do I do until then?" Kevin placed his hand on Nick's shoulder, "Calm down, we don't even know if you have it yet." Nick sighed, looking out the window. "Until we know, you'll be staying with me. I can't let you go out, not until you're healed, and I can't risk you going out on your own," Kevin told him, "It's to dangerous." Nick looked back up at him, "I can take care of myself." Kevin studied the pattern on the bedspread, "Nick, there's something else. If you have this gene, the vampires will want you. Something about mixing your blood with theirs, it creates a lot of power." Nick swallowed hard, "I wish you hadn't told me that." "Sorry kid, but you need to know," he said, standing up and moving to the door, "Now get dressed, we got an interview in a couple hours." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Well good morning Howard, you sound chipper," Eli said. Howie smiled, "I am, Eli." "Well, you gonna tell me or leave me in suspense?" Eli asked. Howie laughed, "Sorry man, I met a girl, and she's just ..... wonderful." Eli raised an eyebrow, "Oh really? Well tell me bout her." Howie smiled, taking a sip of his tea, "Well, she's beautiful, inside and out. Her personality is so wonderful. She's so sweet and caring, and so genuine. We have so much in common, it's scarey, and her eyes ...." he sighed, "her eyes take my breath away." Eli grinned, "Well, she sounds great. Is she sanguine?" Howie nearly spat his tea out, "Eli, how can you even ask that? I'd think I'd know if I was dating a vampire." "Would you?" Eli asked, "You sound pretty taken with her, your feelings might be clouding your senses." Howie rolled his eyes, "Listen, I didn't call you to have my love life debated." Eli raised his hands, even though Howie couldn't see them, "Alright, alright. You know I'm just looking out for you, I didn't mean to offend you." "It's Ok Eli, I just ......." "I know man, and if she's all you say she is, I'm happy for you," Eli said. "Thanks, now when are we meeting in LA?" Howie asked. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Slowly Brian opened his eyes. His surroundings didn't look familiar. He glanced around the room, noticing the dark wood furniture, the tapestry's hanging from the walls. Somehow he knew they were his, but from where he wasn't sure. He rolled over onto his back, feeling the sheets against his bare skin. He looked down, raising the blanket. He was naked under the sheets, which made him look around the room for his clothes. He never slept in the buff, it was hazardous, especially on tour with a bunch of pranksters. His eyes fell on the closet, the door open. The clothes that hung within were turn of the century. Shirts with frills on the front and the sleeves, high boots, fitting pants. His blood ran cold, as he sat up, the blanket pooling around his waist. "Well Toto, we aren't in Kansas anymore," he muttered, swinging his leg over the edge of the bed to get up. Just then the door opened, freezing him in his tracks. He quickly pulled his leg back up and grabbed the blanket, holding it firmly in place. "Ahh, my love, you're awake," Raven said, entering the room, with a glass in her hand. He glanced at it, recognizing the drink. She moved to his side and sat down, smiling at him, "Here, drink," she said, offering him the glass. He shook his head, "I-I'm not thirsty." She forced the glass into his hand, "You need your strength my love." Brian looked down at the glass, each time she spoke to him his skin crawled, yet he couldn't move. It was like an unseen force that held him in place. He realized she was watching him, so he drank the liquid, handing the glass back to her. She took it, placing it on the table next to the bed. Then she climbed into bed with him. Brian pulled the blanket tight around him, "Um ....I don't ....." Raven smirked, "Since when are you shy?" He scooted to the other side of the bed, "I um I just don't think that ....." She laughed, reaching over and taking his wrist in her hand, pulling him back, "My love, I chose you for this honor, are you not willing?" He looked at her, not understanding what she was talking about. "You don't remember," she stated, trailing her fingers down his face, "It happens sometimes. You my dear, are my mate. I've chosen you among hundreds to walk with me." Her fingers reached the fresh bite marks on his neck and he winced. "Soon you won't hurt," she told him, leaning in and gently kissing his lips. Brian's entire body stiffened. He wanted to push her away, but he couldn't make his arms move. He seemed frozen with fear. Raven didn't seem to notice as she continued to kiss down his jaw to his neck. Her hands roamed his body, and he whimpered. Not out of pleasure, but out of sheer terror. She lifted her head, her hair falling around his face. Her fangs glistened as she smiled at him, "Theophilus, make love to me." Brian stared at her wide eyed, as she leaned down and sank her fangs into his neck. He jerked, trying with everything he had to fight her. It lasted a second, that will to fight. It was replaced by an intense feeling of pleasure as she began to nip and suck at his neck. Brian's mind was screaming at him to run, but his body only responded to Raven. He stared at the ceiling, tears in his eyes, as he realized he wasn't getting away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tracy sat in the kitchen, having her breakfast. She had woken in the late afternoon, and after Nancy informed her that Brian was still up when she started her day, she decided to let him sleep. He needed his rest. She looked out the window, as she popped a strawberry into her mouth. It was still sunny outside, but it would set in a few hours. "Miss Tracy," Nancy said, walking into the kitchen holding her cell phone, "It's a Mr. Howie." Tracy took the phone, "Hello watcher." Howie smiled, "Hello Tracy, how are you?" "Good," she answered. "Um is Brian there?" he asked. "He's still sleeping," she said, "Something up?" "Well, not really. I just wanted to make sure he would be meeting us in LA tomorrow afternoon," he said. "Yes, we'll be there. What about the slayers?" she asked. He sighed, "They don't know. They all bought the story I came up with. In fact, they think he's sick and just not telling anyone." She nodded, "We can work with that." "I thought you could. How's he doing? Is he learning everything he needs?" he asked. She grinned, "Yes, he's a fast learner." "That's good, cause um, Nick seems to be very adept," Howie warned. "He won't feel him Howie," she assured him. "I hope not. So, I'll see you guys tomorrow then?" he said. "Yes, we'll be there," she said. "Alright, see you then," Howie said. "Goodbye watcher," Tracy smiled, ending the call. Nancy looked down at her, "You are friendly with a watcher?" "He's Brian's friend. He was trying to help him until Eli called me," she explained. Nancy shook her head, "I still don't see why you keep in contact with that man." Tracy laughed, "Eli is nice once you get to know him." "But still, a watcher," Nancy said, feigning disgust. "Now Nancy, we don't judge people by what they choose in life. Some are vampires, some are slayers and some are watchers. Whatever floats their boat," Tracy giggled. Nancy shook her head, clearing Tracy's dishes from the table. She was halfway to the sink when Brian's screams filled the house. Tracy was up and out of the room before she could blink, leaving her to run up the stairs after her. Tracy ran into Brian's room, finding him sitting on the bed, his head in his hands rocking back and forth. Tears streamed down his face and he trembled violently. He was still screaming at the top of his lungs. "Brian!" she said, grabbing his arms, "Honey wake up." He jerked back from her, "Get away from me!" he yelled, his tears coming faster. Tracy didn't try to touch him again, instead she ventured into his mind. Brian, shhhh, it's me Tracy. Honey, you're having a nightmare and you need to wake up. After what seemed like an eternity, Brian glanced up at her, "Tracy?" She nodded, "Yes, it's me." Nancy came into the room, out of breath from climbing the stairs so fast, "Is he alright?" Brian curled himself into a ball, hugging a pillow, weeping. Tracy got up and moved to the door, "No, I don't think he is. Go down and prepare his breakfast, I'll see what I can do." "Yes ma'am," Nancy said, turning and leaving the room, Tracy shutting the door behind her. Slowly she walked back to the bed, sitting on the edge. She reached out and touched his shoulder, and he jerked back. "Brian, it's alright," she soothed, "I'm not going to hurt you." He knew that, he just couldn't stop his reaction. He was crying so hard it hurt. "Honey, tell me what happened," she said. He shook his head, still unable to bring his tears under control. Tracy sat with him for a long time, just watching him cry. Eventually he let her touch his arm, and now she was rubbing his back, helping to calm him down. As his tears stopped, she gave him a reassuring smile. He sniffed, wiping his face on the pillow that was already soaked with his tears. "Honey, tell me what upset you," she said, her voice kind and soft. Brian shuddered. He didn't know if he could say the words. Tracy waited patiently, as he got the courage to talk. "I um," he cleared his throat and coughed, "I had a dream. I was in this bedroom, and um ......she was there," he said, new tears in his eyes. "I think it was a memory of when ......she um, when she turned Theophilus. But instead of him, it was me," he began to cry again, "I-I couldn't move. I c-couldn't make her stop!" Tracy gently took his hand and squeezed it, the horror of his dream showing on her own face. He glanced up at her, tears running down his cheeks, "I feel like ..... like I've been raped," he whispered, quickly looking away from her. "Oh honey," she said, pulling him into her arms and letting him cry on her shoulder. "I feel so dirty! I didn't w-want her to ......." he cried. Tracy rubbed his back, "I know sweetie, shhhh. I'm right here, and I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, I swear." Brian held onto her tighter, "I can't get her out of my head. I can still feel her ......" Tracy bit her lip, she was so angry at Raven for putting Brian through this. If the bitch's goal was to break him, she was doing a nice job. Suddenly Brian sat straight up, frantically rubbing his arms. "I gotta get her off," he mumbled, heading to the bathroom. Tracy followed him, tears in her eyes, as he climbed into the shower, clothes and all, and turned on the hot water, letting it scald his skin, as he rubbed it raw. Tracy turned the water off and stepped into the shower with him, grabbing his hands. "No!" He cried, "I-I can still feel her touching me. I g-gotta make her s-stop!" Tracy pulled him into her arms and held him tight, even though he fought to break away. "Brian, shhh. She's not here, she can't hurt you," she soothed. "She already did!" he wailed. Tracy held him tighter, as they both slid down the side of the shower to floor. She gently rocked him back and forth, until he'd cried himself to sleep. Chapter 25 |