| Chapter 38
Nick fingered the chain that attached his ankle to the floor. Two women were cleaning his wound, and two men stood watch close by. He wasn�t sure what happened in the car ride over, he�d blacked out for a bit, but when he came to, he was here and Brian was nowhere to be seen. He kept his eyes averted, not wanting to give the vampires in the room the satisfaction of seeing how scared he was. He knew he was in big trouble. Raven obviously knew his blood was something special. He remembered hearing her instruct the women to stop the bleeding. He smiled to himself, a vampire wanting to stop someone from bleeding was a rare thing indeed. Nick sighed, as the two women finished and left the room without a word. He ventured a glance at the men. They looked completely bored. Again he fingered the chain. �Don�t bother, you can�t escape,� one of the men said. Nick looked up, giving him a sly grin, �Never hurts to try.� The other man laughed, �Yes it can.� Nick bit his lip, �You wouldn�t hurt me. Raven wants me alive.� The two glared at him. �Listen boy, just because she wants you alive, doesn�t mean you can�t suffer,� one spat. Nick leaned back against the wall in defeat. The man was right, and he really didn�t want to see what kind of suffering he could endure. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tracy stared out the window. The sun had gone down a few hours ago, and Frank and the rest of her children weren�t back yet. She was starting to worry. She turned around, seeing Howie and A.J. in the same position they�d been in since they returned, right by Kevin�s side. Nancy had done a wonderful job of cleaning Kevin�s wound�s, and making him comfortable. He was lucky. For all the carnage they�d seen in that building, Kevin escaped with some nasty cuts and what they were sure was a broken shoulder. Howie looked up, catching Tracy�s eyes. �He�ll be fine,� she said. He shook his head, a small smile touching his lips, �That�s what I was going to say to you.� A.J. looked over, �What now? That bitch has Nick and Brian, what do we do now?� �We�ll think of something,� Tracy assured him. What, she wasn�t sure herself, but she wasn�t about to give up now. Everyone looked up as Frank entered the room. �There weren�t any other survivors. If any slayers still exist, it�s only because they ran for it,� he said. Tracy nodded, �Thanks for staying, now go get cleaned up, we gotta figure out where they went.� He nodded, turning to leave the room, when he turned back, glancing at Kevin, �He alright?� �He�ll make it,� she answered, smiling at him. �What?� he asked. She shook her head, �Just that you never concerned yourself with the welfare of a slayer before.� Frank laughed lightly, �Well, I guess I�m getting soft in my old age.� Tracy laughed as Frank left the room. Howie smiled at her, �You have some great children.� �Thanks,� she said, walking over and checking on Kevin. The bruise on his forehead had taken on a dark purple appearance. �He, um, he shouldn�t be sleeping should he?� A.J. asked, �I mean if he�s got a concussion and all.� Tracy looked at him. Concern filled his eyes, and she could see the brotherly love the guys had always talked about. �Alex, I�m sure he�ll be alright. Just wake him up every so often and talk to him for a few minutes,� she offered. He nodded, turning his attention back to his eldest brother. Howie motioned to Tracy, and the two walked over to the corner of the room, out of A.J.�s range of hearing. She sighed, �So watcher, any ideas?� He shook his head, �Not at all, but whatever we do it has to be soon.� �I agree,� Jennifer said, walking over to join them. Howie noticed the bothered look on her face. �What is it?� he asked. She bit her lip, her green eyes looking right through his soul, �I just got a call. Raven want�s me to bring you into the family tonight.� Howie and Tracy glanced at each other. �What am I gonna do? I can�t go back without you, and I�m not gonna take you into that snake pit,� she said. Howie ran his hand through his hair, and scratched the back of his neck. Tracy looked at him intently, �Watcher, you aren�t thinking what I think you�re thinking, are you?� He looked up at her, �It makes sense.� �Yeah, if you gotta death wish,� Tracy said. Jennifer took him by the arm, �I�m not taking you, that�s it.� �Listen,� Howie said, �We need to know where they are. We need a plan to get them out. To do that, we�ve gotta have someone on the inside. Now Jen can�t go back without me, so I�m going.� Jennifer shook her head, �No Howie, please. If Raven found out what we�re doing, she�d kill you.� �She�s right,� Tracy said, �We�ll find another way.� �We don�t have time to find another way!� Howie shouted, startling them both, and causing A.J. to look over. Howie glanced at them all, taking a deep breath, �I�ve made up my mind, and whatever happens, happens. But this is our chance to get them back before it�s to late.� Tracy and Jennifer glanced at each other, knowing he was right, and not wanting to admit it. Frank walked in, still drying his hair with a towel, he looked at the three, the seriousness of their faces sent a chill down his back. �Tracy?� he asked. She looked over, �Tell the others we�ve found a way in. I want a planning meeting in twenty minutes.� He nodded, and headed back out the door. Jennifer looked at Howie, �You�re sure about this?� He smiled, �As positive as I�ve ever been about anything in my life.� �You know I�ll have to bite you. You have to bare the marks before you�ll be allowed inside,� she said. He nodded, �I know.� �Wait, you�re gonna let her bite you?� A.J. asked. �It�s the only way J. We gotta get in there,� Howie said. �But won�t you become a vamp then?� A.J. asked. All three shook their heads. �No, only if he drinks my blood would he change,� Jennifer answered, �Otherwise the bite is harmless.� A.J. looked at his best friend, �I still don�t like this D. What if something goes wrong?� Howie walked over and sat down next to him, �Listen J, if we don�t stop her, it�s not gonna matter. Humans will be hunted down for food, and I can�t allow that to happen. Not when I can do something about it.� �No,� Kevin said, opening his eyes, and trying to get out of bed. Howie and A.J. pushed him back. �Easy Kev, just lay back,� A.J. said. �You�re safe,� Howie added. Kevin stared at them for a moment, letting them push him back down. �Don�t go,� he said softly. �You heard?� Howie asked. Kevin nodded, �Don�t go .... it�s to dangerous.� Howie sighed, �We don�t have a choice Kev. She got Brian, and Nick.� Tears filled the older man�s eyes, �No.� �Now you see why I have to go,� Howie said gently. Kevin looked around the room, seeing Tracy and Jennifer looking on, �But they�re vamps, how can you trust them?� �Not all vampires are bad, Kev. Don�t let the slayer in you turn your back on the only help we have,� Howie said. Kevin stared at them, then shut his eyes, �I don�t want to lose anyone else.� Howie and A.J. both took his hands, �You won�t Kev. We�ll get them back, you�ll see,� A.J. said. Howie leaned down, gently pulling Kevin into a hug, �I won�t let you down,� he whispered in his ear. Then he stood up and looked at Jennifer, �Alright, lets get this over with.� Jennifer sighed, walking over to him. She smiled, gently running her hand down his cheek, �I love you,� she said. He smiled, �I love you too.� She pulled him into a hug, running her hand up and down his back, as she bared her fangs and bit into his neck. For a moment Howie stiffened, and let out a small whimper, then he relaxed. Jennifer ran her tongue over the pierce marks, stopping the bleeding, and stepped back. �You alright man?� A.J. asked. Howie cleared his throat, �Um ... yeah, I�m fine. We�ll call when we find them,� he said, taking Jennifer�s hand and heading for the door. �Good luck,� Tracy said. Howie smiled at her, �Thanks, we�re gonna need it.� ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian paced his room, anger and fear eating at him. He was angry with himself for not doing more to fight. The fear that licked at him now, had a firm grip on him as Raven drug him out of the building and shoved him into the car. He had to get control of his fear if he was ever going to get him and Nick out of here. Not only did fear and anger hold him, but also worry. He�d caught a glimpse of Kevin, locked in battle with two vampires as he was shoved out the door. He was afraid to think what had happened to his cousin. He rubbed his face with his hands. �Alright Brian, get control here,� he told himself. Just then the door opened. He turned, already knowing who it was. �My love, you must be hungry,� Raven said, offering him one of the wine goblets she was holding. Brian�s mouth watered, but he was afraid to take the drink. Raven stared at him impatiently, �If you do not drink, I will put you in the room we�re holding your friend in. When the hunger hits he�ll be the only thing around to quench your thirst,� she threatened. Brian�s eyes widened. Was there no end to this woman�s cruelty? He grabbed the goblet from her hand angrily and took several swallows. �That�s more like it,� she said, gliding over to a chair and sitting down. �You can�t keep us here forever,� Brian said. She shrugged, �You�re friend no, you I can keep forever,� she grinned. Brian worked very hard to keep the bile in his stomach from making an appearance. What was he thinking? He was a vampire now, he was immortal. She could keep him forever if she wanted to. Raven touched his arm. He glared at her, having not heard her move. She smiled at him, �Soon you won�t hold such anger towards me.� Brian laughed, �When pigs fly,� he spat, pulling his arm away from hers. She stared at him, shaking her head, �Such anger ... but soon I will be all you have left.� Brian watched her turn and leave the room. Fear held his heart so tightly that he could barely breathe. He sank down into the nearest chair and held his head in his hands, �What am I gonna do? God, please ...... � Chapter 39 |