Disclaimer: CSI or any other fandoms mentioned in
the story are not mine. The names of the all characters contained here-in are
the property of Jerry Bruckheimer and CB and various other producers. No
infringements of these copyrights are intended, and no money is made of it.
Disclaimer 2: This story was written as a
tribute to the wonderful universe created by Beverly (Bjjones). Her Sylum
Stories and the entire world she’s created made me write this. Sylum and the
universe is hers, I just play with it.
The price
of love
By Valerie
*June 2006 - Berlin, Germany*
“So what have you been up to today?”
Dalton smiled at the question and winked at Oskar as he walked over to the
couch where his partner sat. “You don’t want to know.”
Oskar shook his head, but his eyes were serious as he looked at Dalton. He had
avoided the topic so far, but he knew that he had to address it now. Dalton
seemed to have picked up on his anxiety and Oskar sighed as he saw the green
eyes turn serious. Dalton was a conman, how should he explain to him that it
might be ok to be a member of a clan and a conman, but that it was not
acceptable as a the mate of a council member?
They had been together for three months and yet they weren’t. Dalton had given
up his room and moved in with Oskar two days after Oskar had told him the
truth. They had spent each night together and pretty soon kissing hadn’t been
enough. Oskar smiled as he thought of last night and how Dalton had looked in
the throws of orgasm. His mate had trembled and desperately pleaded with him to
take him, but Oskar had refused and instead used his hands and lips to bring
Dalton to completion. Something held him back despite his body and soul crying
out for Dalton, despite Dalton begging him. Oskar was afraid. He knew that once
he started the bonding process there would be no way to stop it.
What if Dalton changed his mind?
“Hey?” A hand in front of his face made him smile and he shook his head to
clear it. Dalton looked at him and smiled sadly. “You don’t like who I am.”
It wasn’t a question and Oskar knew that he had to be honest with his mate. “I
don’t care, but I’m the clan advisor and if we bond...”
This time Dalton stopped him with a finger on his lips and Oskar smiled at the
love he saw in the green eyes. “When we bond, not if.”
The determination he saw in Dalton blew his mind and he leaned forward wanting
to taste the soft lips. But Dalton stopped him, and his eyes were serious again.
“Do you trust me, Oskar? Do you trust me not to compromise your position in the
council?”
The answer to the first question was easy, the second however was more
difficult. In the end though, Oskar nodded. “Yes.”
The green eyes lit up and Dalton smiled as he got up and sat down next to
Oskar.
“Why did you never check my background?” The question surprised him, but it
wasn’t so much the fact that Dalton asked than the absolute knowledge in his
eyes that Oskar had not ran a search about him.
“You told me about your role in that robbery. And I didn’t want to dig into
your life. I thought that you would tell me, if I gave you time.”
Lola had called him an old softy and Will had almost thrown a fit, but he had
told them that he didn’t want to start a relationship by breaching Dalton’s
trust. His mate reached out and pulled him towards his body. His eyes were
serious and soft hands traced lovingly over Oskar’s lips. “You trust me.”
Once again it wasn’t a question and once more Oskar saw nothing but love in Dalton’s
eyes.
“I’m not a robber or a con man by default. The Case robbery was the only bank
I’ve ever broken into physically or without permission.”
Oskar hadn’t become who he was without listening carefully and now he met
Dalton’s eyes with a smile. “Physically or without permission?”
Leaning over, Dalton pulled him closer and reached for something on the table.
It was a copy of a Forbes Journal from a year ago. Oskar stared at the picture
of Dalton on the cover and the title next to the picture ‘Making you safer’.
Oskar looked at the picture and then at his mate.
Dalton smiled and leaned back again. “I own a company called ‘Virtual Locks’.
I’m a legal hacker. I test computer systems, firewalls, web pages, security
systems. You name it, if it’s got IT in it, I’ll test it. I’ve worked for
international banks, stock exchanges and pretty much every three letter agency
in the States.”
Staring at Dalton in disbelief, Oskar was completely floored. “You’re good.”
Dalton grinned. “One of the best.”
He was silent for a moment, and when he began to speak his voice had a slightly
melancholic ring to it. “My dad worked at CERN and we were one of the firsts to
get real web access or a real computer. I was always fascinated by the stuff
and kept nagging my dad and his friends until they would sit down and explain
everything to me. I was twelve when I hacked into CERN’s systems. You can
imagine that my dad wasn’t too happy about it.”
Dalton had snuggled up next to him and Oskar reveled in the feeling of being so
close to his mate. “He made me promise to never hack their systems again and I
kept their promise. Only he had never said anything about other systems. My dad
was a scientist, he never got the importance of semantics.”
Shaking his head, Oskar tried to imagine how Dalton had been as a kid and he
felt his heart expand with love. “When I was twenty, I was one of the best
hackers in the world. It wasn’t really about money back then, mainly about the
challenge and the feeling of being able to do it. And then the web hysteria
started. It was crazy, cause suddenly the stuff that knew was worth millions.
It was scary to be honest. The potential that was out there, and the
possibilities...”
Dalton trailed off and sighed. “Then nine years ago, I hacked into one of Silicon
Valley’s servers and when I turned my computer on the next day, I had a message
on it. A guy had traced me back, but instead of calling the police, he told me
that I had a talent, so I’d better make sure that I use it well. I thought
about it and started to hack legally.”
Dalton grinned as he saw the astonishment in Oskar’s face. “I’ve been in the
business for twenty years now, but I haven’t yet encountered a door I couldn’t
open.”
Oskar felt Dalton’s pride at what he had achieved, but he also realized how
close his mate had been to turn towards the other path. He smiled tenderly and
shook his head. “You’re a nerd.”
As he had expected Dalton looked indignant at first, but after a moment, he
laughed and shrugged. “Yeah, but a sexy one.”
Dalton’s head moved over his body and as Oskar felt soft lips on his chest, he
could only agree with his mate’s self assessment. “Very sexy.”
---
It was dark in their bedroom, silent apart from his low breathing. Dalton
wondered when he had gotten used to hear only one breath in the room when he
was with Oskar. It hadn’t been a specific moment, he thought, more like an
acceptance of something he had already known deep down in his soul.
They had made love tonight and Dalton had felt how Oskar had been more relaxed
now that the issue of his job was not an issue anymore. Yet again his lover had
refused to claim him and a deep longing made Dalton shiver.
When they had gotten together, Oskar had promised to wait for him, but now it
seemed to be the other way round. Dalton knew that he loved Oskar, and he had
talked with enough vampires to understand what it meant to be turned, what the
consequences of being Oskar’s mate would be.
It had been a shock when he had met Lola and recognized her as the woman from
the coffee shop. She had apologized to him, but he had seen that she didn’t
trust him. To her he was the product of his soul, and although he had tried to
be understanding, it had hurt him. Dalton tensed suddenly. Was this the reason
why Oskar held back? Was he afraid that Dalton would turn into a monster like
Goeth had been? It wasn’t like his mate had any reason to trust him, he thought
was suddenly feeling bad. He hadn’t told him about VL until now and he had the
soul of a mass murderer.
“I trust you.” The soft words were whispered in his ear, but Dalton tensed even
more. He twisted from the arms that held him and immediately felt lonely. “Why
don’t you want to be with me? Why do you refuse me when I ask you to take me?
Is it because of who I was?”
Oskar pulled him back and Dalton shivered as he was pressed against his mate.
He couldn’t see Oskar’s eyes, but he heard the love and trust in his mate’s
voice. “No, never! It has nothing to do with you. It’s me and I’m scared. When
I start the bond, I wouldn’t survive losing you.”
Dalton had heard about vampires that had lost their mates and he had spoken
with Alexander who had lost his mate and waited centuries for his soul to
return. But he hadn’t understood what it meant, had never expected to hear such
a fear in Oskar’s voice and as he turned around and his lips searched Oskar’s,
he knew that he would do anything to make sure his mate would never lose him.
“Turn me.” Oskar tensed and shook his head. “I promised you to wait.”
He wanted to growl at the vampire, but he held himself in check. Feeling Oskar
so close to him made him want to get even closer, when a sudden idea distracted
him. “Will you teach me to fight?”
Oskar didn’t respond for a long time, but just as Dalton was about to ask
again, he felt Oskar nod against his skin. “I will.”
---
*Warsaw, Poland*
Koenig watched as Friedrichs paced up and down his office. The former SS
officer had not said a word after Koenig had told him about their failure. It
had taken them a while to track Russell down and as they had found him, it had
been too late. Schindler had found him first.
“I can always shoot him.” Friedrichs turned around as if Koenig had hit him and
the assassin shrank back from the glare in the blue eyes. “I don’t want him
dead. I waited sixty years for Amon’s soul to return, I’m not going to kill
him.”
Koenig knew that Friedrichs had been Goeth’s sire, but he wondered now what the
deeper reason for Friedrichs’ obsession with Goeth was. “Is he your mate?”
It had been a mistake to ask and before Koenig could even react, he felt the
cold steel of Friedrichs’ sword at his neck. The blue eyes that met his were
deadly cold and Koenig had to fight the shivers that threatened to run through
him. He had miscalculated the SS man, had forgotten how lethal he was. For a
long time their eyes stayed locked until Friedrichs stepped back.
“Next time you call me a fag, you’re dead.”
Koenig swallowed hard. Friedrichs didn’t threaten people, he meant every word
he said and that made the calm words even scarier.
“How do we get to him then?”
Looking at some pictures, Friedrichs suddenly smiled. “I know Schindler, he
hasn’t turned him yet. He thinks that he can keep him safe in his house.”
Koenig grinned. “Let’s prove him wrong.”
---
*Berlin, Germany*
“Defend yourself, two back... Keep your sword up.”
Oskar watched Leon practice with Dalton. The hunter had offered to train the
human and Oskar was secretly glad that he didn’t have to put his mate through
the torturous training.
“Leon is enjoying himself way too much.” Mathilda sat down next to him and
Oskar smiled as he noticed the amusement in her eyes. “He’s always laughed at
Riddick and Seth when they complained about having to train new vampires, so
now he can finally complain too.”
He laughed at her astute observation but his eyes were glued onto Dalton. His
mate might have the heart of a nerd, but he certainly had the body and the
spirit of a fighter.
“How long are you going to wait?” Mathilda spoke quietly enough and Oskar
sighed. He couldn’t wait much longer. He hadn’t started the bond yet and still
it was becoming more and more difficult not to claim his mate.
“Not much longer. I have no idea how Speed could work with Caine for years
without saying anything.”
She laughed and shrugged. “He’s Speed. If you look up the word stubborn in an
English dictionary, you’ll find a picture of him.”
Oskar smiled and looked up as Leon laughed next to him before he sat down.
Dalton had joined them too and sat down on the stairs beneath Oskar. Leon
smiled at Mathilda before answering her comment with one of his own. “Only for
the newer editions though, the older one’s still have Nico’s picture in it.”
Feeling Dalton’s hand on his knee, Oskar saw the question in his eyes and
explained with a smile about whom they were talking. “Nico or Nick is Sylum’s
clan leader. Speed is Timothy Speedle, he’s Nico’s childe and his clan
advisor.”
Dalton nodded and Oskar could see how his mate filed the information in his
brain.
“And they both as stubborn as hell.” Oskar chuckled at Leon’s comment, but
Dalton raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “They’re not the only one.”
---
The attack came out of nowhere. One minute they had been sitting on the
terrace, enjoying the sun and the break and the next minute glass splintered
next to them as a gun shot rang through the air. Dalton wanted to jump up and
grab his sword, but a strong hand on his held him back. Mathilda pushed him
behind her body and glared at him. “Go inside and wait until we call.”
He wanted to refuse, but her voice and her eyes were too strong, too powerful
and without a word he followed her order. He waited behind locked doors and
while he knew that he was as safe as he could get, he didn’t feel safe. Instead
of relaxing all he could think about was the fact that Oskar was still out
there. He wanted to watch, wanted to be part of the fight, but he didn’t dare.
He knew that seeing him would distract his lover and with a sigh he leaned
back.
“Damn you!” He cursed his mate, but at the same time he understood the fear
that had driven Oskar to send him inside and fight alone outside. No, not
alone, he reminded himself. Leon and Mathilda were there too and they belonged
to the best hunters in the vampire world and yet Dalton couldn’t help feeling
as if he had abandoned his mate.
Outside he heard the swords clashing, heard curses and harsh shouts, heard
someone scream and even harsher curses followed when suddenly a cry of pain
made him freeze. “Oskar.”
He wanted to run outside then, but the memory of Oskar’s eyes filled with fear
made him stay even as he trembled with fear. Dalton didn’t know how long he was
sitting on the floor, his body tense and his mind alight with fear. In the end
it was Leon’s voice that made him jump up. “Open the damn door.”
He ran to the door and Leon walked through it as soon as it was open. He was
carrying Oskar in his arms while Mathilda was on the phone with someone. “I
need a Chosen One coming to Oskar’s house asap. Call Manni, tell him that we
were attacked, Oskar is injured. He has lost a lot of blood.”
Dalton only listened with half an ear while he followed Leon up the stairs to
their bedroom. His mate was too pale and Dalton shivered as he saw the deep
gash in his clothes that barely hid the open wound. He didn’t know what to do,
but as Leon gently laid his mate onto the bed, Dalton was next to Oskar
immediately. His hands trembled as he reached out to touch him. The soft skin
was cold to his touch and Dalton looked desperately at Leon. “What can I do?”
The hunter shared a glance with Mathilda before he explained what Oskar needed
most right now. “He needs blood, fresh one not cloned blood. He has lost too
much already and it has impaired his healing abilities. Mathilda has already
called Jacob, so he’ll send...”
Leon trailed off as Dalton shook his head. He was angry and looked at his mate
with both love and fury in his eyes. “Why not me? Why some stranger’s blood?”
Mathilda and Leon once again shared a look, but it was Oskar who spoke before
they could. “You have to be sure, Dalton.”
Dalton wanted to be angry, but looking at Oskar and seeing the fear and love in
the blue eyes, his rage evaporated. Kneeling down next to the bed, he looked
deep into the vampire’s eyes. “I am sure love, I am. I want to belong to you.”
Oskar shivered and weakly nodded, before he looked at Leon. “Protect him.”
Dalton didn’t understand, but soon it didn’t matter as he felt a soft kiss on
his neck. Oskar’s hand was pulling him onto the bed and he blushed as he
realized that Mathilda and Leon were watching them. Leon smiled softly at him
and his dark eyes were understanding. It reduced the embarrassment Dalton felt
and as Oskar once more kissed his neck, he forgot all about the other vampires
in the room. He watched as the blue eyes turned silver and silently wondered
whether it would hurt when Oskar would drink from him.
Oskar kissed him again and then Dalton felt the fangs break his skin. It didn’t
hurt, just felt weird but within a moment even the strangeness disappeared and
he gasped as he was flooded with emotions. It was passionate and raw and yet
tender. Dalton had no idea that he was moaning, shivering and whispering to his
mate to claim him. All he knew was that what he felt right now was more than
he’d ever felt for anyone else.
And then it suddenly stopped.
“No!” The word was out before he could stop it and he shivered at the
desperation he heard in the resonating cry. He felt lonely, didn’t want to be
separated from the one he loved. Oskar’s hand on his face brought him back to
reality and he flushed as he suddenly noticed how aroused he had become.
“Are you ok?” The concern in the question was mirrored in Oskar’s eyes and it
made Dalton shake his head fondly. “Of course I am. But why didn’t you ever
drink from me before?”
He could see Leon’s grin, but soon focused on Oskar as his mate looked at him
seriously. “Because now, that I have started the bond, I will turn you soon.”
Something inside told Dalton him that he should be scared of being turned, but
the small part was silenced by the joy he felt at the thought of being bound to
his mate forever. “Finally.”
Oskar smiled but it was a strained smile and as he fell back exhausted. However
as Dalton looked at his mate in fear, he noticed how the wound had almost
healed and for the first time he really understood what Oskar had meant when
he’d told him that he was immortal. Leon’s hand on his shoulder made him look
up and seeing the serious look in the dark eyes he made no comment and followed
the hunter to the alcove that overlooked the garden.
“He will be fine.” Dalton heard the quiet reassuring words, but he couldn’t
forget how close he had come to lose Oskar. Mathilda joined them and he felt
four eyes on him. “They were here for you.”
She spoke calmly, but the words she said shocked him to his core and he stared
disbelieving at her. “Me?”
Mathilda took his hand before she smiled sadly. “Do you know who you were?”
He couldn’t prevent the shiver of disgust and shame that flowed through him and
the same emotions were mirrored in his face as he nodded. Mathilda pressed his
hand once more, before she started to speak again. “One of the vampires that
attacked us today mentioned the name of Major Koenig. He’s a vampire who
supported the Germans during WWII. Oskar never found out who turned Amon Goeth,
but it is possible that it was Koenig.”
Dalton shook his head as he remembered the dream he’d had a while ago. “No, the
guy was called Friedrichs.”
Leon tensed and looked at him sharply. Dalton shivered as he saw the burning
look of hatred in the dark eyes, but as soon as Leon noticed the fear in
Dalton’s eyes he relaxed and shook his head apologetically. “Sorry, I didn’t
want to scare you. It’s just that you confirmed something we always feared.”
The hunter got up and stood with his back to the room looking out of the window
while he continued to speak. “Friedrichs was the devil’s right hand. Himmler
trusted him blindly and many of the SS’ crimes were his idea. There have always
been rumors in the community that he was a vampire and that he still is around,
but we never had proof.”
Dalton wanted to object, wanted t tell them that it had just been a dream, but
he remained silent. His dreams had stopped being just dreams a long time ago.
He looked towards the bed, where Oskar was resting and suddenly understood what
game the SS vampire was playing.
“He wants me back, doesn’t he? He thinks that he can turn back time and
resurrect Goeth in me.” The two hunters didn’t answer, but their eyes told him
that he was speaking the truth and Dalton balled his hands into fists. “I dreamed
of the promises he made Goeth when he turned him. He seduced him with the lure
of eternal power and perfect purity. And now he wants to do the same with me.”
Mathilda seemed to pick up his agitation and looked at him calmly. “He won’t
get you and even if he were to capture you, you are a different person, he
couldn’t turn you into Goeth.”
Dalton shook his head, Mathilda might have understood that he was agitated, but
she had completely misunderstood the why. “I’m not afraid. I’m pissed off. If
you hadn’t been here, they would have killed Oskar. They would have killed my
mate.”
The rage that suddenly flared up in him shocked Dalton, but he couldn’t seem to
control it as he itched to get out of the house and hunt those that had hurt
his mate. The sudden thirst for violence made him pause and he stood there
almost paralyzed as the anger abated. Confused he looked at the two hunters and
felt a tremble run through him.
“What was that?” Leon grinned at Dalton’s question and shrugged. “That was a
very interesting display of possessiveness. You feel the urge to protect your
mate although you haven’t been turned yet. This is going to be interesting.”
Dalton was relieved that Leon didn’t think it was the dark past of his soul
that drove Dalton. Some of his thoughts had to show on his face, because Leon’s
face darkened and he shook his head. “Don’t be afraid, you’re nothing like
him.”
Oskar had told him so in many occasions, but it helped to hear it from someone
else. Dalton wanted to ask Leon if he had met the man he had once been, when a
moan from the bed made him forget everything but his mate. Oskar was awake and
Dalton was at his side immediately when he heard his name being whispered. He
wanted to snuggle up next to Oskar, but Leon held him back and sat down next to
the bed too. The hunter spoke in curt short sentences and within seconds he had
updated Oskar on their findings about the attack and Friedrichs. Dalton felt
his mate’s tension as the Nazi’s name was mentioned and without thinking he
pulled Oskar in his arms while he glared at Leon.
“Oh yes, that’s the other news, Oskar. Your mate has developed quite a
protective streak.”
Dalton flushed at the hunter’s words, but Oskar looked at him with love and
tenderness. “I love you.”
---
There was an aspect of torture in the fact that he was lying next to his future
mate, smelling the arousal in the clean scent of his beloved and yet he wasn’t
able to do anything. Still he had almost lost Dalton and right now, just being
close to him was enough.
“You’re not safe here. Can you go somewhere to hide?” Leon’s words brought him
out of his musings and thinking about his hiding places, Oskar smiled as a
thought came to him. “California.”
He didn’t say anything else and neither Leon nor Mathilda asked him for more
details. They all had their secret hiding places, houses or islands where they
could go without anyone knowing. Oskar frowned as he thought of Wenceslas’
reaction to him and Dalton disappearing. His clan leader had a tendency to be a
mother hen although he would never dare to tell him that. He would also have to
inform Nick and Warrick and as he thought of all the phone calls he needed to
make, he groaned silently. Sometimes it was a hassle to be a member of Ehre’s
council.
“I’ll talk with Manni.” Dalton’s words surprised him, but at the same time they
made sense. Manni and Dalton had struck up a fascinating and sometimes scary
relationship. They had clicked over their love for gadgets, but Oskar knew that
over the course of time, their now teasing and joking bantering would morph
into a strong bond of friendship. He saw Dalton’s smile and nodded even though
he felt as if he should be the one to call his leaders. Mathilda sent him a
warning glare and he sighed. He knew that he had to let Dalton get comfortable
with the other vampires and that his mate was right now finding his place in
the clan and yet he wanted to protect him, wanted to take care of him.
Sighing again, he got up and reached for his phone before he looked at Leon.
“You call Manni, Leon calls Alexander, and I phone Nick and Jack.”
Leon nodded and reached for his own phone while Dalton chuckled lightly. “Is
traveling as a vampire always such a major diplomatic experience?”
Oskar shrugged, but he smiled too. “I’m part of the ruling council of Ehre, so
as long as you travel with me, yes it is.”
Dalton grinned and shook his head. “Cool.”
He got out of bed and softly pushed Oskar down so that he was resting again.
Caressingly his hand moved over Oskar’s face before he walked away and reached
for his cell phone. Oskar was lying in his bed dazed and shook his head. When
had his mate become the protector in their relationship?
---
*June 2006 - Las Vegas, US*
“Oskar, how are you?” Warrick looked up from his book and glanced at his mate.
Nick smiled at him while his was listening to what Oskar was saying and
suddenly Warrick saw how his mate’s eyes sparkled with joy. “That’s wonderful
news. Are you...”
The joy dimmed suddenly and Warrick felt anxiety through their bond. He got up
and sat down next to Nick. His mate looked at him and shook his head before he
leaned against Warrick’s body.
“Sure that’s fine with me. You don’t need my permission to visit, you know
that. Jack? Of course, I guess you’ve heard about him and Chase...?” Nick
chuckled lightly. “He mentioned something. Well, I’m sure Chase loved it.”
Warrick had relaxed again and reaching for his book, he snuggled up next to his
mate, when Nick plucked it from his hand and sat in his lap. Warrick grinned at
the teasing light in the dark eyes, he loved it when his mate was in a playful
mood. Still he was curious as to the phone call and leaning back, he raised his
eyebrows in a questioning gesture. “What did Oskar want?”
Nick leaned down and licked over Warrick’s ear. Warrick groaned as his mate
started to caress his body, hot words were whispered in his ear turning the
requested information into a sexy caress. “He found his mate.”
Well, that explained the joy he had felt, but he also sensed that there was
more and with a sigh he pushed Nick away softly. He needed to see his mate’s
eyes for this conversation. “What else?”
“He also found out that it wasn’t Koenig, but Friedrichs who turned Amon.”
Warrick tensed. Schillinger and the entire mess in LA wasn’t that long ago and
he hated the thought of more Nazis’ running around as vampires. “His men
attacked them, but Mathilda and Leon were around when it happened.”
Despite his hatred against racists, Warrick couldn’t prevent flinching at
Nick’s words. Leon and Mathilda were a pair that he would hate to cross.
“Ouch.”
Nick grinned, but immediately turned serious again. “Oskar has some hideout
near LA and they are on their way there. He’s calling Jack too, just in case
someone is following them.”
Warrick nodded. He knew very well, that Oskar Schindler was a man with many
talents. He could disappear almost completely if he wanted to only to reappear
in the last place anyone ever expected him to.
“Chase will be happy to see them.”
Nick smiled, but instead of an answer, he leaned down and started to nibble at
Warrick’s chest. Warrick moaned when Nick looked up again. “Satisfied your
curiosity?”
Grabbing Nick and turning them so that he was covering his smaller mate,
Warrick grinned into the dark eyes. “My curiosity yes, anything else? We haven’t
even started love...”
---
*On a plane between Berlin and Los Angeles*
The plane’s engines were resonating lightly through the room and Oskar smiled
as Dalton yawned. The sound was soothing and for the first time since
Friedrichs had attacked them, Oskar felt safe and content. They were sitting
close to each other on one of the comfortable couches. Traveling as a council
member might have its diplomatic disadvantages, but it certainly had advantages
when it came to creature comforts. The clan’s private jet was equipped with the
most advanced technology and at the same time decorated richly and comfortably.
The mixture between luxury and technology was typical for Manni whose plane
they were using.
Dalton was leaning against him, reading the paper and Oskar felt warmth grow in
him at the feeling of being home that the sight of his mate evoked.
“Will they follow us to the US?” Dalton put the paper down and Oskar saw the
same emotions of fear and anger in the green eyes that warred within him too.
“I don’t know.” He really didn’t know, but something in his guts told him that
yes, they would follow him and Dalton.
“Will you turn me?” Dalton’s eyes were free of any doubts and all Oskar saw
when he looked at his mate was longing. He swallowed hard and reached out to
kiss him.
“I will, but not when we’re in the middle of the Atlantic.”
Dalton chuckled and pulled him closer. “Then at least make love to me. Please
Oskar I need you.”
Again there was such a deep longing in Dalton’s voice that it made Oskar’s heart
break. He had waited because he had been afraid, but after today such a fear
was in vain anyway. He had started the bonding process and once they were at
his place, he would turn Dalton. The thought made him tense. Dalton looked at
him and frowned.
“What’s wrong?”
Awe and love filled Oskar as he met his partner’s eyes. “We’ll be mates.”
When he had killed Amon, he known that he’d thus had cursed himself to a life
of loneliness. He had never thought that he would ever find his mate again, had
never dared to think about it and now he held Dalton close and saw the mirth in
the blue eyes.
“No, love. We already are.”
Dalton leaned in and captured Oskar’s lips with a ferocity that overwhelmed
Oskar. He slowed the kiss down and met confused eyes. “There’s a wonderful bed
in the next room. Care to join me?”
Dalton laughed at the question and got up quickly pulling Oskar with him. “Yes,
yes and yes again.”
---
Dalton had fantasized so many times about how it would when Oskar finally would
take him, when they would finally make love. And yet nothing had prepared him
for the onslaught of emotions as he watched Oskar move slowly closer and pull
him towards Oskar’s body.
Dalton felt the other man's body tremble from the close contact and he leaned
forward and pressed his lips against Oskar’s his arms wrapping tightly around
his back. They had kissed so many times before but this time it felt new, felt
different and Dalton tightened his grip on Oskar’s waist as their kiss
deepened, tongues mating, searching, feeling.
Slowly Oskar’s hand started to push Dalton’s shirt up and Dalton arched his
back against the tender caresses. He moaned when Oskar’s lips moved from his
lips to his jaws and finally found his voice again.
“I want you.”
Dalton barely recognized his voice and he was shocked at the amount of longing
in it. Oskar though smiled as he slowly removed his shirt, and then his pants
and Dalton’s heart stuttered for a second. His mate was so incredibly
beautiful, so strong. How did he deserve his love?
Oskar seemed to read Dalton’s mind, because he gently caressed Dalton’s face
and looked at him before he opened Dalton’s trousers and undressed him
completely. “You think too much love, just feel, just let yourself go.”
Dalton want to answer that it was normally Oskar who was the one who did too
much thinking. But as if his mate knew what he was about to say, Oskar’s lips
once again covered his and then gentle hands started a journey over Dalton’s
body. First they were soft, and the feathery touches that left Dalton aching
for more, but then Oskar followed the caresses with his lips cooling the fire
his hands created and yet in the same time enflaming Dalton even more. Dalton
shivered in anticipation as he watched Oskar slide lower.
“Just feel” A quick kiss on the tip of Dalton’s cock had Dalton arching of the
bed with a moan and Oskar watched him with a wicked smile. “Just let go”
Oskar leaned down and Dalton suddenly was surrounded by the heat of his mouth.
The sensations were incredible as if he had been swallowed by a red sea of
molten lava. The flames that had set him on fire were now burning him and yet
he didn’t want to escape, didn’t want to get away.
Oskar’s finger moved behind his balls stroking Dalton’s opening and suddenly
Dalton couldn’t take it anymore. He screamed Oskar’s name as he came and for a
moment everything blackened out.
When he opened his eyes again, Oskar was watching him while he caressed his
skin. “You were so beautiful.”
The whispered words felt cold against Dalton’s overheated skin and he shivered.
Slowly Oskar lowered his head and blew over my chest and once again Dalton
trembled as a reaction. He felt wonderful and sated, but at the same time he
wanted more, wanted to feel all of Oskar and reaching out he pulled his mate close.
“You’re mine.”
---
Oskar moaned at the contact of skin against skin. Dalton’s words filtered
through him slowly and he gasped at the heat that they generated inside him.
His entire being was focussed on the man under him and he was so close to
losing control over himself.
“Make me yours, please.” The whispered plea broke the last shreds of his
control and with a moan he captured Dalton’s lips with his.
“Soon.” He promised. “Soon.”
He groped in the drawer next to the bed and smiled when he found the lube.
“Thanks Manni.”
Dalton laughed, but the sound quickly morphed into a moan when Oskar began to
prepare him carefully. The tight heat of his mate’s body was almost too much
and it was with difficulties that Oskar reigned in the impulse to drive himself
into Dalton. Dalton who moaned again and lifted his hips to get closer to him.
“More, please. I’m ready.” Oskar looked into Dalton’s eyes and he saw the
truth. Dalton wanted him as desperately as he wanted Dalton.
“Yes.” His words drew a moan from his lover and slowly, inch by inch he slid
into his mate’s body uniting them for the first time.
The feeling of being one with his other half was unbelievable and Oskar almost
sobbed at the perfect bliss. Dalton’s deep sigh echoed his feelings and then
Oskar felt Dalton’s hand’s on his face. He looked up and met eyes full of love
and passion.
“I love you.”
Three words which Oskar had never thought he’d hear again. He moved slightly,
sinking even deeper into his mate’s body and another groan escaped Dalton. “Move.”
Oskar moved slowly at first, but when Dalton met every thrust with a movement
of his hips and a moan of desire, Oskar could feel his control slipping.
“Please, love.” He wasn’t aware that he was talking until Dalton moved his head
and bared his neck. “Yes.”
Sinking his teeth into Dalton was at once one of the most frightening and most
erotic things that Oskar had ever done. Last time when he had fed on his mate,
he had been weak and in pain, this time though the taste of his soul mate
exploded on his tongue and he could feel their bond strengthening. Pleasure
unlike he had ever known rushed through his body and with a shout he claimed
his mate as his. Finally his...
---
*June 2006 - Los Angeles*
“I want you and Chase with him all the time.” Nick’s voice was clear and hard
and Jack didn’t even consider arguing. He would shadow Oskar and his mate for
their entire stay in California making sure that they were safe.
“Call Mathilda and Leon, they can give you a description of Friedrichs and his
gang.” There was a lot of hatred in Nick’s voice, but if the Intel he had
gotten on Friedrichs was correct then Jack couldn’t blame Nick.
“I’ll keep you up to date.” Jack promised and put his phone down. He looked
forward to seeing Oskar again and the news about him having re-found his mate
made Jack happy. He remembered only too well, how sadness had surrounded Oskar
the last time he and Chase had seen him.
“Jack?” Chase looked at him. His mate had probably picked up on his conflicting
emotions and Jack smiled at him. “Oskar is on his way to California and Nick
wants us to be his bodyguards.”
Chase frowned and Jack smiled. His mate hated to be left in the dark and before
he could complain, Jack explained further. “His mate’s soul had returned and
this time he didn’t chose the wrong path. They were attacked by some vampires
and now are hunted by the guy that turned Amon Goeth all those years back.”
“His mate has returned?” Chase didn’t sound too happy and at Jack’s surprised
look, he shrugged. “Hey, the guy was a mass murder in his first life. I’m
sorry, but I can’t simply forget that.”
Chase was right, but on the other hand, Jack knew that whoever the guy was, he
wouldn’t be able to deceive Oskar. “Oskar knows what he’s doing.”
Chase shrugged. “I’ll still keep a close eye on him.”
---
*On a plane between Berlin and Los Angeles*
“Thanks Nick, I really appreciate this.” Oskar put his phone down and looked at
his mate. Dalton was still sleeping. He had turned around and pushed the
blankets away so that his chest was uncovered. Oskar could see the marks he had
left on his lover’s body, but instead of making him feel guilty, they only
served to arouse him again.
Dalton was beautiful and he was his.
“What are you looking so smug?” Dalton’s voice pulled him from his thoughts and
Oskar smiled at him. “I just thought how much I want to make love to you
again.”
Dalton moaned, and held out his hand, but Oskar shook his head. “We’ll be
landing soon. I was about to wake you up.”
Dalton got up and quickly showered. When he came out of the bedroom he was
dressed in black slacks and a white shirt and Oskar smiled. “You look good
enough to eat.”
Tilting his head to one side, Dalton grinned. “Feel free.”
Oskar groaned and shook his head. “No time. We’ll land in two minutes and then
Jack and Chase will pick us up.”
“Jack and Chase?” Dalton simply looked curious and Oskar smiled. “Sylum
Hunters.”
Dalton suddenly looked serious. “You really think they will attack us here,
don’t you?”
Oskar sighed and nodded. “Yes.”
---
*June 2006 - Los Angeles Airport*
There was something about the way the younger dark haired man looked at him,
that made the hair stand up in Dalton’s neck. Something calculating and cold,
and he shivered before he knew why.
“Oskar it’s good to see you again. And I hear you’ve found your mate.” The
blond hunter smiled friendly at Oskar and then extended his hand towards
Dalton. “Jack Bauer and this is my mate Chase Edmunds.”
Dalton shook Jack’s hand and nodded at Chase. “Nice to meet you and thanks for
your help.”
Jack simply nodded and led them towards the car. “Nick said that Friedrichs is
after you. How come?”
Dalton sighed, he hated talking about who he’d been. Hated the fact that his
former self had been a racist and murderer, but even as those dark thoughts
darkened his mood, he felt Oskar’s hand in the small of his back and looking up
he saw the unconditional love in his mate’s eyes.
“It seems that I have the reincarnated soul of a vampire Friedrichs turned in
the second world war. Now that he’s found out that his lapdog killer from the
past has returned, he wants me back.”
Jack’s eyes locked on him and Dalton had to force himself not to look away. He
didn’t know what the hunter was looking for, but he wasn’t afraid. No matter
what Jack thought about him, he could feel Oskar’s presence next to him and he
knew that his mate believed in him.
“You don’t want back?”
Dalton snorted at the question. “No and I’m no Nazi which is what you really
wanted to know, isn’t it? Just as I haven’t deceived Oskar into believing some
lies about me loving him. I do love him, and believe me, if I could erase my
past, I would, but unfortunately I can’t.”
Before Jack could answer, Oskar suddenly interrupted and his voice was colder
than Dalton had ever heard it before. “You keep accusing my mate, Jack, but
think of some of the things you have done before you were turned. Think about
whether you have a right to cast any stones.”
To Dalton’s surprise, Jack paled a little before he recovered and looked
straight at Oskar before he turned towards Dalton. “I had no right, I’m sorry.”
Jack was honest and Dalton easily forgave him, because he could see that the
other vampire had acted out of concern for his mate. It made things easier.
“It’s ok.”
Jack’s eyes met his again and this time the hunter smiled when he turned away.
“Quiet a job you did on the Case bank.”
Dalton smiled and locked his eyes with Oskar’s. “It brought me to Oskar.”
---
*Oskar’s hideout, California*
Jack watched Dalton lean back against Oskar as they all sat on the terrace.
Oskar’s arms were around his partner and seeing them together reminded Jack of
him and Chase. He sent a glance towards his mate and saw that Chase had
relaxed. The conversation he’d had with Dalton in the car had eased not only Jack’s
concerns but also Chase’s.
“I heard you’re quite the computer crack.” Dalton looked up at Chase’s comment
and grinned.
“Did you do a background check?” Chase blushed and Jack laughed. “We can’t help
it with our training. But this time, I only had to mention your name to a
colleague and she started gushing. Virtual locks is her garden of Eden.”
Dalton simply smiled. “Give me her address and I’ll contact her, we always need
good people.”
Jack growled lightly. “Don’t you dare.”
---
The path to the bedroom was lit with candles and as Oskar walked towards the
room, he felt as if he was on his way to bring a sacrifice to an old goddess.
In some ways it might even be true, he mused as he stood in the door. He would
take a life tonight and not just a life, no Dalton’s life.
The enormity of what he was about to do made him tense for a moment and he
simply stood there looking at his mate. Dalton was naked and his eyes were
fixed on Oskar. There was no doubt in the green pools only love and slowly
Oskar walked towards his lover.
“Are you sure?” Dalton simply smiled as an answer and held out his hand.
“Yes love, I am. I want to belong to you. Want to be with you.” He pulled Oskar
towards him and held him close. “I love you.”
Oskar looked up again and their eyes met once more. “I love you too. I never
thought, I would find you.”
A tender smile crossed Dalton’s face. “Then make sure you won’t lose me.”
Taking an unnecessary breath, Oskar tried to calm his nerves before he leaned
down and gently kissed the spot where he could feel Dalton’s life pulse through
his body. Once more he listened to the other man’s heart beat and then began to
drink from his mate.
The knowledge of what he was doing was almost overwhelming him as he gently
drained Dalton only to retreat when he felt the heartbeat to stop. Quickly he
cut his wrist and held it at Dalton’s lips. “My blood for yours, your blood for
mine. May the bond grow strong, may our souls entwine. Forever one we shall be,
and no force nor distance ever shall separate me from thee.”
The old words that Wenceslas had taught him all these years ago simply flowed
from his lips while Dalton drank and when his mate finally released his arm and
sank back with a sigh. Oskar held him close while he waited for the transition
to start. A painful moan that was torn from Dalton’s lips alerted him of the
beginning and then Oskar could do nothing but hold his mate, whisper loving
words in his ear and soothe the tense body with caresses. Finally though after
what had seemed to be eternity, Dalton calmed down and rested peacefully.
“It is done.”
Dalton stirred slowly and Oskar moved so that he could meet his mate’s eyes.
“How are you?”
“Cold.” Dalton shivered and Oskar nodded. “You need to feed then you’ll feel
warm again. I’ve had the whirlpool heated up, so that you can relax your
muscles. Wait there for me, ok love?”
He led Dalton to the warm pool and his mate sank into the hot water with a
sigh. “This is wonderful.”
Oskar smiled and walked to the side-table where two glasses with blood were
already waiting for Dalton. Dalton looked at Oskar and wrinkled his nose.
“Blood?”
“Yes, you need to drink both glasses. Then you will feel the difference.”
Dalton looked at Oskar with a raised eyebrow but after the first sip he drank
both glasses without any further complaints. Surprise was written allover his
face as he handed the second glass back.
“It tastes nice.” Oskar laughed at the comment and handed him a third glass.
“Just drink as much as you need, ok?”
Dalton managed another half and Oskar drank the rest before he too sat into the
whirlpool and moved so that he could hold Dalton close. “You ok?”
Dalton was silent for a long time and just as Oskar was starting to worry, he
nodded. “I can hear every cricket, every breath that every animal takes. I can
hear the grass move in the breeze, and I can smell the night. It’s amazing.”
“Your senses are heightened. If it gets too much, just think of a volume
control and turn them down.” Oskar spoke quietly. “But when we’re out here in
the night, just let yourself hear nature.”
“Is the bond now complete?” Dalton’s question didn’t surprise him and Oskar
shook his head. “No, you’ll have to feed on me for the bond to be complete.”
Dalton nodded slowly. “I can feel it between us, but it’s fragile as if only a
little pressure could break it. It scares me, Oskar.”
Moving so that he was in front of his mate, Oskar pulled Dalton close and bared
his neck. “Claim me, Dalton, claim me here under the stars. Make our bond come
true.”
For a second their eyes met and Oskar stared as Dalton’s eyes began to gleam in
the purest green that he had ever seen as he fanged up. Fascinated, Oskar
reached out and caressed his mate’s face. “You’re the most beautiful person,
I’ve ever met.”
Instead of an answer, Dalton leaned down and kissed Oskar’s neck. “I love you.”
The moment when their bond was completed would forever be in Oskar’s mind. The
blinding heat and love that suddenly warmed him to the core chased away all
fears and all memories of loneliness and it was as if he could see the bond
that now bound them together even beyond death. Dalton licked his wound closed
and looked up his eyes still glowing green.
“I can feel you, I can feel the bond.”
The words were spoken with such an awe that Oskar felt tears in his eyes.
Immediately though, Dalton pulled him towards his body and held him close.
Oskar calmed his mate and smiled in pure bliss. Finally he felt complete.
---
*August 2006 - Berlin*
“They are back in Schindler’s villa. They have bonded.”
Friedrichs screamed in anger at when the messenger told him and Koenig about
Amon’s bonding with Schindler. Koenig however remained cool. The major looked
at Friedrichs and shrugged. “What now?”
Friedrichs was silent for a long time and only when the third vampire had left,
he looked at his accomplice. “Now we wait and when they feel safe, we’ll
attack.”