While Justin and Joey took care of the so-called �donors�, JC and Chris helped Lance into the bathroom, sitting him down on a large stack of pillows by the tub. While JC held Lance secure in his arms, Chris slit the skin on Lance�s wrists as he held them over the tub. The three of them watched the blood bubble down the drain until Lance�s head fell back against JC�s shoulder and his eyes closed. JC looked up at Chris with worry. Chris was busy watching over Lance, monitoring his condition to make sure they didn�t drain him too much to reassure JC. Lance was starting to shudder lightly in JC�s arms when Chris finally decided it was enough and quickly healed the bleeding cuts. Standing up once he was sure the wounds were healed, Chris took Lance into his arms and walked towards the bedroom. He knew Lance needed blood as soon as possible if he was to come back to full strength swiftly.
After setting Lance on the bed with Justin, Chris situated himself in the corner where he could see everything going on but not be in the way. After nodding to Joey and JC, Chris closed his eyes for a moment and suddenly the four women and three of the men they had picked up were kissing and groping each other. Chris had told Joey and JC they were free to join in if they wanted, otherwise he had advised them to stay out of the way because while under the trance the donors would be focused on accomplishing what Chris had put into their minds.
The male donor not involved in the orgy going on in the middle of the floor slowly walked towards the bed where Lance was lying. Justin had already been told he would need to cut the wrist of this donor to get Lance started on feeding. Chris had also advised him how long to let Lance feed before pulling him off. Situating Lance properly and then cutting into the donors wrist, Justin watched as even unconscious Lance latched onto the man�s wrist and started to swallow the blood. A few minutes later, Justin leaned down and whispered in Lance�s ear it was time to stop. Surprisingly, Lance listened and pulled back, licking at the man�s wrist as he went which effectively closed the cut. Justin breathed a large sigh of relief at not having to pull Lance off or bind the man�s wrist to stop the bleeding.
Chris looked up and noticed Lance was done feeding from the first man. With a blink from Chris, the man turned and joined the activity in the middle of the room. At the same time, a short black woman separated herself from the pack and walked toward Lance. Joey and JC could do no more then watch in stunned amazement as Chris controlled everyone with perceived ease. The two of them were also astonished with the calm Justin was showing in the midst of holding Lance as he was drinking blood.
�Jayce,� Joey said a little unsteadily. �please tell me I�m not the only one who is slightly freaked out watching this.�
�No, you�re not the only one.� Jayce responded in a whisper. �It�s one thing to hear two of your brothers are vampires. I�ve dealt with it. Justin, the baby of the group, being in love with the two of them and all of their uncertainty of whether it�ll work can even be accepted. I was even okay when it was the five of us trying to take care of Lance with the feedings. Yet all I can do is stare as I watch Chris control eight people with his mind and before, watching the blood drain out of Lance? I just wanted to cry out to Chris to stop it. I feel like we�re in the twilight zone or something watching this.�
�Yeah, even for us a live orgy is a bit much to comprehend.� Joey agreed. �Yet, with all the weirdness surrounding us, I still keep coming back to worrying if they�re all going to be okay. I think it�s setting in watching the three of them now, if we lose Lance we might lose Chris and Justin as well. Their love for Lance is just so apparent and I�m wondering why I didn�t see it before.�
�We weren�t looking for it. Chris and Lance had told us it wasn�t a permanent thing and with the two of them together we weren�t even looking at Justin to be involved.� JC said quietly.
�Well, we know it�s permanent for Chris and now Justin, but what about Lance?� Joey asked, knowing JC tended to pick up more on everyone�s emotions then he did.
�I think Lance knows it�s permanent with Justin even though he is still fighting it a little bit. As for Lance�s feelings for Chris? Unless I�m missing the mark, I think Lance feels it but doesn�t think it�s returned. Just like Chris doesn�t think Justin or Lance return his feelings.� JC explained. �After this is all over, I think we�re going to have another battle on our hands trying to convince those three their feelings are reciprocated.�
�Plus, even if this works, we still don�t have any idea who is behind all of this or how to stop them.� Joey added worriedly.
All JC could do was nod as the two of them watched Chris direct the woman from Lance and send another man to replace her. The sexual tension in the room was heightening with every second that passed. Chris had told them on the return trip he thought they might be able to get two orgasms out of most of the donors if they timed it right. The positive side would be Lance and Chris both could get their sexual hunger completely fed, giving them more strength. Chris had quietly confessed keeping eight people in a trance for such a long period would take a large amount out of him which meant he would naturally take some of the sexual feeding without even trying.
Several shouts of completion broke JC out of his thoughts. Looking towards the middle of the room, JC could see several of the participants had obviously finished and a couple more were on the edge. Another woman was with Lance which meant he was half-way through the blood feedings. Looking closer, JC saw Lance�s eyes were now open and focused intently on the orgy in the middle of the floor. Justin was holding Lance in an embrace that was more lover-like then previously. Sending another silent prayer up for this to work, JC turned his attention to Chris who still had his eyes focused inward controlling the people in front of him.
Surprisingly, Joey�s attention was also drawn more towards Chris controlling everyone and Lance wrapped in Justin�s arms then towards the almost completed orgy. Although a lot of the stories about him being a partier were exaggerated, Joey did enjoy sex and was not shy about watching as well as participating. Therefore when he had the opportunity to watch a full-blown orgy in progress, he was amazed to discover he was more interested in the progress of his friends. Or perhaps it was just he saw this whole experience as something to help Lance heal and not as something for himself.
All of the participants had reached their first orgasm and were resting as Lance finished drinking from the sixth donor when a change was felt in the room. Even Chris looked up startled for a moment before smiling at the men in the bed and going back to his concentration.
�What was that?� Joey asked with a slight shiver. The change in the room wasn�t exactly cold, it felt more like being released from heavy layers which had bound all of them.
With a large grin, Justin leaned over and kissed Lance�s neck lightly before replying. �That was Lance getting his control back and snapping up his shields.�
�So it worked?� Joey asked, looking closer at Lance to see if he could notice the difference. What he saw was encouraging. Lance�s skin was now back to normal color and the eyes which for the past several days had looked sunken and dull were now bright and filled with life. After studying Lance for a moment, Joey realized the change in the room was Lance no longer projecting his sexual pull. Without the pull affecting him, Joey could feel a lessoning in the desire surrounding all of them. Still lingering however was the awareness of everyone in the room, male and female.
After a few minutes, Chris worked on getting all the donors involved again. Limbs intertwined as lips met and the sexual tension in the room rose again. Meanwhile, Lance drank from the seventh donor, getting his fill before pulling back with a flick of his tongue sealing the wound of the victim before sending his back towards the group. When the eighth victim rose and started to walk towards him, Lance voice broke into the room. �Chris, take this one for yourself. You need to feed as well to be at full strength.�
Chris locked eyes with Lance for a moment before nodding and with a blink of his eyes changing the destination of the last donor. Once the woman stopped in front of Chris, he ran his fingers lightly along her neck before pushing it gently to the side. Standing for the first time since they began, he licked the area before sinking his teeth into the flesh and feeding all the while keeping the orgy in the middle of the floor under his control. He finished feeding quickly and healed the wound on the woman�s neck before sending her back to the rest. Swiping his tongue over his lips to get the last of the blood, he closed his eyes and sent a direction out for everyone to work towards completion. One last major sexual feeding and then get all of them away so he could touch Lance and feel for himself Lance was healed.
When it came, the feeding was more intense then the previous time. Opening his eyes, Chris realized it was because this time he was the one more depleted and therefore more of the energy filled him then Lance. He let the energy flow through him for a few minutes before taking a small amount and sending a final direction to all of those on the floor to get dressed and head home. They would stay in the trance for about two hours more then awaken with only vague memories of a good time with lots of new friends but no idea what they had helped accomplish.
Once all the donors were gone, the five remaining men looked at each other from their different spots in the room. �So it worked completely?� JC asked quietly. �No more burning or exhaustion?�
�I feel energized. It worked.� Lance said with a grin before allowing a more serious look to fall over his face. �I can�t thank all of you enough for everything you�ve done the past several days. Y�all saved my life and I can never thank you enough.�
�I can think of a way you can thank me.� Justin said with a slight grin.
�Justin!� JC said warningly.
�What?� Justin asked confused for a moment before he realized what JC thought he was going to ask for. It hadn�t even occurred to him to ask to be made a vampire in exchange for everything he had done. He knew if Chris and Lance ever consented to that, it would be done after much talking and not in payment. �Jayce, I didn�t mean that! I meant he could thank me by never letting it happen again. I don�t want to go through something like all of this with anyone I love.� The words were pointedly directed towards both Lance and Chris which no one in the room could deny.
�So now what do we do?� Joey asked, breaking the tension in the room, knowing they needed to take one problem at a time. Trying to get the relationship between Chris, Lance and Justin figured out was not on the agenda yet.
�We should probably pack up and head out.� Lance said quietly. �It�d probably be better to get back to Orlando in the middle of the night. We also need to decide where everyone is staying.�
�What do you mean, where everyone is staying? Last time I checked we all had houses to stay at.� Joey asked confused.
�Well we are probably better off sticking together if possible until we figure out who is after us and how to stop them.� Chris explained. �If we go under the assumption these people will be after the three of you to get to Lance and I, the safest route to go would be staying together.�
�How about Justin�s place then? It has the most security and is the most remote in case we need to deal with whomever is after you there. Last thing we need is paparazzi getting pictures implicating the two of you as vampires.� JC suggested and everyone quickly agreed.
An hour later, the beach house was straightened up and the five men were on their way home. �Any way we can stop for some food?� Justin asked moments before his stomach growled.
�You watched Lance drink blood from seven people tonight and Chris drank from one and you are still hungry?� Joey asked, a slightly queasy look on his face.
�Well, yeah. I mean they got to feed their hungers, now I want to feed mine.� Justin pouted slightly. �Why? Was watching that supposed to get rid of my appetite?�
�Well, all that blood could be unappetizing.� Joey explained and JC nodded slightly from the driver�s seat.
�Whatever.� Justin said dismissingly. �So what about hamburgers?� Both JC and Joey paled noticeably at the mention of the red meat.
�Maybe we should stop somewhere and let Justin get something to eat while the two of you get some air?� Chris asked with a slight grin. He was amazed as everyone else how easily Justin was accepting of the blood feeding. It was something to contemplate at a later time when all the threats in their lives were in the past. Chris realized right now their greatest threat seemed to be Joey and JC getting sick at the continued thought of food so soon after everything had happened and directed JC to stop at the nearest fast food restaurant.
The five of them arrived at Justin�s Orlando home a little after two in the morning. After setting the security alarm and making sure all the windows and doors were shut and locked, they all collapsed for the night. Joey and JC made sure not to point out how Chris, Lance and Justin all headed to the master bedroom together. Both men hoped the situation would work itself out without anyone getting hurt, but knowing their brothers like they did, both of them expected a lot of angst before the three realized how simple it could be.
By the time JC and Joey woke up the next morning Chris and Lance were both already working on reaching other vampires. While Chris was trying to reach the others by phone, Lance was working online.
�Blows the whole stereotypical vampire image out of the water.� Joey muttered as he searched through Justin�s kitchen for food.
�I don�t know,� JC said with a grin, �I think Lance on a mission to take over the world with his computer is a lot scarier then some dude in a cape trying to put you in a trance and suck all your blood.�
�You two think you�re amusing, don�t you?� Lance asked without looking up from his computer.
�Yeah.� Joey and JC said simultaneously. �It�s a gift.�
�More like a curse for everyone around you.� Justin grumbled as he wandered into the kitchen sleepily.
�Morning J.� Lance looked up with a smile. �There�s coffee made and I laid out a bowl of cereal for you, all you need to do is grab the milk.�
�Well, we know who�s vampire�s favorite.� Joey said with a forced sob which JC quickly echoed to Lance�s amusement.
�You two are in quite the mood this morning.� Lance observed. �I�m starting to get worried.� Joey and JC just grinned wickedly and sat down beside Justin to eat while Chris and Lance continued their search.
Three hours later, Chris and Lance found the other three men in front of the television in the middle of a video game competition. The two vampires sat down to wait, knowing the competition would be over soon from the groans coming from the men in front of them. Both smiled fondly as they heard Justin�s giggle of delight as he won the game and caused the other two men to groan in frustration.
�I think he has an unfair advantage. He grew up constantly playing on buses and hotel rooms while we grew up actually going to school and being normal.� Joey complained loudly.
�Hey! I�m normal!� Justin complained causing everyone else to laugh at the outrage on his face.
�Curly, you are anything but normal.� Lance said with an indulgent grin. �And don�t give me the pout cause it doesn�t work anymore.�
�But . . .� Justin stuttered knowing he wasn�t going to win but feeling the need to argue the point anyway. He hadn�t grew up with Chris around him without gaining the older man�s capacity to beleaguer a point.
�But nothing.� JC broke in. �You grew up with girls screaming your name, going to bus high school and yes . . . playing an unhealthy number of video games to pass the time. You are not normal Justin, but you are exactly how you should be.�
�Not fair pulling JC logic on me.� Justin pretended to pout as he tried to fight a grin. Justin was more aware then anyone else just how far from normal his life was and how much he enjoyed the fact.
�So, did you find anything out?� Joey asked quietly, changing the mood in the room from joking to serious.
�Well, I talked to a couple of different vampires who said they heard The Institute had been reformed. They�ve already gotten several vampires.� Chris explained watching Lance�s reaction.
�What�s the institute?� Justin asked, understanding from Chris� expression he wasn�t going to like the answer.
�They�re a group of individuals who are dedicated to eradicating all vampires, no matter how little of a threat they pose to people. It was formed about a thousand years ago, though it wasn�t really well developed until the mid-sixteen hundreds when a man whose wife had been changed made it his life�s work to get rid of those who took his wife away. They suffered a huge loss in the nineteen twenties when a fire burned their headquarters and killed all the members who were staying there. Rumors were they disbanded after that.� Lance gave a quick explanation of the history.
�Until about a year ago apparently. One of the members who wasn�t at the headquarters when it burned died and his estate was left to some scholars. They catalogued all the books and found a great deal about vampires. Apparently a group of them took it seriously and did some research and reformed. From what I could find out they have all the information to know how to kill any vampire.� Chris explained what he had found out from the others.
�How did they know the two of you were vampires though?� Joey asked.
�And what kind of vampires you are? You said there are several different types who all have different ways they can die, how did they know to use rose oil?� Justin added in his questions.
�I�d guess whatever books they received have some information about some of the older vampires in existence and we�re probably listed.� Lance guessed. �We had several run-ins with The Institute while we were in Greece.�
�What Lance means is one of the heads of The Institute wasn�t really happy when his wife wanted to leave him for Lance.� Chris said with a slight grin.
�How many times do I have to tell you I didn�t know she was his wife or I wouldn�t have picked her up?� Lance asked exasperated.
�Lance, you didn�t just pick her up for the night.� Chris said with a bigger grin. �The two of you spent over a week together in bed. When she finally returned to her husband she told him it was a good thing he had money because he could never compare in bed.�
�And I�ve apologized. What was I supposed to do? Tell her no and send her away? She was insatiable and if I remember correctly you spent most of that week in bed with us.� Lance huffed out.
�Yeah, she certainly gave me a new appreciation for blonds.� Chris recalled fondly.
�Guys, I realize you are having a great time remembering former sexual conquests and really please feel free to go into great detail in the future. Right now shouldn�t we be concentrating on the problems at hand though?� Joey asked as JC and Justin tried not to laugh. It was going to take awhile before Joey got used to the fact he wasn�t the groups biggest player.
�You�re right Joey. Sorry.� Lance agreed, managing to hide his own smile.
�Yeah, sorry.� Chris said, not even bothering to hide his self-satisfied smirk.
�Did you find out anything Lance?� Justin asked, trying to take the focus off of Joey for a minute.
�Yeah, actually I did. I found out who the actual agents are.� Lance said.
�And you�re just now bringing it up?� Chris asked exasperated.
�I wanted to let you feel important and intelligent.� Lance quipped.
�So how did you find out who they were?� JC asked. �And what do we do with the knowledge?�
�Apparently since The Institute has reformed and killed a couple of us, the vampires in Europe have been keeping close watch on them. When two of the agents took off for the U.S. they were followed by an old friend of mine. He�s been trying to get a hold of me since they got here, but was getting the brush off from WEG and our security. He wasn�t aware they had struck though so they must have hired someone to do that.� Lance explained.
�But he does know where they are at now?� Justin asked, feeling a little relief that they knew more about what was happening.
�Yeah, they actually rented the house behind mine.� Lance said, this time with anger apparent in his voice.
�So they could keep an eye on you whenever you were home?� Joey said unhappily.
�Exactly. My friend said they�ve been acting on edge since we disappeared. If we work it right, we should be able to use their nervousness to our advantage.� Lance said with a hint of anger in his voice.
�What are you planning on doing with them? How are you going to get them to leave you alone?� JC asked nervously. �You�re not planning on killing them or anything are you?�
�No Jayce, we�re not going to kill them. Though depending on what they know Lance and I may have to disappear.� Chris explained.
�What? No! There must be something else you could do besides leaving.� Justin exclaimed.
�We don�t want to Justin, but if it�s a decision between staying and putting the three of you at risk or leaving after Chris erases any memories of all of you, we�re going to leave.� Lance said with a tension filled voice.
�What if Chris changed their memories, make them believe they had checked you out and found out you weren�t vampires?� Justin asked thoughtfully. �If they haven�t told any of the others they found you then altering their memories would make it so you both were safe.�
�It could work.� Lance admitted, looking to Chris for his opinion.
�Yeah it could.� Chris agreed. �It would be simple to find out if they had contacted the others, though I doubt they have. According to what the others have said, they still aren�t well organized and they seem to mostly like to show-off what they can do without anyone else�s help.�
�If that�s true, you should have no problems erasing any mentions they have of you.� Joey said quietly.
�So how do we get in? It�s not like they�ll allow us to just walk up and scrounge through their memories.� Chris asked thoughtfully.
�We use me.� Lance suggested, cutting off any arguments as he explained further. �They saw me soon after I ingested the rose oil and I looked horrible. I can change my appearance to look that way again. Make them think I�m alone and they should come after me. The rest of you catch them and then Chris can find out everything we need to know from them.�
�I hate to say it,� Justin said reluctantly, �but it could work. I certainly can�t think of anything better.� Joey, JC and Chris all agreed reluctantly and their plan was set into motion. They needed to implement the plan immediately though so word didn�t leak out they were back in town. Sometimes being famous and recognizable was a major disadvantage Justin thought as they went over their plan again.
It was decided Justin would take Lance back home. Lance would be looking suitably sick and weak. The others would wait until they noticed the two agents going in after Lance and follow them in. Chris had assured them that he only needed to be within twenty feet or so to start going through their minds. All of them were hoping the two agents wouldn�t fight what was going to happen, though they had agreed if it was necessary they would use some violence.
Right before the five of them were ready to leave, Lance stood silent and still in the middle of the room with his eyes closed lightly. Within a couple of minutes, seemingly between one blink of an eye and the next, Lance went from looking healthy and vital to looking pale and weak. His appearance seemed to indicate he had lost about ten pounds and was extremely close to what he had looked like before they had replaced all his blood. Shock from the sudden change was apparent in the four men before Lance as they all realized the huge difference and contemplated just how close Lance had come to losing his battle.
Lance and Justin dropped the other three men off about a quarter mile from Lance�s home. After pulling into the driveway, Justin walked around the car to help a frail looking Lance. The two of them slowly walked up the steps to the front door, playing the hoax out completely. Neither of them could tell if the agents had seen them and taken the bait, so they continued into the house where Justin helped Lance to the couch. There had been some question on whether the agents had been able to get inside the house to put surveillance equipment inside so they continued as if Lance truly was weak and sick.
Lance spent the next thirty minutes with his eyes closed, looking like he was barely hanging on. Justin had no trouble looking worried and fidgety, just not for the reason the agents watching them would think. The only thing keeping him sitting on the couch was the warmth of Lance�s body next to him. Even with no words passing between them, just being in Lance�s presence was enough to calm the younger man and make him feel safe. Justin knew Lance wouldn�t allow anything to happen to him if he could stop it.
�Justin, why don�t you relax.� Lance murmured. �Curl up with me, I�m cold.�
For a moment Justin worried Lance was having a relapse until he realized if they curled up together Lance would be able to whisper in his ear with no one else the wiser. Once he realized what Lance�s motives were, he quickly curled his body around Lance, making sure he was positioned so both could easily get up to face anyone they needed to.
�Relax J, they�ll take the bait.� Lance whispered into Justin�s ear once he was comfortable. �Look like you�re falling asleep and maybe it will lull them into a false sense of security.� Justin murmured his assent and allowed his eyes to fall shut and his other senses to drink in Lance.
Once the two of them looked as if they were sleeping, it didn�t take long for them to hear activity at the door. If they hadn�t been concentrating, they probably wouldn�t have even heard the slight click of the door opening and soft footsteps crossing the floor to them. Right before they reached them, Justin heard the guys entering the room as well.
It was all over in a minute, the two agents caught in the trap and quickly tied up, sitting on two of the dining room chairs which Justin had grabbed as soon as the scuffle began. He had agreed to stay out of the way because he was still weak from blood loss, but he wanted to help hence the chairs appearing once Lance and Chris had subdued the agents.
Once they made sure the agents wouldn�t be able to get free until they were finished, Joey and JC sat down to watch the proceedings from the couch. They weren�t expecting as good of a show as the orgy, but both men were still intrigued with Chris when he was using his vampire powers. Lance and Justin joined them after Lance took a moment to return himself to his normal look, angering the agents even more as they realized how well they had been played.
Chris made sure everyone was settled before relaxing on the floor in front of them. Since he didn�t have to worry about people moving around and bumping into him, he placed himself where he could lean against his band mates. Though he would never admit it, knowing the four men behind him would protect him no matter what happened made it easier to let himself go deep enough to accomplish what was needed. With the reassurance of them behind him, Chris was quickly deep enough in his meditative state to start probing the minds of the two agents.
While the agents were quiet, not quite understanding why they had been tied up and then nothing else done to them, the others were quiet to allow Chris the opportunity to concentrate. Several minutes passed in which the agents looked more and more confused until Joey finally leaned over and whispered a question to Lance. �Do they not know what he�s doing?�
Lance shook his head slightly. �You have to be fairly skilled with shields and such to even notice him sorting through your thoughts and memories. Luckily Chris and all the other vampires I�ve known with similar gifts have all had a strong belief in not abusing their gifts.�
�Would you notice if he was going through your thoughts?� JC asked, using the same low level as Joey and Lance.
�Yeah, any vampire would. Although most do not have the gift to read and alter people�s minds, all of us have some mind gifts.� Lance explained.
�Like your being able to alter people�s perceptions of how you look?� Justin asked although he already had a good idea of the answer.
�Exactly.� Lance said with a proud grin. He was amazed at how quickly Justin seemed to be picking up information about being a vampire. Lance was also amazed at how little any of it seemed to bother the younger man.
�Shouldn�t these agents know about Chris� abilities?� Joey asked. �They seem like they have no idea what�s going on.�
�They probably don�t.� Lance stated, keeping an eye on the agents to make sure they weren�t fighting to get away. �As far as we know, The Institute never found out about our abilities. They bought into the idea of blood-sucking vampires and didn�t bother to explore our differences since they saw us drink blood at times. We�re not sure how they figured out about the rose oil and how to kill other types of vampires. We do know however they haven�t figured out how to tell different vampires apart, they simply go through the list of all the things which kill vampires until they find the one that works.�
�So there have been other attempts made before now on you and Chris?� Justin asked worried.
�There were years ago when I was with the wife of one of them. They found out what could kill us then, but with the fire where they lost so many of their people and The Institute stopped being a presence. I haven�t thought much about them again until now, but they must have written records of what could kill us.� Lance explained.
�But to find out how to kill different types of vampires without knowing more about them, it sounds like a vampire or someone close to them talked.� Joey contemplated.
�Yeah, we thought so too. Although no one�s ever been able to figure out who.� Chris broke into their conversation turning everyone�s attention to him.
�Well? Have they told anyone?� JC asked impatiently. �Can you just change their memories or do we have to figure something else out?�
�They haven�t told anyone they�ve found us. The others know they might have found us, but they haven�t contacted anyone in several weeks so they could just show up and get all the accolades.� Chris explained what he�d found.
�So you can alter their memories and we�ll be okay?� Justin asked, needing to hear Chris� belief in their plan.
�Yes, I can alter their memories without too much trouble.� At Chris� statement the agents started fighting to get loose. Chris looked at them for a moment and blinked and they were still.
�What did you just do?� Joey asked concerned.
�I didn�t hurt them Joe.� Chris said knowing Joey was worried. �I gave them a suggestion that they couldn�t move or talk.�
�You gave them a suggestion?� JC asked doubtful that a suggestion would accomplish what had happened.
�A mental suggestion from Chris is much like a suggestion from someone when you are under a deep hypnosis.� Lance explained. �You�ve seen those people who will cluck like a chicken when told? The only difference is there are a lot of people who can fight being hypnotized, it�s something you have to agree to and you would never actually do anything against your beliefs while under a hypnotic suggestion. When Chris gives a suggestion there are few people who could fight it.�
�Would other vampires be able to fight it?� Justin asked, more amazed at Chris� skills every moment.
�They would all know what he�d done and the older ones could fight it, but younger or weaker vampires wouldn�t be able to fight it.� Lance said quietly while Chris just looked on waiting to see how everyone would accept the information.
�Sometimes it pays to be old, huh Chris?� Joey said with a grin.
�Yeah, yeah.� Chris smiled, happy that no one seemed to be getting upset over his abilities in action. �We decided to make them believe they had found evidence of our deaths, right?� He asked Lance who nodded in agreement. �Anything else I need to alter?�
�If they think you are dead, what else would you have to change?� JC asked.
�We might want to alter their beliefs about vampires and our existence.� Lance explained. �Make them think there are fewer of us or a false way of killing us.�
�Okay, I�m going to ask and you can kick my ass for it later if you want,� Joey began hesitantly, �but are all vampires like you two? I mean, are any of the different types of vampires actually violent and a danger to society?�
�We�re not going to kick your ass for asking that Joey.� Chris said with a grin that faded. �There are actually vampires who do kill people, who the stereotypical vampire stories were based upon.�
�So why don�t you put that information into their heads. Try to explain the difference between the violent ones and the ones like you two who don�t hurt anyone.� Joey said quietly. �See if maybe with knowledge they would change their search to those that really are a danger.�
Lance and Chris exchanged a look which seemed to ask silently for the other�s opinion. Both knew it sounded like a good idea, but whether it would actually work was in question. Neither was naive enough to believe changing the thoughts and memories of two agents could save them from all the other agents who were working with The Institute if it was formed again. Then again, if it had just begun to be rebuilt, a well-placed thought or two could alter how it was reformed. Eventually, Lance and Chris both nodded in agreement of the plan.
�Does anyone else feel those two sometimes have conversations without words?� Joey asked semi-seriously. Justin and JC quickly nodded. �Have another power you want to tell us about guys?�
Lance turned away from Chris� glance and smiled at his friends. �No, it�s not another power, it�s just being around each other long enough to know how to read each other. Although, if Chris wanted to he could try to send his thoughts to me. He can�t alter my thoughts without my knowledge, but he is powerful enough to get past any shields I have to get his thoughts through.�
The three men nodded as if this was an ordinary thing to be talking about and Lance grinned at how accepting they all were being. Meanwhile, Chris turned back towards the agents and set his mind to the task of gently changing memories and thoughts. To anyone who didn�t know what he was doing, Chris would appear to just be staring vacantly, but his four friends did know what he was doing and all of them watched with various amounts of awe at what he was doing.
Several minutes later, Chris� body slumped back tiredly. Lance had expected the reaction and had been watching for it, so he quickly pulled the smaller man into his arms protectively. The other three looked concerned until they realized Lance had expected the reaction.
�They will be in a trance for about an hour more. They think they talked to a couple of people who killed the two of us about six years ago. I also made them think they did the whole rose oil thing to us and nothing happened to strengthen the belief we aren�t the vampires they are looking for.� Chris said tiredly.
�Did you give them any information on different kinds of vampires?� Lance asked, knowing Chris might have been too tired to go that far considering everything they�d been through during the past week.
�Yeah, I put in just enough to hopefully make them believe they don�t have to go after sexual vampires. I didn�t give them anymore information on how to hurt us though, just in case they want to kill any vampires.� Chris said as he slowly pulled away from Lance feeling a little bit stronger.
�So what do we do now?� Joey asked still watching Chris closely to make sure he was okay. It was ironic that now he knew his two friends were close to immortal he was worrying about them even more then he had when he wasn�t aware of them being vampires.
�We get them out of here. If they�re here when they come out of the trance it will make them question what�s going on.� Lance said quietly as he stood up and moved towards the agents. �Chris, have you recovered enough to tell them to head back on their own or do I need to lead them?�
�I can give them the suggestion to leave on their own, just a second.� Chris sat back and concentrated for a moment. He was rewarded when the two men raised up from the chairs where Lance had just untied them and headed out the door, never looking back.
�They�re gone for good then?� JC asked, sounding half-way disappointed.
�Yeah C, they�re gone for good. Sorry about that.� Chris said with a grin.
�It was just kind of exciting and �X-File� like with the secret organization chasing you and finding ways to stop them. It made me feel like a secret agent or something.� JC said with a wry grin.
�I�ll buy you a trench coat and a magnifying glass and you can play Sherlock Holmes.� Chris said, happy to be joking about something which had seemed so overwhelming earlier.
�Cool. So, are we partying tonight?� JC asked, his mind already taking off in another direction.