Category: Writers Block
The helicopter landed smoothly and Marcus waited as the white dust settled he was stronger now and even more of Lorne's unaging blood flowed through his unquenchable veins.He stepped on to the slippery uneven ground with the sure step of a confident immortal,Jamie had heard so much about this creature who was unable to speak but said everything with his emotive eyes carved from blue ice, Lorne came towards them with his long easy stride and Vincent couldnt supress a smile at his effortless recovery from ten years underground,he smiled bowed and held out a flask of warm blood,Lorne took it and drank greedily his blue eyes questioned Vincent and resented his hesitation,then Marcus emerged from the helicopter he looked well, healed and strong the vampires regarded each other and Vincent struggled to keep his anger a secret
"I'm glad to see your well..We were begining to wonder when you would pop up like a spring flower" The vampire looked him in the eye and pointed behind him,Vincent sighed and went to meet Marcus who remained impassive he was already aware of Jamie and curious to see if the advancement was as he feared "so you didnt get far its sad when the young ones show no desire to leave the nest" he strode past Vincent who stayed calm despite a strong attraction and a terrible dull ache he still wanted Marcus, and the thought that this desire might never fully be resolved terrified him.
Marcus turned and signalled imperceptively to Vincent who answered in spite of himself *It's a good thing your stronger now because they are in NO mood to compromise, I'd have put the hammer down if i was you* the exchange was brief but Lorne heard every word and again those chips of blue ice demanded Vincent's attention "why are you asking for my side when even the frozen earth of Norway isn't deep enough to deafen you to our lives!" Lorne's hand shot out and held the vampire's arm in a cold grip ^I'm not here to hurt you the Elders will allow you to explain about the abuse...And despite what you think i never admonished Marcus for raping you".
His honesty stunned and angered Vincent "where were you hiding underground because your tired of these idiots fighting and bickering amongst themselves,at any time in those 10 years when you knew i was denied a true advancement,did the thought ever occur oh! I'd better do something about that arsehole's deception!" Lorne stepped back and tried to express his deep regret and guilt he was fond of Vincent but his bond with Marcus was impossible to sever.
"Well your help is 15 years too late! I needed you 5 years ago,when that creature treated me with less respect than a f*cking prostitute!...Or has rape become acceptable to your puppets!" Vincent was right in Lorne's face his inability the frustration of being unable to speak made him want to lash out and send this vampire sprawling in the snow ^if you will let me get a word in this is not all about the attack on Marcus though you definately had good reason to do that...No just listen and trust me".
"Christ! You have a nerve I am tired of the way these eejits hang on your every word then obey like beaten children!" as Marcus joined them he put an arm around Lorne who didnt object,his arrogance enraged Vincent he left but turned around and floored Marcus with a pile driver of a punch,he leapt up and grabbed Vincent by the throat, his grip was intense and the bones so easy to break "oh ho he's finally grown up about time but your outta that pal...We'er eh here to see Justice done an you ken what that means" if a vampire harmed another of a higher rank,then the perpetrator was usually excecuted by the victim vampire justice was brutal and Vincent feared it more than anything.
They went inside to talk and Jamie kept out of sight Marcus could sense him and decided to play hide and seek "where's your wee pal is he still kicking there's no much chance of a snack wi him" the tall vampire hunted around and followed his intuition then a slight movement gave Jamie away.
"ah ha! Come outta there you...Lets see if this child managed to get something right!" Marcus tried to haul Jamie out of the shadows but his great strength surprised him as the vampire walked in to the light he gasped at the beauty and strength of what was once a dying boy,he resembled a Michelangelo statue carved from white marble,with dark loose curly hair and brilliant intense blue eyes Mal smiled and Jamie responded by flashing his fangs ^you are exquisite my friend I'm glad to see Mal hasn't lost his touch^ Lorne's voice echoed within Jamie's head and his Norse accent turned him on.
^Let's get on with the reason we came all this way...Vincent we know you have suffered with Marcus..But the fact remains you chose to stay for that reason alone though i fail to understand why you made that insane descision,i cannot condone your actions....Wait!" Lorne held up a hand to stop Vincent's protest and Jamie was instantly fascinated by the mesh of blue veins beneath his constantly pale skin."I haven't finished we will allow you time to explain what drove you to attack Marcus^.
He looked sidways at the powerful vampire and his normally implacable brown eyes were malevolant slits Vincent had already discerned the truth Marcus had a hidden agenda and even Lorne who could read the minds of every vampire before him,was ignorant of the facts "I'd left to..Feed and had assumed {stupid now i realise} that no-one had noticed a thing ...But Marcus revealed that i had been seen and treated worse than you would a fledgling! He was abusive, threatening and this turned....In to torture i was whipped until dry....Then he demanded I recreate halloween...." Vincent wandered around and struggled with rising shame and anger at his inability to escape."As you know Marcus raped me {how matter of fact that sounds like yet another crime on the news}he's always had a sadistic streak but watching another being living or otherwise,in pain and suffering,........ Well he was fully erect through out".
This was not the effect he'd hoped for there were no gasps of shock, or calls for revenge! Lorne sat calmy and listened his eyes clawed over Vincent but softened when they landed on Marcus "i see well why are you sitting there? Lets get my execution over with have you moved on from the old days or is keel hauling still a favourite of you vikings!" Lorne didn't move and his inertia annoyed Vincent "Marcus its time to end this bullshit! If your lover refuses to act I can be sure that you will" Marcus stood up but Vincent was faster he pushed past the stunned vampire and embraced Jamie,who was fighting back his 1st blood tears "this is madness! Do you have any idea what he plans to do..." Jamie whispered and his warm lips brushed against Vincent's cool skin that b*st*rd plans to murder you".
"Ive had it coming wouldn't you say? Anyway the odds have shifted in my favour..So don't worry we will see each other again" Marcus drank from a dark blue glass and watched the vampires with his mind,Jamie was vaguely aware of him reading his thoughts but could do nothing about it ^this is getting us nowhere...Vincent you haven't the authority to pre-determine your fate...Sit down while we try and sort out this mess!^ He glared at Lorne then deliberately bared his fangs in a threat this was unheard of and only Vincent, or Marcus, would dare ^if we had advanced you...might my position be in danger^ Lorne's joke didn't amuse the protagonists he was impatient and anxious to leave "I'd say it still is seeing how your successor stands before you or are you also as blind as a mole!".
Lorne jumped up but Marcus was there to stop his attack,"no!There's been enough fighting already!...Christ! How easy would it be for the mortals to bring us down if they saw us trying ae destroy ourselves!" His hand was squeezing the vampire's jugular with lethal intent "yes I'm guilty ae violence..But this crap solves nothing! An your desperate to get back to your hole...right! Marcus had always been volatile and the atmosphere was as tight as his grip and the signifigance of his attack was obvious to Jamie,he knew that apart from constant bleeding,sustained pressure on the jugular could kill a vampire.
He forced Marcus to lessen his grip on the pulsating vein he growled with dangerous anger and bared his fangs,Jamie took the threat seriously but refused to back down even as Marcus forced his mouth open "say hello to our new leader ladies and gentlemen if that's no an exaggeration".
"Vincent i take it you'd help for this....Hmm still I'm impressed he's...different alright an handsome eh Jamie" Marcus winked at the vampire who tried to forget the carnal scene in the bedroom and Vincent's raw agonising injuries.He couldn't quite believe the transformation and how easily Lorne had succumed to his "charm" "i take whatever i can get you know that...Anyway will you come with me or no surely you wont get another chance like this again" Marcus was torn for the 1st time in his immortal life,his twisted love for Vincent argued against his new dislike of violence.
Marcus hesitated for too long and they saw the effect of Lorne's blood and how it was begining to change him,the conflict was evident in his eyes.1 of the Elders and Italian vampire asked "Vincenzo why are you so keen to suffer,no we don't act con veloce but would you be happier if we did" he smiled and put a hand on Dino's shoulder in friendship and a need for something deeper "non preoccupare amico il suo non importante...You will become old before your time Alfredo".
"Ah such is life Vincenzo credere me we will not see you executed... I wont allow it our reliance on the old ways malidizione! We need to change and adapt it's 2004 not the 13th century!" Alfredo was normally quiet but he had been a part of Vincent's advancement and had endangered himself in a futile quest to bring Marcus to account. Lorne still cold and eerily quiet considered the politics and power struggles being played out in front of his vibrant blue eyes,he seemed composed and utterly apart from them all {so my successor reveals himself at last or is he? Maybe there are 2...Or....Maybe you have played your hand too soon my friend}.
This continued in to what remained of the night and they were unable to reach an agreement much to Vincent's digust,he gave up when Marcus and Lorne fell to petty threats E.G "I'll rip out your unbeating heart!" And went to find a safe place to hide from the sun.Mal until now just a shape in shadow shook his head and sighed he'd forseen this in the middle of advancing Jamie, the entire night had become startlingly clear.
"I might have known Lorne you 3 are too close to be subjective,let some of the Elders handle Vincent's case and I'll keep him safe" Mal stared right in to the vampire's ruthless eyes and found pain,575 years of dealing with the ambitions of reckless immortals had worn him down,Lorne's decade underground was only a part of the long preperation that all vampires need to make when they know they are out of time.^It's time to move aside however I'm not quite ready to give up..Stubborn Viking huh?^ Despite their differences over the years Mal did admire him and that determined streak he had shown in preventing Marcus from gaining control and turning the whole coven in to nothing more than a crowd of monsters.
"Take some rest i need less now maybe we'll go down together my friend...you shouldn't be alone loon no on your final night" the vampires embraced and Jamie was touched by their concern for each other "Is this my inheritance infighting,and the constant fear of betrayal" Mal tried to reassure him but it was pointless this vamp had been too far advanced with an uncanny ability to predict the future for all of them, and what he saw chilled him to the bone "I have to rest its getting light..." Jamie turned to Lorne and held out his hand in respect and regret that they had had insufficent time to really know one another "in a way I'll miss the sun watching her came up at least then I knew I'd survived another day" ^you can watch her rise but after that you must retreat to the darkness...Or turn to ashes we are cursed to be forever cheated out of what we desperately want^.
Jamie watched the sun rise and at 1st he didn't really trust it,then as the pale yellow disc crept above the mountains he saw it as never before,the colour brightened and expanded until his eyes stung with its brilliance the light grey sky blazed with colour pink,yellow,and that strange green that always accompanied a winter sunrise,he was transfixed and a million miles away from the responsability they were about to pile on his shoulders.Then the watercolour clouds deepened to a strong red and orange and he was seeing what Vincent referred to as a blood sky Jamie realised he would carry this picture with him always every new born vampire saw this for the 1st time.
Lorne stood beside him Jamie hadn't heard a sound and the vampire's stealth startled him for a moment "you'd think I'd be used to that..Things will take time..Do you honestly see me as your successor?" The question was asked in a curious worried tone which Lorne had expected ^It will either be you...Marcus or Vincent...." He studied the sky to the north and a look of homesickness? passed across his face "what about Mal? Jamie turned to Lorne and held his stare there is no one better to keep them from ripping each other to shreds!...Marcus still intends to go through with the execution....1 that would sicken even you...I know how you used to handle trouble makers"
^That's all over some of have moved on...I promise to keep Vincent from harm...He's changing and what I see...Its good^ Lorne was honest and direct Jamie was about to argue the point when his skin began to itch and burn as if had sunburn ^time to leave we need a name for you think of 1 while you sleep...^ Lorne put a hand on his rapidly warming skin and they hurried back to hide from the day hunger gnawed at Jamie and he searched the glen for anything viable "its beautiful but barren how does Mal survive up here? He can't order foreign hikers on demand" as the vampire laughed his fangs caught the advancing light ^no but he's...It's better not to ask^
Everyone else had gone to the inner rooms and drawn the heavy curtains tight against the stunning sunrise Jamie forced away the twinge of regret at missing the sunrise in full in his former life each one had meant so much,he'd clung to every unique and never to be repeated detail in his mind until the effort of it had exhausted him ^there will be others..We never become tired of the sun but the moon ahh! She's our constant companion.But,you must see the Northern Lights and where else but Norway".
Jamie considered this and searched through the seductive timbre of Lorne's accent as it echoed in his head {hmm there's an alterior motive here F*ck! I cant get past his mind!}The bothy was silent as they found a place to sleep Jamie was already tired and his hunger had been dulled by drinking from a discarded glass. ^Sleep well my friend I look forward to showing you my country^ Lorne smiled and lay down on a narrow bed near a covered window he fell asleep instantly, but his eyes remained open and at rest they were no less deadly I'd trust you as far as I could throw you my friend" he smiled winked and said ^nobody does and I like your sarcasam very Scottish^.
The vampires slept as a bitterly cold day closed in around the glen later, there was a violent blizzard and Vincent briefly awoke to the howl of Freya's icy breath he shivered with excitement as several large white flakes drifted past his eyes and the memory of the snowball fight with Marcus came back to annoy him he didn't waste any time analysing the big vampire's reluctance to inflict pain when he had been a bloodthirsty creature without equal."Its no wonder Lorne is incapable of arranging a mere execution..He couldn't organise a blood feast in an abbatoir".
Later as the sun fell behind Bidean Nam Bien the 1st of the vampires woke up Mal never really slept,in the long expanse of his life he'd often tried to stay awake during daylight hours in the hunt for Marcus and his crowd,until he found the concept of sleeping wasteful and unfortunate Mal threw logs on the fire and watched as hungry orange flames devoured the dry resin filled pine "ahhh! Theres nothin like some luxury pal Christ!...I'm hungry? This is unusual alright" then he remembered in the middle all the arguing and violence he had absently picked up a glass "Marcus left it lyin around F.ck! Well dinna you no owe me Lorne" he smiled inwardly and felt certain that for 1 vampire at least,time was running out
The 1/4 pint would ensure Mal's and Marcus were evenly matched when he realised that the situation had changed and they was nothing to be gained by challenging for the leadership "why would any of you want it anyway...We must aw be mad its inevitable after a while" Marcus appeared silently and sat by the fire drinking from a flask he was ravenous and the thought of feeding from an animal just made it worse "feed loon you'll no starve here an that's only for emergency's or blackmail" he rolled the warm rich blood around in his mouth and swallowed then stood up and went to sate his hunger.
...hungering for more of the Story... please ... ... ... BBrrr!! aCold draft ... ... ... whips through