***************************************************************************** Author's notes: Woo-hoo! I'm back. Have you missed me? No, I didn't think you had. But I've missed Nifty, badly. Anyway, the reason I haven't updated for ages is basically because the computer got the sniffles, and we had to give it medication. Or something along those lines. Anyway, this story is almost finished (two chapters to go after this one) and they're complete, so unless my computer has a relapse, I should be fairly quick in sending them in. To everyone who e-mailed me, and who I haven't e-mailed back yet, don't worry, I'll reply to you soon. I was kind of inundated with e-mails when I finally got back on the Internet a few days ago, and I'm slowly working my way through them. Man, I feel loved!
Standard disclaimer: You know the drill. Too young? Don't read. Too homophobic? Don't read. Too repressed? Don't read. Think this is real? Seek help. Like The Backstreet Boys? Read on. Start to believe they're actually gay? Well, just don't start stalking them. Then I guess we'll all be okay. *****************************************************************************
'So free for the moment Lost somewhere between the earth and the sky' - Free, The Martinis
********* Chapter 7 *********
Brian banged against the door desperately as AJ searched around desperately for a spare key.
"Bastard, bastard, bastard." Brian sobbed as he banged in repetitive motion. AJ threw the suitcase across the room in exasperation and slumped down to the floor.
"I can't believe this." He shook his head. "I can't believe he's a vampire. I can't believe my best friend is a vampire."
"Believe it." Brian banged loudly again. "If the teeth weren't a giveaway, and him trying to kill us, I think that crucifix burning right through his clothes might have finally confirmed it."
"So that means Kevin is as well." AJ exclaimed. "And most probably Nick by now."
"There might still be time for Nick, as long as we GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" Brian screamed the last four words, and they both waited for the sound of footsteps. They heard nothing.
"I can't believe we got away from him alive." AJ shook his head. "I really think he wanted to kill us."
"He did." Brian rolled his eyes. "And I hardly call this getting away alive. As soon as Kevin's finished with Nick, I'm sure they'll be back to finish the job."
"Not if I have anything to do with it." AJ slipped a crucifix into his pocket, and picked up a bottle of water, that Brian had taken to a priest earlier in the day to bless, along with several other bottles.
"You will not use that on any of them, unless it's the absolute last resort." Brian warned him. They suddenly heard footsteps coming up the hall outside. Brian began pounding the door again, and shouting for help.
"What if it's them?" AJ hissed.
"What if it isn't?" Brian reasoned.
"Hey, are you okay in there?" They heard an unfamiliar, female voice ask.
"No, someone locked us in. You have to get a key and get us out." Brian pleaded.
"Okay, I'll go down to reception." The lady on the other side assured them.
They heard her walk away, and looked at each other.
"You think we're gonna get through this night alive?" AJ asked.
"I'll get back to you on that one in the morning." Brian exclaimed wryly.
Kevin woke suddenly, feeling deeply satisfied, although he couldn't place the reason straight away. Then he turned to face Nick, who was fast asleep, and realised why. It had finally happened. He smiled darkly, and tilted Nick's head up, revealing his exposed neck. The younger man had never looked so beautiful as he did now. Louis had warned Kevin not to try to make Nick into a vampire; because Kevin was still too weak to carry out the procedure properly. But as Kevin stared at Nick's beautiful neck, he knew that he couldn't bear for anyone else to bite his lover, especially not Louis.
"Wake up, my love." Kevin whispered seductively into Nick's ear. Nick's eyes fluttered open, responsive to Kevin's voice.
"Kevin, I wanna sleep." He murmured. Kevin shook his head, and pulled Nick up to face him.
"When I'm done, you'll never have to sleep again." He smiled knowingly. Nick rolled his eyes.
"I think even you'll get tired if we attempt to have sex all night, every night." He laughed. Kevin shook his head.
"How naive you are, Nicky." He stroked some hair from Nick's face. Nick scowled at his words.
"Don't call me naive. You know I hate that." Nick pouted.
"You couldn't hate something if you tried." Kevin laughed. "No matter how much you cross your arms, or do that adorable little pout."
Nick uncrossed his arms angrily, and lay back down on the bed, his back to Kevin. "I'm going back to sleep." He informed the older man. Kevin shook his head.
"That's what you think, my love." He told him. He felt his fangs grow in his mouth, and he felt dizzy through anticipation. "This will all be over soon; it will only hurt a little bit."
"I'm not having sex with you again tonight. I'm too tired." Nick groaned. He turned to face Kevin, and his bright blue eyes grew in horror as he saw Kevin looming above him, his fangs shining. With an anguished moan he rolled away from underneath Kevin, narrowly missing the razor-sharp teeth. Falling to the floor with a thud, he grabbed the small silver cross from the bedside cabinet. Kevin climbed off of the bed, smiling as he approached Nick, who backed away as far as he could until he reached the door.
"Please don't try to fight me. I don't want to hurt you, Nicky, but if you force me to, then you have nobody to blame but yourself."
"Get away from me." Nick sobbed. "Get the hell away from me."
"You would not believe how much better it is." Kevin tried to reason with him. "Every sense is heightened, every breath is like inhaling the sweetest perfume. It's a different world, Nicky, a better world. We could share it together. We'll live forever, and your beauty will never fade. I can't stand by and watch you grow old and frail. Not when your youth can remain through everything."
"I can't." Nick shook his head. "I can't live like that. Not for you, not for Louis, not for anyone."
Kevin shook his head in exasperation and pulled Nick up from the floor suddenly, bringing his face millimetres from Nick's. "It's a pity I'm not giving you a choice then, isn't it?" He snarled. He bore his fangs, ready to strike, when Nick held up the silver cross and pressed it against his cheek. Kevin roared with unimaginable pain as the silver burnt into his skin. He pushed Nick away roughly, and stared at him in fury.
"You won't get away with this, I swear." He told him. "You've gotta accept your fate like I accepted mine. I'll return to finish the job, you can be sure of that." He fled from the room, and Nick slid to the floor in tears. A few moments later, Brian and AJ ran in.
"Get away from me!" Nick shouted at them. "Don't you dare touch me!"
"Nick, it's okay, we're not vampires." Brian assured him. He took a cross from his pocket and clasped his hand around it. "See?"
"Give it to AJ." Nick eyed it warily. Brian passed it to a bemused AJ, who it also had no effect on. Nick stood up shakily and hugged Brian.
"It's okay." Brian rubbed his hand down Nick's back. "I'll protect you now, I promise."
"Do you think that what Mark said was true?" Nick asked. "About killing the head vampire?"
"I don't doubt him for a second." Brian exclaimed. Nick sighed resolutely.
"Then we have to find Louis, tonight. I want Kevin back. I don't wanna be scared for the rest of my life." He shook his head. Brian looked across to AJ who nodded in agreement.
"Fine." Brian nodded. "Let's get the supplies from my room and go. I'm sure we'll be able to find Louis."
"He'll find us." Nick told him. "He's gonna be waiting for me."
"Are you sure you want to?" Brian asked. "I know how much he means to you."
"No." Nick shook his head defiantly. "He stopped meaning something to me the moment he took Kevin and Howie's lives. Now, I feel nothing but hate for him." He told his two friends resolutely. He left the room before they saw the new tears emerging in his eyes, and before they realised that his hateful words were false. Yes, he felt hate for Louis. But at the same time, locked deep in his heart, the love that he had felt the first time he had set eyes on Louis still refused to fade. One day it would, it had to. But only after tonight; only after he saw Louis die. And only after he killed the vampire himself.