Legal disclaimer: this is fiction. Don't read if you're not old enough.
Author's note: poetry used in this part is written and owned by Thao Nguyen. Thanks again, for letting me use it, sweetie. :) So, here yet another part, enjoy! :)
- Chapter eight -
"Are you going to be allright with Justin tonight, baby?" Joey asked while putting on his jacket. "He hasn't exactly been in the brightest of moods lately, so I hate to be dumping him on you like this." "We'll be fine," JC assured him. "It's better for Lance that he's not around tonight, although the Lord knows Justin might need a repetition of the rules himself." "We'll get to that," Joey answered. He gave JC a quick kiss on the lips. "I don't want you two hunting downtown tonight."
"Joey," JC started, "I can take care of myself, you know." Hearing the slight edge in his lover's voice, Joey sighed. "I know you can, but I don't want you to take any changes." Hugging JC tightly to him, Joey continued: "I'm worried about you, I'd feel a whole lot better knowing that you're some place safe tonight. Please? For me?" "Ok," JC answered, resting his head on Joey's shoulder. "I'll take Justin and go down to the harbour. When do you think Lance and you will be back?" "I don't know," Joey answered him. "We might be late..." "You take care of yourself too, you hear me?" JC pulled back a bit so he could look Joey in the eyes. "I will, I promise," Joey told him.
They shared another kiss and then the four men left the house. "You ready, Lance?" Joey asked softly as they were on their way downtown. "As ready as I'll ever be," Lance answered. One corner of his mouth twisted up in a smile. "Guess I just have to make the best out of it, huh?" Joey laughed a little. "That's the spirit!" "Now, the rules I'll tell you about doesn't apply for every vampire, but it is what JC and I live by. And Justin, on the rare occasion he follows any rules..."
For a moment Joey's eyes went dark, then he seemed to shrug the emotion away. "You never take somebody that doesn't deserve it. It has to be someone who willingly inflicts pain or hurt on anybody else, harms them in any way. And without reason, you know what I mean? Not the one who hurts someone in self- defense, but the one who does it because he enjoys it." "I understand," Lance answered.
Joey became quiet for a little while. "It gets easier after a while, Lance. Then they become real easy to spot." A faint shimmer in his eyes reminded Lance that the man next to him could be deadly. "And then it gets fun to take them out..." There was something in his voice that made Lance desperately want to ask Joey how he was turned, but he knew that the brown-eyed man wasn't willing to share that.
"Another issue," Joey said, "discretion is a good thing. We're stronger than most mortals, but that's still no reason to be careless. For instance, you really don't want to end up in a cell at a police station somewhere when the sun is coming up." "Yeah, I can imagine that," Lance said with a little smile. "And I think telling them that you're a vampire wouldn't help either..." He earned a smile from Joey too. "No, that would probably land you in a mental institution, which wouldn't be any better."
Pulling up to a small parking lot, Joey turned the car's engine off. "Here we are, let's go." Getting out of the car, Lance took a look around. They weren't at the same place as the night before, but he recognized the street. Joey walked around the car and stood next to him. "Let's go." Thoughtful Lance studied the people they passed as they walked. Joey's words had made sense. If they had to do this, this had to be the best way.
Looking up at Joey he noticed that the Italian was watching a women standing by a lamp-post a couple of yards from them. Keeping Joey's words in mind, Lance just watched her too. It was obvious what she was doing, but still... After a little while Lance discovered a tall, heavy-set man keeping close to the women. As her he was eyeing the passer-byers.
"What do you think?" Joey's voice was soft, his breath warm against Lance's skin as he spoke quietly into his ear. Lance drew a deep breath. "I think she would be a good choice." "Why?" Joey asked him. "The man standing behind her. She picks up guys and takes them somewhere where he's waiting. Then he robs them or kills them..." "Very good," Joey answered. "Very perseptive, Lance. So, do you want the female or the man?"
Thinking a little, Lance then made up his mind. "I want the woman," he said, an almost child-like eagerness shining through his earlier inhibitions. Giving Lance's shoulders a light hug, Joey told him to go for it. "I'll be right behind you, he promised. "And don't worry about the man, I'll take care of him." Waiting a little before he followed the blonde, Joey let himself study him a little. He seemed to be getting the hang of this fast, which was good. Even as a wayward he could see the changes in the society. Their world was changing and Joey wasn't sure if that was to the better or to the worse. But whatever happened they all needed to be ready.
Lance had now approached the woman. Joey knew that Lance's expensive clothing and mild manners would make her think he was going to be an easy target. That made him smile. Only thing better than being a vampire, was being a rich vampire... The woman was now flirting heavily with Lance, smiling and batting eye-lashes, constantly touching him. A moment later, Lance nodded questionly towards the the narrow alley and the woman nodded back. As Joey had expected the man followed them a couple of seconds after the two of them had left the corner.
"How come a sweet little thing like you are down here?" the woman asked, letting her fingers brush over Lance's chest. "Needing some excitement?" Looking into pale blue eyes, Lance smiled. "Something like that." He raised his hand to let it run through her long brown hair, before letting it lock around her neck. "Now now, she admonished, "not so eager now... We have to talk business first. " I don't think so," Lance answered, his green eyes lingered on her exposed neck. "I think you'll give me what I want now."
"What? Wait a minute..." her words ended in a sharp cry as Lance sank his fangs into her neck. Even though she struggled against him, she was no match for Lance's now increased strength. As her body lost power, she gasped out a name and the large man rushed around the corner. As his eyes narrowed and he made ready to leap at Lance, arms embraced him from behind. Almost like a hug, but lethal. "I think we'll let them be," a slightly amused voice told him.
The man tried to pry Joey's arms off him. He couldn't see his opponent, and soon he was staring at Lance who was still feeding of the woman. Nearly hypnotized by the vision the man hardly felt at first when Joey bit through the skin on his neck. Lance looked up from the woman's limp neck and caught Joey's eyes. Smiling a little Joey gave him a playful wink. It was on oddly erotic sensation, Lance watched as Joey closed his eyes and let the man's blood fill his mouth. The alley was silent as they both finished up.
"How do you feel?" Joey asked as they left the two bodies behind. "I feel good, actually," Lance answered. Shyly he let his eyes meet Joey's. Feelings rose inside him, which he quickly pushed back. "Wait a minute." Joey stopped him. "You spilled a little...let me get it." Carefully Joey licked a finger and wiped the small stain of blood from Lance's face. The feeling of the damp finger-tip sliding over his chin, right at the corner of his mouth, sent a shudder through Lance's body.
"I can't be feeling this!" he scolded himself. "He belongs to someone else, someone I care very much about! I can't be wanting him this way!" But when Joey placed his arm gently around Lance's shoulders to lead him back out on the street, Lance wasn't so sure about that. For a moment Lance had to fight the urge to lean into Joey's strong, warm body and forget about the rest of the world. "Do you want to go back?" Joey asked. No, Lance didn't want that. He didn't want to see the smile on Joey's face when he saw JC again, he didn't want to see Joey's deep brown eyes light up in that amazing way as he looked into JC's clear blue ones. Not yet, he wanted to have Joey all to himself just a little bit longer. "I'd like to stay a little longer," he told Joey, "if you don't mind." "Of course I don't mind! JC and Justin won't be back for a long time yet either" Joey answered. "Come, I want to show you something."
Taking Lance by the hand, Joey lead him across the street and down a small sideway. In the end they were standing in front of a little rundown building. A small sign over the curved door read: "The Sanctuary." "What is this place?" Lance asked. "It's a number of things," Joey said, "it's what you make it to be." "You've been spending too much time around JC, I think, " Lance said with a raised eyebrow. "I'm not that bad!" Joey answered, throwing him a fake, shocked look. "No," Lance answered. "I don't think anybody is that bad..."
Joey pushed the door open and they entered the house. Inside there was a wooden bar, stretching along the wall in the back. Shelfs holding liqour and beers clung to the walls over it, tiles of mirrors reflecting smoky light from candles at the tables. Round tables accompagnied by two or three chairs were scattered around the floor. Over by the end of the bar there was a small, medium-lit stage.
Sitting on a barstool on that stage was a young man, his dark brown eyes silently watching the crowd that was looking back at him. The tables was filled with people, of all various races and ages. "Let's go sit down," Joey whispered, motioning Lance towards a table in the back of the room. Sitting down Lance's eyes went back to the stage. The young man with short, black hair was holding a notebook in his lap. "His name is Thao," Joey said, "he recite his poetry here some nights."
The atmosphere in the club was intimate and cosy. "Do you come here often?" Lance asked. "From time to time," Joey answered. "The stage is usually free for those who want to try...but this guy tends to draw a lot of people. When you hear him, you'll understand why."
The quiet rustling of paper got their attention and they both sat back to listen to the young man on stage. "This is called "Dream"," he said, his voice soft, yet perfectly audible over the faint buzz at the bar.
"Love is but a dream What is love But an illusion Here today Gone tomorrow
What is love But pain and agony Swift of love Drawn out Grief
Love is but a dream >From which stems hope >From which despair flows In the wake of reality
Love is an illusion Love is pain Love is despair Love is but a dream
Love, who needs it Love, who wants it Love, who craves it
I don't..."
As the poet went quiet again, applause spread among the tables. Joey looked over at Lance. "How do you like our sanctuary so far?" "It's nice here," Lance answered. "And I liked that poem." "Me too," Joey answered. "Told you he was good." Waiting for the poet to start another poem, Lance studied Joey's hands that rested on the table. Something about those strong, powerful hands made feelings deep inside of him slowly burn.
Lance wanted to melt back into the wall behind him. He didn't want this, he didn't want to fall in love with someone so obviously in love with someone else.
And then the voice of the young poet reached him, filling the room with words that almost made tears sting Lance's eyes. "I don't want this," he thought. "He doesnt't want me. Joey loves JC, JC loves Joey." But he couldn't help moving just a little closer to Joey, resting his head on his shoulder.
"This is a new one," the the dark-eyed poet had said, "I have called it "Unparallelled love"." The crowd went quiet again, as he started to read.
"I am here But where are you My heart and soul
All my life I've been searching For the right guy
Someone loving Someone fun Someone to love
But what is love But a fleating thing Here today, gone tomorrow
When you walk by All I see is you With a radiant light
The sweet smile That lit your face And shine through it all
Your dark brown eyes That pierced my soul Oh, how it burns with ecstacy
My love for you Is unparallelled Oh, how I love you so
My heart and my soul Belongs to you and no one else."
Again the applause roared through the room, the sudden noise startling Lance. The poet smiled and closed his book. All of a sudden the walls felt constricting, the room too packed with emotions for Lance to breath. "Can we leave now?" Lance asked Joey. "I think I want to go home." That wasn't what he really wanted to do, but maybe, just maybe, the sight of Joey and JC together... To feel the never-ending love always radiating from the couple, would be what Lance needed to end the un-wanted feelings.
"We'll go home," Joey soothed him. "Are you feeling ok, Lance?" "Yes," Lance lied. "Just getting tired, that's all," Lance continued. Looking up in the incredible, shimmering depths of Joey's eyes, a smile played across his face. "Thanks for taking me to this place, I really like it here." Lovingly ruffling Lance's blonde hair, Joey smiled back. "No problem."
Following closely behind Joey, Lance was silent as they reached the car. When they got back, JC and Justin would be there too. And that was where this would stop. But the house was still a car-ride away. One last moment where he would let himself be taken away by the strong feelings the man next to him provoked in him. One last moment, than Lance vowed to himself to get over it. He was not going to love Joey anymore, not like that.