Dark Paths Ch. 09

Elian glanced at Dominic. "You have a vehicle nearby, I assume? You did not fly here on your broomstick little witch?"

Dominic treated him to a wary look. He had not lowered the rifle in his hands but now he nodded acknowledgement and Elian returned his attention to Xavier.

"I did not come all this way to watch you stumble around in the dark and die slowly," he told the boy.

"Fuck off. I don't need you." Xavier had managed a few steps, but the effort was taxing. He hurt, everywhere. Another step and he stumbled, going down to his knees.

Elian reached for him again, this time not letting the child swat him away.

"Lemme go! Get your hands off me!" Xavier twisted in the vampire's grip. "Get the fuck off of me!!"

Xavier twisted in Elian's grip, struggling to pull away as Elian brought him in close. The double click of the safety catch on Warren's rifle was loud in the stillness of the mountain night. Quietly the old man said; "Put him down, you heard the lad. He doesn't want your hands on him. And I don't quite blame him."

Elian turned his head and looked angrily at the mage. He had not released his hold on Xavier but he said; "The boy will bleed to death before you get him back to the city. I cannot carry him there in my shifted form but I can help him now, if you will trust me."

"Give me one good reason why I should do that?" Warren demanded, circling him with the rifle still trained on the Ancient vampire. "When you were prepared to sell me off to Lagrado in order to get your jollies!"

"I trusted in your supreme cleverness to see a way out of the situation, and you did not disappoint me," Elian purred, shaking his head. "If you shoot me now with those lethal bullets of yours you will kill the child also."

Xavier slapped and pushed at him again, cursing almost incoherently. Elian caught his hands and restrained him gently.

"Let me heal him," he said coolly. "I give you my word upon my Unlife and the bloodline that created me, in the eyes of your Sacred Goddess, Lord Warren. I shall not bite him."

"If you try it, I will kill you," Dominic answered, to his credit his voice only trembled very slightly. "Heal him and step away from him. Let me take him back."

"It will be so." Elian returned his attention to the young man in his arms. "Stop your struggles. You are bleeding too much." He lifted Xavier up, holding him tight against his chest as he bent his head toward his neck. He could feel the boy's heart pounding like a wild and trapped thing as he touched his cool lips to the wound.

"No! Don't!" Xavier's struggles became frantic, but he had neither the strength nor the energy to sustain it long. He whimpered as the vampire's gentle tongue lapped at the ragged punctures and tensed for the pain of fangs sinking into him, but it did not come.

Elian kissed and licked the wound until the blood stopped and the rents mended. It took several minutes and the task did not seem to displease him. He made a pleasurable sound in his throat as he lifted his head, licking his lips to savour every sweet drop. Xavier hung limply in his arms. He panted raggedly and was trying hard not to sob. Elian shifted him easily, sliding one hand under his knees so he cradled the youth in his arms like a child.

He turned to Dominic who was still pointing the rifle at him. "Let me carry him back to the car," he said softly. "I am stronger than you and it has been a long night for us all."

He could see the mistrust in Lord Warren's moss green eyes but the man knew he was being held at bay. All the time that Elian had Xavier in his arms he was effectively safe. He trusted that Dominic would not shoot him whilst the boy was still at risk. Elian took the lead, back down the hill, following the traces of Dominic's passage from the car and the mortal followed, keeping him carefully in his sights. At the edge of the tree line just before they reached the car Elian stopped, looking back at Dominic seriously. The sorcerer sensed a shimmer in his aura as if something had just happened but so quickly and subtly that he was not aware of it. He blinked like a man coming awake after a power nap.

"The news of Coelho's death will spread very quickly," Elian said in a low tone. "There will be a power struggle over his place as Master here. More death is coming, and on a much vaster scale. Be sure you and yours do not get caught in the crossfire, Lord Warren," the vampire advised now. It was a very diplomatic way of telling him to leave, and leave quickly.

Elian set Xavier on his feet and the boy gasped in pain. The fresh bruises, overlaying ones only days old, were just beginning to bloom. In the momentary distraction Elian moved, seeming to simply vanish for a second then re-emerge someplace else. Before Dominic had time to even draw another breath the ancient vampire grasped him from behind, gripping his arms so tightly that he could not even raise his weapon. Elian nuzzled softly at his throat, letting the sharp points of his canines scrape ever so gently over the skin. "Unless you would like to stay... and be my guest..." he chuckled warmly, and then he once more disappeared, this time seemingly for good.

Dominic exhaled softly, hardly daring to look around. Then he was beside Xavier, helping the boy to stand up.

"Oh sweetheart," he sighed heavily. "Dare we hope that a peaceful night and a comfortable bed can be ours before the sun rises? Let's get you back to somewhere warm and familiar and check you for damage, and maybe get something chronically alcoholic to drink? How does that sound?"

Xavier just nodded woodenly and followed as Dominic led the way out of the trees.

PJ was out of the car as soon as he saw them coming and wrapped his arms around Xav, overjoyed to see the boy alive and able to walk.

"They're moving out," he told Dominic over the top of Xavier's head, still stroking his hair fondly. "Lagrado's dead, and most of his cronies. Clay's gonna meet us at the Marriot Courtyard down in San Bruno, he's already booking flights for the morning and it's handy for the airport. I think it would do us all the world of good to get out of Frisco for a little while. But at least we can relax for tonight, yeah?"

"I think so, yes," Dominic nodded, relieved.

Xavier picked his head up from PJ's chest. "You're leaving?" It was the first he'd spoke since giving in to Elian and his voice was low and hoarse, his throat felt scraped raw.

"We figured it was for the best," the bigger fellow answered amiably. "You know you're welcome to come with us. My friend Aldo has plenty of space at his place in Italy. And he'd love you, I know it already."

"Oh..." Xav breathed, still in that softly resigned tone. "Um, I don't have a passport."

"Let us worry about that," PJ chuckled, "I'm sure the Lord will intervene on your behalf if you ask him very nicely."

He winked at Dominic and the Englishman managed a weary smile.

"We'll think of something," he said, reaching over to ruffle Xavier's hair as if he was a child (which compared to himself and Paddy the lad practically was!)

Xav let himself be guided to the car and PJ settled into the two seater BMW. Xavier was going to have to sit in his lap, but he didn't mind. He lowered himself stiffly, a low groan passing his lips as he touched down. He turned slightly, getting comfortable, or as comfortable as possible anyway, and leaned back against Paddy's solid chest putting his head on the older man's shoulder. They had hardly gone two miles before Xavier was asleep.

PJ was not too far behind him and Dominic patted his arm from time to time, keeping him awake. He said nothing but the big fella's condition was worrying him and he just wanted to get Paddy and Xav back to civilisation as quickly as possible and get a doctor to check out the pair of them. He pulled out onto the highway and floored the accelerator and they ripped away into the California night.

~*~

The suite of rooms at the Marriott Courtyard which had already been allotted to Mr McNamara's party when they turned up in a couple of taxi cabs, faced inward off the road and onto the floodlit gardens. Clearly PJ's people had used the hotel before since there were staff on hand bringing food and running hot baths when they arrived and the hotel management did not turn a hair at their dishevelled appearance or the fact that they appeared to be carrying weapons. Clay later explained that he'd told the hotel bookings clerk they were running late off a movie shoot and had to come as they were in order to make their flight to Italy in the morning.

For now Rayne did not care what anyone thought, he just wanted to feed and sleep, in that order. No... first he wanted to know that Xavier was okay, and then he could feed and sleep. Since the aftermath of the fight at Elian's apartment he had been restless. Every time he reached out for Xavier he met a wall of fear, except for the last time when – most disturbingly of all– there had been nothing. Even knowing that Clay had spoken to PJ on the phone and been assured that they were bringing Xav home, he could not relax. Something bad had happened and he would not rest until he saw the truth in Xavier's eyes.

So when a comely, young, blond man turned up in his room and proceeded to remove his shirt with a most inviting smile, Rayne was initially rather perplexed.

"Who exactly are you?" he asked warily.

"I'm Troy, honey" the lad replied, lying down on his bed and looking up at him expectantly. "Mr Francis said you like to bite, is that right?"

Rayne blinked at him. Right now he was just about disoriented enough to take the kid up on that offer but he stepped back and poked his head around into the next room off the courtyard instead. Clay was just stepping out of the bath, his blue black skin glistening invitingly.

"There's a half naked kid on my bed says you sent him," the vampire remarked atonally.

"You need a good bath and a massage and you need to feed," Clay responded, making no effort to cover himself. It was nothing Rayne hadn't seen before in any case.

"I'll wait for Xav, thanks," Rayne swayed as he spoke and Clay was under him before he went down, scooping him up and carrying him through to the tub.

"What's he gonna think if he shows up and you look like you've been pulled through hell backwards by the nuts, huh?" the big guy growled, shaking his head. "Come on, let's get you undressed and in that hot tub and Troy can rub you down. He's real good with his hands."

In the end he did not have the strength to argue. It was easier to let Clay strip him and get him into the bath. Rayne sank down under the water and switched off there. He nearly gave Troy heart failure. The poor kid thought he'd drowned until Clay stepped in and helped to get the singer upright again. There was room for all three of them in the tub and once he was in proximity to the mortal pair it was harder to resist what they were offering. As Troy worked on the knots in his back, he bit down deep into Clay's muscular neck and succumbed to the call of his blood.

It would have been easy to relinquish all his self-control and just gorge himself but having Clay there held him in check. He took enough but not too much, switching back and forth between the pair once he had enough strength in reserve to heal the bites he inflicted. Troy was deliciously compliant; seemingly of the opinion that if Mr Francis figured it was okay then it was okay. But when the lad's hand moved lower, clearly keen to offer more than just a Welcome Break, Rayne stopped him.

"It's okay... I don't need you to..." He caught his breath and Troy did too, the disappointment all too clear in his dark eyes.

"If you're sure, honey," he murmured, rising to his feet as Rayne got up too. "I'd be more than happy to."

"Some other time, maybe?" Rayne managed a smile.

"I'll go see if your friend wants any help," Troy grabbed a towel and winked at him playfully. "See ya later, maybe?"

"That was... not like you," Clay remarked, climbing out of the tub after him and towelling himself down slowly.

"Yeah, well I've not exactly been myself lately," Rayne murmured, still sounding a tad preoccupied. He pulled on a complimentary robe that virtually drowned him and wandered out to the courtyard, looking up and down impatiently. "What the fuck is keeping them?"

He got no reply because Clay had stretched out on the bed in his room and was already drowsing, finally exhausted by the feeding session in the tub. Rayne's hand went to a pocket he didn't have, looking for cigarettes he didn't have either and he cursed colourfully. The sound of a lighter flickering behind him made him turn and Mersen passed one of the pair of Players he had just lit up across to the little vamp.

"Feeling better?" the Irishman asked.

"I will when the others get back with Xav," Rayne sucked on the filter and paced irritably again. "Where's Jabez?" he exhaled, glancing at Mersen whose close cropped hair still glistened from the shower, though his wardrobe was just another version of the stuff he had been wearing when he burst through the window; a fresh tee shirt and neatly pressed combat pants.

"Across the garden in the room at the end with the Hispanic kid," Mers responded with a half-grin. "He took a bite off me but the boy seemed pretty determined to give him the rest so he packed me off to make a few travel arrangements. That Chavez is a good kid; a fair shot as well."

"He's full of surprises," Rayne said cynically.

Mersen glanced up at the vampire's drying hair. "You're keeping the silver streaks, are you?"

Self consciously, Rayne stroked a hand through his unruly mane. He hadn't even looked in a mirror since he arrived here, to be honest. He probably looked a sight and the idea of confirming it was still a bit scary.

"They haven't gone?" he asked.

Mersen pulled on his cigarette and shook his head gravely. "It looks good on you though. Kind of celtic." He winked and turned away as a commotion began in the hallway that led back down to reception.

Rayne was on his feet and running before he had even stubbed out the smoke in his hand.

~*~

Xavier woke as they were pulling into the parking spot at the Marriot. He came awake reluctantly and felt every single muscle in his body as a dull ache. Being tossed around and beat up by vampires was so not healthy. He got out of the car and caught his reflection in the mirrored doors of the parking garage elevator. Fantastic! Nothing like being conspicuous. His shirt was torn and had dirt and blood all over it. His face was dirty too and one cheek was a lovely shade of eggplant. The pants were missing the top button and the knees were stained dark. He didn't even want to look at his eyes, they looked far too hollow and guarded. They would be lucky to get to their rooms without someone calling the cops.

Dominic seemed unconcerned with appearances, he was more interested in seeing if they could find a doctor that would make a house... or rather, hotel call, with no notice and without questions. Good luck, Xav thought, none too optimistically.

"I don't need a doctor, I'm fine." Xavier told him numbly. "I just want a shower and bed."

And to see Rayne.

He got that wish as they were being escorted through to the rooms. PJ seemed dead on his feet, just ready to collapse onto a bed and close his eyes. Dominic was using a tone of voice that said he was not used to being argued with on the Maitre d'. Lord Warren stated imperiously that he would need a medic on hand, and also someone to return his car to the parking lot in Elian's apartment block before he flew back to England in the morning.

A small tornado in human form came whirling down the corridor towards him and Xavier barely had time to register it as friend or foe before it wrapped itself around him and a familiar, comforting London accented voice was crying out his name.

"Xavier! Xavier! Christ almighty, what happened? Are you okay?" Rayne demanded, pulling him close as if he never intended to let go

Xavier groaned as his bruises protested the exuberant welcome, but he hugged him back and buried his face into the curve of his neck.

"I'm okay," he lied, although he neither looked nor sounded precisely okay. "Are you okay? You look better." Rayne looked well fed, actually. The redness was gone from his eyes and that junkie stare, though his black hair was still streaked with silver. Xavier felt a momentary stab of jealousy for his ability to heal so quickly.

"I'm fine." Rayne answered, which also wasn't precisely true.

Neither one seemed inclined to let the other go anytime soon, but Dominic gently pointed out that they should at least move out of the hallway, and ushered PJ past. They followed, making their way down the hall and into the suite where Clay and Mersen were waiting. Xavier had a smile and a hug for Barclay; smirked when he heard how Chavez was otherwise preoccupied and was infinitely grateful that Dominic and Clay had PJ to fuss over.

Rayne followed him quietly into the bathroom when he said he was going to take a shower. Xavier stripped out of his clothes, bunching them up and throwing them into the corner. He was quiet as he adjusted the water temperature and stepped under the spray, just standing there, letting the hot water pour down on him relentlessly. Rayne almost seemed to sense his reservation and he hung back for once, but when Xav slumped exhausted against the wall of the shower cubicle he murmured; "Do you need some help in there?"

If Clay had asked, or Dominic, or even Chavez, he would have said no. He looked at Rayne through the steam and streaming water and nodded his head.

"Yeah..." he said softly. He'd been running from one emergency to the next for hours, days actually. The blood loss wasn't helping but he hadn't lost that much to Steffen, it was mostly battle fatigue that had him so weary he could hardly stand.

Steady arms were around him almost immediately. Rayne did not even bother to shrug off the oversized hotel robe. He pulled the younger man into his arms and curled about him, more gently this time. Xavier put his head on his shoulder, closing his eyes as everything seemed to catch up to him at once.

"Iannopoulos killed Steffen," he said flatly. He'd never been glad someone was dead before, even now he wasn't really glad, just relieved that the ordeal was finally over. He'd also never seen anyone killed before his eyes, and in the space of little more than an hour he'd witnessed Steffen brutally murdering a man on the roadside and then watched as Elian killed Steffen in much the same manner. Those things were going to stay with him for a while. So was what Steffen had done to him.

He shuddered in Rayne's arms at the water poured down on his back. There had been several times he had wanted to break down since this all started and he'd pretty much held it together. His breath hitched in his throat as another shudder ran through him.

"You wanna lie down?" Rayne whispered at last, touching his lips to Xavier's ear. "We don't have to do anything. I just want to hold you, if that's okay?"

Xavier nodded again, his head moving against Rayne's shoulder. He took a deep breath, swallowing down the tightness in his throat.

Rayne helped him finish washing and turned off the water. He was wringing out the ruined robe and Xav was towelling off when the boy said, "I could have shot Steffen, in the parking garage. I had the gun pointed at his head...but he had PJ. I was afraid if I shot him it wouldn't kill him before he killed PJ. I couldn't let him... you know, blow his brains out. So, I dropped the gun." He said it almost apologetically. An explanation for why he'd let Steffen get the drop on him.

For a moment the small English vampire looked back at him seriously, shaking his head that he thought that he had done the wrong thing but Rayne only said; "We shouldn't have put you in this situation. None of us should. It's not your fault, sweetheart. You're both alive, that's all that matters right now."