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CHAPTER 18
Zak lay beside William, content again. His husband was with him, wanted to be here. Zak still had trouble believing that William would be willing to give up so much for him. "I love you." Each word was sealed with a kiss.
William laughed, returning the kisses. "Yeah, and I'm kind of fond of you too." Zak had gone out of his way to help William to understand and accept the way his life had turned. "So what's next?"
"Megel and I are going to track down Robyn's assailants, and the men who killed her brother are going to die. It should not take us long, after all what good are mortals against us? When I return, I want to discuss marking you with my brand. Azrael's pets capture reminded me how vulnerable you are without it. I have touched you, my power is present on your soul, and I owe you the completion of my commitment.
William moaned under his kiss. "I don't understand? I thought by coming here, and you working with the other that we wouldn't have to worry about it any more."
"Here, no, you are safe. But as Jenna has shown us, you are very vulnerable when you are away from me. My mark will show all who I am, whose Bloodline I belong to, and that you are under my protection. For the most part, even Renegades will respect that." He leaned down and bit at his nose. "I will ask Azrael to help me, so that you feel no pain. Let me do this William, please be willing to carry my mark. Let me protect you."
"Why can't you guys use wedding rings like normal folks?" William shrugged. "Sure, if it keeps me from ending up as somebody's main course, I'll be happy to. Now when do we go see Robyn?"
"Now." He helped him up. "I will go by the house on my way back, you and I both need clothes."
"You read my mind." William was a neat freak, Zak had never been able to get to the bottom of the story, but something happened to William when he was younger, something that changed the boy for life. He hoped one day that William would feel comfortable enough with him to share his secret, and until then he would continue to be there and show support whenever his lover needed it.
William laid a hand on Zak's arm, before getting out of bed. "Zak?"
"Yes love?"
"Just out of curiosity, how come you didn't do this with Cindy? Bond with her, I mean? Jason told me how it saved his sister, who was like Cindy, dying. Was there a reason you let her die?"
Zak sighed. He has expected this question, dreaded it. Would his friend understand be, at, peace with the answer he had for him? "I offered, if she had let me, I would have placed her under the same care that I placed her father, the same as you. But Cindy for all she loved me, trusted me not to harm her, refused. She feared the loss of her freedom, had seen how I had been with her father, and to be honest, I was not all that careful with him. It was the bond, the loss of self she feared. She chose to die Will, to be herself completely. Even if that meant she die. I begged her again, and again. There those last days I was almost mindless with grief, I feared losing her so. But she never welcomed me, and once she slipped into unconsciousness, she was lost to me. I would never force this on anyone I loved, no matter how much losing them would hurt." He wondered if William would understand. Hoping that he did.
William nodded. He could very well see Cindy refusing on the grounds of not wanting to be owned. He understood how the feelings that Zak brought up in him now that they were linked, would have scared her out of her mind. "Okay, I just had to know."
"And now that you do, are you ill with me?" Now he would know the truth.
William looked at him for a moment. Was he? Could he understand Zak's needs and sense of honor well enough to accept that he had been willing to let Cindy die, all to honor her wish.
"Nah, I knew Cindy, remember. She was like that. Yeah, I can see how she would rather die than lose control." He hugged him. "But me, I'm really happy with my life now. I'm going to have to make a few phone calls in a day or so, tie up some loose strings, hire an accountant and all, so that I can go about living with you and not worry about my business. Life is good here, but I'd just as soon have something to fall back on once we get settled and can leave." He squeezed him as hard as he could. "Let's go see what is up."
* * *
Azrael looked up from his handiwork as Zak and William entered the room. "Good evening Gabriel, I take it you and your young one there have settled what ever problems you were having." He looked back down as he directed the knife slowly and carefully over Torin's breast. "I will be finished in a moment, please make yourself comfortable."
William's mouth dropped. "What the fuck is he doing?"
"Blood branding." Zak pulled him close. "See when a vampires blood mixes with a mortals, ours quite literally burns a mark on the humans skin. So Azrael is carving his mark into Torin's flesh and then will mix his own blood with his pets. It is very painful, which is why he has Megel blocking the pain, like what I did with Robyn."
"Wait, is that how you got that weird mark on your chest?"
"Yes, and Torin's will look very similar to mine. He is Azrael's chosen, so he won't just by marked with my Grand-Sire's name, but with his Bloodline. Later when he makes him his Fledgling, he will add one of last finishing marks to it, which take him from Chosen to Childe. And then when the Childe goes to adult, the mark will be sealed with his power. Much like what I will do to you."
"Is there a problem Gabriel?" Azrael's voice interrupted the discussion.
"No, not at all. William has never seen anyone branded before. I was not exactly what you would call a proper vampire, so many of our ways will still come as shocks to him. We'll work it out, he and I."
"Do you plan to mark him?" He smiled watching Torin examine his new brand. "Or is it too soon for that?"
"No, I have already told him that I plan to, just as soon as I return from dealing with those who hurt our girl so."
"Yes, Megel and you do have that promise to fulfill do you not? Is your young friend, there, going to be comfortable staying here without you? He was wary last night."
Zak lifted an eyebrow at William, who nodded. After sleeping with Jason and Amber, and having a lot of how life worked here explained to him, he was a little more at ease with how humans got along. "I'll be fine. Who knows, maybe I'll see about getting to know some of my new family." William knew how hard Zak was trying to make him feel better. He had never seen him so worried before, not even back when he first came to live with him. "I love you."
"Gabriel, he can come sit with my three while we are out. Joseph may be young, but he'll keep any of the new blood here from harassing him. Jay has already told me that he and your love were becoming friends, Amber as well. Let him take some time now. This is harder on him than he realizes."
"Go on." William hugged him. "He's got it half right, I do need to take this time, but he's wrong on it being as hard on me as he's making out." The strength of Zak's arms around him was comforting. "If I had to give you up, that would be hard. This, hell this is just different. Different can be dealt with real easy. I just gotta learn to make it normal."
"No one deserves to be as fortunate as I am." Zak's voice was soft in William's ears. "I'm going to have to spend the next eon or two showing you how thankful I am for your love." 'Eon, or two\,' the words echoed in William's mind. The very fact that he would have Zak for thousands of years was a promise in itself. "Hurry back."
"It won't take us long, go play with your new friends, I'll be back before you know it."
Michael stood. "We'll go to the work room, but first," he reached for Robyn, who sat curled up with Torin and Joseph. "Pet, I need a small amount of your blood, if I am to trace the villains."
Robyn looked to Azrael, unsure if she should obey. The Elder vampire smiled nodding. "Okay," she stood up, moving into Michael's arms.
"Don't be like this." He lifted her chin. "I'm not going to hurt you, precious. Soon you and I will be siblings. I would never harm you."
"Sorry," she blushed, feeling stupid. "It's just, you know."
"Yes Robyn." He tightened his hold on her, offering her support. "I know. So let me have what I need, and then you need to go curl up with your Master. Let him give you something to keep your mind busy." He kissed her softly before his mouth covered her throat, and his fangs sank deep.
David pulled away from Christian. "You stay here, I'm going to see if Megel can use my help."
"What is he doing?" The young Fledgling had found peace again.
"He's going to see if he can help see to it that justice is served, for one of his sire's Chosen. She was abused and her brother murdered. Gabriel swore to see justice Megel will help him keep his word. It's a family thing, so I'm going to see if I can help."
Christian grabbed his arm in a vice-like grip. "Be careful." There was fear in his voice. Fear of loosing everything he had just found.
David pulled him up, into the security of his arms. "I will be. These are, mortal's, baby they offer no threat to us. I won't abandon you, or leave you alone to struggle. I promise. You stay here, start getting to know everyone, I'll be back soon enough."
Robyn rested against Michael as he drew back. "You go, relax. Gabriel and I will see your pain avenged." She was such a strangely pretty thing. He envied his Sire for his fortune.
David watched as Robyn pulled away and went back to where she had been with Torin, leaning against Azrael's chair. "So is this a private party, or can anyone join?"
Zak looked up at him. "You want to come?" He was surprised as David nodded. "Why?"
"Why not?" David laid a hand on his shoulder. "First, your family, so your word is important. Second, she's now the Chosen of my Master, and third I can't stand seeing innocents such as she hurt. But most of all I guess it's because I love a good fight."
"Let Vincent come. He's right, this deals with Kin honor."
"Okay, if he wants to, I have no objections, but what of my master?"
"Azrael wouldn't forbid it, not if Vincent wants to help. Relax Childe, you're with Kin now, and we take care of our own."
Azrael rose, approaching the younger vampires. "Vincent, since it is obvious that you plan to attend, make certain that you support Gabriel. He might be older than you, be he lacks much of his training. I am depending on both Megel and you to bring him home safe with his duty fulfilled."
"Yes, Master."
"Now go, I want this taken care of as soon as possible. But make sure you deal with all involved. The past is to be put to rest."
Robyn watched as the three left the room. Zak would see that they paid. She knew this, and it helped. She had called Daniel earlier to set everything in motion, and in two days Torin would go with her to the funeral. It was still so hard to believe that Adrian was dead. That there would be no more, phone calls, that he wasn't going to stick his nose into her life any more.
"Baby?" Torin felt her pain. "Don't, dragging it up again will only hurt you."
"I know, but I miss him. Did you know if it hadn't been for his insistence that I get a body guard, I'd have never met Zak, or any of you?"
Then I have quite a bit to honor him for, and he will be Blue. For the rest of my life, I will be thankful and honor him."
"As will I." Azrael returned to his seat. "Come here precious, now is not the time for you to be alone. Come, allow me to hold you, give you a place to hide."
She rose, crawling into his arms, fighting back tears. She had mourned her brother, but it still hurt.
"Ssshh," he stroked her hair as she rested against him, silent tears the only physical mark of her grief. "Let it go Robyn. Do not hold it in, there is no shame in your grief or its display."
"Hold me." The damn burst. Hard wracking sobs tore from her as Azrael's arms tightened. Allowing her the comfort she so desperately needed.
Christian sat watching, silently. He wasn't the only one here suffering. That became clear to him. Nor was he the only one to find comfort and security during his pain. "What happened?" He turned to Anna. "Why was her brother killed?"
"He was an important man within the law, and he had made it his duty to make life very hard on the criminals of his city. They started trying to force him to stop by abusing his sister, and it ended with his death. Mortals fear our kind. We are nightmarish monsters to them. The pity of it is not even a Renegade would do to his own kind what humans do to each other. Even that beast that hurt you so had insanity as an excuse."
"Is she going to be all right?"
Anna pulled him close. "Yes, Honey, Azrael will see that she is taken care of. She won't ever be alone. Don't worry about her, you've got enough healing to do all by yourself, without adding her pain to yours." Anna was glad that David had taken this one as his. It would be fun having a little brother again. And this time David wouldn't make the mistakes that he had made with Joseph."
Christian had never dealt with women. Shiva had kept him sheltered. But sitting here, pressing against Anna's body, he decided that he had been missing out on something.
* * *
Shouts of anger and surprise greeted the three vampires as they appeared in what looked to be a large office suite. "Silence." Michael's voice echoed through the room as his will slammed down on all six men in the office.
The quiet was absolute, as all six stood frozen, staring at the three Kin. "Nice Megel, very nice." David was impressed.
"Thank you Vincent. Now let us go about doing what we came here for, we all have pets at home waiting for us."
Six pair of eyes focused on the vampires, each filled with a mixture of fear, outrage and disbelief. Who were these men, how had they come to be here, and why could none of them move, and question of that line ran through their minds.
Michael and Zak skimmed the minds of each, seeking the one that ordered both Robyn's beatings and her brothers' death. "So," Zak's eyes rested on one, an older man with graying dark hair. "You are the one I want. Megel, release him, he and I will have words before I kill him."
"Who the fuck are you?" His voice was harsh, as again he was free to speak.
"My name is Zak Forrest to you. As to who I am, I'm your death, you made a tragic and fatal error when you had someone dear to me abused and followed with having her brother killed."
"Carr, you're here for Carr." It wasn't hard to figure out what he was talking about.
"Yes." Zak neared him. "It is a shame that you can only die once." He looked the man over. "So how shall I do it?" Suddenly his hand was around the man's throat. "Strangulation perhaps, or maybe a quick snap."
The man's fingers fought struggling to break, Zak's, grip. "Wait." The word was the barest of whispers.
Zak let him go. "Yes?"
The man slumped briefly, rubbing his throat. "You don't want to kill me. I'm more valuable to you alive."
"How so? What possible reason can you give him that would equal the pleasure of ending your worthless existence?" Michael stood beside Zak.
"I'm a powerful man. Name it and it is yours. Carr wouldn't have died if he had listened to reason. It wasn't personal, just business."
"Business?" Zak spat at him. "What kind of business has a child brutally beaten solely because of her relations? What kind of business deals in murder?"
The man stepped back. "Money."
"Money." David laughed. "So how much is a life worth now days?" He reached out and grabbed the man beside him. "How about this one? What's he worth?"
"Nothing." Zak answered before the man could. "None of these beasts are worth the air they breathe. Kill him Vincent, dinner is on me."
The man's face paled as David pulled his victim close his fangs flashing in the light before sinking into his throat, "Sweet Jesus, you're."
"Vampire's." Michael finished for him. "And to us, you are nothing but food," he paused waiting letting the effect of his words sink in. "Kill him Gabriel, kill them all, this place sickens me."
The man had no more time. The death that he had dealt to so many now came for him. The pain as Zak's fangs ripped out his throat was the last thing he felt as his life poured forth, spilling out in a sea of red. "Die." Zak thrust him away. He'd fed on the others, but this one he refused. He couldn't go back to Robyn with her brothers, murderers, blood, in his veins.
The man tried to stop the blood, as it poured from him. But as he strangled on the flow, he, know it was a wasted effort. He fell backwards choking on his own blood as he bled to death.
The rest went quickly, all three Kin feasting on their life, even as they died, till there were no more mortals in the room.
Michael wiped the blood from his mouth. "We have finished what we came here to do, let's get the hell out of here." He knew it was foolish, but the blood he had consumed didn't sit well in his belly. He had seen too much in the minds of these creatures to ever believe that they got anything but what they deserved.
Both David and Zak made noises of agreement as they prepared themselves for the Dark Paths. Home was where they all wanted to be, and hopefully with time, they could forget this night.
* * *
Azrael looked up as they returned. "So?" They had returned quickly.
"They are dead." Zak knelt by Azrael, lifting Robyn's face. "Pretty, it is done. Those who ordered the wrongs breathe no more."
"Did you?" She searched his face, he had fed, but did he.
"Drink? No." He brushed away a tear. "From the monster responsible, never, how could I. I would never come to you like this with that Bastards blood in my veins. He died choking on his own blood."
"Thank you."
"Always, anything you need, if your Master can't grant it, come to me." He took her as Azrael released her. "Grand-Sire, may I take her aside for now?"
"Yes, go where ever it was you slept. Take your boy with you. The two of you need to spend time with her. And I with my boy here."
"I will return her to you in a few hours." Zak rose carrying her, seeking William.
David moved, going to Christian and Anna. "Hi, see, I made it back alive. How are the two of you getting along?" Anna moved, going into his lap as he sat down, Christian moving to rest against him. "Are you all right Christian, any problems?"
"Shakes." He whispered. "Nothing else, and they aren't like they were the first time." He held out his hand, so that David could see the, slight, tremor.
"Your first Sire was older than me Hon, his blood was more powerful." David caught the boys hand in his, stilling the tremors. "Nothing else?"
"No sir." He rested there, David holding his hand, trying to relax, to ignore his body.
"Christian?" David felt the shift, "Hon, tell me the truth. It's okay, what is it?" Anna rose at his push so that he could turn his full attention on his new Fledgling. "Come on sugar, talk to me."
"It's nothing Master. I will be fine." He tried to push David's hands away. "It's not bad, just a little un-nerving. Please, don't fuss."
David made an exasperated noise. "It is not nothing Christian, and you don't have to suffer through it alone. I'm your Sire now, don't you understand. It doesn't matter that I didn't give you the Gift first. You are my blood, and I will care for you as my blood, come to love you just as much as I love Lilith and Cain who used to be mine. Please kid, let me help you."
"I'm sorry." Christian's voice was so tiny, so lost, as he pressed his head against David's chest. "I don't mean to be a bother, it's just that now, living through this again . . .I miss him." The tears fell. "Please, don't think me ungrateful, I'm not. You will get a Childe's love and loyalty from me. But I miss Shiva so much."
David knew that there were no words to help him. Nothing he could say would ever lesson the Childe's pain. So he held him, rocking him, soothing him with touch and with heart. Letting the Childe rest there, learning that he could and would find comfort from him.
Everyone in the room watched silently. Selene moving to seek comfort from Azrael, for she too knew what it was like to miss her Sire. Lierin and Derrik held each other, quietly, it was a Rogue's life, this pain and aloneness, and they all knew it. But it didn't make watching a baby as young as Christian suffer any easier.
Azrael held Selene; his heart breaking as he not only felt Christian's pain but also his new adopted Childe's as well . 'I will see that this never happens again'. He swore to himself. 'Our children deserve to live fully, to grow without pain, and by the Gods, I will do everything in my power to see that they have that chance. That the rights they have are seen to'.
Christian lifted his head from David's chest. "Thank you, I'm sorry I broke like that." He tried to make David understand.
"Hush." David brushed the tears from his face. "If you need to cry, go ahead. Your Shiva, he did right by you, he deserves your tears and your pain. Never think that he doesn't. And don't you apologize for seeking comfort from me ever again."
Christian looked at him, so fearful of pushing the line. How was he to behave now? His Sire didn't begrudge him his feelings. But Shiva had been his only real experience with Kin. Set had almost ruined that for him, and now. "Master."
"What baby?" David refused to let him pull away. Anna would understand if he wasn't there for her for a few days, he needed to give Christian his full attention, his failure with Joseph had taught him well. "Come on precious, talk to me."
Christian lifted up, burying his face in David's neck. "Thank you." Small shy kisses as his arms wrapped themselves around him. "For being there for me. Shiva would have liked you."
"Come here." David caught his face between his hands and kissed him softly. "I will always be there for you, believe that. Now sit up here and let me enjoy my time with you. Give us both something else to think about for a while."
Anna moved, standing. "I'm going to go find Aaron and Billy, it looks like you have your hands full tonight, Master. I'll see you later." She leaned down and kissed first David and then Christian. "Take care of him, and I'll see you soon."
Christian made to protest. He didn't want to get in anyone's way. Most importantly not his new Sire's First-Born's but Anna only chuckled and tousled his hair before moving on. "She--you." He looked at David, his heart in his eyes.
"Lilith is fine Christian, she knows I love her and that if she needs me I am always here. But right now you need me more than she has ever needed me. Let it rest and relax. The past is over Hon believe that. Now, what did you do while I was gone?" Get him past all of this get him talking.
Christian looked down David almost swore he blushed. "Lilith and I, we sat together, and she."
"I bet you were a temptation for my girl. You've never had a girlfriend have you?"
"No sir, Shiva was the only one who ever loved me." He relaxed under David's advances, mouth opening to welcome him.
"That will change here baby. You have me, you have Lil, and you have everyone else. Wait, I promise, you won't ever be alone or unloved ever again." He moved slowly, gathering Christian close as he moved to the floor. "Are you hungry? Did you get enough during the change?" He pulled Christian head to his throat. "Go on baby, if you need."
Christian trembled as his Master's blood filled his mouth. He wasn't really hungry, but he needed this, to be locked in the spell of heat that only David could offer. He felt closer to his Sire now, like this, with David's life flowing into him, he felt whole.
Michael moved to kneel beside Azrael's chair. "That boy is definitely learning. He'll do right by our wounded cousin." He whispered.
"Yes, I am quite pleased with him right now. He has matured somewhat in the last year or so. Give me a few more years with him and I believe he will make a respectable adult."
"Well, I'm taking my three and calling it a night. They need to be with me for a while. The last few days have been a little more hectic than normal. I'll see you at dusk."
"Sleep well beloved. I plan to make a call to Sharra before I rest tonight. So that I can, begin to take care of my promise. Have you decided what you are going to do about Gabriel?"
"Yeah, I'll help you train him. But I, will not, remake him, he's fine. Thorne did a bang up job on him to begin with. I haven't the heart to take that away from him. I'll mark him adopted one day soon, and finish his mark when he has finished his training."
Azrael nodded. "See you when you rise, sleep well, give that Fledgling of yours a hug for me, and tell him he should come and keep me company soon."
"Till night." Michael turned and left, calling his with him.
Selene pulled up. "Azrael?"
"Yes precious?" He turned his attention back to the one in his arms.
"Would it be possible, could Tori sleep with Casey again? I would like to sleep with you." She looked over where David was still holding Christian. "He hurts so, it's made me hurt too." She knew she could ask this, that the truth wasn't shameful.
Azrael nodded smiling. "Tori, pet, could you take your new friend there and put him to bed. My girl here has asked for my time tonight. It has been a rather difficult evening for many."
Torin grinned. "Hey Casey, wanna go see how many times I can make you claw the paint off the walls?" He leaned over kissing both before moving to extend a hand to Selene's shy one.
Casey accepted his hand, blushing slightly, but grinning back at him. "Sure, but this time it's my turn." He had finally come to terms with this, and found that he liked living here. Selene was wonderful, and Torin, well okay so maybe he wasn't strictly gay, but. "Mistress?"
"Go on sugar, I'll see you tomorrow night. I'm sure Tori can take care of you just as well as I can."
Azrael watched as one by one the room cleared out. Poor, Mark, the girls had decided to gang up on him. Azrael promised himself that he would take the boy aside in the next few days and give him some of his time. Just as soon as Selene was settled, and he had a chance to decide what he was to do about Torin and Robyn. She was not ready to survive Torin's change, but it would be so hard on Torin, to make him wait until she was stronger. Well, he would talk to both of them and decide what to do.
He nodded as Lierin and Derrik said their goodnights. He really was quite impressed with the work Lierin had done on Derrik. The boy was no trouble at all now. He would have to set them into a routine of training as well soon. His life was going to be quite busy for the next few years with all these youngsters to see to. He smiled to himself with pleased anticipation. "Vincent."
"Master?" David pulled away from Christian.
"Why don't you and that boy of yours join Selene and I? I haven't had much time for you as of late."
David looked down at Christian. "Wanna go play?"
Christian didn't use words to answer him. He didn't need to. The grin on his face and the nod were answering enough. "Your room or mine Master?" David sat up.
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