His Obsession

So warm, Chase thought nuzzling the firm pillow beside of him in bed. He burrowed his face into the fabric finding the scent a unique combination of lavender, various herbs and soap. But beneath it all… Chase’s eyes shot open when his pillow snuggled him then threw an arm around him.

He was closer than ever before, lashes resting in tranquil repose with a stray lock of white hair resting against his brow. Huddled beneath a shared blanket, Puck was near enough Chase could feel puffs of breath against his bare chest.

Wait a sec…

A quick check beneath the covers revealed that a thin sheet cocooning Puck was all that stood between him and Chase’s nude body. The werewolf let the blanket drop back over him and tried to get his bearings.

Last thing I clearly remember is Jirou throwing up at Kyriak’s joint. Then there’s disjointed shit. Sin groping me. Someone screaming…being tossed in a musty smelling room. Then…Puck?

He frowned and ran a hand across his face, feeling at least a day or two’s growth. When his hand reached where his carotid artery lay, Chase felt a twinge of pain. A memory stirred as his fingers brushed against two neat marks on his flesh.

“Puck doesn’t want to hurt his Puppy.” A whisper against his neck before pain morphed into erotic pleasure.

Chase personally never knew the bite of a vampire could make him hard enough to come in his pants. He had heard stories but never really paid them any mind. Chase felt it was just a tall tale or over-the-top bragging. Still with so many dealings with the creatures, he refused to tempt fate by possibly becoming addicted.

Just recalling the disjointed memory of Puck’s bite was already causing him to sport more than just a little morning wood. Chase quickly got out of the cot, pulling the blanket off and wrapped it around him as he went off to investigate his surroundings.

Judging from the concrete walls, he came to the conclusion he and Puck were in a basement. He found plants and herbs stacked upon boxes and odd little trinkets made from small animal bones. A bone ocarina tied to a shoe lace hung from an exposed nail. A dresser sat out of the way full of second hand clothes that held Puck’s distinct scent.

This is Puck’s room, Chase concluded. I must be in the basement of the Jalapeño!

A telltale creak of floorboards above him told the werewolf he wasn’t the only one awake at the moment. After rifling through Puck’s things, Chase found a pair of sweats that he could comfortably wear and went upstairs to uncover the identity of the other person awake.

Felissia was polishing her bar as the werewolf came up behind her. She placed the polish bottle out of the way and retrieved a bowl of food from the refrigerator that she handed to Chase as he passed by.

“Porter left that for you last night.” Felissia told Chase as he sat down in front of her.

The werewolf uncovered the bowl as the vampire once more began polishing the bar. He began shoveling the tiny meaty bits into his mouth, delighted to find it was liver, his favorite.

“I been out long?”

“Four days now.” Felissia replied and Chase ceased eating for a moment to give her a startled look. She smirked, “Porter would have sent you home to your father but the moment he opened the door, Puck threw a fit. He was very adamant about keeping his promise to your friends that he was to take care of you.”

“Where are Medina and Jirou?”

Felissia sighed and placed a comforting hand on his arm, “I’m sorry Damien. They were already dead when Puck carried you here.”

Chase numbly began eating the liver, carefully chewing each bite, hardly tasting the morsels.

“Puck stored their bodies in the meat locker in the back until Porter could reach someone in your actual pack. A man named Mack came the other day and took them home.”

“That was my father, our pack’s Alpha.” The werewolf told her. Felissia didn’t look the least bit surprised at the revelation. “Medina was one of his personal bodyguards until I decided to go off on my own. Then he kinda became mine. Jirou was the grandson of one of the elders.”

“And since they both held places of honor, it was only fitting that your leader took the time to bring their bodies back home.”

“Yeah.”

“Might I ask you a question?”

“Fire away.”

“How did Puck look to you?” Felissia asked. “Did he look well? He hasn’t left your side, even to eat, from the time he rushed in with you in his arms. I doubt he’s been sleeping either.”

“He was asleep when I came up.” Chase snickered. “He was pretty much using me like his favorite stuffed animal.”

Felissia’s brow raised inquiringly, “Oh? I’m surprised Puck would do that.”

“Because he was raped?”

Her expression stilled and grew serious as she demanded in a cutting tone, “And how do you know that?”

“I was hired by three of Luk Jiang’s friends to find his killer.” Chase explained with a resign sigh. He restlessly ran his fingers through his hair avoiding the vampire’s angry glare, “When I found out Puck killed Jiang, I drugged and took him to my employers house where I got the whole gruesome story.”

“What are their names?” Felissia snapped. “Those three and Jiang completely damaged that poor boy. Before Puck came under my care, he was so helpless. A complete mess.”

“Got news for you Gray, Puck’s not as helpless as you think.” Chase retorted. “With Kyriak and Damia of Ephesus as two of his sires.”

“The Kyriak and Damia? The legendary pair who was said to be the eldest vampires on earth?”

“Yup.” Chase replied popping a bite of liver in his mouth. “Those two weren’t posers claiming to be the first vampires in creation: they’re the real thing.”

The werewolf swallowed the bite and continued, “It gets even better with the last guy. Ever hear of a vampire referred to ‘The Original Sin?’”

“Every one has.” Felissia replied. “He was born in the Victorian era to a well to do family. Even back in those days his tastes were considered eccentric. Orgies full of sadomasochism. Parties that ended in murder. He was even quoted to have said the Marquis de Sade was Jesus, Countess Bathory was the Virgin Mary and he was God.”

“And you wonder why Puck is so messed up.” Chase replied with a cheerless smirk. He tried to dispel the memory of the young man’s fear upon seeing his creators again, tried not to feel the weight of guilt for his role in Puck’s pain and the deaths of his friends.

“I think it was what happened to his twin that really hurt him.” Felissia said quietly.

“He has a twin?”

“Had.” The vampire corrected. “A younger sister named Maeve. Six months ago, him and her both were attacked and raped. Mikel, I mean Puck, couldn’t face what happened and his mind fractured under the stress.”

Felissia sighed, “Last week, Puck discovered his sister was still alive and was with her long enough for her to die in his arms. I remember that day when he finally trudged home. Face was all bruised, swollen and tear streaked. Talisa was kind enough to draw a bath for him while Puck and I made plans to go to Maeve’s funeral. We picked out what we would wear, where we could sit and stay unnoticed. It was while I helped him wash his hair that he talked about her.”

“Puck lived for his sister. He didn’t care if he graduated high school not in the top ten, even though he was smart enough to be valedictorian. He didn’t care if he ever had a girlfriend or close friends. Puck needed none of those things when he had Maeve.”

“And Kyriak, Damia, Sin and Luk took her away.” Chase murmured. Felissia nodded.

“Now the only thing he has besides Talisa and myself are the Voices.” She told him.

“Voices?”

“That’s what Puck calls them. In fact they have many names, Talisa and her friends call them the all knowing spirits—”

“So that’s why that spell didn’t work!” Chase cried. “Shit, Talisa almost said it to my face. Those spooks were protecting Puck and didn’t want us to find him.”

“The Voices told me when I found out about Puck’s past that the reason he can hear them is that when he was made into a vampire and his mind shattered, some of Puck’s psyche never returned from the other side.”

“He’s their only link to the world of the living.”

“Yes and though they have a habit of playing pranks on him—they talked him into wearing a few of Talisa’s barrettes at the funeral—the Voices would never allow any harm to come to him.” Felissia told Chase. “I’ve seen them temporally possess Puck whenever he is about to have a panic attack and wait for him to calm down. I’ve noticed them preventing him from seeing the color red, one of the things that sets Puck off. I even saw the Voices manage to summon a freak blast of cold wind.”

So that was them back in Kyriak’s house, Chase mused. Aloud he said, “Sounds to me like the Voices are kinda like Puck’s older siblings.”

Felissia burst into laughter and Chase continued, “They’ll make him look like an idiot but they’ll make sure anyone else who tries the same suffers.”

“When you put it that way, I guess your right.” The vampire said before a frightened cry shattered the friendly atmosphere.

Both of them heard sounds of Puck frantically tossing boxes around below before he stomped up the basement stairs and appeared before them. Chase managed a sardonic wave before the vampire launched himself at him with a cry of delight.

“Puppy!” Puck screamed tackling Chase around the shoulders, throwing him from the bar stool to the ground. “You’re awake!”

“Sweetheart, if I get a welcome like that every morning.” the werewolf said with a wry grin as the vampire cuddle his chest. “I don’t know whether to be happy…or scared.”

“It’s afternoon.” Puck retorted.

“None the less Puck, Chase just awoke after being very sick and really shouldn’t be wrestled to the ground.” Felissia kindly scolded. “Nor should he still be on the ground.”

“Oops.” Puck rolled off of the werewolf and easily pulled him up to his feet. “All better!”

Chase shook his head in disbelief. A vampire who I just met not even a week ago treats me like I’m Lassie even after I fucking betrayed him… Heh, I’d probably go get help if he ever fell down a well too.

Puck’s giggling brought him out of his thoughts. He began laughing in earnest when he saw Chase looking at him with a bewildered expression on his face.

“The Voice said you think you’re Lassie and Puck is Little Timmy.” He cackled. “Puppy can’t be Lassie, he’s not a collie! And how do you think you got here? Puck carried you and took care of you all by his self!”

“You would have had help but you refused it.” Felissia said calmly. “I asked, Talisa asked, even Porter asked. But anytime anyone even got close to the door you’d pitch a fit.”

“Did not.” Puck retorted with a pout Chase found exceptionally cute and sexy.

“Does ‘No no, Puck’s Puppy’ ring any bells?”

“Aw~w, that’s sweet.” Chase replied and quickly kissed Puck on the cheek. He quickly ducked away in case Felissia got protective of the vampire again or Puck reacted badly.

Sure enough, a fine silver fork flew from Felissia’s hand and embedded itself an inch away from Chase’s bare foot. But it was worth it, seeing Puck’s mouth slowly drop open and hand drift up to feel the place Chase’s lips touched him.
************************

“So how are you?”

“Doing pretty good actually.” Chase told Porter over the phone. He had waited to call his friend from the phone in Felissia’s room until he was sure classes were over for the day. His friend answered on the first ring, with Chase’s name on his tongue.

“Your father and I were fucking worried sick.” Porter exclaimed and Chase snickered.

“Thanks mom—”

“Quit joking around, you could have died.”

“But I didn’t. What ever Puck did—”

“He poured teas and broth down your throat. Talisa and I managed to do a spell that told us that much since some crazy dumbass wouldn’t let anyone—let alone your dad— near you.” Porter replied. “Fuck, Chase do you know how far that guy went to keep you?”

“Nope, but I bet you’ll tell me.”

Chase’s friend ignored him, “He booby trapped the door knob. I tried opening the door once and got knocked on my ass by a jolt from a car battery. The fuck—? The guy was chick from Misery, rabid fan obsessed with nursing you back to health!”

“He had a vow to Jirou and Medina.”

“I don’t care if he made a promise to God himself! He almost killed me with that car battery. Then he threw a bucket at me! Said ‘gimme water’ and slammed the door in my face.” Porter took a frustrated breath. “What the fuck?! He nearly fries my ass then demands water!”

“Did you get it for him?”

“Chase!”

The werewolf chuckled, “I think it’s sweet.”

“You just want to get laid.” Porter snapped.

“And no doubt you used my incarceration as the perfect motive to spend time with Talisa Firerose aka the future Mrs. Porter Smith.” Chase retorted. “Ye~ah, I’m not the only one looking to get laid.”

“Fuck. You.”

“Didn’t know you swung that way, sugar.”

Porter was silent over the phone for a moment before bursting into a fit of laughter along with Chase. He knew Chase’s offhand flirting, at least in regards to him, weren’t serious. They always were— despite the fact, when Porter was thirteen, Chase confessed preferring his friend’s ass over any member of the cheerleading squad.

“Glad to know the silver and obsessed Florence Nightingale didn’t take away your sense of humor.” Porter said once their laughter died down. “Or kill you.”

“Heh.”

Chase heard his friend sigh over the phone line.

“Y’know I feel like I should have been there.” His friend confessed. “Y’know gone over and had your back. Then maybe Jirou and Medina wouldn’t have died.”

“It’s not your fault they died. I’m actually glad you weren’t there.” Chase replied watching as Puck stuck his head in Felissia bedroom then come in and lay next to him on the bed. The vampire curled up against the werewolf’s side and closed his eyes. Chase brushed back a stray wisp of Puck’s hair fondly, noting that the vampire didn’t flinch. Interesting.

“I would have freaked out if something happened to you. You’re my only link to the life I had before I became a werewolf.”

“Yeah we’re not just friends, we’re god-brothers. Your biological parents were my god-parents and mine were yours.”

Puck yawned loudly and snuggled Chase’s arm.

“Was that Puck?” Porter inquired.

“Yeah, he came in a moment ago and is pretending I’m a stuffed wolf he has to cuddle.”

“You’re loving that, I bet.” Chase could tell Porter was smirking from his tone.

“He likes me, he really likes me.” The werewolf said in a tiny pleased voice. Puck cracked an eye open briefly before closing it and nuzzled Chase’s arm.

“Just make sure he doesn’t go all Norman Bates on you.” Porter warned.

“Kathy Bates.” Puck corrected as he drifted off to sleep. Chase chuckled.

“I’m more worried about Firerose getting jealous of all the special attention Puck’s been giving me.” He told his friend. “I swore I saw her earlier looking into one of her books for a spell to turn me into a toad.”

“She was doing homework for her heroes and archetypes class.” Puck sighed. “If Witchy Poo wanted to turn Puppy into a toad, she’d have to go out and buy ingredients.”

Porter and Chase both laughed. After a moment, they quieted and the sorcerer recalled something important.

“Before I forget, Mack wanted me to tell you that he scheduled Jirou and Medina’s funeral.” Porter told him. “He wanted the entire pack be present to honor them and the only time that can happen is during the full moon.”

“Hn, that’s gives me some more time to recuperate and get ready to leave.” Chase noticed Puck twitch in his sleep. “Think anyone would mind if non loup garou came up with me?”

“You mean if Puck came with you, right?” Porter replied in a teasing tone. Chase smiled and shook his head.

“I mean if you, Firerose, Gray and Puck came with me.” He corrected his friend. “I wanna see Talisa’s face when she finds out I wasn’t kicked out of the pack, I left with their blessing! ”

“She’ll probably keep calling you a social reject just to spite you—since you’re taking away her friend. ”

“Gee Porter, that sounded exceptionally bitchy.” Chase teased with a smirk. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous of ‘some crazy dumbass.’ ”

“Mack said if you wanted to bring others, go ahead.” His friend snapped. “It didn’t matter to him whether they were werewolves or not. Just so long as they were polite and respectful of the sacred traditions.”

“Great, I’ll go tell Felissia and Talisa.” Chase replied. “I’m gonna have to get one of them to drive me to my place to get set for the trip.”

“You got your keys?”

“Nope, lost them while I was detained by Spartacus.” he told Porter.

“I still have your spare. I can come by after my biology lab and—”

“S’ok, the door man’ll let me in.” Chase told him. “One of the perks of my apartment. Another is nobody asks any questions about my ‘dog’ who only pops up during full moons.”

Porter snickered, “Goodbye Chase.”

“Bye sugar.”

Chase hung up the phone and looked down at the vampire cuddled up next to him. He couldn’t connect the image of the sweet young man next to him with one who could manage escaping with an unconscious man his size. Nor could he really visualize Puck being able to drink his blood but Chase knew he did.

He still was getting hard thinking about it.

“We know what you’re thinking.” A familiar grave voice spilled from Puck’s lips. “And you should be ashamed.”

Chase threw himself away from the vampire, his heart jumping in his chest. As he rolled to his feet, erection withering, Puck’s body slowly sat up and gave him an unsettling grin.

“I take it you’re the dead people Puck hears.” Chase said in an unsteady voice and the grin on Puck’s face grew wider. The werewolf took a deep breath and adjusted his fear choked tone.

“So, anything you uh— guys need?”

“Are you going to get in the way?”

“The way? In the way of what?” The werewolf asked with a puzzled frown.

“We supplied Puck with the information he required while he nursed you back to health. We’ve been patient. We have been very understanding, thus here you are alive and well when we could have easily had you join us—”

“—And I am very grateful.”

“Don’t interrupt!” the Voices screamed at the same moment a blast of icy wind slapped Chase in the face. He slammed into the wall with a look of fright and clamped down on his wolf side’s urge to urinate on himself. The Voices chuckled before continuing speaking in a calm tone.

“We had every right to end your life. You betrayed our Puck, took him to those who wronged him and his beloved sister. You forced him to be subjected to torments and suffering the likes which had once shattered his fragile mind. Such callous transgressions ought to be punished…but—”

The Voices smiled, “Puck has a vow to us. To avenge we who have been wronged and to finish the business we have left behind. Your pack mates were not able to rescue and heal your body as they wanted…no as they needed. They asked our Puck to do this for them as many like us have asked and as always he agreed. To him, there is no other meaning to his life except to help us. We liked this very much…but now that has changed.”

“Before meeting you, our Puck has never argued our wisdom.” The Voices said with a sigh. “If we told him someone wasn’t good for him, he did not defend them and stayed away.”

“But you. ” The Voices hissed. “He defended you. He told us you were good, that he trusted you. He refused to listen to us! And even after your betrayal, he still felt the same. It wasn’t due to his vow that he nursed you back to health— Puck chose to help you for himself!”

The revelation rocked Chase to the core. But before he could contemplate it further, the Voices spoke again.

“So we ask again: Are you going to get in the way? Are you going to sway Puck from the path we set before him? Will you keep us from the only person who can quell our restlessness? Will you stand in the way of our peace?”

Chase didn’t even have to think before answering.

“Oh hell no. Why the fuck would you think I’d pull something like that?” He snorted. “Shit, I’ll even help him with keeping his vow to you. It can be my thanks-for-helping-me-even-after-I-fucked-you-over gift.”

“You really are a good dog.” The creepy smile on Puck’s face turned warm as Chase scowled.

“Hey, Puck’s the only one that can get away with the canine innuendoes. He’s special.”

“That is something we can all agree on.” The Voices replied eyes closing. “Puck’s close to waking so we are going to give back control of his body now.”

“Okay. Uh, will he remember our talk?”

“You mean to ask will he know you said he was special to you. No, he will not, our talk has been a private one.”

“Thank the Moon Goddess.” Chase muttered.

“You know.” The Voices said with a mischievous smile. “He killed a human to save you.”

Before Chase could react, Puck’s eyes fluttered open and he blinked at him with innocent confusion.

“What is Puck doing sitting up and Puppy cowering across the room?”

“Your silent partners sent me regards.” Chase replied sitting back down beside of Puck. The vampire cocked his head to one side.

We said hi, the Voices told Puck. Wasn’t that nice of us?

Very nice, Puppy looked kinda scared, Puck responded. And there’s some ice on the bed knobs. Miss Felissia won’t like that.

It’s brass, when the ice melts it won’t kill it.

Puck sighed knowing he wouldn’t get straight answers from the Voices.

“Did the Voices scare you?” he inquired in a tiny voice. Chase smiled and ruffled his hair.

“They just surprised me, sweetie.” The werewolf replied warmly. “It’s not every day I get to feature in the real life sequel of The Sixth Sense.”

What’s the Sixth Sense, Puck hastily asked the Voices. Puck senses a joke there but doesn’t get it.

A number of Voices laughed or giggled at the vampire’s naivety. All of them were happy to answer his question.

It’s a horror movie about a child who sees ghosts. One of the classic lines of the movie is “I see dead people.”, a number replied.

The joke is you hear dead people, more Voices added.

Puck laughed and told Chase, “Yeah, really.”

But the werewolf noticed the delay in his reaction and noted it along with the slightly dazed look.

“You’re cute.” He told Puck, ruffling his hair. Chase chuckled when the vampire ducked his head as cheeks pinkened.

“You’re even cuter when you get shy.” He told Puck curving his fingers under his chin.

“But Puck is scary.” The vampire said in a tiny voice. “Puck has made Puppy feature into a horror movie. He’s the reason Puppy’s friends are dead and Puppy almost—”

Chase touched a finger to Puck’s mouth, the warmth of his flesh heating the vampire’s lips. Puck was silenced at the tender gesture and the look in the werewolf’s eyes.

“You aren’t to blame.”

Puck brushed Chase’s hand aside, “But they said—”

Chase silenced him again with two firm fingers to his lips. The vampire got the impression his Puppy liked touching his lips, strangely getting off on the knowledge Puck wouldn’t bite him unless he asked. The Voices’ indistinguishable commentary somewhat confirmed it. The werewolf leaned close, sliding his hand down to Puck’s shoulder and looked Puck in the eyes.

“I don’t care what those bastards told you.” He said evenly as the vampire’s eyes widened.

“You are not the one who fed me, Jirou and Medina silver. You are not the one who stabbed, tortured or got frisky with any of us.” Puck could hear the Voices beginning to snicker as Chase lightly brushed back his hair with a fond smile.

“You saved me, Puck. You’ve trust me, defended me, took care of me when I needed it the most. And you’ve helped my pack more than you could ever know.”

“Chase’s pack is gone.” Puck replied in a tiny voice.

“Chase belongs to a bigger pack.” He retorted. “They’re having an honor celebration for Jirou and Medina. Wanna come?”

Puck glanced away, shaking his head indiscernibly.

You don’t want to go?

Puck feels odd about it. He told the curious Voices. Why invite Puck who isn’t a werewolf? What’s Puppy’s reason? Will Chase Puppy get in trouble if Puck comes? It’s all too confusing.

Had you not fell asleep, The Voices informed. You would know that Chase’s father, the Alpha, said that his son could bring anyone he wanted.

Even more reason for Puck to not go!

Chase gave him a moment more to think before turning the vampire’s face toward him. He wondered what brought about the sad look in Puck’s eyes and heard him sigh.

The Voices talked amongst themselves for moment, thousands of whispers and words skittering across his mind. The feeling was comforting and yet a sense of dread enveloped Puck. Kyriak’s voices floated up from the depth of his mind.

“Sleep now, precious Mikel.”

“Yes Sin, our mysterious and very beautiful Puck is a keeper.”

“I eagerly await our next encounter.”

“You are more special than you can ever imagine, Puck.”

“Puck?” Chase said as a whimper escaped from Puck’s lips. The vampire looked up at him, tears swimming in his eyes.

“Chase?”

“Yeah?”

“How do you hide from the monsters when they’re a part of you?”

The wretched tone tore at his heart. He felt powerless in the face of the untold pain within the simple question. Chase desired to chase his despair away but knew he could not. The wolf inside of him howled in anguish.

“Oh sweetie.” The werewolf huskily whispered as he drew Puck into his warm embrace. He drew the slight vampire into his lap and began to rock him as if he were a hurt child.

Hundreds of disjointed, clashing lullabies were hummed or sung by the Voices in their own attempt to comfort Puck. Cool voices of ancient vampires added soothing symphonies to the maelstrom inside of him and the pine forest feel of primeval werewolves added their own voices.

“They’re singing.” Puck said faintly. “They’re all singing …and it hurts. ”

The vampire looked up at Chase, “Why won’t they stop?”

“Because they care about you.”

Yes! The Others howled.

We’re helping you as you helped us! A few human Voices cried over the din.

The ancient werewolves didn’t speak in actual words but sent their sentiments through yips and friendly growls.

Please stop, Puck told them. Puck appreciates the gesture, but it’s giving him a headache.

The singing, howling and humming stopped and were replaced by the normal hum of the Voices. But they kept their volume down mindful of the headache of their sole link to the living world.

“They’re being quiet now.” Puck informed Chase snuggling closer for his warmth. “The Voices are still talking but they’re keeping it soft.”

“How polite.” The werewolf replied. “So about my question.”

Go go go! A random Voice screamed and Puck sucked in a breath as the other Voices shh-ed them.

“Is Witchy Poo and Miss Felissia going too?” he asked.

“Wouldn’t leave here without’em.” Chase tweaked Puck’s nose and chuckled when the vampire scrunched up his face.

“Puck guesses he can go.”