The Hunt

23



River brushed his hair in front of the mirror after he had showered in the Aikidō centre. The day had been eventful, and he hoped the evening even topped that.



When he exited the place, he saw Andreji leaning leisurely against a lantern, a mobile phone at his ear. He looked up at River and greeted him with a smile. River could not help but return it. The man seemed to be in good humour today.



Andreji flipped the phone shut as his fledgling stepped up to him. Was he looking him over?



River wondered if it was okay for the other man if he kissed him in public, but decided against it. “I was just asked if I could help out with training the beginners in the centre,” he said instead, excitement and proud audible.



Andreji smiled on and started walking towards the cinema. “That solves the problem of finding a job. Just make sure we see each other more often than every four weeks for the monthly blood transfusion.”



“I’ll consider it,” River took up Andreji’s teasing tone. “Talking about consideration, have you decided upon a movie yet?”



Andreji quirked an eyebrow. “Me? I thought you were the expert in the field? I never go to the movies unless someone urges me to come along.”



“Yeah, that much was plain to see yesterday. I thought you might have used your time in your cell to peruse the guide in one of your newspapers,” River suggested.



“I rarely read local newspapers. I prefer those with international orientation,” Andreji countered.



“Fine. Then we’ll have to make our choice when we’re there.”







Ten minutes later, they stood in front of the monitors – Andreji with his hands in his trouser pockets, River pointing to the diverse movie titles that were displayed there – and discussed their options. There were five movies shown at this late hour.



“No idea what that one is about,” River said.



“’Science Fiction’ is all the information that I need to know I do not need to see it,” Andreji commented. “Neither that horror movie.”



“I guess there is enough blood in your life already,” River murmured before he could stop himself.



Andreji smirked. “Indeed.”



“That second one’s not bad, though. I don’t think it’s got anything to do with reality,” he pointed towards one of the movies from the Underworld series. “I’ve seen the first part.”



“Maybe some other time. Your PC can play DVD’s, can it not?”



“Yeah, sure we can watch movies on it. Though the speakers aren’t very loud.”



Andreji smirked. “I’m old, but my ears are fine. What about number four?”



River snorted. “You don’t want to see that one, believe me. I have no idea why they’re playing that now anyway. It’s a movie for teens, after all.”



“What is so bad about it?” Andreji enquired, feigning interest.



River shrugged. “Nothing. I just can’t imagine you’ll like it. It’s a part of a series of seven movies, based on a very popular series of books. It starts off with a nice little story of a boy being told that he is a wizard and is accepted to a school of magic. But then he finds out that his parents were killed by a bad bad wizard that he needs to fight against. Of course, the boy wins in the end and everything’s love, peace and harmony. The movies are quite fun to watch, though. What about the last one? Sounds like an Asian historical movie,” River proposed.



Andreji smirked again. “Undoubtedly based on inaccurate sources, flavoured with Western ideals and a good Hollywood love story. I do not think that I am made for that tonight. Why not take that fourth one if you say it is enjoyable?”



River shrugged. “Fine. But you don’t know what’s happened in the previous parts…”



Andreji shrugged back. “You can tell me. We still have a few minutes left before the advertisements start. I bet I will have to translate a few things for you in return.”



Fair trade. They bought the tickets.



“Do you not want any of this?” Andreji called out, motioning towards the counter at which popcorn, sweets and drinks were sold as River headed towards the stairs.



River took a few steps back. “Well, if you don’t mind…”



Andreji chuckled amusedly. “As long as you do not force popcorn on me…” He winked.



Hitting Andreji lightly as he passed him, River went and bought a small portion of popcorn and a bottle of beer. His stomach was empty anyway.







As expected, there were only a handful of people interested in seeing that movie at a quarter to eleven in the night. They had booked seats in the highest tier where they were completely alone.



Andreji’s warm hand with his long fingers settled on River’s thigh. The Japanese put the popcorn on the empty seat next to him so he had a hand free to caress Andreji’s.



He had filled in his ‘date’ on the events that had taken place in the previous part of the movie series on their way up already. For a few moments, they just watched the row of cigarette advertisements that was projected onto the screen. “How old are you?” River suddenly asked.



Andreji did not turn around to face him, but River still saw him lifting his eyebrows. “Does that matter?”



“I’d like to know,” River insisted. “You said we should get to know each other to build up trust, remember?”



Through the way that Andreji wrinkled his nose, River could see that he did remember. The vampires gaze drifted off to a far corner. “Now he’s forcing me to calculate!”



River could not help but look surprised, be even a little amused. “What? You don’t know your own age?”



“Not exactly. End of sixteenth century. Is that enough?”



River’s eyes widened further. “That’s something like 1590, right?”



“1590ies, yes. Some time in that decade.”



River goggled at his Master. He felt so small, so inexperienced all of a sudden. He had made wild speculations that perhaps Andreji had been born in the middle of the nineteenth century!



After a moment, he dropped his gaze, noticing a certain tenseness in Andreji’ grip and in his jaw that suggested he was not comfortable with the situation. He took a gulp of his beer and nestled against Andreji’s muscular shoulder. The noticeably elder man relaxed.



An advertisement for a local bar flickered over the screen.



“I’d love to get to know more about you, Andreji,” River whispered into his Master’s ear.



“You know I am not the talkative type,” the man objected.



“Andreji please.” River placed a hand on the other man’s thigh. “It’s me.”



It was there in his distant blue eyes; Andreji knew River was right. River savoured the moment in silence. So it was possible to reason with him, to find a way past his sarcasm that usually shielded him so well.



The lights went out. The movie started. The weight on River’s thigh suddenly shifted, and he felt warm lips on his mouth. A long, slow kiss. His mind grew light. River longed for more. He pushed Andreji politely away. “They’ll throw us out if we go on.”



The gleam in the other man’s eyes and the way one corner of his mouth moved upwards told River that he was aware of that.



As the movie went on, River could not concentrate on it. All he took note of was the hand that caressed his inner thigh. For a while he enjoyed it, but in the end it grew too much. Even though he appreciated Andreji’s interest in him, he pushed the hand off his lap. Instead he placed his cold bottle between his legs. It did not help much, but after a while his excitement lessened.



Andreji chuckled.



River ate his popcorn.







Two hours later, they exited the cinema. “Can you take me along on your motorbike?” River asked.



“Sure. But do you really want to go back home already?” Andreji pushed River gently against a wall in a side alley, his upper leg pressing against River’s crotch.



The young man gasped. “You want to… here?!?”



Andreji unclasped River’s belt. “I could at least give you an appetizer…”



River’s member reported that he was eager and ready. His mind saw things differently. Fine, it was pitch black here, he could barely make out Andreji’s contours, but still... He almost moaned out loudly as his penis was removed from his trousers and Andreji gave its shaft a long, wet lick on the sensitive underside, ending with a tease of his frenum.



Making his decision, River brushed the soft, long hair out of Andreji’s face and put a hand on the back of the vampire’s head. Goodness, what had he gotten into? He arced forward.



One of Andreji’s hands moved under River’s clothes to caress the small of his back. The other hand pulled his trousers further down and cupped a bottom cheek while Andreji’s mouth sucked River’s glans lightly, playing with its cleft. The young Japanese gave himself up to the ministrations of the other man, handing control over to him. His breathing grew faster.



“You are a beautiful man,” Andreji murmured and took in River’s whole length.



A stray dog strolled down the alley, panting, and looked at them interestedly as he passed.



Andreji rolled River’s testicles gently in his hand without stopping his caresses of River’s shaft. A finger massaged the small space behind his testes. River had once read that pressing there stimulated the prostate. Well, that explained why it felt so damn good. River moved his hips involuntarily. While he was at it, though, he thought, he might as well go on with it. He took up a rhythm.



River wanted to come fast. Not only because of the obvious reason but also because he still anxiously listened for any signs of someone catching them in the act while he pumped into his unbelievably skilled lover’s mouth. No, not lover, but that did not matter now.



Andreji’s hands settled on River’s hips to hold them still. Before the young man could protest, he felt his erection penetrate unknown depths. There were no words for it. His mind went blank as the tightness surrounded his hard member. He wanted more of this, wanted to ‘fuck Andreji’s mouth’ as the other man had called it in a rare bout of vulgarism back then at the beach, but the hands on his hips were exercising a firm grip.



Andreji’s head moved painfully slow. With his fingertips, however, he massaged River’s bottom cheeks again. That somehow stimulated his whole body. At some point, it only consisted of his bottom cheeks and his glans.



Oh, his testicles brought themselves into play. They contracted.



A few more times of his hot, moist glans being sucked in by Andreji’s throat, and River spilled himself into the depth. Andreji did not pull back.



River’s heart pounded hard against his ribcage. He distantly noticed that Andreji rose to his feet. While River was still panting, his Master carefully pulled his trousers back up and closed them.



His eyes still shut, River caught the other man and pressed his lips on his. River’s hand moved towards Andreji’s crotch.



Andreji seized it. “Perhaps we should leave that for later…”



Andreji took care of River’s bag and led him away.



The dog was sniffing at a dustbin.







On their way home, River clang close to Andreji.



They got off the motorbike without saying a word. River immediately started taking off his clothes when they entered the house and went into his room. Andreji busied himself with his helmet and gloves in the corridor. He did not hurry.



River grew impatient. “Are you coming?” he asked provokingly, leaning in the door frame, naked.



Andreji smirked. “And I thought I had done a good job, half an hour ago…”



River grinned back. “It was good. And it was half an hour ago. You said it was an appetizer - now I want the main course.”



Andreji chuckled, shaking his head, and moved over to his fledgling. “What exactly will suit your palate, then?” He grazed with his fingernails lightly over River’s stomach.



River pulled him into his dark room. “Call me sentimental, but I’d like a bit of kissing for the start. You make me swoon each time we do that, but I don’t get as much of it as I’d like.” He led Andreji to the bed and lay down.



Andreji lying next to him, they indulged in tongue-play for what seemed like an eternity. At some point, Andreji turned onto his back and slipped under River. He pressed his wrist on his fledgling’s mouth. Warm blood flooded it.



For an instant, River felt the urge to move away, an instinctive reaction out of surprise. Then the effect of the blood kicked in, and he swallowed eagerly. It was more, this time; not just a trickle but a satisfying flow that filled his mouth.



River felt so alive. His whole body was pulsing. It felt like drinking Andreji’s semen.







A knock at a door, somewhere in the North of France, near Calais. Fabien opened. A grin spread over his face. “Est-il temps?”



His white-haired visitor nodded curtly. “Demain. Près de Londres.”



“Nous allons être là.”







Andreji’s phone rang. He accepted the call.



“She just left the opera with her lover. I guess they’ll be heading to his house in East Sussex, now,” a female voice told him.



“The address you gave me, I assume?”



“Yes.”



“Meet me in Hastings.” Andreji hang up.



Then he called Fabien to give him more precise instructions.







An hour later, an old motorbike stopped on a dark car park next to a gas station. A blonde woman moved over from a second vehicle that looked newer. “Long time no see. He’s livid, you know?”



A cold smile flitted over Andreji’s face. “I doubt his demeanour will improve after this.” He held out a gloved hand and his accomplice put a key into it.



“Was easier than I thought. He had his spare key in a drawer in the corridor. I simply entered the house through an open window while he was sleeping upstairs. The guy does not seem to expect any unwelcome visitors.”



Andreji stowed the key in a jacket pocket. “I assume he has no idea yet what kind of ‘lady’ he is dealing with?”



Griet shook her head. “I don’t think he has.”



Andreji nodded thoughtfully and made to done his helmet.



“You are going to kill him, aren’t you?”



“Me? No. But I will not put my foot down if they want to feed.”



The blonde took a few steps back to give Andreji room to take off. This was not in her hands any longer. Sometimes sacrifices were necessary.







Half an hour later, Andreji spotted the van. He parked his vehicle out of sight, tied his hair out of his way and approached the others. They were three.



“Numéro quarante-sept est directement dernière cette haie,” Fabien said.



Andreji nodded. “Parfait.” He explained that there were two people in the house, their target and a human male. To arouse no unnecessary attention, it was best to leave the man alive and to show him that he had hooked up with a vampire at the same time so that he would either not care to tell anybody about the events at all or not be believed, Andreji reasoned. They swallowed that explanation.



Soundlessly, they moved over the hedge. As they went up to the house, they could hear unmistakeable sounds emerging from a half-open upstairs window. Fabien motioned for one of his men to climb up. The rest of them unlocked the backdoor and quietly moved up to the first storey. The moaning grew louder.



Eventually, the three of them filed into the room and positioned themselves around the bed, unnoticed, while the human was ridden by his vampiric lover mercilessly.



“Est ton maître vraiment ce mauvais à titre du amant qu’elle doit coucher avec un homme humain?” Fabien asked mockingly.



“Plus mal.” Andreji answered seriously.



The lovers snatched their eyes open in horror. The petite woman nonchalantly jumped off her lover’s lap, pulling the bedcover around her body.



“Tu n’a pas promis trop,” Fabien eyed her.



“What’s going on here?!” her lover demanded to know, jumping up as well and trying to impress Andreji with his height. The man was smaller than the vampire.



“You are going to pay for this. Our Master will punish you in ways that will make you wish you had never put your filthy feet on English ground!” their target shouted.



Her lover turned to her while a choir of laughter and chuckles filled the room. “Honey, what’s going on? What’s all this about? You know these people?”



She ignored him. “You best let me go or else I can guarantee nothing!”



More chuckling.



“You are hardly in the position to guarantee anything. As for the punishment, I have yet to receive the one for my last conduct, have I not? When is that going to be executed, I wonder?” Andreji retorted. He pulled out a small bottle and a cotton tissue.



“You of all people should know better than to make fun of our Master’s justice! After all, who saw his own Maker burn to cinder because of your existence?! You should be grateful for the mercy that was bestowed upon you, you fool!”



Andreji’s face hardened. “Arrêtez la,” he commanded.



One of the others seized the vampire lady at her upper arms. Another stopped her lover from intervening.



Andreji stepped up to her and held the soaked tissue onto her nose and mouth. Her lover struggled frantically but to no avail as he saw her collapse. Andreji drugged him as well.







The whole business had been easier than Andreji would have expected. He had counted on more physical resistance on her part. That meant that her lover might have heard a few strange things, but he would probably report the whole affair to the police nonetheless. However, Andreji had made sure that there was no evidence left. He had collected all of their captive’s belongings, wiped the key, pressed it in the unconscious man’s hand a few times to produce new fingerprints that would cover up the fact that others had been wiped off, and put it back into the drawer in the corridor.



Even if the police filed a crime despite the lack of evidence, the whole matter would hardly reach vampiric ears. That was what counted. His ‘Master’s’ lapdog was to disappear unnoticed.



They had put her in the back of the van and brought her to France without any difficulties. Now they stood in front of a house in the woods, several miles away from the next settlement.



Andreji wished his accomplices good luck. “If you treat her right, I think you can turn her into your ally,” he said in French. “You will need much patience. She is quite a beast. Cunning, at times. But imagine his face when he learns that his favourite has fallen for a Frenchman. For his archenemy… That she spreads her legs willingly for him and glows with passion as she sucks his cock…”



Fabien’s eyes showed plainly how much he liked the idea. Good. Andreji wanted to hurt her Master, primarily. The woman undoubtedly needed a lesson as well, but he still did not want to be responsible for her being treated unnecessarily rude. Seeing her pulled over to his side would be much more satisfying.



“Call me if you have any serious problems with her.” With that, he drove off, home.