Drowning in Crimson

Well, well I can honestly say that I am pleasantly shocked. I had no idea that people would like this story so much and it was only the second chapter. I feel the love! I want to thank everyone that read and those that reviewed, so I have a special surprise for you at the end of the chapter. But for now I shall answer reviews!

Rachel: Awe you’re making me blush, thank you so much for your kind words! It makes me really happy to know you’re enjoying it so much and that I was able to make the obvious surprising. I hope I can keep up with your expectations

Kiix: Hehe well, you’re just going to have to wait and see, won’t you? Julian is a very complex person and you’ll be learning more and more about him as the story unfolds, but until then you’ll have to be patient. But I can answer you’re last question. No, Julian was not who Lucas sensed in the first chapter. That was all Ricky. Lucas didn’t even know Julian was there until he saw him. Well, you wanted more and now you have more ^-^

Kyosluver: Well, well, glad I can please you and don’t worry I’ll try to make those parts of the story really good XD

Keres: Yay thank you, here’s what you’ve been waiting for

Anon: Can I get a woot woot!?

Becky: Awe thankies I hope you continue to enjoy them.

Okay, so with that all done, go enjoy the chapter!

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Julian couldn’t help but laugh at the vampire that had suddenly shown up in his apartment, claiming friendship.

“Friend? You must have me confused with someone else because you’re no friend of mine,” he told the man that had introduced himself as Lucas. The vampire sighed as he straightened up, but still had a smile playing on his lips.

“I suppose you’d be correct on that point, but I can at least tell you that I am no enemy,” Lucas said.

“I’ll decide that,” Julian remarked. “Now, come more into the room so I can get a better look at you. I’d like to know what I’m dealing with,” he instructed as he gestured with his gun. “Nice and easy, bloodsucker.” Lucas lifted his hands to show he was unarmed and began stepping towards Julian.

“That’s far enough,” the white haired man told him and Lucas stopped a few feet away. “Now, no sudden movements,” Julian ordered as he slowly started to circle the vampire, his gun up and ready to fire. “I have a rather happy trigger finger, if you catch my drift.”

“Indeed, I’ll have to keep that in mind,” Lucas replied, standing perfectly still with his hands still up. Julian studied the vampire carefully as he returned to the spot where he started.

“Well, I’ve never seen you before and you don’t look like one of his people. You’re presence alone suggests your strength, much too powerful for the likes of him,” Julian muttered to himself.

“Ah, you flatter me, but who is this ‘him’ you keep reffering to?” Lucas asked and he frowned when Julian ignored him. The vampire was never one to be disregarded. The white haired man finished his inspection and looked up into Lucas’s blue eyes.

“I purify myself in the blood of those inferior to my strength. Aging leaves me be and time is my slave. I share my gift with those I see fit and those unworthy only…” Julian said, reciting something he had learned long ago. He waited for Lucas to say something, but the vampire only raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“I admit that was beautiful, but what was the point of it?” he asked. Julian sighed in relief and he relaxed his hold on his gun, but still held it up.

“Good, so you really aren’t one of them,” Julian said and ran his free hand through his hair. Now Lucas was getting miffed. Not only did he hate being ignored but he disliked being kept in the dark just as much.

“One of who? And how did you reciting a poem prove I’m not a threat?” he questioned, trying to keep his tone civil. Julian stared at him and inhaled deeply from his cigarette and slowly blew the smoke out through his nose.

“Simple really, it wasn’t a poem it was a saying that a certain group of vampires use. I was testing you to see if you’d finish it and since you didn’t I know you aren’t one of them,” he explained. Lucas tilted his head in curiosity.

“Not to dig my own grave, no pun intended, but couldn’t I have just pretended I didn’t know it?” he asked and Julian shook his head.

“No, that quote is practically sacred to them so they’ll finish it no matter what,” he clarified.

“Oh, I see. So who are these people?” Lucas inquired.

“Ah, ah, ah, just because I know you don’t belong to them doesn’t mean you get to ask questions back to back. It’s my turn now,” Julian told him. Lucas smiled as he crossed his arms.

“And what makes you think that?” he asked.

“Still trying to ask questions huh? Well, for one you entered my place without permission so I should be asking all the questions,” Julian said.

“Hmm well with that logic I will now point out that you are in my city,” Lucas shot back and Julian raised an eyebrow.

“That rule only applies to other vampires and besides, I don’t see your name on it,” Julian remarked with a grin. Lucas looked at him coolly then casually glanced around the room.

“Well, I don’t see your name in this, rather bare, place either,” he told the white haired man. Julian looked around also and scowled.

“Damn it, I should have thought that one out a bit more,” he grumbled and Lucas nodded. Julian then brightened up with a thought.

“But I have to pay to live here, I doubt you paid for the entire city,” he said. The vampire opened his mouth to reply then closed it and looked thoughtful.

“Drat, you’ve got me there,” Lucas muttered and Julian grinned in victory.

“Yep, don’t mess with me bitch,” he said and the vampire looked at him oddly for the bitch comment. “So, that means I get to ask the questions,” Julian continued and Lucas nodded in defeat. The smile left the man’s face and he looked serious once more.

“Okay, so since you’re not one of them, why are you here? Do you just randomly go into people’s places to find your meals or something?” Julian questioned.

“Sometimes,” Lucas replied with a shrug. “But that would not be the case for this night.” Julian looked puzzled as he sat on the back of the couch.

“Okay, so you’re not one of them and you’re not here to kill me…I give up, what’s the reason then?” he asked in confusion, taking the cigarette out of his mouth and holding it in his free hand.

“Curiosity, I suppose,” Lucas answered and Julian raised an eyebrow. “I mean, it’s not everyday that I see a human kill a vampire, and in such a destructive way, might I add,” Lucas elaborated.

“So you were there last night?” Julian inquired, finding it odd he hadn’t noticed.

“Yes, I followed that vampire’s presence to get rid of him myself, only to see that you had beat me to it,” Lucas replied. The two stared at each other for a few minutes; the vampire could practically see the gears turning in the man’s head. Lucas was then surprised when Julian lowered his weapon and returned it to its holster.

“Well then, if that’s the case I suppose I don’t need to hold you at gun point,” Julian said as he returned the cigarette to his mouth. “Unless you’re one of those vampires that want to fight me just because I beat another vampire, test your own strength and all.” Lucas shook his head at that.

“No, I assure you I’m not,” he told the other man. Julian nodded before swinging his legs over the couch and sliding down to sit on the cushion.

“Good to know, but don’t think just because I put my gun away that I won’t hesitate to pull it on you again,” Julian warned before sucking on the end of his cancer stick leisurely.

“Then why have you put it away?” Lucas asked as he walked towards the couch.

“My arm was getting tired,” Julian replied with a shrug before leaning forward and grabbing his beer bottle from the coffee table. The vampire watched him curiously as Julian took a swig then made a face.

“Shit, it’s flat,” he grumbled. Julian then laid his head back on the cushion to look up at Lucas. “So, what exactly are you going to do with your curiosity? If you were there you saw what happened, so why track me down and invade my personal space?” he questioned. Lucas bent down so he could rest his arms on the back of the couch and he looked at Julian.

“That’s true, that I saw what happened, but the reason I’m curious is because I don’t know why it happened. I don’t know why you killed that vampire and judging by the way you did it, it was a very personal killing,” Lucas said. The two stared at each other a bit more until Julian lifted his head and broke eye contact.

“Well, if you could tell it was personal, what on earth makes you think I’m going to tell you about it?” he asked as he stood up. Lucas’s eyes followed the man as he headed towards the kitchen.

“Wishful thinking, I guess,” Lucas answered.

“Well, your wishing is misplaced,” Julian mumbled as he went to the sink and poured out the unwanted brown liquid down the drain. Lucas turned in his place to lean against the couch and decided to be bold.

“Too bad, I was really looking forward to hearing the story behind the girl, what was her name? Emily, wasn’t it?” The vampire looked over to see the man’s body had stiffened. He watched as Julian then placed the empty bottle into the trashcan and slowly placed his hands on the edge of the sink.

“So you heard all that?” came a soft question.

“I said I was there. It would have been hard not to hear all the things you were yelling at the little bloodling,” Lucas answered. “So the Emily girl is your sister, correct?” the vampire then asked. He watched the white haired man intently as he turned and Lucas was surprised by the ferocity raging like a fire in the emerald eyes.

“Don’t involve yourself in my business,” Julian growled dangerously. Lucas stared at him, his expression becoming solemn.

“She must mean a lot to you…” he stated, gauging from the emotion radiating off the other man. Julian glared at him before turning away.

“More than anything else on this God forsaken dirt ball.” Lucas heard him mumble. The vampire started walking towards him.

“What reason would someone have for taking her from you?” he asked as he stood behind Julian. He then quickly sidestepped when the man turned and pushed his way past him.

“What part of ‘Don’t involve yourself in my business’ didn’t you understand?” Julian snapped as he went back to the couch, leaving a trail of smoke.

“I’m just trying to be helpful,” Lucas told him as he followed. Julian spun on his heel to glare at him once more.

“Helpful how!? You’re just asking these damn questions to satisfy your own fucking curiosity!” he yelled furiously. Lucas just smiled softly at his outburst.

“You have a point there, that is one of the reasons, but I think if you tell me it really will help you,” he said honestly. The anger inside Julian ebbed and was replaced by irritation and confusion.

“And how is that?” he asked while crossing his arms. Lucas saw this as his chance to convince the man and quickly tried to explain himself.

“Well, judging from what I saw last night and your attitude now you have a lot of pent up anger,” the vampire deduced. “Maybe if you explain the situation to me you can vent some of that anger and ultimately feel a lot better,” he said with a smile. But the other man did not share that smile. Instead he was looking at Lucas like he was crazy.

“That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. What are you, a shrink?” Julian asked as he walked the rest of the way to the couch and plopped down.

“No, but I used to have a friend who was,” Lucas replied and Julian jumped when the vampire was suddenly sitting next to him. *Stupid vamp speed,* he thought.

“Come on,” Lucas then whined and tugged on a lock of Julian’s hair, earning his hand a good smack. “How are we going to be friends if you don’t open up to me?” he asked and the vampire held back a chuckle when Julian’s mouth fell open and he had that disbelieving look again. Lucas actually had to catch the man’s cigarette as it fell from his mouth.

“I don’t even know you! Why the hell would I want to be friends with you!?” Julian exclaimed. How did he attract these kinds of people?

“I assure you I can be very friendly, but I must warn you of something,” he said as he handed the cancer stick back to its owner. “If you’re refusing my friendship I can only assume that you want to be my enemy and believe me, you wouldn’t want that,” Lucas threatened and Julian watched as his fangs extended for only a moment. The man blinked at him then scowled.

“You’re now threatening me just to hear my story?” he asked.

“Yes,” Lucas confirmed, unashamed.

“…you must be incredibly bored,” Julian stated as he finished off his cigarette and leaned over to crush it in the ashtray. He didn’t happen to catch the vampire’s eyes flicking downward to watch his bare upper body stretch.

“Unfortunately yes. After living for awhile one must strive to find things that entertain them and what I saw you do last night has been the most interesting thing I’ve seen in awhile,” Lucas explained as Julian sat back. “I just want to know why.”

“But you already do,” Julian pointed out. “Someone has my sister and I killed the vampire last night because of it. End of story.” Julian was amused when the vampire puffed out his cheeks childishly in frustration.

“You know what I mean. I want to know why someone has taken your sister, who that person is, and the back story that led up to the event last night,” he told Julian. The man stared at him, mulling things over, deciding whether or not he should divulge anything. Lucas saw he was still reluctant so he decided a new approach.

“But I suppose if you don’t tell me now I can come back tomorrow to pry and the next day and the next day and the next…” Lucas trailed off with a grin. Julian’s eyes widened at that possibility. Having the vampire bug him each and every night was not something he was willing to put up with. He narrowed his eyes at Lucas as he moved to sit sideways.

“Okay, before I tell you anything about me, tell me what you think is going on,” Julian told him, deciding that he’d listen first and give the smallest bit of information he could. Lucas was surprised that his strategy had worked, but was pleased at the same time.

“All right, well, like you said, I already know about your sister being taken. I believe the vampire you killed last night was a fledgling of that vampire, correct?” he asked and Julian nodded.

“Now I’m confused on why your sister was taken because it could go different ways. Either the vampire wants her to feed on her or he wants to change her. But the first doesn’t make much sense since he could have done that without abducting her. He could want to change her and since you’re coming to her rescue he’s playing with you along the way,” Lucas said, giving his assumptions. Julian shook his head with a chuckle.

“With all the hell I’ve been going through I’m actually glad it’s not like that. But no, you’re way off,” he informed the vampire as he pulled up his legs to wrap his arms around his knees. Lucas raised an eyebrow and crossed his legs, putting his elbow on a knee and resting his chin in his hand.

“Then enlighten me,” he said. Julian made an odd clicking sound and tapped his fingers on his leg as he thought of how much to say, finally deciding on something that’d give the vampire the information he wanted, but not all of it.

“Okay, it’s like this. The vampire that kidnapped Emily actually wants nothing to do with her,” he told him and Lucas tilted his head to the side in puzzlement.

“Then why take her?” Lucas asked. Julian sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Because of me, I’m the one he wants and he’s using her to get to me,” he explained.

“Ah, well that does make more sense then, doesn’t it? What exactly does he want with you?” was Lucas’s next question. Julian looked away and Lucas could see that anger flaring again.

“For his own twisted, sick pleasures,” the man murmured and glared at a spot in the wall. Lucas looked at him and chuckled in spite of himself. Julian was quick to turn his glare on him. “What? You think that’s funny?” he snarled and Lucas shook his head.

“No, I’m not laughing at that,” he replied, trying to calm the man down.

“Then what?” Julian demanded.

“It’s just…” Lucas took a moment to look Julian up and down. “I can see why someone would want to get you so bad,” he said and Julian was taken back by the purr in his voice.

“Um, excuse me?” The next thing the man knew the vampire had pushed him down lightly and had crawled over Julian, holding himself up over the man.

“You’re a very interesting man, Julian. Feisty, hot headed, strong willed.” The vampire ran his fingers down Julian’s cheek, the fingertips feeling cool on Julian’s skin. “And you are quite lovely and pleasant to look at,” Lucas praised and lowered his head towards Julian’s.

The vampire was surprised by how quickly he found the barrel of a gun pressed underneath his chin. The human had moved faster than Lucas had anticipated to his disappointment. Julian glared nothing but venom up at Lucas.

“Now you’re starting to piss me off. I’m a nice guy as long as you don’t cross a line and you just crossed one. I’m going to say this one time and one time only so listen up, bloodsucker. I don’t swing that way, at all. My door goes one way and it isn’t towards the same sex, got it?” the man growled and Lucas gave a sheepish laugh.

“I think I got it,” he replied.

“Good, now get off me,” Julian ordered. Lucas slowly moved back to where he had been and he held up his hands once more as Julian sat up, still pointing his gun at him.

“My mistake,” Lucas apologized. Julian scowled at him a bit more before putting away his weapon.

“Fucking horny vampires. You’re just lucky I don’t want Mr. Beaulant barging in here, complaining about noise,” he grumbled.

“Noise?” Lucas echoed in confusion. Julian made his fingers into the shape of a gun and pretended to fire it at him. “Ah I see,” the vampire said with a lopsided smile.

“But no need to resort to that, I just got carried away,” Lucas assured the man.

“Uh huh,” Julian said skeptically. “Now I’ve told you what you wanted to know so you can just faze your ass out of here,” he told him. Lucas pouted; he didn’t want to go just yet.

“But maybe I can help,” Lucas said. “And I don’t mean you just talking about it,” he quickly added when Julian gave him a sharp look.

“Explain before I toss you out,” Julian snapped. *Why am I even giving him a chance? I should just throw his ass out of here,* Julian thought to himself, but Lucas did seem sincere in all of his offers to help and really, even the smallest bit could help him get Emily back. Julian watched as Lucas looked around the small living room.

“Do you have any pictures of your sister? Maybe I have seen her before and just didn’t know it,” the vampire told him.

“How the hell is that supposed to help me?” Julian asked with a raised eyebrow.

“If I’ve seen her with your vampire maybe I can tell you where they are. I do know quite a few of my kind who like to keep human pets,” Lucas explained. Julian thought that made slight sense, not total, just slight.

“I guess that can work,” he muttered as he reached into his pants pocket, pulling out his wallet. “But if what you just tried to pull is any indication you’re fucking insane if you think I’ll become one of your pets,” Julian said with a glare as he opened his wallet.

“Never crossed my mind, I assure you and plus I don’t keep pets,” Lucas told him. *Though now that I think about it that wouldn’t be such a bad idea,* the vampire thought, enticing images of Julian flashing through his mind, making him grin.

“Now you’re just begging me to shoot you,” Julian’s voice brought him back. The man was scowling darkly and holding up a picture for the vampire to take.

“It’s not my fault you gave me the idea,” Lucas defended himself as he took the picture.

“You’re the one that brought up the pet thing!” Julian exclaimed.

“And you’re the one who brought up you as a pet,” Lucas shot back. The man threw up his hands with a disgusted grunt as he sat back.

“How do I always attract these God damn, fucking…” Lucas looked down at the picture as Julian continued to ramble on.

In the photograph were two people. One was Julian and Lucas could see that the one in the image looked much more laid back and less stressed than the counterpart sitting next to him. Julian was actually smiling and he had his arm around a girls shoulder and neck in a one armed hug.

Lucas guessed the girl was in her teens by her appearance. She had almost blinding golden hair that fell in waves to her shoulders. Sparkling chocolate brown eyes looked back at the vampire in joy and the girl looked to be laughing as she held onto her brother’s arm.

“She’s very pretty,” Lucas said softly, looking up at Julian who was gazing at the picture solemnly. At Lucas’s words he gave a half smile.

“Just pretty?” he scoffed. “She’s the most beautiful thing this wretched planet has produced,” Julian said.

“How old is she?” Lucas asked.

“She turned fourteen last month…to think I missed her birthday because of all this,” the man growled. Lucas looked back at the picture, trying to calculate something in his head.

“So how old are you then?” he inquired curiously, trying to figure out the age diffrence. Julian looked at him oddly before shrugging.

“Twenty-two, but this isn’t about me, do you recognize her at all?” the man then asked hopefully. The vampire shook his head as he handed the photo back.

“No, I’m sorry,” Lucas apologized and Julian sighed as he took the picture back.

“It was too much to hope for,” he mumbled as he put it back in his wallet. He stood up and tossed it where he had been sitting. “I need another beer,” was all Julian said as he walked to the kitchen.

Lucas watched him sadly before turning to the wallet and picking it up. He looked through it to find the picture and more along with it. He pulled out the photos and looked through them.

They were all of Julian and Emily together. In one the girl was riding on her brother’s back and waving her arms in the air. In another Emily was laughing as a grey squirrel sat on Julian’s head and the two were staring at each other. The vampire couldn’t help but smile when he flipped to an angry looking Julian chasing after his sister who had a pack of cigarette’s in her hand and looked like she was making her way towards the nearest trashcan.

Lucas came to the last picture and it showed Emily and Julian, but another man that looked about Julian’s age was with them. He had short, black hair and a pair of glasses rested on his nose. The girl was in between the two of them with her arms around their necks. Julian wore a big grin as it looked like he was the one holding the camera and the unknown man smiled awkwardly.

In every single picture Lucas noticed that Julian was smiling and very happy, unlike the man that was going through the refrigerator with a scowl darkening his features. But as he looked through the pictures once more, Lucas noticed something odd.

“Julian, do you mind if I ask you a question?” the vampire inquired, looking over at the man.

“Sure you can, but that doesn’t mean I’ll answer it,” Julian replied as he pulled a beer out along with a bottle of water. Lucas rolled his eyes as he put the pictures back.

“Where are your parents? Aren’t they trying to get your sister back too?” he asked. Again the vampire saw the man stiffen as he was reaching into a cabinet. Julian then shook his head as he grabbed a cup of instant noodles and closed the cabinet door.

“No, they’re not, seeing as they’re both gone,” Julian said as he put the package on the counter.

“Gone?” Lucas asked. Julian sighed and looked over at him.

“Our mom abandoned us when I was fourteen, she then…died a short time later,” he explained, sadness and bitterness evident in his voice. “Then dear old daddy died when I was sixteen,” he explained before grabbing the kettle from the stove and pouring the water from the water bottle into it.

“Oh, I see…how did they die?” Lucas questioned, even though he thought he shouldn’t. Julian was silent as he did his little crouching technique to turn the stove on. The vampire’s eyes widened when the flames shot up, but his attention was brought back when Julian answered.

“With my mom…I’m not sure, but my dad was murdered,” he said casually. The vampire frowned and looked at the man’s back sadly.

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Lucas was surprised when Julian laughed.

“Well, I’m not. What do I care about a mom that didn’t care about her children enough to stay around? And the old bastard deserved what he got,” he told the vampire as he set the kettle on the stove top. Lucas blinked in surprise and decided not to delve into that subject anymore. Even though Julian seemed fine with talking about it, Lucas felt he was pressing into an even darker part of the man’s past.

The vampire then thought that Julian’s life had been rather hard on him. Mother gone and dead, father killed, and now his sister had been kidnapped by a vampire that wanted him. It was no wonder why Julian had such a short fuse. Lucas then furrowed his eyebrows when he thought of something.

“You know what I just realized?” he said allowed and Julian turned to him.

“You’re still here even though you shouldn’t be?” Julian replied with a smirk. Lucas stuck out his tongue at the other man

“No, not that,” he said. “I just realized you never told me the name of the vampire that took your sister,” Lucas pointed out. Julian raised his eyebrow curiously.

“I didn’t?” he asked and Lucas shook his head. “Well, you at least must have heard it last night,” he said and the vampire shook his head again.

“No, both you and the vampire only referred to him as ‘he’ and that’s what you’ve been doing the entire time we’ve been talking,” Lucas told him.

“Hmmm, well, I suppose it’s because I don’t like saying it. It feels like acid on my tongue,” Julian muttered as he worked on opening his beer. “But, since you’ll probably keep asking if I don’t tell you, his name is Michael.” The bottle hissed as Julian got the top off. He lifted it to take a drink when he noticed how eerily quite it had gotten. Julian lowered the bottle and looked over at the vampire to see that his eyes had gone wide and the wallet had slipped from his fingers and fallen onto his lap.

“Um, Lucas?” Julian called to him, wondering what was wrong with him. Lucas snapped out of it and refocused his vision on Julian.

“I-I’m sorry, did you say Michael?” he asked and Julian noticed an odd waver in his voice. Julian set down the bottle on the counter and stared at him.

“Yeah, I did,” he replied slowly then his eyes widened. “Do you know him?” he asked, feeling the blood starting to quicken in his veins. Lucas ran his fingers through his bangs and took a deep, unneeded, breath.

“I might, do you know his full name?” Lucas asked softly and Julian nodded.

“Michael Latham,” he told him and the vampires eyes widened once more and he covered his mouth with his hand.

“Oh my…” he muttered.

“You do know him!” Julian cried out. Since he was in shock Lucas hadn’t realized Julian lunged at him until he found himself on his back with the human on top of him.

“Do you know where he is!? Tell me if you know where that bastard is hiding!” Julian demanded, almost frantically. Lucas was startled by his reaction and knew he had to get control before Julian totally lost it.

The vampire grabbed Julian’s wrists and, with some struggling, reversed their positions and pinned him to the couch.

“Julian, get a hold of yourself!” Lucas yelled at him as Julian tried to fight against him. “You can’t very well get information by attacking me!” At those words Julian slowly stopped struggling until he lay still. His breathing had quickened from the tussle, making his chest heave up and down.

“Sorry about that,” he mumbled an apology. “Guess I lost my head for a minute.”

“You guess? I thought you were going to tear my head clean off,” Lucas told him.

“Yeah, yeah, I get like that sometimes,” Julian said. He then realized how exactly they were positioned. Julian was lying back on the couch with Lucas sitting on his stomach and holding the man’s hands above his head.

“Um, Lucas?”

“Yes?”

“Can you get off me?” Julian asked. Lucas also looked at their current situation and laughed.

“Hmm rather compromising isn’t it?” he asked in amusement.

“Just get off me,” Julian growled.

“Oh, now we’re demanding are we?” Lucas questioned and Julian could hear that purr again. The man then jumped slightly when the vampire ran the cold fingertips of his free hand down Julian’s chest.

“Okay, let me rephrase,” Julian said, clearly trying to suppress rage that was begging to rise. “Get off me now or else I swear I’m going to cut off your dick and shove it so far up your ass you’ll choke on it. Which one sounds better to you?” he asked with a deadly glare. Lucas winced at the imagery and gave a small smile.

“Well, the latter isn’t that appealing so I believe I’ll get off now,” he replied as he released Julian’s wrists and stood up.

“Good choice,” Julian said as he sat up. Lucas sat back down as Julian scooted to one end of the couch.

“Now, getting back to why I freaked out, you know Michael?” he asked, urgency evident in his voice. Lucas sighed and looked away.

“Yes, that…” The vampire glanced at Julian to see the man was staring at him intently. “I’ve…met the man, yes, but, to answer your question, I don’t know where he is. I haven’t seen him in years,” Lucas told him. The man visibly deflated and sighed deeply.

“Damn it…” he muttered. Lucas stared at him out of the corner of his eye before looking out the window.

“It’s amazing how much trouble one vampire can get into,” he said off handedly. Julian turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Michael is known to many of our kind. You could call him the thorn in the side of our society,” Lucas explained. Julian shifted to turn more towards the vampire, suddenly very interested.

“Really now? This is the first I’ve heard of it,” the man said. Lucas shrugged as he looked at him.

“You seem to have a certain knowledge of vampires; you should know we’re private creatures,” he told him. “When it comes to Michael he’s what you would refer to as power hungry.” Lucas stopped when Julian laughed.

“Believe me, I already know that one,” he assured the vampire.

“Well, then you know how dangerous someone like that is. There’s a certain fear among us that Michael will do something foolish and expose us to the rest of the world,” Lucas continued. *You don’t even know the half of it,* Julian thought darkly.

“Then why don’t you guys do anything about him if you’re so worried?” the man questioned. “Go kick his ass or something and get Emily back while you’re at it.” Lucas laughed.

“You make it sound so simple,” he chuckled.

“It is that simple!” Julian insisted and Lucas shook his head.

“No, it’s not. Like I said before, we vampires are private creatures so that also gives us a bit of selfishness. Unless Michael does something that affects or hurts another vampire directly they’ll mind their own business and ignore it,” he told the white haired man.

“But that’s idiotic!” Julian exclaimed and Lucas raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? Is it really? Don’t think humans are any different. How many times have you seen a thief snatch a woman’s purse in broad daylight and when she yells for help most people who hear her or saw what happened do absolutely nothing?” he asked seriously. Julian looked down as he thought about it.

“I guess you have me there,” he muttered. “Okay, so we’re just as bad, but if Michael is cooking up something that’ll jeopardize the secrecy of all vampires why is no one still doing nothing about it?” Julian then asked.

“Because it isn’t a definite. Why start something when you don’t even know it’s really there?” Julian growled as he sat back and began tapping his fingers on his leg.

“Damn bastard gets away with so much shit,” he snarled.

“That he does,” Lucas agreed with a sigh, making Julian look at him curiously.

“You make it sound like he’s done something to you.” The vampire was silent as he stared out the window. Julian thought Lucas wasn’t going to answer, but the vampire finally spoke.

“He did. I’d be lying if I said I was one of the vampires that haven’t been affected,” he said softly.

“What’d he do?” Julian asked.

“I’d rather not talk about it. Even though I have made you talk about your life I’d rather guard mine, if you don’t mind,” Lucas told him. Julian was surprised by the sudden secrecy, but nodded.

“Fair enough, besides, you only forced me in the beginning, the rest I’ve told you of my own free will,” he assured Lucas. The vampire smiled and turned to him.

“Thank you. I won’t tell you how, but I will tell you that Michael has wronged me greatly,” he said, looking out the window once more.

“He seems to have a knack for it,” Julian told him. “But I’m confused. If he’s done something to you, why haven’t you retaliated?” Lucas waved his hand in a dismissal gesture.

“Complications, technicalities, the list can go on,” he replied. Julian sighed as he got up and went back to the kitchen.

“Don’t want to get your hands dirty, huh?” he said, going to the counter and picking up his beer.

Lucas remained silent, the comment stinging him more than Julian realized. Lost in his thoughts he started to remember things he didn’t want to. An image of a person flashed before his eyes, a voice whispered sweetly to him, and he could have sworn a familiar smell tickled his nose.

Suddenly Lucas stood up and turned to Julian, who was busy nursing his bottle.

“I want to help,” he blurted out. Julian looked at him strangely, setting the beer bottle down once more.

“That’s the third time you’ve said that tonight,” he said with a slight chuckle. Lucas shook his head as he walked forward.

“No, I don’t mean with talking, or identifying. I want to help you get your sister back,” the vampire told him and Julian was surprised by the firmness in his voice.

“Why?” was his simple question. Lucas stopped at the end of the counter, but wouldn’t look Julian in the eye.

“You’re right; I haven’t wanted to get my hands dirty. It was so much easier for me to try and forget about Michael then actually do anything about him. But that can’t go on. Michael is dangerous and can’t be left to have his way anymore. He has to be stopped,” the vampire told him, not realizing he had been building up these feelings for so long.

Julian studied Lucas carefully, the vampire looking at him expectantly. The man wrapped his fingers around the neck of the bottle loosely and drummed his fingers on the glass.

“So, you want to help me get my sister back to fulfill this sense of righteousness or revenge that you’re having, is that it?” he asked critically. Lucas looked away, as if ashamed. Julian continued to stare at him as he lifted his bottle and suddenly a little smile played upon his lips.

“Works for me,” he said and Lucas looked up at him in surprise.

“What?” the vampire asked. Julian took a swig of his alcohol before putting down the bottle.

“Look, all I want is to get Emily back, and at the rate I’m going that may never happen. I admit that I need all the help I can get, even if you’re doing it for yourself. As long as the end result is the way I want it to be, I don’t really care,” Julian explained. Lucas was surprised Julian wasn’t angered by his selfishness, but the way he put it did make it seem like it didn’t matter.

“So, we shall be working together then?” Lucas asked to make sure.

“As long as you’re useful to me, I believe we are,” Julian replied. “The question is what should we do first?” Lucas opened his mouth to speak when he glanced behind Julian at the clock on the stove.

“Oh…it’s going to be dawn soon. I’m afraid we won’t have time to discuss it now,” the vampire said. Julian turned to look at the time to see it was almost four in the morning; the sun would be coming up and soon.

“Damn,” Julian cursed as he turned back to Lucas. “So will you be coming back tomorrow?” he asked. The vampire thought about it as he looked around.

“No offense, but this place is hardly suitable for such a discussion,” Lucas told him and Julian laughed.

“It’s barely suitable to live in,” he muttered. “So what do you suggest then?” Julian inquired. Lucas tried to come up with a good solution then smiled when an idea hit him.

“Why don’t you just come to my place? It’ll be much more comfortable to talk about what we plan to do,” the vampire told him. Julian raised an eyebrow and a look of disbelief came to his face.

“To your place? So you want me to willingly go into a vampire’s lair? How do I know you want try to attack me?” Julian questioned and Lucas looked offended.

“You think I would try to kill you there? Believe me if my intention was to kill you I would have done it already,” Lucas stated matter-of-factly.

“Uh huh and how do I know you won’t attack me the other way that you’ve tried, twice!” Julian pointed out. Lucas smiled sheepishly at him.

“Oh, that, I was just joking around. I won’t try anything like that at my house,” he assured him.

“And you swear to that?” Julian asked suspiciously.

“Cross my heart and hope to die…again,” Lucas promised, crossing his fingers behind his back. When Julian still didn’t look convinced Lucas sighed. “If we’re going to work together there has to be a certain degree of trust between us.”

“Says you,” Julian remarked then rolled his eyes when Lucas scowled at him. “Okay, okay, fine, I’ll go to your place. I’ll need your address.” The vampire nodded and looked around.

“Do you have something I can write on?” he asked. Julian scratched his cheek as he walked out to the living room, searching for any kind of paper or writing utensil.

“Shit, I don’t think I do,” he replied, crossing his arms. “You think I’d have at least something,” he mumbled.

“No matter,” Lucas said as he followed Julian. “I can supply a substitute.” Julian furrowed his eyebrows in confusion when Lucas ripped off a bit of the end of his white shirt.

“What are you doing?” he asked in bewilderment.

“Just watch,” Lucas replied as he held the strip of cloth up in one hand and brought the thumb of his other hand up to his mouth. Julian watched curiously as one of Lucas’s canines pointed into a fang and the vampire slashed the pad of his thumb with it. Lucas then proceeded to run his thumb over the piece of cloth, smearing his blood onto it.

“Here you go,” the vampire said with a smile, handing the strip of clothing to Julian. The man hesitated before taking it.

“What the hell am I supposed to do with this?” he asked, holding it by its edge.

“Just look at it, will you,” Lucas told him, licking the excess blood off his thumb. Julian gave him one last perplexed look before grabbing the other end and looking at the blood soaked side. His eyes widened when he saw that it wasn’t just a smear, but the blood had actually formed itself into words, spelling out an address.

“Holy fucking Christ,” Julian muttered in awe.

“Nice trick, isn’t it? Something I picked up over the years,” Lucas told him with a proud grin.

“I’ll say, makes using a pencil and paper rather dull,” Julian agreed.

“Though, apparently, banks don’t appreciate it when you make out checks like that,” Lucas said in mock innocence, making Julian laugh.

“All right, so I’ll show up at your place once the sun goes down,” the man told him, putting the cloth in his pocket. “Well, I guess we have a partnership then,” Julian said, holding out his hand to shake Lucas’s. He raised an eyebrow when the vampire just stared at it.

“What? You don’t know how to shake hands or something?” Julian asked.

“It’s not that. It just seems that closing the deal with a handshake is so…impersonal,” he explained with a tilt of his head.

“What? Then what the hell are we supposed to do?” Julian questioned. A bad feeling formed in his gut when the vampire smirked.

“I’m glad you asked.” The last thing Julian registered seeing was Lucas flickering into a blur before a strong arm went around his waist, fingers laced into his hair and soft, cool lips pressed against his.

The man was in shock at the swiftness of the action that he completely froze up, unable to react. Lucas broke away enough to run his fleshy, pink tongue across Julian’s bottom lip, before disappearing completely.

Julian was still wide eyed when Lucas reappeared on the other side of the room, with a smile on his face.

“There, now that is what I call a deal sealer,” he said smugly, licking his lips. Lucas watched as Julian’s expression changed from shock to absolute rage.

“You fucking bastard!!!” Julian yelled as he pulled out his gun, but the vampire was already disintegrating into the wall. “You swore you weren’t going to try anything else!” Julian shouted at the now empty space. Laughter echoed off the bare, peeling walls.

“No, I swore I wouldn’t try anything at my house,” Lucas’s voice corrected him. “I look forward to our meeting tomorrow, Julian. See you then.” Was the last thing Julian heard before the vampire’s presence was gone.

The man stood where he was, seething in anger. Clenching his teeth and trembling in suppressed rage. Julian remained there, trying hard to calm down then finally put away his weapon with a low growl.

“See If I don’t blow his brains out for that…” he muttered angrily. A sharp whistle filled the air and Julian turned to see the sound coming from the forgotten kettle.

“If that guy doesn’t provide an ounce of help, he’ll regret ever coming here,” Julian vowed as he went to turn off the stove and wash out his mouth with beer.

==========================Ch. 3 End

Woot! There I spoiled you guys with some Julian molesting. Lucas is a brave, brave man. So the plot thickens just a bit more. You learned some family history about Julian and Lucas knows Michael. Peculiar, no? Well, trust me, things are going to get a lot thicker, we’ve only just chipped the iceberg. Well, now I’ve promised a surprise, haven’t I? For you lovely people I have two character sketches that I have drawn of what Julian and Lucas look like in my mind. You’ll have to copy and paste the links to see them I believe.

Here is Julian, who my mom thinks looks evil.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l125/darknessthedevil/Julian.jpg

And here is the dashing Lucas.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l125/darknessthedevil/Lucas.jpg

Now, I’m still playing with their hairstyles, but that’s the basics of how I want them to look. Aren’t they pretty? Now, if you’re all good little readers I’ll have another picture waiting for you in the next chapter. I believe I’ll try to update every Friday, but college is a bit hectic right now so I’m not making any promises. Please rate and review!