Drowning in Crimson

Hello everyone! Sorry this is late, really I am. I totally forgot this was Turkey week and then I had a bunch of homework to catch up on. So I just now got this done. I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving, I know I did. So first let me thank everyone that read and reviewed and with that onto answering reviews!

Katie: Whoa, down girl. Patience is a virtue and we’ll get to that in due time. I’m glad you enjoy this story and I promise you we’ll get to the good stuff soon, maybe sooner than you think ^_~

Ahem, well, that’s it…um not to complain, but I notice a drastic decrease in reviews from last time. Was the last chapter really that bad? If it was I’m sorry and I’ll try harder to make this better. So with that said, let’s head off to the next chapter!

***************

“What if I were you and you were me? Still can’t see the forest fire beyond the trees.”

Footsteps echoed into the night air, mixing with the words that were being sung softly.

“Now I’m standing in a field of green. The colors being burned as far as I can see.”

Green eyes looked around their current surroundings. Very fine, expensive looking houses were laid out, stretching far down the street. Crisp, clean cut lawns and gardens were the greeters to the lavish dwellings, full of rich greens and spotted with various colored flowers.

“What do you see?”

Julian removed the cigarette from his mouth as the last lyric left his lips and he stopped walking.

“What do I see?” he repeated, like the song had actually asked him. “I see a very snobbish looking neighborhood,” Julian said, looking around once more. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out the strip of shirt Lucas had given him.

“Well, I’m almost there,” he said, checking the house numbers. As the man put his cigarette back where it belonged he happened to glance up. He caught sight of a woman staring at him from an upper window of a house. When she saw she had been spotted the woman quickly shut the curtain she had been peeking around. Julian shook his head as he pocketed the address.

“They must think I’m some kind of suspicious character,” he mused, amused by it. He continued on his way, keeping track of the numbers, hoping he didn’t accidentally miss his destination.

Further along his way Julian stopped and pulled out the cloth once more, comparing the numbers on it to the numbers on the house in front of him.

“Hmmm, 226, this must be the place.” It was a grand, two storey house, about as big as Julian’s apartment building. Unlike all the other houses this one had an iron gate around it. Most likely to keep people out during the daytime, when Lucas was as his most vulnerable. Julian took hold of one of the bars on the gate and rattled it.

“Shit, now what?” he grumbled when he found it to be locked. Julian looked around for anything of use and spotted an intercom attached to one of the decorative stone pillars.

“Ah, I suppose that’s what.” Julian walked over to it and took his cancer stick out of his mouth before pressing the button on the small black box.

“Hey, is anyone in there?” he asked, blowing the remaining clouds of white from his mouth. He released the button and waited for a reply. Julian was impatient when there was a long silence and was about to hit the button again when the intercom crackled to life.

“Yes, someone is here and who, may I ask, is calling?” said a man’s voice Julian didn’t recognize. Julian pressed the button again.

“The names Julian, I’m assuming this is Lucas’s place, right?” he questioned.

“You would be assuming correctly and I shall assume that you’re the man Sir Lucas has a meeting with,” the voice replied.

“Yep, looks like we both assume right, so you wanna let me in?” Julian said, tapping the ash from his cigarette and putting it back in his mouth.

“One moment,” the man told him and then the other end went quiet. Julian waited for something to happen when he heard a click. He turned to the iron gates and watched as they opened on their own with a spin tingling, metallic creak.

“Automatic, nice,” Julian said in appreciation as he walked through the opening. “Vampires always do get the nicest things.” He stopped and turned to see the gates close with a loud clang.

“No going back now.” Julian walked up the pathway to the front door, admiring the garden surrounding the dwelling as he did.

The grass was cut almost too perfectly. Bushes filled with roses lined the edges of the house and vines crept their way up the front of the building.

“Not too shabby,” the man said as he went up the steps. Julian lifted his hand to knock on the fine wooden door when it suddenly opened. Standing on the other side was a man that looked only a few years older than Julian.

His hair was a dark brown and framed his face. Honey brown eyes stared at Julian behind silver framed glasses. The man was dressed in black, pinstriped pants and a white shirt was partly covered by a black vest.

“You the guy from the intercom?” Julian asked him, not really sure on what else to say.

“Yes, I would be the ‘guy’ you refer to,” the man replied. “Sir Lucas is awaiting you in his study,” he then informed Julian.

“Good, let’s hop to it then.” Julian moved to walk around his greeter and into the house, but the man raised his arm, blocking Julian’s way. Green eyes flickered to the other man questioningly.

“I’m sorry, but Sir Lucas does not allow smoking in his house,” the man told him in a stern voice. Julian looked from him to what he could see of his cigarette, he then grinned around it.

“Is that so?” he asked. “Normally I would follow such rules, really I would, but I believe I have a right to smoke in this house,” Julian said smugly and his greeter raised an eyebrow.

“Why would you believe you have that right?” he questioned, eyes narrowing. Julian continued to smirk and the look he was giving the other man was almost frightening.

“Because, Lucas doesn’t like smoking in his house,” the grin suddenly turned to a frown and a dangerous glint appeared in his eye, “and I certainly don’t like being manhandled in mine.”

The two men stared at each other in what seemed like a contest. The stranger finally couldn’t handle Julian’s gaze and looked away.

“Follow me,” he said softly before turning and walking into the house.

“That’s what I thought,” Julian gloated quietly in victory, following the man inside and closing the door.

Julian was led throughout the house, the inside being just as beautiful as the outside, if not more. He took a moment to admire a brilliant chandelier hanging in the large entry room and as he walked his footsteps echoed off the finely polished wood floors. Long, exquisite rugs stretched through the hallways, which held old paintings on its walls.

“Well, someone sure knows how to live,” Julian said aloud, trying to take in all that he saw.

“Yes, Sir Lucas’s tastes are rather refined,” the man he was following told him. *Then why the hell was he trying to jump me if his tastes are for better things?* Julian wondered, blanching at the memory of Lucas’s advances.

“So what’s you’re story?” he then asked the brunette. “You the butler?”

“Butler, servant, caretaker, whichever title you’d prefer,” the man answered. Julian grunted at the blunt reply.

“So you have a name or am I going to just be calling you butler?” The servant turned his head enough to glance back at Julian.

“My name, sir, is Connell,” he told him.

“Connell, gotcha,” Julian replied, relieved when the man looked forward once more. *Man and I thought I could unnerve people with my stare,* he thought. The butler named Connell soon stopped in front of a door and knocked.

“Yes?” came Lucas’s voice from the other side.

“The man you wanted to meet is here, Sir Lucas,” Connell told him.

“Splendid! Show him in!” Julian raised an eyebrow from the response.

“He sounds waaay too excited,” he muttered. Connell gave the faintest hint of a smile as he opened the door. He then moved out of the way so Julian could enter.

The white haired man did so, finding himself in a study with wall to wall bookshelves filled to the brim with books of different sizes. A fire crackled in a fireplace in a side wall and in a chair in front of it sat Lucas. The firelight danced over the vampire’s pale skin and reflected in his blue eyes.

Lucas stood as Julian stopped a few feet away and the vampire wore a big smile.

“Julian! Wonderful, I was starting to worry you weren’t going to show,” Lucas told him, sounding very relieved.

“I told you I would so I’m here,” Julian said simply, sucking leisurely on his dwindling cancer stick.

“Of course, of course, but all the same I’m glad you came,” the vampire said happily.

“All right, I get it, you’re glad to see me. Now stop being so peppy, you’re freaking me out,” Julian snapped, Lucas’s overly happiness starting to irk him. A sound of a throat clearing caught both of the men’s attentions and reminding them that Connell was still there.

“Will you be requiring anything else of me or shall I make my leave, Sir?” the butler asked.

“Oh, Connell, please forgive my rudeness,” Lucas apologized as he went past Julian and towards the other man. “It’s amazing how easily I get distracted. It’s a wonder how you put up with me.” Connell just smiled and shook his head.

“Not at all, Sir, you’re more than bearable,” he reassured his boss.

“Good to hear, now we must be hospitable hosts,” Lucas said before turning to Julian. “Would you like anything to drink?” he asked. Julian simply shrugged.

“Give me anything with alcohol and I’ll be fine,” he replied and Lucas’s face fell.

“Of course…I’m starting to see what your vices are,” the vampire said as he turned back to his servant.

“It’s not like I try to hide them,” Julian grumbled.

“Why don’t you bring Julian some of my best scotch? I’m sure he’d enjoy that,” Lucas said and Connell nodded.

“Yes, and anything for you, Sir Lucas?” he asked.

“My usual bottle will be more than enough,” the vampire replied with a smile.

“I shall bring that right away,” Connell said and with an approving nod from Lucas he left the room. Lucas made sure the door was shut before turning to his guest.

“Now, Julian, let us get to busin-ack!” Lucas was cut off and he stumbled back as something hit him and pain spread like a wave throughout his face. The vampire held his bleeding nose as he looked up at Julian who was massaging his fist in his other hand.

“What was that for!?” Lucas demanded a crack sounding as his nose reset itself.

“Take a wild guess you pervert. You think I was going to let you get away with the stunt you pulled last night? You’re lucky that’s all I’m going to do,” Julian told him with an angry glare. Lucas cleared his throat nervously.

“Yes, I suppose I was a bit…out of line last night. Do forgive me,” Lucas apologized.

“Whatever, just remember that if you do that again you’ll get worse than a broken nose,” Julian threatened before turning away and walking back to the fireplace.

Lucas stared at him intently as he licked the blood off his hand. *How did he get behind me without my noticing? I didn’t sense him get closer at all. How is that possible?* Lucas thought in bewilderment. *I suppose I’m not going to learn everything about this man in a couple of nights, if at all,* he deduced before pushing the questions from his mind.

“I’ll have to keep that in mind since I’m not too fond of getting punched in the face,” Lucas said, wiping the remaining crimson substance off his face as he followed Julian.

“Oh, believe me, that was a tap,” Julian assured him with a smug smirk. The vampire raised an eyebrow as he stood beside the other man.

“A tap? You crushed my nose!” Lucas exclaimed.

“Makes you wonder what a full forced punch could do, doesn’t it?” Julian asked, glancing at the other out of the corner of his eye.

“I’ll just wait till you use that on someone else, thank you,” the vampire replied. Just then the door to the study reopened and Connell walked in carrying a tray holding two bottles and a couple of glasses on it.

“Ah, Connell, good. Just set that on the table, will you?” Lucas instructed and Connell inclined his head in understanding. He went to the chair Lucas had been sitting in and set the tray on a small table that was beside it.

“Will that be all, Sir?” Connell asked.

“Yes, that will be fine for now,” Lucas replied.

“Yes, Sir, I’ll just be…Sir, what happened to your nose?” Connell suddenly asked, noticing the reddened skin that surrounded the recently healed area. Lucas quickly covered his nose and laughed awkwardly.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing, just bumped into something is all,” the vampire assured him. “Now, you be good and run along, Connell,” Lucas told him. The servant stared at him, a look of disbelief on his features. His eyes flicked over to Julian and they narrowed dangerously.

“As you wish, Sir…” Connell said in a low voice and he bowed to Lucas before leaving the room, the door closing with a snap.

“Awe, I feel special, you didn’t tell on me,” Julian said teasingly as he flicked his cigarette ashes into the roaring fire.

“Only because I didn’t want a bloodbath in my study,” Lucas told him, a serious expression on his face as he went to the table.

“Pfft, you don’t think I could have handled your little manservant?” Julian scoffed.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong, Julian. I’m more than certain you are a fair match for my Connell, but that doesn’t mean I want to see it,” Lucas said, pulling the stopper from a glass bottle that held the liquor meant for Julian.

“That’s why I said it would be a bloodbath, I’m sure you two would have a very violent and long battle,” the vampire continued as he poured the scotch into one of the glasses.

“Sounds like fun to me. It’d be a nice change from all the weak vampires I’ve been killing,” Julian said, strolling over to the other man.

“Even so, I’ll ask you to please watch what you say or do to me while Connell is around. He has a strong protective streak in him,” Lucas explained as he handed the glass to Julian.

“Really now? Have your own little trained human guard dog, do you?” the man asked as he took the offered drink. “I am assuming he’s human, right?” Lucas nodded as he replaced the stopper in the first bottle then picked up the second bottle which was a dark green color.

“That he is and one does what one can for protection and I wouldn’t trust any other person for my safety,” the vampire said and his fangs suddenly lengthened. Julian watched as Lucas stabbed the cork of the bottle with one of his canines and pulled it out in one easy motion.

“I just find it kind of comical that a vampire has a human as a bodyguard,” Julian pointed out before taking a sip of his drink and enjoying the burning sensation that ran down his throat. Lucas pulled the cork from his fang and placed it on the tray.

“I suppose that is rather funny, but the world works in mysterious ways,” the vampire said as he tipped the bottle over the remaining glass. A thick, red liquid poured out of the bottle and filled the glass. Julian stared at it as Lucas put down the bottle.

“And I’m guessing, since you have your own bottled blood, that he knows what you are?” Julian asked, identifying the substance easily.

“Of course, I can hardly keep anything from Connell and my being a vampire has hardly slipped by his observations, but we are straying off the subject to why you’re here,” Lucas said as he lifted his own glass. “As interesting as my Connell is, we have important business to attend to, do we not?”

“Yes, let the Michael’s Total Destruction Discussion begin,” Julian said, raising his glass. Lucas couldn’t help but laugh.

“Came up with its own name, did you?” Lucas asked as he raised his own glass and clink the two together, serving as the official opening of their meeting.

“Yes, took me all day,” Julian said jokingly as he took a big gulp of his scotch. “So where shall we start?” he then asked. Lucas gestured for Julian to sit down in his chair then walked over to a long table that was in the middle of the room and grabbed a seat for himself.

“Well, I think we can both agree that the first thing is to find him before we can do anything,” Lucas pointed out as he set the chair next to Julian’s and sat down.

“Yes, and that has always been the problem,” Julian told him, making himself comfortable in the cozy, wing backed chair. “Do you have anywhere I can put this out?” he then asked, holding up the cigarette that was little more than a stub.

“Just use the tray, it’ll be fine,” Lucas said, taking a savoring sip of his nourishment. Julian did as the vampire suggested and crushed the cancer stick on the silver surface of the tray.

“So tell me, exactly how have you been trying to locate Michael?” Lucas inquired when Julian was done. The man shrugged as he drank the rest of his drink in one gulp.

“Nothing too special. I play a game that Michael has constructed and while I do that a friend of mine back home uses some high-tech crap that’s specially designed to track down vampires. Though so far it hasn’t done shit,” Julian explained, pouring himself another glass.

“Hmmm, I’ve heard of those types of machines. Supposedly they were built by both humans and vampires, correct?” Lucas asked, running his fingers along the rim of his glass.

“Yeah, they were. My friend’s dad is the head of a company that is working secretly with vampires. Helping them keep their secretes from the public and arranging them ways to get blood without drawing suspicion, you know? Those machines were built to keep tabs on uppity vampires, keep them in line,” Julian told him, staring into the fire as he spoke.

“Ah, yes, those places. Vampires best friends if I do say so myself,” Lucas said fondly. “I have known many a vampire seeking sanctuary in those facilities, but the machines you speak of. I suppose they are helpful tracking down rambunctious bloodlings, but for someone as powerful as Michael, I could only imagine the ways he could keep his location a mystery,” the vampire said.

“Yeah, you can say that again and it really pisses me off,” Julian grumbled. “But what can I do?” he sighed dejectedly. Lucas looked at him with sympathy, seeing just how worn the human was.

“So you have the machines, but you also said something about a game. What kind of game?” the vampire asked. Julian let out a soft growl as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

“That’s another thing that’s pissing me off. For almost a whole year Michael has been making me play this game with him and I haven’t gotten any closer to him,” Julian muttered angrily.

“Basically what happens is I receive a letter from him telling me a location. When I get there I’m met by a bunch of his fledglings, usually four or five of them. After that they all run in different directions and I can only follow one of them. The purpose of catching one is because one out of the lot has the location to where Michael is staying. If I choose the wrong one then its game over and I have to wait for the next letter from Michael,” Julian finished, scowling into the fire as he did so. Lucas tilted his head, having listened intently.

“Why not just kill them all at the meeting point? I saw that you got a letter from that Ricky boy, so why not just kill them and take the letters?” Lucas asked curiously, remembering what had taken place.

“Believe me, I already tried that near the beginning, but Michael wouldn’t make it that simple. Each vampire either has a letter that they give to me or are given instructions that they have to tell me. So if I kill them all I run the risk of offing the vampire that doesn’t have a letter and had to verbally tell me where Michael is,” Julian explained. “And I might be faster than most humans, but I can’t subdue a handful of vampires at the same time without killing a few of them,” he added. Lucas pursed his lips and furrowed his eyebrows as he thought of something.

“Now, these vampires, are they the same ones each time or different ones?” he asked.

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Julian questioned in puzzlement.

“Just curious,” the vampire replied.

“Well, I always kill one of them and they usually rotate, so they’re mostly different,” Julian told him.

“…and you’re sure they’re all Michael’s fledglings?” Lucas asked next. Julian raised an eyebrow and looked at him curiously.

“Yeeeah, where are you going with this?” he asked.

“I’m just saying that’s a lot of fledglings for one vampire to sire. How many have you killed?” the vampire inquired and Julian shrugged as he sat back.

“Well, Ricky was the most recent, so I’d say arrooound…thirty to forty?” Julian guessed and Lucas’s mouth fell open.

“Thirty to forty!? And does he have many more?” he asked in shock.

“Sure he always keeps a lot around, I’d never be able to keep track of them all though, it’s always changing,” Julian told him. Lucas stared at him then leaned back in his chair, his eyes still wide in disbelief.

“My God…so he’s making vampires left and right? Is that what you’re telling me?” Lucas questioned.

“A dime a dozen,” Julian replied simply, finishing his second glass of scotch.

“What a disgrace!” Lucas shouted angrily, his grip tightening considerably on his glass until cracks started running up it. The vampire realized what he was doing and quickly set the glass down before he totally crushed it.

“What’s the big deal?” Julian asked as Lucas stood up and started to pace back and forth.

“What’s the big deal!?” Lucas repeated. “Deciding whether or not to give a human the gift of becoming a vampire is something that requires much thought and deliberation! To-To just turn every mortal that crosses your path is reckless and inexcusable!” Lucas roared, his fangs revealing themselves in his anger. The vampire stopped when a chuckle rang in his ears and he turned to his guest.

“My, my, I may not have known you for long, but this is the first time I’ve seen you angry. I honestly thought you didn’t have it in you,” Julian told him in amusement. Lucas stared at him and his fangs slowly started to return to normal and he sighed, running his hand over his hair.

“I’m sorry, I must look ridiculous getting worked up so,” Lucas apologized, sitting back down and hold his head in his hands. He was surprised when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. The vampire looked up to see the human smiling at him softly, a very beautiful smile, in his opinion.

“Hey, no need to be sorry. I may not understand it, but I’m sure it’s important for your kind. Besides, you’re going to need that kind of anger for this,” Julian assured him. He patted Lucas on the back before leaning back once more. Lucas smiled in spite of himself, not expecting such kindness from the otherwise hot tempered man.

“I suppose you’re right, but what reason would someone have for making so many fledglings?” he asked and Julian shrugged.

“His own form of protection I guess,” he replied.

“So when we find Michael, if we do, we’re going to be incredibly outnumbered,” Lucas figured.

“Yeah, but they won’t be much of a problem,” Julian told him and Lucas looked at him oddly.

“They won’t?” he asked and Julian shook his head.

“Remember what I said about if Connell and I did fight? That it’d be a nice change from all the weak vampires I was killing?” the man reminded him.

“So…you were referring to Michael’s fledglings?” he asked.

“Yep, he may have a lot of them, but that doesn’t mean shit. Michael makes them strong enough to do his dirty work, but weak enough for him to control them easily. So for the two of us, it’d be like swatting flies,” Julian told him. Lucas stared at him before shaking his head and leaning back.

“That’s incredibly sad if you think about it,” he muttered.

“Maybe so, but all I know is that they’re in my way so they get no mercy,” Julian said and Lucas looked over at him.

“Are you really that ruthless?” he asked. Julian looked back at him; the warmth that had been in his eyes before was gone, leaving them cold and cruel.

“Yes,” he said with conviction. “And I suggest you be too or else we won’t be successful and if you hinder me in anyway, believe me, you’re not going to be spared from my wrath.” Julian gave the deadly warning so strongly that a shiver ran through the vampire, leaving him wondering how a human could intimidate him so.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said softly and blinked when Julian suddenly smiled.

“Good, but as long as you’re helpful we won’t have that problem,” he reassured the other man, his voice sounding much more cheery, leaving Lucas staring at him in disbelief.

“You have mood swings worse than any woman I have ever met, you know that?” the vampire told him and Julian laughed as he poured himself another glass of scotch.

“I blame it on the way I was raised,” he replied. “But, getting back on track, since you’re now filled in on how Michael works and the ways I’ve been trying to find him, what do you suggest we do?” Julian inquired. Lucas shook his head once more before thinking over the question.

“So you’re open to any options?” he asked and Julian nodded.

“Yep, my ways aren’t cutting it, so I’m up for anything,” he assured the other man.

“Hmm, well, really the only thing I can think of is going out and finding him myself,” Lucas told him and Julian raised an eyebrow.

“You think that you have a better chance of finding him on your own when I’ve been searching for a year along with advanced equipment?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yes, I do. I probably have an eighty percent chance of locating him while you have less than ten,” Lucas said matter-of-factly.

“And what makes you think that?” Julian asked, sounding offended. Lucas grinned at him and Julian’s irritation rose.

“Just vampire sense, that’s all. Locating a vampire is much easier for another vampire than a human no matter how advanced his equipment,” he explained and Julian hmphed as he downed his glass, making a face afterwards.

“All right, fine, so what exactly are you proposing we do?” he asked, setting his glass down on the tray.

“Simple, I’ll go out and find Michael, while you stay here. When I discover where he’s hiding I’ll come back and get you. Then we rush to where Michael is, exact our revenge on the vampire and save the maiden,” Lucas told his plan with the utmost confidence. Julian looked at him then tapped his fingers on his leg as he thought it over.

“It sounds too simple though,” he finally said and Lucas visibly deflated.

“Don’t throw out my plan so soon! That’s just the bone of it, we can add the meat of it as we go along, but before we can we must find out where he is,” he pointed out. Julian clicked his tongue as he thought of it more.

“Well, I suppose it’s the only plan we’ve got and it is better if I do stick around here. If I’m gone and someone comes to deliver another one of Michael’s letters, they’ll get suspicious,” he muttered.

“Exactly, so you just do the ordinary of what you would do while I go and sniff out Michael,” Lucas agreed happily. Julian was silent until he sighed and gave a half smile.

“Then it sounds like we have a plan, but we have to make sure we get it right the first time. If we screw up and Michael finds out I’ve teamed up with another vampire who knows what he’ll do,” Julian said, standing up.

“Yes, we’ll have to use the utmost caution,” Lucas agreed. *I wonder what Michael’s reaction would be if he saw me again,* the vampire thought as he watched Julian walk towards the only window in the room.

The man stared out at the other quiet houses, many thoughts running through his head, even with the alcohol slightly clouding it. He reached into his coat and pulled out another cigarette and his lighter. Soon wisps of smoke floated into the air and it helped soothe any doubts he was having of their plan.

Julian was so absorbed in his thoughts that he was surprised when a hand suddenly reached in front of him and took the cigarette right out of his mouth. His head turned sharply and he glared at Lucas who was smiling at him and holding his cancer stick hostage.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Julian growled.

“I swear, Julian, is this all you do when you aren’t fighting? Drink and smoke? At this rate, you’re going to die before you can ever help your sister,” Lucas told him in concern. Julian just grunted as he tried to grab his cigarette, but to no avail.

“I’ll do what I damn well please,” he snapped then growled again when he couldn’t retrieve his stolen item. Not wanting to give Lucas the satisfaction of watching him jump for it, he turned to look back out the window.

“I’m just saying what’s true,” the vampire said and Julian rolled his eyes.

“Believe me, Lucas, those things couldn’t kill me even if I wanted them too,” he muttered and held up his hand when Lucas moved to speak. “I know it just sounds like something a stubborn man would say, but it’s true. No amount of cigarette smoke or alcohol can kill me.” The man said it with such conviction that it was hard for Lucas not to believe him, but of course, he knew that no human could be completely immune to the vices of man.

“I can see that there would be no convincing you, but I’ll worry about you all the same,” Lucas said as he handed the cancer stick back to its owner.

“Do as you please,” Julian mumbled as he took the cigarette and returned it to where it belonged.

The two men then stood in silence, gazing out the window. Julian took that time to examine their reflections and noticed that the vampire was a few inches taller than him. He hated it when people outdid him in height, having to look up at people irked him. Michael was taller than him too. Anger quickened the blood in his veins at the thought of having that man tower over him like he was some powerful God.

Julian was brought back to reality when he realized that Lucas had gotten much closer. The human stiffened as a reflex when the vampire bent slightly and started sniffing his neck.

“Lucas…what are you doing?” Julian questioned in a low tone, knowing perfectly well how dangerous this kind of situation could be.

“Well, it just astounds me that by the amount you smoke and drink that your skin isn’t overpowered by their smell. But your own scent is here and by its smell one would never be able to tell how you abuse yourself,” Lucas said, his breath tickling Julian’s skin.

“Nice to know, now get the hell away from my neck,” Julian demanded and he gulped without meaning to when Lucas pressed his lips against his skin. The vampire could feel the strong pulse underneath the tissue and it delighted that animal side of him, knowing that there was a river of blood calling to him.

But he turned a deaf ear to it when he noticed that Julian was slowly reaching for his gun. Lucas pulled away and took a step to the side to give them some distance.

“No need to get defensive,” he told Julian who immediately clapped a hand over his neck.

“No need to get defensive!?” Julian yelled at him. “Are you trying to freak me out or something?” he snapped and Lucas laughed.

“No, but I’ll be proud of myself if I am,” he replied and Julian scowled at him.

“Ha ha laugh it up, bloodsucker. I don’t need your help that badly you know,” Julian said threateningly.

“All right, all right, hint taken,” Lucas chuckled and Julian growled as he looked back out the window. *Pompous bastard,* he thought.

Delving back into his thoughts, but keeping up his guard, Julian looked at the house across the way. He knew Lucas’s house was probably just as big, if not bigger, but it seemed so empty.

“Hey, Lucas, I have a question for you,” he suddenly said and the vampire looked at him.

“Really now?” he asked and the man nodded.

“Yeah, you got so worked up when you heard about the way Michael makes fledglings, but do you have any of your own?” Julian asked and Lucas was caught by surprise by the question.

“Why…why do you ask?” he inquired and Julian shrugged.

“Just wondering since you seem to live here alone and it’s a pretty big house for one man,” he pointed out. Lucas cleared his throat and ran a hand through his bangs.

“I’m not alone, Connell lives here also,” he told him.

“All right, but do you have any fledglings that live with you or are elsewhere?” Julian asked curiously. The vampire was silent for a moment before shaking his head.

“No, I have no little bloodlings of my own. Like I said before, it’s a big decision for me and I just haven’t found anyone I see fit,” he answered and Julian nodded as he took out his cigarette.

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Then what about your sire? Do you not even live with him?” he asked. The man raised an eyebrow when he saw Lucas’s reflection look away. “Touchy subject?” Julian then asked cautiously, turning his head to look at the other man.

“I suppose you can say that,” Lucas replied softly.

“Was your sire an ass?” Julian inquired and bit back a laugh when the vampires head turned so fast it looked like he was going to have whiplash.

“No! No, my sire was hardly an ass. She was the greatest person I’ve ever met,” Lucas told him and Julian’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“She!?” he exclaimed in shock and Lucas tilted his head in confusion.

“Why is it so surprising my sire was a woman?” he asked.

“Well, with the way you keep trying to jumping me I assumed…” Julian trailed off and Lucas pouted.

“It’s true that I enjoy the flesh of another man, but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy women just as much,” he said defensively.

“That’s nice just stop trying to enjoy me…wait a minute. You kept saying was. What happened to her?” Julian asked and Lucas sighed.

“She led a great life as both a human and a vampire. Abigail, that was her name, just…grew tired of this life. Existing for so long in the land of the living loses its luster after awhile,” Lucas said sadly, looking away from Julian and out the window.

“Are you saying she…took her own life?” Julian asked quietly, partly ashamed for exposing what was obviously an old wound for the vampire.

“….yes, she did. I just hope seeing the sun one last time made her as happy as she always talked about,” Lucas muttered and Julian stared at him a bit more before gazing out the window with him.

“I’m sorry I brought it up,” he apologized and Lucas shook his head.

“Don’t be, you told me about your parents so I told you about the one that mattered the most to me,” he reassured him with a small smile. Without knowing what else to do, Julian slowly placed his hand on Lucas’s back comfortingly.

“Looks like we were both abandoned by our mothers then,” the man muttered, opening up his own sore spot for Lucas. The vampire smiled and moved a bit closer to place his arm around Julian’s shoulders. The white haired man looked at it like it was an invader, but didn’t do anything about it.

“Our circumstances may be different, but I suppose you can put it like that,” Lucas said, giving Julian a soft squeeze. “It’s odd the things people can have in common,” the vampire spoke softly and Julian nodded, trying hard to accept the close proximity and not shove Lucas away.

“Though, that might be a good thing,” the other man then said and Julian turned his head to look at him.

“What do you mean?” he questioned and became even more uncomfortable when Lucas turned his head also and their faces were far too close.

“When people have things in common, they can become closer just a bit easier,” the vampire purred and he leaned in. Julian had just enough time to turn his head so Lucas’s cold lips pressed against the edge of his mouth. The vampire had to quickly move away as Julian stabbed his still lit cigarette at him.

“God damn it, will you knock it off!?!” Julian snarled viciously, wiping at his mouth. “I throw you a fucking bone and be nice and you try and jump me again! Just so you know that was not a go ahead to play your damn moves!” he yelled at him and Lucas laughed.

“I’m sorry, but you have to admit it was far too tempting not to give it a shot,” Lucas pointed out and was amused by Julian’s outraged expression. The man growled as he held back his anger and had to take several puffs of his cigarette to calm down. There was a chilling silence in the room after that and Lucas was happy when Julian seemed to relax just a bit.

“Why the hell do you keep trying to get into my pants?” the man asked, breaking the silence. Lucas seemed surprised by the question.

“Well, why not? Like I said last night you’re lovely and also very handsome. You also have caught my interest so it’s hard not to try getting closer to you.” The vampire then grinned. “Plus, I don’t get refused a lot so a challenge is rather refreshing,” he explained.

Julian shook his head as he stared at their reflections. He then looked at Lucas out of the corner of his eye, a thought forming in his mind, though his stomach did a flop of disgust from it.

“How about we make a deal?” he suggested and Lucas raised an eyebrow.

“What kind of deal?” he asked. Julian took out his dwindling cigarette and snuffed it out on the windowsill. Lucas gave a disapproving look, but said nothing.

“I want my sister back and you obviously want something from me. So let’s do this. If I can save Emily successively with your help, I’ll let you have your way with me,” he offered and held back a laugh when the vampire’s mouth fell open.

“Uh, wha…why are you suggesting this? Not that I mind, but I offered to help you without expecting anything in return from you,” Lucas said, flabbergasted by the sudden proposal. Julian smirked and turned towards him.

“Well, with this type of thing promised to you it would make you want to do an even better job and keep you more focused on getting it done, right?” he asked, lifting his hand to pick away imaginary dirt from Lucas’s shirt collar. The vampire gulped as he watched that hand.

“I suppose, but I wouldn’t want you to put yourself through something you don’t really want,” Lucas told him and the fingers of the hand found their way under the vampires chin to turn his face to look at Julian.

“Look, I’ll be completely willing, trust me. If I get my sister back I’m completely yours,” Julian vowed seductively and he smiled when Lucas unconsciously licked his lips. “So, we have a deal?” he asked. Lucas cleared his throat before smiling.

“Well, I suppose you really have given me an offer I can’t refuse. So you won’t back out once we save your sister?” he questioned and Julian smiled back.

“I’m a man of my word, Lucas. Now, how was it that you liked to seal a deal?” Julian asked, feigning ignorance as his fingers slipped into Lucas’s hair. “Ah that’s right.”

Without warning the man pulled the other down until there lips came together. Lucas was shocked to say the least, but was quick to pull Julian closer until their bodies were pressed against each other. The vampire was quick to take control of the kiss and made it deeper and more passionate.

Soon Lucas desired more and cautiously licked at Julian’s lips and was surprised when they opened willingly. His tongue entered the moist cavern and he was pleased to find that the taste of tobacco and alcohol wasn’t unpleasant at all.

Lucas’s wandering tongue was then met by Julian’s and they twisted around each other in a sensual dance. Both men couldn’t suppress the groans that rose from their throats. The vampire found his hands on Julian’s waist, his fingers sliding their way underneath the man’s shirt, touching warm, soft skin.

The kiss seemed to last far too long, yet ended too soon. The men pulled apart, blue eyes opened and stared into green. Two separate breaths brushing against the other’s lips and arms still wrapped around the other, trying to pull them into one.

Julian cleared his throat and moved his hands to pat Lucas’s chest.

“There, there’s your deal sealer for you,” the man said softly, his voice refusing to go above a whisper.

“Yes, and one that is quite enjoyable,” Lucas agreed, aching to kiss him again.

“Well good, then that’s more of an incentive to get the job done, isn’t it?” Julian asked. “And I’ll let you enjoy more, but not a second before. So if you try anything prior to getting Emily back I will kill you,” he threatened then tried to move away, but Lucas’s arms were still around him and the vampire’s hands still up his shirt.

“Off boy,” Julian ordered and smacked Lucas’s hands away.

“For someone who doesn’t like the same sex, you sure know how to tease a man,” Lucas said with a pout.

“What can I say, it’s an unwanted gift,” Julian told him as he straightened his clothes. “So, we have a plan now we just need to execute it,” he said, changing the subject. Lucas huffed and crossed his arms.

“Yes, I suppose we do,” he grumbled. Julian chuckled as he walked back over to the chairs.

“So when can you leave to go track down Michael?” the man asked as he filled his glass with more scotch.

“I can go tomorrow,” Lucas told him as he followed Julian sullenly.

“Oh stop sulking,” Julian snapped as he grabbed Lucas’s bottle and refilled his glass. “You get what you want after I get what I want. I think that’s more than fair,” he said as he handed Lucas his glass.

“Yes, yes, you’re right. Business before pleasure,” the vampire grudgingly agreed, taking the offered glass. “I’ll leave as soon as the sun goes down tomorrow,” he then said.

“Good, well then, to Michael’s demise,” Julian cheered as he held up his glass.

“To Michael’s demise,” Lucas echoed and the two men clink their glasses together. Both of them couldn’t help but jump when Lucas’s completely shattered, glass and blood falling to the floor. Lucas stared as all that remained was the stem of the glass and blood drenched his hand.

“Well,” Julian spoke, looking from Lucas’s hand, to the floor, then back up. “Let’s hope that’s foreshadowing of Michael’s outcome and not our own.”

=======================Ch. 4 End

Mwahaha there you go Katie, a little more slashiness for you. Julian surprises even me sometimes. Now I know there’s still just a lot of talking in this, but believe me the next chapter will be picking up the pace. What will Lucas find in his search? You’ll just have to wait and see. Oh and before I forget another David Usher song used in the beginning! “Forest Fire” this time! Okay, I hope you enjoyed so please R&R!

EDIT: Yikes! I just realized I made an error in the third chapter! Julian said his father died when he was eighteen, but he was actually sixteen when that happened. Glad I caught that now. I fixed it so everything's good, just wanted to let you guys know that. See ya all next week.