Shadow Passion Ch 10
Title: Shadow Passion
Author: 616hasgotaname
Fandom: Music/VAM
Summery: Companion piece to “Kiss”. AU. Two people brought together by an undying love that defies the ages. One, a vampire with a bizarre need for camaraderie, the other a human ostracized from an unforgiving mortal world. Separately, they are powerless and lonely. Together they are unstoppable.
Disclaimer: I DO OWN VILLE AND BAM! I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU SAY! *cough* Yeah, they own themselves. This never happened (der), so don’t sue.
Rating: R to NC-17
Once again, this lovely banner was made by the amazingly talented annushkazhivago. Thanks again! <33
As always, links to "Kiss" and previous chapters behind the cut.
"Kiss"
Chapter Nine and Previous
Chapter Ten
The loft was large in comparison to Bam’s house, stretching, he soon discovered, a massive three floors and running from wall to wall. Each floor was decorated in a different style, providing an intimate feel for each one. It was unlike anything the skater had ever seen before. Where did Ville get all of his money from?
Bam was wandering down a Victorian-style hallway, glancing up at the priceless paintings that hung from the walls but not really studying them. His mind was elsewhere. The loft had grown quiet over the last hour, Ville retreating back to his room to get ready for the upcoming night and Linde running off to perform some errand. Bam enjoyed the peace, though, it gave him a moment to collect his thoughts.
Turning through another nameless door, he stumbled into a large library. Both ancient and new works of literature lined the walls on immaculate wooden displays, the largest of the shelves flanking a masterful stone fireplace. Leather furniture was placed sporadically about the room, a large wooden desk resting peacefully against the window. The windows themselves were accentuated with antique-style stain glass, casting a dim but ethereal light over the immaculate room.
Bam let himself wander deeper into the room, the pad of his calloused thumb running idly over the binding of many books. This was a room of secrets, a place where he was certain he could find everything he wanted to know about the mysterious vampire. Never one for literature, he plucked a random book from the shelf, taking no importance fromthe name Byron printed neatly in gold leaf. He carried the heavy book over to one of the many chairs and sat down, surprised when he sunk into the worn leather cushion. They had obviously seen their share of use.
A pair of wire-rimmed reading glasses was laid out on a nearby end table, and Bam briefly wondered if they were actually used or just set out for display purposes only. It was probably the latter; Ville seemed to have amazing vision. As he thumbed through the pages, haphazardly scanning for pictures, he noticed that it was a book of poetry. He didn’t bother to read it, but a few words stuck out and told him that the work was rather dark in nature.
“When you’re cursed to an eternity of solitude, books become a very close friend,” Ville’s voice suddenly boomed throughout the large room, shattering the silence and causing Bam’s eyes to snap to the door. The vampire was indolently leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest languidly and a slight smirk playing on his full lips.
Bam quickly tossed the book on the table, as if the binding had burned him, and stood from his spot. Emerald eyes seemed to bore into him as he took a hesitant step forward.
“I uh…I was just looking around,” he mumbled slightly, afraid that he would be in some sort of trouble for trespassing. Ville only smirked and pushed himself from the wall. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Don’t worry about it, what’s mine is yours,” his smile broadened as a blush coated Bam’s cheeks.
“You, uhm, have quite the collection here,” Bam motioned around the room with outstretched arms. The vampire’s eyes never left his as he shrugged, one shoulder lifting slightly before falling back into place.
“No need to play games with me,” he spoke quietly, taking a few steps toward Bam. “I know that you’re not a reader.”
“What are you saying, that I’m stupid or something?” Bam’s arms instinctively crossed over his chest defensively, his fists balling slightly as he gritted his teeth together. He tried to come off as sounding offended, but it was more like a child not getting his way.
Ville laughed lightly, his cold hand running over the flesh of Bam’s forearm. “Never, sweetheart. Intelligence and a fondness for literature are not the same thing.”
“Whatever,” he turned away sharply, trying to hide the smile that he knew was on his lips. Rather than letting the subject continue on, Bam wandered over to the window. He took a hesitant peek around the thick curtain, eyeing the world outside and the setting sun before asking, “Isn’t it a bit early for you to be up?”
He watched as Ville gave another shy shrug, “I can manage in the daylight, as long as it doesn’t touch me.”
“Oh.”
Bam once more felt his cheeks turn a deep shade of crimson under Ville’s powerful stare, feeling foolish for not having anything decent to talk about. Never before had he encountered a person that left him speechless…but Ville was hardly a person, now was he?
“We’re leaving tonight,” Ville spoke up, very much aware of Bam’s inner monologue and trying to break some of the tension in the air.
Bam’s head snapped up and he found himself staring the vampire in the eyes, a brief moment of clarity washing over him as a sense of déjà vu made him remember what he was looking at. “Where are we going?”
“Out.” The simple answer left no room for a retort, so Bam only nodded and followed Ville out the door and back into the long stretch of hallway. They walked in silence, their footsteps muted by the thick carpeting, until they met up again with Linde by the front door.
Since Bam had seen him last the blonde had changed his clothes, opting for a more casual pair of blue jeans and a denim jacket. If it wasn’t for the long dreadlocks Bam would have sworn the man was a cowboy.
Ville placed a chaste kiss on Linde's cheek, brief enough to be considered informal but adoring enough to send a pang of jealousy through Bam’s heart, before opening the door and stepping out in the main hallway of the building. As they waited for the elevator to reach their floor, Bam found himself fussing with the sleeves of the jacket he had on, suddenly feeling out of place next to the two foreign men.
“I’d seriously like to know where we’re going,” he finally said, just as the small light above the lift dinged on and the brass doors swooshed open. They all stepped inside, Linde pressing the button for the main floor.
“We’re going out for a bite to eat, and then I think we’ll take a little trip,” Ville purred, turning his back from Linde and giving Bam his full attention. The skater couldn’t help but wonder if the vampire was playing some sort of game with the two of them, but that thought was quickly diminished as Ville’s warm tongue dipped out of his mouth and traced a sloppy path down the side of Bam’s neck. “How does that sound, kulta?”
“Uhm,” Bam cleared his throat rather loudly, trying to get his thoughts together. “Sounds pretty good.”
“Good.” The response seemed almost calculated as it rolled off of Ville’s tongue in that thick accent that Bam had yet to place. As if the gods themselves could feel Bam’s anxiousness to get on with the night, the elevator doors swung open and ushered the tree men out into the lobby of the building. The receptionist called something out to Ville in a strange language, but Bam paid no attention to that as Linde grabbed his hand and led him outside.
“Are we walking?” Bam piped up as they were shoved into the brisk night, bitter wind wrapping around his frame in a death grip. “I mean, to wherever we’re going?”
“We could walk, it never hurt anybody,” Ville laughed mockingly. “But I suppose we shall drive, it’s a bit cold out here tonight.”
They rounded the corner to a parking garage that was attached to the building, passing up the guard booth without earning as much as a glance from the working attendant. It was completely dark except for a few overhead lights in the distance, a spot that Ville seemed to be heading toward. From his position Bam could make out a few sparkling cars, but the models were indecipherable in the dark.
The skater was shocked when they finally reached their destination. A long line of cars, at least twenty in all, were parked side-to-side along the back wall. Each one appeared to be brand new, even though the dates on a few said otherwise, and each looked like they cost more than Bam’s home. He felt his jaw hit the floor as Ville ran a nimble hand along the bumper of a black 1971 Chevy Nova Super Sport, the car seeming to shine in the dim light.
“I-Is that yours?” he finally managed to stutter ravel his tongue back into his mouth and spit the words out.
Ville smirked at him, his eyes nearly luminous in the dark. “All of these are mine, Bammi boy. Which one would you like to take for a spin?”
Again Bam felt his heart leap into his throat. He had never seen so many fine cars in one spot before, let alone belonging to one person. Scanning the long row of cars, his eyes finally fell onto a dark purple Lamborghini Gallardo parked near the end of the line.
“Ah, fine choice,” Ville said approvingly, grabbing his hand and leading him toward the sports car with Linde following quietly behind them.
Bam’s eyes nearly bugged out of his skull as he got a closer look at the vehicle. The paint job was that of a color he had never seen before, one he assumed was a custom job, a dark layer of thick purple with sparkles glittering within. Engraved into the gas lid was the symbol that he remembered from the letter in his treasure chest, painted over with bright silver that contrasted beautifully with the dark paint on the body work. Inside the car was black leather interior, the strong smell of freshly pressed leather wafting to his nose as he stuck his head through the open window.
“But it’s only a two-seater,” he mumbled finally, pulling his head out of the car and glancing between Linde and Ville. “There’s no way all three of us could fit in there.”
“Nonsense, I’ll just sit on your lap,” Ville smiled, giving Bam a friendly punch on the shoulder and moving to open the passenger door. Bam could only stare as the vampire motioned for him to take his seat. There was no way that he was about to get into a Lamborghini Gallardo with a vampire. No way in hell was this happening.
“Are you coming or not?” Linde called from the other side of the car, jingling the keys in the air playfully.
Bam blinked a few times before finally climbing into the expensive Italian car. The leather was soft and welcoming as he slid into the seat, and it took every ounce of willpower he had not to run his fingers along each inch of the interior. Before he could so much as buckle his seatbelt, Ville climbed in and draped himself over Bam’s lap, one arm curled around his shoulder lovingly.
The engine revved and purred at the same time as Line turned the ignition and pressed on the accelerator, a cacophony of sound that Bam had only ever heard in movies and on television. As the car peeled out of the garage he found himself pressed tightly to the back of the seat, shocked that the blonde man beside him would dare drive as fast as he was in a car as expensive as this.
“Do you like it?” Ville asked as they blew past a red light, earning a few honks from other cars but swiftly avoiding any accidents.
“Like it? Are you kidding me?” Bam stared at him incredulously, sitting up straight and glancing around the car with wide eyes. “I fucking love it!”
A proud smile flashed over Ville’s features as they peeled off down the street, speeding right past a coasting cop car. Bam nearly screamed at Linde to slow down when he saw the car, but he kept his mouth shut as he noticed that the officer wasn’t coming after them. Ville obviously had some connections that Bam didn’t know about…
They drove for only fifteen minutes, but with the speed they were driving at they were already on the outskirts of the city. Linde pulled the Lambo into a pay parking garage, not bothering to pay, and they climbed out and into the thick city night.
Bam quickly recognized the part of Philly they were in as being the docking yard for the rest of the city. One glance to his left revealed the Delaware River and, across that, the neighboring New Jersey. The thick smell of fish and shipping boats filled the air, and despite the early hour it was already dark. A few dock lights lined a path down the street, illuminating the well kept harbor and adjacent buildings. It had been a while since Bam had last been down there, but the place still felt like home to him. Philadelphia would always be a part of his life.
The skater would have been separated from the other two if it wasn’t for Ville, who grabbed a hold of Bam’s hand and proceeded to drag him down the street. They walked in relative silence, only the rare spark of conversation separating the night, with Bam flanked between the two men as if for his own protection. As if on instinct Ville’s earlier words flashed through Bam’s head. “We’re going out for a bite to eat.” At the time the phrase seemed simple and nonchalant, but now Bam was beginning to wonder if he was going to witness anything menacing on this night.
As if reading his thoughts, Ville’s grip on the skater’s hand tightened. “You have nothing to worry about, Bam. See that pub up there?” A bony finger stretched out before Bam’s face, indicating a dimly lit Irish Pub. When he spotted it, Bam nodded. “That’s where we’re going.”
Bam let go of the breath he wasn’t aware he was holding as they walked across the street. A glowing neon sign that read “Kelley’s Irish Pub” lit the way and made the trek less menacing. Despite the comforting light, though, he couldn’t help but think that they must have looked odd-three men holding hands in one of the darker sides of Philly. But the few people that were on the street didn’t bother to stare.
The pub itself was set up like a traditional Irish drinking establishment, equipped with blaring folk music and posters of Guinness plastered on the walls. The boys made their way to the bar, taking up the necessary stools and placing their order.
“Not what you expected, eh?” Linde laughed over the roar of the pub, nudging Bam slightly with his elbow.
Bam couldn’t help but smile at the friendly look in the blonde’s eyes. “Yeah…actually, I was beginning to think that I was being dragged to some alley in the middle of the ghetto where Ville would…you know.”
He whispered the last part, as if it were a sin to speak of such things in public. Again Linde laughed, a pleasant chuckle that seemed to rumble up from the center of his chest. “You know, I thought the same thing the first time I was brought out here. But the man loves his liquor, and this is one of the best places in town to get it.”
“One of? It’s the only place!” Ville declared loudly, earning a few glances from patrons and an appreciative nod from the bartender.
Three foaming glasses of Guinness were placed before them then, each topped off with a three leaf clover. They each said their thanks and took the first swigs of the night. For once Bam was able to forget that Ville was a vampire. Forget, in fact, that he was anything more than a human enjoying a night out with some close friends. It was relaxing sitting there in the dark bar, enjoying a round that Bam was sure wouldn’t be place don his own tab. He was even more relieved to find that the barkeep had yet to ask for identification-a set back that would quickly end the night for all of them.
Ville topped off his glass before the other two, slamming down the pint and waving for another. Bam was in awe at how quickly the vampire had completed the thick drink, and stared down at his half-full glace speculatively. Taking a long pull, he felt the liquid slip down his throat and rest heavily in his stomach.
After what seemed like only minutes Ville excused himself, not being specific in where he was going but Bam assuming to the bathroom. He was proved wrong, though, when the vampire walked over to one of the many surrounding tables and sat down next to a young blonde girl. It was obvious that that they had never met before, but that didn’t stop Ville from laying his charm on her.
“What’s he doing?” Bam asked with a hushed voice, nudging Linde slightly to get his attention. The blonde’s head spun around to the vampire, a scoff leaving his lips in an almost disapproving manner.
“Just being Ville,” Linde mumbled around his glass. “Just doing what he does best, I suppose.”
Bam didn’t quite understand what he meant by that, but accepted the answer nonetheless. As he finished his third pint and ordered a fourth, he found his eyes wandering back the table behind him. Every now and then Ville would cast him a flirtatious smile, but it went unnoticed to the girl that was now wrapped beneath his arm. He couldn’t deny the jealousy that was building up in him as he watched Ville dip his head slightly and plant an innocent kiss on the girl’s neckline.
As quickly as he had sat down, the two of them were standing-the girl grabbing her coat and waving goodbye to her friends while Ville waited patiently at her side. Bam couldn’t hear the words being exchanged between them, but he could tell by the look in her eyes that it was obviously flirtatious. They made their way to the door, Ville simply running a reassuring hand over the skater’s shoulder blades as he passed. And just like that they were gone.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be right back. I can’t say the same for her, though.” Linde spoke up, and Bam had nearly forgotten that he was there.
He gave the blonde a speculative glance but there was no need for questions. Bam knew exactly what was going on. That girl probably had no clue what she had just followed out the door, no clue that she had just sealed her fate. The jealousy he was feeling before suddenly turned to guilt. He had just sat there and allowed this to happen. What kind of human being was he?
“I’ll be right back,” Bam mumbled, not caring if Linde heard him or not. Without waiting for a response, he pushed himself from the bar and headed for the door.
The night seemed a lot colder than he remembered as he stumbled out into the road, the alcohol apparently finally take its affect and causing him to trip over his own feet. The city was practically silent, only the sound of the occasional passing car and barking dog filling the night air. He had no clue what he was doing, but he knew that he had to do something.
‘Think Margera, if you were a vampire, where would you take an innocent girl to die?’
That thought definitely didn’t help. Shaking it from his head, he turned down the neighboring alley and was relieved when he saw two figures leaning up against the brick wall. A soft moan crept from the darkness, sending a shiver down Bam’s spine and rooting his feet to the ground. What the hell was he doing? There was no way he could just waltz right up to them and pull them apart. It would be wrong.
Right?
Taking the first hesitant step into the alley he got a better sight of the two. Ville had the blonde girl pinned to the wall, his head titled at an angle that made it impossible for Bam to see exactly what was going on. The girl moaned again, her fingers clutching the back of his jacket in a manner that made Bam wince. It was now or never. He couldn’t let this happen.
The skater took off at a sprint, hoping to catch the vampire off guard. Before he even realized what was going on, he had Ville by the collar of the shirt, switching the rolls and pinning him against the opposite wall. Both of their breaths were labored, creating a thick cloud of smoke between them in the chilly air that obscured Bam’s vision. Behind him he heard the girl gasp and mumble something, the sound of her high heeled shoes clapping toward him echoing through the alley.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she shrieked, smacking Bam upside the head with her purse. Well, that definitely wasn’t the response he was looking for.
“Uhm, saving you?” he shouted sarcastically. It was then that Bam got a good glimpse at the girl. She was just like any other college student that speckled the city, but that wasn’t what his eyes were drawn to. They were drawn to her neck. Her flawless neck. Her unmarred neck. The neck that didn’t have any blood on it.
“Saving me? From what? This man here?” her words were biting and just as sarcastic as his own. He felt the heat rise to his face in embarrassment. Perhaps he had judged the vampire too quickly…
“Look lady, you don’t know what’s going on here. Why don’t you just go back inside, have another drink with your frat buddies and go home?”
“Fuck you, I’m not going to let you tell me what to do!”
“Do you understand what I’m saying?” Bam groaned on the verge of pulling out his own hair. “I’m doing you a favor, okay? Get the hell out of here!”
The girl looked about ready to say something back, but instead she just huffed and turned around, stomping angrily down the alley. Bam waited until silence once more filled the street before turning back to the vampire who was still pinned against the wall. What he saw in Ville’s eyes, though, was hatred.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked slowly, articulating each word but his voice never reaching a shout. Bam took a step back, unsure of how to answer. “Do you realize what you’ve just done?”
“Look, I understand that you’re a vampire,” he paused, realizing how foreign the word was to him. “But I’m not going to stand by while you take the life of an innocent girl.”
“Is that what I was doing?” Ville asked softly, suddenly advancing upon him. It was his turn to be the one pinned against the wall, but this time not from force. No, he was rendered immobile by the fiery gaze that Ville was casting him. The vampire’s tone changed then, this time purring the words softly as he pressed himself against Bam’s body. “How can you be so sure of my intentions?”
“I-I’m not really sure, but I know what you were planning on doing.”
“Oh really?” Ville’s face was now nuzzling the crook of Bam’s neck, but rather than getting aroused he felt himself growing increasingly afraid. “And what if I was? She’s cattle; she won’t be missed.”
Bam gulped around the lump in his throat, unable to form any proper words. What if he had just condemned himself to the same fate that he had just saved that girl from? Was it possible for the relationship he had formed with the vampire could be destroyed in a single moment? Was he going to die, right here in this alley?
He felt Ville shift his weight so that he was practically leaning against the skater, and with his eyes scrunched tight Bam prepared himself for the blow that he was sure was about to take his life. But it wasn’t a bit mark he felt. No, far from it. In that moment Ville’s lips crashed into his, hungrily sucking his bottom lip into his mouth and demanding entrance. Unsure of what to do, Bam gave it to him and surrendered to the vampire’s strong need.
Their tongues danced and battled at the same time, a powerful surge of emotions washing over Bam as he tried to figure out exactly what was going on. Before he could even tangle his hands in the vampire’s hair, Ville pulled back, a reproachful grin on his face.
“You understand that I need this, correct?” Somehow Bam knew what he was talking about and managed to nod his head in acceptance. Resting his head against the rough brick wall, he once more felt his eyes crease shut as sharp fangs pierced his neck. His scream of pain was muffled by how own moan as Ville craftily ran a cold hand over his abdomen. Bam could feel the blood flowing from his body; hear Ville’s heartbeat in his own ears as the vampire greedily lapped up his life essence. Just as he felt on the verge of passing out, Ville pulled away panting for breath. He placed his blood coated lips to Bam’s and they shared an erotic crimson kiss before the vampire pulled away.
“A-Am I going to die?”
“No,” Ville chuckled; unraveling the scarf from his neck and wrapping it around Bam’s still bleeding one. “I didn’t take that much out of you. Though, you may feel more drunk than you previously were.”
Bam’s breathing was heavy in his chest as he desperately tried to gulp down as much air as his lungs would hold. He knew that Ville was telling him the truth, yet he still felt like he was dying. Clasping a weak hand to the scarf, he fingered the wound beneath and blinked heavy eyelids at the vampire before him.
“Let’s go back inside,” Ville mumbled after a second, whipping a few beads of sweat from Bam’s forehead. The skater only nodded, powerless to say anything else as he took the vampire’s offered hand and followed him back to the pub.
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Linde didn’t say anything about Bam’s hasty retreat, but it was obvious by the glances he was giving the skater that he knew something went down. As they crawled out of the pub sometime after midnight, all three of them stumbling and tripping over the concrete, Ville got the sudden inspiration to go visit what he considered ‘old friends’.
They all climbed back in the Lamborghini, Linde casting the vampire hesitant looks but starting the ignition nonetheless, and sped out of the car park. The night flashed past them in an array of fading lights and honking horns, and Bam became progressively more afraid of getting in an accident. The city quickly bled into the quiet country side as they sped off toward the East, their speed increasing as the traffic thinned out.
The night was virtually clear, only a few straggling clouds drifting over the sparkling stars and obstructing the view of the heavens. Ville sat sprawled across Bam’s lap, his eyes closed softly and his head laying idly out the window as the wind whipped his hair in every direction. The skater’s thumbs ran sluggish circles over Ville’s hipbones, his mind not really following his actions as he watched the scenery around him fade into unfamiliar territory.
Linde pulled the Lambo into a winding gravel driveway that snaked back to one of the largest houses Bam had ever seen. Sitting regally atop a well maintained hill, the mansion stretched a massive four stories, each one alight with the buzz of life within. Victorian towers placed decoratively on each corner gracefully kissed the sky, black flags with what appeared to be ankh symbols waving softy in the wind at each tip. It was more of a castle than a house, cobblestone walls with the perfect amount of vine stretching along its surface added to the medieval affect.
Both Ville and Linde seemed unfazed by the massive structure’s great beauty, but Bam couldn’t peel his eyes away from it. It was like something out of a fairy tale, a rare piece of historic art that one just doesn’t find in America. He briefly wondered what part of Pennsylvania they were in (if they were even in Pennsylvania any more) as they walked up to the front door. Their feet crunched on the hard gravel with each step, shattering the silence around them and adding an almost eerie affect to the castle that Bam hadn’t picked up on before.
“Who’s house is this?” Bam finally mustered up the courage to ask. He had since gained some of his strength back from the earlier events of the evening, but he wasn’t quite ready to open up and hold a full conversation. However, he had to know who had the money to afford such a palace.
“Just an old friend,” Ville smiled, one hand reaching up to clang the iron lion’s head doorknocker. As the door slowly opened with the groan of old wood, the vampire once more turned to him and said, “Bam, I’d like you to meet the Helsinki vampires.”
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And that's where I'm leaving you. Because I'm a bitch like that and I can.♥
Author: 616hasgotaname
Fandom: Music/VAM
Summery: Companion piece to “Kiss”. AU. Two people brought together by an undying love that defies the ages. One, a vampire with a bizarre need for camaraderie, the other a human ostracized from an unforgiving mortal world. Separately, they are powerless and lonely. Together they are unstoppable.
Disclaimer: I DO OWN VILLE AND BAM! I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU SAY! *cough* Yeah, they own themselves. This never happened (der), so don’t sue.
Rating: R to NC-17
Once again, this lovely banner was made by the amazingly talented annushkazhivago. Thanks again! <33
As always, links to "Kiss" and previous chapters behind the cut.
"Kiss"
Chapter Nine and Previous
Chapter Ten
The loft was large in comparison to Bam’s house, stretching, he soon discovered, a massive three floors and running from wall to wall. Each floor was decorated in a different style, providing an intimate feel for each one. It was unlike anything the skater had ever seen before. Where did Ville get all of his money from?
Bam was wandering down a Victorian-style hallway, glancing up at the priceless paintings that hung from the walls but not really studying them. His mind was elsewhere. The loft had grown quiet over the last hour, Ville retreating back to his room to get ready for the upcoming night and Linde running off to perform some errand. Bam enjoyed the peace, though, it gave him a moment to collect his thoughts.
Turning through another nameless door, he stumbled into a large library. Both ancient and new works of literature lined the walls on immaculate wooden displays, the largest of the shelves flanking a masterful stone fireplace. Leather furniture was placed sporadically about the room, a large wooden desk resting peacefully against the window. The windows themselves were accentuated with antique-style stain glass, casting a dim but ethereal light over the immaculate room.
Bam let himself wander deeper into the room, the pad of his calloused thumb running idly over the binding of many books. This was a room of secrets, a place where he was certain he could find everything he wanted to know about the mysterious vampire. Never one for literature, he plucked a random book from the shelf, taking no importance fromthe name Byron printed neatly in gold leaf. He carried the heavy book over to one of the many chairs and sat down, surprised when he sunk into the worn leather cushion. They had obviously seen their share of use.
A pair of wire-rimmed reading glasses was laid out on a nearby end table, and Bam briefly wondered if they were actually used or just set out for display purposes only. It was probably the latter; Ville seemed to have amazing vision. As he thumbed through the pages, haphazardly scanning for pictures, he noticed that it was a book of poetry. He didn’t bother to read it, but a few words stuck out and told him that the work was rather dark in nature.
“When you’re cursed to an eternity of solitude, books become a very close friend,” Ville’s voice suddenly boomed throughout the large room, shattering the silence and causing Bam’s eyes to snap to the door. The vampire was indolently leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest languidly and a slight smirk playing on his full lips.
Bam quickly tossed the book on the table, as if the binding had burned him, and stood from his spot. Emerald eyes seemed to bore into him as he took a hesitant step forward.
“I uh…I was just looking around,” he mumbled slightly, afraid that he would be in some sort of trouble for trespassing. Ville only smirked and pushed himself from the wall. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Don’t worry about it, what’s mine is yours,” his smile broadened as a blush coated Bam’s cheeks.
“You, uhm, have quite the collection here,” Bam motioned around the room with outstretched arms. The vampire’s eyes never left his as he shrugged, one shoulder lifting slightly before falling back into place.
“No need to play games with me,” he spoke quietly, taking a few steps toward Bam. “I know that you’re not a reader.”
“What are you saying, that I’m stupid or something?” Bam’s arms instinctively crossed over his chest defensively, his fists balling slightly as he gritted his teeth together. He tried to come off as sounding offended, but it was more like a child not getting his way.
Ville laughed lightly, his cold hand running over the flesh of Bam’s forearm. “Never, sweetheart. Intelligence and a fondness for literature are not the same thing.”
“Whatever,” he turned away sharply, trying to hide the smile that he knew was on his lips. Rather than letting the subject continue on, Bam wandered over to the window. He took a hesitant peek around the thick curtain, eyeing the world outside and the setting sun before asking, “Isn’t it a bit early for you to be up?”
He watched as Ville gave another shy shrug, “I can manage in the daylight, as long as it doesn’t touch me.”
“Oh.”
Bam once more felt his cheeks turn a deep shade of crimson under Ville’s powerful stare, feeling foolish for not having anything decent to talk about. Never before had he encountered a person that left him speechless…but Ville was hardly a person, now was he?
“We’re leaving tonight,” Ville spoke up, very much aware of Bam’s inner monologue and trying to break some of the tension in the air.
Bam’s head snapped up and he found himself staring the vampire in the eyes, a brief moment of clarity washing over him as a sense of déjà vu made him remember what he was looking at. “Where are we going?”
“Out.” The simple answer left no room for a retort, so Bam only nodded and followed Ville out the door and back into the long stretch of hallway. They walked in silence, their footsteps muted by the thick carpeting, until they met up again with Linde by the front door.
Since Bam had seen him last the blonde had changed his clothes, opting for a more casual pair of blue jeans and a denim jacket. If it wasn’t for the long dreadlocks Bam would have sworn the man was a cowboy.
Ville placed a chaste kiss on Linde's cheek, brief enough to be considered informal but adoring enough to send a pang of jealousy through Bam’s heart, before opening the door and stepping out in the main hallway of the building. As they waited for the elevator to reach their floor, Bam found himself fussing with the sleeves of the jacket he had on, suddenly feeling out of place next to the two foreign men.
“I’d seriously like to know where we’re going,” he finally said, just as the small light above the lift dinged on and the brass doors swooshed open. They all stepped inside, Linde pressing the button for the main floor.
“We’re going out for a bite to eat, and then I think we’ll take a little trip,” Ville purred, turning his back from Linde and giving Bam his full attention. The skater couldn’t help but wonder if the vampire was playing some sort of game with the two of them, but that thought was quickly diminished as Ville’s warm tongue dipped out of his mouth and traced a sloppy path down the side of Bam’s neck. “How does that sound, kulta?”
“Uhm,” Bam cleared his throat rather loudly, trying to get his thoughts together. “Sounds pretty good.”
“Good.” The response seemed almost calculated as it rolled off of Ville’s tongue in that thick accent that Bam had yet to place. As if the gods themselves could feel Bam’s anxiousness to get on with the night, the elevator doors swung open and ushered the tree men out into the lobby of the building. The receptionist called something out to Ville in a strange language, but Bam paid no attention to that as Linde grabbed his hand and led him outside.
“Are we walking?” Bam piped up as they were shoved into the brisk night, bitter wind wrapping around his frame in a death grip. “I mean, to wherever we’re going?”
“We could walk, it never hurt anybody,” Ville laughed mockingly. “But I suppose we shall drive, it’s a bit cold out here tonight.”
They rounded the corner to a parking garage that was attached to the building, passing up the guard booth without earning as much as a glance from the working attendant. It was completely dark except for a few overhead lights in the distance, a spot that Ville seemed to be heading toward. From his position Bam could make out a few sparkling cars, but the models were indecipherable in the dark.
The skater was shocked when they finally reached their destination. A long line of cars, at least twenty in all, were parked side-to-side along the back wall. Each one appeared to be brand new, even though the dates on a few said otherwise, and each looked like they cost more than Bam’s home. He felt his jaw hit the floor as Ville ran a nimble hand along the bumper of a black 1971 Chevy Nova Super Sport, the car seeming to shine in the dim light.
“I-Is that yours?” he finally managed to stutter ravel his tongue back into his mouth and spit the words out.
Ville smirked at him, his eyes nearly luminous in the dark. “All of these are mine, Bammi boy. Which one would you like to take for a spin?”
Again Bam felt his heart leap into his throat. He had never seen so many fine cars in one spot before, let alone belonging to one person. Scanning the long row of cars, his eyes finally fell onto a dark purple Lamborghini Gallardo parked near the end of the line.
“Ah, fine choice,” Ville said approvingly, grabbing his hand and leading him toward the sports car with Linde following quietly behind them.
Bam’s eyes nearly bugged out of his skull as he got a closer look at the vehicle. The paint job was that of a color he had never seen before, one he assumed was a custom job, a dark layer of thick purple with sparkles glittering within. Engraved into the gas lid was the symbol that he remembered from the letter in his treasure chest, painted over with bright silver that contrasted beautifully with the dark paint on the body work. Inside the car was black leather interior, the strong smell of freshly pressed leather wafting to his nose as he stuck his head through the open window.
“But it’s only a two-seater,” he mumbled finally, pulling his head out of the car and glancing between Linde and Ville. “There’s no way all three of us could fit in there.”
“Nonsense, I’ll just sit on your lap,” Ville smiled, giving Bam a friendly punch on the shoulder and moving to open the passenger door. Bam could only stare as the vampire motioned for him to take his seat. There was no way that he was about to get into a Lamborghini Gallardo with a vampire. No way in hell was this happening.
“Are you coming or not?” Linde called from the other side of the car, jingling the keys in the air playfully.
Bam blinked a few times before finally climbing into the expensive Italian car. The leather was soft and welcoming as he slid into the seat, and it took every ounce of willpower he had not to run his fingers along each inch of the interior. Before he could so much as buckle his seatbelt, Ville climbed in and draped himself over Bam’s lap, one arm curled around his shoulder lovingly.
The engine revved and purred at the same time as Line turned the ignition and pressed on the accelerator, a cacophony of sound that Bam had only ever heard in movies and on television. As the car peeled out of the garage he found himself pressed tightly to the back of the seat, shocked that the blonde man beside him would dare drive as fast as he was in a car as expensive as this.
“Do you like it?” Ville asked as they blew past a red light, earning a few honks from other cars but swiftly avoiding any accidents.
“Like it? Are you kidding me?” Bam stared at him incredulously, sitting up straight and glancing around the car with wide eyes. “I fucking love it!”
A proud smile flashed over Ville’s features as they peeled off down the street, speeding right past a coasting cop car. Bam nearly screamed at Linde to slow down when he saw the car, but he kept his mouth shut as he noticed that the officer wasn’t coming after them. Ville obviously had some connections that Bam didn’t know about…
They drove for only fifteen minutes, but with the speed they were driving at they were already on the outskirts of the city. Linde pulled the Lambo into a pay parking garage, not bothering to pay, and they climbed out and into the thick city night.
Bam quickly recognized the part of Philly they were in as being the docking yard for the rest of the city. One glance to his left revealed the Delaware River and, across that, the neighboring New Jersey. The thick smell of fish and shipping boats filled the air, and despite the early hour it was already dark. A few dock lights lined a path down the street, illuminating the well kept harbor and adjacent buildings. It had been a while since Bam had last been down there, but the place still felt like home to him. Philadelphia would always be a part of his life.
The skater would have been separated from the other two if it wasn’t for Ville, who grabbed a hold of Bam’s hand and proceeded to drag him down the street. They walked in relative silence, only the rare spark of conversation separating the night, with Bam flanked between the two men as if for his own protection. As if on instinct Ville’s earlier words flashed through Bam’s head. “We’re going out for a bite to eat.” At the time the phrase seemed simple and nonchalant, but now Bam was beginning to wonder if he was going to witness anything menacing on this night.
As if reading his thoughts, Ville’s grip on the skater’s hand tightened. “You have nothing to worry about, Bam. See that pub up there?” A bony finger stretched out before Bam’s face, indicating a dimly lit Irish Pub. When he spotted it, Bam nodded. “That’s where we’re going.”
Bam let go of the breath he wasn’t aware he was holding as they walked across the street. A glowing neon sign that read “Kelley’s Irish Pub” lit the way and made the trek less menacing. Despite the comforting light, though, he couldn’t help but think that they must have looked odd-three men holding hands in one of the darker sides of Philly. But the few people that were on the street didn’t bother to stare.
The pub itself was set up like a traditional Irish drinking establishment, equipped with blaring folk music and posters of Guinness plastered on the walls. The boys made their way to the bar, taking up the necessary stools and placing their order.
“Not what you expected, eh?” Linde laughed over the roar of the pub, nudging Bam slightly with his elbow.
Bam couldn’t help but smile at the friendly look in the blonde’s eyes. “Yeah…actually, I was beginning to think that I was being dragged to some alley in the middle of the ghetto where Ville would…you know.”
He whispered the last part, as if it were a sin to speak of such things in public. Again Linde laughed, a pleasant chuckle that seemed to rumble up from the center of his chest. “You know, I thought the same thing the first time I was brought out here. But the man loves his liquor, and this is one of the best places in town to get it.”
“One of? It’s the only place!” Ville declared loudly, earning a few glances from patrons and an appreciative nod from the bartender.
Three foaming glasses of Guinness were placed before them then, each topped off with a three leaf clover. They each said their thanks and took the first swigs of the night. For once Bam was able to forget that Ville was a vampire. Forget, in fact, that he was anything more than a human enjoying a night out with some close friends. It was relaxing sitting there in the dark bar, enjoying a round that Bam was sure wouldn’t be place don his own tab. He was even more relieved to find that the barkeep had yet to ask for identification-a set back that would quickly end the night for all of them.
Ville topped off his glass before the other two, slamming down the pint and waving for another. Bam was in awe at how quickly the vampire had completed the thick drink, and stared down at his half-full glace speculatively. Taking a long pull, he felt the liquid slip down his throat and rest heavily in his stomach.
After what seemed like only minutes Ville excused himself, not being specific in where he was going but Bam assuming to the bathroom. He was proved wrong, though, when the vampire walked over to one of the many surrounding tables and sat down next to a young blonde girl. It was obvious that that they had never met before, but that didn’t stop Ville from laying his charm on her.
“What’s he doing?” Bam asked with a hushed voice, nudging Linde slightly to get his attention. The blonde’s head spun around to the vampire, a scoff leaving his lips in an almost disapproving manner.
“Just being Ville,” Linde mumbled around his glass. “Just doing what he does best, I suppose.”
Bam didn’t quite understand what he meant by that, but accepted the answer nonetheless. As he finished his third pint and ordered a fourth, he found his eyes wandering back the table behind him. Every now and then Ville would cast him a flirtatious smile, but it went unnoticed to the girl that was now wrapped beneath his arm. He couldn’t deny the jealousy that was building up in him as he watched Ville dip his head slightly and plant an innocent kiss on the girl’s neckline.
As quickly as he had sat down, the two of them were standing-the girl grabbing her coat and waving goodbye to her friends while Ville waited patiently at her side. Bam couldn’t hear the words being exchanged between them, but he could tell by the look in her eyes that it was obviously flirtatious. They made their way to the door, Ville simply running a reassuring hand over the skater’s shoulder blades as he passed. And just like that they were gone.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be right back. I can’t say the same for her, though.” Linde spoke up, and Bam had nearly forgotten that he was there.
He gave the blonde a speculative glance but there was no need for questions. Bam knew exactly what was going on. That girl probably had no clue what she had just followed out the door, no clue that she had just sealed her fate. The jealousy he was feeling before suddenly turned to guilt. He had just sat there and allowed this to happen. What kind of human being was he?
“I’ll be right back,” Bam mumbled, not caring if Linde heard him or not. Without waiting for a response, he pushed himself from the bar and headed for the door.
The night seemed a lot colder than he remembered as he stumbled out into the road, the alcohol apparently finally take its affect and causing him to trip over his own feet. The city was practically silent, only the sound of the occasional passing car and barking dog filling the night air. He had no clue what he was doing, but he knew that he had to do something.
‘Think Margera, if you were a vampire, where would you take an innocent girl to die?’
That thought definitely didn’t help. Shaking it from his head, he turned down the neighboring alley and was relieved when he saw two figures leaning up against the brick wall. A soft moan crept from the darkness, sending a shiver down Bam’s spine and rooting his feet to the ground. What the hell was he doing? There was no way he could just waltz right up to them and pull them apart. It would be wrong.
Right?
Taking the first hesitant step into the alley he got a better sight of the two. Ville had the blonde girl pinned to the wall, his head titled at an angle that made it impossible for Bam to see exactly what was going on. The girl moaned again, her fingers clutching the back of his jacket in a manner that made Bam wince. It was now or never. He couldn’t let this happen.
The skater took off at a sprint, hoping to catch the vampire off guard. Before he even realized what was going on, he had Ville by the collar of the shirt, switching the rolls and pinning him against the opposite wall. Both of their breaths were labored, creating a thick cloud of smoke between them in the chilly air that obscured Bam’s vision. Behind him he heard the girl gasp and mumble something, the sound of her high heeled shoes clapping toward him echoing through the alley.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she shrieked, smacking Bam upside the head with her purse. Well, that definitely wasn’t the response he was looking for.
“Uhm, saving you?” he shouted sarcastically. It was then that Bam got a good glimpse at the girl. She was just like any other college student that speckled the city, but that wasn’t what his eyes were drawn to. They were drawn to her neck. Her flawless neck. Her unmarred neck. The neck that didn’t have any blood on it.
“Saving me? From what? This man here?” her words were biting and just as sarcastic as his own. He felt the heat rise to his face in embarrassment. Perhaps he had judged the vampire too quickly…
“Look lady, you don’t know what’s going on here. Why don’t you just go back inside, have another drink with your frat buddies and go home?”
“Fuck you, I’m not going to let you tell me what to do!”
“Do you understand what I’m saying?” Bam groaned on the verge of pulling out his own hair. “I’m doing you a favor, okay? Get the hell out of here!”
The girl looked about ready to say something back, but instead she just huffed and turned around, stomping angrily down the alley. Bam waited until silence once more filled the street before turning back to the vampire who was still pinned against the wall. What he saw in Ville’s eyes, though, was hatred.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked slowly, articulating each word but his voice never reaching a shout. Bam took a step back, unsure of how to answer. “Do you realize what you’ve just done?”
“Look, I understand that you’re a vampire,” he paused, realizing how foreign the word was to him. “But I’m not going to stand by while you take the life of an innocent girl.”
“Is that what I was doing?” Ville asked softly, suddenly advancing upon him. It was his turn to be the one pinned against the wall, but this time not from force. No, he was rendered immobile by the fiery gaze that Ville was casting him. The vampire’s tone changed then, this time purring the words softly as he pressed himself against Bam’s body. “How can you be so sure of my intentions?”
“I-I’m not really sure, but I know what you were planning on doing.”
“Oh really?” Ville’s face was now nuzzling the crook of Bam’s neck, but rather than getting aroused he felt himself growing increasingly afraid. “And what if I was? She’s cattle; she won’t be missed.”
Bam gulped around the lump in his throat, unable to form any proper words. What if he had just condemned himself to the same fate that he had just saved that girl from? Was it possible for the relationship he had formed with the vampire could be destroyed in a single moment? Was he going to die, right here in this alley?
He felt Ville shift his weight so that he was practically leaning against the skater, and with his eyes scrunched tight Bam prepared himself for the blow that he was sure was about to take his life. But it wasn’t a bit mark he felt. No, far from it. In that moment Ville’s lips crashed into his, hungrily sucking his bottom lip into his mouth and demanding entrance. Unsure of what to do, Bam gave it to him and surrendered to the vampire’s strong need.
Their tongues danced and battled at the same time, a powerful surge of emotions washing over Bam as he tried to figure out exactly what was going on. Before he could even tangle his hands in the vampire’s hair, Ville pulled back, a reproachful grin on his face.
“You understand that I need this, correct?” Somehow Bam knew what he was talking about and managed to nod his head in acceptance. Resting his head against the rough brick wall, he once more felt his eyes crease shut as sharp fangs pierced his neck. His scream of pain was muffled by how own moan as Ville craftily ran a cold hand over his abdomen. Bam could feel the blood flowing from his body; hear Ville’s heartbeat in his own ears as the vampire greedily lapped up his life essence. Just as he felt on the verge of passing out, Ville pulled away panting for breath. He placed his blood coated lips to Bam’s and they shared an erotic crimson kiss before the vampire pulled away.
“A-Am I going to die?”
“No,” Ville chuckled; unraveling the scarf from his neck and wrapping it around Bam’s still bleeding one. “I didn’t take that much out of you. Though, you may feel more drunk than you previously were.”
Bam’s breathing was heavy in his chest as he desperately tried to gulp down as much air as his lungs would hold. He knew that Ville was telling him the truth, yet he still felt like he was dying. Clasping a weak hand to the scarf, he fingered the wound beneath and blinked heavy eyelids at the vampire before him.
“Let’s go back inside,” Ville mumbled after a second, whipping a few beads of sweat from Bam’s forehead. The skater only nodded, powerless to say anything else as he took the vampire’s offered hand and followed him back to the pub.
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Linde didn’t say anything about Bam’s hasty retreat, but it was obvious by the glances he was giving the skater that he knew something went down. As they crawled out of the pub sometime after midnight, all three of them stumbling and tripping over the concrete, Ville got the sudden inspiration to go visit what he considered ‘old friends’.
They all climbed back in the Lamborghini, Linde casting the vampire hesitant looks but starting the ignition nonetheless, and sped out of the car park. The night flashed past them in an array of fading lights and honking horns, and Bam became progressively more afraid of getting in an accident. The city quickly bled into the quiet country side as they sped off toward the East, their speed increasing as the traffic thinned out.
The night was virtually clear, only a few straggling clouds drifting over the sparkling stars and obstructing the view of the heavens. Ville sat sprawled across Bam’s lap, his eyes closed softly and his head laying idly out the window as the wind whipped his hair in every direction. The skater’s thumbs ran sluggish circles over Ville’s hipbones, his mind not really following his actions as he watched the scenery around him fade into unfamiliar territory.
Linde pulled the Lambo into a winding gravel driveway that snaked back to one of the largest houses Bam had ever seen. Sitting regally atop a well maintained hill, the mansion stretched a massive four stories, each one alight with the buzz of life within. Victorian towers placed decoratively on each corner gracefully kissed the sky, black flags with what appeared to be ankh symbols waving softy in the wind at each tip. It was more of a castle than a house, cobblestone walls with the perfect amount of vine stretching along its surface added to the medieval affect.
Both Ville and Linde seemed unfazed by the massive structure’s great beauty, but Bam couldn’t peel his eyes away from it. It was like something out of a fairy tale, a rare piece of historic art that one just doesn’t find in America. He briefly wondered what part of Pennsylvania they were in (if they were even in Pennsylvania any more) as they walked up to the front door. Their feet crunched on the hard gravel with each step, shattering the silence around them and adding an almost eerie affect to the castle that Bam hadn’t picked up on before.
“Who’s house is this?” Bam finally mustered up the courage to ask. He had since gained some of his strength back from the earlier events of the evening, but he wasn’t quite ready to open up and hold a full conversation. However, he had to know who had the money to afford such a palace.
“Just an old friend,” Ville smiled, one hand reaching up to clang the iron lion’s head doorknocker. As the door slowly opened with the groan of old wood, the vampire once more turned to him and said, “Bam, I’d like you to meet the Helsinki vampires.”
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And that's where I'm leaving you. Because I'm a bitch like that and I can.♥