PROLOGUE
Dum Dum Dum Dum Dum DUM! You've all been patient waiting for this! It's the prologue to my novel! To save from spoilers, I've left out the character profiles and the basic plot of the story. Since this is the prologue, it happens a little before the story does. I hope you all enjoy it! Here it is:
Beyond the Boundaries of Safety
H.K. Franklin ~ Sunny
Prologue
Jules had received the summons. Whether or not to ignore it, he hadn’t decided. His lover slept soundly within a bundle of comforters and sheets that a housemaid had brought up for the two earlier. Undoubtedly, the small oriental woman suspected the couple of any and everything peculiar. It was her nature to do so, however paranoid. And for once, this trait had led her to discover secrets that should not have been pried into. But did this woman, so quick to judge without reason or with little evidence, and whom often found herself horribly mistaken of each assumption made... did she report her findings of this Eurasian man and his treasured beauty to authorities? For now, you may make a guess, but soon enough, you'll know the answer to this question.
Pacing about in room 209 of Saint Cathedral Royal Inn, Jules Fenris proved to be having a difficult time coming to a decision as he pondered over his options. Both staying at the inn and ignoring the call out, or accepting and walking into an unknown situation would be foolish choices, yet the more he thought about his situation, he realized there were no loopholes. They had thought this out. They...the ones who’d sent for him. Jules had known them for many years. Many long years. It was his attraction to Victory Taylor, a human, which turned them against him.
A feisty girl, Victory. Beautiful. Dangerously clever and too cunning for her own good. Sly as a fox, and just as daring. Nearly impossible to faze. And with a gorgeous figure and wild nature, how could poor Jules resist? The moment they’d laid eyes upon one another, it was as though gravity were pulling them together. And now... the last thing Jules wanted was to hurt Victory, yet either way he would end up doing so. With a sad sigh and a heavy heart, he made up his mind and pushed back the blinds hanging over the window to reveal glistening moonlight. The shine only paled his ghostly skin more. Looking within the glass’s reflection, Jules Fenris gazed longingly at the form of his slumbering lover. Then disappeared.
Heavy combat boots emitted echoing clops with each stride. The dark parking garage appeared to be vacant, but he sensed the presence of others immediately. Cloaked and shadowed, he could have been any innocent overworking employee. That is to say, so long as those hidden hadn’t been able to pinpoint his identity as he could so easily do them, an action he’d overlooked too simply. Jules and these concealed beings were evenly matched, save for quantity. One against possible dozens fairly ever would have been considered as fair. But then, life’s not always fair. Nor is it at any time predictable. So naturally, the incredibly unjust predicament he was about to encounter was in no way possible to portend. Why would it be? After all, nearly the whole of his lineage had shunned him once his beloved’s race had been disclosed. And what’s more, many of his kindred set out to do away with the both of them. It was only a matter of time until he’d have to face them.
Allowing no fear to show, Jules Fenris halted beneath a dim, flickering light. “Well?” He called out, voice sharp and grim. “I’ve come. Where in the darkness are you guarded?” There came no response but the repeating of his words ringing from the walls. A sneer played across Jules’s mouth, flaxen eyes narrowing. “Apprehensive, are we?” The young man stated boldly.
“Hardly.”
The Russian whipped around to stand facing a handsome, grinning juvenile, appearing maybe a year or so younger than he himself did. Jules’s golden eyes locked with crimson ones half-hidden behind silvery-auburn hair. A hint of both amusement and smugness was visible upon this enigmatic teen's features. Tauntingly, the brunette snickered, folding his arms. “Surely you haven’t forgotten my tendency to play victim, confidant?”
“Not at any time did I ever fail your memory. I simply would have assumed you’d become full-fledged, but I can see, Vincent that you haven’t matured.” Fenris shot back venomously.
The younger, Vincent leered and held back a growl through gritted teeth. Sharp though, he ran a hand through his pale chocolate-colored hair and cackled, knowing well that it bothered the man before him. How he kept a cool head and remained concentrated had always been a trait others had loathed him of. Whether the envy was spoken or not, Vince could sense the greed and longing. Frankly, it amused him, just as it did now. Smiling evilly, knifelike canines glistened briefly. “Your temperament hasn’t altered I see.” The vampire laughed, leaning back against the hood of a blood-red corvette. “You always were a contumacious bastard, Jules. Our rebellion is one of the things we have in common. Aside from species.”
An abrupt touch of uncertainty shot through Jules, doubling his suspicion. Glancing around attentively, he could feel a slowly nearing presence. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and he shifted, eyes moving back to focus on Vincent with biting intent. “Vince!” He demanded harshly, tensing. “Brother, you convoked me here; what purpose is this rendezvous?”
Leaving the corvette, the brunette moved forward at Jules, pupils becoming slits. “What right do you have to address me as your brother?” Vince snarled, quivering in anger. Shoving the older vampire into the wall violently, he stepped up to him. “After abandoning your coven, betraying our clan, and disgracing us all by your love of your precious mortal, do you sincerely deem yourself worthy of that privilege?” Malice cloaked his words. Murdering Jules was now not far from mind, and neither was it something Vincent hadn’t considered many times. But that wasn’t why he’d called for the licorice-haired vampire, and he forced himself to back away. “No.” Vince answered for Fenris. “Don’t ever make that mistake again.”
An empty threat it wasn’t.
“You still haven’t answered me, Vincent.” Jules pressed.
“Bloody hell!” The younger barked, seizing his blood-brother by his dark hair roughly. “Choke off! Damn, when I said you hadn’t changed I was only talking, but it looks as though I were right.”
The two were strolling down Boston Avenue, famous for its fancy restaurants and boutiques, passing crowds of city-goers enjoying the night-life and paying little heed to the stares they received. Vincent was too pissed off to really notice; though if he had it would merely piss him off more. Jules was simply used to it and remained nonchalant throughout the walk, staring off into various shops or up at the still darkening sky. Silently, he wished Victory were at his side. That she knew.
Of course, he himself still was left clueless as to what the brunette’s intentions were.
He did know, however, that within such a mass of humans, Vince would inflict no harm upon him. The rascal wasn’t truly thick-headed, as he at times appeared to be. Quite the contrary, really. Clever would describe him more adequately. Jules could only go on about all the stuff the little son of a bitch had gotten away with and never once been suspected of. While Vincent would tick off every last offense and felony his raven-haired comate had been chastened for. Polar opposites who had been drawn together had, over a period of two or so years, been forced apart due to those differences. Neither lingered on it.
Swiping at the younger vampire, striving to break apart from the painful grasp on his hair, Fenris portrayed a protesting child in a way. He gave a grunt and cringed, a tear forming at the corner of his eye. “Ouch! Shit, Vinny, let go of me!” He shouted, tugging away. “That hurts! That hurts! Jesus, dumbass, let go! Violent little jerk!” Jules snapped, not fond of being tormented, especially by a kid.
With a sharp jerk, Vincent discharged the exceedingly blanched man with a repulsed sneer. Rolling his eyes, the brunette continued, shoving his fists into his pockets and ignoring odd looks from passerby. Leading the man who had once been his closest mate into a quaint cafe, fuming in all irritation, the scowling vandal turned now to face his nuisance. “Say nothing without my affirm.” He instructed balefully, eyes glinting dangerously. Then he moved further into the cafe, not even casting over his shoulder to confirm Jules’s ensuing. At the back of the sizable room, he turned into a hall on his left. His steel-toed boots plodded now with each step on the uncarpeted floor.
Giving an irksome glower, the informer pursued his ignorant blood-brother. Under any other circumstances, he’d have just struck Vincent fiercely and viciously, not about to permit the juvenile ass any break at superiority. Once allowed the opportunity, the gent would deal a blow to his concomitant. “Little good-for-nothing,” Jules muttered through clenched teeth, “fucking son-of-a...” Abruptly cut off by a thunderous crash from behind, undoubtedly ensued by unbearable shrieks and wails as customers and employees went into a frenzy, the darkling looked back. When he did, eyes widening in horror, he took a pace backward. Off-balanced, the cryptic young man faltered and stumbled to the cement with a grunt, skull clashing against the ground. “What the hell’s going on?” He shouted, rubbing his injured head and sitting up. With a groan, he lay back, light-headed after his fall and hurting. Along his scalp, Jules could feel a gash. In a few seconds, it faded, leaving nothing but sticky blood in his long, sleek jet hair.
“Shit!” Vincent swore sharply, crimson hues dilating. Fangs flashed as he spoke. Kneeling down, the younger took hold of the gothic choker clasped about Fenris’s neck, paying no mind to the thin needle-sharp spikes that pierced through his hand gruesomely, and jerked, pulling the other vampire toward him in a brisk movement. Not even moments later, a whetted cleaver sunk into the cement where the enigmatic human-lover had been sprawled out. Jules’s breath hitched and he let out a long breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. Realizing how close he’d just come to death and that he’d let his guard down all too easily, the Russian swallowed with a shudder. Beside him, Vincent grimaced - not for the pain in his hand, as the wound was already healing rapidly, and the pain wouldn’t have bothered him regardless - and snarled a string of curses before yanking Jules to his feet. “They’ve found us!”
“They? Aren’t you... Hey!”
The brunette was making off down the hall, tugging his former running mate with him. His grip on the older vampire’s wrist nearly cut off circulation, forcing red marks to appear on the tender lurid skin there. More than it would have if the raven-haired man Vincent was pulling hadn’t been resisting. Taking a sharp turn into the kitchen, the youth shoved Jules down behind the cover of a counter before the two of them could be detected by panicked cooks. Pinning his superior to the tiled floor roughly, Vincent scowled down at him. “You’re such a jackass,” He snarled, aggravated. “Our meeting was arranged by my own accord. None of our coven know of this.”
Blinking, Fenris opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
At that very moment, the kitchen door burst open. Forcing his companion against the tile further, the brunette atop him ducked his head. “Shit!” He hissed. With a sudden jerk, the juvenile’s body morphed horribly, stiffening as limbs altered and sable fur began to cover what was now bluish skin. In moments, a midnight-black wolf stood bristling in place of Vincent. Emitting a throaty bark, the beast clipped its jaws purposely inches from Jules’s face. Pushing from the ground powerfully, it leapt ahead, paused to look back, and darted through the kitchen, startling already hysteric chefs and waiters.
Scrambling to his feet urgently, the older vampire made to follow, pushing past delirious humans hastily. Trailing the wolf in a rush, he was forced to shoulder through the hectic kitchen in order to keep sight of the ebon creature. As he shoved through a cluster of employees, the Russian was just able to see a bushy tail disappear behind a swinging door. Giving a groan, he pursued, thrusting open the door and entering into a caliginous room. Due to the sudden lack of lighting, the darkling groped around, continuing to move forward into the room. The floor gave way to a hidden staircase, causing the vampire to stumble and topple down the steps. Landing hard on his ass upon a dust-laden floor, Jules cast around, golden eyes now adjusting. Catching a movement near the far corner of the room, he got to his knees, crouching down. “Vince?” He called in a whisper, shifting forward slightly.
A sharp wave of pain went through his arm abruptly, and as he turned to look, Fenris found narrowed, crimson hues leering up at him. The pain worsened considerably as jagged fangs sank deeper into the vampire’s flesh, piercing tiny holes that secreted gooey claret. Biting back a yelp through gritted teeth, the young man glared daggers at the wolf until it shortly released him, baring its canines. “Jesus!” Jules hissed, looking down at his bloodied forearm. Muttering curses under his breath, even though the wound was healing already, the black-haired man shot the beast an icy look.
Tail lashing, the moon animal gave a fang-baring sneer and turned its back on the Russian, stalking into the shadows. Accustomed now to the darkness, Jules watched as the carnivore made its way across what he could now make out as a storage room. He watched as its body contorted sickeningly back to its original form. Within moments, Vincent stood before him, arms folded. Kneeling down, the brunette seized a fist-full of his blood-brothers hair with a yank. "Jerk! Do you want them to find us?" He demanded menacingly. "I cannot tell you what I need to, now. Not here."
Pulling the older vampire to his feet as he stood, the younger scowled and indicated a ground-level window behind him with a turn of the head. Understanding his comrade's intentions all too quickly now, the Russian shivered at the mere thought. "No way in hell, Vinny." He shook his head in finality.
The red-eyed one, however, shoved him toward the window firmly.
Staggering forward, Jules turned to glare at his minor. Instead he froze in place, rigid.
A figure loomed in the shadows behind Vincent. Slowly, a hand was reaching out to grasp his throat. Catching Fenris's troubled look, the teen arched a brow and glanced over his shoulder. The moment he saw the silhouetted fingers reaching for him, he pushed away and spun around, striking out viciously. Rewarded with a confirming grunt and a repulsive snap as his knuckles collided with jaw, the young vampire smirked. Bringing his hand to his mouth, he licked away his attacker’s blood from the few rings around his fingers. “How annoying.” He said mockingly, looking down at the comatose human twitching pathetically at his feet.
The clatter of the kitchen arose, and the younger turned to Jules with an impish glint in his crimson eyes. “They’re likely to have heard that.” In a quick movement, he was at his blood-brothers side and working at quietly getting open the window. The brunette’s sharpened nails scraped at the glass, leaving grooves as he battled with the chained bolt. Finally yanking it fiercely, the metal shattered and the juvenile shoved open the frame. “Go on!” He urged the Russian man beside him.
The swinging door crashed open to reveal the silhouette of a large man. Vince ducked and nudged his old companion sharply. “Don’t be a fool.” He hissed, catching a glimpse of Jules hesitating. Within the next moment, the older vampire was pulling himself out of the window onto a fairly idle walk.
Vincent scrabbled up and reached out. Clasping his hand, Fenris attempted to draw the teen outside as well. But a strong hand grasped the brunette’s hair from behind and Vincent’s hold to Jules’s hand began to falter. “Run! Don’t get caught, you idiot.” He shouted, wincing as his head was jerked back.
“You can’t be serious. What was my purpose of coming here?”
The younger vampire grinned up at Jules. “Bare the reincarnation or sacrifice your human to our coven. It’s up to you to decode the rest. Choose correctly, or you’ll loose everything important to you.”
“What in Christ’s name...? Vince!”
With his last words, Vincent had released Fenris and disappeared into the darkened storage room.
“Hey, you bastard.” The onyx-haired man shouted in alarm, fangs clipping off his own words sharply. Getting to his feet, fists clenched and trembling, he glared down at the glistening window he’d just crawled through. “Damn it, Vincent Sin! You’re important to me, you arrogant punk.” Restraining tears, Jules turned and departed back to the Saint Cathedral Royal Inn to find his beloved Victory still slumbering soundly. Yet the oriental housemaid had been severed of her head and her carcass had been left smeared in their shower, in clear warning. Jules would not ever forget this night, and never would he overlook his blood-brother’s warning.
I hope you enjoy it! Please R&R! ^^
Kah, today's report! Well, last night I went to LHGH (Life Hurts God Heals) Group. It's sorta like 'Alchoholics Annonymous' but with sins and stuff. It's not that I'm Christian - I'm currently without religion, I guess, no matter what my mother may say *growls* - but it helps to talk about things sometimes. I still kinda feel like they're judging me though. *wry smile*
But, ja, so I came home and mom brought me to dad's - the entire way bitching at me. She kept going on about how I told her that dad was tired and didn't want to have to come back out and pick me up, and that she was tired too, but apparently I didn't care about her and she wouldn't shut up. My mother (however disrespectful I may sound, I have to say it) has an increadibly provocative habit of keeping things going that need to be dropped. We weren't even half way to dad's when she said, "I'm sorry, I'll shut up now." And ten (not even that) seconds later, she's at it again, and I wanted - and probably would have if my weekend hadn't been on the line - to say, "Shutting up, are we?" I was pissed off. She has that affect on people. I get grounded if she asks me to do something and I refuse. She doesn't do anything for herself, and then when Thommie or I ask something of her, she always says how much she does for us. Truthfully, she would rather sit on her fat ass all day in my oppinion. (These are my words at this moment)
Anyway, I shall not continue to be Jhonny Raincloud any longer in this post. Thommie, Dad and I went to play basketball today. It was full, but about five minutes after we got there, everyone but this old couple left, and even then, the couple left shortly after. I know that's a good thing, but it just gave me an awkward/bad feeling. *shrugs* Anyways, we played 'HORSE' and I actually got Thommie out! SPIFFNESS!!! o^.^o Hehe. Then we played 'Around the World' and Thommie won. I NEARLY beat dad, but he won last chance. I was one spot away. *sniff* When we were heading out, I managed to - yay me and my (it seems only I ever acomplish this) damn one-track mind - piss Thommie off. We were playing 'one-on-one' sorta and I said, "I forfeit, albeit I lose." And she asked me, what? So I said it again, and she was like, "Okay, whatever." So, instead of dropping it there, I - in an attempt to tease (failed attempt) - turned and said, "So your illiterate self knows, albeit means therefore." And turned back around. You know the stupid scientific theory of whatever. Cause and effect?
Cause = My fat-assed remark
Effect = Thommie hurling a basketball at me, striking my lower back
Hurt like hell, might I add. I had slept awkwardly the previous night, so my back sorta was/is sore. Anyway, after this encounter with my angered Ane-Chan armed with a hard, orange rubber object, I shant speak and will keep my mouth shut, however hard a task this may proove. Hey, wanna know something else? = Albeit doesn't mean therefore, anyways, so I'm just a dumbass jerk aren't I. *grins like a moron and sweatdrops*
I got to chat with Yuki-San today too!!! ♥ x50bajillion (my number, don't ask - bajillion isn't even a frequency, I don't think) Thommie came in in the middle of our conversation. It made me laugh, and I later said to Yuki, 'She's a spazz.' T'is true though. Aren't we all?
Yes, so now I'm gonna go watch 'Chronicles of Narnia' with dad and hopefully I'll be able to convince Thommie to watch as well. Hazaa!
Before that, though, I just remembered a finished Weiß Kreuz fic that I'll post at a later date, due to a bloody stubborn floppy that refuses to run. ^^;;
Ja ne!
Beyond the Boundaries of Safety
H.K. Franklin ~ Sunny
Prologue
Jules had received the summons. Whether or not to ignore it, he hadn’t decided. His lover slept soundly within a bundle of comforters and sheets that a housemaid had brought up for the two earlier. Undoubtedly, the small oriental woman suspected the couple of any and everything peculiar. It was her nature to do so, however paranoid. And for once, this trait had led her to discover secrets that should not have been pried into. But did this woman, so quick to judge without reason or with little evidence, and whom often found herself horribly mistaken of each assumption made... did she report her findings of this Eurasian man and his treasured beauty to authorities? For now, you may make a guess, but soon enough, you'll know the answer to this question.
Pacing about in room 209 of Saint Cathedral Royal Inn, Jules Fenris proved to be having a difficult time coming to a decision as he pondered over his options. Both staying at the inn and ignoring the call out, or accepting and walking into an unknown situation would be foolish choices, yet the more he thought about his situation, he realized there were no loopholes. They had thought this out. They...the ones who’d sent for him. Jules had known them for many years. Many long years. It was his attraction to Victory Taylor, a human, which turned them against him.
A feisty girl, Victory. Beautiful. Dangerously clever and too cunning for her own good. Sly as a fox, and just as daring. Nearly impossible to faze. And with a gorgeous figure and wild nature, how could poor Jules resist? The moment they’d laid eyes upon one another, it was as though gravity were pulling them together. And now... the last thing Jules wanted was to hurt Victory, yet either way he would end up doing so. With a sad sigh and a heavy heart, he made up his mind and pushed back the blinds hanging over the window to reveal glistening moonlight. The shine only paled his ghostly skin more. Looking within the glass’s reflection, Jules Fenris gazed longingly at the form of his slumbering lover. Then disappeared.
Heavy combat boots emitted echoing clops with each stride. The dark parking garage appeared to be vacant, but he sensed the presence of others immediately. Cloaked and shadowed, he could have been any innocent overworking employee. That is to say, so long as those hidden hadn’t been able to pinpoint his identity as he could so easily do them, an action he’d overlooked too simply. Jules and these concealed beings were evenly matched, save for quantity. One against possible dozens fairly ever would have been considered as fair. But then, life’s not always fair. Nor is it at any time predictable. So naturally, the incredibly unjust predicament he was about to encounter was in no way possible to portend. Why would it be? After all, nearly the whole of his lineage had shunned him once his beloved’s race had been disclosed. And what’s more, many of his kindred set out to do away with the both of them. It was only a matter of time until he’d have to face them.
Allowing no fear to show, Jules Fenris halted beneath a dim, flickering light. “Well?” He called out, voice sharp and grim. “I’ve come. Where in the darkness are you guarded?” There came no response but the repeating of his words ringing from the walls. A sneer played across Jules’s mouth, flaxen eyes narrowing. “Apprehensive, are we?” The young man stated boldly.
“Hardly.”
The Russian whipped around to stand facing a handsome, grinning juvenile, appearing maybe a year or so younger than he himself did. Jules’s golden eyes locked with crimson ones half-hidden behind silvery-auburn hair. A hint of both amusement and smugness was visible upon this enigmatic teen's features. Tauntingly, the brunette snickered, folding his arms. “Surely you haven’t forgotten my tendency to play victim, confidant?”
“Not at any time did I ever fail your memory. I simply would have assumed you’d become full-fledged, but I can see, Vincent that you haven’t matured.” Fenris shot back venomously.
The younger, Vincent leered and held back a growl through gritted teeth. Sharp though, he ran a hand through his pale chocolate-colored hair and cackled, knowing well that it bothered the man before him. How he kept a cool head and remained concentrated had always been a trait others had loathed him of. Whether the envy was spoken or not, Vince could sense the greed and longing. Frankly, it amused him, just as it did now. Smiling evilly, knifelike canines glistened briefly. “Your temperament hasn’t altered I see.” The vampire laughed, leaning back against the hood of a blood-red corvette. “You always were a contumacious bastard, Jules. Our rebellion is one of the things we have in common. Aside from species.”
An abrupt touch of uncertainty shot through Jules, doubling his suspicion. Glancing around attentively, he could feel a slowly nearing presence. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and he shifted, eyes moving back to focus on Vincent with biting intent. “Vince!” He demanded harshly, tensing. “Brother, you convoked me here; what purpose is this rendezvous?”
Leaving the corvette, the brunette moved forward at Jules, pupils becoming slits. “What right do you have to address me as your brother?” Vince snarled, quivering in anger. Shoving the older vampire into the wall violently, he stepped up to him. “After abandoning your coven, betraying our clan, and disgracing us all by your love of your precious mortal, do you sincerely deem yourself worthy of that privilege?” Malice cloaked his words. Murdering Jules was now not far from mind, and neither was it something Vincent hadn’t considered many times. But that wasn’t why he’d called for the licorice-haired vampire, and he forced himself to back away. “No.” Vince answered for Fenris. “Don’t ever make that mistake again.”
An empty threat it wasn’t.
“You still haven’t answered me, Vincent.” Jules pressed.
“Bloody hell!” The younger barked, seizing his blood-brother by his dark hair roughly. “Choke off! Damn, when I said you hadn’t changed I was only talking, but it looks as though I were right.”
The two were strolling down Boston Avenue, famous for its fancy restaurants and boutiques, passing crowds of city-goers enjoying the night-life and paying little heed to the stares they received. Vincent was too pissed off to really notice; though if he had it would merely piss him off more. Jules was simply used to it and remained nonchalant throughout the walk, staring off into various shops or up at the still darkening sky. Silently, he wished Victory were at his side. That she knew.
Of course, he himself still was left clueless as to what the brunette’s intentions were.
He did know, however, that within such a mass of humans, Vince would inflict no harm upon him. The rascal wasn’t truly thick-headed, as he at times appeared to be. Quite the contrary, really. Clever would describe him more adequately. Jules could only go on about all the stuff the little son of a bitch had gotten away with and never once been suspected of. While Vincent would tick off every last offense and felony his raven-haired comate had been chastened for. Polar opposites who had been drawn together had, over a period of two or so years, been forced apart due to those differences. Neither lingered on it.
Swiping at the younger vampire, striving to break apart from the painful grasp on his hair, Fenris portrayed a protesting child in a way. He gave a grunt and cringed, a tear forming at the corner of his eye. “Ouch! Shit, Vinny, let go of me!” He shouted, tugging away. “That hurts! That hurts! Jesus, dumbass, let go! Violent little jerk!” Jules snapped, not fond of being tormented, especially by a kid.
With a sharp jerk, Vincent discharged the exceedingly blanched man with a repulsed sneer. Rolling his eyes, the brunette continued, shoving his fists into his pockets and ignoring odd looks from passerby. Leading the man who had once been his closest mate into a quaint cafe, fuming in all irritation, the scowling vandal turned now to face his nuisance. “Say nothing without my affirm.” He instructed balefully, eyes glinting dangerously. Then he moved further into the cafe, not even casting over his shoulder to confirm Jules’s ensuing. At the back of the sizable room, he turned into a hall on his left. His steel-toed boots plodded now with each step on the uncarpeted floor.
Giving an irksome glower, the informer pursued his ignorant blood-brother. Under any other circumstances, he’d have just struck Vincent fiercely and viciously, not about to permit the juvenile ass any break at superiority. Once allowed the opportunity, the gent would deal a blow to his concomitant. “Little good-for-nothing,” Jules muttered through clenched teeth, “fucking son-of-a...” Abruptly cut off by a thunderous crash from behind, undoubtedly ensued by unbearable shrieks and wails as customers and employees went into a frenzy, the darkling looked back. When he did, eyes widening in horror, he took a pace backward. Off-balanced, the cryptic young man faltered and stumbled to the cement with a grunt, skull clashing against the ground. “What the hell’s going on?” He shouted, rubbing his injured head and sitting up. With a groan, he lay back, light-headed after his fall and hurting. Along his scalp, Jules could feel a gash. In a few seconds, it faded, leaving nothing but sticky blood in his long, sleek jet hair.
“Shit!” Vincent swore sharply, crimson hues dilating. Fangs flashed as he spoke. Kneeling down, the younger took hold of the gothic choker clasped about Fenris’s neck, paying no mind to the thin needle-sharp spikes that pierced through his hand gruesomely, and jerked, pulling the other vampire toward him in a brisk movement. Not even moments later, a whetted cleaver sunk into the cement where the enigmatic human-lover had been sprawled out. Jules’s breath hitched and he let out a long breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. Realizing how close he’d just come to death and that he’d let his guard down all too easily, the Russian swallowed with a shudder. Beside him, Vincent grimaced - not for the pain in his hand, as the wound was already healing rapidly, and the pain wouldn’t have bothered him regardless - and snarled a string of curses before yanking Jules to his feet. “They’ve found us!”
“They? Aren’t you... Hey!”
The brunette was making off down the hall, tugging his former running mate with him. His grip on the older vampire’s wrist nearly cut off circulation, forcing red marks to appear on the tender lurid skin there. More than it would have if the raven-haired man Vincent was pulling hadn’t been resisting. Taking a sharp turn into the kitchen, the youth shoved Jules down behind the cover of a counter before the two of them could be detected by panicked cooks. Pinning his superior to the tiled floor roughly, Vincent scowled down at him. “You’re such a jackass,” He snarled, aggravated. “Our meeting was arranged by my own accord. None of our coven know of this.”
Blinking, Fenris opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
At that very moment, the kitchen door burst open. Forcing his companion against the tile further, the brunette atop him ducked his head. “Shit!” He hissed. With a sudden jerk, the juvenile’s body morphed horribly, stiffening as limbs altered and sable fur began to cover what was now bluish skin. In moments, a midnight-black wolf stood bristling in place of Vincent. Emitting a throaty bark, the beast clipped its jaws purposely inches from Jules’s face. Pushing from the ground powerfully, it leapt ahead, paused to look back, and darted through the kitchen, startling already hysteric chefs and waiters.
Scrambling to his feet urgently, the older vampire made to follow, pushing past delirious humans hastily. Trailing the wolf in a rush, he was forced to shoulder through the hectic kitchen in order to keep sight of the ebon creature. As he shoved through a cluster of employees, the Russian was just able to see a bushy tail disappear behind a swinging door. Giving a groan, he pursued, thrusting open the door and entering into a caliginous room. Due to the sudden lack of lighting, the darkling groped around, continuing to move forward into the room. The floor gave way to a hidden staircase, causing the vampire to stumble and topple down the steps. Landing hard on his ass upon a dust-laden floor, Jules cast around, golden eyes now adjusting. Catching a movement near the far corner of the room, he got to his knees, crouching down. “Vince?” He called in a whisper, shifting forward slightly.
A sharp wave of pain went through his arm abruptly, and as he turned to look, Fenris found narrowed, crimson hues leering up at him. The pain worsened considerably as jagged fangs sank deeper into the vampire’s flesh, piercing tiny holes that secreted gooey claret. Biting back a yelp through gritted teeth, the young man glared daggers at the wolf until it shortly released him, baring its canines. “Jesus!” Jules hissed, looking down at his bloodied forearm. Muttering curses under his breath, even though the wound was healing already, the black-haired man shot the beast an icy look.
Tail lashing, the moon animal gave a fang-baring sneer and turned its back on the Russian, stalking into the shadows. Accustomed now to the darkness, Jules watched as the carnivore made its way across what he could now make out as a storage room. He watched as its body contorted sickeningly back to its original form. Within moments, Vincent stood before him, arms folded. Kneeling down, the brunette seized a fist-full of his blood-brothers hair with a yank. "Jerk! Do you want them to find us?" He demanded menacingly. "I cannot tell you what I need to, now. Not here."
Pulling the older vampire to his feet as he stood, the younger scowled and indicated a ground-level window behind him with a turn of the head. Understanding his comrade's intentions all too quickly now, the Russian shivered at the mere thought. "No way in hell, Vinny." He shook his head in finality.
The red-eyed one, however, shoved him toward the window firmly.
Staggering forward, Jules turned to glare at his minor. Instead he froze in place, rigid.
A figure loomed in the shadows behind Vincent. Slowly, a hand was reaching out to grasp his throat. Catching Fenris's troubled look, the teen arched a brow and glanced over his shoulder. The moment he saw the silhouetted fingers reaching for him, he pushed away and spun around, striking out viciously. Rewarded with a confirming grunt and a repulsive snap as his knuckles collided with jaw, the young vampire smirked. Bringing his hand to his mouth, he licked away his attacker’s blood from the few rings around his fingers. “How annoying.” He said mockingly, looking down at the comatose human twitching pathetically at his feet.
The clatter of the kitchen arose, and the younger turned to Jules with an impish glint in his crimson eyes. “They’re likely to have heard that.” In a quick movement, he was at his blood-brothers side and working at quietly getting open the window. The brunette’s sharpened nails scraped at the glass, leaving grooves as he battled with the chained bolt. Finally yanking it fiercely, the metal shattered and the juvenile shoved open the frame. “Go on!” He urged the Russian man beside him.
The swinging door crashed open to reveal the silhouette of a large man. Vince ducked and nudged his old companion sharply. “Don’t be a fool.” He hissed, catching a glimpse of Jules hesitating. Within the next moment, the older vampire was pulling himself out of the window onto a fairly idle walk.
Vincent scrabbled up and reached out. Clasping his hand, Fenris attempted to draw the teen outside as well. But a strong hand grasped the brunette’s hair from behind and Vincent’s hold to Jules’s hand began to falter. “Run! Don’t get caught, you idiot.” He shouted, wincing as his head was jerked back.
“You can’t be serious. What was my purpose of coming here?”
The younger vampire grinned up at Jules. “Bare the reincarnation or sacrifice your human to our coven. It’s up to you to decode the rest. Choose correctly, or you’ll loose everything important to you.”
“What in Christ’s name...? Vince!”
With his last words, Vincent had released Fenris and disappeared into the darkened storage room.
“Hey, you bastard.” The onyx-haired man shouted in alarm, fangs clipping off his own words sharply. Getting to his feet, fists clenched and trembling, he glared down at the glistening window he’d just crawled through. “Damn it, Vincent Sin! You’re important to me, you arrogant punk.” Restraining tears, Jules turned and departed back to the Saint Cathedral Royal Inn to find his beloved Victory still slumbering soundly. Yet the oriental housemaid had been severed of her head and her carcass had been left smeared in their shower, in clear warning. Jules would not ever forget this night, and never would he overlook his blood-brother’s warning.
I hope you enjoy it! Please R&R! ^^
Kah, today's report! Well, last night I went to LHGH (Life Hurts God Heals) Group. It's sorta like 'Alchoholics Annonymous' but with sins and stuff. It's not that I'm Christian - I'm currently without religion, I guess, no matter what my mother may say *growls* - but it helps to talk about things sometimes. I still kinda feel like they're judging me though. *wry smile*
But, ja, so I came home and mom brought me to dad's - the entire way bitching at me. She kept going on about how I told her that dad was tired and didn't want to have to come back out and pick me up, and that she was tired too, but apparently I didn't care about her and she wouldn't shut up. My mother (however disrespectful I may sound, I have to say it) has an increadibly provocative habit of keeping things going that need to be dropped. We weren't even half way to dad's when she said, "I'm sorry, I'll shut up now." And ten (not even that) seconds later, she's at it again, and I wanted - and probably would have if my weekend hadn't been on the line - to say, "Shutting up, are we?" I was pissed off. She has that affect on people. I get grounded if she asks me to do something and I refuse. She doesn't do anything for herself, and then when Thommie or I ask something of her, she always says how much she does for us. Truthfully, she would rather sit on her fat ass all day in my oppinion. (These are my words at this moment)
Anyway, I shall not continue to be Jhonny Raincloud any longer in this post. Thommie, Dad and I went to play basketball today. It was full, but about five minutes after we got there, everyone but this old couple left, and even then, the couple left shortly after. I know that's a good thing, but it just gave me an awkward/bad feeling. *shrugs* Anyways, we played 'HORSE' and I actually got Thommie out! SPIFFNESS!!! o^.^o Hehe. Then we played 'Around the World' and Thommie won. I NEARLY beat dad, but he won last chance. I was one spot away. *sniff* When we were heading out, I managed to - yay me and my (it seems only I ever acomplish this) damn one-track mind - piss Thommie off. We were playing 'one-on-one' sorta and I said, "I forfeit, albeit I lose." And she asked me, what? So I said it again, and she was like, "Okay, whatever." So, instead of dropping it there, I - in an attempt to tease (failed attempt) - turned and said, "So your illiterate self knows, albeit means therefore." And turned back around. You know the stupid scientific theory of whatever. Cause and effect?
Cause = My fat-assed remark
Effect = Thommie hurling a basketball at me, striking my lower back
Hurt like hell, might I add. I had slept awkwardly the previous night, so my back sorta was/is sore. Anyway, after this encounter with my angered Ane-Chan armed with a hard, orange rubber object, I shant speak and will keep my mouth shut, however hard a task this may proove. Hey, wanna know something else? = Albeit doesn't mean therefore, anyways, so I'm just a dumbass jerk aren't I. *grins like a moron and sweatdrops*
I got to chat with Yuki-San today too!!! ♥ x50bajillion (my number, don't ask - bajillion isn't even a frequency, I don't think) Thommie came in in the middle of our conversation. It made me laugh, and I later said to Yuki, 'She's a spazz.' T'is true though. Aren't we all?
Yes, so now I'm gonna go watch 'Chronicles of Narnia' with dad and hopefully I'll be able to convince Thommie to watch as well. Hazaa!
Before that, though, I just remembered a finished Weiß Kreuz fic that I'll post at a later date, due to a bloody stubborn floppy that refuses to run. ^^;;
Ja ne!