The Sire, Part 7
Fandom: Moonlight
Characters: Mick/Beth/Josef
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: After last tv episode, "Sonata"; also inspired by "The Mortal Cure"
Summary: Mick realizes he had successfully sired another vampire long ago.
Author's Note: Seventh in my post-"Sonata" series. Thanks in advance for your feedback!
*Like to catch up on all my previous stories? The links are posted here: http://donnamour1969.livejournal.com/
During the eight-hour flight from New York to Paris, the vampires slept. They each had their own little berths, with scaled down freezers just large enough for them to climb inside and lay flat. It was almost fun to hear them each disrobe behind a privacy curtain, each cussing under their breath at the close quarters. I snuck up on Mick-or as much as you can sneak up on a vampire--when he seemed to be about ready for bed, and pulled the curtain back around us. He smiled that sexy smile, while standing there, completely in the buff, and pulled me in for a hot kiss. I knew the other vampires could hear us, but what the hell, they’d be doing the same with their women if they were here.
“I’m never going to get any sleep if you keep attacking me this way,” he whispered in my ear.
“I’m sorry. I just can’t seem to keep my hands off you.” And those very hands roamed a little south, so that he groaned softly.
He allowed it for a moment, then reluctantly grabbed both my hands in one of his. “Good night, Beth,” he growled in frustration. “You’d better get some sleep too, while you can. Or before I change my mind.”
I thought of the plush couch that would be my bed, and yawned in spite of myself. “Oh, okay. Good night then.” He kissed me again, then, like a good girl, I went back to the couch.
So, eight hours later, the human captain announced our approach to Paris. I heard a collective round of cussing and moaning at the abruptness of the announcement, and smiled again. Vampires or not-men were men. I’d only gotten a few hours’ rest, because I was so wound up by the temerity of what I had done, and what I might witness in Versailles. Mick said I wasn’t going, but that was just his fear talking. I could take care of myself, and I’d have three vampires on my side.
The three vampires in question made their way tiredly to the cabin. Daryl seemed to be favoring a shoulder, stretching it and rolling it. It was like watching a Greek god do yoga.
“You gotta make those freezers bigger, Josef,” Daryl complained, “I had to sleep on my side with my knees drawn up.”
“They were designed for normal sized vampires, not gorillas.”
He just grunted in return, kind of like a gorilla. Josef chuckled.
The one female flight attendant, young and pretty, of course, came out to provide nourishment for Josef. Mick and Daryl settled for the bagged variety. I tried not to flinch at the yuck-factor. Okay, maybe a little hypocritical of me, given that I let Mick drink from me, but the unnaturalness of human-looking beings drinking blood-I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing it. And the guys can chuckle under their breaths at my reaction all they want.
“Awww…” said Josef, detaching himself from Felicity. “Thank you, sweetheart. You are delicious.” With a last lick to the coagulating wound on her forearm, Josef let her pull herself together and turn to the rest of us.
“May I offer you other gentlemen-or lady-anything else?”
“No, I’m good,” said Mick self-consciously, sneaking a peek at my disgusted expression.
“No, thanks.” This from Daryl, finishing up his own drink, and handing her his empty glass.
“May I have some water, please?” I asked tightly. She’d brought me a sandwich earlier, chatting away about the sexiness of vampires. Well, I couldn’t argue with that.
The captain made the announcement to buckle up and prepare for landing. Once we’d landed, we all began unbuckling, gathering our things. Josef opened a secret sliding panel and began passing out weapons: stakes, guns with silver bullets, small cross bows-things that wouldn’t have made it through the x-ray machines for sure. I had grabbed my purse and small overnight bag, when I felt a hand on my arm, stopping me.
“What did I say, Beth,” Mick said sternly.
“Oh, Mick,” interposed Josef, “let her come. The lady wants to see Paris.”
“Josef, this isn’t a sightseeing trip.”
“What are you, her daddy? She’s got the best bodyguards a girl could have. Besides, a human could prove useful.”
Mick looked from Josef, to me, then back to Josef, debating. “If anything happens to her, Josef, I swear-“
“Yeah, yeah, limb from limb, I gotcha. Now, let’s get going. You’re wasting time.”
“Fine,” Mick finally sighed in acquiescence. He turned to me. “You do what we tell you though. And if we say stay in the car, that means stay, or I’ll bind and gag you. This isn’t a game, Beth.” He tempered his words with a tender kiss. “I love you, and if you were to get hurt-“
I held up one hand, boy scout style. “I promise. I’ll be on my best behavior.” He raised an eyebrow at that, but took my bag for me, and headed toward the door.
I smiled my gratitude at Josef in passing. He grinned back, fully enjoying Mick’s annoyance.
It was raining. At first, I thought this would be a good thing, more comfortable for the vampires without the sun out. We stood at the top of the stair platform, surveying the gloomy weather.
“Dammit!” Daryl cursed. “The rain is going to make tracking Carrie more difficult.” A long black limo pulled up to where the plane was parked on the tarmac. The driver appeared with an umbrella, escorting first me, then Josef to the car. Mick and Daryl shook their heads in amusement at what they saw as Josef’s wimpy behavior, then quickly walked in the rain to join us.
“This isn’t exactly a rental car,” Mick was saying as he got in, running his hands through his damp hair. “And certainly not in cognito.”
“Rescue mission or not, we do it in style.” A security man arrived to check and stamp our passports, and we were waved on with a pleasant, French “Av a nice dey.”
As we drove through the city, I was disappointed that the Eifel Tower was all but obscured by the low clouds, and general visibility was poor as the rain continued to slap against the windows. Josef had told the driver to head for Versailles, about ten miles west of Paris. Traffic was terrible, but it was a Monday morning. I sat in the deep leather seat by the window, holding Mick’s hand and trying without success to see more of Paris than watery lights and nearby cars.
When we reached Versailles, the rain had let up some, and Josef instructed the driver to park near the Versailles palace gardens. Mick and Daryl would make a brief foray into the village, to sniff around, I assumed. Josef and I waited in the car. My host poured himself another drink from the built-in bar. He grumbled at the lack of blood, but settled on straight Scotch.
“I’m on LA time,” he said to my disapproving expression. I shook my head as he offered one to me.
“Thanks for sticking up for me,” I told him after a few quiet minutes had passed. “Mick is very uh, protective.”
“Yeah, well, anything to get a rise out of him.”
“Why do you do that, Josef? I swear you bug him for your own amusement.”
He smiled. “Of course I do. Mick is so serious all the time. And I am much older and wiser. Lots of times, he doesn’t know what’s good for him, so I’ve taken it upon myself to provide some…guidance.”
I almost snorted at that. “Don’t give me that. You don’t fool me, Josef Kostan. You are just as protective of him as he is of me.”
He considered me a moment, hiding his expression with his raised glass. “Who can resist those puppy dog eyes of his?” He set down his glass, the mocking tone suddenly gone. “Look, Mick’s main problem is he can’t accept who and what he is. This Daryl thing just drives that home for him. I used to feel guilty for what I did because I’m a vampire, but the minute I stopped, I was much happier, believe me. Mick isn’t there yet. But I mean him to be. And if sometimes I have to give him a kick in the ass, I’m happy to get my shoes smudged for it.”
I pondered his words. I thought about lashing out and telling him how Mick was his own man, how he didn’t need a daddy any more than I did. But I knew something that Josef wouldn’t admit for a billion dollars: Josef loved Mick. It was as simple as that. Not as a lover, but as a brother, almost as a mentor or father-figure. I reached across to where Josef sat facing me. I took his cool hand in mine, surprising him, I think.
“You’re a good friend, Josef. To both of us. And I thank you for it.” Then, to my surprise, he brought my hand to his lips in a courtly kiss.
“I’m happy to say Mick finally got it right in the woman department, at least.” And that was probably the highest praise I would ever get from him. I smiled warmly into his eyes. It was at that moment that the car door opened again, and Mick’s wet head appeared. He eyed our clasped hands, and Josef smirked as he released mine. “Beth and I were just having a heart-to-heart. Any luck with the tracking?”
Mick caught my eye and my innocent smile. I knew I had some explaining to do later. “Yeah, Daryl was able to pick up Carrie’s scent. There’s a vamp inn down the street. He thinks she’s staying there. He’s inquiring at the front desk, but neither of us speaks French.”
Josef laughed. “Well, hop in, and we’ll drive there.” He put on his best exaggerated French accent. “Lucky for you, I speak perfect French.”
Mick rolled his eyes and got in.
Characters: Mick/Beth/Josef
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: After last tv episode, "Sonata"; also inspired by "The Mortal Cure"
Summary: Mick realizes he had successfully sired another vampire long ago.
Author's Note: Seventh in my post-"Sonata" series. Thanks in advance for your feedback!
*Like to catch up on all my previous stories? The links are posted here: http://donnamour1969.livejournal.com/
During the eight-hour flight from New York to Paris, the vampires slept. They each had their own little berths, with scaled down freezers just large enough for them to climb inside and lay flat. It was almost fun to hear them each disrobe behind a privacy curtain, each cussing under their breath at the close quarters. I snuck up on Mick-or as much as you can sneak up on a vampire--when he seemed to be about ready for bed, and pulled the curtain back around us. He smiled that sexy smile, while standing there, completely in the buff, and pulled me in for a hot kiss. I knew the other vampires could hear us, but what the hell, they’d be doing the same with their women if they were here.
“I’m never going to get any sleep if you keep attacking me this way,” he whispered in my ear.
“I’m sorry. I just can’t seem to keep my hands off you.” And those very hands roamed a little south, so that he groaned softly.
He allowed it for a moment, then reluctantly grabbed both my hands in one of his. “Good night, Beth,” he growled in frustration. “You’d better get some sleep too, while you can. Or before I change my mind.”
I thought of the plush couch that would be my bed, and yawned in spite of myself. “Oh, okay. Good night then.” He kissed me again, then, like a good girl, I went back to the couch.
So, eight hours later, the human captain announced our approach to Paris. I heard a collective round of cussing and moaning at the abruptness of the announcement, and smiled again. Vampires or not-men were men. I’d only gotten a few hours’ rest, because I was so wound up by the temerity of what I had done, and what I might witness in Versailles. Mick said I wasn’t going, but that was just his fear talking. I could take care of myself, and I’d have three vampires on my side.
The three vampires in question made their way tiredly to the cabin. Daryl seemed to be favoring a shoulder, stretching it and rolling it. It was like watching a Greek god do yoga.
“You gotta make those freezers bigger, Josef,” Daryl complained, “I had to sleep on my side with my knees drawn up.”
“They were designed for normal sized vampires, not gorillas.”
He just grunted in return, kind of like a gorilla. Josef chuckled.
The one female flight attendant, young and pretty, of course, came out to provide nourishment for Josef. Mick and Daryl settled for the bagged variety. I tried not to flinch at the yuck-factor. Okay, maybe a little hypocritical of me, given that I let Mick drink from me, but the unnaturalness of human-looking beings drinking blood-I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing it. And the guys can chuckle under their breaths at my reaction all they want.
“Awww…” said Josef, detaching himself from Felicity. “Thank you, sweetheart. You are delicious.” With a last lick to the coagulating wound on her forearm, Josef let her pull herself together and turn to the rest of us.
“May I offer you other gentlemen-or lady-anything else?”
“No, I’m good,” said Mick self-consciously, sneaking a peek at my disgusted expression.
“No, thanks.” This from Daryl, finishing up his own drink, and handing her his empty glass.
“May I have some water, please?” I asked tightly. She’d brought me a sandwich earlier, chatting away about the sexiness of vampires. Well, I couldn’t argue with that.
The captain made the announcement to buckle up and prepare for landing. Once we’d landed, we all began unbuckling, gathering our things. Josef opened a secret sliding panel and began passing out weapons: stakes, guns with silver bullets, small cross bows-things that wouldn’t have made it through the x-ray machines for sure. I had grabbed my purse and small overnight bag, when I felt a hand on my arm, stopping me.
“What did I say, Beth,” Mick said sternly.
“Oh, Mick,” interposed Josef, “let her come. The lady wants to see Paris.”
“Josef, this isn’t a sightseeing trip.”
“What are you, her daddy? She’s got the best bodyguards a girl could have. Besides, a human could prove useful.”
Mick looked from Josef, to me, then back to Josef, debating. “If anything happens to her, Josef, I swear-“
“Yeah, yeah, limb from limb, I gotcha. Now, let’s get going. You’re wasting time.”
“Fine,” Mick finally sighed in acquiescence. He turned to me. “You do what we tell you though. And if we say stay in the car, that means stay, or I’ll bind and gag you. This isn’t a game, Beth.” He tempered his words with a tender kiss. “I love you, and if you were to get hurt-“
I held up one hand, boy scout style. “I promise. I’ll be on my best behavior.” He raised an eyebrow at that, but took my bag for me, and headed toward the door.
I smiled my gratitude at Josef in passing. He grinned back, fully enjoying Mick’s annoyance.
It was raining. At first, I thought this would be a good thing, more comfortable for the vampires without the sun out. We stood at the top of the stair platform, surveying the gloomy weather.
“Dammit!” Daryl cursed. “The rain is going to make tracking Carrie more difficult.” A long black limo pulled up to where the plane was parked on the tarmac. The driver appeared with an umbrella, escorting first me, then Josef to the car. Mick and Daryl shook their heads in amusement at what they saw as Josef’s wimpy behavior, then quickly walked in the rain to join us.
“This isn’t exactly a rental car,” Mick was saying as he got in, running his hands through his damp hair. “And certainly not in cognito.”
“Rescue mission or not, we do it in style.” A security man arrived to check and stamp our passports, and we were waved on with a pleasant, French “Av a nice dey.”
As we drove through the city, I was disappointed that the Eifel Tower was all but obscured by the low clouds, and general visibility was poor as the rain continued to slap against the windows. Josef had told the driver to head for Versailles, about ten miles west of Paris. Traffic was terrible, but it was a Monday morning. I sat in the deep leather seat by the window, holding Mick’s hand and trying without success to see more of Paris than watery lights and nearby cars.
When we reached Versailles, the rain had let up some, and Josef instructed the driver to park near the Versailles palace gardens. Mick and Daryl would make a brief foray into the village, to sniff around, I assumed. Josef and I waited in the car. My host poured himself another drink from the built-in bar. He grumbled at the lack of blood, but settled on straight Scotch.
“I’m on LA time,” he said to my disapproving expression. I shook my head as he offered one to me.
“Thanks for sticking up for me,” I told him after a few quiet minutes had passed. “Mick is very uh, protective.”
“Yeah, well, anything to get a rise out of him.”
“Why do you do that, Josef? I swear you bug him for your own amusement.”
He smiled. “Of course I do. Mick is so serious all the time. And I am much older and wiser. Lots of times, he doesn’t know what’s good for him, so I’ve taken it upon myself to provide some…guidance.”
I almost snorted at that. “Don’t give me that. You don’t fool me, Josef Kostan. You are just as protective of him as he is of me.”
He considered me a moment, hiding his expression with his raised glass. “Who can resist those puppy dog eyes of his?” He set down his glass, the mocking tone suddenly gone. “Look, Mick’s main problem is he can’t accept who and what he is. This Daryl thing just drives that home for him. I used to feel guilty for what I did because I’m a vampire, but the minute I stopped, I was much happier, believe me. Mick isn’t there yet. But I mean him to be. And if sometimes I have to give him a kick in the ass, I’m happy to get my shoes smudged for it.”
I pondered his words. I thought about lashing out and telling him how Mick was his own man, how he didn’t need a daddy any more than I did. But I knew something that Josef wouldn’t admit for a billion dollars: Josef loved Mick. It was as simple as that. Not as a lover, but as a brother, almost as a mentor or father-figure. I reached across to where Josef sat facing me. I took his cool hand in mine, surprising him, I think.
“You’re a good friend, Josef. To both of us. And I thank you for it.” Then, to my surprise, he brought my hand to his lips in a courtly kiss.
“I’m happy to say Mick finally got it right in the woman department, at least.” And that was probably the highest praise I would ever get from him. I smiled warmly into his eyes. It was at that moment that the car door opened again, and Mick’s wet head appeared. He eyed our clasped hands, and Josef smirked as he released mine. “Beth and I were just having a heart-to-heart. Any luck with the tracking?”
Mick caught my eye and my innocent smile. I knew I had some explaining to do later. “Yeah, Daryl was able to pick up Carrie’s scent. There’s a vamp inn down the street. He thinks she’s staying there. He’s inquiring at the front desk, but neither of us speaks French.”
Josef laughed. “Well, hop in, and we’ll drive there.” He put on his best exaggerated French accent. “Lucky for you, I speak perfect French.”
Mick rolled his eyes and got in.