Riptide Fic - Portrait of the Vampire Part II
Title: Portrait of the Vampire - Part 2 of 2
Author: tinx_r
Fandom:Riptide
Pairing/Characters: Cody Allen/Nick Ryder
Challenge: Mental Combat with the Rising Vampire for stupidboysfest's Spooktacular; Fear for 10_hurt_comfort
Crossposted: 7_suns, halloween_fic, pier56
Rating/Category: NC17/Slash
Word Count: 5600
Summary: With Murray in the hands of the vampire, Nick and Cody must work fast to find him in time...
Disclaimer: Not mine. No money being made. No copyright infringement intended.
Beta: oddmonster, Queen of the Ficmarch.
Notes/Warnings: For valis2. Part 1 here.
Portrait of the Vampire - Part II
"Bozinsky's been what?" Quinlan stood up, hands on hips.
"Kidnapped by - " Cody shot Nick a look, then continued anyway. "By the vampire."
"The vampire." Quinlan snorted. "Just a minute." He pushed the button on the intercom. "Sanders! Get in here. Your good buddy Lestat's been at work again."
A young black man hurried into the office, carrying a file. "We got a lead?" he asked eagerly, looking from Quinlan to Cody and Nick.
"Allen, Ryder, this is Sanders. He's gathering info on this murdering asshole." Quinlan dropped into his seat, leaning forward over the desk. "Sanders, Lestat snatched Bozinsky, the witness that interrupted the attack on the girl last night. These guys are Bozinsky's partners. They're PIs, and they'll help out."
"Lestat snatched a guy?" Sanders took one of the seats in front of Quinlan's desk, looking from his boss to Nick and Cody. "Wow, that's a completely new development. So far all his attacks have been on women. And he attacked them where he found them."
Cody took the other seat in front of Quinlan's desk. Nick grabbed a chair from the corner of the room and brought it over, positioning it next to his partner's. "Seems like the guy grabbed Murray for a different reason than the murders," Cody said slowly. He glanced up at Nick, then looked back at Sanders. "I wonder if Murray saw something last night?"
"What about Amber?" Nick took his seat, half-turning towards Cody and pushing his knee against his leg. "Nothing's happened to her, has it?"
"No, and we've still got a guard on her." Quinlan nodded. "Nothing useful in her statement, was there, Sanders?"
"No, sir." Sanders flipped through the file, and shook his head. "Maybe there was something Bozinsky saw that the girl didn't?"
"How could that happen?" Cody objected.
"Hey," Nick said slowly. "Quinlan, Sanders, listen. Murray tried to take some pictures last night with a camera he invented. None of them came out, but maybe the murderer thinks they did? Maybe there's something on that camera that can help us!"
"Great idea, Nick!" Cody turned to him, nodding enthusiastically. "But - do you think we can get at any of that information without Murray? It's all on the computer!"
"Sanders here's pretty good on the computers," Quinlan said, leaning back. "Why don't you take him along, see what you come up with?"
"Can't hurt." Nick shrugged and stood up. "Let's give it a shot."
Back on the Riptide, Sanders stopped in the doorway to Murray's room. "Wow!" he exclaimed, looking from the computers to the Roboz, standing next to the table. "State of the art!"
"Sure hope you can operate this stuff," Cody said to him, gesturing towards the equipment. "Because me and Nick, well, we're not so hot at this side of the business."
"I hope I can too." Sanders shot Cody a smile. "So where's this camera?"
"Right here. It's still hooked up." Nick pointed to the Comp-u-cam, still lying on the table, an umbilical cord of wires tethering it to the Roboz.
"Let's have a look." Sanders sat down in Murray's chair and his fingers ran over the keyboard.
Roboz's head whirred as it turned towards the young sergeant. Its screen lit up, displaying: HELLO, I'M ROBOZ.
"Hey cool!" Sanders giggled. "Hey Roboz, it's nice to meet you. I'm Wes."
NICE TO MEET YOU, WES
Sanders giggled again, and then started typing quickly. The monitor on the desk flashed and the gray cloud Nick and Cody had seen the previous night appeared.
"Murray said all the night photos were over-exposed," Nick said doubtfully.
"Okay." Sanders looked over his shoulder at Nick and Cody, standing watching him. "Let's see what else we have here." He pushed some more keys.
The display flashed again, and a picture of the beach slowly took shape. "Murray was testing this on the beach yesterday," Cody explained. "I guess these aren't important."
"Okay," Sanders said again, and typed another command.
"More beach," Cody said with a sigh, watching the picture appear.
Sanders' hands moved towards the keyboard, but Nick grabbed his arm, leaning forward. "Wait a minute!" He stared intently at the screen. "It's hard to see, but look, in the background there. Cody? Isn't that the limo that snatched Murray?"
"Nick, I think you're right!" Cody leaned forward for a closer look. "Maybe this is the answer! Let's see if there are more pictures."
Sanders' fingers flew over the keys, and in the fourth photograph they found a shot that gave a clearer view of the vehicle. "Right," Sanders said, looking at the Roboz. "In theory, your partner's designed this so the computer can analyze these pictures. But I don't know the command to give it."
Cody and Nick exchanged a grin. "Roboz!" Cody said. "Image analysis mode."
Roboz's head turned with a whir, and its screen displayed IMAGE ANALYSIS MODE. Just as it had last night, the monitor flashed and the picture disappeared, replaced by green numbers scrolling quickly up the screen. "Oh, wow!" Sanders leant forward, staring in awe.
Nick moved to stand next to Cody. "Glad we're showing him a good time," he muttered, pushing his shoulder against his partner's.
"Yeah, him and Murray are gonna get on great." Cody nodded, grinning.
As they watched, the numbers on the screen slowed to a halt, and were replaced by some lines of text. "Wow!" Sanders exclaimed again. "I can't wait to meet your partner, guys. Murray, did you say his name was?" He tapped the keyboard again, and the printer clacked to life.
"Murray Bozinsky." Cody nodded. "That's right."
Sanders picked up the sheet of paper the printer had produced. "I just wish the police computers were half as efficient," he said, with an awestruck glance at the Roboz. "Right here, I've got a printout from the Vehicle Information Database on that limo. Have you got any idea how long that would've taken me to get at the PD?" He shook his head.
"Never mind that now." Nick grabbed the young sergeant's shoulder. "You've got an address there, right? So we've got a place to start. Let's get moving."
*
Nick got up from his perch on the edge of Quinlan's desk. "Cody, we gotta do something," he said in frustration. "This is taking too damned long. That asshole's out there and he's got Murray - "
"I know, buddy. I know. Take it easy." Cody stood up and put a hand on Nick's shoulder. "You know Quinlan's moving this as fast he can." He looked out into the squadroom where the lieutenant stood, barking orders to a group of twenty uniformed cops. Sanders stood at his side, another manila folder in his hand.
"I know he is." Nick pulled away from Cody and paced the room. "I just wanna be doing something, you know? I feel so damned useless here."
"Yeah, Nick, I know. But from what Sanders found out, that address is the headquarters of some kind of society. That might mean a lot of people there, Nick. Our best chance of getting Murray back is going in with the cops, you know that."
"You're right." Nick turned back to his partner. "But Cody - "
"We're ready to roll!" Quinlan strode into the office and spread a large map out on the desk. "Here's the location." One thick finger stabbed at a point on the map. Cody and Nick crowded close. "It's in the hills by the Palos Verdes Reservior. Local cops are meeting us there."
Nick and Cody looked at each other. "Let's take the Mimi," Nick said tensely.
"Good idea." Quinlan nodded sharply. "It's some kind of old church. The Nosferatu Society that's based there has got twenty-seven registered members. No idea how many of the twenty-seven are in on this of course, or how many of 'em are gonna be there to greet us. Safest to assume they're all crooks and they'll be rolling out the red carpet."
"Yeah." Cody nodded. "Right on that one. Okay, Quinlan, we're on our way."
*
A large bundle awaited them next to the Screaming Mimi. "What the hell?" Cody bent over it, frowning.
"Who knows and who cares, man. Come on!" Nick was already halfway up to the cockpit.
"Nick, wait."
"What?" Nick looked down.
"It's Murray's anti-vampire stuff, pal." Cody looked up at Nick unhappily. "The label says 'Vampire Protection Kit: Screaming Mimi'."
"We'll get him back, Cody," Nick said fiercely. "Throw that stuff in. Come on, man."
Cody lifted the bundle into the hold and climbed in after it, wincing as Mimi sputtered into life. As always, he held his breath until the rotors started. Nick's voice came clearly through the headset: "Dear Lord, bless this aircraft and make her fly straight to Murray."
"Amen, buddy." Cody pulled the heavy door closed and climbed up into the co-pilot's seat. "Nick, we got a crucifix each, a couple of gallons of holy water, six sharpened stakes and a bushel or so of garlic back there. Should be enough to do for any vampires that are hanging around."
"I'm more worried about the murdering asshole than the vampires, Cody."
"Fuck." Cody sighed. "I'll hang his damned crucifix for him myself, soon as we get him home safe again. I'm - hell, Nick, I'm worried about this, pal."
Nick looked at him sadly and nodded. "Me too. But we're gonna get him back, Cody. You hear me?"
"Yeah, Nick." Cody nodded and looked away. "Hope we get there before dark."
"That must be it," Nick said. They'd flown over lush and spacious Rolling Hills and the Palos Verdes Reservoir gleamed cool and green below them. He banked and Cody saw a paved road running away from the small lake. At the end of the road stood a stone building, surrounded by large trees. As they turned, the cross on the roof stood out in sharp relief against the setting sun and Cody felt unexplained dread rise in his throat.
"Come in, Quinlan," Nick barked gruffly into the radio. "This is N-six-niner-eight. We have a visual. Over."
"Quinlan here. Locals are on the scene. We're ten minutes away. Hold your position. Over."
Nick pressed his lips together and banked Mimi again. Without a word, he brought her down gently in a field on the other side of the road. "Come on," he snapped, climbing out. "Get the rifles, man. I'm not waiting another ten minutes."
Cody scrambled for the hold and pulled the guns out. He hesitated, looking at Murray's bundle, and Nick appeared at the door. "Just the gun, Cody," he said quietly, and Cody turned back with a sigh.
"Here, buddy." He passed Nick his rifle and jumped out of the chopper.
He landed, turned to his partner, and found himself pinned by Nick's intense blue eyes, gazing at him fiercely. "What - " he started, and then Nick grabbed him, mouth on his, hard and insistent. Cody pressed back against him, glad of the instant's closeness. "Nick," he whispered. Fear was cold in the pit of his stomach, fear for Murray and fear of what they'd find inside the old church.
Nick didn't speak but his hand slid up Cody's arm; a signal in the sign language Cody sometimes thought he knew better than English. You're with me. Stay close.
Cody looked down and took a deep breath, then raised his eyes to Nick's face and nodded. His hand touched Nick's elbow in answer - I'm ready. I'm right here. Nick nodded back and turned, heading for the sparse hedge that bordered the field, keeping low. Cody dropped into position behind him, his hand light on the small of Nick's back.
They crept down the hedge and got to the road. "Where the hell are these local cops?" Nick muttered, looking up and down. "You'd think a helicopter landing might make them pay attention."
"Too quiet." Cody shivered, dropping to one knee, cold fear clutching at his gut. The old church crouched amongst the dark, forbidding trees, shadowy and... 'Evil,' Cody thought, shivering again.
Nick's hand dropped on his back, warm and solid and reassuring, and Cody swallowed hard. 'Murray,' he reminded himself.
"Quinlan's less than five minutes away now," Nick murmured, close against his ear. "Let's do it, pal." Without waiting for a response, Nick crossed the road at a run, heading straight for the front door.
Cody scrambled to his feet and sprinted after him.
The door swung open at Nick's touch, and Nick flattened himself against the wall of the porch, gesturing for Cody to do the same. He peeked cautiously around the doorjamb.
Inside, the old church had been stripped of pews and furnishings, leaving a huge and empty room. Dust and dead leaves were piled in the corners. Looking further inside, Nick saw a long table set up at the end of the room, adorned with two fat black candles and a chalice. Above the makeshift altar hung an enormous painting of a black, nightmare creature. Its snake-like body squirmed sinuously over the canvas and its red, beady eyes glowed above a flickering yellow tongue. Nick gulped and hurriedly looked away.
Slowly, rifle at the ready, he crept through the door. He felt rather than saw Cody follow him and suppressed the urge to grab his partner's arm. 'Murray.' He slipped along the wall to the right of the door, alert for any sign of movement, knowing Cody was doing the same to the left.
There was nothing in the room except the grotesque parody of the altar. He and Cody circumnavigated the walls and met underneath the painting of the ghastly lizard. They looked at each other in frustration, and Cody turned to the table. Gingerly, he raised the cloth that covered it - and recoiled in horror as he saw a coffin lying beneath the table. "Nick!" he hissed.
"Come on!" Nick dropped to his knees and tugged at the wooden box.
"What are you doing?" Cody whispered sharply, grabbing his partner's shoulder. "Nick - "
Ignoring him, Nick heaved the lid off the coffin with a grunt of satisfaction. "Murray!" Their partner, bound and gagged, lay in the velvet-lined interior. Frantically Nick tore at the gag. "Murray, are you okay?"
"Nick! Cody!" Murray panted. "Guys, thank God! The vampires - "
"Hush, Boz." Nick helped him sit up and Cody dropped to his knees beside him, helping Nick with the ropes. They had Murray free in seconds. "Come on, man. Let's get out of here."
Between them, Nick and Cody lifted Murray to his feet. Cramped from the hours in the coffin, Murray stumbled and would have fallen again. Nick caught him. "You can do it, Murray," Cody said encouragingly.
Murray groaned softly and hung on to Nick tightly. "Ow!" He took a halting step. "Don't worry, guys, I'm fine!"
"You're not fine," Nick growled. "Come on." Supporting Murray, he headed for the door.
They'd gone three steps when a crash from behind them froze them in their tracks. Looking back, Cody saw the huge painting on the floor. A tall man in a dark cape jumped down from behind it, leaping over the altar and starting after them. Cody grabbed Murray's other arm and between them he and Nick lifted Murray bodily. They ran for the door.
They'd nearly made it when suddenly another figure dropped directly in their path. Looking up, Cody choked back a cry of horror. On the ceiling of the church hung two more figures, wrapped in black cloaks. As he watched, they dropped the fifteen feet to the ground, landing lightly on their feet. He looked back and saw the man who'd jumped from behind the painting stalking slowly towards them. A black mist rolled around his feet, and Cody thought he saw the face of the beast from the painting in it.
"Cody!" Nick's voice was tense and low. "Ready?"
Cody grabbed Murray's arm tighter. "Ready," he said, terror cracking in his voice. They dodged the menacing figure in front of them and sprinted towards the exit. Nick sprayed rifle fire behind them as Cody struggled with the heavy door. The four vampires paced towards them, not hurrying. Nick didn't think he could have missed with the rifle, but none of them flinched as the gunfire echoed around the room.
"Guys!" Murray cried despairingly. "The holy water - "
Cody got the door open and held it while Nick pulled Murray through. He was about to follow his partners when something grabbed his wrist. Turning, Cody looked in horror into the face of the vampire with the shadows around his feet. His gun clattered to the ground, unheeded. Cody tried to yank himself free, but the grip of the vampire, cold and steely, pulled him inexorably back inside the church. The heavy door slammed as he heard Nick scream his name.
Wildly, Cody looked around him. There was no sign of the three vampires who had dropped from the ceiling. He turned back to his captor, trembling.
The vampire's face was chalk white, and his lips and eyelids were black. Black hair receded from a high forehead. "Welcome to my humble abode." His voice was low and mellifluous, and Cody saw sharp yellow incisors flash in the dim light.
The heavy door shuddered under a rain of blows and Cody jumped. He tore his eyes from the vampire. "Nick!" he yelled, struggling against the grip on his wrist. The vampire's hold didn't falter and Cody threw a punch that connected hard with the vampire's shoulder.
It was like hitting a concrete wall. Cody cried out in pain and struggled harder.
"Be still," the vampire said, his voice carrying the cold of the grave. Cody shuddered. The black mist around the vampire's feet billowed and grew, and Cody froze as it wrapped around his legs, cold and thick and cloying. "Come," said the vampire, and Cody followed, stumbling through the clinging substance, as he was dragged towards the vampire altar.
Outside the church, Nick confronted Quinlan. "I have got to get in there," he yelled. "He's got Cody!"
"Ryder, we're getting in there, all right? These local cops are on their way. If you'd just held your position like I goddamn told you to - "
"Quinlan, if you think I'll sit on my ass and wait for you when my partners are in danger you got another think coming, all right? We got Murray out, and now I'm going to get Cody. Get out of my way!" Nick pushed past him to the door of the church.
"There's got to be another way." Murray staggered to his feet. "Nick! There must be another door."
"Where, Boz? I didn't see it." Nick turned in frustration.
"It should be - " Murray hesitated. "On the left," he said finally. "Churches are traditionally built with the vestry door on the left at the rear. And Nick... the gun didn't do any good. Did you bring the water-pistols?"
"No." Nick shook his head. "But everything you left for the Mimi is here." He indicated the big pink machine in the field across the road. "Murray, I got to try for that back door, okay?" He didn't wait for an answer, jogging towards the rear of the building. Murray looked after him, then turned and limped slowly towards the Mimi.
Nick paced up and down the blank wall in frustration. He stopped suddenly, seeing a blemish in the plaster. A close look showed the lines where a doorway had been bricked up and plastered over. "Hell." He kicked it angrily. "No fucking use anyhow."
He took a deep breath. Surely anyone, even a vampire living out here, would want a back door. Otherwise they'd be caught like a rat in a trap. What was on the inside? He pictured the empty room.
'Nothing,' Nick thought disgustedly, and then the image of the vampire jumping out of the wall came to him. He was off and running, around the corner. Sure enough, part way up the back wall, a hatch hung ajar. He jumped for it, trying to gain purchase against the wall, but his feet slipped on the mossy, overgrown stone and he fell to the ground.
"Nick!" Murray hurried around the corner, walking more easily now. "Nick, wait! We got the stuff."
Scrambling to his feet, Nick found Murray and Sanders, clutching garlic, stakes and a crucifix each. Nick bit his lip and unslung the rifle from his shoulder. "Thanks, Murray. Hold that while I get up there, okay?"
"Let me help." Sanders dropped his armload and stepped forward. "I'll boost you."
"Okay." Nick eyed the young policeman's slight form without comment and stepped under the hatch. He looked up at it as he felt the officer's hand close on his leg. 'Cody. I'm coming, babe.'
"On three," Sanders said, and Nick grunted agreement. The young guy counted and Nick jumped upwards, catching hold, pulling himself in.
He held himself on his knees in the aperture, looking around. A dark, narrow passage was straight ahead of him. The rough-hewn stone walls glistened wetly in the light coming in through the open hatch.
"Nick!" He looked back down as Murray called him. "Take this!"
Nick grimaced to himself, but reached down and took the stake Murray held out. "Give me the gun, Boz," he whispered.
"Oh! Oh, sure, Nick." Murray passed the weapon up, barrel first. Nick winced, ducking away from the pointing rifle. He slung the weapon over his shoulder and felt the comforting bump of it against his hip.
"Cover this exit, guys," he said, looking down at them. "Sanders, you got a gun?"
"Sure." Sanders looked surprised, and unholstered his weapon. "You think I'll need it?"
"Anything comes out of here that isn't me or Cody, you use it, man." Nick nodded. "Murray, you get hold of one of those stakes, all right?"
"You bet, Nick." Murray bent and picked up a stake, crucifix firmly clutched in his other hand. Around his neck, Nick saw a string of garlic. "Nick - be careful."
Nick turned back to the passage and crept forward. It wasn't long, and he'd only taken a few steps between the slimy walls when it got lighter, and he found himself looking into the huge dim room of the old church. Shivering, he pressed himself back against the rock, feeling the cold dampness seeping into his bones. 'Cody.' He scanned the room, seeing no movement, and remembering the earlier surprise, looked up.
There were no vampires on the ceiling, but what there was surprised him even more. He hadn't seen them earlier - he'd had other things on his mind, after all - but hanging suspended from the roof of the old church were three movie projectors. Nick recognized them from his summers working at the Prospect Theatre. He chewed his lip. That explained the bullet-proof vampires chasing them out of the church earlier. But it didn't answer the question of where Cody was. Slowly, he inched forward until he could see the altar below him, and caught his breath.
Cody, hands bound behind him, was kneeling in front of the altar. The vampire stood over him, a hand on the back of his neck, forcing his head down onto the table. As Nick watched in horror, the black mist around the vampire's feet roiled up into the shape of the painted lizard and slithered towards Cody's face. Cody struggled weakly and the vampire bent over him.
With a roar, Nick leapt from the niche, striking the vampire and knocking him off Cody. He hit the ground hard, rolling, grabbing for the monster again, but the vampire was faster. He grabbed Nick by the shoulders, slamming him against the ground and going for his throat. Nick choked, trying to fight, but the vampire was incredibly strong and he couldn't get any purchase. The long fingers closed on his throat.
Murray's stake was still in Nick's hand, and he thrashed mightily, freeing his arm. He aimed a blow with all his strength. It connected with the back of his assailant's head, and Nick scrambled up as the vampire toppled forward, unconscious.
"Cody!" Nick ran to his partner. Cody was crawling towards the wall, away from the black mist that still seethed in front of the altar, puffing into clouds and then falling back in on itself. Nick grabbed him, feeling his partner shaking.
"Nick," Cody whispered as he tore at his bonds.
"I got you, Cody," Nick said, ripping away the ropes that bound his friend's arms. "You're safe now, babe." He pulled Cody close, holding him while he untied his legs one-handed. Cody shook, clinging to Nick, head buried against Nick's shoulder.
"Easy, Cody," Nick whispered, close against his partner's ear. "Easy, baby. I got you. You're safe."
Cody raised his head and Nick saw the panic in his eyes, close to the surface. "Nick," he gulped. "The black stuff... the vampire..."
"Hush," Nick said firmly, his own gaze locking hard on Cody's frightened blue eyes. "Cody, we have to get out of here, okay?"
"Okay." Cody nodded, swallowing hard, and Nick helped him to his feet. Cody shot a glance at the vampire stretched on the ground and shivered.
"Come on, babe." Nick pulled Cody towards the gaping hole above the picture on the ground. "This way." He boosted Cody up and pulled himself up behind him. "Come on," he encouraged again, and Cody looked nervously back at him over his shoulder.
A crashing sound from the front of the church heralded the police successfully breaking through the front doors. Cody yelped at the sound and stumbled. Nick steadied him and turned him to face the way out. "Go, baby," he said. "I'm right here. Come on."
Heart thundering in his chest, Cody squared his shoulders and headed down the narrow passage. The light from the hatch was one of the sweetest things he'd ever seen and he took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Nick's hands were on his back, strong and reassuring.
"Murray! Sanders!" Nick called.
"Nick!" Murray stood below the hatch, looking up anxiously. "Cody! Thank God!"
Cody opened his eyes, and let Nick guide him to the edge. He swung himself off it, landing lightly, feeling Murray grip his shoulder. He looked up at Nick anxiously and folded his arms across his chest.
Nick dropped down beside him and Cody sighed in relief as his arm went around him again. He moved closer to Nick, hardly hearing Murray's excited questions. Nick steered him a little away from the hatch and sat him down on the grass, dropping beside him and putting his arm around him again.
Taking a deep breath, Cody felt his pulse slow. He leaned into Nick, and heard Murray saying "What about the vampire, Nick? What happened?"
Shuddering, Cody thought of the ghastly figure bending over him. Nick squeezed his shoulders. "It's not a vampire," Nick said firmly. "I hit it over the head with the stake, Murray, and it's just as unconscious as anyone else would be, all right?"
"With the stake?" A broad grin broke over Murray's face. "You hit him with the stake? Nick, that's so boss!"
"Good thinking!" Sanders was grinning just as broadly.
"Yeah," Nick said drily. "I guess it is." He turned to Cody. "How you feeling, man?" Cody shivered and looked away.
A clatter from above made them all look up. The vampire leapt from the hatch, landing in amongst them. Cody cringed away and Nick, halfway to his feet, turned back to his partner. The vampire slammed into Murray, knocking him flying, and turned for Sanders, teeth bared.
Sanders raised his gun and shot him. With a strangled screech, the vampire grabbed at his chest and fell on the grassy bank.
*
"Seems like vampires aren't bullet-proof," Quinlan said, smirking. He stood in the salon of the Riptide, hands on hips, Sanders at his side clutching the ubiquitous manila folder. "That one wasn't, anyhow."
Nick sighed. "That setup in there with the projected images of the vampires, that was pretty complicated. What was that all about?"
Sanders spoke up. "The guy - he was born John Williams but he changed his name to Vladimir Drakul - was wanted in 6 states for rape and kidnapping. All the cases had ritualistic aspects. It seems he was - well, he thought he was a vampire, at any rate. Living in that deconsecrated church and preaching what he called the 'Word of Nosferatu'. The setup you saw in there - the movie-vampires and the mechanical black mist - was primarily for convincing his congregation he was a real vampire. We rounded up the other members of the society, but it seems like they're just schmucks who like vampires. We'll keep a pretty close eye on them for a while, that's for sure." He opened his folder and flicked through some papers. "That mist device was a pretty complicated piece of machinery," he said, looking up again. "It housed the suction pump he used to drain his victims' blood."
"He sure was a really nasty piece of work. Killing those poor women in cold blood..." Murray shivered. "I'm so glad Amber's all right."
"She's being released from the hospital tomorrow," Quinlan agreed. "Bozinsky, you did a good job getting the lead on this creep, I'll give you that."
"Thanks, Lieutenant!" Murray looked at Quinlan in surprise. "I'm just glad he didn't turn out to be a real vampire, after all." He looked at the three crucifixes on the table. "I guess I should take these back to Father Bob. And the holy water." He frowned. "Although - can you reuse holy water? I mean, do I take it back to him, or - it seems wrong to tip it out."
"I guess you can take it back to him, Murray." Cody chuckled softly and moved closer to Nick. He knew the vampire hadn't been real, but the fear he'd felt in the old church hadn't completely dissipated yet. Nick's arm went around him, tight and reassuring.
"Great." Murray smiled distractedly. "What I still can't understand is what went wrong with the Comp-u-cam. I guess that's something I'll never know."
Sanders stepped forward eagerly. "Uh - Murray, I had an idea about that. I've done a lot of work with cameras, and you know, when we were looking at the pictures from the beach I thought I saw symptoms of a slight light-bleed. I wonder - I mean - " the young policeman halted, uncertain. "I kind of wondered if you might let me look at it with you? That image analysis - it's - it's state of the art!" he finished in a rush.
Murray brightened instantly. "Light-bleed you say, Wes? How interesting! Why don't we go and look at it now?"
"I'll leave you ladies to your tea-party," Quinlan said sarcastically, turning for the stairs. He paused halfway up, looking back into the salon. "Thanks fellas," he said, and was gone.
"Wow." Nick stretched. "Thanked by Quinlan. We're going up in the world."
"Come on, Wes." Murray rushed towards the stairs. "Wow, if we can get the bug in this device ironed out - " The two men disappeared down the stairs.
Cody stood up and headed for the coffeepot, pouring himself a cup and turning back to face Nick. He leaned against the counter and looked at his friend unhappily.
Nick got up and crossed to his partner. Without speaking, he took the coffee out of his hands and put it on the counter, then pulled Cody close. He slid his hands under his shirt and ran them over the skin of his back and Cody sighed. "Nick," he muttered unhappily.
Gently, Nick kissed Cody's temple.
"I haven't been that scared in fifteen years," Cody said quietly, pulling away. He paced restlessly into the middle of the room, then turned back. "Nick..."
"There's no shame in being scared." Nick looked his partner in the eye. "That black undulating stuff is still giving me the creeps, pal."
Cody shuddered. "Me too," he admitted, relaxing a little. "Nick, I couldn't get away from him! And when I hit him, it didn't seem to have any effect." He looked away again.
Nick went to him. "Cody." He put his hands on his partner's shoulders. "I jumped him and he pinned me straight away. If I hadn't had Murray's stake in my hand, I couldn't have got away from him either. Listen to me, okay? He wasn't a vampire, Cody, but what he was was a murderer who was doing his best to kill us both. If you weren't scared, there'd be something wrong with you, all right?"
"I guess so." Cody looked back at Nick and smiled slightly. "Murray's stakes saved the day, huh?"
"They sure did." Nick pulled Cody close again, and this time Cody returned the embrace, relaxing.
"Thanks," he murmured softly, against Nick's neck.
"Pleasure." Nick hugged him tightly. "Now, whaddaya say we take the Ebbtide out to Fisherman's Island? Do some fishing?"
Cody closed his eyes, thinking of clean, cool air and the feel of the boat on the open water. The last of his fear slipped away. "Great idea, Nick." He smiled, remembering the small sandy beach on the far side of Fisherman's Island, accessible only by boat. It would be deserted this time of year. He opened his eyes and looked into Nick's, grinning as he saw the same thought reflected there. "You gonna pack lunch?"
"Sure, Cody." Nick grinned back and leaned in for a kiss. "We might get hungry out there. 'Specially if we don't catch any fish."
More Stories
Author: tinx_r
Fandom:Riptide
Pairing/Characters: Cody Allen/Nick Ryder
Challenge: Mental Combat with the Rising Vampire for stupidboysfest's Spooktacular; Fear for 10_hurt_comfort
Crossposted: 7_suns, halloween_fic, pier56
Rating/Category: NC17/Slash
Word Count: 5600
Summary: With Murray in the hands of the vampire, Nick and Cody must work fast to find him in time...
Disclaimer: Not mine. No money being made. No copyright infringement intended.
Beta: oddmonster, Queen of the Ficmarch.
Notes/Warnings: For valis2. Part 1 here.
Portrait of the Vampire - Part II
"Bozinsky's been what?" Quinlan stood up, hands on hips.
"Kidnapped by - " Cody shot Nick a look, then continued anyway. "By the vampire."
"The vampire." Quinlan snorted. "Just a minute." He pushed the button on the intercom. "Sanders! Get in here. Your good buddy Lestat's been at work again."
A young black man hurried into the office, carrying a file. "We got a lead?" he asked eagerly, looking from Quinlan to Cody and Nick.
"Allen, Ryder, this is Sanders. He's gathering info on this murdering asshole." Quinlan dropped into his seat, leaning forward over the desk. "Sanders, Lestat snatched Bozinsky, the witness that interrupted the attack on the girl last night. These guys are Bozinsky's partners. They're PIs, and they'll help out."
"Lestat snatched a guy?" Sanders took one of the seats in front of Quinlan's desk, looking from his boss to Nick and Cody. "Wow, that's a completely new development. So far all his attacks have been on women. And he attacked them where he found them."
Cody took the other seat in front of Quinlan's desk. Nick grabbed a chair from the corner of the room and brought it over, positioning it next to his partner's. "Seems like the guy grabbed Murray for a different reason than the murders," Cody said slowly. He glanced up at Nick, then looked back at Sanders. "I wonder if Murray saw something last night?"
"What about Amber?" Nick took his seat, half-turning towards Cody and pushing his knee against his leg. "Nothing's happened to her, has it?"
"No, and we've still got a guard on her." Quinlan nodded. "Nothing useful in her statement, was there, Sanders?"
"No, sir." Sanders flipped through the file, and shook his head. "Maybe there was something Bozinsky saw that the girl didn't?"
"How could that happen?" Cody objected.
"Hey," Nick said slowly. "Quinlan, Sanders, listen. Murray tried to take some pictures last night with a camera he invented. None of them came out, but maybe the murderer thinks they did? Maybe there's something on that camera that can help us!"
"Great idea, Nick!" Cody turned to him, nodding enthusiastically. "But - do you think we can get at any of that information without Murray? It's all on the computer!"
"Sanders here's pretty good on the computers," Quinlan said, leaning back. "Why don't you take him along, see what you come up with?"
"Can't hurt." Nick shrugged and stood up. "Let's give it a shot."
Back on the Riptide, Sanders stopped in the doorway to Murray's room. "Wow!" he exclaimed, looking from the computers to the Roboz, standing next to the table. "State of the art!"
"Sure hope you can operate this stuff," Cody said to him, gesturing towards the equipment. "Because me and Nick, well, we're not so hot at this side of the business."
"I hope I can too." Sanders shot Cody a smile. "So where's this camera?"
"Right here. It's still hooked up." Nick pointed to the Comp-u-cam, still lying on the table, an umbilical cord of wires tethering it to the Roboz.
"Let's have a look." Sanders sat down in Murray's chair and his fingers ran over the keyboard.
Roboz's head whirred as it turned towards the young sergeant. Its screen lit up, displaying: HELLO, I'M ROBOZ.
"Hey cool!" Sanders giggled. "Hey Roboz, it's nice to meet you. I'm Wes."
NICE TO MEET YOU, WES
Sanders giggled again, and then started typing quickly. The monitor on the desk flashed and the gray cloud Nick and Cody had seen the previous night appeared.
"Murray said all the night photos were over-exposed," Nick said doubtfully.
"Okay." Sanders looked over his shoulder at Nick and Cody, standing watching him. "Let's see what else we have here." He pushed some more keys.
The display flashed again, and a picture of the beach slowly took shape. "Murray was testing this on the beach yesterday," Cody explained. "I guess these aren't important."
"Okay," Sanders said again, and typed another command.
"More beach," Cody said with a sigh, watching the picture appear.
Sanders' hands moved towards the keyboard, but Nick grabbed his arm, leaning forward. "Wait a minute!" He stared intently at the screen. "It's hard to see, but look, in the background there. Cody? Isn't that the limo that snatched Murray?"
"Nick, I think you're right!" Cody leaned forward for a closer look. "Maybe this is the answer! Let's see if there are more pictures."
Sanders' fingers flew over the keys, and in the fourth photograph they found a shot that gave a clearer view of the vehicle. "Right," Sanders said, looking at the Roboz. "In theory, your partner's designed this so the computer can analyze these pictures. But I don't know the command to give it."
Cody and Nick exchanged a grin. "Roboz!" Cody said. "Image analysis mode."
Roboz's head turned with a whir, and its screen displayed IMAGE ANALYSIS MODE. Just as it had last night, the monitor flashed and the picture disappeared, replaced by green numbers scrolling quickly up the screen. "Oh, wow!" Sanders leant forward, staring in awe.
Nick moved to stand next to Cody. "Glad we're showing him a good time," he muttered, pushing his shoulder against his partner's.
"Yeah, him and Murray are gonna get on great." Cody nodded, grinning.
As they watched, the numbers on the screen slowed to a halt, and were replaced by some lines of text. "Wow!" Sanders exclaimed again. "I can't wait to meet your partner, guys. Murray, did you say his name was?" He tapped the keyboard again, and the printer clacked to life.
"Murray Bozinsky." Cody nodded. "That's right."
Sanders picked up the sheet of paper the printer had produced. "I just wish the police computers were half as efficient," he said, with an awestruck glance at the Roboz. "Right here, I've got a printout from the Vehicle Information Database on that limo. Have you got any idea how long that would've taken me to get at the PD?" He shook his head.
"Never mind that now." Nick grabbed the young sergeant's shoulder. "You've got an address there, right? So we've got a place to start. Let's get moving."
*
Nick got up from his perch on the edge of Quinlan's desk. "Cody, we gotta do something," he said in frustration. "This is taking too damned long. That asshole's out there and he's got Murray - "
"I know, buddy. I know. Take it easy." Cody stood up and put a hand on Nick's shoulder. "You know Quinlan's moving this as fast he can." He looked out into the squadroom where the lieutenant stood, barking orders to a group of twenty uniformed cops. Sanders stood at his side, another manila folder in his hand.
"I know he is." Nick pulled away from Cody and paced the room. "I just wanna be doing something, you know? I feel so damned useless here."
"Yeah, Nick, I know. But from what Sanders found out, that address is the headquarters of some kind of society. That might mean a lot of people there, Nick. Our best chance of getting Murray back is going in with the cops, you know that."
"You're right." Nick turned back to his partner. "But Cody - "
"We're ready to roll!" Quinlan strode into the office and spread a large map out on the desk. "Here's the location." One thick finger stabbed at a point on the map. Cody and Nick crowded close. "It's in the hills by the Palos Verdes Reservior. Local cops are meeting us there."
Nick and Cody looked at each other. "Let's take the Mimi," Nick said tensely.
"Good idea." Quinlan nodded sharply. "It's some kind of old church. The Nosferatu Society that's based there has got twenty-seven registered members. No idea how many of the twenty-seven are in on this of course, or how many of 'em are gonna be there to greet us. Safest to assume they're all crooks and they'll be rolling out the red carpet."
"Yeah." Cody nodded. "Right on that one. Okay, Quinlan, we're on our way."
*
A large bundle awaited them next to the Screaming Mimi. "What the hell?" Cody bent over it, frowning.
"Who knows and who cares, man. Come on!" Nick was already halfway up to the cockpit.
"Nick, wait."
"What?" Nick looked down.
"It's Murray's anti-vampire stuff, pal." Cody looked up at Nick unhappily. "The label says 'Vampire Protection Kit: Screaming Mimi'."
"We'll get him back, Cody," Nick said fiercely. "Throw that stuff in. Come on, man."
Cody lifted the bundle into the hold and climbed in after it, wincing as Mimi sputtered into life. As always, he held his breath until the rotors started. Nick's voice came clearly through the headset: "Dear Lord, bless this aircraft and make her fly straight to Murray."
"Amen, buddy." Cody pulled the heavy door closed and climbed up into the co-pilot's seat. "Nick, we got a crucifix each, a couple of gallons of holy water, six sharpened stakes and a bushel or so of garlic back there. Should be enough to do for any vampires that are hanging around."
"I'm more worried about the murdering asshole than the vampires, Cody."
"Fuck." Cody sighed. "I'll hang his damned crucifix for him myself, soon as we get him home safe again. I'm - hell, Nick, I'm worried about this, pal."
Nick looked at him sadly and nodded. "Me too. But we're gonna get him back, Cody. You hear me?"
"Yeah, Nick." Cody nodded and looked away. "Hope we get there before dark."
"That must be it," Nick said. They'd flown over lush and spacious Rolling Hills and the Palos Verdes Reservoir gleamed cool and green below them. He banked and Cody saw a paved road running away from the small lake. At the end of the road stood a stone building, surrounded by large trees. As they turned, the cross on the roof stood out in sharp relief against the setting sun and Cody felt unexplained dread rise in his throat.
"Come in, Quinlan," Nick barked gruffly into the radio. "This is N-six-niner-eight. We have a visual. Over."
"Quinlan here. Locals are on the scene. We're ten minutes away. Hold your position. Over."
Nick pressed his lips together and banked Mimi again. Without a word, he brought her down gently in a field on the other side of the road. "Come on," he snapped, climbing out. "Get the rifles, man. I'm not waiting another ten minutes."
Cody scrambled for the hold and pulled the guns out. He hesitated, looking at Murray's bundle, and Nick appeared at the door. "Just the gun, Cody," he said quietly, and Cody turned back with a sigh.
"Here, buddy." He passed Nick his rifle and jumped out of the chopper.
He landed, turned to his partner, and found himself pinned by Nick's intense blue eyes, gazing at him fiercely. "What - " he started, and then Nick grabbed him, mouth on his, hard and insistent. Cody pressed back against him, glad of the instant's closeness. "Nick," he whispered. Fear was cold in the pit of his stomach, fear for Murray and fear of what they'd find inside the old church.
Nick didn't speak but his hand slid up Cody's arm; a signal in the sign language Cody sometimes thought he knew better than English. You're with me. Stay close.
Cody looked down and took a deep breath, then raised his eyes to Nick's face and nodded. His hand touched Nick's elbow in answer - I'm ready. I'm right here. Nick nodded back and turned, heading for the sparse hedge that bordered the field, keeping low. Cody dropped into position behind him, his hand light on the small of Nick's back.
They crept down the hedge and got to the road. "Where the hell are these local cops?" Nick muttered, looking up and down. "You'd think a helicopter landing might make them pay attention."
"Too quiet." Cody shivered, dropping to one knee, cold fear clutching at his gut. The old church crouched amongst the dark, forbidding trees, shadowy and... 'Evil,' Cody thought, shivering again.
Nick's hand dropped on his back, warm and solid and reassuring, and Cody swallowed hard. 'Murray,' he reminded himself.
"Quinlan's less than five minutes away now," Nick murmured, close against his ear. "Let's do it, pal." Without waiting for a response, Nick crossed the road at a run, heading straight for the front door.
Cody scrambled to his feet and sprinted after him.
The door swung open at Nick's touch, and Nick flattened himself against the wall of the porch, gesturing for Cody to do the same. He peeked cautiously around the doorjamb.
Inside, the old church had been stripped of pews and furnishings, leaving a huge and empty room. Dust and dead leaves were piled in the corners. Looking further inside, Nick saw a long table set up at the end of the room, adorned with two fat black candles and a chalice. Above the makeshift altar hung an enormous painting of a black, nightmare creature. Its snake-like body squirmed sinuously over the canvas and its red, beady eyes glowed above a flickering yellow tongue. Nick gulped and hurriedly looked away.
Slowly, rifle at the ready, he crept through the door. He felt rather than saw Cody follow him and suppressed the urge to grab his partner's arm. 'Murray.' He slipped along the wall to the right of the door, alert for any sign of movement, knowing Cody was doing the same to the left.
There was nothing in the room except the grotesque parody of the altar. He and Cody circumnavigated the walls and met underneath the painting of the ghastly lizard. They looked at each other in frustration, and Cody turned to the table. Gingerly, he raised the cloth that covered it - and recoiled in horror as he saw a coffin lying beneath the table. "Nick!" he hissed.
"Come on!" Nick dropped to his knees and tugged at the wooden box.
"What are you doing?" Cody whispered sharply, grabbing his partner's shoulder. "Nick - "
Ignoring him, Nick heaved the lid off the coffin with a grunt of satisfaction. "Murray!" Their partner, bound and gagged, lay in the velvet-lined interior. Frantically Nick tore at the gag. "Murray, are you okay?"
"Nick! Cody!" Murray panted. "Guys, thank God! The vampires - "
"Hush, Boz." Nick helped him sit up and Cody dropped to his knees beside him, helping Nick with the ropes. They had Murray free in seconds. "Come on, man. Let's get out of here."
Between them, Nick and Cody lifted Murray to his feet. Cramped from the hours in the coffin, Murray stumbled and would have fallen again. Nick caught him. "You can do it, Murray," Cody said encouragingly.
Murray groaned softly and hung on to Nick tightly. "Ow!" He took a halting step. "Don't worry, guys, I'm fine!"
"You're not fine," Nick growled. "Come on." Supporting Murray, he headed for the door.
They'd gone three steps when a crash from behind them froze them in their tracks. Looking back, Cody saw the huge painting on the floor. A tall man in a dark cape jumped down from behind it, leaping over the altar and starting after them. Cody grabbed Murray's other arm and between them he and Nick lifted Murray bodily. They ran for the door.
They'd nearly made it when suddenly another figure dropped directly in their path. Looking up, Cody choked back a cry of horror. On the ceiling of the church hung two more figures, wrapped in black cloaks. As he watched, they dropped the fifteen feet to the ground, landing lightly on their feet. He looked back and saw the man who'd jumped from behind the painting stalking slowly towards them. A black mist rolled around his feet, and Cody thought he saw the face of the beast from the painting in it.
"Cody!" Nick's voice was tense and low. "Ready?"
Cody grabbed Murray's arm tighter. "Ready," he said, terror cracking in his voice. They dodged the menacing figure in front of them and sprinted towards the exit. Nick sprayed rifle fire behind them as Cody struggled with the heavy door. The four vampires paced towards them, not hurrying. Nick didn't think he could have missed with the rifle, but none of them flinched as the gunfire echoed around the room.
"Guys!" Murray cried despairingly. "The holy water - "
Cody got the door open and held it while Nick pulled Murray through. He was about to follow his partners when something grabbed his wrist. Turning, Cody looked in horror into the face of the vampire with the shadows around his feet. His gun clattered to the ground, unheeded. Cody tried to yank himself free, but the grip of the vampire, cold and steely, pulled him inexorably back inside the church. The heavy door slammed as he heard Nick scream his name.
Wildly, Cody looked around him. There was no sign of the three vampires who had dropped from the ceiling. He turned back to his captor, trembling.
The vampire's face was chalk white, and his lips and eyelids were black. Black hair receded from a high forehead. "Welcome to my humble abode." His voice was low and mellifluous, and Cody saw sharp yellow incisors flash in the dim light.
The heavy door shuddered under a rain of blows and Cody jumped. He tore his eyes from the vampire. "Nick!" he yelled, struggling against the grip on his wrist. The vampire's hold didn't falter and Cody threw a punch that connected hard with the vampire's shoulder.
It was like hitting a concrete wall. Cody cried out in pain and struggled harder.
"Be still," the vampire said, his voice carrying the cold of the grave. Cody shuddered. The black mist around the vampire's feet billowed and grew, and Cody froze as it wrapped around his legs, cold and thick and cloying. "Come," said the vampire, and Cody followed, stumbling through the clinging substance, as he was dragged towards the vampire altar.
Outside the church, Nick confronted Quinlan. "I have got to get in there," he yelled. "He's got Cody!"
"Ryder, we're getting in there, all right? These local cops are on their way. If you'd just held your position like I goddamn told you to - "
"Quinlan, if you think I'll sit on my ass and wait for you when my partners are in danger you got another think coming, all right? We got Murray out, and now I'm going to get Cody. Get out of my way!" Nick pushed past him to the door of the church.
"There's got to be another way." Murray staggered to his feet. "Nick! There must be another door."
"Where, Boz? I didn't see it." Nick turned in frustration.
"It should be - " Murray hesitated. "On the left," he said finally. "Churches are traditionally built with the vestry door on the left at the rear. And Nick... the gun didn't do any good. Did you bring the water-pistols?"
"No." Nick shook his head. "But everything you left for the Mimi is here." He indicated the big pink machine in the field across the road. "Murray, I got to try for that back door, okay?" He didn't wait for an answer, jogging towards the rear of the building. Murray looked after him, then turned and limped slowly towards the Mimi.
Nick paced up and down the blank wall in frustration. He stopped suddenly, seeing a blemish in the plaster. A close look showed the lines where a doorway had been bricked up and plastered over. "Hell." He kicked it angrily. "No fucking use anyhow."
He took a deep breath. Surely anyone, even a vampire living out here, would want a back door. Otherwise they'd be caught like a rat in a trap. What was on the inside? He pictured the empty room.
'Nothing,' Nick thought disgustedly, and then the image of the vampire jumping out of the wall came to him. He was off and running, around the corner. Sure enough, part way up the back wall, a hatch hung ajar. He jumped for it, trying to gain purchase against the wall, but his feet slipped on the mossy, overgrown stone and he fell to the ground.
"Nick!" Murray hurried around the corner, walking more easily now. "Nick, wait! We got the stuff."
Scrambling to his feet, Nick found Murray and Sanders, clutching garlic, stakes and a crucifix each. Nick bit his lip and unslung the rifle from his shoulder. "Thanks, Murray. Hold that while I get up there, okay?"
"Let me help." Sanders dropped his armload and stepped forward. "I'll boost you."
"Okay." Nick eyed the young policeman's slight form without comment and stepped under the hatch. He looked up at it as he felt the officer's hand close on his leg. 'Cody. I'm coming, babe.'
"On three," Sanders said, and Nick grunted agreement. The young guy counted and Nick jumped upwards, catching hold, pulling himself in.
He held himself on his knees in the aperture, looking around. A dark, narrow passage was straight ahead of him. The rough-hewn stone walls glistened wetly in the light coming in through the open hatch.
"Nick!" He looked back down as Murray called him. "Take this!"
Nick grimaced to himself, but reached down and took the stake Murray held out. "Give me the gun, Boz," he whispered.
"Oh! Oh, sure, Nick." Murray passed the weapon up, barrel first. Nick winced, ducking away from the pointing rifle. He slung the weapon over his shoulder and felt the comforting bump of it against his hip.
"Cover this exit, guys," he said, looking down at them. "Sanders, you got a gun?"
"Sure." Sanders looked surprised, and unholstered his weapon. "You think I'll need it?"
"Anything comes out of here that isn't me or Cody, you use it, man." Nick nodded. "Murray, you get hold of one of those stakes, all right?"
"You bet, Nick." Murray bent and picked up a stake, crucifix firmly clutched in his other hand. Around his neck, Nick saw a string of garlic. "Nick - be careful."
Nick turned back to the passage and crept forward. It wasn't long, and he'd only taken a few steps between the slimy walls when it got lighter, and he found himself looking into the huge dim room of the old church. Shivering, he pressed himself back against the rock, feeling the cold dampness seeping into his bones. 'Cody.' He scanned the room, seeing no movement, and remembering the earlier surprise, looked up.
There were no vampires on the ceiling, but what there was surprised him even more. He hadn't seen them earlier - he'd had other things on his mind, after all - but hanging suspended from the roof of the old church were three movie projectors. Nick recognized them from his summers working at the Prospect Theatre. He chewed his lip. That explained the bullet-proof vampires chasing them out of the church earlier. But it didn't answer the question of where Cody was. Slowly, he inched forward until he could see the altar below him, and caught his breath.
Cody, hands bound behind him, was kneeling in front of the altar. The vampire stood over him, a hand on the back of his neck, forcing his head down onto the table. As Nick watched in horror, the black mist around the vampire's feet roiled up into the shape of the painted lizard and slithered towards Cody's face. Cody struggled weakly and the vampire bent over him.
With a roar, Nick leapt from the niche, striking the vampire and knocking him off Cody. He hit the ground hard, rolling, grabbing for the monster again, but the vampire was faster. He grabbed Nick by the shoulders, slamming him against the ground and going for his throat. Nick choked, trying to fight, but the vampire was incredibly strong and he couldn't get any purchase. The long fingers closed on his throat.
Murray's stake was still in Nick's hand, and he thrashed mightily, freeing his arm. He aimed a blow with all his strength. It connected with the back of his assailant's head, and Nick scrambled up as the vampire toppled forward, unconscious.
"Cody!" Nick ran to his partner. Cody was crawling towards the wall, away from the black mist that still seethed in front of the altar, puffing into clouds and then falling back in on itself. Nick grabbed him, feeling his partner shaking.
"Nick," Cody whispered as he tore at his bonds.
"I got you, Cody," Nick said, ripping away the ropes that bound his friend's arms. "You're safe now, babe." He pulled Cody close, holding him while he untied his legs one-handed. Cody shook, clinging to Nick, head buried against Nick's shoulder.
"Easy, Cody," Nick whispered, close against his partner's ear. "Easy, baby. I got you. You're safe."
Cody raised his head and Nick saw the panic in his eyes, close to the surface. "Nick," he gulped. "The black stuff... the vampire..."
"Hush," Nick said firmly, his own gaze locking hard on Cody's frightened blue eyes. "Cody, we have to get out of here, okay?"
"Okay." Cody nodded, swallowing hard, and Nick helped him to his feet. Cody shot a glance at the vampire stretched on the ground and shivered.
"Come on, babe." Nick pulled Cody towards the gaping hole above the picture on the ground. "This way." He boosted Cody up and pulled himself up behind him. "Come on," he encouraged again, and Cody looked nervously back at him over his shoulder.
A crashing sound from the front of the church heralded the police successfully breaking through the front doors. Cody yelped at the sound and stumbled. Nick steadied him and turned him to face the way out. "Go, baby," he said. "I'm right here. Come on."
Heart thundering in his chest, Cody squared his shoulders and headed down the narrow passage. The light from the hatch was one of the sweetest things he'd ever seen and he took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Nick's hands were on his back, strong and reassuring.
"Murray! Sanders!" Nick called.
"Nick!" Murray stood below the hatch, looking up anxiously. "Cody! Thank God!"
Cody opened his eyes, and let Nick guide him to the edge. He swung himself off it, landing lightly, feeling Murray grip his shoulder. He looked up at Nick anxiously and folded his arms across his chest.
Nick dropped down beside him and Cody sighed in relief as his arm went around him again. He moved closer to Nick, hardly hearing Murray's excited questions. Nick steered him a little away from the hatch and sat him down on the grass, dropping beside him and putting his arm around him again.
Taking a deep breath, Cody felt his pulse slow. He leaned into Nick, and heard Murray saying "What about the vampire, Nick? What happened?"
Shuddering, Cody thought of the ghastly figure bending over him. Nick squeezed his shoulders. "It's not a vampire," Nick said firmly. "I hit it over the head with the stake, Murray, and it's just as unconscious as anyone else would be, all right?"
"With the stake?" A broad grin broke over Murray's face. "You hit him with the stake? Nick, that's so boss!"
"Good thinking!" Sanders was grinning just as broadly.
"Yeah," Nick said drily. "I guess it is." He turned to Cody. "How you feeling, man?" Cody shivered and looked away.
A clatter from above made them all look up. The vampire leapt from the hatch, landing in amongst them. Cody cringed away and Nick, halfway to his feet, turned back to his partner. The vampire slammed into Murray, knocking him flying, and turned for Sanders, teeth bared.
Sanders raised his gun and shot him. With a strangled screech, the vampire grabbed at his chest and fell on the grassy bank.
*
"Seems like vampires aren't bullet-proof," Quinlan said, smirking. He stood in the salon of the Riptide, hands on hips, Sanders at his side clutching the ubiquitous manila folder. "That one wasn't, anyhow."
Nick sighed. "That setup in there with the projected images of the vampires, that was pretty complicated. What was that all about?"
Sanders spoke up. "The guy - he was born John Williams but he changed his name to Vladimir Drakul - was wanted in 6 states for rape and kidnapping. All the cases had ritualistic aspects. It seems he was - well, he thought he was a vampire, at any rate. Living in that deconsecrated church and preaching what he called the 'Word of Nosferatu'. The setup you saw in there - the movie-vampires and the mechanical black mist - was primarily for convincing his congregation he was a real vampire. We rounded up the other members of the society, but it seems like they're just schmucks who like vampires. We'll keep a pretty close eye on them for a while, that's for sure." He opened his folder and flicked through some papers. "That mist device was a pretty complicated piece of machinery," he said, looking up again. "It housed the suction pump he used to drain his victims' blood."
"He sure was a really nasty piece of work. Killing those poor women in cold blood..." Murray shivered. "I'm so glad Amber's all right."
"She's being released from the hospital tomorrow," Quinlan agreed. "Bozinsky, you did a good job getting the lead on this creep, I'll give you that."
"Thanks, Lieutenant!" Murray looked at Quinlan in surprise. "I'm just glad he didn't turn out to be a real vampire, after all." He looked at the three crucifixes on the table. "I guess I should take these back to Father Bob. And the holy water." He frowned. "Although - can you reuse holy water? I mean, do I take it back to him, or - it seems wrong to tip it out."
"I guess you can take it back to him, Murray." Cody chuckled softly and moved closer to Nick. He knew the vampire hadn't been real, but the fear he'd felt in the old church hadn't completely dissipated yet. Nick's arm went around him, tight and reassuring.
"Great." Murray smiled distractedly. "What I still can't understand is what went wrong with the Comp-u-cam. I guess that's something I'll never know."
Sanders stepped forward eagerly. "Uh - Murray, I had an idea about that. I've done a lot of work with cameras, and you know, when we were looking at the pictures from the beach I thought I saw symptoms of a slight light-bleed. I wonder - I mean - " the young policeman halted, uncertain. "I kind of wondered if you might let me look at it with you? That image analysis - it's - it's state of the art!" he finished in a rush.
Murray brightened instantly. "Light-bleed you say, Wes? How interesting! Why don't we go and look at it now?"
"I'll leave you ladies to your tea-party," Quinlan said sarcastically, turning for the stairs. He paused halfway up, looking back into the salon. "Thanks fellas," he said, and was gone.
"Wow." Nick stretched. "Thanked by Quinlan. We're going up in the world."
"Come on, Wes." Murray rushed towards the stairs. "Wow, if we can get the bug in this device ironed out - " The two men disappeared down the stairs.
Cody stood up and headed for the coffeepot, pouring himself a cup and turning back to face Nick. He leaned against the counter and looked at his friend unhappily.
Nick got up and crossed to his partner. Without speaking, he took the coffee out of his hands and put it on the counter, then pulled Cody close. He slid his hands under his shirt and ran them over the skin of his back and Cody sighed. "Nick," he muttered unhappily.
Gently, Nick kissed Cody's temple.
"I haven't been that scared in fifteen years," Cody said quietly, pulling away. He paced restlessly into the middle of the room, then turned back. "Nick..."
"There's no shame in being scared." Nick looked his partner in the eye. "That black undulating stuff is still giving me the creeps, pal."
Cody shuddered. "Me too," he admitted, relaxing a little. "Nick, I couldn't get away from him! And when I hit him, it didn't seem to have any effect." He looked away again.
Nick went to him. "Cody." He put his hands on his partner's shoulders. "I jumped him and he pinned me straight away. If I hadn't had Murray's stake in my hand, I couldn't have got away from him either. Listen to me, okay? He wasn't a vampire, Cody, but what he was was a murderer who was doing his best to kill us both. If you weren't scared, there'd be something wrong with you, all right?"
"I guess so." Cody looked back at Nick and smiled slightly. "Murray's stakes saved the day, huh?"
"They sure did." Nick pulled Cody close again, and this time Cody returned the embrace, relaxing.
"Thanks," he murmured softly, against Nick's neck.
"Pleasure." Nick hugged him tightly. "Now, whaddaya say we take the Ebbtide out to Fisherman's Island? Do some fishing?"
Cody closed his eyes, thinking of clean, cool air and the feel of the boat on the open water. The last of his fear slipped away. "Great idea, Nick." He smiled, remembering the small sandy beach on the far side of Fisherman's Island, accessible only by boat. It would be deserted this time of year. He opened his eyes and looked into Nick's, grinning as he saw the same thought reflected there. "You gonna pack lunch?"
"Sure, Cody." Nick grinned back and leaned in for a kiss. "We might get hungry out there. 'Specially if we don't catch any fish."
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