Chapter 22

Jon was tossing in his bed; the sheets were soaked, twisting around his waist, annoying him even more in his restless state.

David’s face loomed before him, calling out to him, his voice laced with agony and pleading. A couple of woman of his kind were circling him like hungry hounds, spitting and snarling, their long claw like nails scraping his golden skin, leaving bloody streaks behind….The precarious flicker of David’s pulse was fading fast.

Jon shot upright, his chest heaving, streaks of salty liquid ran down his muscular frame, disappearing into the sheets.

Clamping his head with his hands he willed the dark, evil dreams from his mind. His visions…could he call it that?...haunted him even in sleep. There was never a quiet moment in his mind! Richie’s face appeared before him and he shuddered as a sinister sensation forced to consciousness again.

Pressing speeddial he snarled as he found Richie’s damn voicemail. One more day and then he is going to haul his ass back. That’s the end of it!

Slipping from the bed he took a quick shower, ridding him of the evidence of his nightmares.

Strolling into the private dining room an half and hour later, he felt the tug of foreboding pestering him yet again as his eyes rest on the empty chair.

“Where’s Joker?”

Tico shrugged.

“We were together at a nightclub but we lost track of each other. Maybe he is still sleeping it off?”

Something didn’t sit well with Jon. His body had a slow burning, not painful but nevertheless infuriating. Everyday he found some new annoying gift...as Chimala called it, to be honest he had enough shit to go around for the next few millenniums..new ones where just another damn link in the chain around his neck, threatening to pull him down towards everlasting hell!

Pouring himself a glass of red wine, he tipped the glass slightly, savoring the richness. After his third glass, he smiled as his steak tartare was place in front of him. His fangs were already tickling his lower lips. He gotten used to this quite quick, although it didn’t take the lust for human blood away.

Tico shivered as he eyed the bloodiness he called food.

“You just ruined my damn dinner man.” Jon didn’t miss the lights dancing in his eyes.

“You want this to be you instead?” He flashed him a pair of sharpies and Tico smiled.

“You never had a taste for Cuban food.”

Jon snorted, slicing a generous piece of bloody meat, he propped it into his mouth and chewed heartily when he suddenly groaned as if in pain, the cutlery clattered noisily on the plate.

“Jon?! What the hell? Are you ok?”

Neon blue eyes flashed as he stared at Tico.

“Fuuuuccckk….it hurts….” He grabbed his stomach. Pain was everywhere. His head, his limbs, his stomach…FUCK he was dying or something!

“Is it the food?” Tico was next to him.

“Help me to my room, Tic….” Breaths came in great gasps as he tried to control the pain stabbing his body.

As the door opened, Jon slammed into the carpet, writhing, he roared, his lips peeled back from sharp fangs, fighting the invisible enemy.

“What can I do Jon?!”

Tico’s far off cry filtered into his cloudy mind, but trying as he might he couldn’t come back to the here and now. It was so damn cold where he was, fear clawed at his gut and he cried out as he felt a sharp nick at his thigh. A fanged bitch was feeding from him..her evil snigger assaulted his mind and he gasped as her fangs bit in deeper, wedging her fangs into the sinew there. All of a sudden he was the bystander, watching in the shadows as the bitches of darkness fed on him…only it wasn’t him anymore….the man lying on blood soaked sheets were blonde…blonde curly bangs  plastered against his face. Azure eyes danced with pain, his throat scraped dry, his body exhausted from the never ending torturous attack.

A dark fog swirled in and Jon fought his way through, clawing at the darkness swallowing him. He couldn’t let him go…he was dying! He was gone.

Tico gaped in dismay at Jon’s hallucination, yelping as he jumped back, missing Jon’s flailing claws by mere inches.

The haziness in his eyes seemed to clear, the pain distorting his body was obviously subsiding as Jon’s cries died down, his chest heaving from the mysterious attack.

Knifing upwards his neon glittering depths burned into Tico’s.

“Its David. He is in danger.” Thoughts of dementia crossed his mind, but it was the clear, fully cognizant eyes of Jon staring at him.  “I thought it was dream Tic..but it isn’t….David is in mortal danger. We have to get him before its too late.”

Another man’s face wavered for a moment and Jon shook his head to clear himself of the dark, heavy thoughts. Richie was in some sort of danger too, just not as dangerous as David’s.

My turn to rescue you now brother but I have to get to David first, he needs me now. Hold on… I’m coming.

“Show me where you left David.”

~~~

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It was a nightclub like any other. Booze, women….

Jon sat down at the table Tico and David shared only hours before. Closing his eyes, he opened his palms, trying to find any essence David left behind…smells…thoughts…emotions..anything.

David’s joyous laughter cracked in his head and he opened his eyes, seeing David as he put the glass to his lips, his baby blue eyes dancing with mischief.

Tico watched in silence as Jon stared blankly before him, his face void of any emotion. His eyes were azure orbs in his head, staring into nothingness.

He suddenly stood up walking towards the door. Tico wasn’t sure what to do and stood up, biting back a yelp as Jon’s cold eyes suddenly turned to him.

“Go back to the hotel. NOW.” He turned his head and walked away.

David wasn’t the threesome type, but soon Jon realized the reason behind his strange reaction. They had spiked his drink. A few blocks later, he was slurring as he hung onto the women’s shoulders, his feet disobeying any commands. His head slumped forward and suddenly the women elevated, taking the now unconscious man with them as they swooped through the night air.

Grimacing as his feet touched the cold earth again an hour later, rage swirled like a coiled snake inside him, readying himself for whats to come. A momentary fear flicked in his brain. What if he wasn’t strong enough to fight them off? Would David and he die an agonizing death? The dark beast rose and snuffed all thoughts from his mind, there was no time for backtracking...the fight was here.

It was a nest, a nest of lusty, thirsty female leeches, prying on unsuspecting mortals, using them for their own sick sexual fantasies and bloodlust.

David’s scent drew stronger and Jon zoomed in on the scent, his eyes glittering in the moonless night.

Death hovered in the air, hoping it wasn’t David’s, he crouched lower, prowling closer.

He wasn’t too surprised as he entered a dark house, his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he stuck his nose into the air, the scent of David now overwhelming…

An endless rows of doors spread before him, letting his senses lead the way he came to a standstill at the second last door.

It was gravely silent in the house. Maybe they were on the hunt again for some fresh meat. He had to get Joker out before they return which could be any moment, depending on the success of the hunt.

The doorknob turned and the moment he bridged the threshold he knew David wasn’t alone.

The smell of the undead assailed his nose, wrapping him in a blanket of disgust.

They didn’t pay attention at first, they sensed one of their own and kept themselves busy with the tasty treat spread eagled on the bed.

Taking in the situation, his wrath took on new heights, pounding inside him like a second heart.

David was surrounded by two vampires, one was stroking his hair, whispering to him, holding his head up while the other had her wrist close to his mouth, her inky blood dripping on his clenched lips.

“Drink from her….or die.”

David strained from the dripping blood, his head twisting lethargically. There was not much fight left in him but as God was his witness he wouldn’t turn into them, he’d rather die.

The dark haired bitch’s soothing hands turned suddenly cruel and she scratched his face, waiting for the reaction she knew would come.

He called out in pain and immediately retched as the sickly dark liquid touched his tongue.

A vicious snarl from Jon turned their head in unison. Slipping from the bed in blinding speed, they dashed towards him, their curious eyes drinking in the handsome stranger daring to interfere in their little game. He was one of them but something was deadly wrong..

Jon crouched lower, his fingers cracked in his palms as he readied himself. He could feel his muscles bunch as his body readied for the action about to set loose on him.

“Want to join in the fun?” Wary eyes watched him, glowing from their depths.

“I’m here for him.” He nodded towards David.

“What business do you have with him? He isn’t your donor, he has no marks. Is he your lover?”

Fangs flashed in the candle light.

“It’s no concern of yours. Let me take him.”

They circled him slowly, his force was strong.

“What do we get in return?” The red head was behind him, her tongue swirling in the shell of his ear, her fangs grazing the cartilage.

“I’ll let you live.”

A cackle rang in the air.

Jon stepped towards the bed.

With a flash they stood at the bed. Their smiles were gone..the game was over.

“We aren’t letting him go. He would make such a delightful vampire…oh well….” Her hand raised up, contracted into a claw, swooping down she aimed for David’s chest but a cry slipped from her as Jon grabbed hold of her arm, snapping her wrist.

The dark one lunged at him, a splitting snarl ripping from her.

Still holding the twisted wrist in his hand, Jon ducked missing the vampire projectile on his right.

All hate, fear, fire and darkness churned inside him, creating a malevolent beast urging to set loose.

Bulging his free hand, Jon felt the crush of bones as his fist entered the ribcage of the spitting, flailing vampire. His hand closed around her cold heart, yanking hard, he felt it tore from her. A bone chilling scream was the last to rush from her lips before she slumped to the floor. A whirl of smoke seeped from her skin, fire ignited from the body, engulfing it in flames before it all ended in a heap of ash.

The heart in his hand followed the same route and he dropped it, his fury suddenly dissipated.

Hysterical screams lashed from the other side of the corner and Jon turned his calculated eyes on the vampire cowering against the corner of the ceiling.

She spat at him, her fangs displayed, she lunged towards the carpet, crashing through the window into the dark protection of the night.