Blood Brothers

Chapter 1: Vermillion

Vlad

June 5

I have two weeks to live. I've been sentenced to death by the Elysian Council and I'll be executed by D'Ablo's hand in a matter of weeks. Otis and Nelly have been spending every minute of everyday with me, trying to savor the last little bit of my life with me before I die. Yet all I truly want to do is be alone, away from everyone-Nelly, Otis, Henry, and especially Meredith.

Yes, even when I'm facing death, I'm still thinking about the girl I used to love. Key word: USED. As in: I do not anymore. I figured this out when I walked into the band room during the last week of school and seeing her making out with Tom. Yes, the same Tom that's been pummeling me for the last four years of my life. So now that she's out of the question, my life is a little less hectic. And I mean like a sliver bit less hectic.

Even when I'm on Death Row, things can't light up for me, can they?

Yours In Eternity,

Vladimir

I snapped the leather book closed, setting aside my pen and sighing deeply. It was that moment that it hit me again, the way it always hit me when I was alone: I was going to die. I swallowed, trying to ignore the bile rising in my throat as I stood and looked out the window of my room, taking in the pretty, early summer day. Kids playing in yards, idiots zooming down the street in their cars with loud music. Yep, pretty much the same deal.

My phone started to play Vermillion Pt. 2 and I picked it up. "Yeah?"

"Hey, man…" Henry sighed, clearing his throat. "You wanna hang tonight?"

I thought about it for a second. If I was gonna die soon, I might as well live my life while I still had it. "Yeah, that's sounds cool. Where?"

"I, uh, actually heard Matthew was throwing a end-of-the-year party. You in?" Henry hesitated, knowing I was a little iffy about going somewhere were Meredith was bound to show up. But I realized that I didn't care. I had thought long and hard about and I realized how much I never really loved her and how fake she really was.

"That sounds cool." I grabbed my DC's and started to slip my feet in them.

"Good. My cousin and her family just moved into town. My 'rents want me to take her out tonight so…You cool with that?" Henry sighed.

"Yeah, dude. It's alright. You guys on your way?"

"Yeah. We're turning the corner now."

"Alright. See you in a sec." I hung up and grabbed my hoodie, zipping it up and flipping the hood over my head, leaving my long black bangs hanging in front of my eyes.

I walked down the steps and called to Nelly. "I'm going to a party with Henry!"

"No drugs, Vladimir! Or drinking!" Nelly crossed her arms over the apron she wore in the kitchen.

I smirked. "No worries there, Nell." I kissed the top of her head. "Love you!" I called over my shoulder as I walked out the front door.

Henry was waiting on the sidewalk in front of the driveway with two very pretty girls: one blonde, who I assumed was Henry's cousin, and a quiet looking brunette, who kept smiling shyly while Henry talked to the both of them.

"Hey, man." Henry gave me a little slap-five and I punched his arms. "Vlad, this is my cousin, Abi Henson." He gestured to the blonde, who waved a little, tucking her white-blonde hair behind her ear. "And this is her best friend, Cassy…" He trailed off, like he forgot her last name.

"Martinez. Cassy Martinez." She bit her lip, smiling shyly-and extremely cute-at me.

I nodded at both of them. "Vladimir Tod."

"Nice to meet you." Abi and Cassy said at the same time and Henry and I did a double-take.

"Dude, they do that all they time! It's so frickin' creepy." Henry muttered, starting to walk across the street. I fell into step between him and Cassy, who zipping up the jacket she was wearing.

"Hey, she's my best friend, Henry. She's been living with my fam and I for the past, like, six years. We're practically sisters. A-duh." Abi stuck out her tongue at her cousin, flipping up the hood of her Abbey Dawn jacket, which had little devil horns sticking up from the hood.

I smirked a little. "He's not a bright one, Abi."

Cassy giggled a little and Henry punched my arm. We turned the corner then, looking straight-on at Matthew's house. I stepped aside a little to let the others go in first, smiling at a quiet Cassy before going in behind her.

Rock music thumped from the speakers in Matt's backyard, so we all headed through the house towards the back deck, where teens were standing around while the rest of the party went on down in the yard.

Cassy

I followed Abi and Henry down the steps, while Vlad followed me. Henry led us all to a group of well-dressed, loud kids, who I assumed was the popular crowd of Bathory. Almost instantly, Abi and I lost interest, not really caring for the kids that made our lives miserable back home. Vlad seemed to ignore them to, as if he hated Henry's other friends.

"You girls wanna go hang out over there?" Vlad asked us, pointing to a corner in the far back, where no popular kids were standing.

Abi and I nodded and followed him over, each of us sitting on the little picnic table set up. I sat in between Vlad and Abi, picking at my fingernails while they looked around in the crowd.

"Vlad, who is that poor soul?" Abi nodded her head to the only kid at the party that didn't have anyone around him.

"Eddie Poe." Vlad shook his head, almost in pity. "Kid is annoying as heck."

"Why?" I asked softly, trying to stop it before it slipped out.

Vlad smiled gently, seeming to sense that I hadn't meant to ask. "He practically stalks me like he's got something to prove. He published an article in the school paper freshman year, saying that I was a 'monster.'" He snorted a little, glaring at Eddie. "Everyone hates him."

"Why would he do something like that?" I asked, looking up at Vlad.

He shrugged. "The idiot thought it was a brilliant way to get attention."

"Abi!" Henry called over to her and she yelled back.

"What?!"

"Come over here! There's someone I want you to meet!" He called back, waving her over.

Abi rolled her eyes, groaning. "I'll be right back." She muttered before she disappeared into the crowd.

"Poor Abi…" Vlad smirked a little.

"Why do you say that?" I asked softly.

"Henry's introducing her to the jocks and it looks like Bill has a little thing for your best friend." Vlad nodded in the direction of Abi, who was standing in front of a big guy wearing a football jacket.

"Ew. He's hideous." I cringed, looking down.

Vlad laughed a little, shaking his head. "You know what, you're funny." He grinned, his ice blue eyes bright.

I blushed a little, looking down. "Thank you…"

"Well, this party bites." Vlad winked at me before looking around again. "You wanna go?"

"Um, go where exactly?" I asked, standing up beside him, wiping odd my jeans.

He shrugged. "I could walk back to your place if you want."

I looked over at Henry and Abi, who were actually getting along with the populars. I looked back at Vlad and smiled. "I'd love that."

Vlad

My heart actually gave a little squeeze at the smile I got from Cassy. It hit me then, in the faint glow of the fire torches set up around Matt's pool, that I realized, again, how pretty she was. I held out my hand and she was about to take when a sickly sweet voice made me cringe.

"Hi, Vlad." Meredith stood two feet in front of me, wearing little white shorts and a pink strapless top.

I sighed, biting the inside of my cheek. "Meredith." I muttered cruelly, but I didn't care. I had no feelings for her at all.

"Um, who's your friend?" Meredith gestured towards Cassy, whose hand was now in mine.

"This is Cassy, Henry's cousin's friend." I said bluntly. "She just moved here."

"Oh…" Meredith's eyes scrutinized Cassy and I was thankful that neither of them didn't hear the growl in my chest.

"If you don't mind, we were just leaving." I stared down at Meredith with a look that was filled with hatred.

She cringed a little. "Bye then." With that, she turned and sashayed over to Tom.

I tightened my hold on Cassy's hand and led her out the big wooden gate onto the sidewalk in front of Matt's. As soon as we hit the pavement, I groaned, wiping my face with my free hand.

"Vlad, what's wrong?" Cassy's timid voice made me shudder a little.

"Nothing…Nothing's wrong." I sighed, biting my bottom lip.

I felt her hand touch my arm lightly and I opened my eyes to meet her big brown ones. "Vlad, don't lie to me..."

I sighed and rubbed the back of my head. "She's…she's my ex. I caught her cheating on me a week ago and she's been rubbing it in my face ever since."

"Aw…" Cassy cooed, patting my shoulder and looking back towards Matt's house. "How could she have done that?"

I shrugged, letting my hood fall to my shoulders. "No clue, Cassy, but I don't trust her and I'm completely over her."

"Oh…" She murmured, looking down at her feet. "Sorry I brought it up."

I smiled softly, holding out my hand. "No worries." She blushed a little before taking it and I started walking towards Henry's street, where Abi's family now lived. "So how come you live with Abi's family?"

Cassy looked down and I saw the glint of a tear in her eye. I stopped and turned to face her, tilting her chin up. "Whoa, whoa. What's wrong?"

She sniffled a little and bit her lip. "I live with her because my parent died when I was 5…Abi's mom was my mom's best friend and they got custody of me after the crash…" She looked down, wiping her eyes and I suddenly felt like crap for bringing it up.

"Aw, jeez." I muttered, running my hand over my hair. "I'm so sor—" I broke off when I saw the tears streaming down her cheeks. Then my guy-mode took over and I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her to my chest.

Cassy

As I cried my heart out, I was suddenly very aware of how I was being crushed to Vlad's chest as he tried to comfort me. I felt so stupid for bursting into tears in front a really cute guy-who might've liked me-over something he didn't even know about.

"Shh…Cass…Look at me." Vlad's voice in ear made me open my eyes and look up at him. He stroked my cheek, wiping away the tears, and murmuring "Cass" over and over again. "I'm so sorry I brought it up…I know how you feel…My parents died in a house fire when I was 10…"

"Aww…" I breathed, but my voice broke, causing Vlad to shake head and say, "No, this isn't about me right now…I'm so sorry I said anything…"

I shrugged a little, wiping my nose and it hit me then how close we were-Vlad's arms around my waist, my hands lying limply on his chest. It hit him that moment too and he stuttered a little, gently letting go of me, wiping the last tear away.

I blushed, smiling softly. "Thank you, Vlad."

He shrugged, smiling. "I'm glad I helped but I'm so stupid for bringing it up."

"Vlad, it's—" I was interrupted by him putting his finger against my lips.

"Not a word, Cass…I'm sorry." His ice blue eyes burned into mine and I thought I was permanently frozen on the sidewalk in front of my house.

Vlad walked me up the front porch and to the screen door. I leaned against it, smiling up at him. "Thanks for walking me home, Vlad."

He leaned against the porch railing, smiling wide at me. "Anytime, Cass…" He stepped up the steps and walked up to me. "Will I be seeing you a lot?"

I bit my lip shyly, nodding. "Yeah…Just give me a call whenever."

He smirked a little bit. "Alright…Well, I gotta go…Nelly'll be wondering where I am. I'll, uh, see you tomorrow?"

"Okay…Call me." I breathed, twirling a strand of my hair around my finger.

"I will…I'll text you tonight, if that's okay…" He reached up and propped his hand against the screen door behind my head. He took his other hand and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Cass?"

"Yes?" I breathed, very aware of how he was leaning closer and how my heart was thumping so hard in my chest.

"Can I--?" He started…

"Vlad!" Henry's voice stopped him and Vlad groaned, letting his head droop in front of mine, his hair tickling my nose.

Vlad looked up, his lips touching my cheek for just a second before turning and jogging off the porch to meet Henry. Abi ran up beside me, gasping.

And I knew I was going to have to explain myself.

Vlad

I walked in my house, locking the door behind me, seeing the clock on the microwave read 12:30. The light flicked on and Nelly stood in the kitchen doorway, arms crossed.

"Where have you been, young man?" She demanded, her "mom-mode" taking over.

"I walked Henry's cousin's friend home, Nelly. We got bored at the party and I walked her home, alright? Nothing's wrong, Nelly." I sighed, passing her to go upstairs to my room.

I flopped down on my bed, taking off my jacket and kicking off my shoes, thinking about the brown eyed new girl.

A/N: So? Was it a good first chapter? Please tell me what you think!!! Character pics are on my profile!!!

Disclaimer: I don't own Vladimir Tod or any of the original characters. I also don't own Vermillion Pt. 2 by Slipknot.