Chapter One: Rising Dust

This will be edited so it fits within the M criteria, for an unedited version please see archive of our own. Where I have several stories under the same name. Anyway, here we go.

The death of Christopher Pike had shaken one of the oldest vampire covens in the world. In a world ravaged by hunters and rogue vampires their coven had managed to fight back from extinction. But at what cost? Pike was dead, a rival coven bent on destroying humanity had taken him out, after centuries on earth he was taken from the coven with a stake through his heart and his head severed from his shoulders. His protégé, almost as old as Pike himself, 'Spock' was left devastated and his oldest friend Leonard, older even than Pike was left with command of a coven, a command neither he nor Spock coveted. In the search for a leader for their coven the two had sought a strong vampire from the rogues hoping to train and present him as their leader, it is possible they were too rash with their decision, grief clouding their judgment.

An old warehouse was where they finally found him, their rogue turned leader. The poor creature was swimming in a pool of his own blood, his head separated from his shoulders. Above him, two vampires looked down at the carnage.

"This is less than ideal" the taller of the two spoke

"No shit" the rough tones of the second travelled through the warehouse, echoing back towards them. His hazel eyes flashing to gold in his anger. Turning up dust he walked closer to the corpse, his mouth turning up in a scowl. Kicking at the head dejectedly, he watched as it rolled with a sickening squelch as the congealed blood stuck to floor and flesh. This depend the scowl on the man's face and he stepped back, his hands going to tug at his hair.

"He has the worst timing!" he hollered spinning back around to the other man who merely nodded, a thoughtful look on his face, his dark eyes squinting. Neither of them having the time or the inclination to grieve over the loss of their "leader" when they had more important matters to deal with.

The taller man finally looked up towards the first, his lips in a tight line "You will have to assume leadership of the coven" he said, a hint of warning in his voice.

"Fuck that, Spock"

"Leonard" the warning become a solid thing, reflected in his posture as he squared his shoulders, the other merely snarled and spun away from the confrontation. His shoulders tense.

"Not gonna happen hobgoblin" He spat out, kicking at the torso of their past leader viciously "Fucking useless trash"

"He lasted longer than I anticipated" the one called Spock breathed out, turning away, a disapproving frown plastered to his face as he watched the other kick at the torso of their fallen leader.

"He lasted a week!" Leonard spat, letting go of his hair with a heavy breath.

"Exactly"

"You knew this wasn't going to work!" the man with the golden hued eyes accused, jabbing a finger into the others chest

"True, I did voice my concern several times over. As you say, it is slim pickings at the moment. Our race is not exactly thriving" Spock simply raised an eyebrow at the prodding "You picked him up from the streets, he was a good fighter but hardly a leader"

"Where do you suggest we look for one then?" The one called Leonard slumped in defeat, a tired expression crossing his features "None in our coven have the inclination to lead, except perhaps Sulu"

"He is not ready"

"No" A heavy silence fell over the room, the dust settling around them.

"We need new blood, ensure they won't be recognized. I can pass them off as an old prodigy of Pike's"

"They will be able to tell that their blood is weak. Young"

"I'll make them"

"You have never…"

"Then it's about time isn't it?"

"There is always the option of joining with Jean-Luc's coven"

"I won't have it" the older vampire snapped, his golden eyes flashing "Pike would… he wouldn't have it"

"Very well"

"Find a soldier, a leader of the humans, the best you can. I'll do the rest" at this the vampires were quiet, their stillness revealing their otherworldliness as they waited for day to become night, neither wanting to brave the sewers once more.