Halloween in Miami, a whole new reason for extra extravagant parties, drunken displays of stupidity, and a chance for the citizens of earth of open their minds to new ideas. Its also the chance for that which separates normal from paranormal to fall away. So many people dabbling in ghost stories and haunted houses, ghost hunts and contacting the dead.
Sadly, its also a front for criminals causing mass damage. Its at this point of year that the disguises get even more silly then is physically thought possible.
At least that was what was currently going through one persons mind. He'd worked in Miami for longer then he could remember now, as a cop and as a CSI. And now he was spending Halloween chasing some dipstick through what seemed like every narrow alleyway Miami had to offer.
Lieutenant Horatio Caine was PISSED. This guy seemed capable of running for miles. He was the only one after him in foot. In the chase the rest of his team had gotten separated from him, and now he was the only chasing this guy.
The guy shot a look behind him, seen Caine still tearing it after him, and put on a burst of speed, skidding round a corner and into a parking lot.--Geez, when does this cop run outta energy, got to get outta here...--
He seen something flash through the air in front of him, and skidded to a halt as someone landed in front of him. A glint of red eyes..
"No..NOOOOOOOOO!!" Horatio heard the perps terrified scream from up ahead. Wheezing a little he put on speed and entered the car park the guy had escaped into. What he seen made his stomach churn. The perp was lying on the ground, out cold. Some GUY was leaning over the body, right by its neck..
"Hold it right there! Put your hands up and back away!" he yelled at the dark figure. Something about him was weird..
"Well....you found me...how...unfortunate for you...." the guy said as he stood. He didn't look much older then Caine was himself, he had dark red eyes, a pale complexion, and an evil grin on his face.
He started walking towards Horatio, wiping blood from his fingers.
"Hm, tastes not bad...but I bet you're a far tastier treat..."
"STAY BACK!" Horatio yelled at him again, levelling the gun at him. "THATS AN ORDER!"
"How sweet, you think you can order me around..." he glanced from Caine to the perp. "You should be pleased, I caught your little friend for you. You're a lawman by the looks of you. And the way you people wave those weapons around whenever you feel like..."
Was this guy a fruitcake? All Horatio could think was that he was obviously more then a little delusional. Halloween night, vampires...a common association.
"Well unless you fancy one in between your eyes, I'd advise you come with me.." he said calmly, reaching round to his rear pocket, for a set of cuffs for the loony guy. He was interrupted when an ice cold hand clamped around his wrist, yanking it back and up. Another arm locked around his neck, holding him against the guy.
"I wouldn't do that.." he looked at the uniform Horatio wore "Lieutenant Caine...that's a cute name.."
Horatio panicked, how had this guy gotten behind him so fast? It just wasn't possible?
"Now hold still..squriming will only make this harder.."
"What're you-?!" but any questions were silenced as he felt a sudden sharp pain in his neck. Like two pinpricks really. But it was making him so dizzy...
After that he thought no more as he blacked out.
"--tio? Horatio? are you OK?!" he dimly heard a voice coming from somewhere. After a mammoth argument with the connection between his brain and his eyes, he managed to open them.
"H? wakey wakey man..." it was Delko. He looked worried. Why?
Then he remembered. He'd been chasing the guy, then suddenly his memory ran dry...nothing.
He forced himself to sit up, and felt ready to be sick. What had happened?!
"The suspect-" he asked at last.
Delko winced "He was hiding in a trash bin gibbering about glowing red eyes. We thought he'd escaped at first, when we finally caught up, and found you here, we had to stop the chase, we though you were dead. You're as white as a sheet..H?!"
Horatio had forced himself to his feet. There had to be a reason he had no recollection of the chase...why?!
There was the sudden sound of an ambulance siren, and flashing lights pervaded the area, the noise and light making his head hurt even worse...
He felt a hand on his shoulder, Delko's voice trying to get his attention. But he didn't hear it, all he could think was; what happened?!
Then he finally couldn't stay awake, and felt the floor rush up to meet him as he passed out a second time.
Calleigh looked up from the copy of a gun magazine she was reading, and stood up as Delko walked back into the lab.
"How is he? what happened?" she asked. Delko had called to give them brief details of what had happened. It was nearly 1 in the am now, late night shift for her, but she was used to it.
"The doc says he doesn't know how it happened, but that H was suffering from severe anaemia...low blood count. He must've pushed himself too hard chasing that perp, and his body couldn't handle it." He shook his head "doesn't make sense though...H has never had this kind of problem before, he's certainly never mentioned it if he has.."
"Poor H. Will he be off work for long?" Calleigh asked.
"Yeah, docs giving him a week of total rest. Hopefully it wont happen again.."
The last thing poor Horatio Caine was getting was a peaceful rest. He finally fell asleep after some tossing and turning, only to have his mind invaded by nightmares.
Running through seemingly endless dark winding streets, hearing insane laughter all the while. The sight of blood splashed across the floor. A red gleam...and for some reason, red flower petals..
He sat bolt upright in the bed, staring into space, still digesting the fact that'd been a dream. It was morning now, sunlight was streaming in his window. In the halls outside he could hear voices chattering away. He sighed in relief, and glanced over at the digital clock by his bedside...and felt his blood run
cold. There, sitting in the glass of water he'd asked for last night, was a blood red flower. The light seemed to sink into the petals, making the flowers colour all the more vibrant.
He slithered out of the bed, looking round as if the person responsible for leaving it was still there. HE ran to the window, flinging it open. Nothing. Where the hell had it come from?
From the shadows of a large nearby tree, a figure watched.
"Such rare blood. It was worth letting you live my pretty little detective.." he smirked, jumping down from the tree. The sunlight didn't bother him, that was merely a myth people had invented through their inane stories. He still couldn't stand to be out in it for too long, a few hours max was all he could stomach. Indoors was fine, fake lighting didn't upset his...delicate constitution.
He could easily have drained the man to the point where he'd die quickly once left. But that human had had extraordinary blood, which was worth cultivating.
So he'd left him still alive, and had hidden in the shadows, watching as the mans friends came running.
NOW to just figure out a way to stay close to the human. He really was a cute little one, so strong-willed.
He needed to look into him a bit more...
He left for home as soon as the hospital would let him sign himself out. He'd been ordered to take some time off, and quite frankly he felt he needed to.
He wobbled in the door, feeling sleepy again, and got a sight that soon woke him up. There, sitting on the table, was a whole VASE full of those flowers. He backed up, reaching subconsciously for his gun. Was there an intruder?
A quick check revealed there was nothing missing or disturbed. He was baffled. What sort of burglar came in, left a bunch of flowers, then cleared off. He stood, staring at the flowers, unsure what to do with them. He didn't really want to go near them, they creped him out. First the hospital, now his own home.
Was someone stalking him?
In the end he ignored them, and wandered into his bedroom, throwing his jacket over a chair and flopping onto the bed. There, he slowly drifted asleep, too tired to bother changing clothes..
Another dream. This time he was still in Miami, only it had a new look. Gothic almost. People in costumes roamed around him, laughter and voices mingling together into an incomprehensible blur. Nobody seemed to be taking any notice of him. Looking down at himself, he seen his own clothing was different. Some sort of elaborate gothic-styled suit, black and red.
--what the hell is going on??-- he wondered.
"Isn't the party to your liking?" a cold voice enquired. He whipped round, coming face to face with a well-dressed guy with dark hair....and red eyes. Tucked into the breast pocket of his suit was a red flower...
"You..youre the one who.." all he could sputter out was those words. "-those flowers. Who are you?!"
The guy smirked coldly, and grabbed Caine suddenly, pulling the startled CSI close.
"You really don't remember me do you? Well, give it time. You lot are so prone to losing your memories when you your blood, you should keep them somewhere else.."
All this seemed to go right over Caine's head. he just stared at him like he'd sprouted a second head.
Then he seemed to realise something, "It was you...the reason I passed out in a car lot..anemia my ass, you had something to do with this didn't you?!
The guy just laughed at his captives pissed expression. "You haven't a clue, there's something very special about you, your blood that is.."
"This is some sort of delusional nightmare, it makes no logical sense. WHO. Are. YOU?" Horatio snapped, his usual calm tones reappearing in his voice. He broke free from the person trying to hold him, glaring at him, arms folded.
The man looked at him, then laughed loudly "my dear Caine, you'll find out soon enough who I am...now...its time to wake up..."
"NO! not until you answer me-" but he woke up sitting bolt upright on the bed, the shouted words echoing around his apartment. Then he noticed his jacket was laying on his lap, which meant it had to have been placed over him while sleeping. A cold shiver ran up his spine, what was going on? Halloween was over, these sort of pranks should be long over...right?
The rest of the week remained intrusion free, no more flowers, no nightmares...nothing. Calleigh and the others rang a few times to see how he was, but that was it. By the end of the week he'd almost pushed it to the back of his mind. until Calleigh's last message.
He'd been in the shower when the phone had rung, so she'd left a voicemail. In it she'd mentioned a new person would be joining them, apparently transferred from some other CSI unit, highly recommended.
He didn't think much of it as he breezed into the lab. It was another perfect sunny day in Miami, and the fresh air on the way to work had made him feel much better. The incident seemed like nothing but a distant memory. Subconiouslty he scratches at the side of his neck. It had been itching all morning, probably a bug bite, herd see if the lab had any itch relief spray...
He stuck his hands into his pockets, humming softly as he headed towards his office. Up ahead he could already see Calleigh in conversation with the new guy, who had his back to Horatio. Something sparked a memory, had he met the guy before?
He sped up, his footsteps barely brushing the ground as he zipped into the office.
Calleigh spotted him and gave him a jaunty wave "morning' H, feeling all better?"
"Sure am, Cal, it wasn't serious..."
"Oh yeah," she added, prodding the new guy in the ribs with a skinny finger "this here's the big boss, Horatio Caine.."
The guy turned to greet Caine, a charming smile all over his face "Nice to meet you detective.."
Horatio couldn't have felt colder if someone had dumped an entire bucket of ice water down his shirt. A flood of memories assaulted his brain, making that mornings breakfast lurch unsteadily. Somehow controlling it he managed to smile and return the sentiment. It was the same guy from the nightmares, no doubt about it. Why was he here?
He listened vaguely to the guy, catching his name was Joseph Mathius.
Cally got a message on her cell and vanished out of the room to take it, leaving the two alone.
Dropping the pretence Mathius grinned at Caine "told you id see you soon detective, remember me?"
Horatio backed up, jumping slightly when he backed right into his desk. Recovering himself slightly he glared at the guy "what is it you WANT?" If you even DARE go near any of the CSI's I'll.."
Whoosh. behind him again. a hand settled against his lower back, and the voice whispered in his ear "you'll what, "Horatio"? Call the cops? Blurt the truth out?" he laughed, the hand wandering slightly lower, making Horatio freeze like an ice statue "nobody will believe you. Besides, im not here to kill or turn anyone, all I want is your blood. You see, you're something VERY special. think of it this way; ordinary blood is like water to us, but blood like yours is like a fine wine, its intoxicating, a rarity. So im not letting you go just yet, I need you~"
"What makes you think I'll let you? I'm not stupid, you'll still get injured by a bullet same as any other?" Horatio responded, his mind a mess, as he tried to make sense of what he was hearing. Why was nobody coming to the office? Most mornings he was busy taking calls and sorting cases, but now he was alone, the phone silent as the dead. Why?
"I can help you...how many people can track a suspect by the scent of their blood? hm? I can help you catch those cases your fancy technology cant...not to mention I got a few friends I can call on?"
"Oh? I'm supposed to just let the forces of evil run my lab? don't be ridiculous!" Horatio snapped, turning to face him, angry as hell by now.
"Then let me put it this way. I'm not the only one in this city. You've been lucky so far, none of our kind has wandered within the radius needed to pick up your scent. But last night you ran right to me. But im not alone, there are others in the city, others there that night. Some are not as gentle, they would tear your throat out just to drink the blood. So that's why I had to mark you myself, I have no desire to kill you.."
Seeing Horatio incredulous expression he laughed "I know you don't believe me, so ill show you.." out of view of the others in the lab, he grabbed H's hand.
More memories flooded in, this time not the detectives own. They showed images of a visceral nightmare. People being attacked just as the guy said, blood everywhere, victims left for dead, throats ripped out, drained dry as husks...
The sensation was too strong, Horatio tore his hand free and pelted right towards the nearest bathroom, almost running Delko down as he did.
"H? What's up?" he heard his colleagues voice behind him but eh couldn't stop to chat. To his relief he got to the sink in time, where that mornings breakfast regretfully discharged itself.
"H?" it was Delko again outside the door "Mind if I come in?"
All Horatio could manage was a cough, but luckily Delko took that as a yes and walked in.
"Geez you're white as a sheet, what'd you eat H?"
The Csi shook his head, managing a weak grin "guess that big breakfast was a bad idea Delko, the hospital did say to take it easy..."
Delko didn't look like he believed him, but luckily he let it drop, motioning back out at the hall. H followed him, rubbing at his eyes and sighing. His mind was still a jumble, but he knew he had to do something. Even if it did mean believing this guy whacked out tale. The images had been so strong, the creatures depicted so depraved.
The rest of that morning he could fell Mathius' eyes on him, every time he met caines faze he smirked. One time he walked past him in the hall he whispered "got to make a choice detective, me. Or them?"
"Calleigh?"
"Mm?"
"You notice anything funny about H?"
Calleigh Duquesne looked up from her case file as Delko spoke.
"Well, he didn't look a little fidgety when I was introducing him to the new guy. For a second he looked really sort of...wigged out, I guess.."
Delko nodded "something's up. I was coming up to his office when he suddenly comes tearing out of and into the bathroom. From the sounds of it he was being sick..."
They were both silent, wondering what was wrong. Horatio wasn't the type to normally show if he was unsettled, but after he'd collapsed on the chase, he'd been a little off-kilter.
Calleigh smiled at last "im sure he's fine, he did lose a lot of blood, anyone's be a little freaked out by that, the hospital probably put him on meds or something, maybe that's why he's feeling ill, sometimes certain foods and drugs don't mix well.."
Delko accepted this with an eventual nod "yeah, its just weird seeing him of all people acting spooked. But your right, im sure he'll fine.."
Calleigh beamed and he smiled back, grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting down on the couch..
End of shift, Horatio was alone. Poking his head out of his office he looked around. Nobody there.
Grabbing his things he snuck out of his office, into the elevator and out of the building. It was dark now, a light rain was falling.
He glanced around, making sure nobody was following him, well, Mathius anyway. Then he walked quickly towards his car, almost diving into the seat in hurry.
Seating himself in the vehicle he let out a sigh of relief. He was getting paranoid now, it was all just a joke, the new guy was winding him up. Right?
But deep down he knew it was no joke. He HAD been drained to passing out point by that guy, he'd been shown images of others like him....
He could hardly bring himself to say it. Vampires? It sounded insane.
The drive home he pushed it out of his mind, stopping off to grab a take out, he didn't want to cook that night. He got some a short time later, ambling up the steps to his apartment, unlocking the door and stepping into the warmth of his own home. He let his back rest against the door as he heard it automatically lock behind him.
"Welcome back my dear detective~" a voice butted in.
His stomach sank. Oh god.
"What are you DOING? I thought you had to-"
"Be invited in, that's only if its someone who's unmarked. Since you're my little detective I can come and go as I please....the laws have changed"
"I'm not your anything, get out!" Horatio said calmly "leave me alone. Its one thing you prattling along at work, now you're stalking me?!"
"I just wanted to ask if you'd made a decision my dear detective.."
"Decision?"
"Yes, which is it to be, I stay at your lab and watch over you, and help you work, OR I leave and leave you a walking target for those in the memories..."
Horatio didn't answer. Truthfully it was making him angry he was being railroaded into his decision.
Mathius stepped closer, studying caines expression as he spoke, "I know what you're thinking, but trust me. I CAN help you.."
"But what's the catch?" Horatio said at last with a triumphant stance "like hell you're doing this for free, you WANT something from me don't you?" he realised just what sort of payments it'd want "you want blood, don't you....? You need it.."
"Bravo detective, you're absolutely right. I WOULD need a little "donation" as it were, from you every now again. Downside is of course is you'll pass out right after. But," he shrugged "at least you'll live. Compared to some its a good offer.."
He was right in front of H now, leaving the detective no room to back away.
"At the risk of sounding melodramatic, you'd also be protecting your lab. Their blood would also be a treasure to the more violent ones, they'd never stop at just you, some have a very voracious appetite. I can keep tabs on the others, make sure their safe.."
"But why?" Horatio blurted out "why are you so damn nice to humans if supposedly your race as it were doesn't normally care.."
Mathius chuckled "I like humans, they're resourceful, they're interesting. I like to study you, learn about you, how your civilization changes all the time. Killing loads of you would put a real damper on that, so I always leave enough blood for my targets to keep on living.." he looked closely at Caine "so whets it to be detective..?"
After what felt like an eternity horatio realised he literally was between a rock and a hard place. Catch 22. Dammed if he did, damned if he didn't. May as well go with the least homicidal option.
Mathius chuckled as he heard his target mumble what barely passed for an affirmative.
"Good detective~ Don't worry, ill look after you and your lab~"
But Horatio just shivered and finally edged free from the close quarters.
"Leave" was all he said.
Reluctantly leaving the precious target, the vampire as Horatio now called him, opened the door and left.
Resisting the urge to be sick again, Horatio reluctantly set the take out bags down on the counter. His appetite had been dampened by the deal he'd just been forced to make, but he knew he had to eat. Otherwise the team would cop on he wasn't acting right..
He had to keep this a secret..