Black Widow: Look, the second part our series! I'm surprised we've made it so far ^_^ I guess since I have a co-author I can't forget like I usually do. 'Sides, it's a pleasure to write with Sayori pokes the co-author with a wide grin. Thank her for the wonderfully done beginning.

The Crimson Wave

Chapter 1 – Confrontation of Sires

By Black Widow and Sayori

Even at night the air is unbelievably warm, Shido thought, looking up at the darkened sky. There were so many stars out already. He was a little surprised. Residing in a large city had kept him from their sight and them from his. He didn't remember seeing such a number of them together, or shinging so brightly.


Shaking his head at himself, he dropped his whimsical line of thought and urged the horse he had come across onward. Guni, disturbed from her resting-place behind the thick sections of hair that always escaped his ponytail, poked her head out from the violet mess.


"Are we there yet?" Her little voice echoed in the emptiness.


"Not yet, Guni. Patience. It's just a bit further." The crested a small hill, and before them spread open like a book were the ruins they sought.

Guni pouted some; he could hear it in her voice when she spoke. "But I'm hungry, and this is silly! Ends of the earth for what? A book. You should have bought him one in a store." She had maneuvered herself until she sat near the edge of his shoulder. Her little arms were crossed across her chest when he looked at her.


"Guni... " The creature quieted, but still humphed occasionally. It mattered little. They were there and he had to find this journal he had been sent for.


He was good at what he did, he thought, for Cyric. He had retrieved a few articles, and brought them back unharmed. Himself not so lucky every time, but everything he retrieved was in perfect condition... or at least kept in the shape he had found it. Many of the things he went after were very old, and decaying as he watched it seemed.

He left the horses reins in the ground, only needing to look the creature in the eyes to get it to stat. Animals were much easier to convince than human beings. For her own safety, Guni was left with the horse, though she whined.

The ruins were everywhere, but the biggest collections of the pieces of the fallen library were in the center. He had to climb over quite a few pieces of rubble, some as tall as he.
He didn't feel any other presences, thankfully. Cyric had assigned to him a guard a few months before he had started "treasure hunting", and while the gesture was thoughtful, the man was annoying. He wasn't used to being followed everywhere he went, or having someone leap in at unexpected moments. Where the other vampire as now, he did not know. He must have gotten distracted.


The library was mainly rubble decayed beyond color or texture, but the center had been preserved to the point of recognition. A fountain had warped in the sun, worn down from the rain, and colored from the air, but it was still obviously a fountain. According to rumor, what he wanted would be in the fountain's base. He just had to get it. And that was going to be a pain in neck.


He crouched by the base, intent upon finding a weak spot so he could do less work. So riveted he to his "mission", that he did not feel the very air around him darken considerably as a presence arrived. Sadly he didn't hear Guni shout once, and only once, either. He was tapping the stone with his knuckles, thinking perhaps this might be a good spot, when the dry scent of dust was overtaken by something so terribly familiar. Cloves, musk, and the wild scent of blood infected the air with its pungency. Freezing, Shido felt as though his blood had gone ice cold.


The sickening sweet voice he still heard in his nightmares practically purred to him as a finger stroked down the bones of his spine, "Shido, on the ground? How bohemian of you, pet."


The young vampire bolted from kneeling on the floor to standing panicked. He fought to stop it, but the panic seized him completely and he could not move at all, or so it felt.
"Aren't you glad to see your Sire? Bad manners lovely, such bad manners. I raised you better than that." The sugary, low voice took on a harsh tone as Cain drew close and fisted his hand in the thick mass of lavender. There was anger in the blonde's face as he jerked Shido to him. "You smell of him..."


Cyric prowled the ruins, ghosting through the shadows and moonlight like a ghost. His Children had alerted him of Cain's movements from Transylvannia toward Morocco only hours ago. He was angry, not at Shido or Cain, but the Child he'd placed to protect his Youngling. The damn thing had gotten drunk on a Whore, who was no longer alive, the victim of his anger.

During the months that passed of Shido's career as Treasure Hunter, he'd grown even more fond and caring toward him. He'd fully claimed him, his blood coursing through Shido's veins, not Cain's. And now Cain had found his songbird. Cain was going to die before the night was through.

"Oh Shido, you're made mistakes before, but this..." the elder sighed in disappointment. "This is so disappointing. I had though you would know better. Silly pet." Cain stroked a finger along the creamy jawline, and was unhappy to see Shido wince at his touch. "Have you forgotten little one? It was my name you used to pant and moan. Not his." The growl in his voice chilled Shido further. Cain was territorial, and perhaps striking an alliance with Cyric had been in poor taste, as the blonde before him was insisting.

"Cain..." he finally managed to find his voice, but his original master cut him off.

"Home, Shido. That is where we are going, and I don't want to hear anything out of you. You have made enough trouble for long enough." The heavy accent softened the raw edges of his words, but it did nothing to dull the panic that flared back up.

Struggling against the blonde, Shido tried desperately to get away. The hand in his hair was many times stronger than he had grown to be, and he could not shake it free from him. Snarling, Cain slammed him against the fountain.

The next thing Shido would have known was that his Sire was landing on his ass not 20 feet away. Cyric straightened from his position of throwing Cain. The fool hadn't seen him coming. "Are you alright, lovely?" He turned his attention to the violet-haired vampyre, fingertips resting against his cheek. A frown pulled the corners of his mouth.

Nodding a few times, Shido managed a smile- completely fake and painfully obvious that it was so. Wincing, he rubbed the back of his head. That deathgrip on his head had really hurt, partly because he hadn't expected it to.


Cain was up and practically snarling. That was HIS pet.

Ignoring Cain, he batted away Shido's hand, his own fingers massaging the sore flesh. Penetrating the others shields, he drew the pain into his mind, sorting it out and dealing with it. Once you faced the pain, it hurt less.

"Thank you." His words were sincere and so was his smile this time. Remembering the whole reason he had been in pain, Shido looked over Cyric's shoulder, eyes wide.
"He's gone..!"

Cyric seriously doubted that and when he cast his senses out, he knew otherwise. He pulled Shido to him, not as a shield from the other vampyre, but to protect his songbird from Cain. Every hair stood on end and the white sclera of his eyes bled red, a true testament to his anger.

Having to rely on what he could see and smell, Shido, glad to be hidden partly, looked about as best he could. He could still smell Cain, though Cyric was what he smelled most. He should be able to take care of himself, he kept thinking, but Cain was a bird of a different color. Anyone but him.. anyone but him and he could handle it or figure out how to get away. Cain was impossible to defeat in his mind.

Cain prowled closely, watching and stewing in his anger. Had Cyric not grabbed Shido then he would have swooped in and taken his little one, but the elder had moved just as he should have. Irritated, the blonde's eyebrow twitched.

"I know you're out there, Cain." Cyric let his voice carry on the air, knowing the other would hear him. "If you want to live, turn around and go home. Never look at my songbird again. But if death is what you truly wish, then I invite you to try and take him."

Age was supposed to bring wisdom and patience, but Cain was finding it hard to keep the latter. That was his possession in the other vampire's arms. He had found him, made him, taught him. They had destroyed villages together. Of all his children Shido was the most perfect, even though the boy had gone terribly awry.

Cyric had twice the power he did, twice the years- if not more. As powerful as he liked to think he was, Cain knew better. He wouldn't try this one alone. Backing up, he turned and retreated. He was leaving now, but he'd be back. Even with Cyric in Shido's veins, Cain knew everything his little one did.

The bleached vampyre smiled at the retreating sounds of the other Sire. "Let's go Shido." Reaching out with his telepathy, he contacted Azizir and got him on the ball collecting his Children.

"Hold on..." Shido planted his feet, looking at Cyric in what could be construed as an insulted manner.

Cyric stopped. "What is it, songbird?"

He obviously thought Cyric should already know, but he replied anyway. "I am not done.." With that he crouched near the base of the fountain, tapping the same spot. When Cain had thrust his body against it as hard as he had, it had knocked some parts lose, alleviating the pressure on the one spot Shido wanted. He tapped again, then broke through the stone with his fist. Fishing about in the dark of the interior, his face brightened when he found what he had bent sent to find. As he pulled his hand out he winced. The rocks cut into his skin and his hand was bleeding when he examined the journal. Being so small, the little gashes healed immediately though the red streaks stayed. "You sent me here to find it. I wouldn't leave without it."

Cyric smiled and shook his head. "Thank you, love." He took Shido's hand, licking the blood off it.

Grinning slightly, Shido asked "Where's your other pet?" The one time he really needed the guy... oh well. These things happened.

Cyric scowled. "He got himself drunk on a whore."

Shido laughed, a nervous twinge infecting it (Cain could be anywhere after all), but it was genuinely amused. "It happens," he said in an attempt to soothe his Master.

But Cyric wasn't one to be soothed at that moment. "Let's get back, we'll be getting visitors tonight and tomorrow."

"So soon?" Shido sighed, speaking mainly to himself. He hopped up on top of one of the medium-sized pieces of rubble, then down onto another. He could see their respective sizes from the height, and it was much easier to get down than up. Guni met him halfway, looking bedraggled.

"That count Dracula wannabe tried to kill me!" She dove into Shido's hair, poking her tiny green face out near his ear. "He's evil! And he smells bad too. I'm surprise he doesn't have dogs following him!" Nodding curtly once, she disappeared back into the folds of his hair and stayed there.

Cyric shook his head and turned his attention out over the desert. He didn't like deserts very much. Not ever since his turning. The only reason he had a home in Cairo was because the land was cheap.

The horse had spooked, and run behind a set of ruins. Shido had to track the creature down and was none too pleased about it. The beast was still shaking from its fear of Cain. Shido softened, He felt the same way. Patting the horse soothingly, he looked over his shoulder for Cyric. The elder had grown quiet, more so than normal, and Shido was slightly worried. Not that he'd admit it aloud, but he was just the same.

As if reading his thoughts, Cyric flashed him a comforting smile. He moved to Shido's side, laying a hand on the horse's neck. "Your riding back?"

"Well, I bought her, I might as well." He smiled. "Want a ride? You can steer."

"No, I can keep up on ground."

"Of course you can." Mounting the still skittish mare carefully, he eyed his master. "Are you going to be alright?"

Baring his fangs in a dangerous smile, he nodded. "Of course." I haven't hunted a Sire in years, he thought to himself, this will be fun.

Nodding, Shido turned himself and the beast towards town. Having not ridden in what felt like forever, he was thrilled to be on a horse again. He let the mare out at a trot. Once he gave her full rein she took advantage of it and skipped cantering. Galloping was his favorite thing on horseback, and he could not restrain a laugh as it bubbled out of him. He had always considered riding thrilling.

Cyric ran alongside the mare, keeping easy pace with her. After all, he was an Elder, and he had ran all the way from Cairo. This was nothing.

Shido was startled to see Cyric easily keeping pace. He shouldn't have been, but he was. He laughed at that. Only when he saw the town approaching quickly did he slow the horses' frantic galloping. She resisted, but he persisted until she was brought down to a walk.

Matching the horse's paces, the Elder slowed down as well. He wasn't even panting from running, looking as fresh as he had when he'd thrown Cain. "That is a very fine horse."

Nodding at his master's comment, Shido ran a hand along the horse's neck. He liked he beast well enough. "She is. I'll have to see to it that whoever I sell her to before we leave will take good care of her. She's very quick and not too skittish. She deserves a home where someone will treat her well."


Tilting his head, the Ancient looked over the mare. "I will. How much for her?" He ran his bleached hands through the dark mane and over the chest muscles.

"Are you serious?" Startled the blue-eyed vampire at his companion. He hadn't meant Cyric should buy her. He had just been thinking aloud.

"I've already told you, songbird, I am always serious." He smiled at his lovelings startled expression...

"Of course, but-" He honestly couldn't think of anything to say. Stopping the mare completely, he dismounted. He'd rather walk through town. He didn't feel as "in control " of himself or his surroundings on horseback. He was more vulnerable up there, then by the creature's side. He kept the reins in his hands just in case something or someone should spook the horse suddenly.

The Ancient attached himself to Shido's side, senses still hyper aware. "She will be yours, I will house her at my estate in Cairo."

"Cairo?" This was turning into an interesting conversation. "Egypt?" Shido's eyebrows raised a bit. It wasn't too far away, considering, but still...

"Yes, Egypt." Escorting the violet-haired vampyre into town was easy, considering that most left the other alone from the sight of the albino creature beside him. Dogs stayed in the alleys and the cats just regarded them with a miffed air and went back to their hunting.

Shido fell silent. Noting the emptiness of the streets, he smiled a bit. They must be a rather odd, if not intimidating, sight. The horse's shoulder twitched under his hand and she sighed softly. He sighed too, and smiled in amusement. He did like this horse.

"Which hotel are you at, lovely?" Cyric had given the choice of hotels to his Child, the same one that had gotten drunk. He had made sure with each job, that Shido got only the best hotel in the city/town. The Ancient couldn't help it he pampered his songbird.

Shido stopped suddenly again. "I don't know... That guard you assigned picked the hotel." He paused and looked about again. "I don't remember where it is..."

Cyric hung his head for a minute, white hair falling into his face. He was hiding the smile on his face, the very large smile. It was all he could do not to laugh. His Youngling amused him very much it was so cute.

Blushing for the millionth time, Shido muttered something about thinking the other vampire would be walking back with him. The horse, bored, tossed its head then nudged the vampire after a moment. He patted the strong shoulder near him, and tried to think of where his hotel was.

The older one raised his head finally, face smooth and under control. "Don't worry about it, we'll get a room at the closest hotel."

"Won't your other child be at the hotel? He would be confused if we never showed." Shido had yet to learn his bodyguard's name. They hardly ever spoke to each other, after all.

"He'll be fine."

"But...." He sighed and smiled somewhat. "If you say so." Where was the other vampire? Still with the whore? After this long, hardly. Curious and yet unwilling to ask, Shido switched lines of thought. "We'll stay where you pick." He was, for one, not sure what was what in the town. For two, it was best to let those who knew what they were doing lead.

Cyric quickly found a Mediterranean style hotel, complete with separate 'cabins'. He reserved the best cabin for the both of them, a one bedroom house-like cabin with a kitchenette and living room. He smiled at the thought of the whirlpool tub. He was going to try and get Shido into that as soon as he could.

The next thing he did was get rooming for the mare. Just as he pampered his songbird, he made sure the mare got a bath, warm mash and the best box stall in the stable.

Protective already, Shido made sure the mare was settled comfortably and in good hands before he went to the room, which he was surprised to see was actually a miniature house almost. He was hesitant, and took a few moments to look the outside of the place over. His eyes strayed to the street. A vagrant moved slowly through the center of the road, distracting Shido. He could smell the man from his position near the door. Unbeknownst to him, his nose crinkled and eyes narrowed. It was a rather repulsive odor.

His new Sire approached from behind, wrapping his arms around his neck. "Do you like it, ragazzo?"

Jumping slightly at first, Shido smiled and forced a laugh. "The cabin, certainly. "

Cyric nuzzled his neck, planting tiny kisses and nips to the creamy skin. "You should see what's in the bathroom." He smiled against his skin, red eyes sparkling.

"The bathroom?" He almost hadn't replied, too busy enjoying what Cyric was doing. Curiosity got the best of him, and he found himself yearning to discover what lie ahead. "What is in the bathroom?" Hopefully it wasn't alive.

"It's not alive, lovely." A small chuckle left the others throat, breathe caressing Shido's neck. "Go look." He softly ordered, letting the other go with a kiss.

~~T.B.C.~~

Author's Note: Feed us! 4 reviews or no new chappies!