Author's Notes- Hello all. I've read a few Transformers vampire fics of recent and so am trying my hand at my own. If anyone knows who originally came up with the idea please tell me and I will happily give credit.

For those who missed Healing and are interested in my M/MA-rated fics- Praise, The Seeker and The Medic, Acid Rain, Traitors United, You Are Enough, Purgatory and An Accident One- Eagle have been moved to archiveofourown- the link is on my profile.

Warnings- Major Character Death (I cannot stress that one enough), descriptions of injuries, angst, violence and Transformer swearing. (There will be multiple pairings and interfacing in future chapters which will be posted on archiveofourown, with the possibility of some non-con later).

Disclaimer- I do not own Transformers or its characters, and I don't make any profit off this work.

Transformers Fics Units of Time:- Astrosecond- 1 second, Klik- 1 minute, Cycle- 1 hour, Orn- 1 day, Decacycle- 1 week, Meta-cycle- 1 month, Solar cycle- 1 year, Vorn- 1 million years.

Italics- Link speak.

Bold- Comm speak.

Unbetaed.

All mistakes are my own.

Hope you all enjoy it.

The Coven

Chapter One- Mutation

If the Autobot's plan had worked it would have dealt a decisive blow to the Decepticon faction to which it would not have recovered. It was near flawless considering the information they had and Prowl, newly arrived on Earth, predicted an 89% chance of success.

It was just a shame the data they had, though carefully and meticulously built up over the vorns, was incomplete.

They knew the Decepticons were getting increasingly desperate for energon, to the point that they may even walk into an obvious trap if the potential reward was high enough. Soundwave would no doubt recommend they go out in force if the undertaking was considered so it would be a dangerous mission for those going.

The snipers, Prime, Ratchet, Ironhide, Que…

For those remaining behind it would be a nerve wracking and tense wait for the return of their comrades. Jazz would be waiting for his bondmate and Bumblebee for his beloved mentor amongst others.

It would just be a question of whether or not Megatron took the bait and who he selected to bring along or send in his stead. That was where the 11% chance of failure came in. The element of surprise would only work once and so, if the mechs who arrived were not high enough in rank to cause significant damage, then the plan would have to be abandoned and tried again at a later date.

Optimus had wrestled with his conscience over Que's proposal for almost a solar cycle and it was only when he was guaranteed that those infected would not suffer more than necessary and the risk to the human race became intolerable that he gave his approval.

Part of his spark still rebelled at the idea so he decided to go along with the others, to accept full responsibility for what he had authorised.

As arranged all humans were evacuated orns before and a major oil refinery was supposedly left completely abandoned, worldwide media advertising the fact by stating the structure had been found to be unstable and was in need of immediate repair before work could resume.

A ploy so obvious Soundwave couldn't miss its true nature but a prize so valuable the potential benefit could feasibly outweigh the risk.

The tyrant may even come himself out of sheer arrogance and gall…

'But Master-'

'Silence!' Megatron snapped at his second, 'you are not going and that is final!' Grabbing Starscream he pulled the Seeker into a deep kiss, wrapping his arms tightly around the slender frame. I will not allow harm to come to you.

Shivering the SIC responded, clutching at the former gladiator. I'm… not weak…

I know little one I know, the Commander sighed at his flier's insecurity, venting cold air across Starscream's thinner armour. But I still want you to remain here. To be safe and to provide back-up if necessary.

The Air Commander slumped submissively into Megatron's grip, wings enclosing around as much of the Warlord's bulk as they could. Fine, I'll stay; he conceded forlornly, missing the thrill of battle and systems beginning to protest how long he'd been without the sky.

I know you ache to fly and I give you my word you will, just not this time. The Decepticon Lord soothed, one servo caressing Starscream's back and wings. His free appendage rose to cradle his lover's helm protectively. Soon.

Their lip components parted and they rubbed their faceplates together. 'I'll be waiting…' The Seeker murmured, projecting love and understanding in their fledgling link.

'I know,' Megatron murmured, 'stay near the monitors.'

'Be careful Master,' Starscream whispered into his bondmate's chassis as he nodded, nuzzling it with a soft sigh, wings flicking anxiously.

Megatron reached the fleshling's planet, touching down with a grunt and threatening roar of engines to challenge any who may be hiding in the vast metal structure, sensing his brother close by.

If Optimus is here so will be his soldiers…

Shockwave hit the ground a respectful few feet behind his leader, his pedes automatically taking two steps forward to compensate for the impact, frame radiating heat and a shining orange briefly burned on his armour.

The rest of the army were only astroseconds behind them, their senses snapping into high alert as they landed, optics carefully searching the surrounding terrain and noting with a twist in their tanks the amount of hiding places the area possessed.

Soundwave was right, it had to be a trap, but the scent of life-giving oil permeated the air; the starving mechs could almost taste it, desperation making them both brave and foolish.

They started forward only to hear their leader's fusion cannon charging up and the large mech snarl warningly. Glancing at him fearfully, the soldiers backed off bowing their helms. 'No one is to do anything reckless,' he warned, optics darkening cruelly, 'unless they want to be recycled on return to base.'

The threat had the desired effect, and Megatron watched with satisfaction as his mechs fell into their squads and began to cautiously patrol the area leaving him and his adviser standing at the entrance.

Throwing his sensors wide, the Decepticon Lord advanced, helm sliding slowly from one side to the other as his optics carefully searched each crevice and shadow. Seeing Starscream's memories as they bonded had taught him the merits of subtlety and restraint, helping him to learn to be patient when circumstances called for it.

Though there were plans to check the rooftops, the Decepticons never reached them.

As the Warlord and his aid reached the centre, Megatron froze and raised his servo to warn the scientist. A moment later there was a short zinging noise like a tiny streamlined object tearing through the air and the former gladiator instinctively threw up his cannon to deflect it. Instead of bouncing off, the object, a metallic dart of some kind, embedded itself firmly into the weapon.

Staring at it bemused, Megatron's optic ridges narrowed and he stared at the chimney he was sure the shot had come from. Take cover, he ordered through the comm lines, they're-

Optimus burst through a building and took his older brother to the ground, Ironhide just behind him charging over to Shockwave and beginning to wrestle with him.

A furious but short struggle began between each of the two pairs of mechs. Ironhide simply aiming to keep his massive Decepticon combatant still long enough for Bluestreak to make his shot; while Optimus grabbed Megatron's servo to extend the tyrant's arm into the sky and expose it clearly to the patient snipers.

Growling viciously, the Warlord tried to throw his brother off of him, digging his claws mercilessly into the Autobot Commander's lower abdomen to fiercely attack the inner circuitry. 'What… is the meaning of this?' He snarled into the red and blue mech's face but his younger brother didn't answer, simply staring at him with sad but determined optics.

Another dart slashed through the air, slicing through the scientist's thick back armour with ease, and Shockwave fell spasming to the ground as his enemy released him before falling still, ventilations ceasing altogether.

On board the Nemesis Soundwave, the cycloptic mech's mate, felt their link snap and then… reconnect, the shock jolting him painfully into stasis lock on the Command Deck. Starscream turned to face his comrade and made to walk towards him before he too felt his bond break and then reclose, falling back into place. Clutching the metal above his spark tightly enough to leave scores in the metal, the Seeker's sight faded and he hit the ground with a harsh clang that echoed around the ship as mech after mech went through the same sensation. Those who remained standing could only stare, bewildered, as their comrades dropped helplessly to the metallic floors of their home.

Optimus watched the light fade from his brother's optics and wrapped his arm around the tyrant's waist to lower him carefully to the ground as Megatron's struggles faded, the strength leaving the Warlord's frame.

'I… I'm sorry… brother,' he whispered the old word one more time before standing to face his mechs who were gradually emerging from their hiding places or withdrawing from their respective fallen opponents. Turning his back on his brother, Optimus opened his mouth to address his approaching SIC before a choked off gasp of pain was wrenched from his vocaliser. Looking down, he was shocked to see an energon blade protruding from his chassis.

Confusion blurred his senses for a moment before a tearing agony seared through him as the blade was forcibly jerked, twisting slightly, from his frame and he was shoved roughly to the ground.

Prowl watched horror-stricken as his leader struck the dirt, dust seeming to wrap around the Prime's frame as his colours slowly faded and bright orange mech blood oozed out of him to pool beneath him on the ground. Optimus's optics, in his last moments locking his gaze with his tactician's, shuttered after a few small blinks. Just before he stepped into the Well, he sensed his older brother's life force come back in their link as it had done once before but it was… mutated somehow.

Something had gone catastrophically wrong.

Summoning one last burst of strength he hollered run! Retreat! over the open comm line and then faded completely.

Megatron stood, optics fixated hungrily on Prowl's neck and scenting the air, and the SIC forced himself to react, reiterating his leader's last order as the previously lifeless bodies of the Decepticons stood and began to look around them with ravenous and angry looks marring their faceplates.

Instead of the blood-red Prowl was used to seeing in the optics of his enemies, the orbs shined and seemed to pulse with a fire-like purple, flickers of silvery white occasionally flashing in the centres.

Flipping into a transformation, hearing the others following suit, the black and white mech sped off with the rest of his comrades following on closely behind.

Suddenly weary, grief beginning to set in and disrupt his normally logical programming, the Autobot second-in-command reluctantly contacted their base.

89% had not been enough and it would never be in Prowl's opinion ever again.

Megatron watched them depart, his soldiers coming to him making soft questioning mewls. Looking down on them he smirked cruelly, sight flicking up to the sky where he sensed home was.

What to do? Go after prey or head for home?

The tyrant looked back to the dust being kicked up behind his enemies, a wonderful natural energon source, and made a crowing noise with his vocaliser signalling the beginning of a hunt.

Flipping into a transformation at their Master's order the mechs sped off after their quarry.

Laughing, the sound coming out like the howl of a wolf, Megatron followed his minions, chasing them as they tried to catch the fleeing Autobots. He nipped and bumped at their rear ends if they fell behind the others, making sure they kept up, smirking inwardly at their audible whimpers.

Eventually they did manage to catch some of the slower members of the opposite faction. Motormaster managed to wrap his servos around Bluestreak, transforming to grab the Praxian's rear bumper before Prowl span around, wheels screeching, to protect his younger brother. Firing on the massive Decepticon, he managed to get a lucky shot to the Stunticon's faceplates, forcing Motormaster's grip to loosen and allowing the terrified silver Datsun to shoot off, engines audibly straining to keep up with the speed the sniper wanted them to go at.

Several mechs fell to the Decepticons as the Autobots frantically tried to get away, to the ships they had arrived on and relative safety, including Que. Ironhide yelled out a warning too late as Shockwave snatched the inventor from the ground and tore into the Autobot's throat, the ever-curious ocean blue fading from Que's optics in moments.

The technician's deactivation motivated the others to maximise their speed, especially when they noted that their weapons seemed ineffectual against whatever the majority of the Decepticon faction had become, any wound they sustained healed almost instantly and the blasts that managed to hit them didn't seem to slow them down.

When the Decepticons had captured six victims, the Warlord called a halt to the pursuit, and the mechs settled to feed from their screaming forms.

Each was soon drained dry and the mutated mechs settled onto the ground, engines purring in contentment, their hunger mostly sated for the moment.

Some, however, began to feel strange as if there was something they were missing, Megatron himself included.

One by one their optics were drawn to the cloudy sky, knowing somehow that what they were aching for was up there beyond the layers of air. They looked once more to their leader who gestured firmly upwards with his helm. Standing they headed into the sky, excitement rife in the air as they wondered what they might find.

Bursting out into space, the remade Decepticons headed for home.

All future chapters will be MA and so will only be posted in their edited forms here. The full version will be posted at archiveofourown- see link on my profile.

For those interested- don't worry I have given up on none of my other stories and am working on updates. The coding for Truce and Praise will be fixed as soon as possible.

Also I'm betaing a fic for The-writing-Mew featuring a vampire character (set in the past about Starscream's sire) and I would recommend reading it when it gets published. Edit 22/7/2012- First chapter has been published :-) and the story is titled Dear diary, dear Primus.

Thank you for reading. Hope you all enjoyed it and please review.