Master of the Twin Cities
Author's Note : This story follows directly on from The Vampire Vigilante, and is 98% Original Characters. Illustration for cover art for part four found on the internet: Minneapolis Skyline, Minnesota - Pen and Ink Stock Illustration from inkart . net.
Author's Note 2: Again with thanks to my roommate (and beta), Jake; without her able input and encouragement, this story would never have been written. Begun 10/16/12; completed 11/3/12. . Story is complete, and will be posted spaced out over several days.
Disclaimer: (applies to all subsequent chapters; I'm not gonna write this over every time.) All rights to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Series belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy; Any Humans and Vampires that you might recognize are his. All others are mine; I'll put his back without too much damage when I'm done playing with them. Some situations referred to are taken from both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Series, but I'm too lazy to go looking them up to specifically footnote them. I originally read about the concept of the Vampiric Territories of North America in Yanagi_wa's wonderful story, Ulterior Motives. Other than that, if some item or situation sounds like something you wrote, please understand that I didn't intentionally take what was yours; it just apparently made enough of an impression to really stick in my brain.
Additionally, I have never been to Minneapolis or Chicago, and have not even tried to be accurate with any street names or areas indicated; any resemblance to actual people or places is sheer coincidence.
Prologue
~o~
Three weeks earlier:
"Sully, let's go grab a coffee—down th' street, like. I've gotta talk t' ya," Minneapolis Police Detective James Murphy said to his partner, carefully keeping his voice down. They'd just left their captain's office after their latest ass-chewing; he didn't want to have to tolerate another just yet.
Detective Tommy Sullivan nodded to his partner, rising and heading for the door of the bullpen. Something had been bothering Murphy for a while now, and it wasn't their captain's temper. Maybe now…
They went down the street and got some coffee, then went and sat on a nearby bench. Sullivan couldn't help noticing that his partner had chosen a seat where he could see anyone coming close to them—clearly he still didn't want to be overheard.
They had nearly finished their drinks before Murphy worked up the courage—or whatever—to speak. "You're gonna think I'm crazy, Sully, but I swear t' God this's true. I've not been drinkin', not takin' drugs. But, man, even I'm not really believin' this; how're you supposed ta?" Murphy asked plaintively, gazing at his long-time partner and friend almost fearfully.
"Murph… Jimmy-boy… I can't help ya if ya don't tell me what's wrong," Sullivan said, growing concerned. This wasn't like his partner at all. Usually Murphy threw the wildest theories at him without batting an eye, for Sullivan to shoot holes in, about the cases they landed. But this "Vampire Vigilante" thing had him really upset.
"Okay, Sully," Murphy sighed, then looked over his partner's shoulder before continuing, not meeting his eyes. "What would ya be sayin' if I told ya that we're dealin' with a real vampire? Like on that TV show, man: jagged, pointy teeth, yellow eyes—all of it. I'm not crazy, Sully; I'm tellin' ya th' truth!" Murphy protested quickly at the disbelief and worry he saw on the other detective's face.
"I know we've been workin' really hard, Murph, an' the captain's been ridin' us somethin' fierce, but—c'mon, vampires? That's just on TV, an' in the movies," Sullivan said carefully.
Murphy just shook his head. "No, it's not. They're real; I saw one, talked to him a couple o' times now. That night we was on Cosgrove Avenue, an' the night we went t' th' Northside Clinic… He told me he was killin' t' eat, mostly. An' he called me last night. Didn't ya wonder, man, how I knew about that slaughter in th' factory? He said 'twas self-defense, like. An' he told me not t' be lookin' too hard for 'im, or I'd not like what'd happen. I believe 'im, Sully—you didn't see the eyes on 'im, like I did.
Sullivan looked at his partner in shock. Yeah, over the years they'd worked together, Murphy had come up with some really outlandish theories and ideas, but this? Real vampires? "Murph…" he tried once more, but his partner shook his head.
"You've not heard the worst of it," Murphy said, his voice grim now. "He claims that the military—our government—knows about them, too. An' if they can't stop 'em, how could we hope t' manage it?"
At that, all Sullivan could do was stare at his partner in silence.
Chapter 1
People stared as the big black SUV rolled slowly through the rundown neighborhood. It was the sort of vehicle one saw on TV, the kind the Feds got out of. That thought made people turn away fearfully, although they still surreptitiously tracked the car's progress. Oddly, the car drew less interest the closer it got to the Northside Neighborhood Clinic. Or maybe not so oddly, for both it and an older, two-toned blue one, were seen there on a regular basis, albeit mostly on Monday evenings. And the people near there knew that this wasn't the Feds or the cops poking their noses into others' business, but their mysterious protector…the one who was making their neighborhood safe for decent folks once more.
Several nodded politely to the passing car; most at least smiled, even if few had ever actually seen their benefactor. They knew that he was that, for their clinic had better facilities available now, and could do a bit more than basic care. No junkies dared to try to rob the place anymore or give the staff a hard time. Best of all, no demands of any sort were made on the area's residents; no one intruded upon their lives. He provided better protection, and more effective punishment, than the police could hope to do—and the authorities obviously couldn't touch him.
Rex pulled around to the rear employees' entrance and parked in the shadow of the adjoining building. He looked around at his passengers and grinned at their uncertain looks. This looked nothing like the descriptions they'd heard of the Master's new lair…
"Relax; we are just here to get Taylor and Dobbs a baseline checkup, from a physician whom I trust. I wish you to meet the good Madam Doctor also, so you will know both her and the nurses who come out monthly to give checkups to the Stable."
"Humans know about you?" Taylor asked, shocked at this seeming breach of security.
"A few know about me; some either know of me, or at least suspect. And a few others know, but have a very hard time believing the truth," the vampire replied with a shrug. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed; after a very brief pause, he told the woman on the other end, "This is Master Rex; I am at the rear entrance. I have two with me, requiring basic physicals."
"Certainly, sir," the woman said, clear to the vampire hearing of the car's other two undead passengers. "But… Dr. B. isn't here today; she had a… family emergency to tend to, and we don't know how long she'll be gone. We have Dr. Nyles today—you met him, the first time you were here. He's very good, but he doesn't… know about you," she added with some hesitancy.
"Does he suspect?" Rex asked, still not concerned in the least.
"I'm… not really sure. I think he may vaguely remember you from the night he was shot, but he wasn't here for the… aftermath." The woman actually chuckled at that, causing Rex to smile in response.
"Very well; we will see him instead," he decided. "Have someone let us in."
"Yes, Master Rex," Nurse Laura replied; moments later, the clinic's rear door opened.
"Come," Rex told his entourage, looking sharply at both Corey and Ray. "Stay in your human masks, and do not snarl at any humans, no matter what. These are good folks, under my protection; they are not like the butchers you are used to. And this doctor is not 'read in,' although I may decide to tell him today," he explained for the benefit of the humans, who had not heard both sides of the conversation.
They exited the vehicle, the younger vampires staying nervously to the shade. Taylor and Dobbs looked askance at Rex, but they followed, moving closer to their respective Masters' sides as they entered the building. Collins grinned, then leaned forward to give the nurse at the door a quick peck on the cheek. "Hey, there, Miss Stacy. Long time, no see," he told her, but he kept moving so the door could be closed and locked behind him.
"Hey yourself," she laughed back quietly. "Missed you guys; the lair seemed a lot emptier with you two away. The kids are all fine, Master Rex," she quickly added as he turned towards her. "I brought Nick out some fresh blood this morning. They're definitely keeping him busy; that one boy is a real brat, though."
Rex fought back his scowl. Nurse Stacy was a very warm-hearted woman, who tried to see the best in everyone and never spoke ill of anyone. For her to speak so… "He may not be with me much longer," he said with forced calm. "He has been on borrowed time as it is."
"Yeah, well, far be it from me to tell you what to do, but none of us here will cry when he goes," Stacy replied somewhat waspishly, then blushed. "Sorry; here, why don't you wait in the break room while I get you the paperwork? How many today, Master Rex?"
He smiled back at her gently now. "Two. I have brought my Pet, Taylor, and my Childe's Pet, Dobbs."
"Oh, good; you finally got Taylor back!" she exclaimed, happy for the vampire, before turning to smile at the two young men who hung towards the rear of the group. "I'm Stacy; if you ever need to talk to someone here, both Laura and I know about Master Rex. And Dr. Bauneau knows, of course. I'll get Laura to come in after a bit, so you can meet her too. But let me get the forms for you."
Rex settled back into a chair as she hustled out; he waved Corey and Ray to two others. Collins sat on the floor beside Rex; after a very brief hesitation, Taylor and Dobbs did likewise.
"Paperwork?" Collins asked with a chuckle, looking up at his Master. "I didn't know we'd filled any out."
"I did—as much as they needed to know, anyway," Rex said with a casual shrug. "I expect that I will eventually receive all of your official medical records—perhaps my own, as well. Then I will give the good doctor a copy."
He fell silent as the door opened after a soft knock sounded, and an older gentleman walked in. He looked at Rex carefully, then a slight smile crossed his lips. "Yes, I do vaguely recall you. I'm Dr. Nyles, and I'm most grateful for your assistance, Mr. Alexander," he said.
Julius Alexander had been Rex's name in life; it was how he tended to introduce himself to unwitting humans these days—when he meant to let them live. It pleased Rex to realize that the clinic staff intended to protect him by trying to keep his true nature a secret.
Dr. Nyles looked around at the room's occupants. "Yes, I can see why you would choose to wait here. Now, what can I do for you today?"
"I have brought two of my… employees here, for checkups," Rex replied, carefully choosing his words to give an explanation in terms humans could readily believe. "They are… just released from military service, but I do not fully trust the doctors who were there."
Dr. Nyles looked at Rex carefully, nodding slowly. "All right," he said, "I can accept that explanation—officially, at least. Perhaps someday you'll decide to tell me the rest of it."
"If you wish, Doctor," Rex said, still trying to make up his mind on the matter. "Knowing the full story, though, will make you an accessory after the fact, and you will not care to believe me anyway, for some parts."
"There's always doctor-patient confidentiality," the human quipped back. "Dr. Bauneau knows, doesn't she?"
The door opened behind him once more, letting another woman carrying clipboards into the room. "Oh, Dr. Nyles, you're here already!" she said in surprise, glancing at Rex with concerned eyes.
"He's the Vampire Vigilante, isn't he?" Nyles asked, looking the nurse in the eyes.
Laura looked at Rex once more before answering. At his nod of permission, she told Nyles, "Yes… but only Dr. B, Stacy, and I are in the know. Vicki is too much of a flake to be trusted."
"Peter knows also," Rex added quietly, referring to the night lab tech. "He had to be told; he sees me 'screening' blood samples."
Dr. Nyles froze at that admission. He'd thought that Rex's appellation was just something the tabloids had come up with, but… "You're… a real vampire? That's what you're saying?" He sat down suddenly in a nearby chair with a thump, going pale in shock.
"Correct, Dr. Nyles," Rex said, smiling just a little. "I am not the only undead here, either. But the humans who work here are under my protection, and have been since the night that you were shot. You have nothing to fear from me or mine, yes?"
He turned to look at the woman who stood there, calmly smiling. "Nurse Laura, I make known to you my Childe, Corey, and his Pet, Dobbs; Ray, who is new to my Court; and my Pet, Taylor. Gentlemen, this is Nurse Laura—you may see her at the lair periodically; she and Nurse Stacy are to be treated with respect at all times, and given whatever assistance they may need."
"Yes, Sire." "Yes, Master." "Yes, Master Rex," was heard as all acknowledged the order.
"Right," Laura said as she handed the clipboards to Taylor and Dobbs. "Just fill in the highlighted lines, please. I've already put down the standard info for the rest."
Taylor took his clipboard and looked at it. He couldn't quite restrain his chuff of laughter when he saw his address given simply as The Lair. In fact, the only thing they wanted from him was his name, date of birth, medical history—allergies and surgeries—and family medical history. "You don't leave those lying around, do you," he said; it wasn't a question.
"Nope," she confirmed, then sighed. "We have to have it, though, in case you need hospitalization. It can save time."
"Not a problem; Master Rex can probably get you my military records too," he said as he began to fill out the questionnaire.
"So, you really were military?" Dr. Nyles asked as he stepped forward to begin his exam with Dobbs once the paperwork was finished.
"Yeah," Dobbs replied shortly, not knowing how much to divulge.
"And Mr. Alexander is now your employer?" Nyles pressed further, seeking answers to questions he couldn't quite form yet.
"No; I'm Corey's," Dobbs answered, relaxing when he saw his master's approving smile.
"I belong to Master Rex—that's Mr. Alexander, Doctor," Taylor added oh-so-helpfully, knowing full well that it would only confuse the man.
Dr. Nyles froze in place, then looked over at Taylor. "I don't want to know, do I?" he said, slightly chastened.
Taylor just shrugged. "You asked; I answered. You really shouldn't ask questions that you're not ready to hear the answers to," he said, but there was no malice to be heard in his voice.
The doctor was mostly silent after that as he finished his exams. Finally, he looked over at Rex. "They both appear to be fine, though I'm somewhat concerned about the bite wounds I see on their necks."
"They will not get infected, nor do we take enough blood to do them harm," Rex told him coldly. "It is how we let others of our kind know that these humans have a protector that it is better not to cross."
"And do you intend to bite me?" Dr. Nyles asked in concern, a quaver to be heard in his voice at the thought.
"No. The only ones here with that level of protection are Dr. Bauneau herself, and the two nurses who see to the well-being of my…other kept humans. Who, I tell you now, are happy and well cared-for, so you need not call anyone to try to 'rescue' them. They may leave me if they wish; they choose to stay, because they know that they are safe.
"If you have finished, we will be on our way. Good day, Dr. Nyles. Nurse Laura, you are always welcome, you and Nurse Stacy. Give Dr. Bauneau my regards, and any condolences as appropriate. I will see her when she returns."
Then Rex left, his people trailing after him obediently.
~o~
Taylor looked curiously out the car windows as they headed towards the outskirts of the city. It seemed so odd to be out during the day with a vampire, even though he himself had sent Rex out in daylight in a car with darkly-tinted windows, when he had engineered the vampire's escape from the military. But Rex had explained how he had special-ordered glass from a firm in California for all his vehicles. They called it NecroGlass, and it protected the undead from the dangerous rays of the sun much better than regular dark-tinted glass did. The vampire had learned about it from the Nightstalkers, the other military group that used vampires, although those served voluntarily and were much better treated than those in the Hunter Group had been. They used it for their eye shades and on their own military vehicles—at least at their home base in North Carolina. The glass was hideously expensive, but Rex said he'd had all the windows in his new lair glazed with it, so that the building could be sunlit for the human occupants, without endangering the vampires. Taylor found himself wondering where Rex had found the money.
They drove through the rundown neighborhoods, Rex snarling when he saw drug dealers openly on street corners and in building entryways, in broad daylight.
Collins looked over at him in understanding. "New hunting ground, Master?" he asked quietly.
"For now," Rex agreed, then turned his attention back to the road.
They passed through some areas devoted to light industry, then through more neglected areas. At last they came to a region that had once held genteel country estates. Unfortunately, too many of these families had lost everything in the Great Depression, or died out due to the Spanish Flu, and most of the properties had been broken up and sold, as urban sprawl overtook the area in the boom after World War Two. At the economy's next downturn in the late 1960s and early '70s, many of the industries that had moved there were forced to close, leaving the area mostly abandoned once more.
Finally, they turned into a gated entrance through a high stone wall. According to the worn sign still attached to one of the gate pillars, the place had, at one time, been a military boarding school. Within, the property was clearly in the process of being reclaimed from the many years of abandonment that had left it nearly a ruin.
"Welcome home, my Pet," Rex said, finally allowing himself to relax as he drove around to the rear and the entrance to the underground parking area of the main house. Taylor was safe, and home at last.
~oOo~
Nick looked down unhappily at the struggling young human that he held; the little monster was making a truly amazing amount of noise. Worse than that, though, was the crying little girl who cowered in the corner of her room, refusing to be consoled by her sister. Master Rex would stake him for this; he just knew it. Now, though, the young minion wondered what the hell he was supposed to do with Eddie until Rex decided to return.
The little punk had managed to pick the lock on his tether-chain and had tried to rape the Master's favorite stable-child. Nick had just awoken—it was only late afternoon, after all—and had heard her screams; they were most likely what had aroused him. Janet had been outside with the others, playing, but Sarah had wanted to put the finishing touches on some project she had going. The vampire had heard her and come running, fortunately before Eddie had gotten very far, but what, Nick thought, was he was to do with the human now? He wanted to snap the little beast's neck, but he feared his Master's response to that. He could, possibly, drink enough blood to make Eddie pliant and docile once more, but he didn't dare be the first to drink from a stable member. Oh, how he wished that Rex would come home again.
And then he heard the car pull down into the garage. "Janet," he said, drawing the tear-filled, furious eyes of the older girl to him. She had come in for a bathroom break and had heard the commotion and had had a feeling… Now she glared at the vampire, although it was not him she was so mad at. He continued in a stronger voice, "I can hear Master Rex's car downstairs. Go and ask him to come straight up; he will deal with Eddie."
She didn't want to leave her little sister… but the vampires had treated them better than her own parents—well, step-parents—had. She nodded, "Okay, Nick," then reluctantly left for the parking area.
Downstairs she found a large number of strangers getting out of the new black SUV that had been purchased and fitted-out just for this trip. Collins was already at the opened back doors, pulling out his and Rex's bags; he was surrounded by the other young members of the stable, who had seen the car arrive and come in to greet their returned master. Janet knew that her news would not be welcome, but Master Rex had always been fair with them.
Suddenly she realized that three sets of golden vampire eyes were focused on her. She looked at Rex, and suddenly the tears she'd not realized were there flooded out. With a sob she threw herself at the vampire.
"Master Rex—Eddie got loose!" she wailed, clutching him tightly. She didn't know when he had knelt down to her level, but she was in his arms, a rumbling purr coming from his chest despite the gameface he was now wearing.
"Where?!" he demanded, trying to keep his voice calm despite his emotions. He would slay that ungrateful little punk…
"Ni-Nick has him…hic… he's upstairs…hic… he t-tried t-t-to…" She tried to tell him, really she did, but now she had the hiccups, and her face turned red with embarrassment.
"Hush, now; I will deal with this," Rex murmured to her softly. He looked up and met Taylor's eyes, then looked down at the girl he held. "Janet, this is Taylor. I want you to stay with him; I will deal with Eddie, yes? Taylor is my Pet, and well-trusted; he will not hurt you." He gently passed her into the human's arms. "Stay here, all of you," Rex ordered, looking around at the rest of his stable, now wide-eyed at the news. Every one of them quickly nodded. While Rex had never hurt them, each one knew what he was capable of—they had seen what he had done to their attackers. They were not about to disobey him now.
Corey turned to look at his Pet, who tipped his head before his master could say a thing. "Yes, Master," Dobbs quickly said in response to the unvoiced command, his eyes lowered. "I'll stay here with Taylor too." It made the younger vampire smile, and he ran a hand over his human's head once, before following his Sire out of the garage. Ray and Collins followed after them.
With the vampires gone, the silence down in the basement was uncomfortable at first. Looking around, Taylor could see the uncertain looks on the young faces around him. The girl who had been given into his arms was tense, but made no effort to remove herself. With a sigh, Taylor lowered himself to a full kneel, the girl now in his lap. Dobbs joined him on the floor. Finally, Rob looked around and tried a slight smile. "Okay. I'm Rob Taylor, Master Rex's Pet, like he said. This is Rick Dobbs; he's Corey's Pet. Corey is Master Rex's Childe; the last vamp is called Ray. Who're you, and who the hell is this Eddie character?"
Now, suddenly, they were all talking at once, giving names and trying to explain. Taylor's smile turned into a satisfied grin—the ice was broken.
~o~
Upstairs was a much grimmer situation. Rex found Nick by the simple expedient of homing in on Eddie's shouted curses and Sarah's terrified sobs. The minion turned frightened, unhappy eyes to his Master, but Rex ignored him and his struggling captive in favor of the crying child.
He went over to her and knelt down, but didn't try to touch her at first as he looked over the trembling small body. Her clothes were torn; it was more than obvious what the older boy had attempted. "Sarah," Rex called gently, "look at me, child."
She had pulled away when she first sensed someone coming closer, tucking herself tighter into the corner. Now she risked a peek to see who it was. With a wail of terrified relief, she threw herself into her protector's arms, clinging so tightly to his neck that Rex was glad he didn't have to breathe. He didn't try to remove her arms, but held her close, rocking her and whispering nonsense in her ear to try to soothe her. At last she calmed a bit, and he was able to give Nick his attention.
Corey now held the still-struggling Eddie, but he had a hand firmly clamped over the boy's mouth, muting his curses. Ray looked on curiously from the hallway door as Collins quietly pulled a robe out of the closet for the girl.
"What happened, Nick?" the Master asked, keeping his voice level so he wouldn't frighten Sarah again.
"I think he picked the lock on his tether, Master," Nick said, careful not to try to shirk any possible blame—that would just anger Rex more, he knew. "I just woke up and came running when I heard Sarah screaming. The others were all outside; I don't know why she wasn't with them."
"We will learn that later," Rex said, brushing that off as inconsequential. "Continue; you said you heard her…"
"Yes, Master," Nick said, trying not to cower himself. "I was sleeping out here since you've been gone—in one of the empty classrooms, so's I could hear 'em if anything happened. I couldn't hear anything from inside the vamp wing."
"Good thinking," Rex said, as much to calm the minion as anything. It was good thinking; the "vamp wing" had been carefully soundproofed during the recent renovations, just so the vampires wouldn't be disturbed, as they slept during the day, by the children.
"Thanks… Anyway, I heard her screaming an' came out to find him rippin' her clothes off. So I grabbed him, but I wasn't sure what to do with him. I wanted to snap his neck, but I knew you'd be pissed at me for that. I was afraid that if I just chained him up, he'd get loose again."
"No doubt you are correct about that," Rex agreed, still rocking the little girl. He thought a moment, then nodded in decision. "Even Nurse Stacy has little good to say about the brat. Corey, my Childe, I have a task for you," Rex added, shifting his gaze to the younger vampire.
"Anything, Sire," Corey replied happily at his sire's attention.
"That… little punk you hold was of my Stable, but…you have heard what he tried. He can offer no defense for his actions that might excuse them. So. I give you your first meal here, even though my stable is protected—or perhaps because it is. I wish you to drain—and turn—that one you now hold. Then stake him when he rises. He will not be worth keeping as a minion, even, and we do not need the problems of having a body to dispose of. Then rest; it's been a long trip. Tonight we will all go hunting, back in the city.
"Welcome home, my Childe." Rex left the room, carrying Sarah and followed by Collins.
And Corey's face was lit with a huge smile as he pulled the terrified boy's neck closer to his face.