Greetings all!
I finally managed to get this chapter written after a good three weeks at pecking at it. While writing it I realized a few things and one of those things is that this story is no longer going to be the 7 chapter short-story that I had hoped. Nope, this one is probably going to hit around 19 chapters which means another year-long writing fest. I also realized that I am incapable of writing a simple story. Everything has to been filled with conspiracies, double-plots and action, action, action. Also I am adding two new characters, both vampires, and that'll be the end of that.
Also I have finally finished overhauling my site so now it is strictly a Lost Boys FanFic stop-over. Everything you want to know about the new characters, old characters, plot descriptions and all that can be found on the site. Also, I will be throwing up news about House as well as spoilers and revealing a few things that many people have wondered about. Such as who is Die Young. Well to answer that question folks, read this chapter. Lincoln is Die Young. He'll be playing the rival vampire leader in House. I've got his concept shots as well as a few others up already so I hope you enjoy them.
Happy Reading!
"Man this blows." Paul tossed the dog-eared Rolling Stones magazine that he had been leafing through onto the floor and sighed, completely bored out of his mind. They had all gone out at sundown to feed and after they had cut down a few of the mindless flock, David had ordered them all back to the cave where they had been hanging around, doing absolutely nothing since then.
"What a waste of a perfectly good night. There were at least three decent parties going on and I didn't even get to check out one. Tell me again why we're here and not out doing something with our lives? And how come Sarah got to leave?" Paul complained as he adjusted his position so that his head was hanging off the side of the battered old couch that he was sprawled across. The injuries that he had sustained the night before were now a thing of the past and seeing that this was a "kid sister" free night, it annoyed Paul to no end that he had to spend it cooped up in a cave with absolutely nothing to do.
"Paul, you ask me that one more time I'm gonna ram this wrench down your throat." Dwayne muttered darkly as he gave the wrench a sharp tug, making sure the part he was fixing was firmly secured. His motorcycle was standing upright in front of him beside the red tower tool box that housed just about every hand-held tool that he would ever need to keep his bike and the others in perfect working condition.
"But I'm bored. I shouldn't be bored. I hate being bored." Paul whined as he stared at Dwayne and dug into his back pocket to pull out a crushed carton of Marlboros. Unearthing a red lighter from between the ripped cushions of the couch, Paul shook the cigarette carton and cursed loudly when he realized that it was empty. "Fuck it!" He growled as he tossed the empty carton away without a thought and rolled off the couch.
"Paul, what are you doing?" Dwayne asked without bothering to look up as he grabbed an oily rag and began to clean away the dirt build-up on the bike's engine.
"Goin' outside to hang myself and see what happens." Paul muttered as he stalked past and lashed out with his foot, sending a piece of broken molding skidding across the dirty floor.
"Use aircraft cable and tell me how it goes." Dwayne said calmly as he twisted the tip of the rag and tried to get at those hard to reach places. He missed Paul's crude gesture that was sent his way but looked up momentarily when David walked into the cave from the narrow side tunnel that led to the smaller caves deep within in the cliff face.
"Is she back yet?" David asked quietly as he scanned the cave with a swift glance.
"Why the hell do you care?" Paul snorted in disbelief as he picked his way towards the mouth of the cave. Dwayne gave the potential situation a once over and went back to cleaning his bike without saying a word as David glared at Paul with a look so intense that it wiped the wise-ass smirk off the head-banger's face. The two vampires stared at one another for a few moments as an uncomfortable silence filled the cave. Even the few pigeons who roosted in the nooks and crannies of the cave became unnaturally still as Paul tried in vain to probe David's mind in hopes of figuring out what was making David so moody and off.
"What is it this time?" Dwayne asked evenly as he put down the rag and picked up an oil can without even bothering to look up. Despite his mild attempt to diffuse the situation it didn't do him any good, as he figured it wouldn't. When Paul was cranky like this it took only the slightest thing to set him off and when that happened, the guy wouldn't shut up until the sun came up.
David frowned before he took his eyes off of Paul and glanced over at Dwayne before he shook his head and turned around. "Nothing. Just let me know when she gets back." He muttered under his breath as he headed to the back of the cave, moving as if he had a dark cloud looming over his head. This caught Dwayne's full attention and he studied David out of the corner of his eye, his usual brooding expression darkening somewhat.
"Whoa, hang on a sec man. Why are you suddenly interested in the twerp? It's not like you care cause if you did then I'd have to say that you're pretty fucked in the head David. And you know I'm right." Paul said as he leaned against the mouth of the cave and crossed his arms, his attitude serious for once.
"For once I agree with Paul. You know it's hopeless. I don't know what Max was thinking when he turned her but it's only a matter of time before the inevitable happens. Just accept it and move on. Remember it's the only choice we have." Dwayne told David as he continued to clean his bike, not at all bothered by what he was saying.
"Yeah, what he said." Paul quipped as he motioned to Dwayne with a jerk of his thumb when David turned around to face them both.
"That's just the thing boys, there's something about all this that doesn't make any sense. Dwayne, you noticed too that Sarah will never be like us. Max isn't stupid, god I wish he were, but we all know from experience just how smart he is and he would have seen that turning her would have been pointless. He would never waste his time on something like this yet he did it anyways. Why?" David asked aloud as he mulled over a thought that just entered his mind.
"Why? Cause he's a royal prick and wanted to annoy the hell outta us that's why." Paul muttered darkly. Dwayne rolled his eyes and didn't bother to comment on Paul's remark as he thought about what David said and realized that maybe David was on to something. He hadn't seen it before because he hadn't been bothered to care all that much about the kid and her situation. But now that David brought it up, Dwayne realized that there was something amiss about all this. Paul however thought that David needed a reality check.
"You're putting way too much thought into this David. Max was bored one night, had nothing better to do and figured that he could throw a monkey wrench at us in order to have an excuse to beat all our asses whenever he felt like it. He's just up to his old tricks again. The kid's nothing more than a test to see how long we can last before we screw up. Man you're seeing conspiracy theories in a friggin handshake." Paul told David as he just shook his head. Sometimes he really did wonder about his blood brothers.
Dwayne remained silent as he carefully polished a small section of the bike, careful to keep the chrome unmarked as he switched the oily rag with a clean one. "The others, they could have made it. But her, she'll be dead within the month. You think he's up to something?"
"Aw man not you too." Paul groaned and quickly ducked when a rock flew at him from Dwayne's direction. "You missed sucka." He smirked proudly as he adjusted his jacket.
"Paul sometimes I wonder how you've ever managed to make it this far while being so nearsighted." David muttered as he massaged his temples before he sat down on the edge of the crumbling fountain basin. Dwayne lowered his head while he shook slightly with silent laughter as Paul's smirk turned right around into an offended pout.
"Hey man I can see perfectly." He stated with indignation as he glared at Dwayne out of the corner of his eye.
"Oh yeah? How many fingers am I holding up?" Dwayne asked with mock curiosity as he held up his right arm and lifted his middle finger into the air. Even David could not resist a chuckle at Paul's expense. The expression on the pot-head's face was priceless.
"Ha ha. Funny Dwayne, real funny." Paul bristled as Dwayne laughed and went back to cleaning his bike, leaving Paul to stew in his own juices for a bit. He could not have resisted the temptation. It was just too easy to piss Paul off and when the situation presented itself, Dwayne couldn't say no.
"He must have done it for a reason but fuck it if I can figure it out. It's really starting to piss me off. I hate being in the dark when it comes to him." Both Paul and Dwayne put their silent nit-picking on hold for a minute as they watched David as he got up and paced the cave in one direction and then another, muttering to himself under his breath. "I'm missing something here…what am I missing? Damn it!" David growled as he began to rub his hands together without realizing it.
"Maybe we should ask Marko if he knows anything. He usually picks things up at the store doesn't he? " Dwayne spoke up as he arched an eyebrow at David's preoccupied behavior. Okay, this was getting a little weird.
"Listen man, just challenge him already and get it over with. You want him out of Santa Carla, we want him out of Santa Carla, hell even the kid wouldn't mind sending a few stakes his way. Let's just ambush him one night and kill that mother once and for all." Paul said as he carelessly slid down the steep ramp, sending a few loose rocks skittering after him. "Trust me on this one David, you'll sleep better." He finished as he landed neatly on his toes. He bent over and snatched up a jagged piece of wood and tossed it at David to emphasis his words. "I told you before; it's all a test man."
David caught the make-shift stake with one hand and eyed it for a moment before he pitched it over his shoulder without thinking twice about it. "Paul, that has to be the stupidest thing you've said all night." He stated flatly as he took off his gloves and shoved them into his coat pocket. He paused for a moment as the tarnished medal on the breast of his trench coat caught his attention. He fingered it, rubbing his thumb over the two-headed crow and plumed helmet that were engraved into the silver.
"Well excuse me for trying to be the voice of reason around here." Paul snapped, annoyed once again over the fact that no one ever took him seriously.
"Paul you don't have a reasonable bone in your body." Dwayne commented as he finished cleaning the right side of his bike and rose to his feet so that he begin to work on the other side.
"Yeah so?" Paul went on the defensive as Dwayne turned his back to him on purpose.
"Go hang yourself." Was all Dwayne said as he went to the toolbox and began to search through the shelves for another wrench.
"Make me." Paul shot back as he picked up the magazine that he had tossed away and threw it like a frizzbee, straight into the back of Dwayne's head.
"Is that an invitation?"
Paul accidentally knocked down the yellow and red surf boards that were propped up against the cave wall as Dwayne paused just as he was about to throw a hammer that he had randomly grabbed from the tool box while David snapped out of his thoughts and quickly yanked the old medal off his jacket and pocketed it with a quick flick of his wrist. Standing as calm as could be by the rusted barrel that was the closest to the cave entrance was a figure that caught all three vampires by surprise. Literally.
"Who the fuck are you?" Paul blurted as he tried not to trip over the cumbersome yellow surf board that had landed on his toes as Dwayne slowly lowered his upraised arm but did not release his grip on the hammer. David didn't bat an eyelash as he studied the twenty-something biker that stood with his back to the group while he warmed his hands by the crackling barrel fire that Dwayne had lit at the start of the evening.
"Howdy boys." The stranger said as he slowly turned his head to the side, a grin that could have put a gargoyle to shame etched onto his scarred and stubbled face. He clapped his hands together over the flames and the sound rang out like a muffled shot before he unearthed a half-smoked Cuban cigar from a hidden pocket and calmly lit it while the three looked on.
"Lincoln." David stood where he was with his hands clasped behind his back and didn't bother to make the first move as he carefully eyed the trespassing vampire that had strolled into their midst without an invitation.
Lincoln's head jerked to the side as he spun neatly on his heels, twirling around on a dime so that he faced David. That wicked grin grew a few inches with pleasure as he arched an eyebrow and looked the vampire leader in the eye. "Miss me?"
"You know this guy?" Paul asked as he gave Lincoln a critical once over and didn't like what he saw. The guy dressed like a Hell's Angels but there was something about the way he carried himself that told Paul that whoever he was, he was nothing but trouble. And Paul should know, seeing that his middle name was troubled with a capital T.
"In a way." David curtly answered as he remained where he was, eyes locked with the grinning road warrior.
"Shoot, is that the way you treat your own brother? Davey, ya think you'd have learned by now. Looks like nothin's changed in twenty years," Lincoln tisked as he exhaled a pungent cloud of smoke and tapped the end of the cigar with his finger in order to knock the ashes off its tip. His dark brown eyes flickered from Paul to Dwayne as he brought the cigar back up to his mouth and paused a moment. "Well, almost nothin'. Don't recollect seein' you boys before." He mused as he flicked his head to the side in order to get a few strands of wayward hair out of his eyes before he chomped down on the cigar.
"Brother? I don't see the resemblance." Dwayne said dryly as he turned around and placed the hammer back down on the toolbox. When he did he carefully palmed a folded switchblade that was sitting beside the box of screws and without drawing any attention to himself, he slid the knife up into his sleeve before he turned around and slowly walked towards David.
"Course you don't. Brothers by blood baby not by birth." Lincoln said with a flourish of his cigar as his eyes grew a little colder and his smile became somewhat sinister. Paul glanced at David for orders as he remained where he was, about an arms length from Lincoln as Dwayne casually positioned himself on David's right hand side. None of the vampires were stupid enough to think that this was just some little meet and greet and they were all ready and waiting for someone to make the first move.
"What do you want Lincoln?" David asked flatly, keeping his face as unreadable as possible.
"Want? Hell I don't want nothin'. I was in town so I figured that I'd drop by and see what's been goin' on around here without me. Place sure hasn't changed much." Lincoln chuckled as he walked past Paul and nudged him out of the way with his shoulder. Paul's eyes flickered dangerously as he held himself in check and as he did so he noticed the partially hidden bowie knife that was hooked to Lincoln's belt. "Hang on a sec, ain't there supposed to be four of you?" Lincoln asked as he turned away from the black and white Jim Morrison poster that was staring down at them from the far wall of the cave.
Dwayne and Paul swiftly exchange a hidden look before Dwayne cautiously answered the guy. "How would you know that?"
"Word gets around pretty quick on the west coast. Looks like you boys have been makin' quite a name for yourselves. That ain't necessarily a good thing neither." Lincoln shrugged nonchalant as he puffed away on his cigar, his eyes working their way around the cave as he took stock of everything.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Dwayne asked when Lincoln spent a little too much time eyeing his bike before giving it a disapproving snort. David took his eyes off of Lincoln for a split second in order to give Dwayne a glance that kept him in his place but did nothing to hide the serious scowl that crept over his eyes.
"Not now." David mentally warned Dwayne. The dark-haired vampire didn't answer him but when David heard Dwayne growl faintly he knew that his words were understood.
Unaware of the mental exchange Lincoln walked over to the tool box and toyed with one of Dwayne's screw drivers, secretly knowing just how much it annoyed Dwaye but pretended not to show it. "You bring too much attention to yourselves and old Max is gonna get right pissed at you boys. And you all know what happens when Max gets like that." He commented as he knocked a new batch of ashes into one of the tool box's shelves before meandering his way over to where the couch was. "You boys keep goin' on the way you are now and you'll be joinin' me soon enough."
"How do you figure?" Paul asked as he stepped over the fallen surf boards in order to get closer to the couch as he watched Lincoln's every move like a hawk.
"Well it's pretty simple ain't it? I know for a fact that I wasn't the only one who got the boot from Max." Lincoln chuckled to himself as he turned around and sat himself down onto David's personal chair as if he owned the place. If his actions annoyed David, he didn't show it.
"You were exiled by Max?" Dwayne asked despite himself. If this Lincoln character had been exiled by Max, then Max must have turned him and if he did, why didn't he or the others know about it? There was something important that was not being said and it didn't look like David was going to be the one to let the cat out of the bag.
"You never told them did ya David?" Lincoln grinned as he twirled the stubby cigar between his fingers while knowing full well that his name had never been mentioned to Paul and Dwayne by David or Max.
"Tell us what?" Paul said he looked at David for some form of guidance.
"Up until now I thought you were dead Lincoln. I thought Max finished you off the night you caused that massacre at the train yard." David finally spoke up as he calmly took out a cigarette from an inner pocket and lit it, ignoring the imploring and confused looks from the other two while Lincoln watched them all.
"Ya still remember that night do ya? Man that was a real work of art, one of my finest." Lincoln sighed and blew a perfect smoke ring as he lowered his cigar. He tilted his head back and stared up at the ceiling to watch the round cloud of smoke drift off into nothingness.
"You almost exposed us with that little stunt of yours." David muttered as he gave the rouge vampire an almost accusing look.
"Almost David, but I didn't now did I?" Lincoln stated with a wave of his cigar while still looking up.
"That's besides the point." David retorted as he offered the cigarette to Dwayne.
"Nah, I don't think it is." Lincoln mused as he lazily lifted his head and squinted at David. "Ya see David, Max was just about ready to unleash hellfire on my ass but for some reason he didn't. If he had I wouldn't be standin' here talkin' to you but I'm sure you boys figured that out already by yourselves." He grinned lazily as he slowly nodded his head at Paul before he took a long drag on his cigar.
"Then how did you get away?" Paul scoffed as he arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. This guy had to be shooting the shit because they all knew that if Max wanted you dead, you were dead.
"I didn't." Lincoln's voice suddenly went flat and the grin vanished from his face."You see boys when you break the rules you're gonna get punished. And well, I broke the rules. I broke just about every damn one of them and enjoyed every minute of it. But no matter how smart you think you are, or how fast you think you are or how strong you think you are, there's always someone else who can kick your head in as sure as a whore's got hells teeth." He said in a tone that made the hairs on Paul's neck stand on end. Dwayne tensed under Lincoln's dead-pan stare and the two stared at one another before David shifted slightly to the side so that he subtly placed himself between the two in order to divert their attention elsewhere. "I heard what you were sayin' before, about doin' Max in. It'll never work." Lincoln said with a slow shake of his head.
"Oh yeah? And how would you know?" Paul muttered darkly as he shifted uneasily. Was this guy a spy for Max? Why was he telling them all this? Something didn't feel right and Paul knew it.
"Cause my metal-head friend, I already tried that. And look at what it got me, a one-way ticket to shit-stompin' hell." Lincoln sneered as he leaned forward in the chair and put out the cigar by grinding the smoldering end into the battered arm of the three-seater couch.
"I thought you'd feel at home there." David replied sarcastically as he waved his hand at the cigarette that Dwayne offered back to him.
"Yeah I thought so too. But twenty years under the boot of one of the meanest mother-fuckers in the good ol' U S of A will just about turn anyone's head right around. I was born and raised in the Bronx, but ya'd never think of it now huh?" Lincoln remarked as he took the cigar and bit off the burnt end before putting what was left of it back into his breast pocket in order to smoke it later.
"Or you could just be seriously messed in the head." Paul shrugged as he watched Lincoln chew the ashy remains with a mildly disgusted look.
Lincoln smirked as he made a show of savoring the burnt out leaves. "You're right on the money with that one slick. Right on the money, money, money." He laughed, the serious attitude that he had taken on now a thing of the past, as if it never happened. "Which reminds me, where's that little piece of tail you got runnin' around here?" He snapped his fingers as he remembered what it was that he had wanted to ask David in the first place.
"Say what?" That was something that none of them had been expecting, David included.
Lincoln rose of the chair and inhaled sharply, his head tilted slightly to the side as he did so. "She ain't here. I thought you was supposed to watch her, Max's orders if I ain't mistaken." He raised both eyebrows as he tisked David under his breath. "C'mon David, you ain't gettin' soft are ya?"
"What do you want Lincoln, I'm not going to ask you again." David approached Lincoln in order to force him to face him directly and stopped about ten feet from the vampire.
"David there's not need to get all defensive on me now. All I want to know is whether or not she's around. Or did she make another break for it?" Lincoln said as he raised his hands to placate David as he glanced at Dwayne and Paul. "Looks like you boys have quite the problem child on your hands. Does Max know?"
"If we do it's no business of yours." Dwayne growled as he came up behind David, making it clear that he was ready and willing to send Lincoln packing at David's signal.
"Now that I beg to differ. It just so happens that it is my business." Lincoln tucked the tobacco wad into the corner of his mouth so that he could speak properly without having his words muffled.
"Oh yeah? Dare I ask why?" Paul asked none too politely as he glanced over his shoulder for a moment when he felt a presence behind him. Seeing nothing, he turned around and nearly jumped out of his skin when he came face to face with Lincoln who stood about two inches away from him. "Shit!" He stumbled back a few steps as the corners of Lincoln's eyes creased as he narrowed his eyes ever so slightly.
"You can ask all you'd like but that don't mean I'm gonna give you an answer. That wouldn't be practical now would it?" He grinned dangerously as chewed on the tobacco wad.
"Yeah, you're one to talk about practicality." Paul growled as he squared his shoulders and glared a warning at Lincoln as Dwayne growled behind David and had to be shoved back by David when he tried to get close to Paul.
"You must be Paul." Lincoln stood back for a minute as he looked Paul over once more. A bright smile lit up his face as he slapped Paul on the back and rested his arm on his shoulders as if they were life-long friends. "Max said you was an idiot but I gave you the benefit of a doubt. Looks like I shouldn't have bothered." He crowed as Paul shoved him away and growled out a warning.
"If I was you I'd watch my mouth you piss-drinking redneck." Paul spat as he grabbed Lincoln by the front of his jacket and glared at him.
"Paul, stop it." David commanded but Paul didn't listen. The antagonizing grin on Lincoln's face was making his blood boil and Paul was just itching to knock it off his face with a decent shot to the head. "Paul!" David snapped but Lincoln cut him off before he could say more.
"Ya know that's exactly what your momma said when I nailed her in the back of your daddy's Chevy. Looks like you got her mouth as well as her looks, ain't that a cryin' shame." Lincoln sneered as he reached up and flicked some of Paul's hair over his shoulder for emphasis. Okay, that was it.
"I told you to watch it." Paul snarled as he brought his face to Lincoln's, his blue eyes shifting into a blazing orangish-red. Instead of backing off like any sane vampire would, Lincoln just cocked his head and grinned like an idiot.
"Ya know you're mighty cute when you're angry. I bet your boyfriend would agree with me on that." He whispered loudly as he winked suggestively to add salt to the wound.
"You crossed the line on that one pal." Paul's face went from human to vampire in a split second.
"Paul let him go!" David growled as he stepped forward and stopped but neither vampire bothered looking at him as they stood toe to toe, waiting to see who would be the first to make a move.
"Already? Shoot, I ain't even warmed up yet." Lincoln laughed as he puckered his lips and blew him a kiss.
"Things are going to get a lot warmer by the time I'm done with you, you fag." Paul snarled as he narrowed his eyes and bared his teeth. Lincoln laughed as he went on chewing like a cow, snickering while Paul snarled.
"Is that a promise you intend on keepin' boy? Cause I just hate it when people make me promises that they can't keep." Lincoln purred as he lifted his arms and broke Paul's grip on his jacket as he danced back a few steps, beckoning Paul to come at him with both hands.
"Paul back off. Now Paul!" David raised his voice and for a moment it looked as if Paul were going to listen to David's command but when Lincoln snapped his fingers and spat the wad of tobacco onto Paul's boots, Paul lost it.
"Son of a bitch!" Paul snarled as he leapt at Lincoln with his arm raised.
"No Paul!" David barked and at the exact same moment, Lincoln turned his head slightly and grinned at David before Paul closed the distance between the two of them and landed a blow to Lincoln's head that would have knocked a carthorse to its knees. Lincoln didn't bother to resist as he went down like a ton of bricks with Paul snapping at his exposed face. Paul got in a few more shots as the two tussled on the cave floor and every time Paul laid into Lincoln, the guy just laughed for more.
"Is that all you got? Shit boy you hit like preacher's daughter. Do it again, I'm getting' a hard-on here." Lincoln howled as Paul grabbed him by the neck and yanked him to his feet, shaking him as hard as he could.
"Paul stop it! Damn it Paul, that's enough!" David roared above the noise but other than that he made no move to physically separate the two.
"Quit shoutin' an' join us David. We'll make it a threesome. Junior here sure could learn a thing or two." Lincoln called to David just before a stout left hook from Paul knocked him down on his ass.
"Why don't I teach you a few things huh?" Paul growled as he lashed out with his right foot and kicked Lincoln in the ribs, once, twice, three times.
"Yeah, I could do with a lesson in givin' good head." Lincoln scoffed and Paul let out a shriek of outrage and redoubled his efforts to cause as much pain to the vampire as he could. Yet no matter how hard he hit or how many times he punted Lincoln like a football, the guy just laughed and roared for more. "I think you missed a spot." Lincoln said as Paul picked him up and threw him into the busted chandelier. "There, now doesn't that feel good?" Lincoln chuckled as he gingerly untangled himself from the chandelier, inspecting a new tear in his leather jacket as Paul circled him, breathing hard. David watched the temporary truce with a stony face while Dwayne flicked the switchblade into his hand and waited until Paul looked his way before he tossed the knife to him.
"Not as good as this will." Paul snarled wickedly as he reached out and caught the folded knife.
Snikt!
The razored blade flicked into existence as Paul whirled sharply on his heels, wielding the knife with an expert hand. "So you want a lesson in giving head huh?" He taunted dangerously as he made a suggestive gesture with the knife, its meaning coming across loud and clear. Lincoln eyed the knife for a second before he looked Paul in the eye and shifted his stance so that his arms were hanging loosely by his sides as if he were about to draw a gun.
"You gonna stand there all night and tease me?" He said softly as he lowered his head slightly but never broke eye contact. His face shifted instantaneously, the scars running across his face becoming more prominent along the ridge of his forehead. "Let's get it on Paulie boy. Uncle Billy's waitin'."
Paul flew into action at the same instant Lincoln did. A massive blur of colour and two separate roars were heard as the two collided into each-other head on with such force that they literally bounced off one another. It took less than a quarter of a second before it was over. Dwayne and David didn't move as they waited to see what damage had been done. Lincoln was lying on his side while Paul was doubled over with a look of startled surprise on his face. Both had their backs to the two.
"Paul?" Dwayne called out softly as Paul slowly sank to his knees, blinking owlishly as he tried to speak but no words came out.
"God…" Paul wheezed as he squeezed his eyes shut as hard as he could before he opened them and looked down. "Oh god…"he cried.
"Fuck, Paul!" Dwayne was stopped from going to Paul's side by David's outstretched arm. "Fuck it David, Paul's hurt!" Dwayne snarled as the heavy scent of Paul's blood quickly filled the cave,
"Stay where you are!" David literally roared at him and Dwayne was so taken aback he was too slow to counter-act David's mental blow that swept his legs from under him. David planted his foot on Dwayne's chest and pinned him to the ground as he watched Lincoln get to his feet. David balled his hands into fists to the point that blood trickled from between his fingers as his nails pierced the palms of his hands but other than that, he didn't move. It was almost as if he couldn't move.
"David…"Paul whimpered before he curled inwards and fell forward, curling into a ball as he wrapped his arms over his abdomen as tightly as he could.
"Ya did warn him David." Lincoln said with a snort as he glanced down at his chest and yanked out the switchblade that was embedded between his ribs.
"Leave." David commanded with a voice as cold as ice as he glared at Lincoln. If looks could kill Lincoln would have been dead before he knew what hit him. Lincoln nodded his head once as he tossed the switchblade into the fire-lit barrel and wiped his left hand on his jacket. David's eyes narrowed into slits as he watched Lincoln pick his bowie knife off the ground and lick one side of the gore-covered blade before he wiped the rest of Paul's blood off on his pant-leg, leaving a thick streak of dark red across his thigh.
"That there is one stupid-ass vampire David. He couldn't even see it comin'." Lincoln snorted as he pointed the bowie knife at David and smiled crookedly. "It's nothin' personal David, just doin' my job. I'll see ya around." Lincoln sheathed the knife and without missing a beat flew out of the cave with a gust of wind, the faint traces of his sadistic laughter trailing after him.
"Fuck it David let me up!" Dwayne snapped and only when Lincoln's presence was truly gone did David release his hold on Dwayne and stepped back. "What the fuck's the matter with you?" Dwayne growled as he gave David a dark look before hurrying over to Paul's side. "Easy Paul, try not to move. Where'd he get you? That son of a bitch!" He hissed sharply as he knelt beside the fallen vampire and saw the extent of the damage that Lincoln had inflicted. The entire left side of Paul's abdomen from his kidney to his navel was laid open with a single gash that was deep enough to cut through his abdominal wall and expose his internal organs. Basically, Lincoln gutted him like a fish. The sight was gut-wrenching.
"How bad is it?" David asked quietly and didn't flinch under the filthy look that Dwayne shot at him.
"Why don't you come over here and see for yourself. Shit, sorry Paul." Dwayne quickly apologized when Paul cried out in pain. David closed his eyes for a moment and muttered something incoherent under his breath as he shrugged of both of his jackets and tossed them onto one of the arms of the tarnished chandelier.
"You gonna go after him?" Dwayne asked David as he glanced down at his bloodied hand and sucked his teeth at the amount of blood that Paul was loosing.
"No." David quietly replied as he went over to the tool box and quickly rummaged through the various shelves until he found what he was looking for.
"What do you mean no? I'll stay with Paul until Marko gets back and you go track down that bastard. We'll nail that fucker before sun-up." Dwayne said over his shoulder as he got up and hurried over to the busted four-poster bed and ripped the tattered gossamer curtains from it. Paul's wound was ugly and Dwayne knew that he had to get the bleeding to stop before Paul lost any more blood or else the vampire would be in serious trouble. What was it with Paul and near-fatal wounds? Right now Dwayne didn't care as he shredded the off-white curtains into thick strips and used them as make-shift bandages in order to keep Paul's guts from spilling out.
"Fuck…it…hurts." Paul hissed between clenched teeth as Dwayne carefully turned him onto his back in order to apply pressure to the gash.
"It looks worse than it is." Dwayne said off-handedly as he winced while carefully tucked back in an exposed part of Paul's large intestine. "You really gotta stop getting yourself torn up man." Dwayne tried to make light of the situation as he kept one hand on planted on the gash while he quickly began to wrap a length of fabric around Paul's side. "C'mon Paul, work with me here." He said as Paul flailed a bit under his touch, making it extremely difficult for Dwayne to do two things at once.
"Move over." David said as he crouched down on Paul's other side and snapped open a small folded knife that he had unearthed from the toolbox.
"Just use the bottle." Dwayne replied as he did what David said and carefully move to the side so that David could get close to Paul while making sure to keep constant pressure on Paul's injured side.
"It's not enough and we don't have much time." David growled under his breath. "Hold him steady." David said as he half-lifted Paul up into a somewhat sitting position. Paul howled out in pain when David moved him but between the two of them, David and Dwayne managed to keep him somewhat still as David wedged himself behind Paul so that Paul was leaning against his chest.
"You do this and there'll be no way we can beat this guy." Dwayne muttered in warning as he watched David brought the knife's tip to the side of his neck where the jugular vein was.
"Give him what's in the bottle when I'm done." David ordered as he clenched his teeth and plunged the knife into his neck, stabbing himself deep enough to pierce the vein. As a river of blood began to flow down his neck, David threw the knife away and lowered his head so that Paul could gain easy access to the wound. Instincts overriding caution spurred Paul into action and he instantly latched himself onto David's throat. David growled faintly as he held Paul to him while Dwayne looked on as he did his best to wrap up Paul's side. Slowly Paul became more animated as he drained David and the more he took from David, the paler David became to the point that he was as colorless as a four-day old corpse.
"Enough Paul." David pulled away when he felt that Paul was crossing the safe zone. If he had let Paul continue to feed from him, the vampire would most likely drain him to the point of death without realizing it.
"Need more…" Paul coughed as Dwayne went to retrieve the bottle of blood that was stashed away in a safe place while David grabbed one of the strips of cloth and pressed it to his neck. Dwayne returned a minute later and uncorked the bottle before he held it up to Paul's lips as Paul quickly drained its contents dry.
"You gonna be okay?" Dwayne asked David as he eyed his waxy and near-translucent complexion as well as the dark circles that had appeared under David's eyes.
"I'll live." David muttered wearily as he slowly lowered Paul back onto the ground so that Dwayne could finish fiddling with the bandages. Grabbing onto the cave wall for support, David struggled to stand up and had to rest against the wall for a moment when vertigo hit him. Dwayne quickly finished tying up the wraps and took off his jacket in order to stuff it behind Paul's head. It was too soon to move Paul and Dwayne was going to need help in lifting him for fear of making matters worse. Seeing that Paul wasn't going to die on them any time soon, Dwayne went to David aid just as Marko came running pell-mell into the cave.
"David, David! Max is coming! Shit you won't believe what I just saw. Some vampire baron guy just showed up at Max's place. David this guy was old school, I'm talking Dracula aristocratic old school. And now Max is on his way over and what the hell just happened?" Marko skidded to a halt as he caught sight of Paul lying in a pool of his own blood and Dwayne supporting David over to the couch. "What'd I miss?"
"Nothing you need to worry about right now. What did you say about Max?" David snapped as he sunk into the couch and swallowed hard.
"Wha? Oh, right. Um, Max. He's coming here right now. And I'm telling you David he doesn't look happy. I don't know what's going on but I think its trouble." Marko said as he nervously ran his hands through his hair, bouncing from one foot to the other as his adrenaline rush started to taper off.
"Shit." David swore as he tried to rise swiftly to his feet up his knees buckled and he collapsed back onto the couch.
"You okay David?" Marko asked as he gave David a look of alarm.
"Never mind me. Dwayne put Paul in Sarah's cave and make sure he stays quiet. Marko, cover up the blood and throw me my jackets. Don't just stand there, move!" David barked. The frantic tone in his voice made the others shut up and run to do what he told them. The only times that Max visited the cave was when there was serious trouble afoot and if David was frantic then there was a damn good reason for him to be. Marko grabbed David's jackets and tossed them at him while Dwayne picked Paul up as gently as he could.
"Sorry." Dwayne muttered as Paul let out a string of curse words as pain coursed through him but Dwayne just hurried off as carefully as he could while Marko grabbed a bunch of old newspapers and tattered blankets and used them to cover the bloodied patch on the floor.
"Why is the bottle empty?" Marko asked as he pitched it up and looked at David.
"Long story, just hide it somewhere." David growled as he slowly worked his way into both jackets and turned up the collar of his leather one in order to hide the bottom half of his face. Marko did what he was told and stashed the bottle in some obscure nook just as Max walked into the cave. Talk about prefect timing.
"Evening boys." Max said as he walked down the ramp while Marko quickly leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. David watched Max as he rested his left foot on his right knee, giving off the appearance that he was perfectly at ease with all this.
"What brings you down here?" David asked as Max glanced about the cave with his arms clasped behind his back.
"Oh I just wanted to see how you boys were doing. Where are the other two?" He asked without missing a beat.
"Right here. Paul's out with Sarah." Dwayne spoke up as he stalked into the cave, giving Max a brooding look before he went over to his bike and picked up oily rag in order to hide his bloodied hands from Max's gaze.
"Ah. I see you boys are doing what I asked. Very good." Max mused as he watched Dwayne wipe his hands with the rag. The pungent scent of the axel grease and oil was strong enough to cover up the scent of blood on him but it didn't make the slightest difference in the fact that the cave wreaked like a slaughterhouse. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?" Max asked David as he gave him a knowing look.
"Not all at. We just finished eating." David smiled slightly.
"Well then I won't keep you from doing whatever it was you boys were doing." Max smiled back and didn't say another word until David dropped his smile and lowered his gaze. "I just want you boys to know that an old friend of mine will be staying with me for a few days so I want you all to be on your best behavior, especially Paul. I will be keeping my eye on you so I will know if my rules are being obeyed. Also, David I want you to bring Sarah up to the house tomorrow night around ten o'clock. The rest of you can do whatever you like without having me breathe down your necks for once." Max chuckled as David, Marko and Dwayne just stared at Max, their faces set in stone.
"Ten o'clock?" David asked quietly as he arched an eyebrow.
"Ten o'clock sharp and don't be late. I'm counting on you David to make a good impression on the Baron." Max said as he nodded his head and headed for the mouth of the cave.
"Who's this Baron?" David asked as Max headed up the ramp. Max paused before he half-turned and gave David an unreadable half-smile.
"You'll find out tomorrow at 10 o'clock." He answered before he left the cave. The tension eased once Max was gone and David slumped forward a bit as he rubbed his hands tiredly over his face.
"I don't know about you guys but there is something seriously wrong about all this." Marko said as he glanced at the dark entrance and then at David.
"Marko's right. First Lincoln and now this? What's going on David?" Dwayne asked as he dropped the rag and made a lightning grab for one of the grey pigeons that were pecking away at a few tiny pebbles close by. Two of the birds flew off in a shower of feathers but the third wasn't so lucky. It flapped its wings frantically but in vain as Dwayne carried it to David and handed him the bird.
"Aw c'mon Dwayne." Marko muttered as he watched the pigeon being served as a replacement meal but he didn't say anything else when David pulled an Ozzy and bit its head off. David drained the plump bird and tossed its bloodless body at Marko who caught it and sighed. At least it hadn't been his favorite bird of the bunch.
"I have no idea what going on but I guess we'll just have to wait until tomorrow night to find out." David wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and shook his head. "Lincoln's appearance must have something to do with that vampire you saw Marko and if he does, well, things are going to get dangerous around here. Tomorrow night you and Paul stay here and Dwayne I want you keep an eye on the Boardwalk. If Lincoln is going to make another appearance, he'll do it there. We're going to have to be on our guard and if any of us gets backed into a corner, send out a signal. Max is up to something and we're in the middle of it."
"Okay, but who's Lincoln?" Marko asked as he chewed on his thumbnail, looking a tad bit out of the loop hole.
"He's an old problem that won't go away. Max banished him after he nearly revealed us to the public and now he's back. He got Paul and he'll try to get the rest of us if we let him. Don't let him get to you." David's last comment was directed at Dwayne.
"And what about Sarah? Do we tell her about all this?" Marko asked as he looked from David to Dwayne, bringing up a point that neither had given any thought to.
"No. If we do she'll run again and I won't chase after her again. I have a feeling she'll find out soon enough. Which reminds me, she should be back by now." David said as he successfully stood up without staggering. As if on cue the three looked to the cave entrance just as Sarah tried to tip-toe in without being seen or heard. She froze to the spot when she realized that she had been spotted.
"Sorry I'm late…I got a little sidetracked." Sarah apologized and wilted under the dark stares of the three vampires. Talk about busted.