Chapter 9: Revelator


Notes: Revelator: n. One who reveals.


Mickey doesn't know how he ended up on the floor with a ringing in his ears. When he opens his eyes, his vision is blurred, and as he tries to sit up, he's hit with a heavy case of vertigo. He props himself up with one hand while the other grips at his pounding head. The headache's not that bad though, and he can feel pain through out his body. It's not enough that he thinks it's fatal. That's good. It means he probably doesn't have any serious injuries. Mickey blinks several times, willing his vision to return. Gradually, things come into focus.

The house is clouded with smoke, and there are some small fires burning. Mickey looks about the devastated room and spots Mandy on the kitchen floor, lying beneath the table. Nika and Svetlana are sprawled near the back door. Mickey crawls over to his sister as quickly as he can. He coughs a few times as he tries to speak.

"Mandy…" Mickey manages. He shakes his sister by the shoulder gingerly. "Mandy, c'mon, get up."

Slowly, Mandy comes to. "What the fuck…?"

"Move your ass, we gotta find everyone else and get out."

"Where are Iggy and Colin?" Mandy asks, sitting up and gripping her head much like Mickey did.

"I don't know."

"Fuck… Iggy! Colin!" Mandy calls out.

"I'm over here!" Iggy answers by the front door.

Nika and Svetlana recover consciousness shortly. They help each other to their feet as Mickey helps Mandy to hers. Iggy gets up too, holding onto his left arm; it's probably dislocated. They look about the house. The smoke is clearing. Whatever bomb went off must not have been that destructive since they're still alive and breathing. But then it hits them. Someone just tried to blow the house up, with them inside - and Ian and Colin are still missing.

"Is Ian alright?" Nika asks.

"I don't know where he is," Mickey answers frantically.

A low moan comes from the living room. There's a heap of rubble in front of the couch that used to be the coffee table. It seems as though there is someone underneath.

Mickey rushes towards it. He hauls the shattered pieces of wood off and sure enough finds Ian. Nika and Svetlana hurry to their side.

Blood dribbles from Ian's mouth as he tries to speak. Ian is hurt badly. One of the table's legs has broken off and is ironically protruding up from Ian's chest. Luckily, it's not too deep, and it's far enough from his heart that he won't die. Even so, the wound is harmful enough that he won't heal as quickly as he needs to right now.

"Oh, fuck…" Mickey curses. "Ian? Ian, can you hear me?"

Ian groans through the pain of trying to find words. He finally opens his eyes and nods slowly up at Mickey. "You have to take it out…" His voice comes out weak and faint. Mickey doesn't need to ask anything; though greatly injured, Ian can sense his question through the effects of their blood bond. "It's ok, I won't die."

"He will need blood," Nika says.

Mickey nods tensely, and brings his left wrist to Ian's mouth.

"No!" Ian protests. "I already drank too much from you the other night. I'll be fine, promise."

"Shut the fuck up and let us save you, you stupid fucking vampire," Mickey barks.

Nika pulls out the piece of wood from Ian's chest at the same time Mickey brings his wrist to Ian once more. Instinctively, Ian's fangs pop out and clamp down on Mickey's wrist. Mickey grimaces through the pain. All the other times Ian had bitten him he'd been distracted from the pain by their fucking. Now he feels it; and it's not fun.

As his brother and Nika are tending to Ian, Iggy at last finds Colin slumped in a sitting position next to the demolished television.

"Mandy," Iggy calls, "get over here!"

"Fuck… is he ok?"

"Fucking fantastic…" Colin grumbles. "This is just like when we played hide and seek. Always found last 'cause you assholes forgot about me…"

"Oh, my god… Iggy, look," Mandy says, placing a hand over her mouth and eyes going wide.

A large shard of glass from the smashed television is stuck at the side of Colin's abdomen.

Svetlana staggers over to the three siblings, and calls to her girlfriend. "Nika! Hurry, he does not have much time."

"What are you gonna do to him?" Iggy asks. "You're not gonna fucking turn him, are you?"

"No," Nika reassures him, "but that glass needs to be removed, and when it is, he will bleed out and die. The only way to save your brother's life is for him to drink enough of my blood so that his wound is healed properly."

Colin blinks wearily. "Won't that mean we'll be bonded?"

"Unfortunately… yes. But it will fade away with time."

"How much time?"

"Fuck, Colin," Iggy swears at his brother, "I don't give a shit what kind of messed up dreams you have. You're just gonna have to suck it up for however long they last. Now drink her fucking blood, you piece of shit!"

Nika bites down on her wrist. Reluctantly Colin takes it as Nika pulls out the glass. Blood gushes from his wound instantly. Mandy is quick to apply pressure since Iggy's arm is still dislocated. He returns to Mickey after Ian is healed so his brother can pop it back in. Iggy braces himself against the couch as Mickey takes hold of his left arm.

"On the count of three," Mickey says.

"Alri- Fuck!" Iggy shouts when Mickey pops his arm back into place abruptly. "You fucking asshole…" Iggy mutters curses under his breath before turning back to everyone around Colin. "How's he doin' over there?"

Mandy lifts her hands from where they'd been pressing down. As Nika had said, the gash is fully healed. "He's good," Mandy calls over her shoulder, and returns her attention to Colin. "Can you get up?"

"Yeah, I think so," Colin answers as Mandy helps him to his feet. He looks at Nika awkwardly. "Uh… thanks."

Nika glances down before her eyes settle back on Colin, and giggles. "No problem."

When Mandy sees what Nika and Svetlana are snickering about she gasps. "Oh, my god, Colin! Really?"

"Don't worry about it," Mickey says as Ian swipes his thumb across a fang to heal Mickey's wrist with his blood. "Same thing happened to me."

"Did not need to know that," Iggy states, rotating his arm around in the socket.

Another smaller, explosion goes off in the kitchen. It was the oven.

"Is that gas?" Iggy asks alarmed, sniffing the air.

There's a beat of silence before Mickey breaks it. "Let's get the fuck outta here."


At the warehouse Mickey briefly worked at Jorge De la Rosa is finishing up another day at work.

He's closing up, locking up what needs to be locked up; and he's the only one there. Jorge recently found out Mickey wasn't the only one on his staff who was involved with vampires. And as a result of his bigoted beliefs, he fired them as well. The catch, though, was that he now had to do three times the work he previously had; and it fucking sucks. He wasn't sure why the hell everyone was so eager to get in the sack with a vamp, but if it meant he was going to keep losing his employees, he was certain he wouldn't have many people left to employ at all. Jorge had even called up one of the guys he fired that day, asking if he'd found another job yet. And he had to admit, he wanted to call Mickey up too. Mickey was good at the job, but Jorge was hesitant. After all, Mickey did punch him in the fucking nose.

Jorge sighed defeatedly as he took his phone out from his pocket.

Before he could dial a single number, though, he was hit in the back of the head with a blunt object.


Detective Dupree pulls up to a warehouse Mickey said he had previously worked at. He wasn't sure what information he was going to get out of Mickey's old boss, if any at all, but after a day of following dead end leads, he was hoping he wouldn't come up dry again. Little did he know, he wouldn't.

When Dupree steps out of his vehicle, he notices the area is surprisingly quiet. And well, maybe that's not so odd since he's visiting the warehouse at a later hour, but something doesn't sit right in his gut. He knows it's better to be safe than sorry, though. He goes around to the side entrance, and realizes it's still unlocked. Dupree draws his pistol and steps into the warehouse quietly.

There are noises, grunts, as if someone is fighting, coming from inside. Dupree follows them, and finds two men grappling with one another fiercely. One of the men gains the advantage and pins his opponent to the ground, wailing relentlessly on the other man.

"Chicago PD!" Dupree yells, aiming his gun on the attacker. "Put your hands where I can see 'em!"

The man freezes and looks at Dupree. His face is hidden in the shadows of the night and unlit room.

"I said put your hands up!" Dupree yells again and then muttering under his breath, "Don't run, don't run, don't run."

Of course, the man runs. Dupree fires a few shots. They all miss his target. Dupree curses how dark it is there. He runs to the other man lying on the ground in agony. He would've chased after the other one if the one before him wasn't in more immediate need right now.

"You alright?" Dupree asks.

The man flinches in response and tries to crawl away.

"Hey, man, you're fine now," Dupree reassures. "What's your name?"

"Jorge…" It comes out a strangled groan.

"Alright, ok. Jorge, I'm gonna call the ambulance. You're going to be ok."


Just as Ian and Mickey and the rest of the group reach the street, the house goes up in flames.

They look around at each other, completely dumbstruck, and then stare at the growing fires. There's a strange silence hanging among them. Without breaking his gazes on the burning house, Mickey takes Ian's hand into his own. Ian gives him a gentle squeeze, grounding Mickey so his mind doesn't drift too far off.

Mandy sighs unevenly and shed's a single tear. "I hated that fucking house anyways."

Her brothers turn to her, snapped out of their reverie.

"It's not like we had that much important shit either," Colin adds.

"We should leave while we can," Ian advises.

Again, their plans are thwarted when a figure abruptly appears before them, standing in front of the burning house.

"Hello, Ian."

He says it so casually, and it happened so quickly, Ian doesn't know how to react. Ian thinks he's just losing his mind again, maybe worse than when he was human and sick. It has to be an apparition. It has to be. It has to be.

"It's rude to not say hello back."

Beside Ian, Mickey asks lowly, "Is that… is that-"

"Hi, there," the man, or rather vampire, greets Mickey. He swooshes right up to him and extends a hand. "I'm Jimmy Lishman. We haven't properly met yet."

Ian does lose it then. He tackles Jimmy to the ground, using every ounce of his vampiric strength he can.

Jimmy has the audacity to laugh, and easily captures Ian's fists with his hands. "How about that? I try to introduce myself to your boyfriend, and I'm met with hostility. C'mon, Ian. It's been such a long time. Let's catch up." Jimmy violently throws Ian off himself as if Ian weighed nothing more than a feather. Ian lands several feet away in the middle of the street.

It is Nika who next tries to pounce on Jimmy, barring her fangs. There's no use. Jimmy catches her by the throat and sends her flying through the air. She lands on a car, shattering the front window. Svetlana is quick to aid her, as Mickey helps Ian. The other three Milkovich siblings are stunned into silence. Even now that Jimmy has made himself known, he's just playing with them. Tossing Ian and Nika around like ragged dolls. No wonder the two were so afraid of him. There is no one more dangerous than one who is of an unstable mind and possess such great power.

"What are you doing?!" Jimmy shouts. "I'm older! I'm faster, and I'm stronger."

"Yet it was almost too easy when I killed your dad," Ian hisses, rising to his feet and extending his fangs. "Especially since you weren't there to protect him. He was pathetic as you are cowardly."

Jimmy laughs again, throwing his head back as he does so. "You know, Ian… I get that Lip was always the smart one…"

Ian's glare intensifies at the mention of one of his siblings.

"But I would've thought you'd know better by now." Jimmy shrugs. "Good thing you're pretty… though not like Fiona."

Ian readies himself for another attack on Jimmy, only to freeze on the spot when he feels Mickey's hand catch him firmly by his wrist. Ian looks down at his hand, then slowly looks up to meet Mickey's blue eyes. His eyes look brighter tonight, illuminated by the flames from the house.

"Don't."

It's barely muttered, but it's enough to keep Ian from snapping again. He straightens his posture and returns his gaze to Jimmy.

"Wow, you must really love him," Jimmy says. There's a brief expression of genuine fondness that passes over Jimmy's face before it's replaced with a sinister visage. "I never wanted to kill you, Ian. I wanted to make you suffer. Why else do you think I went after your family instead of you? Does your heart ache with the memory of all those you failed to protect?" Jimmy pauses and smiles wickedly at Ian. "I'm going to kill everyone you love again."

"Not this time, Jimmy."

Jimmy is almost taken aback by the finality in Ian's voice. "Not tonight," he corrects as the sound of sirens approach. "I'll be seeing you." And as swiftly as he appeared, Jimmy is gone again, leaving Ian and the rest of the group to the police car pulling up.

Jameson and Cortez exit their vehicle promptly. Their pistols are drawn, but they're not certain what or where their target is.

Cortez glances at the fire and turns to his charges. "What the fuck happened?!"


"What do you mean the house burned down?!" Dupree yells over the receiver. "You were supposed to protect them!"

Jameson winches and pulls her phone further away from her ear. "They're ok. A little smoke inhalation, but otherwise they're fine."

"Where the fuck were you?"

"Making rounds through the neighborhood just like you ordered, sir. Jimmy attacked while we were away."

"Jesus…" Dupree swears, massaging the wrinkles on his forehead. "Is there any other place they can stay? Seems like this whole thing was some fucked up way for Jimmy to pop in and say hello."

"Uh, yes, it appears he likes to make an entrance," Jameson concedes timidly. "And yes, they have a place to stay, though, it doesn't offer better protection. Some tiny, shitty apartment Svetlana has."

"It's certainly better than nothing. And stay with them this time. My fault for ordering you to leave them in the first place. Send me the address and I'll meet you when I can."

"Is everything ok?"

"Don't know yet," Dupree answers. "Was checking up on a lead when I found some guy getting the crap kicked out of him. I'm at the hospital with him now, waiting to question him."

"Alright, I'll send you the address when we get there." Jameson hangs up.

"Well, how bad is it?" Cortez asks.

"Could be a lot worse," Jameson admits. She takes her blonde hair out of its tight bun and runs a hand through it several times before turning to her wards. "Lead the way, I guess."

The group disperses into their two cars with the officers following behind in theirs. This time, though, Mickey rides alongside Ian. The action doesn't go unnoticed by his siblings.


They arrive shortly. Ian and the officers are first to exit their vehicles. When determined safe, the rest of the company join them. Hand in hand Svetlana and Nika lead the others up to the apartment. It's barely ten during mid-summer, and they all just nearly got roasted inside a house, but there's still a shiver running up everyone's spine. Nika gently squeezes her girlfriend's hand, sensing Svetlana's growing discomfort. The gesture brings a small smile to Svetlana's lips, renewing her with confidence and trust. She disengages from Nika's hand to unlock the door.

"You and Mickey can take the other room," Svetlana says to Ian as they all enter. "I am sorry, everyone else will have to stay in the living room."

"I call dibs on the couch," Mandy declares.

"How's that fair?" Colin asks. "I nearly died like half an hour ago."

"But you didn't."

Mickey smirks a bit at his siblings and then feels in need of a shower. Ever since meeting Ian, he's found himself cleaning up more. Not necessarily because he feels the need to impress Ian, but because he seems to be getting into all sorts of messes these days.

Placing a hand on the middle of Mickey's back, he turns to Svetlana and asks, "Think we can use your shower now?"

Mickey raises his eyebrow, a little weirded out by how much more Ian is able to read him, but also impressed. "We?"

Ian glances at Mickey and smirks. He doesn't respond though.

"You all can as long as you save hot water for everyone," Svetlana answers. "And Ian, don't fuck him in it."

"No promises."

Svetlana shoots Ian a pointed look.

"Alright, alright. Jesus," Ian says, holding his hands up in mock surrender.

Ian and Mickey retreat to the small but well kept bathroom. Sadly, they don't fuck in it.


After all their guests have finished their turns in the shower, Nika and Svetlana take theirs. Svetlana turns the bath on and is pleasantly surprised there is still hot water left. She pours some scented bath bubbles into the bath as Nika begins to remove her grimy clothes.

"This is absolutely disgusting," Nika grumbles, tossing her clothes onto the floor.

"But you are still beautiful," Svetlana says, smiling at her girlfriend. She rises from the edge of the tub and walks over to Nika, who helps Svetlana undress. She cradles Nika's face with her hands lovingly. There's dirt and ash smudged all over Nika's face, as there probably is on her own, but Svetlana is more certain now than ever that she never wants to be without Nika. She knows she wants to be at Nika's side forever.

"I know what you are thinking," Nika says, as if she needs to.

"I am thinking we should get in the bath before the water turns cold."

Nika frowns, but manages to be affectionate as she does so. She lets Svetlana guide her into the tub. They settle into the warm water and bubbles, a delicate scent of lavender now lingering in the room. Svetlana lies down in the bath with Nika's back pressed against her chest. It hasn't been too long since they've been able to do this, but for some reason time feels like it has stretched on farther recently.

Svetlana sighs contently as she wraps her arms around her girlfriend. "Have you given thought to what we talked about?"

"You know where I stand. It is not the right time."

"Then when will it be?"

"Soon."

"How soon?"

Nika giggles softly. "When my idiot brother gets his shit together."

"Who knows when that will be," Svetlana groans. "I have never seen him like this before. Like, he is in love. Do you think he will turn him?"

"Maybe. I just want him to be happy for once."

"So do I," Svetlana agrees. "And I want you to be happy too."

"You make me happy."

"All the more reason to turn me."

Nika laughs again. "I will. I swear it. I want nothing more than to always be with you."

"And I with you," Svetlana whispers into Nika's ear. She cups Nika's chin gently and turns her head back to kiss her. It's slow but firm. Soon Svetlana tries to pry Nika's mouth open with her tongue, only for Nika to pull away suddenly.

"I thought you said we are not allowed to fuck in the tub."

"We can," Svetlana answered. "And we have before anyway. Everyone else, absolutely not."

Nika presses her lips back on Svetlana's and smiles against her mouth. This time she allows Svetlana's tongue to push past her parted lips and massages it with her own. Svetlana moves her hand from Nika's chin down her chest and sinks below the surface of the bubbled water. Nika detaches from Svetlana's mouth again and gasps as her fangs extend. She guides Svetlana's other hand to her breasts, writhing against her girlfriend, the water turning to passionate waves.

Resting her head on Svetlana's shoulder now Nika reaches back between Svetlana's legs. Svetlana releases a moan against Nika's ear. It was not meant to be as loud as it was but bathrooms always do carry sound more than they should.

"Are you trying to get us caught?" Nika asks in a mildly harsh whisper.

"They don't care, why should we?" Svetlana replies before covering Nika's mouth again with her own. Maybe that will keep them from making too much noise.

Their moaning is stifled by their fervent kissing, but the splashing of the water only increases. Nika extricates herself from Svetlana and unplugs the drain of the tub with vampiric speed. She turns the shower head on and stands up, beckoning Svetlana to do the same. As the water in the tub washes down the drain Nika tenderly pushes Svetlana against the tile wall and kneels in front of her. Instinctually Svetlana drapes a leg over Nika's shoulder as Nika licks a trail up Svetlana's thigh. She lightly drags her fangs along the same path as she presses two fingers inside her girlfriend. When Nika begins sliding her fingers in and out of Svetlana and moving her thumb in a circular motion she pierces Svetlana's thigh with her fangs.

Svetlana releases another ragged moan, no longer caring if anyone in their apartment hears them. Throwing her head back against the wall Svetlana closes her eyes so the water raining down doesn't blind her. Her hands find Nika's head and maneuvers her mouth to join Nika's fingers. Svetlana chews on her bottom lip as her moment of release begins to approach. Nika reaches down between her own legs with her other hand as she finishes Svetlana off. Svetlana begins chanting Nika's name along with muttering low curses in Russian. Before long her orgasm shudders through her whole body leaving her skin tingled, though that might just be from the now cold water. When Nika reaches her own climax she bites down on Svetlana's thigh again.

Nika pulls off Svetlana's thigh and snakes up her girlfriend's wet slicked body. She pauses at Svetlana's breasts to suck on her nipples briefly, then kisses up her neck. Nika retracts her fangs to kiss Svetlana properly. It's slow, much slower than when they began, but there is more feeling poured into it. They break the kiss when Svetlana shivers again.

"Sorry," Nika says. "We should get out."

"It is not that bad," Svetlana answers. Still, she allows Nika to wrap them together in a large towel.

They enter their room as quietly as possible. Neither bother putting on pajamas and climb directly into their bed after they've dried off. Both Nika and Svetlana feel safe under the covers and in each other's warm, loving embrace.

Svetlana rests her head on Nika's shoulder and slings her leg over Nika's. "What about Jimmy? What will we do about him?"

"We cannot lure him out as we thought we could. We have to let him come to us, and next time we will be prepared."

"You have already thought of another plan?"

"Maybe," Nika answers. "I will speak to Ian the next night. You go to sleep now."

Svetlana does as she's advised and closes her eyes. She releases a deep sigh and lets herself drift off.


The hospital room is cold. Hospitals are always cold. A fact not appreciated by Detective Dupree, especially since Jorge lost consciousness soon after Dupree found him and hasn't woken up for several hours. Dupree tugs his grey coat closer and is about to go back outside into the warm summer night for another smoke break when there's a slight movement beneath the sheets of the hospital bed. He rises from his chair in the corner and walks to the bedside. Jorge's fingers start to wriggle and he lets out a stifled moan as he comes to.

"Where the fuck am I?" Jorge asks groggily, blinking a few times. The hospital room is bright. Hospitals are always bright.

"Hey, you've been out for a bit," Dupree greets. "You're at the hospital now."

"Fuck… you're that detective. The one asking about fangers."

"Yeah, that's me. Don't worry about that right now. I'll go get a nurse. Definitely questioning you after though."

Jorge groans. "Can't fucking wait."

Dupree returns with a nurse who checks Jorge's vitals. She leaves then, and returns about half an hour later with a doctor. Neither Jorge or Dupree pay much attention to what he says. Doctors always seem to speak in a different language and never care to translate. The only thing that matters is that he said Jorge would be fine after he rests at the hospital for a couple of days. Jorge's not looking forward to the monster of a medical bill he'll be left with though. When the doctor finally leaves, Dupree is considerate enough to not jump down Jorge's throat with all the questions he has. Instead he lingers a while not really knowing how to do the whole small talk thing.

"Just ask already," Jorge interrupts when he's had enough of Dupree's awkward conversation skills. "Get it over with."

"Alright, well, just tell me what happened. Start from the beginning."

"I don't know what the fuck happened," Jorge grumbles. "One minute I'm locking up the warehouse, next minute I get hit in the back of the head and drop to my knees."

"Lucky you didn't receive any grievous injuries."

"I'm in a hospital bed, Detective."

"Getting hit anywhere on the head is pretty fucking serious. Trust me, you're lucky."

Jorge sighs. "Nah, I don't think he was trying to kill me. Not yet anyway."

"So why go after you?"

"Not sure exactly. I think he just wanted to, like, kidnap me or something."

"What the hell for?"

"Don't know. Think this has to do with all these vampire killings?"

Dupree rubs his crinkled brows as if to massage away his growing headache. "Maybe, maybe not." He remains silent for a while, trying to piece together this puzzle that's had him perplexed for so long. "Do you know the man who attacked you?"

"Yeah," Jorge answers immediately. "It was Terry Milkovich."