THE MUSICAL VAMPIRE MYSTERIES OF RORY FLANAGAN
Author's Notes: Only a couple more chapters to go. Things are about to heat up and go full speed ahead from here on out! Hang on to your hats my friends!
Beta Credit: TVTime
Season 1, Episode 9: You Got Me in a Trance
Sam slowed down as he approached the Lima Bean. He wanted to 'scope out' the place before going in. It sounded overly paranoid even to himself, but if the banshee was indeed inside, he would be able to help much easier if nobody knew he was there. The element of surprise was always an asset. On the other hand, if the banshee was outside, nobody knew he was there except Rory. If she overpowered him, that would be the end. Either way he wanted to make this a reasonably short recon mission.
Sam was careful to stay hidden in the trees as he approached the café. From his distant vantage point he was just able to peer through the windows and see that Tina was happily waiting tables, while Kurt was bringing pastries out from the kitchen to put in the display case. Mercedes wiped down the bar, the only occupant being the strange man who had abruptly left during Sam's more recent visit. Sam recalled that the man, Noah Puckerman as he learned his name was, had the distinct scent of werewolf. It was a foul odor to him, like a dog that had rolled around in dirt all day. It was a smell that no human could pick up, and only certain non-humans could detect, vampires being one of them.
The vampire was about to worry where Mike was when he saw the Asian man emerge from the hall where his office was located. He brought something out to Tina. The pair of them began musing over it, her expression changing from chipper to serious. Sam wondered if Mike had found out something new about the banshee, or if it was even related to their current predicament.
Satisfied that their friends were safe, Sam wanted to get back to Rory as soon as possible. He watched a moment more, and then turned around, taking off in a run.
As he entered the woods surrounding his home, the one hundred-seventy-year-old slammed into something firm and stumbled backward, barely catching himself from falling. He took a moment to regain his senses and then look over the strange object that had abruptly stopped his dash, his eyes widening in surprise. Who the hell is she and why does she feel like a wall? he asked himself.
The 'thing' he had slammed into was actually a person, a woman. She was a head shorter than him, even with the heels she appeared to be wearing. She wore a very revealing latex outfit, all in black. Her boots stopped just below her knees, the legs of her suit barely covering her thighs. Her stomach was exposed but her ample bosom was fully covered except for her cleavage, the material holding her chest firmly in place. She wore fingerless gloves that stopped halfway up her forearms, altogether giving her a very dangerous, intimidating look. Despite the fact that he hadn't checked out a female in quite a while, Sam had to admit her body was flawless.
As his gaze returned to the woman's face he realized that she was the most beautiful female he had ever seen. Her makeup was modest, accenting her eyes and mouth, just the slightest bit of color in her cheeks. Her blonde hair was streaked with dark pink and deep red and was pulled back in a tight ponytail, her luscious red lips parted in a mocking smile. She gazed at the man before her, her eyes showing signs of arousal and curiosity, the pupils glowing a strange teal color.
"Hello, vampire," she said, her voice dripping with sex. As she spoke, he felt himself beginning to feel turned on, a sensation he didn't understand at the moment. Before he could ask who she was, why she was there, and how she knew what he was, he felt a punch to his stomach. He doubled over just in time to feel his forehead slamming into something while something else was pushing down on his upper body. As he stumbled and fell back onto his rear he was able to see the woman blurring back into focus.
"What the hell? Who are you? What do you want?" he demanded as he slowly got back on his feet, never taking his eyes off of her. She hits like a train! Any higher and she would have broken a rib! Something tells me this isn't going to go well, he thought, a sense of dread falling over him.
"Does it matter? I am a succubus, and that's all you need to know, because I will kill you, and any information learned will simply be useless to your grotesque remains," she replied haughtily.
Sam found her confidence disturbing. She had already given him a few hearty blows that could have completely incapacitated a human, giving him no doubt she was more than capable of making good on her promise.
Before the vampire could argue or ask anymore questions, he felt absurdly icy hands on his body, yanking him forward and around into a tree headfirst. He had no time to recover before the frosty grip was around his throat, shoving his face into the ground and dragging him as she ran, rock digging into his flesh. He could taste dirt and gravel in his mouth as he spat on the ground, blood coming out with it. For the first time in decades he felt a wave of fear surge through his body.
"I was hoping you'd put up more of a fight you know," the woman taunted, releasing her grip on his head. She stood back, arms crossed, watching him struggle to get up. He was on one knee before she kicked his leg, then slammed her fist into the back of his head, forcing him down to the ground once again. "Is that the best you can do, vampire?"
"No," Sam groaned as he forced himself to get up, his entire body aching, sticky blood running down the side of his face. The latex-clad woman went to knock him down again, but he dodged and managed to kick her feet out from under her, knocking her onto her back. She squealed in delight as he straddled her, holding down her arms by her biceps. Goddamn, her arms feel like steel!
"Mmm, I like a man who can take control," she purred. "Come on, make Kitty smile for you," she added, licking her lips. Her eyes glowed brighter and her skin emanated some sort of scent that reminded Sam of strawberries and gave him a renewed sense of arousal. He was in a fight, getting his ass kicked and finally gaining an advantage and he was feeling a tingle in his pants. What was wrong with him?
"Fuck you, lady!" Sam yelled back at her angrily, his grip feeling weaker. "Let's get something straight! I-"
An instant later the vampire was up against a tree, Kitty's frozen hand around his throat, holding him up despite her lack of height. "Yes, let's get something straight, vampire. I will kill you. I will take your leprechaun, and lucky for him, he's needed alive, otherwise I would play with him myself."
A surge of rage ran through Sam's body as Kitty made her threat. He kicked out, managing to throw her off balance just enough to let go of him. He dropped to the ground gasping. He hadn't the time to curse his body's habit of pulling in air he no longer needed, as it took energy he couldn't spare at that moment. I refuse to die! Not when Rory's in danger! I have to kill her first!
Kitty quickly got back to her feet, jamming her knee into Sam's crotch before punching him under the chin, the force knocking him into the air. She grabbed him by the foot as he rose above her head and then began to spin him around, his head and back slamming into the trees around them, cracking the trunks with each hit. He howled in pain as he felt himself colliding with the solid wood over and over, his body weakening significantly.
The next thing he felt was his body flying through the air. Not the way he had been in Kitty's grasp—her hand was no longer on his ankle. He was flying freely, finally falling onto his side on the ground. He then heard what he prayed he wouldn't hear.
"Leave him alone, ye' bitch!" bellowed the deep, Irish-accented voice of Rory Flanagan. Sam could barely see a bright flash of light and then heard a scream from Kitty. He saw a second and a third flash, heard more screams and angry shouts from his boyfriend in both English and what he assumed was Gaelic.
Sam struggled to get up on all fours, a new wave of anger building up in him. "What are you doing!? Get out of here, now!" he ordered, his eyes cutting toward Rory. "Get the hell out of here!" What is he thinking?! All this shit we're going through to protect him and he's gonna come out here on his own and start blasting crazy people! Damn you! Get out of here now! Many more incoherent thoughts raced through his head, most of them sheer frustration at just about everything going on at the moment, and a good bit of it nothing but pure fear.
"I can't leave ye' here," Rory said, kneeling down on one knee in front of Sam. "I know I shouldn't 'ave come but I—"
He was interrupted by a frosted hand grabbing him by the back of his shirt and yanking him off of his feet. He flew backward and hit a tree, falling forward onto his hands and knees. Kitty stood in front of Sam, gloating and then kicking him in the face with her heel.
"You two really think you can take me down with your little fireworks show? Really?" Kitty tittered, shaking her head. "Please. I'm a succubus. The mistress would never allow someone weak to kill for her." She shrugged and smiled, licking her lips again. "I really wish I could hurt this little brat. Those blasts stung like a bitch." Her eyes returned to their aqua glow, the scent of strawberries filling the air once more. Rory, however, felt nothing at all, unlike Sam who was once again feeling a tingle in his groin.
Rory was crawling on the ground, his vision slightly blurry, his head light from where he had slammed it against the trunk. He tried to focus but couldn't even feel his hands warming up. He could still hear, but it sounded hollow, like he was in a tunnel. Oh me God! I'm going to die! And she's gonna kill Sam! Because of me! He's gonna die and it's my fault! he thought.
"Then again, she said don't kill him. She didn't say I couldn't smack him around a bit," the woman said, marching over toward the injured boy. She bent down to grab him by the head, but she was suddenly thrown sideways, and then upward into the branches, slammed back down to the ground, and kicked several times in the chest. She had no time to react as a blur, no, two blurs buzzed around her, kicking and punching various parts of her body. When the action stopped, Kitty was face down on the ground.
"What the fuck?!" she screeched, picking herself up off of the ground. Her eyes shifted to a bright red from rage. "Who's there?! You have some fucking balls to hit me!"
Her answer was in the form of the two blurs moving upon her again. She felt herself being hit in the back, forcing her to stumble forward. Something caught her arm and slung her around right into a tree, the mighty oak splitting right down the center with the impact. She had no time to recover as she was tossed into the air, meeting a cold grip and being thrown into the ground, something heavy landing on top of her.
"Had enough yet?" a voice asked in French. "Ready to surrender, or should I kill you now?"
"I don't surrender!" she barked, her French a little rusty. A smirk crossed the face of the man who had spoken to her as he dashed forward, lifting her off of the ground and charging her headfirst into another large tree. The resulting crack echoed like thunder, the trunk splintering into hundreds of shards.
Kitty screamed, more from anger than pain. At this point she was outnumbered despite the fact that two of her adversaries were all but incapacitated. She screamed one more time as a blast of white-hot light smacked her in the side.
The succubus quickly rose from the ground, not wanting to chance another surprise attack. She backed up against a tree as she surveyed the scene. The vampire was flat on his face, bloodied and broken. He was struggling to getup and failing miserably. The leprechaun was still on his butt, leaning against a tree for support. He looked to be very weak and dizzy, his outstretched hand wavering. She didn't recognize the other two figures in front of her, but she could sense they were vampires.
"This isn't over cocksuckers!" Kitty bellowed. She turned tail and fled at top speed, her screeches of rage filling the night air as she returned to wherever she had come from.
Sam looked up to see what had subdued their attacker, his eyes hazy and his chest aching as his body struggled to catch breaths he didn't need. The sight of his saviors only verified for him who had come to their rescue. The properly spoken French had been enough of a clue, and now he saw the sheriff and his progeny standing in the middle of the forest and it made him feel sick to his stomach.
"Sebastian. Santana," Sam said flatly. Sebastian stood before him, smirking, his tie and blazer still neatly pressed as if he hadn't just been fighting. Santana stood next to him, a look of annoyance on her face. Her skintight leather pants squeaked slightly as she shifted her weight from one hip to the other.
"Good evening, Samuel. Having a little trouble?" Sebastian snickered. He held out his hand to help the younger man onto his feet. Sam reluctantly took the offered hand but still struggled as he rose, every part of his body in pain. He was able to stand, but was leaning over slightly, one hand on his abdomen and the other on his hip, supporting him. "Aren't you going to thank me?"
The younger vampire sighed, and muttered his gratitude. Inside, he really was grateful, but he wished that it had been anyone but Sebastian to come to his rescue. If there was one thing he didn't want, it was for the sheriff to see him weak or to feel as if he owed him something in return.
"Santana, take care of Mr. Evans. He looks a little disheveled," the sheriff ordered as he turned away, walking toward the dizzied teenaged human-leprechaun hybrid. Santana rolled her eyes but obliged, moving closer and lifting the bottom of Sam's shirt to inspect him. He shoved her hand away, glaring.
"You really are an ungrateful brat, Sam," Santana scolded coldly. "Quit being a drama queen and let me…. Oh this pains me to even say… let me help you."
Sebastian knelt down in front of Rory, a look of genuine sadness on his face. He held out both hands for the teen to take. "Come on, let's stand up now," the man said with an unusually caring tone. Rory grasped the sheriff's hands and slowly stood up, his head spinning, his vision and hearing still slightly off from the impact on his head. Sebastian caressed the boy's cheek with the back of his hand, smiling ever so slightly. "Still a beautiful boy. Are you alright?"
Rory felt sick and wanted to vomit. It wasn't from Sebastian, however. It was from the way his head felt. He turned away, bent over, and threw up beside the tree he had hit, embarrassed.
"Here, drink some of my blood. It'll help heal you," Sebastian offered, slitting his wrist open and holding it out for him as the boy turned back around.
Rory looked up at him with big eyes. "No, I can't. Sam told me what happens if I drink from someone else," he said softly.
Sebastian smiled the grin of a cunning cat. "Well, you need some medical attention, and right now, he can't exactly provide it. He needs his strength. You'll need to drink from me to heal faster."
The teen closed his eyes and sighed. He then gently pushed the sheriff's arm away. "I'm sorry. I appreciate what ye'r offering, but I can't. I'll heal on me own." Sam let out a sigh of relief as he overheard their conversation. Sebastian could be manipulative, but fortunately Rory was still on top of his game.
"Stubborn, but the offer is on the table if you change your mind," Sebastian stated, slightly hurt. The wound on his wrist healed up in a matter of seconds. He lifted his forearm to his mouth, licked it clean, and pulled the cuff of his blazer back down proper. He then turned back around to address his progeny. "We need to get to safety. To Sam's home. Santana, you assist him, and I'll take care of our human friend." He nodded at Sam, who was greatly annoyed at being coddled.
"Come on," Santana huffed, pulling Sam's arm around her shoulders. "Let's get this over with. It's humiliating having to carry you around like a dead trout," the woman grumbled. Normally Sam would have shoved her off, declined her assistance, but truth be told, he needed the help right then. He also knew that Santana had no choice but to follow her maker's orders and by denying her he would have been causing more of a problem between maker and progeny than was necessary.
Sebastian on the other hand gently pulled Rory into his arms and with a shift of weight, picked him up to carry him like a child. It was then that the boy lost consciousness.
"He's passed out. When we get to your house we can put him to bed. Rest will cure him, in time," Sebastian stated, glancing back at Sam. Sam wanted to run up to his boyfriend and take him into his own arms, away from Sebastian. Sam was far too weak, however and watched helplessly as the older man carried the boy in his arms.
Santana was annoyed, but she was also incredibly observant. It hadn't gone unnoticed how gentle and caring her maker had been with the human. Sebastian was never like that with anyone, not even her. It gave her pangs of jealously seeing him cater to the boy.
As Sebastian strolled through the woods, his young charge in his arms, he couldn't help but nuzzle his chin against the teen's head. He smelled so good despite having just been thrown into a tree. His eyes focused on Rory's mouth, the boy's lips crying for attention. If only he could take just one kiss from him, but Sam would risk the true death to keep his human from being defiled.
-ooo-
Sebastian gently laid Rory down on the bed in the basement. He carefully slid off the boy's shoes, socks, and pants, and then his shirt, leaving only his boxer shorts on. Rory was so deeply conked out that he didn't even wake as the shirt was pulled over his head. The sheriff looked at the beautiful boy, laying on the bed, vulnerable. Even wounded the teen was enticing. Sebastian cursed Sam for having forbade the teen to drink from him.
The sheriff walked away and returned a moment later with a washcloth and a basin of warm water. Kneeling at Rory's side, he carefully wiped the dirt and blood from the teen's face, smoothing the disheveled hair back from his forehead and caressing his cheeks. Sebastian hadn't felt the sort of emotions he was feeling for Rory in a long, long time. He found him delicious looking, but he also found him genuinely intriguing and not just because of his unique abilities. Rory was kind but assertive. He was innocent and pure. Sebastian felt a sort of protectiveness over him and even affection. Rory wasn't like the other men and women he pursued. They were all toys for him to play with and get his rocks off. This boy was someone he felt like he was growing to care about.
The idea that he might be developing romantic feelings for a human made him feel ill. It wasn't the boy himself, it was the knowledge that someday the teen would grow old and die, ninety years max, and that was just a blink of an eye in a vampire's lifetime. The pain that came with love and affection could be very damaging, and part of the reason Sebastian had lived so long was because he had total control over his emotions. He was logical and smart, manipulative and cunning. Even still, Santana had conned him into turning her. He couldn't allow this human to also break him of his control.
Despite these distracting thoughts, Sebastian finished his task, stood up to leave, and paused. He leaned down and gently placed his lips on the unconscious boy's. He didn't move to do anything except press their lips together for a moment. I just want to feel them against mine, just for a moment, he thought. He broke the kiss after a few seconds and then scurried back upstairs. He had Sam to take care of next, a task he knew his progeny had no desire to assist in.
-ooo-
"Your boyfriend is safely in bed, wounds catered to," came the taunting voice of Sam's least favorite person. "He'll need time to heal, which could be solved if you let him drink from me since you're too weak right now."
"Get out of my bathroom, Sebastian," Sam groaned as the sheriff entered without knocking. Sam was lying back in the bathtub, the water steaming hot and tinted slightly red. Every part of his body ached. He was covered in bruises and cuts. His teeth hurt from having his head slammed around face first and his groin was still tender from the brutal knee to his balls. Even a vampire would need extended time to recover from so many injuries. His healing blood could only work but so quickly.
"That's not exactly a friendly greeting for someone who just saved your life," Sebastian said coolly. "At the very least a 'thank you' would be nice."
The younger vampire sighed. "Thank you for your timely deliverance, Sebastian," he said thinly.
"It must burn you up that the person you hate so much is the one who just saved your ass from the true death," Sebastian taunted with a smile.
Sam rolled his eyes, refusing to admit that Sebastian was exactly right. It did irritate him that of all people to come to his aid, it had to be Sebastian and Santana. He barely tolerated their existence because one was his sheriff; the other was the sheriff's progeny.
"I know we don't like each other, Samuel, but you have to admit, we have a common interest here. Rory's safety and the defeat of the banshee," the sheriff pointed out. He took a seat on the edge of the tub, his eyes wandering down for a moment. "Hmm…Impressive," he said seductively, nodding toward Sam's crotch.
"Shut up," Sam hissed. Sebastian giggled, dragging his fingertips through the water near his subordinate's shin. "Just because we have to work together doesn't mean I have to like it. This is my home, so don't forget who's in charge here."
Sebastian threw his head back in a loud scoff. "Don't forget, kid, I'm the sheriff. I'm in charge whether you like it or not. Don't piss me off, or else I'll take that hybrid from you and have you bound in silver and your fangs removed for treason!" His remarks came across as joking, but in a very evil tone. It was not above him to pull rank, although he was lying about the extremes he would go to. Sebastian had no desire to silver Sam or remove his fangs. All he really wanted was Rory. Torturing other vampires was something he wanted no part in, but it surely made for a chilling threat.
"Let's call a truce for now, how does that suit you?" the elder suggested. "We work together long enough to secure the young man and send this banshee and her crew packing for hell, and then we'll go back to how things were before. I may be controlling and manipulative, but I'm as concerned for the boy's safety as you are."
Sam closed his eyes and mulled it over. He didn't have much choice. He could work with Sebastian and have things go smoothly, or he could work against him and have everything go all to hell. Truth be told, it worked to his and Rory's advantage to have a thousand-six-hundred-twenty-three-year-old vampire in their corner. The older a vampire was, the stronger he was. On top of that they had Santana, who was only ten years older than Sam himself, but she was still an asset.
"Fine. Truce. But if you so much as even try to violate Rory, I call it off, and we handle things like men," Sam declared. He held out his dripping hand. "Agreed?"
Sebastian reached forward and shook the other man's hand. "Fine. Agreed." He stood up and walked away, pausing at the doorframe. "You know Samuel, it's a shame we don't like each other. You're very handsome, and well endowed, the type of man I enjoy between my sheets."
"Fuck you," Sam barked. "Go on, leave me alone to finish my suffering in this bath," he added. He didn't wait for the other man to finish leaving before closing his eyes and once again getting comfortable against the tub. The steaming water soothed his aching muscles, and he took solace in the knowledge that Rory was all right.
Sebastian paused, addressing his ally. "Maybe someday you can explain to me why you're so hostile toward me. You have always had such animosity toward me, and I have merely reciprocated it, but I honestly have no idea why you feel such burning hatred for me."
The younger vampire sighed, not really feeling like going through the conversation, but in an act of appreciation for Sebastian's care of Rory, he decided to concede. "At first it was Santana who made me dislike you both. After time passed and I got to know you, I disliked your haughty attitude and sense of entitlement."
"Somehow I doubt that's the entire truth, Samuel. Your hate goes deeper than that. There's something much more significant, and someday I will get it out of you. Know this, however, Samuel: I do not hate you. I dislike your attitude toward me, and your sense of entitlement. You act like you deserve some sort of award for mainstreaming and I find it rather arrogant. Even through that, I don't hate you. I actually find you… intriguing," the sheriff admitted, his eyes filled with sincerity.
"Good to know. Maybe someday we can have a real conversation like men, but right now, we have one goal, and that's to protect Rory. Other than that, I have no interest in anything else. Now please, leave me alone."
Sebastian said nothing at first and took one last look at the toned body of the younger vampire, noting one more time just how well endowed he was. Before he finally left the bathroom, he gave Sam a parting word. "Jealousy does not become you, Samuel. Keep that in mind." He smirked and chuckled, then walked out of the door, leaving it wide open in an act of rudeness.
-ooo-
Sam finished his bath and dried off, feeling much cleaner but still incredibly weak. His body continued to ache, his head was pounding, and the bruises hadn't started fading yet. He cursed under his breath, angry that he had been defeated so easily. Upon reflection, however, it wasn't like Sam had done an excessive amount of fighting in his years as a vampire. In the past, most situations were easily resolved with glamour or by subduing a human physically, but not violently. He had only fought a couple of other vampires, but those incidents turned out much better than this one. Despite his limited fighting record, Sam nevertheless took pride in his physique, just as toned and strong as the day he was turned, the muscles of a hardworking man. Unfortunately, that didn't automatically make him a skilled fighter.
The light in the basement was off, leaving the room in darkness. Of course, that made little difference since his ability to see in the dark was very good. He sat on the edge of the bed, next to his resting boyfriend. He reached over and held the teen's hand, more for his own comfort than for Rory's. He smiled when he felt the boy squeeze his hand back.
"Sam…are ye' okay?" Rory asked quietly as his eyes fluttered open.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Sam apologized. "I've felt better, but I'll be fine. I just need to rest."
Rory sat up as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He could see the discoloration on Sam's skin, even though he couldn't tell that it was deep purple. He let his fingers brush the strange splotches, Sam wincing as he did so.
"Ye'r not okay. Ye'r hurt," the teen insisted. "Do ye' need to drink? Ye' can drink from me if it'll help," he offered, tilting his head sideways. "Go on, ye' need it, don't ye'?"
Sam pulled the boy into his arms instead, kissing him on the neck. "No, you need every bit of your strength. I'll be fine, it just takes a while when a vampire gets their ass handed to them in a fight like that." He chuckled lightly, hoping it would convince the teen not to worry.
"In fact…I think it might do you some good to drink from me," Sam said, biting his wrist. "But just a little bit. I can't afford to lose but so much." A look of worry crossed Rory's features, the teen shaking his head.
"No, ye' need it! I can't be takin' ye'r bloo—" Rory's sentence was cut off as Sam shoved his now-bleeding wrist against the boy's mouth, holding Rory's head in place so he couldn't pull away.
Rory tasted the blood as it hit his tongue and began to drain down his throat. It was just as he remembered it from the first time he had drunk from his boyfriend. As the red liquid hit his stomach, he could feel the energy of it starting to take effect; a slight tingle through his veins, a warmth flowing through his body.
"That's all I can manage," Sam said after a couple of minutes. He pulled back his wrist, bringing it to his lips to lick it clean. He leaned forward and kissed the boy, tasting his own blood as he drew the boy's tongue into his mouth. They kissed passionately for several minutes, their hands wandering over one another. Both teens were erect, straining their garments, but they were far too tired to engage in sex. Instead they simply felt secure just being so close to one another.
The last thing Rory remembered was Sam lying down with him, stroking his hair. When he awoke the next morning, he wasn't surprised to discover that Sam wasn't next to him. He glanced over toward Sam's own 'bed' but the coffin was closed up tight. He felt pangs of disappointment fall over him as it sank into him yet again that they would never wake up next to one another.
-ooo-
Rory felt strangely energized after getting out of bed and trotting upstairs. He wasn't certain, but it was most likely a side effect from Sam's blood. He tried to remember what it had been like that first night, but the memory was foggy. Of course, he had been a hairsbreadth away from death at the time. They had taken each other's life force since then, but like any other experience in life, nothing compared to the memory of that first time.
Rory had no desire whatsoever to go outside for fear that the creature that had attacked Sam would be lurking out there. It claimed to be something other than a vampire, a word he wasn't familiar with.
"What was it she said….?" The teen asked aloud to an empty house. "A suck cube? Suck cube dish? No, that wasn't it. Sucker bitch?" He couldn't help but giggle at his last suggestion. The woman had indeed been a bitch. "Suck a… Suck a…."
-ooo-
"Succubus?" Mike repeated as Tina gave him the information Sebastian had left for them. Unaware of the location of either shifter's home, Sebastian had simply left a note in their mailbox at the Lima Bean. It was in an envelope and looked like any ordinary letter. Tina opened it and began to read the words neatly printed on stationery emblazoned with the sheriff's name. It was a short recount of the night's events, including the attack on Sam as well as Rory's attempt to fight. He also left for them a word to research: succubus.
"I can guarantee the jerk knows what it is, he just want's to screw with us," Tina declared, frowning at the piece of paper. It was unlike her to be so harsh, but she had witnessed the way he and Sam interacted first hand, and it left her with a sour taste in her mouth. Sebastian was arrogant, bossy, and rude.
"Maybe he isn't wanting us to research it. Maybe he just wants us to know what it is," Mike suggested. He was surprised at Tina's words, but he also understood she was most likely projecting her frustration on the most convenient victim. "Of course, I have no idea what a succubus is, do you?"
Tina nodded. "Yes. It's a demon that rapes men in the night, draining their life from them and using it to sustain her own. Somehow they also impregnate themselves so they can give birth to human-demon hybrids," she said matter-of-factly. "I thought they were just myths like everything else, but apparently at least one exists." She shuddered at the very thought that a succubus was out there, possibly a threat to her own boyfriend if the creature saw fit.
"So, we have this banshee, whose voice can somehow hypnotize people, and a succubus who has super strength and speed and also rapes men in their sleep. Great," the man replied sarcastically. He sighed, closed his eyes, and tilted his head back. "Suddenly I feel a migraine."
Tina massaged the man's shoulders for a moment before she slipped out of the office door. She had an idea. She walked toward the kitchen where Kurt was busily baking a new batch of cookies for the display case. She lightly tapped him on the shoulder, not wanting to scare him as he shuffled back and forth dancing and singing along to his iPod.
"Huh? Oh, hey," Kurt said, pulling out his earbuds and muting the iPod. "I'm almost done with these and already started the honey buns if that's what you came to ask about," he added.
The Asian woman shook her head. "No, not that. I actually have a small favor to ask you," she said, smiling her sweetest grin. Kurt just looked back at her with defeat of a battle they didn't even bother to fight. "It looks like some big baddie is giving Sam and Rory some trouble, and we want to know how to destroy it. We were hoping that maybe Blaine can help, what with his magic and all."
Kurt considered the question for several moments, leaving Tina in suspense. He busied himself with rolling the honey buns while he thought. "I don't like the idea of involving Blaine with all this….mumbo jumbo. I really don't care that the thing is bothering Sam," he stated coldly. After a moment he turned to face his friend. "However, Rory is my friend, and if this thing is messing with him, then we gotta stop it. I don't really appreciate that it hypnotized every human in here, including myself. Who knows what the crazy wench could have done to us. I almost wish you never told us anything about it at all. Ignorance is bliss, and I would prefer to reach nirvana."
"So you'll ask him if he'll help us? It helps you, too. You won't be in danger anymore either. If she stays around, next time none of us might be so lucky to live," Tina urged hopefully. Kurt rolled his eyes halfway and nodded. The gracious woman wrapped her arms around Kurt, hugging him. "You're the best, Kurt!
"Yeah, yeah," Kurt muttered, waving her off. "I'll call him as soon as I'm done rolling these buns. I'm gonna warn you though; if so much as a hair on his head is out of place, somebody loses something precious. Got me?"
Tina continued to smile, triumphant. "Yes, He'll be fine, we just need to talk to him and see what he can tell us," she emphasized. "He won't be going out to fight it or anything." She couldn't help but giggle while resisting the urge to point out that Blaine wore so much gel in his hair that any creature would find it quite the challenge to harm a single strand on the Wiccan's head.
Kurt scoffed, irritated. "I said I'd call him. But when I say he better not get involved with anything dangerous, I mean it."
Tina smiled and left the room, returning to Mike to fill him in on what Kurt's answer to her question had been.
-ooo-
"This place is really creepy," Kurt said, shuddering as he looked up at the old-style mansion of Samuel Evans. Mike had given Kurt the address after talking with him, asking for Blaine to accompany him to Sam's home.
"I think it looks kind of neat," Blaine noted, his eyes roving over the front of the house. Had there been no lights in the windows, it may have looked haunted to an unwelcome guest, but dim light shone through the curtains. "It's different. Rustic. I wonder how old it is."
"It's old enough, now let's get this over with so we can get out of here. This place gives me the creeps," Mercedes said, standing close to Kurt for comfort. She too had goosebumps up and down her arms. The young woman had agreed to come with her friends out of curiosity and concern for their safety. Kurt knocked on the door, his knuckles rapping loudly on the thick wood. A moment later, Rory answered, smiling.
"Hello! Come on in," he greeted them excitedly. "I'm so glad ye' came. It's such a nice house, and ye' can get to know Sam better," the teen exclaimed. He hugged each of his friends, including Blaine. He didn't know Blaine that well, but the man was always nice to him and very cheerful. "Sam's in his study, so just follow me."
All three visitors let their eyes wander around their surroundings as they followed their younger friend, observing the old décor and style of craftsmanship. Blaine ran his fingers along the polished wooden trim, pausing to observe the details of the foyer.
Kurt, on the other hand, seemed entirely uninterested. Instead, the teen had his hand tightly clasped with Blaine's, his nerves more than a little out of sorts. I'm in the lion's den! If I weren't an atheist, I would be praying about now.
Mercedes casually glanced around, impressed that a man could keep a home clean and presentable. She still wasn't entirely keen on being inside a vampire's lair, but she had to admit it did have a certain homey atmosphere.
Rory opened the study door, leading the trio behind him into the room. "Sam, our friends are here," he announced politely.
Sam looked up from his desk, sliding whatever he had been reading underneath an old leather notebook. Rory gave him a knowing wink, aware that Sam was hiding a comic book and not some private information.
"Welcome," the vampire said, standing up and leaning over his desk to shake the hand of each guest. "I appreciate you all coming."
"Yeah, no problem," Kurt said flatly. "Mike didn't give us much information on why you needed us here, so why are we here?" Sam could sense the annoyance in the young man's harsh demeanor. It was a shame Kurt insisted on being so distant with him and it made him a little sad. He wanted to be friends with Rory's friends as well, and so far it looked like Tina was the only one willing to entertain the idea.
"Yes, of course. What we really needed was Blaine," Sam replied, looking toward the black-haired man with the bowtie and vest. "Rory tells me you're a practitioner of witchcraft. A Wiccan."
Blaine nodded. "Yes. I'm pretty good with it. I've been studying since I was a kid, and been mentored by a very experienced coven. Why?"
Sam smiled softly, putting the man at ease. "I don't know if you've been told, but we have a little bit of a problem. You see, an ancient and mystical creature has decided to pay us a visit. It's called a banshee, a wailing spirit that, among other things, can kill with her voice."
"I've heard of them before, in stories. I never thought…" Blaine trailed off. He shook his head and sighed. "I guess it's logical though. If vampires exist, why not a banshee? But what do you want with me?"
Sam approached Blaine, stepping from behind the desk. He took one of the man's hands and held it between his own, gazing into his eyes. "We need your help. If you're truly as skilled as you say, we can use your abilities in magic to help us take on this creature."
"Hey, wait a minute!" Kurt piped up loudly. "Mike promised me Blaine would not be in the line of fire! He said Blaine wasn't going into any fights or anything like that!" He took Blaine's arm protectively, yanking him back away from Sam, who let Blaine's hand drop.
"Don't worry, Kurt. I don't want him in danger either. Ideally what we need is protection. We need to make this as safe of a haven as possible. We need whatever protective spells you can manage," Sam said, looking from Blaine to Kurt and back. "We also need to find out if there's anything you know that can help subdue the creature, or weaken it. A potion or other concoction if possible."
The room was silent a moment. Rory and Mercedes watched the exchange with great interest, unaware of what the decision would be. Mercedes knew Blaine almost as well as Kurt. She knew that Blaine was much more of an accepting sort of person, much quicker to believe in strange things, definitely not like Kurt who based everything on what he could see or what he had heard. His knowledge wasn't always the most informed, but Blaine on the other hand kept himself as in the loop as much as possible. She almost laughed, amused by her own train of thought as she realized how it sounded. In fact, she agreed more with Kurt's way of perceiving things than Blaine's yet here she was, considering the Wiccan man to be the better of the group.
"Kurt, calm down, please. I can take care of myself. I don't know what it is, but something makes me trust this man," Blaine said, looking Kurt in the eyes. "Look at me. Don't you see? It'll be okay."
"How do we know he didn't put that glamour spell on you to make you do what he wants?" Kurt demanded harshly. "He's a vampire, and he wants something from you. There's no reason he wouldn't do that to get what he wants." He gazed past his boyfriend and over at the vampire. Sam was simply standing there, watching and waiting patiently. It was a little unnerving that he was so quiet.
"Sam wouldn't do that," Rory stepped in. "It's against his morals. Ye' 'ave to trust me. He can't glamour me even if he wanted to, so please, Kurt, trust me even if ye' don't trust him. He won't put Blaine in danger."
Kurt huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Fine," was all he said. Rory offered him a sincere and thankful smile. There was something about Rory that when he grinned, it put someone at ease and so few could resist his charms.
Before their conversation could pick back up, there was a loud scream that seemed to come from outside. Sam and Rory exchanged frightened glances, the sound sending chills down both of their spines.
"What the hell was that!?" Mercedes screeched. "That doesn't sound human!"
"Stay here," Sam ordered.
Ignoring his command, Rory followed Sam into the hall. His boyfriend was standing in the doorframe, his eyes locked on the young blonde woman from before—the succubus. She was dressed just as provocatively as before, her bodysuit just barely covering her breasts and groin. In fact there was most likely more material used in her boots than the rest of her outfit combined. It looked to be made of the same black latex as her previous uniform. She had a wicked grin on her face as she looked at Sam.
"Hi there," Kitty said in a childlike tone, waving her hand tauntingly.
Sam glared at her coldly. "Leave. You have no right to be here," he declared confidently. Unfortunately, unlike vampires, a succubus did not need an invitation to come inside a home. She rushed up closely to him, their faces only inches apart. She traced her finger down Sam's chest seductively.
"Looks like you recovered well. You're a poor fighter. Not much of a challenge at all," the woman cooed. She leaned forward and kissed the man on the lips, causing him to jerk back in disgust. The contact had been just enough, however, to leave him a little dizzy. He held his head in his hands, trying to make the world stop spinning.
"Get ye'r nasty mouth off o' him!" Rory bellowed, appearing in the hall. Sam stumbled back, getting ready to guard his boyfriend the best he could in his woozy state. Rory stepped in front of him however, his hands already glowing with golden light. He threw one hand in front of himself, sending a blast of energy toward Kitty. She went to dodge, avoiding that burst, but felt the hot slam of a second blast she hadn't been expecting.
Kitty grunted loudly, bending over slightly at the injury on her abdomen. It burned like fire and cold all at once. She felt slow, as if her speed was reduced to that of a normal human. She started to back up, but a much stronger burst of energy hit her square in the chest, throwing her backward into the front yard.
"Get. Out. Of. Here!" Rory yelled. He shot another blast at her between each word, hitting her in the shoulder, the knee, her head, and her chest again. She screamed with each hit, feeling her body ache and burn.
"Stop it!" she cried out. "You can't do this to me you little shit!"
"Oh yes I can!" Rory geared up for another barrage of attacks, but he paused, another light forming between himself and Kitty. Something that looked like a row of glitter fell from the sky, landing in front of them just outside the house, a wall of light forming beneath the shimmering wave. The wall seemed to cross the entire front of the house, curving around the side and most likely around the back, surrounding the mansion.
"What's going on?" Sam asked, having finally recuperated. He stepped out onto the porch, cocking his head as he observed the sheen of light. He reached out and touched it with his fingertip. He jerked his hand back quickly. "Ouch! What the-!?"
"Don't touch it," came Blaine's calm voice. "It's a barrier, a protective shell. It'll keep her out. It stings a little from this side, but if anyone touches it from outside…"
He didn't need to explain what would have happened because a moment later Kitty approached and demonstrated for him. She punched the wall with her fist and was thrown backward, sparks flying brightly, bolts of electricity crackling where her clenched hand had hit.
"That happens," Blaine finished.
Rory's mouth fell open in awe. "How did ye' do that?" he managed to ask.
"I told you, I have very good mentors, and more skill than you might think," Blaine replied smugly. "Sorry, I'm not usually so cocky, but I haven't exactly had a chance to use any of this stuff."
The succubus screamed angrily at the top of her lungs. She grabbed a thick tree branch and threw it at the barrier. The same thing happened. It was thrown backward in a shower of sparks and electrical cracks.
"Clever, warlock. You can't keep me out forever. I'll be back, with friends," she hissed in true overly-dramatic style. She turned to leave, her body moving more slowly than usual. She was still fast enough to outrun a human, but not quite yet a blur before their eyes.
When they could no longer see her, everyone stepped back into the foyer, Sam shutting and locking the door. "Good job, Blaine. Thank you," the vampire said with a smile. "That was amazing."
"See, Kurt? That's why it's important he help us," Rory said to his friend. "He can help keep us safe. That's a pretty amazing thing he just did. We need him."
Kurt merely pursed his lips together, defeated. Blaine put his arms around him and squeezed tight, leaning his head on the other teen's shoulder. "Everything will be okay. I want to help them. They're our friends," he said. Kurt sighed and whispered something into his boyfriend's ear, something nobody else was able to hear.
When the two boys parted from each other, Sam addressed the warlock. "How long will this barrier last?"
Blaine shrugged. "I…I don't know, actually. Like I said, I never actually got to use this magic before so I'm not a hundred percent sure of anything. All I know is, as long as that barrier holds, nothing is getting in here." His gaze went from the vampire to the leprechaun, fear and apprehension in their eyes. "I'm sorry, I wish I could give you more reassurance than that."
Sam approached the teen and put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "No, it's alright. Trust me, we appreciate what you've done. And what you may have to do in the future. I don't want you in danger, but we can use your magic."
Blaine nodded and smiled weakly. He felt anything but confident, despite what he appeared to be to everyone else.
"So now what?" Mercedes asked, speaking for the first time since all the action had taken place. She had followed Sam's direction and stayed put, despite the commotion outside. She had watched through the window, horrified. "If we go out there, we risk getting mauled by that…whatever she is."
"I have plenty of rooms here that you can use. If you go upstairs, you'll find them down the left hall. I don't have a lot of amenities, but I open my home to you all," the vampire replied.
Mercedes looked unsure, the idea of being locked up with a vampire not exactly settling well with her, but it appeared they had no choice. "Thanks," she offered. She walked past the group and up the stairs, pausing in the middle. "I think I'll get some rest. All this craziness is getting to me." And I hope when I wake up I will be at home in my soft bed, my poster of LL Cool J in his drawers smiling at me and momma with a nice breakfast on the table.
"Sleep well. If you need anything at all, let me know," Sam replied, watching as she finished her way up the stairs and turned to the left, seeking out a room.
"Do you expect us to just stay here forever? We can't just live here, you know. We have lives to get back to. Jobs. Family. Friends. What do you propose we do about that?" Kurt demanded, his glare turning cold again.
Sam looked down at the floor. The truth was, he had no answer for that. At this point they were playing everything by ear, with no real plan. His intentions tonight had been simply to recruit Blaine's assistance, but now that they had it, and now that they were under a hardcore protection spell, he had no clue what was next on the agenda. The thing was, everyone was looking to him to be the leader. He was the oldest, and it was his house, and he was surely the strongest of the group, at least physically. He was supposed to be the one with all the answers, all the plans. It was he who was supposed to lead them into some sort of supernatural battle against not one, but two mythological creatures.
"Calm down, Kurt, please," Blaine pleaded, taking his boyfriend's hand in an effort to soothe him. "We just need some time to think. I have a feeling nobody expected that crazy woman to show up here, so we have to stop and reconsider the situation."
Kurt pursed his lips in annoyance, but a gentle smile from Blaine calmed him down slightly. He said nothing, which was the best option since he had nothing to contribute but a bunch of hostile demands.
"Sam, I really don't know how long this barrier is going to hold. I don't know if it'll even hold without me here. I have to be honest. I know the spells, but I don't necessarily know all the details like that. I'm sorry," Blaine apologized again, giving the vampire a sincere look of self-doubt.
"Don't apologize. I'm thankful for what you do know. That right there saved our lives just now," Sam replied. He then looked over at his noticeably tired boyfriend. "And Rory, you were amazing as well. Between the two of you, we have a good chance of defeating this banshee and this succubus." He then addressed all three of the teenagers. "I hate to tell you, but I don't have a plan. I thought this would be a safe haven while we did some more research and found a way to end the banshee's threat. Kitty threw a wrench into that. Now I don't know what to do." He sighed and let his shoulders slack, his eyes weary and sad.
Rory approached him, wrapping himself around Sam in a loose hug. "For now, what else can we do? Ye' said we need t'research, so we research. We 'ave to do that anyway. Maybe Blaine can look into the finer details of his magic and Kurt and Mercedes can help us search for banshee information. At least until we get an idea o' what t'do next. I don't really want anyone to leave until we know it's safe…"
Kurt rolled his eyes and started toward the staircase. "Whatever. We're obviously trapped here for a while and since I don't have any 'special powers' I'm just going to bed," he said sourly, his sarcasm thick as he mentioned special powers. "Us plain Jane's need our beauty sleep!"
The warlock snagged his boyfriend's hand and pulled him close. "It's gonna be okay. It's to help Rory, and the rest of us, too. The sooner we figure this thing out, the sooner we can go back to our regular lives so keep your chin up, eh?" Not waiting for a reply, he kissed Kurt quickly on the mouth then let him traverse the stairs. The older teen said nothing, irritated at the inconvenience of it all.
Blaine turned back to his friends. "I'm sorry he's being so difficult," he apologized.
Sam smiled at him. "Don't worry about it. It's a lot to be dragged into." He nodded toward Rory. "It hasn't been easy for him, either. I think it kind of hurts his feelings a little that Kurt and Mercedes are so against our being together."
Rory didn't hear him whispering the last sentence. Instead, he was already back in the office, thumbing through Sam's comic book. He turned the pages, but the words never connected—his mind was far too preoccupied to focus on anything but the colorful imagery. His eyes glazed over as he lost himself in thought.
Sam waved his hand in front of his teenaged boyfriend, trying to get his attention. "Yoo hoo, Earth to Rory," he joked, having heard the phrase on TV before. The teen finally snapped out of his haze, shaking his head.
"Sorry, a lot on me mind," he mumbled, not looking up. Sam moved behind him and started running his fingers through the boy's hair with one hand, the other rubbing his back.
"I know. You can always talk to me, even if it's something I already know, or you've already talked about. I'll listen anyway," the blonde chuckled. "Over a hundred years of listening, I have it down pretty good. Tell me, Rory, what's on your mind, in your head right now?"
A smirk crossed the teen's face. "Ye' 'ave t'ask? E'erything. Me friends. Brittany's family. Sebastian and his little experiment. Mike and Tina and their shape shifting. Blaine and his magic. And of course the banshee and that suck-you-bus." He sounded out the last word very carefully, still unsure of it. "This is a lot to take in all at once. I mean it wasn't long ago I was just a regular guy, the only thing special being me memory reading ability. Now here I am, people like those students dyin' because o'me bein' here. People getting' hurt and suffering. I hate it."
"I wish…I wish I could make everything better. I wish I could bring back Brittany's parents, even her cat. I wish I could make your friends see I'm not a bad person and that I love you. I wish so many things I can't make happen. I'm sorry for that," Sam lamented quietly. "In a way I feel responsible—"
"No!" Rory blared suddenly, sitting ramrod stiff. "No! Ye'r not responsible at all! That thing would be after me no matter what. At least with ye', I 'ave a fighting chance. I don't regret being with ye'. My only regret is that I can't—"
Sam put his finger across the teen's lips, knowing exactly where he was going, and this was not the time to discuss it. He leaned in and kissed the teen, hoping to draw his attention away from his stresses even for just a moment. Rory accepted Sam's tongue into his mouth, closing his eyes and losing himself in the vampire's gentle touches as Sam's fingers lightly traced his arms, and then his chest. In vampiric speed, Sam shifted their positions, Rory sitting atop the desk, himself standing between the boy's knees, still kissing him.
Rory broke the kiss long enough to giggle. "I don't think I'll e'er get used to ye'r speed boosts. It's like e'erything just happens in an instant." Sam didn't reply, but merely captured the teen's gaze, their eyes locking, unblinking. He kissed the boy with more force, urging him onto his back as Sam pressed his chest against Rory's.
Sam took Rory's shirt and gripped the fabric in the middle and pulled, tearing it down the front, exposing the teen's hairless chest. Utilizing his extra speed, Sam suddenly appeared bare-chested himself, his shirt in a heap on the floor. Rory reached up to caress his boyfriend's muscular torso, but Sam pressed his hands on Rory's biceps and pushed them down against the desk, pinning him. With a sly grin, the blonde continued to kiss him roughly, nibbling lightly at his neck, careful not to bite him. Yet.
The brunette let out quiet moans as his boyfriend's kisses peppered his chest, the thick lips pausing at each nipple, tweaking just enough to send sensations to his groin. He was aching in his pants, the fabric stretching as much as it could. He could feel Sam's own firmness pressing up against his rear as he leaned down, kissing, licking, nipping.
Sam swiftly tore Rory's pants off of him, tossing the shredded clothing to the floor. Rory was unsure of exactly when Sam had removed his own pants, but now both of them were naked and aching.
Blaine sat in the living room, hearing the strange noises coming from the study. At first his curiosity was piqued, forcing him out of his seat and padding toward the study. The door was still open, light spilling into the foyer. What he saw was way more than he needed to—his blonde friend penetrating Rory atop his desk, the boy writhing in ecstasy, mewling with every thrust into his lithe body. Blaine knew there was no way he wouldn't be noticed if he shut the doors, so he merely backed away and returned to the living room, sighing to himself. Just seeing the brief scene, he felt an ache in his groin, an ache that needed tending to. He decided it was a good time to pay Kurt a visit upstairs for a little stress relief.
Back in the study, Sam was steadily thrusting himself into his boyfriend, over and over, speed increasing but never reaching the point of blurring. He had let go of the boy's biceps and instead grabbed his thighs, Rory's legs over Sam's shoulders, his toes wiggling as he continued to thrash in pleasure.
Sam continued to ravage him, intent on causing a hands-free orgasm. Anytime Rory tried to touch himself, Sam would let go of his thighs just long enough to smack his hand away.
After several more minutes he could feel the boy begin to tremble, Rory's heart rate increasing ever more and sweating twice as much. He was getting close to the point of no return. Sam was ready to burst himself at any moment, but he focused hard, forcing himself to stave off the impending eruption. When he knew that Rory was about to crash, he leaned over and bit the tender flesh of his neck, the boy letting out a cry of sheer pleasure and pain, a sound that signaled to Sam that he was having the most intense of orgasms.
As Sam felt the tight ring of muscle contracting around his thick erection, he could hold off no longer and allowed himself to explode, deep inside of his boyfriend, several hard, deep thrusts giving him the final waves of pleasure. As it came to an end, Sam leaned forward again and licked the blood from the boy's neck, then bit his bottom lip, several drops of his own blood dripping onto the fresh wound, forcing it to seal up, hiding the evidence. He then captured the teen's mouth again in passionate kisses.
Exhausted, Sam let himself fall back into the chair, the leather cool against his naked backside. A smug grin sat on his face as Rory slowly sat up. "I needed that," he said breathily.
"So did I. I hope I wasn't too rough. I didn't hurt you did I?"
Rory shook his head. "No, not at all. I feel great. Better than e'er."
Sam smiled. He reached forward and took Rory's hands in his own and gently pulled him into his lap. He rested his head in the crook of the brunette's shoulder, closing his eyes for a moment.
"I love you so much, you just don't know. I've never felt this way about anyone before. Not even Marley, and at the time I thought we would be together forever."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Sam regretted them. He knew that would trigger the teenager to bring up the topic of turning him into a vampire, but to Sam's surprise, Rory simply smiled and nuzzled his chin against Sam's head. The vampire was grateful—he had no desire to think about the idea of eternity without his boyfriend, but also the great responsibility and tragedy that accompanied becoming a vampire.
-ooo-
By the time the morning came and Blaine, Kurt, and Mercedes awoke, Sam was fast asleep in his coffin. The three of them sat in the kitchen, eating cereal.
"I want no part of this," Mercedes declared as she put a spoonful of oats in her mouth. She chewed and swallowed before going on. "All I see happening to us is getting hurt and or killed. This crazy shit should be left up to the superheroes."
"Rory is one of those people, you know. So are Mike and Tina, and I guess even me if you wanna get technical. Are you saying you're going to just walk away and leave all of us—your friends—to fend for ourselves?" Blaine challenged, confusion and hurt in his eyes.
Mercedes didn't say anything but merely shifted her eyes, refusing to look at him. A couple minutes of awkward silence passed before she finally spoke again. "All I'm saying is that there isn't anything us humans can do. We don't have super strength and speed, spells and magic and stuff. We're just—wait…" She stopped herself, suddenly realizing exactly what Blaine had said a few minutes earlier. "You said Mike and Tina are 'those people'… What do you mean by that?"
Blaine wasn't aware that his friends had no idea about the Asian couple. In conversation later in the night after he had ravaged Kurt and sought out a midnight snack, Sam had mentioned to him that among their group, Mike and Tina were also gifted with special abilities. Blaine assumed he was the last to know.
"I...Uh, crap," the younger teen replied. "I thought you knew."
"Knew what?" Mercedes asked, her eyes already going wider than normal, her spoon laying still in the bowl, all desires for breakfast no longer important.
"That Mike and Tina are shapeshifters," Blaine answered. Kurt and Mercedes both stared at him like he had three heads. "They can turn into different animals. Kind of like a werewolf but not."
Kurt angrily stood up, hitting the table with his knee as he did so. "This is bullshit!" he exclaimed. "I can't take anymore of this! Vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, banshees, all kinds of evil stupid shit! I'm tired of it, I shouldn't have to put up with this!" he bellowed.
"No, no ye' shouldn't 'ave t'put up with it," Rory stated, coming into the kitchen, having just woken up. "No, ye' shouldn't 'ave to put up with helping ye'r friends out, tryin' to help them keep ye' safe from a banshee hellbent on killing until it gets one o' ye'r friends. No, ye' shouldn't 'ave to put up with doing the right thing."
Everyone stared at him, Blaine wondering if he was going to start a fireworks show out of anger. Rory's voice was steady and calm, and that was the scariest part of his speaking. Blaine sensed the hurt and rage and felt a modicum of pride in his friend for maintaining composure.
"But ye' know what else, Kurt? At the end o' the day, it isn't ye' she's after. Ye' could go home and go to sleep in ye'r nice cushy bed, but me? I 'ave to worry e'ery moment of me life now, hoping this thing doesn't kill me, or anyone else! I 'ave to worry about the safety of the people important to me—ye' guys—and all ye' can do is complain about how ye' shouldn't 'ave to put up with it." Rory was on a roll, his tone still firm and even, Blaine feeling chills down his spine as he thought about what exactly was going to come next.
"I shouldn't 'ave to worry about any of that. I shouldn't 'ave to worry about being killed, or me friends getting killed. I shouldn't 'ave to worry about reading people's memories, or lighting them up, or running away from some beast. I should be able to 'ave meals with me boyfriend, go out to the movies, go to work, go to school, get blasted if I want to. But no, I can't. I was given this… these abilities and now I 'ave to deal with it. The next time ye' feel like whining, think about all I 'ave to deal with."
Kurt pursed his lips in shock. He had no idea how to respond. His friend was right, but at the same time that didn't make anything any easier. He hadn't expected such a tirade from Rory, a mellow and polite teenager who always kept a positive outlook even in his clumsiest moments. He finally looked down toward Mercedes, the young woman hanging her head either in shame or fear, he couldn't tell which. He then shifted his gaze toward Blaine.
"I need to get out of here. This is all too much for me," Kurt declared softly. "I'm sorry Rory, I can't handle this. It's too much. Just too much," he trailed off. He walked from behind the table and toward the front door, turning the knob and opening it.
When Kurt stepped out onto the porch, the sky began to darken. "What the hell?" he asked out loud. The clouds seemed to swirl from cotton white to an oily black. Kurt stared up at the sky, perplexed. Upon hearing him, his friends came out to join him, equally confused.
"Is it the barrier?" Mercedes asked, knowing full well it was a foolish question.
"No…I don't know what's doing that…It's not me," Blaine answered.
All traces of sunlight were gone, and along with it all sound seemed to disappear as well. There were no noises of birds or crickets, not even the gentle blowing of a breeze. It was dead air.
"Hey, do you hear that?" Kurt asked, hearing the faint sound of someone singing. "It's beautiful."
No one needed to answer as the singing began to get louder. A thick mist began to form in the yard, black and purple and red, all swirling until something solid stepped out of it.
Rory's eyes went wide as he recognized the thing before them. The banshee.
"Hello, leprechaun," the banshee, Rachel, cooed. "I've been looking all over for you."
"Leave us alone!" Rory shouted angrily. "Just get out of here and…and go to hell!" His pause drained all sense of ferocity from his order. Instead he sounded like a child struggling to talk back to a grown up.
Rachel ignored him as she seductively strolled up to the barrier. She pressed her lips up close to it as if kissing the sheet of light. There was suddenly a shrill noise that sounded like nails on a chalkboard. The barrier solidified, looking like a wall of glass. Cracks began to spiderweb all over it until it shattered into a million pieces, falling to the ground and disappearing.
"Oh fuck!" Mercedes screamed. The first thing that came to mind was the banshee screaming at them until they, too, shattered like the wall. The last thing she wanted was to end up like those unfortunate high-schoolers on the news.
Rachel approached the small group, her face emotionless. She suddenly felt heat all over her body, flashes of light stinging her eyes as the leprechaun was blasting her over and over with his magic. She ignored it and kept approaching.
Blaine, in an act of desperation, attempted to form a second barrier, but the wall of light faded before he even finished the spell.
Mercedes backed away through the door and turned to flee. The rest of them had no time to contemplate her as the banshee was only feet in front of them. Rachel reached forward and a ghastly arm formed over her normal arm, the fingers clawed. The bony fingers slid around her quarry, the woman screeching to keep her adversaries at bay. Kurt and Blaine were on the floor, holding their ears and crying out in pain. Rory's arms were locked at his sides, the banshee squeezing him so hard it hurt down to his bones.
None of them saw Mercedes emerge from the basement door and collapse on the floor as the ultrasonics hit her unexpectedly. None of them saw the inhuman blur as Sam ran from his sleeping quarters out to the front porch.
"Let go of him!" Sam demanded, his head aching, his ears bleeding slightly.
Rachel merely shook her head. She then backed away, taking her hostage with her. Rory had passed out, the pressure too much for his body to withstand consciously. Sam began to run at her, intent on catching her before she had time to flee. He never saw the woman snap her fingers, never saw the shattered glass reappear from the ground to reform the barrier the banshee had broken. He slammed into it so fast it threw him backward through the door and into the house, knocking him out. Sam never saw the banshee disappear into a cloud of mist, singing a song in a foreign language that sent Blaine and Kurt into an unconscious state.
Rachel finally had what she wanted. Rory in her grasp, her adversaries incapacitated and vulnerable. With Rory in her clutches, they had no choice but to do as she demanded, including giving themselves to her to use as she saw fit, all at the threat of their friend's suffering.
