A/N: Culmination

Chapter 10. The night to die.

Peter had returned by evening. He and Davy were exchanging glances, but Mike didn't care any more. Before going upstairs quasi-to bed and for real to wait and prepare, Mike went to the bathroom and washed himself thoroughly. He did everything to be clean and look neat and he wore his favourite robe. Ready, he checked in front of the mirror if it was easy to reach his neck not biting the fabric. Everything was okay. Mike's insides, curled up into one small heavy ball in his abdomen, made him swallow hard, keeping him uptight. But Mike didn't hesitate. He checked where his vein on the neck was close to the skin – it was easy to find it as it always bulged when he sang – and swallowed again, examining himself in the mirror for the last time – maybe until the next morning, maybe – the last time ever.

Mike smiled at his own reflection.

- Goodbye, Mike, - he said quietly. – Remember, it was only your choice.

He looked down, then back at himself in the mirror.

- It was nice knowing you. If you only weren't such a coward sometimes! But thank you for making this decision. Till tomorrow – or till nevermore. Sorry that I called you ugly, if you mind. Don't wanna go forever with leftovers of fault, y'see.

He smiled confusedly and left the bathroom.

The room was quiet. Then a click broke the silence and the door opened. Three figures walked in. Mike didn't even rise towards them. He was sitting on his bed playing careless.

- Hi bastard, - he greeted as the three approached him. – I've been waiting for you.

The one in Davy's body smiled disgustingly.

- A-ah, - he said in that same hissing voice that made chills run down Mike's spine. – You understood me perfectly and decided to meet your death consciously? My boy, you don't know how much pain you're going to feel!

- Are you thinking of scaring me? – Mike asked mockingly. – Don't even try. First of all I'd like to know your name, if your freaking majesty pleases!

He bared his teeth in the most mocking grin he could make on his face. The demon squinted, his disgusting smile grew even wider.

- My name is Vicentius, - he said. – Means 'the one who wins'. Oh the irony! – he laughed and it took Mike a lot not to punch him in the face. - And those two are Cassius – 'empty', - he pointed at Peter, - and Severo – 'strict', - his finger moved to Micky. - A good company, ha, Michael? Want to prove what your name means – that you're like God?

- I don't wanna prove anything, - Mike said firmly. – I'm just a man, but I have a business to do here. I'm waiting for you to bring back what's not yours. I have a good price to pay you.

- The price? – Severo stepped forward, but Vicentius looked at him with his cold evil stars – and Severo stopped.

- Hush Severo! He's mine, - Vicentius said with a threat.

Mike looked at Severo. He occupied Micky's body, but his voice was not Micky's – it was deep, like the lowest notes of the bass. His eyes were shining green, as cold as Vicentius'. Cassius, who took Peter's incarnation, had eyes shining cold purple, but he yet remained silent. Vicentius inched closer to Mike and raised the guy's face a little with his finger under Mike's chin. Mike swallowed.

- So, you've got a price to pay, - the demon said thoughtfully. – What's that price? What can you give me – give us – for what you want? And what do you want, by the way, my friend?

- I'm not, - Mike jerked his head, making himself free from cold Vicentius' fingers. – And I want my friends – my real friends, whose bodies you took without asking. I want them back.

Vicentius, Cassius and Severo started laughing and their laugh made the most terrible sound. Mike wanted so to close his ears, but he didn't. He didn't want to look weak for a second. Finally Vicentius leaned over Mike and said with a terrible smile:

- Listen, Michael. You know, I was the first to take a boy from your pad. And that means I was doomed to be the leader, ha-ha-ha! – he laughed again, but Mike didn't make a move. Vicentius' smile disappeared as he went on quietly and threateningly: - I am the leader. I created them, - he pointed at the two behind him, - and it's me who holds their real souls. To win them you must win my one, and I don't know what you have to make me die!

- Let me prove I have something, - Mike said bravely, narrowing his eyes a little. – Come here closer, I want to say it to you only.

- Vicentius!

That was the voice of Cassius' – the finest tenor. Vicentius turned back – two his companions were right behind him.

- Vicentius, let us finish him. He's dangerous as he knows too much, - Cassius said, squinting at the leader.

- He's dangerous for you first of all, as you're playing main, - Severo added.

- Shut up, you two! – Vicentius shouted. – He's my prey, I've chosen him! Where were you? He's mine and you're not gonna touch him!

- We're not gonna, - Cassius said with a slight sarcastic smile. – We'll just stand and watch. Right, Severo?

- Yes, we'll stand and watch, - Severo answered with that same grin.

- Go to that corner! – Vicentius commanded.

Cassius and Severo obeyed and stood there watching Vicentius carefully. They still had those smirks on their faces. Vicentius turned to Mike and came closer to him and leaned over again.

- So what do you want to propose me? – he asked quietly.

- Even closer, - Mike said. – I don't want anybody to hear. Just let me say it right in your ear.

Vicentius leaned a little more – and Mike thanked heavens he had that same Davy's habit: being attentive he kept his mouth half-opened.

- Come here, son of a bitch, - Mike exhaled as he pressed the sharp demon's teeth to his own naked neck…

It was painful. Really painful. Vicentius in Davy's body fell on his lap and it looked twice awkward now, but Mike didn't care. The pain overwhelmed him as he felt his own warm blood slowly leaving his body.

- Okay, son of a gun, - he whispered with a grin. – That's what you wanted, right? My blood. My life. But you didn't keep one thing in mind: I want it! I want you to kill me because it's not you I'm giving myself to. It's Davy. My power for him, my life for his. Deal, son of a bitch? Sounds like a deal!

Vicentius-Davy in Mike's arms tried to pull away desperately, but Mike only pressed his head closer and whispered:

- No-o, bastard. No. You thought I'd leave you so easily? Not so fast! That's what you wanted and you'll get it in full. And now shut up and know your business. I'm gonna talk to Davy.

Vicentius tried harder to get rid of Mike, but he couldn't. Mike pressed him to his chest, closed his eyes and started.

- Davy, I love you.

He made a pause, swallowed hard and went on:

- It's not what it might sound like. Love is not when people hug and kiss and sleep together and then get married. Well, of course, that's it as well, but that's not all.

He took a deep breath.

- You know, since I found out something was wrong with you, I've been searching. And, funny, I didn't even really know what I've been searching for. It appeared that I found out how to help you, but that wasn't the main thing. You know, when I found out that love could save you, I thought a lot about what love was. And suddenly I realized that love is not when people are together. Love is when people are one. Two become one. Love is when the worst thing you fear in death is not stopping existing, but stopping being there for somebody else. You know, I don't believe in death forever, I think that something anyway will stay after I die – my soul, I think that's a right word. But as long as we breathe we're not only souls. And sometimes we need a little bodily reassurance that we exist. A touch. A look. Some motion, something to do for someone else. And that's what I found out I feared the most in death – to be lost for you.

He made a little pause, feeling how hard it suddenly appeared to breathe.

- I'm sorry for hesitating when I knew that only real love could save you. It's all because I didn't know what love was for me. I think now that everyone makes out his definition of love by him of herself. But before I found out what love was for me, the main definition of it in my head was that stereotype they draw in movies. Listen, little one, you're more than a brother to me. I don't even know who you are, but I have something for you. I think – no, I'm sure! – that it's what's called love. The love of one human being to another one.

He took a deep breath and stroked Davy's back lightly. Vicentius in Davy's body arched and groaned, but Mike didn't care for him. It was Davy who mattered and Mike felt his warm blood leaving his body to kill the beast. The wet tongue of the monster in Davy's incarnation touched his neck – the bloodsucker was still eager, he was hungry and even though he knew he would die, he enjoyed painfully every single drop of blood.

- Now listen, baby, - Mike continued, stroking Davy's back. – Whatever happens, I wish you to be happy, my little one. Find your one to love. Take care of Peter and Micky. You know, it was me who was the head of ours – it's always hard to be a head. You know, me and you – we are, like, sensible. We have always been. And Micky and Peter – they're something more like sensitive. It's like the head and the heart. The head rules you, but if it doesn't listen to your heart, it won't lead to anything good. Though I think your heart sometimes rules you, I hope in the extreme conditions you will pull yourself together and listen to your mind.

He breathed in and out, and again in. There was too little air...

- Please, be happy, my little one. Whatever happens. I'm giving everything I have – myself – to you not just to help you kill this monster Vicentius. I also hope that something from me will live on in you, if the worst happens and I don't wake up tomorrow morning. I won't tell you what you need to resurrect me. I want you to listen to your heart. Now do. You have always been a fighter. But now…

His voice trembled. He forced himself to go on through all that pain.

- Be weak. When you find me dead – please, help me. Be weak. For a moment. Let your heart out. And remember – don't blame me. From the start and to the end I wish you only the best. I'm giving you myself 'cause that's all I possess. What else do I have? My guitar? Tell somebody of the guys to take care of it – or sell it. If the worst happens. You know, before I met you guys, when I was singing my songs under the name of Blessing, I sang: 'Six strings – 'cause they're the only friends I know'. Funny, then it was quite true. But not now, baby. Take care of yourself and – please, remember me. If I don't wake up tomorrow.

Severo and Cassius in the corner were shaking in agony; they fell on the floor and they were scratching the walls. Mike cast a glance at them and closed his eyes. He felt that cold weakness and he knew he was living his last minutes.

- Davy. Baby. My little one. I'm leaving. You can catch my hand or let me go. Whatever you do – be happy. Tell Micky and Peter to be. Live on. Please. For me.

He took a breath. Then swallowed. The last drops of blood. Vicentius shouldn't miss a single one. Another step closer to death… and another… Mike's sight blurred, he saw shining spots and dark squares. He pressed Davy's head to his neck in the last wave of pain – and then released him, and slid on the floor as Davy jumped away and wiped his mouth with his hand. Micky and Peter in the corner sat up, wincing. Davy looked at Mike blankly, then in sudden pain he knelt down and squeezed his head with his hands, then raised his face to the ceiling – and with one last painful roar he finally let the leftovers of Vicentius out. Absolutely worn out, Davy dropped his heavy head, then looked up – and gasped, and threw himself towards Mike.

Not a single drop of blood ran out of the little round wound on Mike's neck. That was just because there was nothing left to pour. Mike did as he must've – he gave his all. Davy shook him and held him, but Mike's cold white body didn't move.

Mike was dead…

A/N: Don't tell me I killed him. Just wait for another chapter. That's not the last one. That's a culmination. Bite your nails, do whatever you wish. You'll know yourself. Soon.