Title: Fury
Rated for: Language
Genre: Angst, Romance, Adventure
Fandom/Universe: Blade Trinity – after the movie and after WHATtheF fic- that's where Chris and Andie come from, her fanfic. I'd say look it up # 857338.
Characters: Hannibal King, Abigail Whistler, NightStalker OC's- Christian, Andie. OC-Jahnzen, Jake Pierce.
Pairings: King/OC-Jahnzen
Spoilers/Warning: None
Disclaimer: Blade and all related characters are copyright Marvel Comics and I'm guessing New Line Cinema. No infringement intended.
Status: Re-Written
Chapter 21: Lonely
Beyond these clouds, you can hide your tears. Beyond this world, you'll be safe from their wicked fears, and in their hearts they feel your demands. You know their minds won't accept you, they'll never understand…
She finds herself alone. The Manor echoes like a hollow shell as Jahnzen makes her way through the halls. It hasn't changed- it remains the abandoned, rundown and condemned building it has been since the day they all died. She passes by the broken down areas, pausing here and there in the rooms she has the most memories with… the rooms Jahnzen has avoided for years.
'Why now?' she pauses in the shell that had been a game room at one point. 'Why does it have to be today when he leaves? When he goes back to his life?'
She wonders at her own foolishness to even think he would stay behind… Jahnzen wanders again, her feet silent on the debris littering the floors.
The vampires are leaderless and there will be in-fighting among the houses, each one trying to get control, to seize power… Their fear of the Fury is no deterrent. More are still to die – but not all and this is where the NightStalkers come in. But it isn't just the hunt. His family … they need him too and so does he.
As much as she feels it hurt, Jahnzen is not part of that- she has no history with any of them and the knowledge is like an ache that wont fade.
'Do I want that?' she thinks of all their bickering, the yelling and the arguments; they all carry a burden heavier than their years and though they love each other it still tears them apart at times.
"…where….?" Jahnzen pauses, her eyes adjusting to the darkening light and finds familiar plastered walls. The faded color does not resemble any shade close to what it had been. She finds the floor gritty beneath her feet and the barely there light seeping through the dirty windows casts the room with heavy shadows.
'This…it's where I was heading…'
"The Music room."
F
I'm leaving. And breaking the promise I made to myself. I promised that this time I would get what I've been wanting.
But I can't.
My family can't stay in the Manor. And they're right; there's work we need to do- work we have pledged to do. And as much as I would like to be with JD … I'm just not the type to sit on my ass knowing there are more people getting turned by the hour.
Even if they are asking for it.
But I'm not about to leave without seeing her one last time. Not without a goodbye and its not something I'm looking forward to. Because of JD. She is what makes me think of giving up this life I've fallen into again. With her … yeah, I can give up the hunting, build a life with JD … get that 'Happily Ever After'… and that scares me.
"Shit," I grumbles under my breath. "This house is frickin' huge." It finally hits me that its likely going to take more than a few minutes. But then … that's when I hear it.
It's a mournful tone- quite unnerving considering the house is a huge empty, haunted house that just makes my skin crawl. You'd think big tough bad ass vampire hunter me wouldn't be bothered by the music or the location, right?
I mean, its definitely Overlook Hotel and Redrum. And though I try not to shift uncomfortably my hand still reaches up and tugs at the collar of my shirt. I swear to God, if I see Jack Nicholson prancing around with an ax I am running the fuck away.
But I keep moving down the hall …. With the soundtrack to The Shining getting a bit louder until I finally reach the room the music is coming from. I lean against the door, accidentally pushing it with my shoulder and wince at the screeches it makes in protest.
The sun- or whatever is left of it- streams in through the murky windows that outline her with an amber glow. And I notice she has changed out of the workout clothes she was wearing before- No. Not because I'm shallow or anything like that, its just … I'm completely stunned. Those tight yoga pants and little white tank may have been easy on my eyes but this … its … different. In a good way.
Its another one of those robes, the kimono looking ones she seems to have an endless supply of. You know, I wonder what she looked like before, in one of those outfits women wore- eh, I like this. This one, its more of a creamy color and the vine design is in a dark copper. With her back to me, her arms raised… that sound… its pure sadness. She turns just enough I get a look at the instrument in her hands-
Its her.
JD is making that sound come out of the instrument in her hands. It's one more thing on my list of things I didn't know about her. Like she's actually got a sense of humor- a little on dry side but she's got a funny bone. And she likes ice cream sundaes with M&M's. All the little things she let slip, and I've soaked up like … But this one, yeah, it's not one I'm sure that I like. I mean, I felt her pain. I felt it in every part of me and I'm hearing it again…
"Hannibal."
I snap to attention like I've just been caught snooping through her underwear drawer. Okay, so I'm standing here trying to blend in with the shadows… Right. Its not exactly giving her the right impression.
I wasn't spying.
But I clear my throat and step into the room and God I hope I pull this off without sounding like an ass.
I watch her lower the instrument and turn to me … she's expecting me to say something- "Uh, I, uh, I just came to uh …" it feels really warm in here but I'm pretty sure that's just me. "To say …we're gonna…" I jerk my thumb over my shoulder but trail off. I mean, what? Thanks for the vacation? Its been nice getting to know ya but I gotta go kill me some vampires so bon voyage?
"Its alright." JD lays the violin in the dusty case, her voice a soft whisper. "You belong with them." She faces him, hands resting on the broken piano at her back. "They are your family."
Its all very pretty, very composed- it sounds rehearsed. And while she's hiding it well, I know. And with this small bit of knowledge … my heart skips a beat.
Because she doesn't want me to go.
F
Abby stands with her back to the doorframe. The windows are covered in paper- some of it peeling at the corners. The light flickers annoyingly but its better than candles.
Jax calls it the 'Solar' and Abby has no idea what that means but she's sure they just named it something weird. There's a gajillion different rooms in the box that JD uses as a house. She looks sideways at Chris and Andie, standing side by side with his arm around her waist.
Jax sits across from them, leaning his lower back against a table in the middle of the room. He's made introductions of the werewolf-man-it-thing… He's a quiet, soft spoken guy named Valen. And he's sitting across the table from him, his long nails drumming absently on the table top. The lack of conversation is a thick uncomfortable elephant in the room.
"Where exactly are we?" Abby asks Jax. Her tone conversational and from the corner of her eye she sees Valen tilt his head curiously. Jax almost mimics the exact action, an eyebrow raised in question.
"A fucking huge house." He answers but the expression on his face in slightly incredulous. Not one apology between the three of them for attempting to kill Bane. And they haven't bothered to speak to Valen directly- hell, they haven't said hello!
"Yeah. Okay Jack ass." Chris retorts. "You mind elaborating on that?" his eyes narrow but he's definitely avoiding looking anywhere to Jax, left.
Jax rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest.
"Riven Manor."
Chris closes his mouth, eyes sliding over to Valen who shifts in his seat, causing the wood to creak and moan with the motion. Everyone in the room is tense and on edge, not exactly sure what comes next or if they should dare to move a finger. The NightStalkers are wondering what Valen is going to do but he turns to Jax for a moment before looking at Abby.
"You are in Italy." Valen's voice is hardly above a whisper.
"You-! Sik si pok guy!" Jax gives Valen a look, like he's just killed his goldfish and shakes his head slowly.
Everyone else in the room is startled by the revelation. Weren't they all just in the States? When the hell did they end up in Italy? The NightStalkers all struck up a chorus of 'what', 'where' and the 'are you serious?'
"Yeah!" Jax cuts into the cacophony of voices. "You're in Italy." He's not hiding his exasperation. "Not too far from the coat but closer to a small mountain range." He leans back in the chair ignoring it creaky warnings. "Its pretty hard to reach, which is why no one stops by for gelato every night on their way home from work."
"That," Valen agrees. "And its private property."
"We get to shoot trespassers." Jax smiles, waves a hand in Valen's general direction to signify the 'we' is he and Valen.
"Usually," Valen rolls his eyes, non-verbally calling Jax a drama Queen. "We just chase them away."
"And I'm suspecting you're the one doing the chasing. Huh, Cujo?" Abby goads. And it would work. Anyone would be scared of a huge ass mutt barreling down at them…
"Not always." Valen replies with calm nonchalance.
"Getting flash backs?" Jax taunts but his tone is censorious, not amused in the least.
The only one Abby seems to be pissing off is Jax.
"Weren't you threatening some type of bodily injury, Abby?" Chris reminds with narrowed eyes on Jax.
"Remember the part where you said we didn't need our weapons?" Abby demands of the kid. "Safe is what you said."
"Oh," Jax gets up from his chair. "It was perfectly safe for you, dudes." He assures pushing up the sleeves of his shirt. "Nobody was gonna try stabbing you with fireplace pokers or bowie knives just cus you happen to be minding your own business all furry and on four legs."
"Jax." Valen grabs the back of his shirt and firmly tugs the bouncing-angry guy away from the NightStalkers. "Sit."
"Dude," Jax glares. "I'm not the one with a tail and fur."
"You're forgetting claws and sharp teeth." Valen points out. "Should I remind you of the teeth, Jax?"
"Fuck-!" Jax scowls. "Fine," he turns back to the NightStalkers. "You're all fucking rude."
"Whoa, what?" Andie pipes up.
"Yeah, fucking rude." Jax repeats. "You haven't apologized or said one word to him." He jabs a finger in Valen's direction.
"Maybe that's because we don't have anything we need to be sorry about." Chris retorts. "He's fucking huge! How the hell where we supposed to know Valen wasn't trying to kill us?"
"He does have a point." Valen cuts in before Jax can retort. He gets a scowl and shrugs. "I didn't have to chase her."
"Dude-!" Jax throws his hands up in his 'what the fuck'.
"I apologize, Abigail." Valen ignores Jax' spluttering and sits quietly.
Just then, a notably defeated King shuffles into the Solar. Jax mutters a 'Fucking great' under his breath and drops into his chair glaring at the NightStalker.
Abby's heart feels like its being squeezed in a fist. She realizes what King is doing for them and why… She reaches out a hand to him that King ignores. They have issues that don't seem to ever get resolved and she's just a little tired of it.
"Bout fucking time." Jax grumbles. "What the hell took you?" he demands. "I got shit to do." But he doesn't make a move to get out of his chair either.
Chris raises an eyebrow. "Like shoot a few trespassers?"
King looks around with 'Huh?' written all over his face.
F
"They've gone." Valen's quiet tone almost mirrors Jahnzen's. She knows its only because he dislikes the gravely pitch of the beast that normally colors his voice if he speaks any louder.
She sighs heavily and turns away from the window where the sky has turned a burned orange. The sun is just disappearing behind the hill of the gazebo.
"Its time Fury made her presence felt once more."
Valen steps aside for her to walk past. "Dom hasn't sent any news-."
"Then I'll find it myself." She steps into the hallway. Valen sighs and falls in beside her. He doesn't hide the disgruntled sound but there's nothing he can do about her decision.
"Daphna." He stops, not sure if he should ask, then again, he knows that being part of this particular family means no harm will come to him from any of them. Even Fury. "Why him?"
Jahnzen feels her skin flush, she's not sure what exactly it is that Valen is asking nor that its something she wants to discuss; with him or anyone else.
"You've never brought anyone home." Those hazel eyes are piercing. "No one other than Jax-sacs and Dom. Or myself."
He can see the twitch of her lips for the nick-name. She knows they like to tease each other and the reason he's chosen that name for Jax.
Jahnzen looks away, she's not sure he won't discover the conflicting and confusing emotions she's feeling. "We had nowhere to go. The vampires-."
"It wasn't just that." He cuts in. "You know its not. … Daphna …" he stops her by gently pulling on her arm. "What happened that night?" those hazel eyes again trap hers and he doesn't let go of her arm. He can see the struggle she's having…
"He was there." Her words are barely above a whisper and yet Valen has no problem hearing what she says or the emotion in her voice. "They're making clones, Valen." Her eyes shimmer brightly but not with fire. "Copies of him … as a vampire." Anger colors the sorrow in her heart. She fears they've done more than that. The thought of the vampires desecrating what she held dear… She doesn't allow herself to think her child may have met the same fate.
'That will never happen.' That's a promise she has made to herself. One more thing she is going to do for them. 'I will kill every last one before I allow them to turn my little angel into some monster.'
"I know what you said before." Valen steps closer, drawing her attention to the mass of his body. He tries to impress upon her that he's capable of inflicting damage- the kind she's been trying to shield them from. "I'm ready. Daphna, let me help."
He's taller than her. She always has to crane her neck to look up at him if he's standing too close. He's twice her size and a hundred pounds heavier. In his wolf form, Valen dwarfs even King. He makes Chris look scrawny…
"Bane?" Jahnzen's brow furrows though Valen isn't sure if its out of concern. "Short attention spans …"
Valen smiles. "Mine isn't as short as his." He's a step closer than he had been while the NightStalkers where their guests.
"…no?..." Jahnzen doesn't sound too sure but she also knows Valen has a better view of what's happening between herself and Hannibal. Especially since Valen isn't dealing with the rollercoaster of emotions she feels.
Valen follows her into the training room. He's about to get a real lesson in pain – nothing like what King witnessed and looked to have been suffering from apoplexy for seeing it. And this time, Valen will have to prove he is capable of inflicting the same level of damage as the Fury and not flinch at the sight of what's left when they are done.
That's what the black cage is for.
F
'Why did I bring Hannibal to the Manor?'
The question has been hounding her every thought for the past day. Even the screams haven't taken thoughts of him out of her mind. Not that a screaming vampire was ever a distraction. They ignored her screams when it had been her in their cage. They were not moved by her pleading …
'Why should I care?'
"Daphna." Valen stops, his head tilts slightly and listens to the sounds in the alley. She mimics his action even though she has no idea what it is she's listening for. She's not the one with sensitive hearing.
Instead of trying to hear, Jahnzen focuses on seeing what's in the alley. It ripples sort of like disturbed water. Figures appear at the edge and wander further into the image gently settling. Plenty of Familiars roam the lobby of the building a few blocks away; behind the blacked out windows are more vampires but not one of those is a Pure Blood.
'This is not the place.'
They are not the vampires Jahnzen needs to find and frustration shows on her face. She turns away from the image, her eyes skip past the tortured vampire at Valen's feet.
Valen hesitates- fights the urge to go in and tear the monsters to pieces. Or … follow Daphna.
She told King that she didn't hunt them all. These are not the first vampires that have been allowed to 'live'. She's done this before; walked away from a nest. It doesn't mean Jahnzen hates them any less. All it does is give them a little more time to wonder when the Fury is coming for them.
Valen snuffles. He's in human form though he still behaves like the beast, Bane. Jahnzen wonders if the sounds of the city push him into a behavior that makes him feel safe.
"That's the 3rd one you've left intact today." He frowns then turns his face up to the sky. The hood of his coat slips off his head freeing the messy dark locks kept out of his eyes by small braided pieces. "The sun is setting." He announces though they can both see that it wont be up for too much longer. "They'll be out soon."
"I know." Jahnzen keeps walking. "They're not the ones I want."
He grunts, unhappy even for a grunt. "Now where?" he asks easily keeping step with her. When she shrugs for answer, Valen stops.
Jahnzen allows herself a tiny sigh. She turns to look at him. He's standing so still it seems he night have put down roots and isn't going to budge. His attire is different than at the Manor. At home he's comfortable in cotton trousers, loose shirts and barefoot. What Jahnzen sees is a different version, one in baggy gray cargo pants that have plenty of pockets. He sees to be swimming in them. There has to be a belt in use, she knows there is because the pants are still where they should; on his hips. The big shirt is a mystery to her- Valen is swimming in it. The baggy black coat with deep hood was a gift from Jax, kind of a joke really since Valen doesn't usually need extra layers to keep him warm. The only thing out of place are the sandals on his feet. But anything else would hurt his feet if he shifted into Bane.
"Valen," she's trying to hide the frustration but it colors her voice anyway. "This is not the place to -." She frowns because Valen is not paying attention. He's already looking away from her, his frown accompanied by the faintest growl. He drops his shoulders, fully facing the side alley they've only just walked out of.
"What is it?" Jahnzen takes a step towards the alley.
"Spies." His fingers curl on the coat, ready to drop it and shift. "They've been listening to us."
Her head tilt slightly, eyes narrowing as the fireflies come to life. She hasn't felt their presence which means they have the ability to hide themselves. "We should give them something for their troubles."
Valen drops the jacket. Jahnzen moves into the alley and Valen slips off the sandals, hands quietly removing the belt.
"Don't leave a mark." And there's a smile in her tone that he doesn't like.
They walk side by side, their pace unhurried. "Don't run away." Jahnzen calls out. The figure at her side blinks out and Bane is blocking their exit. He's faster than Jahnzen could ever be, as she turns the corner she finds exactly what she expected.
"Two of you." She notes pausing a few steps from the vampires. "I only need one."
They scramble, moving in opposite directions only to get pounced on by Bane. He closes his jaws on the male's head, crunching bone muffles the dying scream.
"Fury!" the female gasps but she can't pull out of Jahnzen's grip.
"I'll ask you the same thing I've asked the others." She tightens her grip until the flailing is weak. "Who are they? Where are they?"
"Daphna!" Valen tries not to gag but the urge to empty his stomach is overwhelming.
"…please…"
"That's not what I asked you." She can see fear in the females face but the fireflies in Jahnzen's eyes spark brighter.
"Daph-!" Valen stops, he turns away from the sight of bubbling skin but the smell fills his nose regardless.
"You'll burn." Jahnzen looses her fingers a fraction, enough to allow for a gurgled scream. "Just like them…" it only takes a few moments to light the female and less for the body to form a pile of charred bones at her feet.
'One less…'
Valen growls, eyes averted from the sight of their victims. "You've done this before." Its not difficult to hear he's upset with her.
"Its not the first time." Jahnzen agrees. She steps away from the pile, her eyes still sparking copper and gold. She knows its not the answer he wants to hear.
"They were human-."
"Familiars." Jahnzen corrects. "Not human, they don't qualify as humans." Her tone is firm. She takes him arm in a strong grip and leads him out of the alley. Its late, vampires running about the city, mixing with civilians too stupid to notice they are in danger. She stops at the corner waiting for the light to change. They're dressed inconspicuously, weapons hidden from the sight of overly excitable humans.
Valen silently stands beside her, waves of disgust, anger, horror … it washes off him.
The light changes but Jahnzen turns to Valen instead of crossing. "This," she stops him from walking away with a hand on his arm. "This is not something you can rationalize in a few seconds and set aside to do what you must."
"Rationalize? Do you know what we've done?" he demands. "They weren't vampires, Daphna. They were human-."
"NO." Jahnzen frowns, her tone decisive. "Familiars, they chose to put their humanity aside for the promise of blood." She flings a hand out to encompass the few straggles on the street. "Their blood. Those innocents down the street, the ones in their homes unaware they are possibly going to be a vampires dinner. They are the humans, Valen. Not the ones in the alley."
Valen looks away, he still doesn't know how to erase the last fifteen minutes. He can't seem to swallow without tasting the blood-
"My life … it doesn't have to be yours." Jahnzen sadly shakes her head. "I never wanted this for you, Valen. You are special. What you are….?"
How can she explain to him that he isn't a beast when that's what he sees? How does she convince him… he has a heart that beats with warmth, that his ability to distinguish humans from the demons that haunt her is what sets him apart.
"I don't want you to change." She whispers. She doesn't want him to become something else entirely. What Jahnzen fears is that Valen will become like her; a killer.
"I know." Valen wraps his arm around her shoulders. He tugs her into his side, sighing.
Jahnzen hugs him, her lips quirk into a half smile. She knows its his way of making things better. As much as he loves to goad Jax, Jahnzen knows Valen doesn't like arguing with any of them; his family.
F
Another fantastic co-write with WHATtheF even if I'm the only one saying it.
What's wrong with the Reviews? I know there were 10 of you here.