Disclaimer: Priest and its characters belong to Scott Stewart.

Claimer: I own Tessa.

Chapter #21: Band of Misfits

Hicks stared out into the desert, baby blues distant with thoughtful reverie. After another seemingly endless day of speeding across the wastelands, the motorcycles were due for a charge, and so they had made camp atop a cluster of rocky hills. Off in the far distance, tall, dilapidated buildings could be seen reaching towards the sky, their tops detached and chunks missing from being damaged by the war. For a long time Hicks stared at them, contemplating silently to himself for the thousandth time in his life on what they may have been during their prime. How tall had they been before being destroyed? What purpose had they served? After a few minutes of wallowing in these pensive thoughts, he released a quiet sigh through his nostrils before turning, hand coming up to rub the back of his neck. Looking towards where Priest sat, he caught the older man's eyes briefly, but he looked back down to the knife in his hand shortly after. Hicks watched him for a moment before turning his head over to where Black Hat was currently training with Tessa roughly thirty feet away. His light azure eyes contained a mixture of curiosity as well as fair amounts of suspicion as he watched them, and he walked over to join Priest.

"What's her deal?" he asked.

Priest looked up at him, and then over to where Black Hat and Tessa were. He observed them for a second before looking back down and taking a swig from his canteen. "She knew 'im when he was still a priest. They were very close."

Hicks frowned. "Closer than you?"

"There's only so much we can do for each other. What she gave him was something we never could."

This statement was what made it click in Hicks' mind, and his eyebrows slowly creased together with the realization. "But… I thought priests weren't allowed to—"

"They're not." Priest took another sip, not looking at him. "They had a secret affiliation."

Hicks' eyebrows rose, and he looked back over at them right as Tessa got Black Hat in a grounded headlock with her legs. "If he was a priest… how did he become a vampire?"

"He fell during the hunt for the queen five years ago. We thought he was dead until he appeared on that train."

"Damn… talk about a rough way to go down."

Priest looked up at him, and then back over to the duo once more. "Why she's with him now, I couldn't tell you for sure. It appears their love for each other hasn't been shaken despite what happened."

"What's her name again?"

"Tessa. She's literally his polar opposite."

"Has she killed anyone?"

"If you mean has she gone on a murder spree, then no… which is what makes her his opposite. She's very kind, whether she knows you or not."

Hicks nodded. "So why are they with you? I thought he was the head honcho of the vamps."

"Not anymore. The queen cast him out."

Hicks frowned. "Why?"

"I don't know."

He returned his eyes to Black Hat and Tessa to see they had finished training and were splitting apart. Seeing Black Hat had ventured back towards the bikes, Hicks took the chance and walked over to Tessa. Her head turned up in question when she noticed him.

"You fight good," he complimented her.

She smiled humbly. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry, but I gotta ask…"

She looked at him in question.

"Why are you with that creep?"

She didn't answer right away, her eyes falling to the sand. After a moment, she met his eyes again, and he could tell she was trying to find the right words to his question. "…If you're as in love with Lucy as you say… then you know why."

His eyes fell. Whether Priest had told her in detail about Lucy or not, he did not know, but either way she was right. He had been ready to defend Lucy's life against Priest even if she had been turned into a Familiar. When he returned his eyes to her, hers were gentle.

"I know it may be hard for you and Priest to understand… but he has remorse. He may not be good at showing it, but if he were pure evil he wouldn't be risking his neck to help retrieve Lucy."

He averted her stare, and at seeing their conversation was at an end she left to rejoin Black Hat over near the bikes where he had joined Priest. She sat back between his legs as usual, and she smiled when she felt him nuzzle her hair from behind, his breath tickling her neck as she felt Hicks eyes staring at them inquisitively.

Even though they hadn't so much as stopped for extra food and water in their haste to reach Silverstein, they all knew it was a lost cause long before they arrived. By the time they managed to arrive in the town, it was already breeching ten o' clock, and they were greeted with a dismal sight.

It had been run over by the fanged menace. They were too late. Once again the bodies were left splayed scattered on the dirt, necks ripped open from the greed of the jagged fangs that had assaulted them. Priest's eyes were stony but otherwise impassive as he looked over the desolation before them. Beside him, Hicks' head fell in discontent.

"We're too late."

Priest's eyes were hard as he looked back at Black Hat. "Are they here?"

He shook his head. "Not enough for me to pick up an alarming scent. There's always the possibility stragglers remained behind."

"Split up. You take Tessa. See if you can find another message. Hicks, you're with me."

They branched off in opposite directions. A little ways into the town, Black Hat cautiously entered a building that once served as a house, but Tessa lingered back in the doorway. Something felt off to her, hazel-green orbs locked on the sheriff's office across the way with a thoughtful stare. Because she was so intent, she failed to notice him sneaking up behind her, and her lack of guard was rewarded with a firm slap on her still-sore bum.

"Ow!" Whirling around, she smacked his arm, hand shooting back to guard her rump from further assault. "What was that for?"

"You were zoning out. Keep your guard up."

She rolled her eyes. "Jerk. I'll remember that the next time your ass is all scratched up."

He winked at her and turned back around to further investigate the house.

"Will you go all mother hen on me if I check out across the street?" she asked.

He looked at her, and then to the office she was staring towards. "Stay where I can see you."

"Okay."

"I mean it."

Waving a hand over her shoulder, she wandered towards the building, gun drawn and held up by her head as she stepped over the threshold. The floorboards creaked in protest beneath her boots, the papers scattered over the floor crinkling with each step. A grimace had made it to her face when she spotted a dead deputy laying limp behind one of the desks, his body surrounded by a puddle of crimson. Averting her eyes, she proceeded forward towards the hall that lead to the holding cells. The building was small, a total of three desks up front and only six cells. If there had been any vampires here, they would have been on her by now.

It was just as she was tentatively lowering her gun that a noise abruptly caught her attention, and her weapon swiftly pointed towards the third cell in on the left. The sunlight pouring in through the window at the end of the hall told her it couldn't have possibly been a vampire, but that didn't mean it wasn't a threat. Cautiously, she proceeded forward, ready to dash into one of the cells and take cover behind the wall if need be. It wasn't until she was at the cell's edge did she pause and press herself up against the concrete, gun held up before her as she listened for movement. The faint sound of breathing caught her ear as well as a scuffling sound, but the person's breath sounded uneven. She closed her eyes, preparing herself and relaxing her muscles, and then she was whipping forward and thrusting her gun forwards.

"Don't shoot!"

She froze. "What the hell…?"

It was another Familiar. He was sitting leaned heavily against the wall, and her eyes almost instantly darted to his stomach, which was bleeding. His breathing was shallow, as if it pained him to allow the muscles in his abdomen to expand too far.

"Please…" he pleaded quietly.

She was eyeing him intently, hiding her confusion from expressing itself in her face. This was the second Familiar left behind. Seeing he had no weapons on him, she slowly entered the cell, gun still raised.

"What happened to you?" she asked, voice low.

He looked up at her with pained but hard-edged eyes. "You're the woman our old master was with…"

"Yeah, and don't think I won't call him in here if you give me any trouble."

A bright flicker of alarm flashed through his ghostly blue orbs. "Are the others here? The priest and the lawman?"

"What's it to you?"

"You're a little late."

She cocked her gun, and he flinched visibly. "You have to the count of three to start talking. Where are they headed?"

"East…"

"What the hell does he want?"

"He wants the priest, obviously. Your boyfriend, too."

She scowled. "Why is he playing these games?"

"He knew you wouldn't get here on time. Actually, he burnt the place down early just in case you did. You'll never catch him."

She eyed him suspiciously. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked sharply. "Shouldn't you be covering for him? Isn't that what Familiars are supposed to do?"

"The guy slashed me across the stomach for what he thought was me questioning his authority." Gaze shifting upwards, he set her with a disdainful glare. "I'm not exactly feeling all that protective towards him." His eyes were scathing. "Do me a favor and drive that pretty pistol of yours up his ass."

She stared at him. This was not the behavior she would expect from a Familiar. Something wasn't adding up. Her eyes followed his as they shifted towards the gun aimed between his eyes.

"If you're gonna shoot me, get it over with."

Her stare held strong as he looked away from her, his eyes dismal, but he didn't appear afraid. This one was different from the one they had run into in Jackson. He lacked the trembling fear the other had displayed when presented with the threat of death. Against her better judgment, she felt herself hesitating, finger hovered over the trigger. Raising the gun a little higher, she cocked it, and he winced at the telltale click, but he didn't cave and beg her like she had expected he would. He didn't even open his eyes. Despite herself, she thought back to Julian. In a way, this Familiar was in a similar position. He had been cut down by his leader, who was now the head honcho of the vampires, and because of that, it also meant this Familiar was no longer part of that either. Whether he had been turned voluntarily or not, she did not know, but either way he had nowhere to go. She wondered how many of the other Familiars were beginning to question the authority of their new leader. Although the action was a bit undecided, she allowed her gun to slowly fall back to her side, and she holstered it before walking up to him.

Having been anticipating a bullet to the head, he opened his eyes curiously to see what was taking her so long, the action hesitant. At first he had thought she just might be waiting for him to look at her, but he was startled when he realized she was now knelt beside him. Alarmed, he shifted away by impulse.

"Relax," she said calmly and nodded to his wound. "Let me see."

He appeared extremely distrusting of her, but he made no attempt to strike or grab her when she moved the leather vest aside. She was surprised at her own gentleness as she moved his blood-smeared hands out of the way, which earned a wince from him. An open, bloodied gash stretched across his abdomen, but it didn't appear to be deep enough to kill him. That didn't make it any less painful in appearance.

"This wasn't meant to be an instant death. He wanted you to bleed out slow…" She shook her head while inspecting the wound. "This guy is seriously disturbed…" She could feel him eyeing her closely as she removed her handkerchief from her pocket, and without warning him she pressed it to his wound. His head threw back with a suppressed cry of pain, and when he tried grabbing her she just batted his hand away and threatened to press harder if he didn't cooperate. That was when hurried footsteps made themselves noticed, and she winced.

"Tessa!" Black Hat called, and she could hear the alarm in his voice.

"Back here," she replied calmly.

A moment later he appeared in front of the cell, where he halted abruptly at seeing the Familiar, who was visibly weary at the sight of him. Not a minute later, Priest and Hicks showed up in the cellblock as well, and Hicks drew his gun when he saw the Familiar. Priest strode into the cell, making his intentions immediately clear.

"Priest, wait—" Tessa tried to say, and she released a short, startled squeak when he shoved her out of the way. It wasn't hard, but it angered Black Hat, nonetheless, and he strode in before grabbing his brother by the shoulder to jerk him backwards. Priest responded by swiftly drawing his blade, and Tessa's arm whipped up to aim her gun at him in the same second Black Hat's own blade met Priest's throat, creating a deadly triangle. Off to the side, Hicks looked as if he had no clue who to point his weapon at.

"Okay, this is ridiculous," he butted in.

She was hesitant, but Tessa was the first to lower her weapon after a moment, eyes locked solidly on Priest. "I'm asking you for two minutes."

His eyes were narrowed at her.

Black Hat lowered his blade, staring at Tessa suspiciously. "Since when do you protect Familiars?"

They had moved out of the cell block back to the front office in order to talk in private away from their captive. For the past ten minutes, they had all been debating back and forth on what to do with the Familiar, and, as usual, Priest was refusing to budge.

"All I'm saying is that he could be useful," said Tessa.

"She has a point," admitted Hicks at last. "If he's pissed enough at this guy, maybe he'd be willing to help us out, whether it be for personal self gain or not."

Priest's icy orbs had darkened a few shades, appearing much like two storm clouds ready to strike lightning at the next person to speak. "He can't be trusted."

"So you trust me?" Black Hat piped in.

Priest sent him a withering look, but the vampire just quirked a wry eyebrow at him.

"Look, if he tries anything, kill 'im," said Tessa.

"And if he slows us down? He's wounded."

She shrugged. "Kill him. I know I won't be able to stop you."

His stare was level red critical….

The Familiar looked up sharply as Black Hat walked into sight at a casual swagger, nonchalantly twirling the blade in his hands.

"You've got two options: A and B."

The Familiar stared at him. "What's option A?"

"Option A is you come with us and help track down and kill this bastard, and in return you won't die today."

He was silent for a moment, but he seemed to be considering this option. "…And B?"

Black Hat said nothing, but his forceful stare and the glint from the blade in his hands was the only answer needed. He stared at the vampire for a long moment. After what felt like an hour-long minute, Black Hat leaned out to look at the others who were waiting at the doorway at the top of the hall. He nodded, and Tessa nodded back before turning and walking out the door. Once she was gone, his eyes shifted to Priest's briefly before looking back at the confused Familiar.

"Looks like it's your lucky day, friend."

The Familiar's inquiring gaze darted up when Priest and Hicks appeared, and all three men entered the cell. He was startled when they grabbed him before he had a chance to scramble away, and he began to struggle to free himself from their grasps despite the flaring pain tearing across his stomach. His head snapped up when Tessa reappeared to see she was holding a small bottle and a red hot blade in her hands. Eyes flying wide, he resumed his struggle against his captors, but he wasn't able to move more than a few inches in their holds, so all he could manage was a fearful stare as Tessa knelt down beside him. He watched her unscrew the cap to the bottle before pouring some of the liquid over his wound, and he was given a shock when a searing pain simmered through the gash like acid, causing him to jerk back with a pained shout. Not moments later she raised the heated blade, glowing a menacing bright orange, and he widened his eyes as he attempted thrashing free.

"No! No, no—"

She pressed the flat side of the blade to the gash, and he screamed, throwing his head back in agony as he arched back against Priest, who had his arms in a firm hold. They held him still, Priest at his arms, and Hicks and Black Hat at his legs.

"Almost done," said Tessa, keeping her voice calm.

"FUCKING BITCH!"

Black Hat's head snapped up in anger, but she called him off with gentle eye contact.

"It's okay, Julian. Just hold him still."

When she finally pulled the blade away, he fell limp, breathing heavily on the ground. Priest, Hicks, and Black Hat released their holds on him at last, but he made no move to get up off the floor. He looked incredibly faint, his skin shining with a thin coating of sweat.

"Hey." Tessa snapped her fingers in his face and gave his cheek a small pat. "Stay with me. You can rest later."

Hooking his arms under the Familiar's, Priest roughly hauled him to his feet, which earned him a sharp hiss of pain in return.

"Stay up," Tessa warned. "If you fall, he's going to kill you." She nodded towards Priest, who was setting the Familiar with a glare colder than Antarctic waters. "I know it hurts," she continued. Unscrewing a water canteen, she handed it to him as Priest and Hicks left the cell. Black Hat remained in the far corner, golden eyes fixed on the Familiar as if daring him to try lashing out at her.

He was leaning heavily against the wall, barely holding himself up as he continued to attempt to regain his breath after the agonizing pain he'd just been put through. Glancing at the canteen that was being offered to him, he finally lifted a heavy hand after a moment and took it from her. After taking a long drink, he let his arm fall to his side, hardly showing signs of improvement.

"I feel dizzy…"

"You're dehydrated," answered Tessa evenly. "You actually didn't lose too much blood because you kept pressure." Tilting her head, she considered him with vague curiosity. "Do you think you'll be able to ride a motorcycle?"

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" he replied mordantly, and took another swig from the canteen.

"By the way, I would kiss all three of their asses repeatedly… especially Priest's."

He managed a cynical scoff. "This should be fun."

He'd managed to follow them outside, where Hicks had brought over one of the abandoned motorcycles that had once belonged to someone in the town. The ex-sheriff was watching the Familiar as he heavily mounted the bike, arm coming to briefly wrap around his waist in visible pain. Shaking his head, he glanced towards Tessa before lifting his goggles over his eyes and looking forward.

"This group just keeps getting weirder and weirder…"

The most they had to go on so far was that the vampires had headed East from Silverstein, so that was the direction they had left. At a certain point, however, the tracks from the trucks had splintered off from each other in several different directions. They had stopped briefly to study the tracks, pondering their options. The only one who appeared unsurprised was the Familiar tagging along in their group. His eyes were set grimly on the tire tracks, not having bothered to get off his motorcycle and join the others. He was leaned forward in the seat to rest his forearms on the handlebars, watching them with dismal amounts of disinterest. There was nothing to be found here, and it wasn't worth straining his wound to help squint at the dirt.

"Can you pick up a scent?" Priest asked, referring to Black Hat.

"Nothing peculiar. I can't smell the girl at all. She could have been taken in any one of these directions."

Hicks kicked the dirt in aggravation. "Damn!"

"Relax." Black Hat stood from where he had been knelt on the ground. "They took her alive for a reason. They won't kill her until they have us."

"Is that true?" Hicks turned to face the Familiar, eyes fierce.

He shrugged. "It's likely he'll keep her alive until he has them." He nodded towards Priest and Black Hat. "I could tell you they were using her as bait, but that would be a lie. He knows full well you'd go after him either way, simply because he's harboring a vampire army. He doesn't need the girl. If anything, he's using her to toy with you."

Priest strode forward, but he stopped at the last second, holding back from sending his fist into his jaw. "Where would they have taken her?" he growled.

The Familiar looked up at him. "Anywhere. He's playing games with you. You probably won't hear from him again until he's ready to contact you." He pointed to the tracks. "Each of those trucks harbors at least thirty vampires. In total, there are ten trucks, five of which did not go to Silverstein."

"So we're dealing with roughly three hundred of these things," Tessa muttered.

"Which also means roughly one hundred fifty vamps were in Silverstein at the time," added Hicks.

"And we have no idea where they're all headed, or what they're planning to do."

"He's planning to take down the cities."

All their heads snapped towards the Familiar.

"What?" said Hicks.

"He wants the same thing you did." The Familiar looked at Black Hat. "He's just taking a different approach."

"When?" Priest growled.

"I don't know. Not anytime soon. He's still building his army."

"How many is he trying to make?" asked Hicks.

"He's at three hundred now, but you'll be looking at thousands if you don't stop him."

Tessa's eyes were wide with horror. "Oh my God…"

"And you have no idea where they're headed?" Black Hat pressed.

He shrugged. "Anywhere there's food, really."

"How are we supposed to catch this guy?" Hicks looked around, speaking to no one in particular. "He's everywhere."

Priest's eyes fell. For a long time he was silent, countenance impassive. "…We need to forget about chasing him… for now."

"What?" Hicks turned on him, eyes wide. "You can't be serious!"

"We have no idea where he is or how to find him."

"What about Lucy?" he demanded angrily.

"We're not going to be any help to her running around with no clue as to where she is," Priest replied, keeping calm in spite of his own anxiety. "We need reinforcements. Right now, all we can do is find the others and set up some sort of plan."

"He's right, Hicks." Tessa set him with a sympathetic but firm stare. "Even if we were to find them, we're no match for three hundred vampires. We're going to need more numbers."

"Where are the others?" Black Hat faced Priest.

"More than likely, they're a few days behind us. If we go back the way we came, we should find them."

"This should be good," Hicks scoffed. "We're not exactly a priest-friendly group."

"We're going to need all the help we can get," said Tessa. "And if that means teaming up with the enemy to defeat a greater evil… then so be it."

Black Hat glanced towards Priest, and he could have sworn he saw him glance back from the corner of his eye.