Hellooooooooo! See? I'm back sooner than I thought, thanks to a totally screwed up project, thanks to an unreliable person, never mind... *snorts*
D'you still remember this story? I hope so ^^
Not beta-ed and quickly re-read so sooooorryyyyy for all the horrible mistakes :/
Disclaimer: the title of the chapter is taken from the lyrics of 'Uprising ', by Muse
Summary: Dominic is free and out of control, nothing can stop him, unless...
Chapter XXI: We will be victorious
Finally free from impediments, Dominic is going to enjoy what he hopes it will be a long night of hunting.
He doesn't even have to wait for long to find his first victim, because she ends up in his arms, literally, in a matter of minutes.
As a matter of fact, he is so well hidden by the darkness of the alley where he's walking that a girl who is running non-stop stumbles over him.
"Oh my, I'm so sorry, I totally didn't see you ..." the girl starts to apologise, before lifting her head to focus better on the person who she has accidentally run over.
"Oh fuck, fuck, fuuuuuccccccck! But you're Dom from Muse! " she screams at the top of her lungs, amusing the blond with her reaction.
Dominic looks at her better, she is a teenager, probably late with her curfew that her parents have imposed to her. She cannot be more than seventeen years old.
But Dominic, or rather his demon, the one who now gained absolute control, gender, age, race and religion do not make any difference. It is simply fresh blood, blood that he can't wait to savour until the last drop.
"Oh my god! I hit my head so hard that I died and now I am in heaven, right?" the young girl goes on, more and more confused.
-Not exactly, Cherie! - the handsome vampire sneers.
Catching him a little off guard, the girl puts her hands on his face, lightly pinching his cheeks.
"No, damn it! You're here, you're real! Even if you are so cold! "she says, withdrawing her hands.
-Oh, but you're going to warm me up! - the evil blond plans.
Usually, Dominic hates having outsiders' hands over him, and perhaps his demon hates that even more, but right now he must play cool, if he wants his dinner.
As a matter of fact, he shows off one of the most captivating smiles of his entire repertoire.
"Yeah, you're not wrong, it's me, in flesh and bones!" he confirms.
- And fangs! - he adds delighted to himself, before being interrupted by another hysterical scream from the girl.
"Jesus Christ, I can't believe it, Dominic Howard, aaaaaahh!"
"Hey, there's no need to shout like this!" Dominic chuckles, even though he could not stand her one minute longer.
"It's okay, there is never anyone around here. I know because I live a few blocks from here!" she shrugs, trying to regain composure.
- So there's nobody around here, huh? Hmm, good to know!- the vampire takes a mental note.
"Let me guess, you're coming home from your night out and you're late!" he hazards.
"Yes, and my parents will kill me!" she panics.
- They won't if I get there first!- the drummer meditates, ruthless.
"Now I can say that I found a worthy reason to delay a little more..." she smiles, now more at her ease, maybe even too much. "And you? May I know what are you doing here? " she asks him, winking and taking a step towards him.
"Well, I was waiting for you!" Dom shows a cheeky grin.
The girl feels like inside one of those FFs where the artist in question falls madly in love at first sight with the Mary Sue of the story.
"To tell you the truth, I would be fine with anyone else!" he adds with cold sincerity, shrugging.
The girl suddenly falls from the six feet above the sky on which she was walking.
"What?" Frowns.
"You know, whelp, your parents are right to worry. At night you can have very bad encounters " the drummer warns her.
"Quite the contrary!" she strikes back, although she does not like at all that contemptuous epithet with which he has just addressed to her.
However, she panics a little more when she sees Dom getting even closer.
"Let's do this, since you like crying so much ..." says Dominic, with a sadistic grin, while, she doesn't know because of what inexplicable play of light, but she has the impression that the wonderful indefinite colour of his eyes has changed, leaving place to a menacing radioactive green. "I'll give you a good reason to do it!" he bursts out laughing, showing his elongated and razor-sharp canines.
The teenager gives out a bloodcurdling scream, but it is immediately smothered by Dom, who covers her mouth with one hand and bites her neck, unceremoniously.
That hot blood gushes down his throat, heating and invigorating him, after those days of captivity and nourishment to starvation, while with every sip he can feel his victim weakening more and more, in his arms.
-It 's such a wonderful feeling! - the vampire muses, determined to bite deeper, in order to seize even more rapidly than innocent life.
However, there is something that prevents him from doing that.
As a matter of fact, he cannot even minimally increase the pressure of his bite, because his mind is attacked by flashbacks, dating back to the day before, when his Sire has shown him who's the boss.
The blond detached from his victim, who has already lost her senses, and focuses on those memories.
He recalls that total feeling of belonging and he knows that it can happen again, as often as he wants.
And Dom wishes that it could happen very often, but is well aware of what the conditions are.
The words of his Sire are still ringing in his mind.
-'You know what to do and what not to do to please me'-
And Dom does know.
He's perfectly aware that he can't satisfy his deepest instinct, not if he wants his Sire to welcome him back.
The blond knows he can not kill, his Sire would notice the satisfied glint in his eyes, if he faced his gaze, he would taste it in a kiss that Dom couldn't surely deny to him, he would smell the scent of death upon the blond, he could feel his Child's adrenaline.
The point is that he wants to be accepted, he still wants an infinite number of precious moments to spend with his Sire, for an indefinite period of time, pretty similar to forever.
And if that's the price, Dom is willing to pay for it.
With a low growl of frustration, reluctantly he leaves that victim who he knows that he can't drain any loner, fall to the ground and he switches back to his human features.
"Noo, why? You spoiled all the fun, I was already ready to attack you behind your back!" Michael's voice makes him startle.
As a matter of fact, turning, Dom sees him in company of his ever-present mate, while he's staring at the blond intently.
"But how could you do that? If I understood properly, the only one who can feel me is Matt ... or also my GigaSire has this capability?" the blond frowns.
"GranSire!" Michael corrects him, while Rachel lets out a chuckle. "And nope, you're right, the bond between us is not that strong, I'm not able to locate you." the expert vampire admits.
"But we heard the little screamer!" Rachel says, pointing to the passed out girl. "You know, we were ready to intervene at any moment, but apparently it is no longer needed!" she smiles.
"Yeah, you stopped in time. You had all the chances, but you did not kill her." Michael summarizes.
"The point is that I would have liked to, it's just that I can't, because I know that my Sire would not approve!" Dom snorts, bothered.
"For us it is enough!" Michael smiles with satisfaction.
"Come with me. I will make sure that you feed properly, but without any damage. "Michael warns him and the most inexperienced vampire does not appear so reluctant at the prospect.
"Hey, are you not coming with us?" he questions, confused, pointing at Rachel with his eyes.
"I can't let this poor girl wake up with such a shock," the vampiress justifies, approaching the teenager and bending over her. "I'm going to heal her wounds and as soon as she wakes up I'll make sure that all she's left is only the memory of a pleasant meeting!" she smiles, taking care of the teenager with a motherly attitude.
"See? It's one of those things that you are not yet able to do, but Matthew will care about teaching everything to you! " Michael says, as he walks away with his GranChilde.
"It 's true, he said that he would teach me ... by the way, how is he?" the blond wonders.
"Why? How should he be? " the other frowns.
"You don't know that, do you? I deceived him and knocked him down really hard and probably he hasn't recovered yet "the Englishman mutters.
The only answer that he gets is the Spanish who bursts out laughing.
"Not everyone is able to catch their Sire off guard. I must say, boy, you've got potential! "he congratulates, and Dominic no longer finds his company so intimidating.
"Hey, but if Matthew did not move from there, it means that he didn't feed. When we get back can we can bring something to him? " the blond asks in concern.
"Of course we can!" the oldest nods, pleased to hear his GranChilde make a similar request.
Returning from the hunt, the three find Matthew exactly where Dom had left him, at the entrance of the oldest two vampires' house.
"Geez, I must have given him a very hard blow!" Dominic states, leaning toward the guitarist and shaking him with a certain insistence, until the brunet starts to show signs of recovery.
As soon as he manages to focus the view, Matt stands up abruptly, turning to Michael and Rachel.
"Tell me that you stopped him in time!" he questions them, agitated.
"No, Matthew, we have not stopped him." the vampiress has fun torturing him a little bit, watching his expression change from hopeful to terrified in a few seconds. "For the simple reason that there was no need to stop him." she calms him down soon after.
Matthew records that information, and then turns to Dominic, with a great big grin on his face.
"So that means ..."
"Yeah, okay, I fed, without killing anyone, because I have been able to stop in time .. but let's not make a big affair! " the blond retorts nervously. "Now excuse me!" he walks away, reaching the house before the others.
"But ..." Matt mutters, confused.
"Try to understand ... it's a defeat for his demon, which now feels with wounded pride and reputation, but over time he'll be better, you'll see!" the brunette reassures him, empathic, and then she retrieves the two boys in a trance who she left in the shadows.
"He acts so annoyed, but at the very end it's obvious that he does care about you. You know, he chose those victims specifically for you, he did not want to leave you with an empty stomach! " Michael explains to him.
"Really?" Matthew asks for confirmation, with his blue eyes sparkling with delight at the news.
"Yeah, but we have taken care to hypnotize them. He would have only knocked them out and this is not the most suitable way to do these things! You have to teach him so much stuff about the hunt! "Rachel requires.
"Oh yes, I will. I will teach him everything! " the singer smiles, before eating, without too much fuss.
"Please, now tell me ... you know the reason why Dom has stopped, don't you?" the pianist grows curious about it, after his meal and the other two vampires just have to tell him everything.
"So everything went according to my flawless plans! I told you it would work!" Matthew asserts, at the end of their report.
"Oh yeah, and tell me, your brilliant plan was also to be knocked out by your Childe, wasn't it?" Michael teases him with a skeptical smirk.
"Nope, that was unexpected!" the younger vampire rolls his eyes. "But what really matters is that Dom has been able to control himself, thanks to the bond that my demon has established with his" he rejoices immediately after.
"I think we'd better all go inside, the dawn is approaching!" Rachel points out prudently.
As soon as they cross the threshold, they can see in the distance that Dominic has already taken steps to chain himself.
"But no, puppy, I'm sure that it is no longer necessary!" Rachel smiles at the blond, freeing him. "There aren't any danger now. You can sleep with your mate. "she informs him.
Confining himself to thank her with a quick nod, Dominic gets up and heads towards Matt's room and, after greeting the other two, the singer follows him.
"Let's make it clear, I agree, but only because the bed is much more comfortable than the floor!" Dominic points out, bitchy, slipping under the covers.
"I had no doubt about it!" Matt plays his same game, imitating his actions. "It 's good to have you with me again, Dommie!" he murmurs happy.
"Do not call me that!" the other snaps.
Matthew chuckles, not at all discouraged.
"And how am I supposed to call you, then? EvilBadAssGrrrVampireWhoCanKillNobodyBecauseHeLove sHisSireTooMuchToDoThat? is a bit long as nickname, do not you think?" he says.
"Forget it, Dommie is okay!" the drummer snorts. "But now let's sleep! And make sure you keep your distance, I don't want you stuck with me! "he imposes, dryly, delimiting the boundaries of the bed.
Matt obeys, without protesting.
"Dommie?" he calls him, while he can already feeling the tiredness overwhelming him.
"Mm?" the other mumbles, more or less in his same conditions.
"Thanks for the guys you brought to me ... I know it was you." the brunet whispers.
"Shut up and sleep!" the blond mutters annoyed.
In the early hours of the afternoon, Matt wakes up, finding Dom sleeping on top of him, with his arms wrapped around the guitarist's neck.
"Good morning, Mr. Keep-Your-Distance!" the youngest chuckles, stroking his golden hair.
Both for his voice and that tender gesture, Dom opens his eyes, smiling at the meeting of his partner's blue oceans.
"Uh, but Mattie, you have not yet figured out, have you? My demon talks, talks, but he never knows what he's saying! " Dom shrugs, clinging closer to his Sire.
"Then you do remember!" Matthew realises, kissing the tip of his nose.
"Yes, I remember all of last night, perfectly in every detail." he nods and then massages Matt behind his head, where's there's the blow he hit the brunet with. "Did I or rather did he hurt you a lot?" h worries.
Matt shakes his head negatively and shrugs.
"Nothing that is not curable in a few hours, though ... damn if you hit hard, baby!"
"The point is that, although I remember everything, I was a mere spectator, he held total control... but I think that somehow this thing is becoming less split, he and I are learning to live .. or-un-live .. together, whatever!" the beautiful blond says.
"This is such a good news! Now you're more than ready to learn the hunt as it should be." his boyfriend sentences. "So you're saying that now there's your demon, too, right?" he raises an eyebrow.
"Probably, but he's still too drowsy to spoil the moment!" the blond giggles, then he glances at the brunet mischievously. "I was wondering, is there anything I can do to make up for what he did to you?" he question rhetorically, disappearing under the sheets.
"Uh!" Matt startles pleasantly, as soon as the blond unzip his pants and starts his ministrations between his legs. "I'd say you're definitely forgiven!" his Sire groans, at the mercy of his Child's lustful attentions.
"Now I would say that we can go back to our home. I'll never thank you enough, without you I don't know how I could cope with everything!" Matthew asserts, in front of his Sire and his queen.
"Yes, the worst is over. I guess that now we can go back to Rome. "Michael nods.
"If you need anything, let us know!" Rachel smiles, affable.
"Yes, yes, okay, thanks for everything." Dom says hastily. "Bells, can we please go now? It 's almost midnight. I'm starving! "he adds, desperate.
He almost reminds of a little dog who wants his master to take him out for a walk, he just has to begin to scratch the door.
"Someone here is pawing!" Rachel chuckles, before everyone leaves the building after a last exchange of greetings.
Left alone, Matthew peers at Dominic with a certain diffidence.
"You and me in front of this building, before I take you to hunt ... I'm having a strange sense of deja-vu!" the brunet grumbles.
"It will not end like last time, I give my word and my demon gives his!" Dominic guarantees.
"Well, then I have something for you." Matthew smiles, putting a hand into the pocket of his jacket and pulling out the chain with the white half of the pendant, fastening it around his boyfriend's neck. "And for me, too!" He smirks, fastening around his own neck the black half of the pendant.
"Do you trust me that much?" Dom murmurs, almost moved.
"I do. So we can just stay around even after dawn, if we want to." Matt nods, emphasizing his response with a sweet kiss on his partner's lips. "And now let's go!"
"If you come across one of our fans, everything is easier, you can manage everything better, extend the moment to the utmost and then strike, while with people who do not have the faintest idea of who we are, you have to act immediately, find an excuse to isolate with your preys and hypnotize them. "Matthew instructs his Child, while, hidden in the shadows, both scrutinize the passersby through one of the side streets, not far from Westminster.
"Why can't I just knock them out?" Dominic asks him, growing impatient.
"No, Dammit, quit it, I don't want to hear about knockouts any-bloody-more! It does not work like that! " the brunet snorts exasperatedly. "And now choose who you want!" he urges the other.
"That couple who's coming." the blond decides, pointing at a boy and a girl of about thirty years old, in unequivocal attitude.
"Very well, now remain hidden here and let me do the rest!" Matt orders, as he's about to approach those strangers.
"They didn't know Muse, I must say, very good choice!" Matt makes fun of him, coming back to the isolated spot with the two victims following him, in a complete state of trance.
"How could I know? Excuse me, next time I'll make sure they wear our T-shirts! " Dom snorts.
"Ah-ah. Funny. So, are you ready?" the other replies.
"I've never been so ready!" the blond confirms.
"Good. As soon as I free them from my spell, all you have to do is focus and desire to dominate their mind." the brunet says.
"Okay, you can release them." Dom nods.
Matt accepts his request and before the girl has time to comprehend where she is and how she got there, Dom makes sure that she looks at him, concentrating deeply.
Matt smiles when he sees appear in Dom's already unnaturally fluorescent green eyes two dark green spirals.
"Now you are in my power, and you'll so everything I say." Dom commands, with Matt who shows a nod of consent. "But first a little test." he adds.
"But no, why? It is not necessary. She is already in your power! "Matt interrupts him.
"Well, at least I'm sure of that, besides it is my own curiosity!"Shrugs his Childe shrugs, always showing off his swirling spirals, turning back to the girl. "Who is your favorite band?"
"Radiohead." the girl says without hesitation.
"I could let you kill her for that!" Matt mutters, taking it as a personal insult.
"Really?" Dominic looks at him expectantly.
"I was joking!" the brunet reproaches him. "De gustibus non est disputandum." he makes his smart quote. "So what are you waiting for? If I recall correctly, you were starving, weren't you? "he adds.
"Huh, right. Well, girl, expose your neck and wait... and immediately after you'll forget everything. " Dom orders and the girl obeys.
No more than half a second later, his fangs are already in her neck, with the blond who begins to quench his thirst.
Matt lets him do as long as he can stand.
"Dooom ..." the singer warns him humming when it is time.
With difficulty, but Dom manages to detach from the girl, leaving her weakened but still conscious.
"Yes, yes, I know, see? I have not taken any stupid life! " Dom's demon growls annoyed, amusing Matt. "Can I go to the guy now?" he pleads, still quite hungry.
"Nope, you forgot something important. We must never leave tracks "Matt insists.
"Oh yeah, right. So do I have to do what I did to you last time? I lick the marks and everything disappears?" Dom asks.
His question now also proves how the real Dominic and his demon are becoming one, as the second remember things that should belong only to the memory of the first.
It's because of this reason that Matthew is doubly happy to nod and watch his mate proceed.
-
"It's not that hard!" Dominic comments, after that, not only the couple has recovered and moved away as if nothing had happened, but also Matthew proceeded to feed, under the fascinated gaze of his Childe.
"Yeah. And it's also pretty funny, don't you think so? "Matt chuckles, while walking. "Tomorrow I will leave it all to you!" the pianist informs the percussionist.
"Okay. What time is it now? " the blond asks him.
"Almost 3:30 a.m. Why? "
"I know that we got back our pendant, but ... actually... everything I want to do is go home, I mean our house!" Dominic confesses.
"Nothing is better than home!" Matthew agrees, perhaps because neither he is too thrilled about wandering around until dawn.
"And once there we could make love, in our bed until dawn and beyond ..." Dom suggests charmingly "So if you want to make me happy it must be tender and slow, if you want to make my demon happy it must be violent and wild. I leave it to you, indeed, the choice is yours! "he adds, running his tongue over his normal teeth, sensually.
"Well, I'm sure we'll find a way to please you both!" his partner promises, kissing him passionately.
-
"Ah, Matteh, back to the subject of our un-life in a castle ..." begins the blond, after recovering from the marathon of sex, in all the way, as Matt had promised, while outside it is already late morning.
Matthew already knows where he is going with this and decides to interrupt him.
"No, Dom, do not insist. No bloody leopards! "He says, adamantly.
Dominic throws his pillow against him, rudely, and then he gets out of the bed, regardless of his own absolute nudity.
"It's you the one without a soul!" he snorts, going away, deeply disappointed.
- He'll get over it!- Matt ponders, too worn out to chase after him.
- -
At late evening, when they come out, just as promised, Matthew let Dominic hunt on his own, walking away with the girl who he lured, while Dom does the same with the one who he has found for himself.
To tell the truth, it's the girls to have 'attacked' them, because, yes, this time it's two fans.
While the girl keeps asking him tons of questions, which is an obvious sign of her great excitement, Dominic is looking for a place that's isolated enough, where to take her to activate his plans and he finds it.
The girl, being in a place so secluded with him, starts to get strange ideas about the whole situation.
"Dominic, but ..." she chirps.
"Shhh ..." the vampire approaches her, looking at her, but having the feeling that something is not right. "Look at me."
"I would never stop watching you!" She sighs, sounding mawkish.
"Wait .. don't you see anything in my eyes? "the blond asks her .
"They are beautiful, as you are!" she shows him a grin.
- But what the fuck .. ? - Dom begins to get nervous, but tries to keep calm, closing his eyes.
- Now I just have to try again better ...- he makes another attempt and then he reopens them.
"No, it's not what I meant! They are gleaming more than usual, right? With a lighter color?" He questions her.
"Do you mean that they should shine more, because you're happy to be here with me?" she ventures, acquiring more and more self-confidence.
"Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatt" Dom calls him, exasperated.
******************* (In the meantime)
A few blocks away, Matthew has managed to stand apart with its prey, but things are progressing more slowly than expected, especially since she, armed with a providential diary, is making him sign autographs on every page.
"This is for my sister, this for my cousin, and then there's my best friend, that if she only knew that now I'm here with you.. "
Matthew is not even listening anymore, Dominic's calling has been received loud and clear.
"I'll be back!" he warns her, disappearing.
It only takes Matt a few seconds to reach his Childe.
"What's the matter?" he asks, appearing behind the blond's back.
"I cannot do it any-bloody-more! My eyes are no longer capable of it!" Dom whines.
"Matthew!" the girl jolts. "I'm happy to see you and everything, but, you know, me and Dom were here for .."
The girl no longer adds any word, kidnapped by the hypnotic gaze from a rather jealous Matt.
"She's all yours!" the pianist asserts, throwing her in Dom's arms, before returning from where he's come.
-
"Wait, wait .. what have you said just yesterday? Ah yeah, I got it: 'it's not that hard!' "Matt mocks Dom, mimicking his way of speaking, when he and his mate are reunited after the hunt.
"Hey, a moment of trouble can happen to anyone, and then already with the second girl I've had no need of any help!" Dom defends, slightly insulted.
'It is not difficult, you just have to clear your mind." the brunet explains. "And in your case it is not that there is much to be emptied!" he adds, with a laugh.
"Hey!" Dom growls at him.
"Oh come on, baby, I was joking!" his boyfriend calms him down.
"And anyway, I can not clear my mind, because I always have a fixed idea, which is how much I love you" the blond confesses, showing his Sire the sweetest of his smiles.
Matthew seems to melt.
"Really?" the singer smiles, emitting little blue sparks from his eyes.
"No, but it's fun to see how credulous you are!" Dom bursts out laughing, taking his revenge.
- -
"Come on, Bells, get up!" Dom spurs him, beginning to open cabinets and drawers.
"But ... it's not even ten in the morning!" Matt mutters getting up.
"Exactly, so let's not waste time. In two hours we must be at Heathrow, I have already booked the flight!" Dom informs him, filling his bag and taking Matt's trolley.
"The flight?" the singer repeats, still a bit dazed.
"Remember when you made that wonderful surprise at New Year's
Eve? Well, this time it's me who'll take you for a nice trip! All the concerts will resume next week, we can allows that to us! " the blond smiles, providing to fills his suitcase.
"Huh?"
"But unlike you, I have no intention of blindfold you and make you look like an idiot! You'll see where we're going on your own! " the drummer winks at him.
- -
"In Sicily?" Matt asks him, when at the airport he reads the board.
"Yep, honey. Just think, if we hurry already by the afternoon we could just lay in the sun on one of those wonderful beaches on the Island! "Dom replies all dreamy
Matt almost chokes with the coffee he's drinking to recover.
"A whole day at the beach?"
"Yep, of course. In a few days we will see all our friends again, do you really want them to see me so pale?" the percussionist points out, as if it were a matter of great importance for him ... and truth must be told, it actually is.
"But, baby, wouldn't it be enough to take a sunlamp?" the guitarist hazards.
"It's not the same thing! Besides, do you think about it? Italian blood! " he winks, already tasting it, bringing out a valid reason.
"You're right, it is not such a bad plan. So you'll enjoy your beloved beach and at sunset I'll meet you again for a sightseeing tour of the city? "Matt tries again as they go toward the check-in.
"Nice try!" Dom chuckles, "Nope, my dear, you'll spend every moment of the afternoon with me, a little colour will make you look so good!" the other insists.
"But ..." the brunet protests.
Dominic resorts to heavy weaponry and use his deadly pout.
"Let me see if I got it straight, Mattie, I've almost lost my soul for you and you cannot even spend a single day sunbathing with me?" he accuses his lover and there's no need to say that he's just won that battle.
"All right!" Matt rolls his eyes.
- -
However, when both lie down on their loungers in the VIP area of the beach of Mondello, isolated and undisturbed, and from the most shaded spot that he can get Matt observes his boyfriend, which is much more exposed to the sun like a lizard, with sunglasses, I -pod in his ears and ice cold drink in his hand, while he enjoys the full tan with a broad smile on his face, he realizes that please him was the rightist choice.
TBC
And who knows? Maybe they were really there, but they were good at not getting paparazzi! XD Seriously, I apologize to all, but after all these darker and tense chapters, I really need fluffy stuff ... I hope you will not be sorry.