A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's….though I wished I owned the rest…*sighs
"You would think Bishop would catch up a little quicker with the 21st Century," Brooklyn furiously clicked on her laptop. Michael sorted out the responses that arrived within the last two days letting Brooklyn key them in.
"Maybe he hates computers?"
"Nah," she shook her and crinkled her nose, "I think he likes it when I handle it."
"Considering how your mad typing skills are going off the charts I could agree."
"How many do we have?" Brooklyn paused to take a brief glance across the stack. Michael gripped a small yet thick pile and quickly counted 12.
"You know I could've sent out a mass email or text but no, Bishop had to go old school."
Michael chuckled at her light irritation, knowing Brooklyn didn't harbor any genuine sentiment behind it. Bishop was insistent on sending out hand drafted invitations to the vampires across Boston, requesting they all gather for an important meeting. Michael and Brooklyn knew what it was regarding: The status of the plan. He did have to admit she had beautiful penmanship and creativity when she dreamed up the elaborate calligraphy lettering and blood red ribbon that concealed the wording within.
"Well he loved your little project," he grinned.
"Yeah and I think I got carpal tunnels from it," Brooklyn playfully rolled her eyes.
"Whatever," Michael gently patted her shoulder.
"Don't have a job to do?" She teased.
"Yeah yeah I'm going," Michael headed up the stairs towards his room
Marcus rolled up the winding drive and came to a stop. He looked the sizable home up and down, smelling Josh and his family inside.
"Here doggy doggy doggy," he softly taunted. The gravel crunched beneath his shoes as he crept up among the shadows like a snake stalking its prey. Bishop would never have allowed him to come to Ithaca but then again Marcus didn't care. The way he saw things was Aidan and Brooklyn could get away with literal murder while he would continue to be treated like the red headed stepchild of the clan.
He thought back to Bishop's cold words earlier at the funeral home. The stinging words resonated in Marcus's mind as he approached the steps and climbed the sturdy planks.
"You got that werewolf's sister pretty good."
Bishop was seated at his desk with a disturbing look across his face. The older vampire was growing weary of Marcus's antics and still had to be dealt with after his assault on Brooklyn.
"If Aidan or Brooklyn had been attacked by a pack of dogs, you would've done the same thing!"
"Uh huh," Bishop didn't glance up from his work.
"You would've slapped Aidan on the back for a job well done and as for Brooklyn….."
The acid danced on the tip of his tongue at mention of the other vampire's name.
"Well Aidan and Brooklyn didn't get themselves into embarrassing situations like this," Bishop slowly lifted his head up and looked Marcus down even as he was seated. The frigid depths of his eyes told Marcus all he needed to know: Aidan and especially Brooklyn are special, they can do no wrong.
"In case you forgot Marcus, you did take my orders too far when I said to keep Brooklyn in line. For that you will be punished."
Marcus felt as if a knife had been taken and twisted around his intestines. But then again should he have expected anything less from Bishop where Aidan and the red headed demon were concerned?
"I think you've done enough," Bishop's indifference served to light the cold rage that burned within Marcus.
"With Bishop and Brooklyn soon to be gone, all that will stand between me and Boston is Aidan.
Aidan soaked in the tub with the chamomile and other teas that Josh rushed to him. The garlic had forced out his less than stellar attributes and now all he could do was stay submerged in healing blend and wait. His thoughts turned to Brooklyn as she had warned him about Marcus knowing Bishop could easily punish her harshly. It was difficult for him to see past how she could have these emotions of love and loyalty to Bishop. But it took one look in those soulful eyes and Aidan knew it wasn't something like Stockholm syndrome or compulsion when she was a human.
She only sees me as a friend and nothing more…..
He wanted to be closer to her as in many ways she reminded him of long deceased wife. Her independent spirit definitely wasn't helping either. She would stand up to Marcus while being a friend to Josh in the hospital the night Cara was killed. And not to mention she wasn't hesitant to voice her opinions of Rebecca either.
As he relaxed in the warm water, the sound of the door slamming downstairs jolted him from his daydreams. Aidan leapt from the tub and hurried to dress as he knew Marcus had followed them there.
Thank God Brooklyn warned me
Marcus rounded the house, desperate to get inside. Josh had slammed the door in his face just as his father was about to invite him in. He had seen Aidan's car parked in the drive and knew someone had to have warned him.
Little snitch!
He would deal with Brooklyn later as he was focused on slaughtering the dog and his family inside. The vampire stood facing the swing set and weighed his options as Aidan landed on his feet with a catlike grace. Aidan charged across the dew slickened grass and tackled Marcus violently to the ground. The vampires rolled around but Marcus was stronger having fed on live blood before taking his pleasure cruise. Marcus pummeled Aidan with his fists, striking the younger vampire's ribs and jaw. The sound of Aidan's ribs cracking and snapping carried a sweet tune upon Marcus's ears. Aidan valiantly tried to block Marcus's attacks but his fists landed against bone every time.
Aidan seized a chance as Marcus pulled back to strike and swung his arm against Marcus's elbow, stunning the vampire long enough for him to buck his attacker up and off of him. The vampires jumped to their feet and stood off before charging one another. Aidan propelled his fist into Marcus's solar plexus then kneed him in the abs. Marcus tumbled to the ground, unable to rise from the slick blades of grass that offered no traction. He laughed out loud as Aidan smacked and decked his face but the barrage lasted for a fleeting moment. Marcus caught Aidan's wrist and snapped it back, watching as his nemesis held the injured limb to his chest.
"You're protecting a dog!" He taunted Aidan.
"And when you don't succeed you can go back to Bishop and tell him you failed!" Aidan rolled over and up on his knees, feeling his injury quickly heal.
"Bishop didn't send me," Marcus glared with deadly orbs as he struck Aidan across the face.
"He told me not to mess with his little precious pet or red haired slut! Well she needed to be taught a lesson!"
"So you come out here to do what? Kill them all? Who do you keep trying to hurt? The dog that you say is beneath you or me! Is this really about us? You keep this between us!"
Aidan felt Marcus grapple his throat and lift him off the ground before hitting him then hurling him through the air like a rag doll. The vampire crashed through the swings and on the rocky soil, feeling his body temporarily paralyzed.
"Here doggy," Marcus called out in a cruel demeanor. "Woof woof!"
Aidan stood up and wrapped a loose chain around his palm with eyes angry and black like the fires of Hell. Josh came along the side of the house with a makeshift stake from a stand. His eyes caught the silhouettes of Aidan and Marcus locked together in a bloody battle. Aidan struck Marcus as he lay on the ground, feeling his anger bubbling over towards his enemy.
"You had no right to hurt her!"
Aidan attacked again and again. Marcus was out of control and had to be stopped! If Bishop didn't do something then Aidan would! His hands choked the chain around Marcus's throat, feeling the vampire claw at his hands. Death would be slow and painful for the vampire.
"Aidan!" Josh stood with stake in hand ready to help.
"I got this one," Aidan smiled confidently at his friend. Marcus still had one more ace up his sleeve. He rolled over sending Aidan on his back and freeing him of a potentially agonizing death. Aidan circled around him with fists held high, prepared to go another round.
"Come on you kill me now if you don't think I got it in me! Pay the price with Bishop! But you leave my friend and his family out of it!"
"You and your doggy aren't worth it," Marcus hissed in defeat.
Josh and Aidan watched as the vampire slithered away into the woods like the vile creature that he was.
"You okay?" Josh looked his friend up and down.
"Yeah," Aidan nodded. His features had returned to their human façade. "But Marcus won't give up but he was coming after you. They're not safe if you stay here."
Josh sadly nodded and looked up to the windows where his parents and sister stood.
"Brook told me Marcus was on the warpath."
"Brooklyn warned you? How did she know?"
"She learned quickly about Marcus," Aidan answered.
"You should tell her thanks for me," Josh nodded.
"Yeah I'll do that.
Bishop returned to find Brooklyn hunched over on the laptop. It was a gift from him after he learned that her other one had been destroyed. His only stipulation was to keep a low profile which meant no Facebook, Twitter or any other public exposure. Brooklyn had protested but it was only briefly as she found other ways to enjoy her newest possession.
"Okay everyone will be attending," she didn't have to look up to see it was him.
"Excellent," a smile brightened his face. "I didn't think anyone would pass this opportunity up."
He noticed Marcus was missing and frowned at the discovery.
"Where's Marcus?"
"If I were a betting woman, I would say he decided to go after Josh and his family for a little payback without you knowing about it."
"He has crossed the line," Bishop punched the table rattling the pile of responses and the laptop.
"Yeah," she added with a quirk.
"Well it doesn't matter as I have something that will humble him."
"Is it an ass whooping?" Brooklyn wiggled her fingers in anticipation as her eyes lit up at the thought of Marcus getting his ass handed to him.
"Oh no I'm afraid not," he carded his fingers through her hair and watched his lover lean into his touch. "But I believe you will still enjoy it."
"Hey anything that knocks him down a few pegs is good enough for me."
Brooklyn sat back and wondered if she should ask him about Javier and the stranger who paid the late night visit. Her mind refused to let the lust for vengeance slip by and kept the notion in the back of her mind, fresh and vivid.
"I heard the Dutch are coming sooner than expected."
Bishop stopped playing with her hair and pulled her up from the chair and towards the couch. He sensed her apprehension for he was on edge as well. Fifty years was too short to a vampire.
"They are I'm afraid," he admitted. "But we must not let them see we are faltering in any way. Give them no reason to criticize what it is we are doing."
"I'm scared they will rip us apart," she confessed.
"I won't let that happen," Bishop declared
Marcus returned nine hours later, dirty and smarting from his battle with Aidan. He wanted nothing more than shower and a trip to the Blood Den.
"Marcus," Bishop beckoned. Marcus dragged his feet as he headed towards the front of the house. He entered to see Bishop seated at the front desk as Brooklyn leaned against it. A coy smile teased her lips as she tapped her fingers along her arm. Marcus flashed a dirty look in Brooklyn's direction but it bounced off her as the smile never faltered.
"Marcus it has come to my attention that you once again took matters into your own hands when I specifically told you not to."
"The dog is my business! He went after me! It's my right to deal punishment!"
"No it isn't!" Bishops shot up. "I warned you about the werewolf's sister and about Brooklyn. Yet you continue to disregard my commands!"
He rounded the table and stood before Marcus. Marcus could feel the smug expression crossing Brooklyn's lips burning into his vision as Bishop clasped his hands on the younger vampire's shoulders.
"I cannot and will not tolerate insubordination from this clan. I offered you several opportunities to fall back in line with the rest of the family and yet you didn't. I have come to a rather difficult decision but I deem it necessary for the good of this family."
Marcus wondered what was going through Bishop's mind as he felt fear crawling through his veins.
"I have decided that Brooklyn will tend to the affairs of the clan from now on."
"What? Bishop you can't! I have done everything you ever asked of me!"
"Again Marcus you disappointed me with your recent actions. The risk of exposure to the humans is much too great for you to go around beating up 19 year old girls and taking it upon yourself to dole out justice as you see fit. Do you realize what could've happened! The whole plan could be in jeopardy because of this!"
Brooklyn stood by silently as Bishop continued to berate Marcus. Watching the son of a bitch squirm like a worm on a hook was simply delightful! Payback was sweet and growing even sweeter by the second. Bishop was right, this is way better than an ass whooping!
"You're dismissed," he shoved past Marcus and headed down towards the office. Marcus gritted his teeth and glared at Brooklyn who simply shrugged her shoulders in return.
"You deserved every bit of that," Marcus clenched his fists as Brooklyn sauntered away. The vampire waited until both were gone then slipped his phone out and made a quick call.
A little comeuppance for Marcus!