Masquerade

Rating: R

Genre: Romance

Pairing: Taker/Shawn, some Raven/Shawn and other pairings for future chapters

Summary: An AU fic

Warning: S&M and loads of it in later chapters

Disclaimers: Not mine

Thanks for reviewing me guys! I'm glad that you like this story :) ))

"Why did you give him away?" Mark finally asked as he eyed his brother.

Raven watched his older brother circling him like a hawk. "I wanted him to be free. I don't think I could sit there and live with myself if he became your mate after I had seen that look in his eyes."

"Look?" Mark asked curiously. "Look of what?"

"Pain, Mark!" He shouted slaming his fist down on the table. "God, you don't care if anyone is in pain or not, you'll take them if you want them reguardless of any consideration for anyone else!"

Mark gave Raven a cool look and brushed his long hair over his shoulder. "I deserve to get what I want. And I want him. I'll go at any lengths..."

"Right. Of course, Mark. You know, he said I reminded him of his abusive ex-boyfriend. But I don't think so... See Mark, if I let you have him, he'd-"

"Abusive ex-boyfriend?"

"Yeah. I listened to him and his hot blonde roommate talk for awhile. The guy must have done something terrible to him. He needs to go to physical therapy in the morning for it..."

Mark leaned against the wall, arms crossed, deep in thought. "He said he didn't want to be touched on his lower back- it hurt too much... He just had surgery there..."

"He seemed so happy to be back home. I don't regret doing what I did..." Raven smiled as he glanced out at the lighting night sky. "I found out his name- It's Shawn."

"Shawn... Gracious one."

Raven grinned. "It suits him..."

Mark started off toward the doors to the hallway. It was time to personally speak with Shawn...

"Mark! Where the hell are you going?!"

"To see Shawn."

~

It was warm... Sunny... Cloudless sky... Shawn blinked softly as he stared up at the sky of a perfect day. The grass beneath him was soft and sweet smelling. "Hmm....?" He sat up and glanced around the landscape. It was like a dream... A few willow trees, huge beach with water so blue it couldn't be real. Maybe he had died... Places like this didn't exist in life. He looked down at himself, his eyes widdening.

His clothes had changed from his simple pajamas to a pair of flowing white pants and an Indian style opened shirt. Shawn felt like a prince. He started toward the only structure he saw- which was a large gazebo covered in ivy. Shawn started for it, enjoying the softness of the grass. On the table was a tea set, cookies, and some biscuits were awaiting for him. Shawn sat down at the table, reaching for the a cup of tea. There was another place setting- but no one else was around.

Shawn reached for the tea pot to pour himself some. A hand covered his, stopping him. He turned around and looked up into the face of a man he thought he recognized from some place he couldn't place his finger on. This man brought his hand up to his mouth and kissed Shawn's gently. "Who... Who are you?"

"My name is Mark, Shawn."

"How do you know my name?" He whispered watching the taller man sit across from him.

"No need to worry about that now... Why don't you tell me about you?"

Shawn fidgited under the cold stare. It bothered him- how could someone have such harsh, bitter eyes and be smiling at the same time? "Well I... I was born in San Antonio... I have a modeling career, and share an apartment with a friend from the same agency. That's about it though. Guess I'm kind of boring huh?"

"Not at all." Mark said and poured him a cup of tea. "Boyfriend?"

"No... Not any more. Recently single..." Shawn took the cup and sipped out of it.

Mark reached over and took a hold of Shawn's hand, caressing the flesh gently with his thumb. "Why is that..? A handsome man like you..."

"He.. He was a jerk." Shawn mumbled as he looked away.

Mark caught him by the chin and turned his face toward him. "If he makes you like this, then yes... He was. What was this horrible man's name by chance..."

"Bret Hart."

"I see. Come to me, Shawn." He commanded.

Shawn got up instantly obeying Mark- as if he didn't have a choice. He stood up in front of the tall man, wincing softly when Mark's hands grabbed him by the waist. The hold was gentle, but firm. He doubted that he could get away even if he tried with all his might.

Mark's long tongue dragged up Shawn's quivering chest, savoring the sweet taste of him. "You taste wonderfully, my dear."

Shawn froze, absolutely terrified. He couldn't fight Mark's strong hands as they pulled off Shawn's shirt from around his shoulders. He couldn't stop him from pulling his hair out of the tight ponytail hold.

"Beautiful... You could never be anything less."

He didn't say anything- He was too afraid to. He licked his lips carefully. "Please..." He finally choked out. "Don't do this..."

"Why do you refuse my advances?" Mark asked in an annoyed tone.

"I.. I don't know who you are! All I know is your name!"

"Who I am is of no concern to you at the moment." He growled and grabbed Shawn by the hair. Mark pulled him down onto his lap and held the struggling blonde by grabbing hold of his thighs.

Shawn wormed around in Mark's lap, kicking and punching in attempts to get away. He gasped when he felt the hardness of Mark's erection brushing up against him. "Let me go!!" He shouted and pushed the other hard. It was enough for Shawn to escape and start running.

"You can't run, Shawn." Mark said quietly as he started after him. "I've got my sights set on you. You will be my mate."

Shawn covered his ears as he ran. It didn't seem to matter how fast he ran.... Mark was always right behind him. He was grabbed by the arm and whipped around so fast that normally it probably would have been yanked out of the socket if it were any faster. He was thrown down onto the ground with such force that the wind was knocked out of him.

Mark got down next to Shawn and held him down. "You have to learn Shawn. You will be mine. You don't have a choice..." He hissed and crushed his lips to Shawn's. "I am not the wimp that my brother is- I take what I want."

This had to be a dream... A hideous, sadistic dream... Shawn wanted to cry, and scream for help- but he doubted anyone would come to his aid. His pants were pulled off and tossed to the side. "Stop... I'm begging you..." He cried as tears streamed down his face.

Mark stared down at Shawn and frowned. Something panged at his heart... Something he had never experianced before. He couldn't do it... Instead he placed his hand over Shawn's face and sent the smaller man out of the dream. He then exited the dream himself, cursing loudly as he sat up in his throne from his meditative state. How the hell could that little mortal stop him from having his way? ... Could it be that he... actually cared for Shawn? Well, as more than a thing to mate with on occasion.

"You couldn't do it, could you?" Raven asked from his spot leaning up against an ionic collumn in the throne room.

"Shut up, Raven." Mark hissed as he knocked down a golden goblet that was sitting on the arm rest of the throne. Blood pooled down the stone steps, staining them as it dried. "I'm not in the mood."

"This proves my point, Mark. What I've said all along, infact. You can't get everything you want by being ruthless. Some things take a little more finesse. Like this situation for example... Shawn is kind, carring, and above all fragile so the whole 'I'm the leader of a prominent vampire clan, lay down and spread im'' deal won't work. Infact if you ever try to do that again I will do everything in my power to stop you..."

Mark eyed his brother. He was serious- and that was the first time that ever happened- EVER. "Very well Raven. We'll settle this vampire to vampire. But mind you, since we are competing for a mate, I will think of you as a rival- not as a brother."

"Fine." Raven said extending his hand. "Shake on it?"

He nodded and gripped his younger brother's hand. He jerked his arm back pulling Raven toward him. He kneed him in the stomach as hard as he could, watching as his brother crumpled down on the ground. When Mark decided to compete with some one, he was ruthless... Raven didn't stand a chance.

Mark smiled nastily, starting toward the lower level of the mannor. It was time to speak to the one man who could ever help him with what he had planned... His father.

~

Shawn gasped as he sat up in bed. He rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands, shaking softly. "Holy fuck..." Shawn whispered. "What the hell was that..." He felt the material on his chest and legs, happy to find his plain old comfortable pajamas.

Chris grumbled softly as he looked up. "What... Shawn..?"

"I had... had... oh... never mind... It was just a stupid dream I guess."

"Mph. Kay."

Shawn curled up against Chris's back, burrying his head into the soft blonde hair. He closed his eyes, unsure and slightly terrified of what the rest of the night may bring.