Title: Darkness of Companions
Based on: Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde
Summary: A sequel to Companions of the Night. Kerry's life is threatened by an unidentifiable source Ethan/Michel seems to understand. He becomes her champion as she recedes farther into the darkness.
Rated: PG13
Author's Note: I do not own any characters. If you don't understand something in this chapter, feel free to ask in a review or email me. I abso-bloody-lutely love feedback. I don't actually know the time it takes to get to NY, but I did stare at a map for 15 mins trying to figure it out.
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Kerry awoke the next day to find herself curled against a dead-like Michel. She figured there was nothing to get alarmed about; she was still wearing all her clothes. Unless the creep had undressed her then redressed her, but that would take too long, and she doubted Michel would do that. She thought about all the things she had learned in the last twenty-four hours and realized she hadn't gotten a single answer, only more questions. The most pressing of these was who wanted to kill her?
Did anyone want to kill her? Was it her vampire connection? *cough*Michel*cough* Was it these Quasimodo people Michel accused her of being? No wait. Quasimodo was a hunchback; Michel wasn't calling her a hunchback was he? Her back wasn't hunched!
Her thoughts sobered as she remembered Jesse's statement of them only living for twenty-five years. After Michel had hypothesized she was one, the other woman had tried to take back that age classification. Kerry suddenly got a fervent urge to see her family. Quickly getting washed and dressed in clean clothes she grabbed the leather jacket and broke half of Michel's rules almost gleefully by leaving the house.
If he would have thought of it one of them would have been 'don't take my car,' but she would have had to leave the house to do so. She grinned as the engine purred to life and it smoothly rolled into the street. The man had faultless taste. As luck would have it her father was driving out of the court just as she pulled to the intersection. She was easily able to follow him to the mall.
She wanted to reach out and hug them. Hear her father reassure her everything would be all right. For the first time she understood what it was like to be a vampire. Always in the shadows watching, but never taking part in life itself. She selfishly wanted to forget the dangers of her being associated with her family after Michel had spread the word that she was under his protection, and to mess with her was to mess with him. He had explained it was less of a chance for her family to be harmed if she just stayed away.
But how could she? Her brother would be heartbroken if she wasn't there for Christmas, and her father would be infuriated to the point of distrust. She pulled up the lapels of Michel's jacket and let the Christmas crowd envelop her into its hidden folds. And she watched, removed from her own family.
Ian ran into the next aisle, clutching a toy to his chest. Kerry watched shell-shocked as a man seemingly swathed in shadows pulled Ian off his feet and bundled him under his jacket. It looked as if her brother was drugged, for she couldn't detect any movements whatsoever under the expansive jacket. Was this what Michel had been warning her against?
Kerry hurried after the kidnapper trying to keep her eyes dry from tears. Even with her desperate running the man was making more headway than she was. Was it possible the crowd was parting for him? She tried to use the powers Michel had smugly claimed she had, but they didn't seem to work. Great, they were defective when she needed them the most.
She surged out the electronic door to find the man halfway across the parking lot. She started to run towards them as Michel came out of nowhere and tackled the man. Inwardly she cheered for her heroic vampire. She continued to hurry towards them, but not as desperately, for she was confident Michel could handle it. She watched Ian fall to the ground from the man's coat as Michel started to pound his face into dust.
Just as she thought the horror was going away a car squealed around the corner and sped straight towards her prone little brother. Kerry screamed and started to run to Ian, knowing full well she could never reach him in time.
Every movement surrounding her crashed to a halt. She knew that when the adrenaline was pumping through the veins that things seem to move in slow motion, but it was as if she was the only person in the world. She grabbed Ian and pulled him to safety between two parked cars. She looked up and met Michel's eyes just as the car sped by in a flurry of snow and squealing tires. After it passed her eyes were still connected with Michel's. They looked sad as his mouth worked into a seemingly arrogant smile.
The man he had been wrestling with had disappeared without a trace. Kerry stood up with Ian cuddled in her arms, hoping the drugs weren't harmful and collapsed into the dingy-grey snow of the parking lot. She was vaguely aware of Michel lifting Ian and supporting him in his arms as he hauled Kerry to her feet. A crowd had gathered and Michel expertly gave the appearance of giving her a hand up instead of being the sole supporter of all her weight.
A security guard jogged over with his gun and gut being propped up by a huge pleather belt. Michel transferred Ian into the guard's bulky arms and the man almost collapsed under the weight. With his arm securely around her waist in an outwardly romantic gesture Michel gave the cop his statement as he kept her from falling to the ground again. The guard didn't challenge the account of Ian just falling out of his kidnapper's arms, and didn't stop him from walking away half dragging Kerry. She figured it was because the man couldn't hold Ian for much longer.
"Oh, you're so strong, and handsome, and good to me. Why are you so mean?" A pause. "What's wrong with me?" She practically snarled the last question in self-disgust.
Michel bundled her into the car she drove earlier and left the parking lot.
They drove in silence. Kerry put her head on the glass and stared blankly into the dark streets. It took her brain a few seconds to process they weren't heading towards his mansion, but to the highway.
"Where are we going?" She recalled the sex-shop in Rochester almost fondly.
"New York."
"What? But that's more than a five hour drive."
"All the better to leave now then. We'll get there around midnight."
"Why?"
"Because I obviously can't trust you to do what I say in your hometown. Hopefully you'll have the sense to do it in New York."
"I'm sorry. I." She hoped the glass didn't reflect her image to him. He was the last person she wanted to see her cry.
"Don't." He reached over and put a hand on her knee. "I made the same decision you did, once." She looked over and noticed his eyes looked very old and weary without his blasé mask. "I'm taking you away for everyone's protection."
"How can they be protected if I'm not there?"
"Do you trust me?" His eyes were back to being ironically amused.
She took a deep breath preparing to lie but the truth slipped out easier. "Yes."
"That's an improvement. I would trust you with my life anytime, but Kerry, I can't trust you where my jacket is concerned. You keep taking it." She thought she heard him mutter 'and my car too,' as she narrowed her eyes.
"You give me back that old pink jacket I left with you and I might consider giving this back." She snuggled into the silk lining of the jacket and grinned at him thinking there was no way in heck she would ever give up this jacket. It was something she had of his after all, and just putting it on got her through the difficult time she had mentally after she killed Marsala.
How corny was that?
"Do you think they'll harm my father or brother?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Lestat is hiring a whole slew of people to protect them. They'll be safe. Now get some rest, you're tired."
She defiantly tried to keep awake, just for the satisfaction of proving him wrong but her eyes began to droop and she realized that somewhere along the way all her strength got zapped. In the back of her mind she promised herself a few minutes of rest as the world disappeared into fantasy.
She awoke with a start in a hub of activity. New Yorkers were going on with their regular boisterous activities as car and billboard lights gave the appearance of daytime. Michel directed the car expertly through bad, and nervous drivers unlike many New Yorkers themselves were able to do. He pulled up in front of a tall hotel and tossed a package onto her lap.
"Put this on, I booked the honeymoon suite, it's the best in the house." Implying that he never took anything less that the best and deserved it. She opened the package to find a wedding ring.
"Oh how thoughtful. I do." She said in a complete deadpan voice. The hotel was indeed the best, a footman helped her out of the car door and Michel nonchalantly handed over the keys to his Porsche. For the first time Kerry was ashamed to wear his scared leather jacket as she walked arm in arm with Michel across thick carpet. Michel didn't need fancy clothing to give the impression of being wealthy. He exuded charm, grace, importance, confidence, and old refined money.
The man at the front desk looked down his nose at them, and Kerry was pleased to note that if you didn't have the talent to spot these qualities Michel looked as grungy as she did.
"I'm sorrhy, but we arhe booked." The stupid little man with the fake accent made the mistake of turning his back on Michel.
"We have reservations." He said softly.
"Ah, but I do not see yourh name on the computarh. Goodbye."
"I don't think you looked carefully enough. Look under D for DeBlass." Michel's cold voice demanded attention, but what was more alarming was the name he was bandying about. For the first time fish-face looked directly at them.
"I think not."
Michel reached over and grabbed the man by the tie. "Look you little mole rat, my wife and I have reservations for the honeymoon penthouse suite under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Ethan DeBlass. If you don't check us in, I'll do it myself and get daddy to fire your hairy little ass." Michel had perfected the rich spoiled brat routine.
The man wordlessly handed over the keys as Michel let go of him. "I'm sorry Mr. DeBlass, I didn't recognize you with that. 'lady' clutching your arm." If she had thought Michel was angry before, he was absolutely livid now. Before he could do anything homicidal she grabbed and kissed him. For a stunned moment he just stood there radiating fury but slowly calmed down to the point of putting his arms around her waist. She pulled away quickly, with her heart pounding in her ears as Michel glared at the receptionist and turned towards the elevator. That kiss had probably made her exactly what the fish had suspected, but it was worth it.
The elevator was partially glass, with a view of a bustling shopping center below and a scope of the decreasing New York street. Her eyes grew wide as she looked over the public. Michel held her hand and pulled her away from the glass wall.
"You're scared of heights." It was more of a statement than a question but she nodded anyway. "Stay away from the glass and it won't be as intimidating."
"It's fascinating." She leaned over and peered as the elevator slowly ascended.
He laughed. "You should see the CN Tower in Toronto. USers hate to admit they've been outdone."
The elevator chimed open and Michel unlocked the only door on the floor. She found herself in a huge apartment with luxuries she'd never even imagine. The burgundy carpet was so soft it felt like she was sinking in it up to her knees, it was the perfect cushion for all the valuable antiques resting on it.
Michel moved her curtain of hair and nuzzled the nape of her neck. "Welcome to the honeymoon penthouse suite. Guests include wedded movie stars, singers, snotty rich brats, and wealthy vampires looking for a connubial bite."
She burst out laughing. "That was so phony. You don't scare me. It might work on some blonde who didn't realize you were a vampire though." She moved away from him and opened the closest door. A storage closet. figures. He disappeared into the well-padded sofa as she opened the next door. She yanked open the next door and walked in, entranced.
A minute later she ran out of the well-stocked bathroom gesturing widely. "And look, they have matching bathrobes too." She held up the Mr. and Mrs. monogrammed robes and beamed at him.
He laughed and pulled her onto the couch, robes and all. "I forgot how fun stuff like this could be. Your innocent, fresh outlook on this place is revitalizing. I can almost see it through your eyes." She huffed off at being called naïve and slammed into the next door.
He didn't even both wondering why she was insulted when her head peeked back through the door. "Holy crap, have you seen the bed in here? You could have one huge orgy on that thing. Imagine the things we could do." She trailed off. Shit, she was pretty sure she had said that out loud.
"We could have wild vampiry sex." He looked at her from behind those veiled cobalt eyes.
"Wouldn't want it confused with statutory rape, now would we?" He blinked as she firmly shut the door in his face. Her moods turned again as she emerged contritely a few minutes later. "Did you pack any clothes, or will I have to walk around in dirty clothes?"
"You could always go naked."
"I'm serious!"
"So am I." He smiled roguishly at her for a moment before standing up. "Let's go shopping."
"But it's one in the morning!"
"That's one of the reasons I stay at this place. Half the guests are night-people and sleep during the day. The boutiques on the third floor are open all night during the holiday season. Think about it." He said charmingly while holding the door open for her. ". They need some time to buy gifts for their family. Perfect for us." The elevator slid open and she felt slightly queasy on the descent.
"If you're going to puke do it over there." He pointed a couple who had joined them a floor previous cuddling in the corner. What a concerned husband he was.
"You know, we just got married and we aren't cuddling, or having wild sex in bed." She grinned as Michel choked on his own spit.
"We could right here. cuddle I mean." She smiled and puked a foot from his shoe.
"Aw geez. What did you eat?"
"Nothing." To her eternal shame she burst out crying too. To an onlooker it would have been amusing to watch him try to comfort her without stepping in anything or encouraging an encore.
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Based on: Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde
Summary: A sequel to Companions of the Night. Kerry's life is threatened by an unidentifiable source Ethan/Michel seems to understand. He becomes her champion as she recedes farther into the darkness.
Rated: PG13
Author's Note: I do not own any characters. If you don't understand something in this chapter, feel free to ask in a review or email me. I abso-bloody-lutely love feedback. I don't actually know the time it takes to get to NY, but I did stare at a map for 15 mins trying to figure it out.
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Kerry awoke the next day to find herself curled against a dead-like Michel. She figured there was nothing to get alarmed about; she was still wearing all her clothes. Unless the creep had undressed her then redressed her, but that would take too long, and she doubted Michel would do that. She thought about all the things she had learned in the last twenty-four hours and realized she hadn't gotten a single answer, only more questions. The most pressing of these was who wanted to kill her?
Did anyone want to kill her? Was it her vampire connection? *cough*Michel*cough* Was it these Quasimodo people Michel accused her of being? No wait. Quasimodo was a hunchback; Michel wasn't calling her a hunchback was he? Her back wasn't hunched!
Her thoughts sobered as she remembered Jesse's statement of them only living for twenty-five years. After Michel had hypothesized she was one, the other woman had tried to take back that age classification. Kerry suddenly got a fervent urge to see her family. Quickly getting washed and dressed in clean clothes she grabbed the leather jacket and broke half of Michel's rules almost gleefully by leaving the house.
If he would have thought of it one of them would have been 'don't take my car,' but she would have had to leave the house to do so. She grinned as the engine purred to life and it smoothly rolled into the street. The man had faultless taste. As luck would have it her father was driving out of the court just as she pulled to the intersection. She was easily able to follow him to the mall.
She wanted to reach out and hug them. Hear her father reassure her everything would be all right. For the first time she understood what it was like to be a vampire. Always in the shadows watching, but never taking part in life itself. She selfishly wanted to forget the dangers of her being associated with her family after Michel had spread the word that she was under his protection, and to mess with her was to mess with him. He had explained it was less of a chance for her family to be harmed if she just stayed away.
But how could she? Her brother would be heartbroken if she wasn't there for Christmas, and her father would be infuriated to the point of distrust. She pulled up the lapels of Michel's jacket and let the Christmas crowd envelop her into its hidden folds. And she watched, removed from her own family.
Ian ran into the next aisle, clutching a toy to his chest. Kerry watched shell-shocked as a man seemingly swathed in shadows pulled Ian off his feet and bundled him under his jacket. It looked as if her brother was drugged, for she couldn't detect any movements whatsoever under the expansive jacket. Was this what Michel had been warning her against?
Kerry hurried after the kidnapper trying to keep her eyes dry from tears. Even with her desperate running the man was making more headway than she was. Was it possible the crowd was parting for him? She tried to use the powers Michel had smugly claimed she had, but they didn't seem to work. Great, they were defective when she needed them the most.
She surged out the electronic door to find the man halfway across the parking lot. She started to run towards them as Michel came out of nowhere and tackled the man. Inwardly she cheered for her heroic vampire. She continued to hurry towards them, but not as desperately, for she was confident Michel could handle it. She watched Ian fall to the ground from the man's coat as Michel started to pound his face into dust.
Just as she thought the horror was going away a car squealed around the corner and sped straight towards her prone little brother. Kerry screamed and started to run to Ian, knowing full well she could never reach him in time.
Every movement surrounding her crashed to a halt. She knew that when the adrenaline was pumping through the veins that things seem to move in slow motion, but it was as if she was the only person in the world. She grabbed Ian and pulled him to safety between two parked cars. She looked up and met Michel's eyes just as the car sped by in a flurry of snow and squealing tires. After it passed her eyes were still connected with Michel's. They looked sad as his mouth worked into a seemingly arrogant smile.
The man he had been wrestling with had disappeared without a trace. Kerry stood up with Ian cuddled in her arms, hoping the drugs weren't harmful and collapsed into the dingy-grey snow of the parking lot. She was vaguely aware of Michel lifting Ian and supporting him in his arms as he hauled Kerry to her feet. A crowd had gathered and Michel expertly gave the appearance of giving her a hand up instead of being the sole supporter of all her weight.
A security guard jogged over with his gun and gut being propped up by a huge pleather belt. Michel transferred Ian into the guard's bulky arms and the man almost collapsed under the weight. With his arm securely around her waist in an outwardly romantic gesture Michel gave the cop his statement as he kept her from falling to the ground again. The guard didn't challenge the account of Ian just falling out of his kidnapper's arms, and didn't stop him from walking away half dragging Kerry. She figured it was because the man couldn't hold Ian for much longer.
"Oh, you're so strong, and handsome, and good to me. Why are you so mean?" A pause. "What's wrong with me?" She practically snarled the last question in self-disgust.
Michel bundled her into the car she drove earlier and left the parking lot.
They drove in silence. Kerry put her head on the glass and stared blankly into the dark streets. It took her brain a few seconds to process they weren't heading towards his mansion, but to the highway.
"Where are we going?" She recalled the sex-shop in Rochester almost fondly.
"New York."
"What? But that's more than a five hour drive."
"All the better to leave now then. We'll get there around midnight."
"Why?"
"Because I obviously can't trust you to do what I say in your hometown. Hopefully you'll have the sense to do it in New York."
"I'm sorry. I." She hoped the glass didn't reflect her image to him. He was the last person she wanted to see her cry.
"Don't." He reached over and put a hand on her knee. "I made the same decision you did, once." She looked over and noticed his eyes looked very old and weary without his blasé mask. "I'm taking you away for everyone's protection."
"How can they be protected if I'm not there?"
"Do you trust me?" His eyes were back to being ironically amused.
She took a deep breath preparing to lie but the truth slipped out easier. "Yes."
"That's an improvement. I would trust you with my life anytime, but Kerry, I can't trust you where my jacket is concerned. You keep taking it." She thought she heard him mutter 'and my car too,' as she narrowed her eyes.
"You give me back that old pink jacket I left with you and I might consider giving this back." She snuggled into the silk lining of the jacket and grinned at him thinking there was no way in heck she would ever give up this jacket. It was something she had of his after all, and just putting it on got her through the difficult time she had mentally after she killed Marsala.
How corny was that?
"Do you think they'll harm my father or brother?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Lestat is hiring a whole slew of people to protect them. They'll be safe. Now get some rest, you're tired."
She defiantly tried to keep awake, just for the satisfaction of proving him wrong but her eyes began to droop and she realized that somewhere along the way all her strength got zapped. In the back of her mind she promised herself a few minutes of rest as the world disappeared into fantasy.
She awoke with a start in a hub of activity. New Yorkers were going on with their regular boisterous activities as car and billboard lights gave the appearance of daytime. Michel directed the car expertly through bad, and nervous drivers unlike many New Yorkers themselves were able to do. He pulled up in front of a tall hotel and tossed a package onto her lap.
"Put this on, I booked the honeymoon suite, it's the best in the house." Implying that he never took anything less that the best and deserved it. She opened the package to find a wedding ring.
"Oh how thoughtful. I do." She said in a complete deadpan voice. The hotel was indeed the best, a footman helped her out of the car door and Michel nonchalantly handed over the keys to his Porsche. For the first time Kerry was ashamed to wear his scared leather jacket as she walked arm in arm with Michel across thick carpet. Michel didn't need fancy clothing to give the impression of being wealthy. He exuded charm, grace, importance, confidence, and old refined money.
The man at the front desk looked down his nose at them, and Kerry was pleased to note that if you didn't have the talent to spot these qualities Michel looked as grungy as she did.
"I'm sorrhy, but we arhe booked." The stupid little man with the fake accent made the mistake of turning his back on Michel.
"We have reservations." He said softly.
"Ah, but I do not see yourh name on the computarh. Goodbye."
"I don't think you looked carefully enough. Look under D for DeBlass." Michel's cold voice demanded attention, but what was more alarming was the name he was bandying about. For the first time fish-face looked directly at them.
"I think not."
Michel reached over and grabbed the man by the tie. "Look you little mole rat, my wife and I have reservations for the honeymoon penthouse suite under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Ethan DeBlass. If you don't check us in, I'll do it myself and get daddy to fire your hairy little ass." Michel had perfected the rich spoiled brat routine.
The man wordlessly handed over the keys as Michel let go of him. "I'm sorry Mr. DeBlass, I didn't recognize you with that. 'lady' clutching your arm." If she had thought Michel was angry before, he was absolutely livid now. Before he could do anything homicidal she grabbed and kissed him. For a stunned moment he just stood there radiating fury but slowly calmed down to the point of putting his arms around her waist. She pulled away quickly, with her heart pounding in her ears as Michel glared at the receptionist and turned towards the elevator. That kiss had probably made her exactly what the fish had suspected, but it was worth it.
The elevator was partially glass, with a view of a bustling shopping center below and a scope of the decreasing New York street. Her eyes grew wide as she looked over the public. Michel held her hand and pulled her away from the glass wall.
"You're scared of heights." It was more of a statement than a question but she nodded anyway. "Stay away from the glass and it won't be as intimidating."
"It's fascinating." She leaned over and peered as the elevator slowly ascended.
He laughed. "You should see the CN Tower in Toronto. USers hate to admit they've been outdone."
The elevator chimed open and Michel unlocked the only door on the floor. She found herself in a huge apartment with luxuries she'd never even imagine. The burgundy carpet was so soft it felt like she was sinking in it up to her knees, it was the perfect cushion for all the valuable antiques resting on it.
Michel moved her curtain of hair and nuzzled the nape of her neck. "Welcome to the honeymoon penthouse suite. Guests include wedded movie stars, singers, snotty rich brats, and wealthy vampires looking for a connubial bite."
She burst out laughing. "That was so phony. You don't scare me. It might work on some blonde who didn't realize you were a vampire though." She moved away from him and opened the closest door. A storage closet. figures. He disappeared into the well-padded sofa as she opened the next door. She yanked open the next door and walked in, entranced.
A minute later she ran out of the well-stocked bathroom gesturing widely. "And look, they have matching bathrobes too." She held up the Mr. and Mrs. monogrammed robes and beamed at him.
He laughed and pulled her onto the couch, robes and all. "I forgot how fun stuff like this could be. Your innocent, fresh outlook on this place is revitalizing. I can almost see it through your eyes." She huffed off at being called naïve and slammed into the next door.
He didn't even both wondering why she was insulted when her head peeked back through the door. "Holy crap, have you seen the bed in here? You could have one huge orgy on that thing. Imagine the things we could do." She trailed off. Shit, she was pretty sure she had said that out loud.
"We could have wild vampiry sex." He looked at her from behind those veiled cobalt eyes.
"Wouldn't want it confused with statutory rape, now would we?" He blinked as she firmly shut the door in his face. Her moods turned again as she emerged contritely a few minutes later. "Did you pack any clothes, or will I have to walk around in dirty clothes?"
"You could always go naked."
"I'm serious!"
"So am I." He smiled roguishly at her for a moment before standing up. "Let's go shopping."
"But it's one in the morning!"
"That's one of the reasons I stay at this place. Half the guests are night-people and sleep during the day. The boutiques on the third floor are open all night during the holiday season. Think about it." He said charmingly while holding the door open for her. ". They need some time to buy gifts for their family. Perfect for us." The elevator slid open and she felt slightly queasy on the descent.
"If you're going to puke do it over there." He pointed a couple who had joined them a floor previous cuddling in the corner. What a concerned husband he was.
"You know, we just got married and we aren't cuddling, or having wild sex in bed." She grinned as Michel choked on his own spit.
"We could right here. cuddle I mean." She smiled and puked a foot from his shoe.
"Aw geez. What did you eat?"
"Nothing." To her eternal shame she burst out crying too. To an onlooker it would have been amusing to watch him try to comfort her without stepping in anything or encouraging an encore.
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