Disclaimers: Elena Gilbert, Stefan Salvatore and friends, along with the Vampire Diaries I - IV belong to L.J. Smith. Everything else is mine. No harm intended or money made from this fic.
Notes:
~ Chapter ~
::Thoughts or telepathy::
_emphasis or italics_
* Author's Note(s)
Date posted: 31 March 2003
* Nearly made it! Just an itty bitty bit late! Thanks Juli and Moreta for more speedy edits! Whoo, we're on a roll!
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~ Forty Four ~
Eiran shut his door and let his duffel fall from his fingers.
He had brought back five vampires with him; it felt like he had spent the past week herding a dozen cats instead. The mood of the vampires had been dangerously volatile, swinging between suspicion to joyful hope to depressed disbelief and back. And in a group, the mood of one tended to have a domino effect on the others. Keeping them together and hunting for others simultaneously had been taxing.
He was tired.
Next time, he promised himself, it will be easier. There will be more of us; we can work in pairs or groups and we won't have to bring back so many each.
A frown marred his brow as his thoughts led to his brethren: not all of the original questers were back. No one had said anything but significant looks had been exchanged. May-Ling was among those still missing.
::Rest now,:: Jerrick's voice came into his head unbidden. ::You've done your part. Leave the rest to us and just rest now.::
Eiran acknowledge the practicality of the advice even as part of him twisted cynically. He doubted it was kindness that prompted Jerrick's intervention. More like practicality. One must care for one's tools to ensure its continued utility, after all.
He unpacked the bare necessities, leaving the rest for after he had gotten a solid, peaceful night's sleep. His mind drifted as he went through the automatic motions.
The vampires were being housed in a cluster of cottages that the witches had warded. The wards were as much to keep hunters out as to keep the vampires in, but it had taken some effort to convince the vampires of that. They had finally resorted to letting the vampires take the evidence from their minds.
There were over fifty vampires already there, with more Turned trickling in with their 'recruits'. It was estimated that even if some of the Turned did not return, they would meet their required numbers. Jerrick had mentioned they would wait two more days before carrying out the unmaking and the subsequent Turning.
Eiran fell into bed and his thoughts turned to Elena. Immersing himself in the hunt for unhappy vampires had taken his mind off his wistful longings effectively enough but he didn't know how he felt, now that he was back. He had only exchanged a brief word with her, Taura and Karen when he arrived, quickly busying himself with the arrangements for the vampires and catching up with the rest of the Turned as they pulled in.
She seemed well enough; not at all strained or unhappy, he noted in an oddly clinical relief. His mind insisted on knowing what he would do now and he had no answer for it. Tomorrow – when he was in a calmer mental state and more capable of thinking and reasoning – think about it then, he counseled himself, slipping off to sleep.
* * *
"You," Tristan said severely. "Are not setting a finger or toe on or in my car."
Apparently, Big Brother was not done banning her from his beloved set of wheels. Which was how she wound up driving into the city with Makoe that evening to meet Taura for the race. From time to time, Tristan would whiz by, Leon in the passenger seat. Sometimes, Stefan passed them, Elena beside him. Effortlessly, almost casually, Makoe would retake the lead, and the process would begin anew. This idle overtaking went on all the way into downtown Seattle.
Samar sat, silent and somewhat sullen about coming along for this confrontation with the upstart huntress. She hadn't wanted to come but there was no way she was going to stay in the cabin alone while all the others went with Makoe. Besides, they were supposed to hunt after the race. Where Stefan was going to stash Elena while the vampires took care of their dietary needs, Samar had no idea.
By now, they were cruising through streets lined with people out for a night of relaxation. Up ahead, she saw Stefan pull into a parking spot. Half a block ahead lay the quarter-mile stretch where the race was to take place. Tristan bullied his way into a parking space with a combination of recklessness and intimidation. Samar grasped the door handle, expecting Makoe to pull over and drop her off with the others.
He didn't.
She turned to shoot him a 'what are you doing, stupid?' look as he cruised past the other two cars. He met her eyes briefly, looking cool, relaxed, utterly emotionless. The moment passed and he looked back at the road. He pulled up beside a fiery red Honda _Prelude_ and turned to look at the driver. A bare instant later, the Honda revved its engine aggressively. Makoe faced forward again and sent the Supra gliding smoothly, gently ahead.
With a brawling roar, the red sports car streaked past Samar. She felt the car pick up speed, the higher whine of the Supra's high performance engine almost subliminal against the basso growl of the Prelude. The two cars paused at the intersection side by side and Samar was struck by how different they were. The Prelude was not quite as road-hugging as the Lotus, but its sleek lines were more generous than the compact, maneuverable Supra.
And then it hit her that Makoe was not letting her off – he was taking her on this hare-brained race with him!
"Are you _nuts_?!" she hissed just as the traffic lights changed. With a squeal of tires, the race was on.
"You lunatic!" she shrieked. The scream of the engine penetrated the soundproofing partially and the high-pitched buzzing of machinery pushed to its limits grated on her nerves. He wove a path between slower moving cars, leaving irritable blaring of horns and angry hand-waving drivers in his wake. A glimpse of red to one side told her that Taura was keeping up with him. "You're going to get me _killed_!" she added as he cut across one lane of traffic blindly and then slid across another two to avoid a fast oncoming car that had not been in view from their original position. Panic shot adrenaline through her like a douse of cold water. Her hair stood on end.
::Have you so little faith in me?:: Makoe mocked, his cool tone like a damping field on her hysteria. He executed another hair-raising maneuver, eyes darting from road, to rear-view mirror, to side view mirrors and then to the red streak that was the Prelude. He pulled ahead and deliberately kept in Taura's way until she jerked the car into an opening in the traffic and changed lanes, eluding him.
::You dunderhead! You could at least have warned me!:: Samar continued. They missed an apple-green Volkswagen Golf pulling out of a parking spot by a mere hair. Makoe swerved to the right and then back into his original lane to pass a crawling road-hog without batting an eyelash.
::I need your additional weigh to balance my lighter car against hers.:: She opened her mouth indignantly. ::Samar, hush. You're distracting me,:: he said casually. That shut her up. Far be it from her to distract the mad-hatter driver on a suicidal race. As far as she could tell, they were neck to neck, Toyota vs. Honda. Every time the gleaming red car pulled ahead, Samar bit her lip unconsciously. ::If she wins, Makoe's toast!::
Samar had heard that such races usually lasted four seconds, the standard time it took for a performance car to cover a quarter mile. Given the traffic interference, this race might have taken perhaps nearly twice as long. However, Samar felt like she spent an eternity in those seconds. Her heart had clawed its way up her throat and now lay lodged halfway to her mouth; her fingers clenched on the leather upholstery in a death grip.
And then suddenly, the traffic lights marking the end of the stretch were glaring amber eyes in front of them. Makoe never hesitated. The Supra slid past the intersection just as the light changed, leaving the Prelude – and its no doubt infuriated driver – behind.
Makoe brought the car back down to his usual smooth handling and within the speed limit. Samar tried to slow her thready breath as he turned off at the next junction, circling around the block to the starting point. Her heart, having found its way back to its proper location, was still pumping rapidly with the adrenaline coursing in her blood. Her entire body tingled more than it ever had after feeding.
Before she realized it, they were pulling up to where Tristan and the others were waiting, with Karen. The blond slayer looked stunning in a black sleeveless, form-fitting pantsuit. Leon detached himself from the group and walked up to the Supra as Makoe lowered the window.
"Are you okay?" the mild-mannered vampire asked Samar first.
"She's fine," Makoe replied smoothly. "We're going hunting," he added as Tristan started forward, an expression as black as a thundercloud on his face. "Tell the little huntress she'll be hearing from me soon. We'll see you back at the cabin." Without waiting for an answer, before Samar could gather herself enough to say anything, Makoe hit the gas pedal and Leon's worried face and Tristan's black looks were left behind.
* * *
There was the faintest squeal of tires as the Supra zipped off. Stefan looked up with a faint frown. ::Is everything all right? I thought we were going hunting,:: he said, meeting Leon's eyes. The usually mild-mannered vampire looked troubled. He shook his head but before he could answer more fully, Taura arrived, mad enough to spit nails.
"Where is he?" she demanded, getting out of her car and taking a wide stance. The signs along the street splashed patches of color on her white spaghetti-strap top. High-heeled boots and black pants that fit like a second skin made her look less petite tonight.
Stefan quirked a questioning look at Leon, the only one who had been close enough to have a word with the victorious vampire, and found him with his face turned to the petite huntress. For a moment, there was an odd expression on his face but it was gone so quickly Stefan wondered if he had imagined it.
"He had something to attend to. He said that he'll be in touch," Leon said smoothly.
"If that blood-sucker thinks I'm really going on a _date_ with him–" she began, ignoring the curious looks from the passers-by.
"A deal's a deal," Tristan cut in, his belligerent tone daring her to renege on the agreement. He was in a bad mood and spoiling for a fight. Taura's chin tilted at an aggressive angle.
"Do you dispute the win?" Leon intervened quietly before a full-fledged confrontation could bloom.
The slayer snorted as Karen stepped away from Elena and came to her side. She eyed Leon measuringly. "You said he'll contact me?" she asked, seeming to calm down a little.
"That's what he told me," Leon confirmed blandly. ::Yes, Stefan, we're still going hunting. Makoe just went on ahead,:: he added silently, answering Stefan's earlier question. The Italian vampire nodded imperceptibly in return.
"I'll take it up with him then," Taura was saying. Karen walked around the car and pauses before getting in on the passenger side. "Elena, we're going to Perlin's. Do you want to come along?" she asked the other blonde.
::Go ahead. I'll come and look for you later,:: Stefan told her mentally before she could reply. On the brink of declining, she shot him a startled look, which turned into realization. She nodded in understanding and then looked back at the hunters. "Sure," she returned.
Stefan squeezed her hand briefly in farewell and then watched both blond women get into Taura's eye-catching car. The driver herself stayed where she was, eyeing the three remaining vampires. "Where's the young hellion?" she asked. "Did I see her in the car with them during the race?"
Leon nodded. Taura's expression soured further. "Fine. Jerrick would know how to get in touch with me," she said. Taura's blue eyes fell on the still-glowering Tristan and narrowed slightly. She momentarily looked about to goad the vampire into a fight, then with a sniff, she got into the Prelude and sped off.
"Well," Leon murmured into the silence that remained. "Let's go. Makoe said he'd see us back at the cabin." Stefan noticed that Tristan's outrage at Makoe taking Samar into the race did not improve with that tidbit. His poor humor showed in his handling of the car, as they drove to their hunting ground; Stefan to a park near the waterfront and the other two to the waterfront itself.
A little later, as he was returning to his car, Leon said, ::Where's this club?::
::On Banks and 16th. Why?:: he said, sliding in behind the wheel.
::We'll see you there,:: was the surprising reply. His astonishment must have shown because Leon added, ::You didn't expect us to let you go near a pack of hunters alone, did you?::
::Are you afraid for my safety or that you'll miss out on some fun?:: Stefan asked, matching his dry, bland tone.
In answer, he received a mental equivalent of a chuckle as he started the Porsche and drove out of the parking lot. ::I'm not even sure I'll be going inside. I might just pick Elena up.::
::Let's stay a while, unless things become really unpleasant,:: Leon said seriously. ::I've tried looking for Samar and Makoe, but can't reach them. They're still out hunting and we don't want to give Tristan time to work himself into a frenzy if they aren't there by the time we get back to the cabin.::
::Ah...:: Stefan nodded in agreement, turning down Banks Street. He hesitated, not wanting to show that Leon's carefully hidden worry was noticeable. ::Samar can take care of herself. And she's with Makoe; she'll be fine.::
::Try telling Tristan that,:: Leon said wryly. A very neat parry. Stefan left it at that and his attention turned to getting to Elena.
* * *
They had been driving in silence since leaving the rest behind. The Supra now prowled the quieter edges of the city like a hunting cat. It had taken Samar a while to regain her composure and by then, she had been oddly reluctant to break the heavy quiet that hung in the car.
Her blood was still singing. She somehow sensed that she was feeling what Makoe must be feeling, the euphoric afterglow of the adrenaline rush that had been the race. Yeah, she'd been scared witless then, but the aftermath was not unpleasant.
Was this why he raced? She tried to imagine being the one behind the wheel, feeling the power of the machine respond to her every touch…
It slowly sunk in that he had won; he would get his 'date' with the huntress. The realization dissipated her elation somewhat.
Makoe slid the car into a spot and turned off the engine. Samar got out wordlessly, her face feeling like a stiff, sober mask. She looked around the ill-lit, run-down district, automatically sizing up the hunting ground with eyes, ears and mind.
Aodhan moved silently but she was sensitized to his every action; slight changes in air pressure told her when he came around the car and began walking towards the buildings. He paused on the brink of disappearing into the shadows to look back at her, his expression enigmatic. Something in his manner made her follow him instead of striking off on her own as she usually would.
In darkness that was half-light to vampiric sight, she felt a mental touch that was unlike telepathy. In wordless communion, they hunted as one, knowing each other's intent and movements, sharing their kills. It was unlike anything Samar had ever experienced before and she felt it like a heady draught.
She felt his pleasure in the feeding, echoing and intensifying her own as they both fed from the same person, she at the man's neck, he at the wrist.
Makoe did not break their mental bond when they returned to the car, nor while he drove back to the cabin. Still peculiarly joined, they headed into the woods without hesitation, both feeling the same restlessness. It was a clear night and the moon shone clearly through the leafy boughs, outlining their world in silver.
If Samar had not mastered tree-climbing yesterday, their shared awareness would have imparted the knowledge and expertise to her now. As they traversed the multi-leveled 'lanes' of branches, occasionally making flying leaps like squirrels from one branch to the next, daring fate in their antics among the deadly wooden boughs, their consciousness gradually separated.
For Samar, it was like emerging from a delicious dream, coming back into herself. She and Makoe slowly took on their own entities again, although their taunting chases continued. After an indeterminable time, they rested against the same tree trunk, quiet and content.
It was perhaps the first time she had ever felt comfortable, silent companionship with the usually cold vampire. He was so unapproachable. Maybe that was why she hammered him with her temper so much of the time; that shell of detachedness made her want to provoke a reaction out of him.
Samar decided to learn how to race. It was absolutely crazy fun and a reason for her to spend time with Makoe. Now that's a weird thought. Where did that come from? She brushed it aside, clinging to the comfort of the moment.
Her mind wandered down familiar trains of thought. "Makoe?" she asked. "Have you thought about whether or not you want to be Turned?"
When he didn't answer right away, she shifted to look at him. His face was shadowed as he turned to face her in reaction. "Hm?" he said vaguely.
"Turned," she repeated. "Have you thought about whether you want to be human again?"
"Why do you ask?" he returned, changing his position so that they faced each other.
"Well, it's an obvious question," she said, beginning to get annoyed at his obtuseness. "I mean, with us hanging around Elena and all that. Haven't you ever thought about it? Ever wished you were human again instead of being a vampire?"
He leaned over her, a shadowed figure now backlit by what little light filtered through leaves. "No," he said shortly.
"No? No, you haven't thought about it or no, you don't want to be human?" she looked up at him anyway, trying to make out his expression or decipher his tone. The latter was difficult; as far as she could tell, he was back to being emotionless, imperturbable Aodhan Makoe. "Did you become a vampire willingly?"
Aodhan sighed a little, startling her. When was the last time she had heard him sigh? When had she ever? "Must we talk about this, Samar?"
"But I want to know," she protested. "I don't think I ever knew how you became–" she broke off as he leaned down over her. "What–?"
She thought he smiled a little. "Have you had your first kiss?" Her heart skipped a beat. A double-edged question, if ever there was one. How to answer it?
"Why do you ask?" she hedged, a trifle nervously. He was getting very close, too close for comfort. Her treacherous heart was doing flip-flops.
"Because if you haven't, you might want to say so now." She swore that he actually sounded amused!
"Why?" she asked, hardly able to believe her ears.
"Because you're not going to be able to say so after this."
Her eyes went very wide. Was he saying what she _thought_ he was saying? His hand shifted and she felt his fingers in her hair, against her neck. The gesture left her little doubt but…this was too weird. What the heck was Makoe doing? Okay, she knew what he was doing, but – _huh_?
::Well, don't say I didn't give you a chance,:: his voice caressed her mind as his head lowered with agonizing slowness, giving her ample time to panic. Then she felt his lips touch hers. A moment of shock and fear, and then–
This was wonderful...
His kiss was nothing like his outward self. It wasn't cold, it was searing; it wasn't impersonal, she felt as if it reached out and touched the very core of her. Her hands crept around him, shy and tentative at first, then tighter and bolder. His arms gathered her to himself, pressing her entire body against his. His lips caressed hers, lightly brushing, then locked fast and hard. Her fingers explored his shoulders, his back, the tight, strong column of his neck, his silky dark locks, so soft...
Samar abruptly came back to herself. She was hanging on to Aodhan Makoe! They were in a _tree_! One wrong move...
Still in scandalously close proximity to her, he must have felt her stiffen and freeze. He... he actually chuckled! The low, rich sound made her feel ridiculously happy.
::Well, I haven't done this before myself, but I don't think we're in danger of falling to our deaths,:: he reassured, one hand stroking down her back. But the mood was broken and Samar was too self-conscious to relax again.
She drew back and he responded in kind. His face was still shadowed, and she couldn't read his expression despite her searching look. What did this mean? Was he saying he _liked_ her? And why the _heck_ was she feeling more ecstatic than she had ever felt in her life? She was _not_ infatuated with Aodhan Makoe. No way. But then, how did she explain the way her heart was singing?
What about that huntress?
That brought her up short. He had said the slayer was 'cute'; then why had he kissed her instead? And if he liked Samar, why was he going on a date with the human?
These questions and more ran through her head but when she started to blurt them out, he shook his head. "Let's not...just now," he said and the warmth in his tone made her melt inside. She nodded agreeably. They climbed down and walked in silence back to the cabin. All the way, she bit her lip against the questions that continued to plague her. The more time passed, the perturbed she became.
Lights were blazing in the cabin windows. Everyone was back, Samar noted. She wondered if they had been here when she and Makoe first arrived; she hadn't noticed then.
She found Leon and Tristan in the living room. Both looked up alertly when she and Makoe appeared. One look at Tristan's expression as he shot to his feet was enough. She was in no mood to deal with raging paranoia and explosive temper. She swept both vampires with a look that felt like one Makoe would use and disappeared into her room.
* * *
Brown eyes and hazel tracked Samar across the room and lingered at the point where she disappeared until the sound of a door slamming shut shook the cabin. Then both pairs of eyes snapped back to the motionless vampire leaning against the threshold just inside the door.
::What the hell did you think you were doing?:: Tristan demanded, his telepathy piercing like a knife, strengthened by anger and recent feeding.
Somehow, Makoe thought 'taking Samar for a ride' might be misunderstood in this context. Instead, he raised his eyebrows slightly as if to ask 'isn't it obvious?'
::Damn, Makoe, she could have been killed in your crazy grudge race. Why the hell did you take her along?:: Tristan's mouth twisted unpleasantly as he advanced on the shorter vampire.
::She wants in on the action–:: He shrugged carelessly. ::She learns to hack it.:: Tristan started to retort but Makoe went on icy and implacable, ::You can't keep her sheltered forever. She's growing up, D'Angelo.::
Something in the way he said that last sentence made the other vampire stop and stare. Over Tristan's shoulder, Makoe saw Stefan emerge from his room and walk slowly down the corridor. Leon had a slightly disbelieving look on his face as he sensed the same thing Tristan did.
::Are you trying to tell me,:: Tristan said, slow and incredulous. Not for long. ::That you're making a pass at my sister?:: As if gaining momentum, the last part of the question hit Makoe with the force of a battering ram – by Tristan's standards, anyway. Makoe appeared unfazed.
::What if I said yes?:: he asked calmly, crossing his arms.
::You sorry, cradle-robbing bastard!::
::It would hardly be cradle-robbing, Tristan. She's eighteen, after all.::
The outraged vampire didn't seem to hear the cool reply. He stepped up to Makoe and swung a fist at him. The shorter vampire uncoiled from his relaxed position, deftly caught the flying fist and twisted. Tristan was spun around as Aodhan jerked his wrist up at an angle tight against his back. The snarl on the taller vampire's face was as much out of pain as of fury now.
::D'Angelo, don't be an idiot. You know she'll do what she wants. So will I. Why earn yourself a broken wrist over something you can't do anything about?:: Makoe asked reasonably.
Tristan flashed his elongated fangs but didn't reply. Makoe held the position for a long moment to make his point and then released him with a slight shove to send him stumbling forward. Tristan glared at him, turning his body ninety degrees and his head another ninety degrees. Makoe fell back into his earlier position of holding up the wall, arms crossed and expression cold. ::If you mess with her...:: he trailed off meaningfully.
Makoe resisted the urge to roll his eyes. ::I'll be sorry. Yes, I know.::
Scowling, Tristan went to his room. Moments later, the sound of the electric guitar could be heard, although softly.
Makoe quirked an ironic eyebrow at the two remaining vampires who were regarding him with similar expressions of surprise/neutrality.
::Better me than you,:: he told Leon enigmatically and saw the slight shift in the other's expression. Stefan quietly took a seat, eyes darting between Makoe to Leon.
The phlegmatic vampire let the obscure comment slide by. ::Where were you?:: he asked instead. ::We saw your car when we got back, but you two were not around.::
::In the woods,:: Makoe replied truthfully. ::The high way is a different place at night.:: On a night with a full moon, it could be magical, romantic. A slightly arch note in his telepathy hinted at various meaning of his last words.
::...I'm sure,:: Leon nodded after a brief hesitation.
Makoe shoved away from the wall a second time and made for his room. From where he was sitting, Leon would have missed the way Makoe's cold dark eyes slid sideways to meet Stefan's gaze.
And the faint, sly smile that seemed to curve Makoe's lips.
* * *
"I am Elena Gilbert."
She looked at the inhumanly beautiful faces turned towards her slowly.
"You may have been told a bit about me." Behind her, the Turned were lined in a ragged line, sitting on rocks or leaning against trees. They were within the warded enclosure set aside for the slightly more than sixty vampires that were gathered.
"You may have your questions, your doubts, your fears about what you have heard." All eyes were fixed on her. Elena concentrated on sending her message clearly to them, that this was entirely up to them.
"I'm here to answer as many of them as I can." She talked to them, telling them as simply and clearly as possible what was to happen and how. She replied to the occasional shouted question tossed at her. She maintained a calm tone throughout, careful to balance out the vampires' tension.
"Now, some of you may have private questions or doubts, yet," she said, concluding her public address. "I will see each of you one at a time in there, to clear any further issues up, if I can." She pointed to a small cabin just outside the warded area. "And to make sure you understand what you're accepting." Her chin lifted slightly. "That's part of _my_ conditions."
In the course of the day, she met each of the future Turned as they were ushered in one at a time. Some lingered to talk out some lingering self-doubts, but most were content to exchange a quick word with her. Stefan and the other vampires stayed near at hand, more effective guards than the Turned, who were human.
Finally, the last vampire was led out and she rose to stretch stiffened muscles. Warm fingers closed on her shoulders and neck, massaging. "Hm..." she said appreciatively, leaning back against Stefan.
"Satisfied?" he asked quietly.
"With what, the backrub? Not just yet, keep it up," she said, closing her eyes blissfully. He chuckled, even as he squeezed her admonishingly for her deliberate misinterpretation of his question. "They seem all right. Some are clearly unhappy as vampires. Many are quite young."
"So we go ahead?" came a new voice from the doorway. Stefan's fingers stilled although he kept his hands on her shoulders. Elena opened her eyes to look at Jerrick directly. The other vampires went on alert as well, all motion ceasing and all eyes trained on their former captor.
"Yes. We'll proceed as planned. You can prepare to summon Klaus tomorrow evening," Elena confirmed at length.
The self-contained master orchestrater of this entire plan nodded. "This cabin will do nicely. Close enough to the vampires yet private enough for you to deal with him." A slight emphasis on the last pronoun left little doubt as to who Jerrick was referring to.
Elena frowned a little. Yes, the fewer people knew about the unmaking of the Old Ones, the better, but she disliked the slight duplicity in not telling the vampires this part of the Turning. ::Peace, Elena. It does them no harm and us a lot of good,:: Jerrick said, causing her to stiffen.
"Stay out of my mind," she snapped.
"I didn't have to read your mind to know what you were thinking; it was plain from your expression," the unassuming-looking red-haired man said mildly. "I shall inform the witches accordingly," he added, withdrawing, to her relief. She felt a headache in the making. It wasn't helped by Jerrick's silent parting words.
::You should rest and conserve your energy for tomorrow.::
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* If you read this, if you like it, if you hate it, please let me know! Your feedback _really does_ makes a difference.
Notes:
~ Chapter ~
::Thoughts or telepathy::
_emphasis or italics_
* Author's Note(s)
Date posted: 31 March 2003
* Nearly made it! Just an itty bitty bit late! Thanks Juli and Moreta for more speedy edits! Whoo, we're on a roll!
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~ Forty Four ~
Eiran shut his door and let his duffel fall from his fingers.
He had brought back five vampires with him; it felt like he had spent the past week herding a dozen cats instead. The mood of the vampires had been dangerously volatile, swinging between suspicion to joyful hope to depressed disbelief and back. And in a group, the mood of one tended to have a domino effect on the others. Keeping them together and hunting for others simultaneously had been taxing.
He was tired.
Next time, he promised himself, it will be easier. There will be more of us; we can work in pairs or groups and we won't have to bring back so many each.
A frown marred his brow as his thoughts led to his brethren: not all of the original questers were back. No one had said anything but significant looks had been exchanged. May-Ling was among those still missing.
::Rest now,:: Jerrick's voice came into his head unbidden. ::You've done your part. Leave the rest to us and just rest now.::
Eiran acknowledge the practicality of the advice even as part of him twisted cynically. He doubted it was kindness that prompted Jerrick's intervention. More like practicality. One must care for one's tools to ensure its continued utility, after all.
He unpacked the bare necessities, leaving the rest for after he had gotten a solid, peaceful night's sleep. His mind drifted as he went through the automatic motions.
The vampires were being housed in a cluster of cottages that the witches had warded. The wards were as much to keep hunters out as to keep the vampires in, but it had taken some effort to convince the vampires of that. They had finally resorted to letting the vampires take the evidence from their minds.
There were over fifty vampires already there, with more Turned trickling in with their 'recruits'. It was estimated that even if some of the Turned did not return, they would meet their required numbers. Jerrick had mentioned they would wait two more days before carrying out the unmaking and the subsequent Turning.
Eiran fell into bed and his thoughts turned to Elena. Immersing himself in the hunt for unhappy vampires had taken his mind off his wistful longings effectively enough but he didn't know how he felt, now that he was back. He had only exchanged a brief word with her, Taura and Karen when he arrived, quickly busying himself with the arrangements for the vampires and catching up with the rest of the Turned as they pulled in.
She seemed well enough; not at all strained or unhappy, he noted in an oddly clinical relief. His mind insisted on knowing what he would do now and he had no answer for it. Tomorrow – when he was in a calmer mental state and more capable of thinking and reasoning – think about it then, he counseled himself, slipping off to sleep.
* * *
"You," Tristan said severely. "Are not setting a finger or toe on or in my car."
Apparently, Big Brother was not done banning her from his beloved set of wheels. Which was how she wound up driving into the city with Makoe that evening to meet Taura for the race. From time to time, Tristan would whiz by, Leon in the passenger seat. Sometimes, Stefan passed them, Elena beside him. Effortlessly, almost casually, Makoe would retake the lead, and the process would begin anew. This idle overtaking went on all the way into downtown Seattle.
Samar sat, silent and somewhat sullen about coming along for this confrontation with the upstart huntress. She hadn't wanted to come but there was no way she was going to stay in the cabin alone while all the others went with Makoe. Besides, they were supposed to hunt after the race. Where Stefan was going to stash Elena while the vampires took care of their dietary needs, Samar had no idea.
By now, they were cruising through streets lined with people out for a night of relaxation. Up ahead, she saw Stefan pull into a parking spot. Half a block ahead lay the quarter-mile stretch where the race was to take place. Tristan bullied his way into a parking space with a combination of recklessness and intimidation. Samar grasped the door handle, expecting Makoe to pull over and drop her off with the others.
He didn't.
She turned to shoot him a 'what are you doing, stupid?' look as he cruised past the other two cars. He met her eyes briefly, looking cool, relaxed, utterly emotionless. The moment passed and he looked back at the road. He pulled up beside a fiery red Honda _Prelude_ and turned to look at the driver. A bare instant later, the Honda revved its engine aggressively. Makoe faced forward again and sent the Supra gliding smoothly, gently ahead.
With a brawling roar, the red sports car streaked past Samar. She felt the car pick up speed, the higher whine of the Supra's high performance engine almost subliminal against the basso growl of the Prelude. The two cars paused at the intersection side by side and Samar was struck by how different they were. The Prelude was not quite as road-hugging as the Lotus, but its sleek lines were more generous than the compact, maneuverable Supra.
And then it hit her that Makoe was not letting her off – he was taking her on this hare-brained race with him!
"Are you _nuts_?!" she hissed just as the traffic lights changed. With a squeal of tires, the race was on.
"You lunatic!" she shrieked. The scream of the engine penetrated the soundproofing partially and the high-pitched buzzing of machinery pushed to its limits grated on her nerves. He wove a path between slower moving cars, leaving irritable blaring of horns and angry hand-waving drivers in his wake. A glimpse of red to one side told her that Taura was keeping up with him. "You're going to get me _killed_!" she added as he cut across one lane of traffic blindly and then slid across another two to avoid a fast oncoming car that had not been in view from their original position. Panic shot adrenaline through her like a douse of cold water. Her hair stood on end.
::Have you so little faith in me?:: Makoe mocked, his cool tone like a damping field on her hysteria. He executed another hair-raising maneuver, eyes darting from road, to rear-view mirror, to side view mirrors and then to the red streak that was the Prelude. He pulled ahead and deliberately kept in Taura's way until she jerked the car into an opening in the traffic and changed lanes, eluding him.
::You dunderhead! You could at least have warned me!:: Samar continued. They missed an apple-green Volkswagen Golf pulling out of a parking spot by a mere hair. Makoe swerved to the right and then back into his original lane to pass a crawling road-hog without batting an eyelash.
::I need your additional weigh to balance my lighter car against hers.:: She opened her mouth indignantly. ::Samar, hush. You're distracting me,:: he said casually. That shut her up. Far be it from her to distract the mad-hatter driver on a suicidal race. As far as she could tell, they were neck to neck, Toyota vs. Honda. Every time the gleaming red car pulled ahead, Samar bit her lip unconsciously. ::If she wins, Makoe's toast!::
Samar had heard that such races usually lasted four seconds, the standard time it took for a performance car to cover a quarter mile. Given the traffic interference, this race might have taken perhaps nearly twice as long. However, Samar felt like she spent an eternity in those seconds. Her heart had clawed its way up her throat and now lay lodged halfway to her mouth; her fingers clenched on the leather upholstery in a death grip.
And then suddenly, the traffic lights marking the end of the stretch were glaring amber eyes in front of them. Makoe never hesitated. The Supra slid past the intersection just as the light changed, leaving the Prelude – and its no doubt infuriated driver – behind.
Makoe brought the car back down to his usual smooth handling and within the speed limit. Samar tried to slow her thready breath as he turned off at the next junction, circling around the block to the starting point. Her heart, having found its way back to its proper location, was still pumping rapidly with the adrenaline coursing in her blood. Her entire body tingled more than it ever had after feeding.
Before she realized it, they were pulling up to where Tristan and the others were waiting, with Karen. The blond slayer looked stunning in a black sleeveless, form-fitting pantsuit. Leon detached himself from the group and walked up to the Supra as Makoe lowered the window.
"Are you okay?" the mild-mannered vampire asked Samar first.
"She's fine," Makoe replied smoothly. "We're going hunting," he added as Tristan started forward, an expression as black as a thundercloud on his face. "Tell the little huntress she'll be hearing from me soon. We'll see you back at the cabin." Without waiting for an answer, before Samar could gather herself enough to say anything, Makoe hit the gas pedal and Leon's worried face and Tristan's black looks were left behind.
* * *
There was the faintest squeal of tires as the Supra zipped off. Stefan looked up with a faint frown. ::Is everything all right? I thought we were going hunting,:: he said, meeting Leon's eyes. The usually mild-mannered vampire looked troubled. He shook his head but before he could answer more fully, Taura arrived, mad enough to spit nails.
"Where is he?" she demanded, getting out of her car and taking a wide stance. The signs along the street splashed patches of color on her white spaghetti-strap top. High-heeled boots and black pants that fit like a second skin made her look less petite tonight.
Stefan quirked a questioning look at Leon, the only one who had been close enough to have a word with the victorious vampire, and found him with his face turned to the petite huntress. For a moment, there was an odd expression on his face but it was gone so quickly Stefan wondered if he had imagined it.
"He had something to attend to. He said that he'll be in touch," Leon said smoothly.
"If that blood-sucker thinks I'm really going on a _date_ with him–" she began, ignoring the curious looks from the passers-by.
"A deal's a deal," Tristan cut in, his belligerent tone daring her to renege on the agreement. He was in a bad mood and spoiling for a fight. Taura's chin tilted at an aggressive angle.
"Do you dispute the win?" Leon intervened quietly before a full-fledged confrontation could bloom.
The slayer snorted as Karen stepped away from Elena and came to her side. She eyed Leon measuringly. "You said he'll contact me?" she asked, seeming to calm down a little.
"That's what he told me," Leon confirmed blandly. ::Yes, Stefan, we're still going hunting. Makoe just went on ahead,:: he added silently, answering Stefan's earlier question. The Italian vampire nodded imperceptibly in return.
"I'll take it up with him then," Taura was saying. Karen walked around the car and pauses before getting in on the passenger side. "Elena, we're going to Perlin's. Do you want to come along?" she asked the other blonde.
::Go ahead. I'll come and look for you later,:: Stefan told her mentally before she could reply. On the brink of declining, she shot him a startled look, which turned into realization. She nodded in understanding and then looked back at the hunters. "Sure," she returned.
Stefan squeezed her hand briefly in farewell and then watched both blond women get into Taura's eye-catching car. The driver herself stayed where she was, eyeing the three remaining vampires. "Where's the young hellion?" she asked. "Did I see her in the car with them during the race?"
Leon nodded. Taura's expression soured further. "Fine. Jerrick would know how to get in touch with me," she said. Taura's blue eyes fell on the still-glowering Tristan and narrowed slightly. She momentarily looked about to goad the vampire into a fight, then with a sniff, she got into the Prelude and sped off.
"Well," Leon murmured into the silence that remained. "Let's go. Makoe said he'd see us back at the cabin." Stefan noticed that Tristan's outrage at Makoe taking Samar into the race did not improve with that tidbit. His poor humor showed in his handling of the car, as they drove to their hunting ground; Stefan to a park near the waterfront and the other two to the waterfront itself.
A little later, as he was returning to his car, Leon said, ::Where's this club?::
::On Banks and 16th. Why?:: he said, sliding in behind the wheel.
::We'll see you there,:: was the surprising reply. His astonishment must have shown because Leon added, ::You didn't expect us to let you go near a pack of hunters alone, did you?::
::Are you afraid for my safety or that you'll miss out on some fun?:: Stefan asked, matching his dry, bland tone.
In answer, he received a mental equivalent of a chuckle as he started the Porsche and drove out of the parking lot. ::I'm not even sure I'll be going inside. I might just pick Elena up.::
::Let's stay a while, unless things become really unpleasant,:: Leon said seriously. ::I've tried looking for Samar and Makoe, but can't reach them. They're still out hunting and we don't want to give Tristan time to work himself into a frenzy if they aren't there by the time we get back to the cabin.::
::Ah...:: Stefan nodded in agreement, turning down Banks Street. He hesitated, not wanting to show that Leon's carefully hidden worry was noticeable. ::Samar can take care of herself. And she's with Makoe; she'll be fine.::
::Try telling Tristan that,:: Leon said wryly. A very neat parry. Stefan left it at that and his attention turned to getting to Elena.
* * *
They had been driving in silence since leaving the rest behind. The Supra now prowled the quieter edges of the city like a hunting cat. It had taken Samar a while to regain her composure and by then, she had been oddly reluctant to break the heavy quiet that hung in the car.
Her blood was still singing. She somehow sensed that she was feeling what Makoe must be feeling, the euphoric afterglow of the adrenaline rush that had been the race. Yeah, she'd been scared witless then, but the aftermath was not unpleasant.
Was this why he raced? She tried to imagine being the one behind the wheel, feeling the power of the machine respond to her every touch…
It slowly sunk in that he had won; he would get his 'date' with the huntress. The realization dissipated her elation somewhat.
Makoe slid the car into a spot and turned off the engine. Samar got out wordlessly, her face feeling like a stiff, sober mask. She looked around the ill-lit, run-down district, automatically sizing up the hunting ground with eyes, ears and mind.
Aodhan moved silently but she was sensitized to his every action; slight changes in air pressure told her when he came around the car and began walking towards the buildings. He paused on the brink of disappearing into the shadows to look back at her, his expression enigmatic. Something in his manner made her follow him instead of striking off on her own as she usually would.
In darkness that was half-light to vampiric sight, she felt a mental touch that was unlike telepathy. In wordless communion, they hunted as one, knowing each other's intent and movements, sharing their kills. It was unlike anything Samar had ever experienced before and she felt it like a heady draught.
She felt his pleasure in the feeding, echoing and intensifying her own as they both fed from the same person, she at the man's neck, he at the wrist.
Makoe did not break their mental bond when they returned to the car, nor while he drove back to the cabin. Still peculiarly joined, they headed into the woods without hesitation, both feeling the same restlessness. It was a clear night and the moon shone clearly through the leafy boughs, outlining their world in silver.
If Samar had not mastered tree-climbing yesterday, their shared awareness would have imparted the knowledge and expertise to her now. As they traversed the multi-leveled 'lanes' of branches, occasionally making flying leaps like squirrels from one branch to the next, daring fate in their antics among the deadly wooden boughs, their consciousness gradually separated.
For Samar, it was like emerging from a delicious dream, coming back into herself. She and Makoe slowly took on their own entities again, although their taunting chases continued. After an indeterminable time, they rested against the same tree trunk, quiet and content.
It was perhaps the first time she had ever felt comfortable, silent companionship with the usually cold vampire. He was so unapproachable. Maybe that was why she hammered him with her temper so much of the time; that shell of detachedness made her want to provoke a reaction out of him.
Samar decided to learn how to race. It was absolutely crazy fun and a reason for her to spend time with Makoe. Now that's a weird thought. Where did that come from? She brushed it aside, clinging to the comfort of the moment.
Her mind wandered down familiar trains of thought. "Makoe?" she asked. "Have you thought about whether or not you want to be Turned?"
When he didn't answer right away, she shifted to look at him. His face was shadowed as he turned to face her in reaction. "Hm?" he said vaguely.
"Turned," she repeated. "Have you thought about whether you want to be human again?"
"Why do you ask?" he returned, changing his position so that they faced each other.
"Well, it's an obvious question," she said, beginning to get annoyed at his obtuseness. "I mean, with us hanging around Elena and all that. Haven't you ever thought about it? Ever wished you were human again instead of being a vampire?"
He leaned over her, a shadowed figure now backlit by what little light filtered through leaves. "No," he said shortly.
"No? No, you haven't thought about it or no, you don't want to be human?" she looked up at him anyway, trying to make out his expression or decipher his tone. The latter was difficult; as far as she could tell, he was back to being emotionless, imperturbable Aodhan Makoe. "Did you become a vampire willingly?"
Aodhan sighed a little, startling her. When was the last time she had heard him sigh? When had she ever? "Must we talk about this, Samar?"
"But I want to know," she protested. "I don't think I ever knew how you became–" she broke off as he leaned down over her. "What–?"
She thought he smiled a little. "Have you had your first kiss?" Her heart skipped a beat. A double-edged question, if ever there was one. How to answer it?
"Why do you ask?" she hedged, a trifle nervously. He was getting very close, too close for comfort. Her treacherous heart was doing flip-flops.
"Because if you haven't, you might want to say so now." She swore that he actually sounded amused!
"Why?" she asked, hardly able to believe her ears.
"Because you're not going to be able to say so after this."
Her eyes went very wide. Was he saying what she _thought_ he was saying? His hand shifted and she felt his fingers in her hair, against her neck. The gesture left her little doubt but…this was too weird. What the heck was Makoe doing? Okay, she knew what he was doing, but – _huh_?
::Well, don't say I didn't give you a chance,:: his voice caressed her mind as his head lowered with agonizing slowness, giving her ample time to panic. Then she felt his lips touch hers. A moment of shock and fear, and then–
This was wonderful...
His kiss was nothing like his outward self. It wasn't cold, it was searing; it wasn't impersonal, she felt as if it reached out and touched the very core of her. Her hands crept around him, shy and tentative at first, then tighter and bolder. His arms gathered her to himself, pressing her entire body against his. His lips caressed hers, lightly brushing, then locked fast and hard. Her fingers explored his shoulders, his back, the tight, strong column of his neck, his silky dark locks, so soft...
Samar abruptly came back to herself. She was hanging on to Aodhan Makoe! They were in a _tree_! One wrong move...
Still in scandalously close proximity to her, he must have felt her stiffen and freeze. He... he actually chuckled! The low, rich sound made her feel ridiculously happy.
::Well, I haven't done this before myself, but I don't think we're in danger of falling to our deaths,:: he reassured, one hand stroking down her back. But the mood was broken and Samar was too self-conscious to relax again.
She drew back and he responded in kind. His face was still shadowed, and she couldn't read his expression despite her searching look. What did this mean? Was he saying he _liked_ her? And why the _heck_ was she feeling more ecstatic than she had ever felt in her life? She was _not_ infatuated with Aodhan Makoe. No way. But then, how did she explain the way her heart was singing?
What about that huntress?
That brought her up short. He had said the slayer was 'cute'; then why had he kissed her instead? And if he liked Samar, why was he going on a date with the human?
These questions and more ran through her head but when she started to blurt them out, he shook his head. "Let's not...just now," he said and the warmth in his tone made her melt inside. She nodded agreeably. They climbed down and walked in silence back to the cabin. All the way, she bit her lip against the questions that continued to plague her. The more time passed, the perturbed she became.
Lights were blazing in the cabin windows. Everyone was back, Samar noted. She wondered if they had been here when she and Makoe first arrived; she hadn't noticed then.
She found Leon and Tristan in the living room. Both looked up alertly when she and Makoe appeared. One look at Tristan's expression as he shot to his feet was enough. She was in no mood to deal with raging paranoia and explosive temper. She swept both vampires with a look that felt like one Makoe would use and disappeared into her room.
* * *
Brown eyes and hazel tracked Samar across the room and lingered at the point where she disappeared until the sound of a door slamming shut shook the cabin. Then both pairs of eyes snapped back to the motionless vampire leaning against the threshold just inside the door.
::What the hell did you think you were doing?:: Tristan demanded, his telepathy piercing like a knife, strengthened by anger and recent feeding.
Somehow, Makoe thought 'taking Samar for a ride' might be misunderstood in this context. Instead, he raised his eyebrows slightly as if to ask 'isn't it obvious?'
::Damn, Makoe, she could have been killed in your crazy grudge race. Why the hell did you take her along?:: Tristan's mouth twisted unpleasantly as he advanced on the shorter vampire.
::She wants in on the action–:: He shrugged carelessly. ::She learns to hack it.:: Tristan started to retort but Makoe went on icy and implacable, ::You can't keep her sheltered forever. She's growing up, D'Angelo.::
Something in the way he said that last sentence made the other vampire stop and stare. Over Tristan's shoulder, Makoe saw Stefan emerge from his room and walk slowly down the corridor. Leon had a slightly disbelieving look on his face as he sensed the same thing Tristan did.
::Are you trying to tell me,:: Tristan said, slow and incredulous. Not for long. ::That you're making a pass at my sister?:: As if gaining momentum, the last part of the question hit Makoe with the force of a battering ram – by Tristan's standards, anyway. Makoe appeared unfazed.
::What if I said yes?:: he asked calmly, crossing his arms.
::You sorry, cradle-robbing bastard!::
::It would hardly be cradle-robbing, Tristan. She's eighteen, after all.::
The outraged vampire didn't seem to hear the cool reply. He stepped up to Makoe and swung a fist at him. The shorter vampire uncoiled from his relaxed position, deftly caught the flying fist and twisted. Tristan was spun around as Aodhan jerked his wrist up at an angle tight against his back. The snarl on the taller vampire's face was as much out of pain as of fury now.
::D'Angelo, don't be an idiot. You know she'll do what she wants. So will I. Why earn yourself a broken wrist over something you can't do anything about?:: Makoe asked reasonably.
Tristan flashed his elongated fangs but didn't reply. Makoe held the position for a long moment to make his point and then released him with a slight shove to send him stumbling forward. Tristan glared at him, turning his body ninety degrees and his head another ninety degrees. Makoe fell back into his earlier position of holding up the wall, arms crossed and expression cold. ::If you mess with her...:: he trailed off meaningfully.
Makoe resisted the urge to roll his eyes. ::I'll be sorry. Yes, I know.::
Scowling, Tristan went to his room. Moments later, the sound of the electric guitar could be heard, although softly.
Makoe quirked an ironic eyebrow at the two remaining vampires who were regarding him with similar expressions of surprise/neutrality.
::Better me than you,:: he told Leon enigmatically and saw the slight shift in the other's expression. Stefan quietly took a seat, eyes darting between Makoe to Leon.
The phlegmatic vampire let the obscure comment slide by. ::Where were you?:: he asked instead. ::We saw your car when we got back, but you two were not around.::
::In the woods,:: Makoe replied truthfully. ::The high way is a different place at night.:: On a night with a full moon, it could be magical, romantic. A slightly arch note in his telepathy hinted at various meaning of his last words.
::...I'm sure,:: Leon nodded after a brief hesitation.
Makoe shoved away from the wall a second time and made for his room. From where he was sitting, Leon would have missed the way Makoe's cold dark eyes slid sideways to meet Stefan's gaze.
And the faint, sly smile that seemed to curve Makoe's lips.
* * *
"I am Elena Gilbert."
She looked at the inhumanly beautiful faces turned towards her slowly.
"You may have been told a bit about me." Behind her, the Turned were lined in a ragged line, sitting on rocks or leaning against trees. They were within the warded enclosure set aside for the slightly more than sixty vampires that were gathered.
"You may have your questions, your doubts, your fears about what you have heard." All eyes were fixed on her. Elena concentrated on sending her message clearly to them, that this was entirely up to them.
"I'm here to answer as many of them as I can." She talked to them, telling them as simply and clearly as possible what was to happen and how. She replied to the occasional shouted question tossed at her. She maintained a calm tone throughout, careful to balance out the vampires' tension.
"Now, some of you may have private questions or doubts, yet," she said, concluding her public address. "I will see each of you one at a time in there, to clear any further issues up, if I can." She pointed to a small cabin just outside the warded area. "And to make sure you understand what you're accepting." Her chin lifted slightly. "That's part of _my_ conditions."
In the course of the day, she met each of the future Turned as they were ushered in one at a time. Some lingered to talk out some lingering self-doubts, but most were content to exchange a quick word with her. Stefan and the other vampires stayed near at hand, more effective guards than the Turned, who were human.
Finally, the last vampire was led out and she rose to stretch stiffened muscles. Warm fingers closed on her shoulders and neck, massaging. "Hm..." she said appreciatively, leaning back against Stefan.
"Satisfied?" he asked quietly.
"With what, the backrub? Not just yet, keep it up," she said, closing her eyes blissfully. He chuckled, even as he squeezed her admonishingly for her deliberate misinterpretation of his question. "They seem all right. Some are clearly unhappy as vampires. Many are quite young."
"So we go ahead?" came a new voice from the doorway. Stefan's fingers stilled although he kept his hands on her shoulders. Elena opened her eyes to look at Jerrick directly. The other vampires went on alert as well, all motion ceasing and all eyes trained on their former captor.
"Yes. We'll proceed as planned. You can prepare to summon Klaus tomorrow evening," Elena confirmed at length.
The self-contained master orchestrater of this entire plan nodded. "This cabin will do nicely. Close enough to the vampires yet private enough for you to deal with him." A slight emphasis on the last pronoun left little doubt as to who Jerrick was referring to.
Elena frowned a little. Yes, the fewer people knew about the unmaking of the Old Ones, the better, but she disliked the slight duplicity in not telling the vampires this part of the Turning. ::Peace, Elena. It does them no harm and us a lot of good,:: Jerrick said, causing her to stiffen.
"Stay out of my mind," she snapped.
"I didn't have to read your mind to know what you were thinking; it was plain from your expression," the unassuming-looking red-haired man said mildly. "I shall inform the witches accordingly," he added, withdrawing, to her relief. She felt a headache in the making. It wasn't helped by Jerrick's silent parting words.
::You should rest and conserve your energy for tomorrow.::
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