A/N: Special thanks to my new beta, Le Chat Noir!

Erik: the Vampire Hunter

Episode 9: Learn to be Lonely

By: Elektra

Laura Ashton took in her surroundings. She had been told her presence was requested here, though she wasn't exactly sure why. It was a large, lavish house. Dark and foreboding, mysterious and almost frightening. Not that a creature like her would be frightened - she was, after all, what many nightmares were made of.

"Glad to see you have arrived safely," a deep voice shook the very air around her. She turned around to see a beautiful male towering over her. She quickly averted her gaze, his eyes sending an odd rush of power over her. She didn't want to catch herself looking into them for too long.

"Who are you?" Laura asked. He was beautiful - a fallen angel, if she didn't know better. But of course, there were no such things as angels.

"It doesn't matter," he replied simply, "But I have found out that you and I have a similar purpose. We seem to both want the same thing."

Laura furrowed her brow; "I don't follow..." she started.

"We want to get rid of someone who is in our way," he said.

Laura shook her head, allowing a small laugh, "The person I want to get rid of stands between me and someone else. She's rather irritating, actually, with her whole goody-goody sweetness and light routine, "

"I believe we are speaking of the same person then," he stepped forward, "Now I understand your morbid appetite for the man she is keeping you from, but do you really want to kill him after all is said and done?" he asked.

Laura raised an eyebrow, "Are you offering me a reason not to?" she asked, "He's the reason I've become what I am! He was the one-"

"…who sent you running into traffic. But was that, in the end, so bad?" the man asked calmly, then continued before she could respond, "Don't you feel more alive now then you did before?" he met her stare, "Is what you've turned into really so horrible?" Laura found it difficult to find her voice as the man reached out and traced his fingers over her face, "Tell me the truth now, Lovely Laura," he spoke, "Do you regret it?"

"I..." she began, "I... suppose... it... it isn't... so... unbearable..." his eyes were drawing her in. Pulling out the thoughts she had often contemplated but pushed away.

"Don't you rather like what you've become?" he purred hypnotically.

Laura thought about the question, then nodded slowly in agreement, "Yes... I... I do..."

"Then why would you punish him for it... when you can make him just like you," The man explained softly, "I am quite sure he could tend to all your needs... whatever they may be..."

Laura's eyes widened at the thought, "Have him at my beck and call?" she asked.

The man nodded, then brought his lips to her ear, his voice a promising whisper, "I guarantee that you would find him rather useful,"

Laura's eyes closed, speaking softly as the man's graceful fingers grasped her chin, "I would never be strong enough to control him," she protested weakly, "Even now he finds it so easy to resist me..."

"It is not you who would control him, my dear," the man answered as he tilted her face up to his, "But if you assist me, then I promise you won't be disappointed with what I give you in return. Or rather..." a pause, "What I let him give you in return,"

Laura's eyes flew open as she felt the man's hold on her mind slowly disappear, "It seems... agreeable..."

The man smiled a perfect smile, "Good then," he replied, "I should tell you that I am currently attempting to rid him of the girl. I have recently encouraged the son of a very prominent family to win her heart and take her away. Far less messy than what I had planned originally,"

Laura studied the man before her, "What is your interest in all this?" She asked.

His smile then turned into a scowl, "The girl makes him weak. And I cannot have him weak," he replied coldly, "Just know that it would be of great benefit to you if you help me... entice him, so to speak. As you know, he is currently under the wrong influence at the moment," the man then sighed, "Though I suppose that is my fault for not keeping a closer eye on him..."

Laura's curiosity was raised, "You talk as if you've known him a long time," she began, "But you don't look much older than him,"

The man laughed a musical, almost angelic laugh, "Oh, dear Miss Ashton. I am far older then even you can imagine..."

Graveyard

Christine knelt before the small tombstone that bore her father's name. She placed a small bouquet of flowers beside it, and smiled slightly, "Hi, daddy. It's me again," She bit her lip, "I need your help, daddy. See, I have this new friend, and I'm worried about him-" she stopped. What was she doing? Asking her father to help her protect Erik? She didn't even want to think of what would happen if Laura got her hands on him. "Sorry, daddy... I shouldn't trouble you up there," she glanced at the darkened sky, "I love you, and I miss you very much," she closed her eyes. I'm so lonely, daddy... she thought silently as warm tears slowly started to trickle down her face, freezing in the cold wind.

Christine suddenly felt someone watching her, and slowly stood up, looking around. It was dark, the long shadows providing the perfect place to hide. She silently cursed her stupidity. After what she knew, what she had learned, why had she come to a graveyard at night?

She glanced to the left, and gasped when she saw a shadow move. "H-hello?" she called out nervously, "Is someone there?"

The shadow was still for a moment, then spoke, "Would it bother you if there was?"

Christine felt relief wash over her upon hearing a voice she had grown rather fond of, "Not as long as it's you. I was just getting a little nervous, that's all," she answered, "Can I see you?" It took a few moments, but Erik finally emerged from the darkness and stood before her. She took in his disheveled appearance, stake in hand, and immediately understood what he had been doing, "Busy night?" she asked. He simply shrugged. "Walk with me?" Christine asked, reaching out for him.

Erik seemed hesitant for a moment, his eyes falling to her tiny hand, "I'm not your boyfriend, Christine,"

"Neither is Meg, and I hold HER hand sometimes too. Besides," she pouted, "Raoul doesn't go for the hand-holding thing," Erik glanced back at her, then shook his head, trying to push away the emotions that tormented him every time he was near her, "Are you ok, Erik?"

Erik could not met her eyes, "I'm fine," he replied quietly. She nodded, and walked on. She was no more then a few steps ahead before Erik grasped her wrist and gently tugged her back to face him. He reached out and carefully tilted her chin up, allowing him a better look at her face, "You were crying," he spoke softly, wiping the stains away with his gloved fingers.

Christine closed her eyes for a moment, feeling disappointed when he finally brought his arms back to his side. "Thank you," she smiled, then held her hand out for his once more. He reluctantly took it this time, but said nothing else as the two made their way back to campus.

Laramie Drive

"She's leaving the house now," the Hunters Guild's number one security officer whispered into his cell phone, "I do not know why she was visiting the Leader," he spoke, using the name reserved for the one the Guild knew resided in the house on Laramie Drive, "But I believe this may go beyond the grudge she has with Erik,"

The former Police Detective had been spying on Laura Ashton for several weeks now, ever since news of her contact with the Guild's best Hunter had been brought to his attention by one Antoinette Giry. They could not have Erik compromised in such a way. For while the Guild's main purpose was to protect society from creatures like Laura, it was Security's purpose to protect their Hunters from those that would conspire against them on a personal level. Hunters made many enemies in their line of work.

In a fight, the man knew Erik was quite capable of taking care of himself, but the art of undercover investigation was perhaps a little outside the boy's area of expertise. Yes, Erik was quite adept at sneaking around and not being seen, but the masked man had very little patience for remaining stock still to stakeout an enemy and expose their plans. Such things fell to the man who was now watching the inhumanly pale Laura Ashton leave the large reclusive mansion before him.

Like all good investigators, he knew what lay beyond those walls - the very creatures the Guild was created to fight. Time and again, it had been raided. Time and again, Hunters had been killed in the attempt. Time and again, the monsters' Leader eluded them. In fact, a few in the Guild were now questioning if a leader existed to begin with. This mysterious, all-powerful creature had never been seen, and always seemed to be gone when the Hunters would come.

If he did exist, if Laura Ashton was meeting with him, and if such a meeting involved Erik's name, then plans needed to be put into effect before it was too late. For if someone as ultimately dangerous as the creature who was rumoured to own this mansion was taking an interest in Erik, then things would go from bad to worse in a hurry.

Ravelle College Campus

"Almost home," Christine began as she saw the noisy Alpha Gamma Beta house looming before her. Raoul had mentioned earlier that he had been invited to a party by the new friends he had made at the Halloween Masquerade. He had asked her to come along, but she had turned him down, wanting to visit her father. Warming her icy fingers with her breath, Christine found herself absently wondering if Raoul was still in there. She would have liked to see him before she turned in for the night.

"Did you forget your gloves?" Erik asked, snapping the girl out of her thoughts. She glanced up at him, then nodded silently in response. Erik debated a moment before boldly coming to a decision - He tugged off his gloves and enclosed Christine's fingers in his own.

The girl was unable to speak for a moment, finding she liked the contact a little too much - so soft and warm as he gently rubbed the tops of her hands with his thumb. She met his amber eyes ... and saw the saddest longing in them. Hidden in those golden depths was an emotion she was unfamiliar with. Something she had never seen in anyone else's eyes.

"What is going on here?" A voice interrupted.

Christine eagerly turned around to see a blond-haired fresh-faced man standing only a few feet away. "Raoul!" The girl beamed as she ran up to the new arrival and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him affectionately as if she hadn't seen him in a year. "Erik was just walking me back from the graveyard! How was your party?"

Seeing the sight before him, Erik felt his temper suddenly rise. He shouldn't have been angry at Christine's behaviour. It was perfectly normal, after all. But seeing her with this boy just made his blood boil. He tore his eyes away from the happy couple, and spoke, "I see my presence is unwanted." His tone was one of suppressed anger. How easily the girl forgot he was standing there. Erik turned to go, but Raoul's voice stopped him cold.

"Before you go, why don't you show us what you're hiding first,"

Erik's jaw clenched, his hands squeezing into fists. He closed his eyes a moment, attempting to calm himself, and turned back to face the younger man, "Hiding?" his voice grew icy, "Paranoid, are we?" he then offered a cold smirk, "Here…" he held his arms out to his side, voice sarcastic, "You can frisk me… "

"I'd rather see your face," Raoul snapped, "I'd like to know what someone like you looks like!"

"RAOUL!" Christine gasped.

"Someone like me?" Erik repeated. He was trying to control his anger, but there was only so much a man could do in such a position, "There is a name for someone like me, you know. I believe freak was the term you were looking for,"

"Erik!" Christine's eyes went wide, not liking that he referred to himself in such a way.

"Oh now, don't be so shocked by my choice of words, Christine," Erik began, "You've seen it yourself,"

Raoul turned to Christine, disbelief on his face, "You've seen him? Why did you tell me you hadn't?"

The masked man let out a harsh cold laugh, "The sweet child was probably trying to protect me... but she knows that you have a reason to be concerned," he glanced at Christine, "I saw the fear in your eyes that night, though now you do an admirable job of hiding it,"

"What is he talking about, Christine?" Raoul asked.

"Oh, it's far too long a story to go into right now," Erik said as he turned back to the young man before him, "But if you would really like to know what lay beyond this mask ... " he held a hand out as if waiting for Raoul to place something in it, "...you have to be willing to pay." Erik smiled coldly. "It rivals any nickel and dime freak show you may have seen as a child, I promise you."

Raoul narrowed his eyes and put a protective arm around Christine, backing a few feet away from the masked man, "You're crazy! And to think you've been spending so much time with Christine! God knows what you could have done to her!"

"Raoul, please!" Christine protested, "Just leave him alone!"

Raoul turned to her, "Why are you protecting him? The man is nuts, Christine! He's a lonely eccentric man who hides behind a mask… and he seems to be paying way too much attention to you," he let go of Christine a moment, then turned back to Erik, his intent obvious, "You call yourself a freak," Raoul began, "So let's see what a freak looks like,"

"Tsk tsk. Not without payment," Erik insisted coldly, "People like me have to make a living somehow,"

"I apologize for this, Chrissy," Raoul spoke, but before Christine could ask what he was apologizing for, Raoul sent the girl crashing into Erik, distracting the taller man long enough to come up behind him and rip the leather from his face.

Erik froze as he felt a rush of cold air on his suddenly exposed skin, his arms still supporting the girl who had been shoved unceremoniously towards him. He carefully righted Christine and turned towards the young man with a dangerous, silent fury. For all Raoul's earlier bravado, the look on the boy's face was now sheer terror. Erik caught Raoul's eyes and saw the fear, the repulsion, the utter disbelief, "Is it everything you imagined, boy?" he hissed, "Or is this something you've only seen in your nightmares? I didn't disappoint, did I? Though I'm rather angered that you did not pay first..."

"What the hell are you...!" was all Raoul could gasp out before Erik's fist slammed hard into Raoul's temple, sending the boy crashing to the ground unconscious. Erik bent down and yanked the mask from Raoul's unmoving hands, placing it calmly over his face once again.

"I'm so sorry, Erik..." Christine spoke as she quickly knelt beside her fallen boyfriend and tended to him, "I had no idea he... he would" her voice caught as Erik focused his attention on her, unhidden rage in his amber eyes. Christine was quite sure her heart skipped a beat.

"I could have killed him for shoving you!" He hissed. Christine heard the strain in his voice, saw how he was attempting to control his anger. She nodded nervously, frightened that Erik had been very capable of doing just that.

"I've never seen him behave like that before," she said as her fingers gently touched the bruise forming beside Raoul's left eye, "I... I should get him inside... it's cold out here..." she hung her head, "Erik... I never meant-" Christine stopped when she looked up...

Erik had once again disappeared.

East 56 and Randal Ave. - 10 minutes later

Erik was in a rather horrible temper as he walked along the empty sidewalks, the orange street lamps gleaming off the freshly fallen snow. How dare that boy touch his mask? How dare he even lay his hands on him? Raoul was lucky the only witness to his act was Christine, as the girl had seen Erik's face already. If there had been other witnesses, however, the boy would not have gotten away with only a black eye. He would, no doubt, have several broken bones... and perhaps a few rope burns around his neck.

Erik frowned as he heard music from a nearby store window - Holiday music. How he hated it, with its happiness and joy and celebration. It only served to remind him that he had nothing to be happy, joyful, or celebratory about.

Tired of being blinded by the bright coloured lights - as was always the garish custom this time of year - Erik ducked into a shadowed alleyway, walking between and behind the apartment buildings and stores. His ears were sharp, as usual, always listening for any strange noises coming from the darkness. Of course, he sensed a few of them nearby, but that was no matter. He was waiting for them to make their presence known to him. And how he hoped they would. He was in need of some healthy violence to release him from his foul mood.

He smirked ever so slightly as he heard the sound of icy snow being crunched beneath heavy feet. Someone was behind him. No. Not just one. In fact, not just two. He sensed three of them.

Erik continued his walk, pretending to be oblivious to the ones that snuck closer. His hand slowly reached into the pocket of his duster and grasped the sharpened piece of wood that resided there.

Finally, one of them leapt out at him, attacking from behind and sending him tumbling to the cold wet ground. His attacker attempted to pin him down, but Erik quickly rolled himself over as he whipped his weapon out and turned his assailant to dust.

Erik flipped back up to his feet, and spun in the direction of the other two, holding his stake high, "Come on, now," he taunted, "Let's see which one of you will go down in history as ending the life of the Guild's top Hunter!"

They both rushed towards him at the same time... and quickly turned to dust - one after the other - before they could reach him.

"Really, Erik. I thought you'd be above taunting the animals by now," a voice spoke up.

The masked man spun around to see a dark man standing before him, brandishing a freshly discharged crossbow. Erik frowned, "Now you've gone and ruined all my fun!"

"Oh, tut tut!" the ex-police officer replied as he lowered his weapon, "I find it rather disturbing that you enjoy it so much,"

"I am in a very bad mood at the moment!" Erik muttered, arms crossed angrily, "You should have let me kill them,"

The older man raised an eyebrow, "And when are you NOT in a bad mood?" he asked.

Erik was about to reply 'never'… but realized that was not entirely true as of late. In fact, there was one person who managed to put him in a good mood just by her mere presence - although she was, no doubt, currently busy coddling her pretty rich boyfriend right about now. "Weren't you supposed to be in the Middle East?" Erik asked instead, eyes narrowed suspiciously.

The man shrugged, "I was, but my business there is done. The Guild called me back - to clean up your mess, of course!"

"And what mess have I supposedly left?" Erik demanded.

"Laura Ashton," he answered, "I've been asked to keep a close watch on her, since it appears she has some rather personal business with you,"

"I don't need your protection, Nadir!" Erik snapped, using the man's name for the first time since he had arrived.

The security officer laughed, "I have known you since you were 15, Erik. I trained you well and am quite aware that you need no one's protection. However... " he stressed, "You are not a detective. I am. Or... was... at one point. And therefore, it is my duty to make sure that the female does not ensnare you in some sort of trap that you cannot get out of,"

"I can get out of her traps quite fine," he replied.

Nadir raised an eyebrow, "Really?" he asked, "Even if she was visiting the house on Laramie Drive?"

Erik was quite aware of 66 Laramie Drive and who was rumoured to reside there. "Well, I suppose I should be flattered that such an important creature has taken an interest in me,"

"You should be concerned, not flattered, Erik!" Nadir scolded.

"Oh, but I have the great Detective Khan here to save me," Erik replied, "So why worry?"

Nadir let out a long sigh, "I don't understand why I even bother with you anymore,"

"Because I bring laughter and light into your life," Erik answered sarcastically.

Nadir chuckled at that, "Ahhh... of course! How could I have forgotten?" he then grew serious, studying the younger man before him, "Should I ask why you are in such a bad mood?"

"No," he answered. "It's far too detailed to talk about out here. It's beginning to snow," he raised his head to the night sky to emphasize his point, allowing the soft white flakes to land on his hard black mask, "Perhaps I will grace you with my presence at your apartment tomorrow. You can make us some tea and I will tell you about the latest complication in my life," he looked back at Nadir, "Her name is Christine,"

Nadir grew interested, "A lady then? It is no wonder you're in such a foul temper," he replied, "And by the way, Erik, a gentleman does not invite himself over to another's apartment," Nadir shrugged, "But either way, I will be expecting your company. Bring your own tea, though. I only have coffee,"

Erik nodded in acknowledgement, "Very well. I will see you then, Nadir,"

The younger man then spun around and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Nadir staring at an empty alley. Christine, hmm? The former police Detective thought to himself, Oh, this should be very interesting indeed...

Christine's dorm room - 20 minutes later

Raoul awoke with a moan, his hand immediately going to the ice pack Christine was pressing against his temple, "What happened?" he asked as he noticed he was currently lying on Christine's bed.

"You did something you shouldn't have," Christine replied.

He furrowed his brow, "And what, exactly, did I do?"

"You pissed Erik off," she replied, "I told you he's sensitive about the mask!"

Raoul narrowed his eyes, "Yes... and you also told me you had never seen his face," Christine glanced away, letting go of the ice pack and leaving Raoul to hold it on his own, "Why did you lie about it!"

"Because if I had told you, you'd want to know details," she replied as she turned back to him, "And the details weren't mine to give!" She shook her head, "Let it go, Raoul,"

Raoul let out a harsh laugh, "Let it go!" he repeated, "I thought he was just WEIRD! I had no idea he was a freak as well," he replied.

"Don't talk about him that way!" she snapped.

"I'll talk about him any way I please! Do you honestly think I'll let you near him again? Near that? Do you have any idea how desperate he must be for a woman? Who knows what he'd do to you! First, he gains your trust, then he'll try to-"

"Stop it!" Christine interrupted angrily, "You have no idea, do you?" she asked, "You have no idea how to use something other than your looks to win people over!"

"Really?" Raoul frowned, "And has he won you over?" he asked, "Is that why you're still denying me?"

Christine's eyes went wide, "How dare you!" she jumped to her feet, "Is that what this is about? Is that all you ever wanted from me?" she shook her head, "And to think, I thought you cared about me. I guess I was wrong. Again."

Raoul took a deep breath, his voice quieter when he spoke again, "I'm sorry..." he began, "Christine, I'm so sorry... I didn't mean it. It's just... you have no idea what you make me feel..." he stopped and buried his head in his hands, "Accuse me of being a spoiled rich boy, accuse me of being a jerk. But don't accuse me of not caring about you," he then raised his head, his face growing serious, "Have you ever considered moving out of residence?" he asked. "Maybe coming to live with me?"

Christine stared at him, dumbfounded, "Raoul, I-" she looked away, "I wouldn't feel right imposing, Raoul,"

"It would be no imposition, Christine," a pause, "... if we were engaged,"

"Engaged?" Christine sputtered, "Where did THIS suddenly come from?"

"Listen, I know we're young," Raoul seemed heedless of Christine's objection as he stood up and put his arms around her, "But we don't have to marry right away. A nice long engagement would be fine. We can take our time."

She opened her mouth to protest once again, but Raoul quickly silenced her with a kiss. Christine glanced up to see a flash of black material disappearing past the grate above her bed, and immediately broke the kiss.

"Raoul," she began firmly, "We really need to talk…"

Erik's Room - 10 minutes later

Erik sat against the wall, his hand absently stroking Isis and her new kittens. He stared at the mess before him - papers were scattered, a lamp was broken, his bed sheets were practically ripped apart, and a fist-sized hole in the wall loomed above him, leaving his knuckles still throbbing from the impact.

Christine was not only leaving... but she was planning to marry that boy.

A nice long engagement would be fine. We can take our time…

Erik could not stand to hear the rest of the conversation. He could not stand to listen to the two plan their happy little wedding.

True, Christine would still be on campus to take her classes, but he was quite sure their lessons were over. If she moved off-campus, she wouldn't be able to sneak out to the Arts building. Not only that, but her lover would never let Christine near him again. Not after seeing his face.

I thought he was just WEIRD! I had no idea he was a freak as well...

Erik's body tensed, his thoughts growing dark - until he felt something soft nudge his hand. He looked down to see Isis staring up at him. He had stopped petting her, "At least you're still here," he said, then gently scratched behind the feline's ears.

He would still have to watch Christine, of course. Make sure she was safe. But talking to her... singing with her... That would be gone. He would have lost his precious student.

No. She was more then that...

Erik slowly stood up and walked to his mirror. He tugged the dust cover off, removing his mask as he stared at his reflection. She would never see him as anything but a tutor and acquaintance. And why should she? She wanted to marry her Prince Charming. Rich and handsome. And while Erik's architectural designs had made him the former, he was certainly not the latter.

The powers that be must be laughing at their great joke, he thought. Bring light into my life only to take it away. Make me need her, care for her, then remind me that she will never feel the same. Lay bare my vulnerability, only to throw it back in my face!

No mother wanted him as a son... and no woman would want him as a man...

Perhaps he would just have to accept the fact that he was meant to be alone.

Forever.

END OF EPISODE NINE