A/N: Well, I have new glasses now so writing loads (and trust me, this is a monster of a chapter!) shouldn't hurt my eyes anymore. Yay! And for some reason my pop up blocker takes 2 whole minutes to realise that the review box is a pop up thing and blocks it. I can't get it to stop blocking the review box at all… .
Thanks to:
Raven Cactuar: Not planning any lemons in this fic. The rating is mostly for a bit of language and violence. There'll be bedroom stuff but just kissing and stuff. Hope that's okay with you.
Darkness1291: o.O For some reason I typed the numbers backwards first… Anyway…
RubiSapphire-sama: I like the taste of blood just the way it is…and now everyone reading this thinks I'm a complete weirdo… I don't make a habit of drinking blood! Just when I get paper cuts! (That happens more times than I'd like…)
M-Python-girl: -adds another word to her vocabulary-
Lioness of darkness: Yeah…I'm sure 'hi guys, sorry Torn and I have been away for so long, we've just been drinking blood and learning about the joys of killing vampire hunters' would go down really well… . My god that scene was hard…I hate it…
Emera Took: Thanks! I was kinda worried about that part.
Kitty Kat-chan: yes…I fear your tater tot and the Kung Fu yakkows… O.o –starts typing as fast as she can-
Nefertari22
Ashley: I don't mind that you're a little impatient. I actually start thinking people like this story when you remind me to update.
EcoJak: Well, Jak and Torn in a hot tub wasn't gonna happen but…well, now you've given me ideas… -creepy, perverted smile-
Fluffys-sidekick
Darkmaster2
GothicJak
Warnings: yaoi, vampirism
Disclaimer: I own Lucia. Not Torn or Jak or anyone else you recognise.
Chapter start…
Torn stood in front of an open grave. The gravestone towered above him, the inscription teasing him.
'Here lies Jak, hero and monster. May the vampires never get you again.'
A bubble of guilt rose inside Torn. He didn't want to look down but he couldn't stop himself. In the grave, in an open coffin, lay a decayed Jak with a stake through his chest. His skin was dried out, missing in some places and his bones were visible.Some of his intestines were hanging out of a gash inhis torso. Butdespite the state of his body, Jak'sexpressive blue eyes were open and he stared at Torn angrily.
"You killed me, Torn. I hate you!" he snarled.
Torn backed away. "I'm sorry…Jak please don't say that…"
He backed into something and turned around.
Jak stood there grinning maliciously He held up a stake and plunged it deep into Torn's heart.
Torn cried out. "J-Jak..."
He could feel the blood bubbling up his throat. Some trickled out of the corner of his mouth. His skin was drying out rapidly, falling away so he was nothing but a skeleton.
"See you in Hell, monster!" Jak snarled.
Torn bolted upright, gasping for breath. Sweat trickled down his face.
'Just a dream…' he thought with some relief.
A gentle probing thought touched his mind.
>Torn? Are you all right?>
>I'm fine, Lucia. Just a nightmare.> Torn replied.
>Do you want to talk about it?> she asked.
>No, it was just a dream,> Torn replied.
>Okay then, big brother. Goodnight,>
>Goodnight Lucia,>
Torn lay back down and attempted to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Jak's expression of hatred as he staked Torn.
The tattooed vampire didn't sleep at all for the rest of the night.
#Scene change
When dawn broke over the horizon, Lucia rose to find her brother sitting in the living room.
"Didn't sleep, huh?" she said sleepily.
"No, not really," Torn replied. He yawned.
There was the sound of a door opening and closing and soon Jak also stood in the living room.
"Aren't we up a little early?" he asked.
"Yeah," Lucia replied.
"Hey, Torn, what time are we going back to Dax and Keira and the others?" Jak asked.
"Later. Be patient!" Torn snapped.
"Torn, that was uncalled for!" Lucia reprimanded.
Torn only grunted in response and stared sullenly at the coffee table.
Lucia rolled her eyes. "Please excuse my brother's "moody teenager" act, Jak. He had a nightmare and couldn't sleep for the rest of the night," she said.
Jak resisted the urge to say 'Aw, diddums!' but it seemed he accidentally broadcasted the thought because Torn gave him the evil eye and Lucia smothered giggles.
"I think you need to work on shielding a bit more," Torn said icily. He stood up and strode out of the room.
Lucia stopped snickering and became serious again.
"Jak, you know he's worrying about a lot of things right now. It's best not to provoke him," she told the new vampire.
"Is it because of me? The deal we made?" Jak asked.
"He doesn't want you to die, Jak. He Turned you to save you," Lucia confirmed. "But that's no all of it. There are other factors, some of which he hasn't even realised yet."
"Like what?"
"That's not for me to say," Lucia answered. "Torn has to figure it out for himself. I just hope he manages it before the end of the week."
Jak nodded. "So what happens now?" he asked.
"You go and apologise to Torn or he'll be in a bad mood all day," Lucia ordered, giving Jak a gentle push in the direction Torn had gone. "Then we'll get ready to go see your friends."
Jak nodded and went to find Torn. He found the tattooed vampire staring out of the window in his bedroom.
"Torn," Jak said as he entered the room.
Torn didn't move.
"I'm sorry," Jak continued. "I know I shouldn't have thought that. After all, I have pretty bad nightmares too."
"I know," Torn said quietly. "When you slept in the Hideout I'd know because you gave off such a powerful feeling of fear and loneliness. If I ever passed by you I'd see images from your dreams and I-" Torn broke off suddenly.
'And I what? Wanted to hold him and make the bad things go away?' Torn stopped thinking. It was leading down roads he didn't want to go and making him to things he didn't want to.
"Never mind. Apology accepted."
Jak wasn't sure what to say so he turned to leave.
"What do I have to do to persuade you to live at the end of the week?" Torn asked quietly.
"I-I don't know," Jak admitted. "Just show me everything and let me make up my own mind."
"Showing you everything would take longer than the five days I have left," Torn said. He realised that he did want to show Jak everything. He wanted to share everything in his lonely life with the blond.
'It will just be the Blood Bond…' he reasoned. 'I sired him, creating a bond between us and that's why I want him to stay. Just the Blood Bond…'
He put the thoughts out of his head as Lucia sent a telepathic message.
>Shower's mine, boys No peeking, Jak!> With a mental giggle, Lucia ended the connection and they heard the bathroom door shut.
Later, when they were all showered and ready, the three vampires set off for the Palace. They weren't very far away so they just walked through the streets to the steps at the entrance.
"What do you think they'll say?" Jak asked.
"They'll probably just ask where we've been, what's been happening, how we are and about Lucia," Torn replied. "Don't tell them more than they need to know."
"Right."
The three vampires climbed the steps and entered the palace. Strangely, there was nobody around. Torn frowned and headed into the elevator, Jak and Lucia following closely.
"Should have been more guards around downstairs," Torn growled. "Just because I've been away a few days doesn't mean they can start slacking off."
The elevator reached the floor they wanted quickly. Torn stepped off first. The first thing he saw was a couple of Freedom League guards slouching next to the conference room doors.
"YOU TWO! STOP SLOUCHING! YOU'RE GUARDS SO START ACTING LIKE IT!" he roared at them.
The guards nearly fell over themselves trying to stand up straight and salute him.
Almost immediately afterwards the conference room doors opened and Ashelin ran out.
"Torn!" she shouted. The redhead rushed up to her old friend and threw her arms around his neck. "I was so worried!" she said before stepping back and composing herself.
Behind her stood Keira, Samos and Tess, who was holding Daxter in her arms. Sig stood in the doorway with Pecker hovering above his head.
Daxter leaped out of Tess's arms and bounded over to Jak.
"Jak!" he cried out joyfully. "You're back!"
"Hey, Dax," Jak greeted.
"You two have a lot of explaining to do!" Samos said, acting cross but Jak could tell he was glad to see them alive.
"Like who the girl is behind you," Keira added, looking over at Lucia.
For the first time, the rest of the group noticed Lucia.
"Uh…hi," said the vampiress with a little wave.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet my little sister, Lucia," Torn said.
Everyone stared.
"I didn't know you had a sister," Ashelin said at last. She was a little hut that Torn had kept such a secret from her all the years they had known each other.
"It's nice to meet you all," Lucia said with a smile.
"Well, we can't stand here and discuss what Jak and Torn got up to in the corridor," Samos said.
"We'll talk in the conference room," Ashelin said.
The group turned and went into the conference room. Torn, Jak and Lucia sat next to each other on one side of the table, communicating telepathically.
>What are we going to tell them, Torn?> Jak asked, slightly nervous. What if they asked awkward questions?
>We tell them the basic truth but leave out a few of the obvious things,> Torn replied.
>Like the fact that we're vampires and the people after Torn wanted to ram a wooden stake through his heart,> Lucia added.
>Let me start off? Torn said. >It started with me anyway.>
The trio realised the others were looking at them expectantly.
"I'm not getting any younger," Samos snapped impatiently.
"Patience is a virtue," Lucia said, smiling sweetly.
The green sage grumbled to himself. Torn smirked faintly and started their tale.
"It started a few years ago. I got into a fight and a girl was accidentally killed," the tattooed vampire began. "Her friends and family have never forgiven me and they've been hunting me ever since. They were the ones who tried to assassinate me and attacked my home."
"But didn't they know it was an accident?" Ashelin asked.
"They only wanted revenge," Torn answered. "It didn't matter that it was an accident."
"So how did Jak get caught up in this?" Keira asked. "He wasn't there when it happened."
"He was still visiting when they started throwing things through the windows. When they threw the petrol bomb we were lucky to escape but they saw us together and assumed Jak was involved somehow," Torn said smoothly.
"We were forced to go into hiding," Jak continued. "They discovered our first hideout and blew it up but luckily we weren't there at the time."
"We moved to a different location after that, being more careful but they found us again after a couple of days while I was out getting more supplies," Torn added.
"They came charging in, taking me by surprise and began beating the crap out of me to find out where Torn was," Jak continued.
"I arrived back in time to see them attacking Jak and made a deal. I would go with them and they could deal with me however they liked but they had to leave Jak alone. I'd promised Daxter earlier that day that I'd make sure Jak returned safely," Torn said. "They accepted and took me away to torture and kill me."
Ashelin gasped but didn't say anything.
"Meanwhile, I pass out in the street from the beating," Jak added.
"And I show up to save the day!" Lucia said with a cheeky smile. "I'd actually been keeping an eye on my brother ever since I returned from the Wasteland without him noticing. Anyway, I put Jak in a zoomer and followed the gang taking Torn away. Jak woke up before I busted into their base to save Torn and we went in to save him together," she continued, altering the story so it sounded right to the group in front of her.
"Is that what happened in the warehouse a couple of night ago?" Ashelin asked. "The guards were asked to investigate a disturbance and found a pile of mutilated bodies and a bunch of photos of dead people."
"Yeah. By now the group was dedicated to tracking down murderers in unsolved cases and killing them," Lucia explained. "Killing them was the only way to get them to stop murdering people."
"But they were killing murderers," Daxter piped up. "Why shouldn't they die?"
"I'm a murderer too, Dax. Should I die?" Jak asked quietly.
"No! Of course not! Those are different circumstances, Jak!" Daxter protested.
"These people didn't care what they did as long as they got their killer. And what they did to the killers they caught was inhuman. In the end they were no better then Metal Heads," Jak said. "We had to kill them to save Torn."
"Wait a sec, if that was a couple of days ago, how come it took you so long to come back?" asked Keira.
"Jak and Torn had to recover," Lucia said. "Torn was badly injured from the torture and Jak nearly died in the fight to save him."
"Damn fool almost died for me," Torn grumbled quietly.
"And now he owes Jak his life which he's not too happy about," Lucia said pleasantly. "And that would be the end of our tale."
"So you're out of danger now? No more people trying to kill you?" Ashelin asked.
"No," Jak answered.
"Well your home is still unfit for living in, Torn," Ashelin said. "The fire did a lot of damage."
"He can stay with me," Lucia said. "We've been at my apartment for the past couple of days anyway and Jak is welcome to continue staying with me too."
Torn sent a quick telepathic message to Jak. >It would be much easier if you kept staying with Lucia and I while you're still a new vampire,>
"Well actually, while Jak was gone, I moved in with Keira because my apartment block was being fumigated," Tess said.
"So it's sorted then. Jak and Torn stay with me until further notice," Lucia confirmed.
"So what do I tell the press? The whole city's looking for you two!" Ashelin said.
"Mustn't be looking very hard since we managed to walk here without anyone noticing," Torn pointed out.
"Well you hardly go out of your way to make friends," said Samos.
"Yeah. Would it kill you to be nice now and then?" Daxter asked.
Lucia and Jak exchanged looks, knowing exactly why Torn had distanced himself from everyone around him.
"Well that doesn't answer my question of what I tell the press," Ashelin said.
"Just tell them what you think the city needs to know," Torn answered. The tattooed vampire stood up to leave. "Well no doubt the paperwork's been piling up and I noticed a distinct lack of guards downstairs so I'd better get back to work." He walked out, leaving everyone staring after him.
"He seems troubled by something," commented Ashelin.
"You didn't think that just because this little escapade was over that all his troubles would be over, did you?" Lucia asked.
"So what's up with him?" asked Daxter.
Onin waved her hands about, making symbols in the air.
"Aaark! Onin says there are some secrets Torn alone must know and some he can only share with a chosen few," Pecker translated.
"Chosen few?" Keira echoed. "What does that mean?"
"Hey, I'm just the – aaark! – translator. Onin doesn't tell me all she knows!" Pecker said. "All I know is that those Torn shares his secret with also have the same secret."
"So I guess I don't get to find out what it is then…" Ashelin sighed. She didn't like the idea of her oldest friend keeping secrets from her; especially huge secrets like this one seemed to be.
"Well, we've all got things to be doing so isn't it time we all got back to work?" Samos said.
With a little mumbling, everyone went back to his or her jobs except for Jak and Daxter. The two best friends spent the rest of the day together. Just before they left Lucia gave the new vampire a bit of advice.
>Act normal. As far as everyone else is concerned, you're still mortal.>
>Yes, Lucia,> Jak mentally replied.
Daxter hopped on to his shoulder and they set off for the gun course.
#scene change...
Much later Jak returned to Lucia's apartment, hoping to find Torn already there.
Lucia was reading on the sofa when he walked in.
"Is Torn around or is he still working?" the blond asked.
"Still working. I couldn't get him to take even the shortest of breaks today," Lucia replied. "I suppose you're hungry?"
Jak nodded. Even hearing the word "hungry" made his fangs sharpen. He needed to feed soon.
"Well I suppose we had better go and drag my brother away from that desk," Lucia said, standing up. She dropped her book on the sofa and pulled Jak out of the apartment.
Minutes later she was dragging him through Torn's office door.
The tattooed vampire looked up wearily, praying he wasn't getting any more work to do. His eyes widened slightly when he saw Jak, recognising the look of hunger in his eyes. It was the look of a half-starved animal.
"Your childe is hungry," Lucia said with a grin. "You want to take him out hunting or shall I?"
"I'll go," Torn said, slightly possessive. "My childe so I take care of him."
"Okay then," Lucia agreed. She gave Jak a little push in Torn's direction. "I'll be at home if you need me," she added and then she was gone.
"Well then, Jak, lets go," Torn said, standing up. "If anyone wants me now, they'll have to wait. You come first."
"I feel so special," Jak said dryly.
Torn didn't reply and led Jak out of the palace.
"Torn, what did you and Lucia mean by "childe"? Jak asked once they were out on the street.
"I'm your sire and you're my childe. They're just terms for the vampire who Turned the other and then one who was Turned," Torn explained.
"Oh, okay," Jak said.
"There is also a Blood Bond formed between the two vampires," Torn continued. Jak looked puzzled so he continued his explanation. "It means that you and I now have an unbreakable connection that no one else will ever have with you."
"So what does the Blood Bond mean exactly?" Jak asked.
"I will always know where you are and whether you're alive or dead, no matter what you're doing or where you are. We can communicate over longer distances too but not right now because you're so young," Torn explained. "What I won't know is who you are with or what you are doing."
"That's it?"
"Yeah, as far as I know," Torn answered.
"I guess there's no escaping you then," Jak commented.
"If a childe wants to leave his or her sire and the sire is willing to respect that wish, they can. The relationship between sire and childe can be anything," Torn said. "They can be like brothers or sisters, a parent and child, best friends or even lovers."
Jak thought about that for a second. "Torn, if I wanted to leave, would you let me?"
Torn was silent as he thought about his answer. 'Does he really want to go?' he thought. 'But…I really don't want him to.'
Aloud he said, "If that was what you truly wanted then yes. But not until I'd thought you everything I know about surviving alone." As an afterthought he added, "And you could come back anytime."
"…Thanks, Torn," Jak replied.
The hunt went well that night. The two vampires found victims easily and Torn didn't need to help Jak out at all.
Afterwards they simply wandered around the city. Torn was trying to think of something that would persuade Jak to like being a vampire.
"Torn," Jak began after a few minutes of silence.
"Mm?" Torn responded.
"You know how you said you didn't want to lose me when you first Turned me? What did you mean by that? the young vampire asked. "Was it just so you didn't have to tell Daxter you failed at keeping me alive?"
"I wasn't even thinking of Daxter at the time," Torn admitted.
"Then why?"
"…I've actually wanted to Turn someone for a while," Torn admitted. "After the attack on my parents house I was alone for the first time. I knew of no other vampires and I had no mortal friends because my parents forbade it. That was when I first started thinking seriously about Turning someone to keep me company."
"Did you Turn anyone?" Jak asked out of curiosity.
"No. You're the first person I've ever Turned," Torn said. "I think I was …nervous about making friends with someone and Turning them. I had to be very careful about who I chose and I didn't even realise properly what I was missing out on by not having friends. I just missed my family. And then there was the problem of not finding anyone I wanted to spend forever with."
"Yeah, I guess you'd have to think very carefully about that," Jak mused aloud. "So why me? We were barely even friends before and now I'm your childe."
"Jak, you were dying in my arms and …that hurt more than any stake ever could," Torn admitted. "I don't know why but it did. Besides, you saved my life. Turning you was the only way I could repay you for that." Torn paused. "I also prayed you wouldn't hate me when you woke up and that you'd stay with me…" he added so quietly Jak wasn't sure his sire hadn't been speaking telepathically.
"You knew I didn't like you drinking blood in front of me. What made you think I'd ever be happy drinking blood myself?" Jak asked.
"I-I don't know. I wasn't thinking about that at the time, Jak," Torn replied.
"Maybe you should have done a bit more thinking," Jak said bitterly.
"If I'd wasted any more time thinking, you'd be dead!" Torn snarled, turning sharply to face Jak. "You should at least be grateful I gave you this chance at life!"
"Grateful? For what? For you turning me into a different monster than I already was?"
Torn flinched. "Do you think I'm a monster?" he asked.
Jak looked off into the distance as he thought about his answer. "Sometimes…monsters can be people too," he said eventually. "Sometimes I am Dark Jak and sometimes I'm just Jak. But now I'm a vampire I feel like I'm a monster all the time."
Torn watched, feeling increasingly guilty. "Jak, I-"
"Forget it, Torn," I'm tired. Lets go home," Jak muttered.
It was nearing midnight when Jak and Torn finally returned to Lucia's apartment. Both vampires were tired so they headed for their bedrooms as silently as they could so as not to disturb Lucia.
Before Jak could shut his bedroom door though, Torn spoke to him.
"Jak, you, uh, did well tonight with the hunt, monster or not. I'm proud of you," the older vampire said, not used to giving praise. He gave Jak a small smile and went into his own room.
Jak was surprised to receive praise from Torn. As he got changed for bed he began to feel uneasy about the deal he'd made with Torn.
Chapter end…
A/N: My brain is fried. I'm going to bed now. Feedback? And I think I can go a bit longer without updating than I usually do after how long I spent on this evil thing…maybe a week and a half? Two weeks? -prods all 12 pages- o.O
