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Summary:
Dean and Sam fall into a vampire hunting pack's trap; Sam manages to escape but has to leave Dean behind. When he loses the trail to the nest, he calls on the vampire whose life he saved, Lenore, to help him find his brother. Kate, part of the nest that has Dean, decides Dean's punishment for helping to kill her mate, Luther, should include becoming a vampire himself. Post Croatoan.
Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own the copyrights to the Boys. But thank you Kripke for such fab characters and letting us play in your universe!!
Rating is for some bad-boy language. Some chapters get a bit bloody and lean toward mature themes.
Blood Debt
Chapter 8
After reassurances from Dean, Sam ate the fruit and drank the water Eli had left. The brother's exchanged small talk, Sam keeping the conversation away from anything that might give Dean insight into the plan of escape, though he did have to reassure him he did have a plan. Dean's opinion of Pastor Jim's spaghetti stopped midsentence when he stiffened and turned toward the front of the cage, every nerve in him electrified. Sam watched him, concerned, but stayed where he was.
"She's coming," Dean whispered to him.
"Kate?" Sam whispered back.
"Yes," Dean hissed, his eyes anxiously searching the shadows for his sire. He felt his will leave him when he caught her scent. His hunger, already strong, turned ravenous. He moved to the front of the cage, wincing as his stomach cramped with hunger. When he saw her step into the nearby light, he sank to his knees at the front of the cage.
"Mistress Kate," he moaned, reaching his hand through the bars toward her.
Kate smiled, pleased by his reaction, and walked up to the cage. "How's my little doggie," she asked. She slapped his hand back.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he said. He stared at her, his eyes filled with desperation, making her smile broaden.
"Ready to eat?" she asked as she brought out a knife to open her wrist for him.
"Yes," Dean said breathlessly, hopefully. He stared at her white wrist as a starving dog offered a feast.
She paused, her nostrils flaring, and her gaze shot to Sam. "You!"
"Hi, Bitch," Sam said pleasantly.
She saw the shackle on his wrist and the chain that led to the front of the cage. A smile snaked to her lips. "Oh, this is just too perfect."
"Better talk to my vampires before you get any ideas. I think they have first dibs on gutting me," Sam said, shifting to the back of the cage and sliding his arm around a bar.
"Oh, but we always share our food," Kate said, letting her fangs descend. She gripped the chain running to his shackle and began to try to pull him toward her.
The crook of his elbow pulled against the cold metal bar. He knew vampires were strong and he wasn't sure how long he'd be able to stay away from her. He wondered if he should call for Lenore, though surely Kate wouldn't be stupid enough to kill him. "So they'll get a piece of Dean?" he asked. "I didn't think you wanted to share your toy."
Annoyance clouded her face, and he heard her growl as she pulled harder on the chain.
The shackle was biting painfully into his wrist. He gave her a strained smile. "Now what would my vampires say, you trying to take me for your own? Gee, lucky me, there's one now," Sam said, privately relieved to see Shelly, but he let fear creep into his eyes all the same.
"And just what are you doing with my family's food, Kate?" Shelly asked mildly. She'd never liked Kate, not from the get-go. Kate was a pathetic mini-me wannabe of Thompson and Suzanne. She didn't have a backbone and when it came right down to it she'd fold the moment any real stress was put on her.
Kate let the chain slide through her palm, but still held its end, toying with it. "So you brought him in?" she asked.
"Yes," Shelly said.
"Thompson has offered you additional food, hasn't he?"
"Of course."
Kate's lips pursed as she fingered the steel chain. "I'd like this one. Name your price."
Shelly walked up to her and took the chain from her. "He's not up for barter. He killed my mate." She looked in at Sam, fury in her eyes. "He killed most of my family. He's ours to kill."
"Would you consider sharing?" Kate walked over to Dean and ran her hand through his short hair. "I could offer you something unique to cause your food some rather delicious pain."
Sam's chain clattered against the bars as Shelly dropped the links and folded her arms across the chest. "And what could you possibly have to offer?"
"This one is his brother. This one is the reason he killed your family."
Shelly walked over to Dean. She inhaled his scent. "He's your dog," she spat.
Kate smiled down at him. "Yes. I had my fun with him for a little while, but I just wasn't getting real satisfaction from torturing him. Humans are so frail. Now he heals quickly. Now he obeys me. Now he adores me."
"Until he comes into his own," Shelly said. "Then he'll probably rip your throat out."
Kate's look turned to disdain. "I'd planned to send him out to bring in his father and brother. Let their blood finish turning him, then I intended to lock him up and starve him. After a time." She looked over at Shelly. "Their father is out there. And their father has a gun—"
"I remember your story," Shelly interrupted. "A gun that can supposedly kill vampires—"
"It killed Luther," Kate raged.
"Whatever," Shelly snapped back. "This one was working alone. There wasn't the scent of anyone else in his car, at least no one recently. If the father's out there, he wasn't with this one, and believe me, we didn't leave a trail. We knew other hunters would follow. Lenore is very good at covering our tracks."
"I'd heard Lenore's family had gone vegetarian," Kate said, a sneer in her voice.
Shelly's fangs descended and she took a threatening step toward Kate. "I wouldn't say that to Lenore. She'll show you just how vegetarian we are."
Dean stood and growled at Shelly, baring his own teeth at her.
Shelly raised an eyebrow, surprised, and then began to laugh as her fangs retracted. "Dangerous dog you've got there."
Kate ventured, "I'd be willing to share my dog with you," Kate ventured, "If you'll share yours with me. I want them both to suffer."
Shelly's eyes hardened. "Ours killed my mate. He didn't kill yours. That was their father, as I recall."
"Shelly," Kate began.
Shelly held up her hand. "It doesn't matter, Kate. I can't make any deal. Lenore would rip my throat out. She'll have to broker any deal but I'll tell you, she's not going to want to share. If you think Thompson can do a number on someone, you've not seen anything until you've seen Lenore work. If you really want your dog to suffer, hand him over to Lenore. That'll be the closest to Hell anyone would ever get without actually going there. She's centuries old. She knows her business."
"Hand him over? But I didn't think your family was staying. Just needed a place to crash for a few days and to get some food."
"Yeah. But trust me, he'd suffer," Shelly said with an evil smile. She turned back to Sam's cage. She yawned, letting her fangs descend once again. "Now pardon me, but I just came to get my bedtime snack."
Kate glared after her, extending the glare to Sam. She turned away then and looked at Dean and sighed, clearly frustrated. She pulled her knife back out and drew the blade along her wrist, leaving a bright crimson trail. Dean gripped the bars, his knuckles white as he stared at her arm. Kate opened his cage and Dean waited. "Are you hungry, doggie?"
"Yes, Mistress," Dean said, hardly able to hold himself back. She lowered her arm to him. He grabbed it and began to drink hungrily. Kate looked over at Sam who had paled and looked away. She smiled.
Shelly stood at the front of Sam's cage. "You, here. NOW," she ordered him.
Sam gave her contemptuous look. "Yeah. Right."
Shelly grabbed the chain attached to the shackle. Sam kept his arm wrapped securely around the bar.
"If I pull hard enough, it'll break your elbow. You really want that?" Shelly said.
"Go for it," Sam said.
Shelly pulled on the chain. Sam struggled to hang onto the bar but felt his arm slipping. With another heave, she jerked him three feet towards her. Sam tried to brace himself with his feet, but he slid into the bars in front of her and she grabbed his arm. He punched her in the face with his free hand. She took the hit, hung on to his arm and twisted it. He cried out as the twisting put him on his back.
"All right," Sam gasped.
"I'd break it, but Lenore wants to wait for the real torture until we get to our new home," Shelly hissed. "She doesn't want you in too bad of shape to travel. You should consider yourself lucky."
"Oh, yeah. Lucky. That's me," Sam snorted.
"Sit up, Food," she ordered. He reluctantly got to his knees, making it more comfortable for her to feed. She tore off a bandage and dug her teeth into his flesh. Sam cried out in pain, his eyes watering.
He heard Kate's laughter. "I don't suppose you'd let my little dog have some of that, would you?"
Shelly glared at her and dug her teeth in deeper. Sam couldn't keep his groan quiet. He let himself sag against the bars. She finally released his arm, and began to clean the wound. She looked at Kate. "I'm sure that would bother both of them deeply, but he's been a bit abused the past few days. He's not up to sharing right now. And certainly, not without Lenore's permission," she said. She finished with a snarl, "Feed your dog elsewhere."
Kate glowered at Sam who was struggling to stay conscious. Sam saw Dean sitting by Kate's feet, staring adoringly up at her. She kicked him in the chest. "Move it, dog. Let's get you some blood."
Dean picked himself up and followed meekly after her, the chains on his wrists dragging behind him.
Shelly finished cleaning the wound and bandaged it. She met his gaze, and for just a momentary flicker, he saw her regret. He resisted acknowledging it, afraid someone might see the exchange. She shoved him hard and he fell backwards then she slid some water and juice in, as well as some chicken and some cookies. "Best you eat up. Lenore will be by before she goes to bed and I'm sure she'll be hungry. If she wasn't coming by," Shelly put her hand to her face where he'd hit her, "you'd go hungry yourself. You'll pay for this, along with everything else you've done."
"Yeah, well, looks like you already plan to torture and kill me. I might as well make it worthwhile, Bitch."
Shelly looked after Dean and Kate. "I don't know," Shelly murmured. "Maybe Kate has the right idea. Lenore will take you right up to death, until you beg for it. Then maybe we'll bring you over, just as Kate's done to your brother. That would be a fitting punishment for a hunter."
Sam looked away from her. "Go to hell."
Her laughter echoed in the shadows as she walked away.
Sam searched for his brother, but Kate and Dean were apparently no longer in the barn. Reluctantly, he turned to the food she'd left him. Lenore had told him he'd need to eat to keep up his strength, so Sam ate some of the chicken and cookies and drank some of the juice. Shelly had drunk only a bit of his blood, but the pain of the bite had brought on an adrenaline rush that was now giving him the shakes. He tried to remind himself freedom was only a few hours away.
Sam didn't know when he'd fallen asleep, but the tug on the chain woke him. Lenore glowered at him. "Shelly told you I'd be by. I hope you're feeling well rested."
Sam let his gaze drift from her. Other vampires were still up and about, but their numbers were thinning. She slowly pulled the chain toward her. Half-heartedly, Sam resisted. Damn, he didn't want to bitten again.
"Are you tired, dear Sammy?" Lenore asked.
"Not so tired I wouldn't behead your ass, given a machete."
Lenore chuckled. "I do like my food to have fire. Why don't you give me your other arm? I prefer my bites to be fresh."
"Why would I do anything that would make you happy?"
Lenore grabbed one of his fingers. "Fine. I'll start by breaking your fingers. Then I'll break you arm. Unless you'd care to cooperate?"
When Sam didn't move, she began to bend his finger back.
"Wait!" Sam said through a clenched jaw and reluctantly put his unshackled arm through the bars. She gripped his arm and bit deep. Sam groaned as he felt her teeth dig in deeply. He felt her suckling at the wound as she fed. She would need the extra strength for their move in a few short hours and he'd need the time to recover. He forced his face to remain neutral as he watched her, remembering when she had been poisoned by Gordan.
He carried her out of the rental house and set her in the passenger's seat of the Impala.
"Where can I take you?" Sam asked gently as he knelt by her.
"You think I'm going to tell you?" she snarled, trying to push him away.
"Lenore, you convinced me. You convinced my brother. We believe you."
"I'm not telling you!" she said, seemingly oblivious to Sam's words.
Sam gathered her into his arms. "Lenore, please. You're hurt. You're sick. You said you don't hurt people anymore. Well, Dean and I, we're not going to kill vampires that don't feed on humans. You said it yourself. You're not hurting anyone and you do have a right to live. Please, Lenore. I trust you. I know you could rip my throat out, but didn't then and you won't now." He ran his hand over her hair. "Let me help you Lenore. Let me take you to your family."
She began to sob into his shoulder. "No."
He pulled her away from him, took her chin in his hand, and made her look into his eyes. "Lenore. My name is Sam. I swear to you, I only want to help. If I'm lying, your family can kill me. I want to get you and your family safely away. Please Lenore, you asked me to believe you. Now it's your turn. You've got to believe me."
Her fearful eyes stared into his own. She took a breath that rattled in her chest. "The dock. Take me to the dock. Where you killed Conrad."
"I'm really sorry for that, Lenore. We didn't know. Thank you for trusting me," Sam said and shut the car door. He went around to the driver's side, got in and started the engine. Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up to the marina. Lenore's breathing had grown steadily worse during the trip.
"Slip 37," she whispered in his ear as he lifted her into his arms.
Sam walked down to the slip where a small boat was moored. It was a row over and few slips down from where Dean had killed Conrad.
"Eli," Sam called out, "Lenore's hurt. She needs help. Please, Eli."
Eli and the others of her family stepped out of the shadows, weapons in hand. Lenore weakly waved them back. "No. He saved me." She gave Eli a tremulous smile. "See, I told you they could change."
Eli gave Sam a skeptical look.
"It's not a trick," Sam reassured him. "I came alone. Dean's back at the rental house guarding Gordan. You need to get out of here. We'll try to buy you a few days to get far away from him, to make sure he loses your trail."
Eli took Lenore into his arms. "Why would you help us, human?"
Sam gave him a small smile. "Hunters hunt evil. We've never heard of any vampires that didn't feed on humans. You're a new breed to us. If you aren't hurting people, why would we kill you? I'll tell other hunters, at least those that might listen, that some of you aren't killers anymore. I'll make sure they find out about your family's beliefs. I can't guarantee they'll believe me. I can't guarantee that they won't still come after you. But maybe I can convince some. I promise you, I'll try. It won't bring Conrad back, but maybe it can be his legacy."
Eli took her onto the boat and set her down on a bench. Her breaths were coming in short gasps now. Sam, after a moment, stepped onto the boat after them. His brow creased as he watched her struggle to breath.
"She's dying, isn't she?" Sam asked softly.
Eli shook his head. "No. She won't. She can't." He opened her shirt and looked at the deep wound Gordan had given her. He could smell the poison and the toxins from the dying virus. His own breath strangled in his throat. "No, Lenore. Be strong," he whispered. Gordan had cut through her stomach, her diaphragm, and gashed into her heart and lungs. He could tell more deadman's blood had been poured into the wound. The deadman's blood had poisoned a good portion of the vital organs. Without blood—real blood, not the crap they fed on—she probably would linger for days.
"Would some of my blood help save her?" Sam asked hesitantly.
"We don't drink human blood," Eli snapped at him as he cradled his love in his arms.
Sam stepped closer. "I know. But she's dying, isn't she?"
Eli nodded, tears beginning to slide down his cheeks.
"Would some of my blood save her?" Sam asked again.
"She won't drink," Eli said.
"How much would she need?"
"A pint, maybe a bit more," Eli said.
"That's not enough to kill me. She wouldn't be breaking any promises of killing humans," Sam said and pulled out his knife. He cut a fresh gash beside the one Gordan had made and held the bleeding wound in front of her.
"Lenore, please," Sam said. "Let me save you. Just a little to get your strength back, to fight off the deadman's blood. But you can't have it all, okay? You don't want to kill the first hunter you've converted, now do you?"
"No. I won't. I won't," she insisted, turning away from his arm.
"Lenore," Eli coaxed, "he's offering. Freely offering. He can save you. Please stop being a stubborn ass. Please, Love. Feed."
Lenore looked into Sam's face. He nodded encouragingly.
She inhaled the scent of sweet human blood and let her craving overwhelm her. She grabbed his arm with lightning reflexes and bit deeply. Sam cried out as he sank to his knees, the pain intense and startling. He felt her drink and the lightheadedness crept into his brain. He struggled to pull away, suddenly afraid he'd made a fatal mistake, when she withdrew her teeth from his flesh. He swayed and she drew him into her arms and cradled him there, gently brushing his cheek with her fingers.
"You are a foolish boy," she crooned softly. "And I owe you my life. I will not forget."
It had only taken a few minutes for Sam to get his feet back under him and in that time Eli cleaned and bandaged the wound. Lenore still looked weak, but no longer as if she'd die. She had kissed San firmly, with just a touch of promise in it. He tasted his own blood on his lips.
"Now you've done enough. Go," she said.
"No," he told her. "Not until I know you and your family are safely away."
He helped them finish packing and, after they had exchanged phone numbers, with a promise to call one another if ever the situation was dire, he saw them off. She called a few weeks later to thank him again and let him know she and her family had found a safe haven and that there had been no sign of Gordan. Sam had never told Dean that he'd let her feed, but he thought Dean had seen the wound when he was rebandaging it a few days later. If he had, he never brought it up.
Sam watched as she extracted her teeth, and then licked the wound clean. She bandaged it. "See what cooperation gets you?" she said to him sweetly and gripped his hand. He felt her press a key into his palm.
"Yeah. No broken arm," Sam said with a snort.
She slid in a tray of juice, cornbread, and a sandwich. "See you soon," she said and turned to leave.
"Do you intend to kill me?" Sam asked.
She paused and looked over her shoulder. "We haven't decided yet. You did take Shelly's mate from her. She's toying with making you her new boy." She looked in the cage beside Sam where Dean slept. "Maybe we'll invite Kate to join us so you and your brother can be back together. You were hunters. You know all their tricks. Maybe we'll even start hunting the hunters."
"We'd never help you."
Lenore laughed. "What makes you think you'll have a choice?"
He knew the key she'd given him was to his shackle. They would still have to unlock the cage, but they'd do that when they got Dean out. Sam resisted the urge to go over and wake his brother, especially since he had the fresh wound on his arm. He pulled the sandwich to him and peeked under the bread. There was a small, three inch syringe there, filled with few ounces of deadman's blood. Sam would inject it into Dean, preferably his neck, when Lenore came back. It would hopefully be enough to drive Dean to drink Lenore's blood and give Lenore enough sway over him to make him cooperative. That was the plan, anyhow.
Sam concealed the syringe under the bandage Lenore had just put on his arm and then ate the food she'd left and decided he could use the few hours sleep. They might not get any for awhile once it all began.