Title: Who wants to live forever (part 2)
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG-13
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money..
Wc: 1247
Sequel to: Expectations
AN.: Thanks to luvinmike for beta-reading my stuff!
Part II:
(A few hours before:)
"The nightwalker has failed. The prince still rules over the city," the monotone voice of an old woman pronounced, her Scandinavian accent making her words sound even more blunt.
"WHHAAATTTTTT?!" came the angry shout from the other side of the dark, but very elegant room. Twelve pairs of eyes followed the now pacing form making its way back and forth at the head of the big conference table at which they were sitting.
"How?! The whelp had no chance!"
"A just ruler inspires loyalty in his followers," she stated, reading her bones from within a wooden bowl as if reading the stock-market quotation in a newspaper at the breakfast table.
"Oh, so he had help! Of course, should have thought about that possibility…" the smallish, unremarkable-looking, middle-aged man murmured.
"What exactly is the situation?"
Bones were once again scooped up and then immediately thrown back into the bowl.
"Blood has been shed, dead and alive alike. The challenger is slain, but took with him the hero's mortal life. The prince recovers and is back in safety, protected by loyal followers…"
"Damn! But at least there has been a casualty. At least there is some good news."
"Hope arises with the sun," she continued.
"What are you talking about, you old crone!"
"Honor and courage wield a sword and join the undying game."
"No… it can't be. What are the odds…"
"The pawn reached its end, a knight arises. Be quick before he can join the game!"
With this the old woman closed her eyes and moments later she was gone. The until-now quiet assembly suddenly burst out in murmurs and questions until a loud QUIET! silenced them.
The man retook his place at the head of the table.
"Gentlemen, it seems our plans have encountered unforeseeable resistance. Never mind! The first thing we now have to consider is damage control. Find all the bodies that have been killed tonight and bring me their heads!"
"What about the vampire?" a tall, dark man with feral eyes and sharp claws asked.
"Leave him to me. I'll find another way. Hector was only a test shot. Now find the bodies!"
This said the man stood and looked outside the wide window front overlooking the harbor while his minions left the room. The moment the door closed, another figure emerged from the shadows and joined him.
"I told you, brother, that you shouldn't have underestimated Henry Fitzroy," the man in priest garb chastised the other playfully.
"I didn't, my dear. I simply forgot to take humans' foolishness into consideration. And it's not like you mentioned that the little bastard had one of THOSE in his immediate vicinity."
"Those?"
"Come, Astaroth! Don't tell me you didn't know!"
A blank stare met the smaller man's, who started to laugh at the other's ignorance.
"Oh ho. How I wish our dear Ahriman could be here!"
"Ahri- No! You mean…"
"Yes! The world is a small place, isn't it? But it doesn't matter. The man won't rise to be a threat to us. A Quickening at dawn…"
"…and our worries are gone!"
Both men joined in unholy laughter.
***
(Back in the morgue)
What the hell?
He looked around.
What is this place?
OK, slow and easy. Use your head!
Steel tables… Medical equipment… Wait! Is that a bone saw?!
No clothes, cold… He looked down at his feet and- yep, note on his toe. Great!
He couldn't help but laugh mirthlessly before shaking his head in resignation.
Ha!
Oh, how are you this fine morning?
Just peachy. I woke up in a morgue, not knowing where or who I am. And yourself?
JESUS!
One deep breath later he calmed himself, sat up, and slid down the table to stand on shaky legs. For a moment the world seemed to tilt on its axis and he felt his blood pound in his ears.
OK, note to self: No sudden movements after waking in a morgue. And hello pulse! You may stop racing any minute now!
I am talking to myself! I should probably stop doing that!
- Oh, PULSE! So I am not dead!
What am I thinking? Of course I am not dead! I think, therefore I am, right?
He shivered.
OK, first things first. Clothes!
Glancing around, he saw nothing at first until he looked into what looked like a small lab and found hanging on the back of the door a standard-sized lab coat which he swiftly donned.
Ok it may be a bit small, but beggars can't be choosers.
Returning to the room where he woke up, he was just about to look at a stack of files on the nearby desk when he heard footsteps coming closer at a rapid pace. At first he thought this might be the culprits responsible for what he assumed had to be a prank, but his gut told him to get the hell out of there.
Without so much as a last glance at the files, he snuck out and slipped into the broom closet across the hall. There he waited for the newcomers to arrive. Shortly after the footsteps passed his location, doors squeaked as they were opened.
He heard muffled voices and objects being thrown around.
Just as he was about to sneak a peek at what was happening, another person hurried toward their direction.
"What the hell are you doing?!"
"No body here, Boss. We searched everywhere!"
"Yes, I can see that, you morons! What DID you think, that they hid one in the desk drawer? Use your freaking minds! See this?! These are files. Files tend to have what is information for?"
"—"
"TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE! You are brainless idiots!"
"But, Boss…"
"Never mind. Let's see if we can find something useful, shall we?"
A long silence followed occasionally broken by mutters and swearing.
Then abruptly:
"I believe we've won the jackpot, my friends, and you won't believe who the winner was."
"Winner, Boss?"
"Remember the nasty cop who took out Fabio?"
"Are you talking about sodding Celluci?!"
"Yes. He is dead so you can cut off his head and bring it to the Big Boss!"
"Sweet!"
"But where is he? There ain't no body here anywhere."
A deep suffering groan was uttered.
"The wall, airhead, with the many small silver doors? Those are air-conditioned drawers. It is likely the bodies are in there. Honestly, don't you watch TV?!"
That was the last thing he heard before deciding he had better leave quickly.
Carefully he opened the door and turned in the direction the visitors had come from. He had a bad feeling about this.
The whole building was eerily quiet and he was surprised that he didn't meet anybody until he stumbled on an unconscious body in police uniform.
SHIT! Was he at a police station?! Who would break into a police station?! And where was everybody?
OH, that explains it.
He looked at the clock on a wall. It was 5:30 in the morning.
So there should be more cops here soon. No need to stay.
He swiftly left the building, passing a suspiciously empty entry hall, but he had no time to waste. He had to get out of here and far, far away.
The only problem was that he didn't know where to go.
Without further thought he headed for the next train station, ignoring the strange looks he got because he was wearing nothing but a white lab coat.
***
tbc