Title: Legacy (part VIII)
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money.
Summary: Mike explores and gets in tune with nature
AN: Thanks to luvinmike for beta-reading!
WK: 1480
Part VIII:
It took a few hours for them to reach the location the vampire had in mind. It was an old manor he had acquired years ago and had not visited in a long time. Hoping that the caretaker he paid to keep the estate habitable had done his job, Henry drove up the driveway. On the way, he had contacted the man and informed him of their arrival, so there should not be any complications in that department.
Soon the building came into view. In the dark of the night it looked almost creepy, lurking behind the tall trees surrounding it. But it was not the house that made the vampire feel anxious. It was the time. Soon the sun would rise and he had to get them settled before then.
He parked the car next to the impressive pair of staircases leading to the entrance. The motion woke the detective's little companion, who suddenly looked excitedly up at the vampire. Henry had to grin thinking that those two were well suited: a pest for a pest.
He then looked at his nemesis and had to swallow. Even if he did not like the man, there was no denying that he was very handsome, maybe even more so now than before, especially seeing him bathed in moonbeams and sleeping with an innocent little smile on his lips.
As if not liking the vampire looking at his elf like that, the raccoon sniffed and climbed up the blond's chest, sticking its nose in the crook of the man's neck. The contact with the cool, wet nose abruptly woke Mike and he swiftly looked around, not knowing where he was until he caught sight of the silent vampire.
"Oh, are we there?"
Henry nodded in confirmation. After collecting his few belongings, he opened the door to get out of the car. Mike did the same and followed the vampire to a pair of sturdy oak doors.
Once inside, Mike was stunned by the understated elegance of the house. Were it not for the electric lights, he would have thought himself transported back in time and he almost expected Mr. Darcy to come strutting around the corner any moment now.
"Detective, are you coming?" a slightly impatient voice called. Mike must have been so taken by his surroundings that he had not realized that he had stopped because the vampire already stood at an enormous spiral staircase waiting for the man to follow.
He swiftly caught up and was as surprised as the vampire when he stood next to the smaller man in the blink of an eye. A raised eyebrow was the reaction he got, which he answered with a simple shrug of his shoulders.
They climbed the steps in companionable silence and Mike was soon led to what looked like a master bedroom.
The room was breathtakingly beautiful. It was decorated in light cream colors and warm browns, giving the room a warm atmosphere. Quickly Henry built a fire in the magnificent fireplace. After that was accomplished, he wished the detective a good night.
Seeing and even feeling how close to dawn it was, Mike understood the vampire's hurry. Just before the younger-looking male shut the door behind him, the blond called after him:
"Fitzroy!"
The vampire stopped, looking back over his shoulder at his guest, who caught his gaze and softly spoke:
"Thank you!"
Henry only inclined his head before he closed the door.
Hell must be freezing over! Celluci thanked me!
Shaking his head, he made his way to the basement. He knew it was a cliché, but in the secret suite he had built there, he was at least safe from the sun and intruders. He pressed a number code in the secret panel at the door and entered his sanctuary. Swiftly shedding his clothes, he made it to the big oak bed and crawled under the covers just before the sun rose.
-
The moment the vampire died for the day, Mike suddenly felt very alone. Before, he had been able to feel the bastard prince's presence. It had been bearable because Henry somehow managed to stifle his feelings, but now there was nothing! Mike looked out the window and watched the sun rise in the east. It was a beautiful sight and the rays filled Mike with energy and power. He was suddenly restless.
What would he do the whole day alone in this strange house?
A sudden bump caught his attention and he had to smile as he saw his furry friend lying on its back happily munching on a biscuit in its paws.
Eating. That was an idea! After all he had not eaten since lunch yesterday!
Searching for the kitchen, he took a tour through the big house and found an impressive ballroom, a posh dining room, and a beautiful study next to an extensive library. The billiard room distracted him from his rumbling stomach for a few minutes, but he soon found that playing alone was not very fun, so he continued on. He passed what smelled to have been the smoking room. When he finally found the kitchen, he was surprised to find it modernized and freshly stocked.
He opted for some fruit and bread, which he graciously shared with his beady-eyed shadow, who squeaked with happiness.
After their meal, Mike returned to the gym he had discovered on his exploration of the house but soon found that even the heaviest weights there were no real challenge for him. Nor was the treadmill.
What else could he do?
Seeing that no one was around and figuring that he would feel them if someone came visiting, Mike decided to take a stroll around the beautiful forest surrounding the mansion.
The air here was clean… so clean it almost tasted sweet. Mike took deep breaths and enjoyed so many smells and tastes that it nearly overwhelmed him. The moment he stepped into the sun, he felt like he was cradled in a mother's embrace. The warm rays caressed him and sang the sweetest song he had ever heard. Mike closed his eyes and lay on the soft grass of the garden. All around him was so much life! He could feel everything, from the small ant carrying a leaf to the huge stag running through the woods. It was surreal. He actually felt the deer move, felt its blood pump through its veins as its heartbeat and breath sped up. He felt its untamed power and it called to him. There was a connection!
And it was not only the stag! All it took was for him to concentrate and listen. There was so much life out here and, unlike humans, the feelings were pure. They did not hurt and Mike could feel them all: the boar in the south, the eagle far up in the sky with its boundless freedom, the snake on the stone enjoying the sun as much as he did, and all those other creatures. Individually Mike connected with them and felt what they felt. It was amazing!
-
He did not even realize that the sun had set until he suddenly felt the vampire's emotions storm into his mind. It felt like a cold shower after the peace he had felt. Unlike this morning, he almost wished them gone again, but at the same time those emotions were so intense and complex that they touched Mike. He felt the vampire move somewhere down in the ground and walk through the house. He then felt a sudden unexpected spike of fear and the prince's anxiety.
Why was Fitzroy afraid?
That fear soon changed to relief as Mike felt the grass next to him move.
Had the vampire feared him gone? How strange?
"I did not realize the ground was so cozy, detective. Are you planning to get up any time soon?"
Mike gracefully stood up and the other man's appreciation was not lost to him. Nor was the steady burn inside the younger-looking man's body.
Almost intrigued, he asked: "Are you hungry?"
The brunette looked at him as if he had asked to marry him or something as unlikely.
"Why?"
"Just curious. That's all. So?"
"So?
"Are you?"
"A little, maybe, but nothing that cannot wait for another day or so."
"So you don't need to feed every night?" Mike asked with even more interest, which irritated the vampire a lot.
"Detective, I believe we should get back inside and, on the way, you might what to consider what to say to Vicki when she calls."
"Oh, yeah…" the blond answered disappointed and uncomfortable at the thought of talking to his best friend who he had treated so poorly yesterday.
With one last glance to the forest where he, to be honest, would rather stay than face reality, he sighed before he followed the vampire inside to face the music.
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