A/N: I was watching TNA tonight, and I realized something: Jeff's using WAY too much facepaint these days. He's beginning to look like a hard-core mime and, as we all know, Jeffro is way too pretty to be covering that face up. I guess I can't complain too much, though; the crazy bastards over at TNA FINALLY made him champ. I've been skipping around like a drunk moron for two weeks now in celebration. ;)
Now, on to the reviews! Thanks to all of you who reviewed, favorited, or alerted; it's always much appreciated.
Takers Dark Lover, thank you! :) Why do Edge and Christian know so much? Why is Matty so retardedly ignorant? All will be revealed, my friend. Read on... :)
Neroanne, thank you! :) I'm going to have to include more rimjob/biting scenes in my stories from now on. ;)
ExtremeDiva18, thank you so much! :) I really appreciate that. I'll work my butt off to keep the chapters coming as quickly as possible (we wouldn't want an incident, after all). ;)
Slashdlite, Adam and Jay's circumstances were far different than Jeffy's; more answers will be given about their sordid past in this chapter. As for what they're planning, well, I never give out any spoilers in the author's notes… ;)
Seraphalexiel, you should know by now that sick is my specialty, at least when it comes to Jeff Hardy. ;)
JacobLuver113, your wish is my command. Thanks for reading! :)
Disclaimer: WWE OWNS ALL! (Except for Jeff Hardy, who's owned by TNA now, and Matt Hardy, who's apparently, um, owned by no one. ;) )
ADDITIONAL NOTE: This story is not supposed to parallel any current happenings or feuds in the WWE. I will mention past matches and storylines, though, just for continuities' sake.
Enjoy!
Jeff loped down the long and silent hallway, his body thrumming with painful exhaustion.
He'd wrestled in a match with C.M. Punk tonight, despite the fact that he was already hurting and exhausted from Gangrel's cruel attentions. Jeff had barely gotten through it and had ended up tapping out quickly, not giving a shit, just wanting the whole thing to be over with. Punk, of course, hadn't been satisfied with his easy victory. The straight-edge prick had kicked him in the face, hard enough to send him skidding backwards on the mat.
Jeff sighed, running a hand over the place where Punk's boot had connected with his cheek. It felt swollen. He let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes. His entire body felt like an open wound, raw and bleeding.
Jeff came to a small area across from a bank of elevators. There was a large mirror hanging on the wall, above an ornate table that had a hefty arrangement of fake flowers on it. He glanced into the mirror, and gasped. The concealing make-up he'd applied to his bruises earlier in the day was beginning to run down his face, exposing the dark and puffy skin around his eyes and cheekbones. Jeff glanced around, relieved to see no one else in the hallway. Bowing his head, he let his long, unkempt hair fall across his face, in an effort to conceal the ugly, black and blue bruising on his pale skin. He began to walk faster, feeling an overwhelming need to get out of the hallway. He hated the thought of anyone seeing him like this. It made him feel disgusting.
Looking down, he ran a watery gaze over the key-card that was clasped loosely in his hand. "Room 767" was printed on it in bold, black letters. He glanced up at the sign on the wall, directing guests to their rooms.
"Dammit", he swore softly. He'd taken a wrong turn two hallways back.
The young Hardy began to walk back in the direction he'd come, cursing this hotel's moronic architecture under his breath.
Turning the corner, he ran headlong into his brother, who was holding a bucket of ice and a soda from the vending machine.
"Woah, Jeffro, slow down!", Matt said, grinning as he righted himself.
Jeff glanced up through a curtain of tangled, multi-colored hair. He grunted a short apology under his breath, and continued to walk towards his room, not slowing in the slightest.
Matt followed, keeping pace with him. "Hell of a match tonight with Punk! You two beat the crap out of each other."
Jeff shot an unreadable glance his brother's way. "Yeah", he said quietly.
Matt looked over at his brother, noting the slumped shoulders, scruffy appearance, and skittish demeanor he was exhibiting. "You getting sick, Jeffro?", he asked, concern in his voice.
Jeff tensed under his brother's observant gaze, but did not stop walking. "Uh, no, Matty", he replied after a moment, "Just really, really tired, is all. I'm gonna crash as soon as I get to my room."
Matt nodded in approval. "You should. You've been looking like crap the last few days, you know. Even Adam and Jay mentioned it earlier tonight. They said I should keep a closer eye on you."
Jeff groaned inwardly. He was going to wring their fucking necks the next time he saw them. Edge and Christian dropping not-so-subtle hints to his clueless brother could get them all killed, or worse.
"Adam and Jay are retarded", Jeff said casually. He forced a mirthless smirk onto his lips, "I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me, Matty."
Matt sighed. "I know, Jeffro. The last thing you want is for me to be standing behind you all the time, looking over your shoulder and telling you what you should and shouldn't be doing. But I'm your older brother, and I can't help it if I fall back into old habits once in a while."
Jeff smiled, despite himself. Time would move forward, but Matt would never change. There was great comfort in that thought.
"So", Matt said, glancing down at the card in Jeff's hand, "what room are you in?"
"767", Jeff replied, "Though, I'm beginning to think the front desk played a trick on me. I feel like I've been walking for a fucking hour now, and I don't see any sign of it."
Matt laughed. "Yeah, I hate these giant hotels. The floors are a mile wide." He paused as they came to yet another intersection. "It looks like you're down here. I'm back this way. I'll see you tomorrow morning, bright and early. If you're up at a decent hour, maybe we can grab some breakfast before the flight out, okay?"
"Sure, sounds good. Goodnight, Matty", Jeff replied softly.
The brothers went their separate ways.
Jeff stepped into the hallway, searching for his room. It was the last door, all the way down on the left.
Walking sluggishly up to his room, he ran the key card through the electronic lock several times before successfully opening the door. Pushing the portal inward, he was immediately assailed with a wave of vertigo. Cold, creeping dread swept through him as he watched a black shadow shift within the darkness. He stared into the room, rooted to the spot, eyes wide in terrified anticipation. He knew what waited inside. He knew what would happen if he entered.
"Do come in, Jeffrey", Gangrel's soft, refined voice suddenly drifted out from somewhere near the back corner, "Shut the door, quickly."
Jeff did so, knowing that he had no choice in the matter. If he tried to run, he would be caught, and punished. Perhaps even killed.
After shutting and locking the door, Jeff stood there in the darkness, miserable and afraid. His arms were wrapped protectively around himself as he looked around, waiting with grim impatience for something to happen.
Suddenly, the young Hardy let out a strangled gasp. Freezing-cold arms wrapped themselves around his torso, trapping his arms against his sides.
"Gangrel-", Jeff began unsteadily.
"Shhhh, my lovely one", the vampire soothed. His icy hands roamed Jeff's body with unsettling familiarity. "There's no need to fret." The young Hardy didn't understand why the vampire ever bothered with placating words; they both knew how their little meetings were going to end up. Jeff saw no reason for pretense.
Gangrel's fingers caressed the bare skin beneath his shirt absentmindedly, in the same manner one would pet a dog.
"Please don't touch me", Jeff whispered brokenly.
His eyes were tightly closed, his bruised face contorted in a mask of fear. The vampire lightly stroked his cheek.
"Did I forget to heal you last night, Jeffrey?", Gangrel said, his voice gentle.
The vampire pulled his hand away and forced the young Hardy around to face him. Green eyes slowly slipped open, staring sightlessly at the vague dark shape before him. It was pitch dark in the room, and Jeff could see nothing. He couldn't hear Gangrel breathing at all, however he could, strangely, feel cold breaths misting on his face.
It unsettled the young Hardy that he was blind in the darkness, while Gangrel was capable of seeing every detail of his surroundings in perfect and vivid clarity. Jeff knew the vampire was scrutinizing him, enjoying every flash of fear that crossed his face. He could feel that unnatural gaze sweeping over his body.
Jeff jumped when he felt Gangrel's nimble fingers pushing back his hair, revealing the dark bruises on his face and throat. Shaking his head dramatically, the vampire said, "I did make a mess, didn't I? We should rectify that."
Jeff would have preferred to let the bruises mend on their own. He hated being healed by Gangrel almost as much as he hated being slapped around by him.
"Get on your knees, Jeffrey", the vampire ordered silkily, "And convince me that you are worthy of receiving this gift."
Resigned, knowing he had no choice but to comply, the young Hardy dropped to his knees. Gangrel watched him intently, a small smirk on his pale face.
"Please", Jeff whispered, his voice shaking, his eyes on the ground, "Please, heal me, Master…"
"Lean your head back, and open your mouth." Jeff obeyed.
Gangrel bit into his wrist and held it over Jeff's mouth, allowing a stream of thick, dark red to pour down Hardy's waiting throat. Jeff nearly threw up upon tasting the warm, coppery liquid, but forced himself to swallow. He choked several times, but he did not close his mouth or move. He knew from experience that there were consequences for that.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, Gangrel pulled his wrist away.
Jeff closed his eyes. He could feel strength washing through his muscles, clarity returning to his exhausted mind. Pain disappeared, and he knew that his wounds had gone. He took a breath, and realized immediately that the air felt crisper than before, as if he'd just stepped outside on a winter morning.
Gangrel watched him closely, a wide smile on his face. "Much better", he said, gingerly touching Jeff's face, "Your beauty has returned."
"If you hadn't lost control, you wouldn't have had to worry about healing me", Jeff said quietly, an edge to his tone. "You're always so concerned about secrecy", he continued, his voice contemptuous, "And yet, you left me on the floor, looking as if I'd been beaten and gang-raped by the entire locker room. People were staring at me today; they definitely noticed my bruises. There's only so much I can do to cover them, you know."
Gangrel smiled, and swept a hand through the young Hardy's tangled hair. "Jeffrey, you bring up a good point. I should, perhaps, think about being more careful from now on. We would not want anyone to discover our secret trysts, after all." He leaned down gracefully, and took Jeff's face firmly in hand. "Therefore, you shall drink my blood after every meeting. Just to be safe."
Jeff shuddered and pulled away.
The vampire's grin widened.
The young Hardy wondered if Gangrel was serious. The vampire had never threatened such things before. He'd always kept to a certain… routine of abuse, and Jeff preferred that, because at least that way he knew what was coming.
But it seemed lately as if he was escalating, wanting to push Jeff to his limits simply to see when and how he'd break. Jeff wondered if he was growing bored with his plaything. If that was the case, it would only grow worse, until he ended up dead. There would be no reprieve, no release.
Tiredly, he wondered if he should contact Edge and Christian. They had offered their help, and Jeff couldn't refute that they did know more about the situation than most people would ever want to.
He closed his eyes, wanting desperately for this night to be over with. Wanting Gangrel to be gone.
Suddenly, an ice-cold hand wrapped around his waist, another slipping tightly across his chest.
The teeth digging into his neck felt like hell, though what would follow was far, far worse.
[xxxx]
(1999):
Edge ran frantically around the small hotel room, trying to get things in order. Moving quickly and efficiently, he made sure his and Christian's clothing was packed neatly away, their suitcases out of sight. Checking the bathroom, he was relieved to find it freshly cleaned.
Gangrel was very strict in his preferences about how things should be done. He always insisted on cleanliness.
Adam sighed as he sat on the bed, being careful not to rumple the comforter too much. He picked up a comb from the nightstand and began to run it through his long hair, trying to work out the knots.
As he went through the motions of grooming himself, Adam glanced over at the other bed. He saw Jay, curled up asleep beneath the thick cotton comforter. Adam rubbed at his bleary eyes. It had been way too long since either of them had had a decent night's rest, and he was suddenly realizing just how tired he actually was.
He hated to wake his friend, but it was a necessary thing. Gangrel was on his way, and he would be very angry if they were not ready for him when he arrived.
Grabbing Jay's shoulder and shaking it, Adam said, "Sorry, man, but you have to get up. C'mon, Jay. Get up."
The young blonde's bleary eyes slipped open, and he let out a long, annoyed groan.
"Fuck off, Adam", he croaked, "I'm tired!"
Adam pulled the blankets off of his friend, ignoring the curses and protests he received in return.
"Get up!", he said, his tone more forceful, "Gangrel is going to be here in a few minutes! You have to get dressed!"
Jay rose and stomped over to the closet. He glared back at Adam, as if the situation were his doing. "I thought he'd give us a night off tonight. After this past week-"
"There's nothing we can do about it", Adam cut him off gravely.
Jay only huffed in response, throwing a few items violently down onto Adam's impeccably-maintained bed. He quickly dressed, ignoring his friend for the moment. As Christian readied himself, Adam made the other bed, tucking the sheets in and smoothing the comforter on top.
Turning a critical eye to Jay's appearance, Adam was relieved when he saw that his friend had managed to make himself decently presentable. Dark jeans, a tight white t-shirt. Gangrel should be fine with that.
Jay sighed loudly, sitting heavily on Adam's bed. He found himself glaring darkly at a random spot on the carpet. "This shit can't go on, Adam", he said, his voice bitter and very sullen, "I mean, he never leaves us alone!"
Adam nodded sadly, taking in his friend's wretched state. "We'll be alright, Jay", he replied, "I promise you, we'll figure something out."
Jay raised his head to say something else. Before he could open his mouth, however, they heard faint footsteps outside their door. Both men paled when they realized the vampire had arrived.
There was the sound of a key being pushed into a lock, and turned. Edge and Christian quickly moved to stand next to each other. They adapted the manner Gangrel preferred; faces expressionless, eyes on the floor. As the lock clicked, they suddenly heard an unfamiliar voice speak, though neither of them could make out what had been said. Gangrel replied to the stranger, and a moment later laughter filtered in from the hallway.
The friends glanced at each other apprehensively. They were both shocked to realize that Gangrel had brought someone with him tonight. Normally, the vampire guarded the two of them jealously, growing furious when he thought others might be taking an interest in his pets.
And yet here he was, inviting an outsider into their inner sanctum. Something seemed off, but then again, the two friends had never pretended to understand the actions of Gangrel.
The door swung open, admitting their undead master. He was followed by another male, obviously a vampire as well, who stood at least a head taller than the stouter Gangrel. The stranger was thin and willowy, with a long, straight nose, dark green eyes, and long, red hair that he kept in a neat braid at the nape of his neck.
"You are most welcome here, Antrim!", Gangrel gestured into the room, wide smile firmly in place, "I know that you are used to the very height of luxury, so I apologize for the room. These temporary lodgings may be humble, but they serve their purpose well enough."
The tall vampire obliged, slowly entering and shutting the door behind him.
Antrim's attention was immediately drawn to the two blonde humans standing side-by-side, still and silent, their eyes downcast. They were both very beautiful, and in the flower of their youth, just as Gangrel had said.
Swallowing thickly, he said, "So, my friend, these are the boys of whom you spoke?"
Gangrel walked over to his young charges, a lewd grin on his pale face. "They are, indeed."
He moved to stand next to Edge. Grabbing up a clump of the younger man's blonde locks, Gangrel nestled his face in the loose curls, breathing in the subtle perfume of his shampoo. Edge endured it, continuing to stare listlessly at the floor.
"Greet Antrim properly, lovely boy, and tell him your name", Gangrel said into Adam's ear, "We must observe the niceties."
Angry and embarrassed, and knowing he had no choice at all, Adam dropped to his knees before the newcomer. He bent over and gently kissed his boots.
"Welcome, Master", he said quietly, "My name is Adam. I am yours to command, if it pleases you."
Antrim stared down at the boy, entranced by his beauty, and the overpowering scent of his blood.
"You are free to do with him as you wish", Gangrel's voice instructed from the other end of the room, "Just don't kill him."
Antrim clearly saw the young slave shoot a dark glare over at his master, before he remembered to hide the expression beneath a mask of blank impassivity. The boy's captivating blue eyes looked downward once more, marking his submission.
In that moment, Antrim could have happily taken him. But something was plaguing him, an uncomfortable feeling tugging at his guts. The way that child had looked at Gangrel…
Antrim forced his gaze away from the pretty slave kneeling at his feet, and glanced over at the other vampire.
Gangrel was grinning arrogantly as he tightly embraced the other young slave, ignoring the boy's half-hearted struggles and small whimpers of pain. Antrim watched as the frightened lad was struck across the mouth when he would not quiet down.
His eyes narrowed when he saw Gangrel's rough treatment of the human. The boy seemed to be terrified. He seemed to be desperate for escape.
Sighing, he looked away, reminding himself that it was up to each vampire to discipline his human slaves as he saw fit. It was not his place to intervene.
He shifted his attention back to the lovely blonde kneeling at his feet. The boy waited, ready to do his bidding, ready to bleed for him if asked.
Consciously sheathing his fangs, Antrim bent to extend his hand.
"Come, there is no need for you to kneel before me like a dog", he said softly, "You can get to your feet."
He didn't move at first. He just stared at the outstretched hand, as if he were afraid he'd be struck. Antrim saw him glance fearfully over at Gangrel. The other vampire was thoroughly distracted, however, as his fangs were currently buried deep in his young slave's neck. He blatantly fondled him while taking his evening repast, ignoring his victim's quiet groans of protest.
"Adam, is it?", Antrim asked politely.
"Um, yeah, that's right", he answered nervously, gaping suspiciously at the strange vampire.
The boy in Gangrel's arms let out a particularly loud whimper, causing Adam to jump and glance in concern over at his friend.
Antrim gently guided his face back. He smiled at the boy, a reassuring gesture to put him at ease.
"Your friend will be fine, Adam", he said, his voice soft and low, "You needn't worry about him."
Adam nodded mechanically in response, his eyes riveted to the vampire who was gently gripping his chin.
Antrim stared down at the young beauty, his gaze roaming over the wide, frightened eyes and pale skin. Anticipation building, he readied himself for the bloodletting, allowing his fangs to sharpen and extend until they stabbed at the sensitive flesh of his lower lip.
A sharp cry of pain suddenly rang out from across the room, causing Antrim to glance over Adam's shoulder in irritation.
Gangrel's hands were down the blonde boy's pants, fondling him, tightly gripping his member and trying to prevent him from bucking away.
"Please…", the young slave whispered desperately, "…don't!..."
Gangrel laughed, obviously thoroughly enjoying himself.
Antrim let out a weighty sigh. He didn't see why the other vampire was treating his slave in such a harsh manner. There was a fine line, after all, between masochism and abuse.
Shaking his head, the tall vampire turned back to Adam. The boy stared at him, his stoic mask barely concealing a wild-eyed desperation. He was obviously concerned for his friend.
"I'd like you to take your shirt off, please", Antrim said evenly, his strange eyes running over the younger man's clothed torso.
Adam just stared at him, silently begging the vampire to rescind the unwelcome command.
"Please take your shirt off", Antrim repeated when Edge hesitated. His gaze was steady upon the young human.
"Yes, Master", the boy said, his tone defeated. He pulled his t-shirt over his head, and laid it on the bed behind him. Dropping his eyes back to the ground, he stood, waiting for the cold, groping hands to violate him.
Antrim never touched him, however.
The vampire stood there in place, horrified. He stared, wide-eyed, at the ugly evidence of recent abuse written all over Adam's body.
Antrim began to circle him, his quick, uncanny eyes running over every inch of exposed skin, missing nothing. He saw dark, mottled bruises, and deep gashes on his back and sides. Some had scarred over, some were fresh. All looked horribly painful.
The tall vampire stared, memorizing every bruise, every mark, and every laceration. It was very evident where these wounds had come from. Antrim observed long, deep cuts running up and down his back, running perpendicular to each other; cuts that had been made by fangs.
Disgusted, he wondered why any vampire would feel the urge to punish a human to this extent. It was cruel and vile, and completely unnecessary.
The Ruling Council had set down laws against such abuse, mostly because they knew that visible, open wounds on a human slave could easily bring unwanted attention onto their kind.
Antrim met Adam's eyes. "Did Gangrel do this to you?"
He tried to conceal the anger in his voice, but, judging from the naked fear in Adam's expression, he did not quite succeed.
"You can tell me, child", Antrim urged, softening his tone, "I promise you that there shall be no consequences for your confession."
Adam's lower lip began to quiver slightly. "I don't fucking believe you", he whispered, his voice shaking, "There are always consequences for us."
Antrim gazed down at the broken boy, speechless. Slowly, Adam's words began to sink in. Antrim looked over at Gangrel, his green eyes beginning to darken with anger and disgust.
He was incensed to see the blonde vampire standing over his kneeling slave, arrogant smirk firmly in place. He was holding the boy's hair with one hand, and his own cock with the other. Slowly, painfully, he guided his member into the young slave's mouth, choking him with it, telling him in a smooth tone that, should he feel any teeth, he would be severely punished.
Antrim heard the boy whimper in pain, he saw the tears running down his cheeks.
When he'd come here tonight, he had not expected this.
He wouldn't even be here, were it not for Gangrel bragging shamelessly about his humans. He'd gone on and on about his beautiful boys, his lovely young blondes who were so naïve and submissive, and so eager to please their master. He'd been tantalized by the description. He'd wanted to see the striking duo.
But he realized now that these poor boys were far from a state of consensual compliance; they were being molested and terrorized, and terribly abused. Though Antrim normally took great pains to disassociate himself from the affairs of humans, he found that he was unable to do so in this particular matter.
"Gangrel", he said, his voice low and very cold, "A word with you."
In the middle of his blowjob, the other vampire let out a low, throaty groan. He yanked on the young slave's hair in frustration, causing the boy to whimper. "Antrim, I'm rather busy at the moment. Perhaps you can occupy yourself with Adam until young Jay finishes me off-"
"No", Antrim said, his voice steely, "Now."
Gangrel's eyes narrowed at the other vampire's threatening tone. Letting out a throaty, animalistic growl, he pushed Jay off of his softening member, watching with aloof satisfaction as the young blonde violently smacked the wall and rolled bonelessly onto the floor.
Gangrel's gaze shifted from the unconscious boy at his feet to the livid vampire in front of him.
"What do you want, Antrim?", he asked, the corners of his mouth turned downwards in a slight frown.
Antrim glared. "I would simply like you to help me understand why it is necessary to abuse these boys. I have, after all, observed their behavior. It does not seem to warrant punishment."
Adam, one eye on Gangrel and Antrim, quietly began to scurry forward on hands and knees. If the vampires were going to fight, he needed to get Jay out of harm's way. Reaching his friend, he grabbed him around the arms and dragged the younger man's unconscious bulk into the back corner of the room, trying his best to remain soundless. The two vampires ignored him completely, their sharp, preternatural eyes locked unflinchingly on each other.
"I do not appreciate being questioned by my guests, Antrim", Gangrel said lowly, "Do not forget, your presence here is a courtesy. Showing your host a modicum of civility would be appreciated."
Antrim glared at the shorter vampire. "Civility? You speak of civility, when you were raping this poor boy before my very eyes?" He gestured in the general direction of the two slaves. "I have seen your brand of 'civility', Gangrel! The marks of torture on that child's body!" He gave an emphatic shake of his head. "It goes against our laws, in case you have forgotten! The Ruling Council strictly forbids-"
"To hell with the Council!", Gangrel snarled, "A collection of useless fools!"
"They are right about this, Gangrel", Antrim said, his stare intense, "There is no reason vampires should be able to torture their human slaves for their own sick pleasure. Is it not enough that we rob them of their blood so that we may feed our hunger?"
Gangrel's glare was piercing. "Get the fuck out of here", he growled furiously, his sharp eye-teeth glinting in the dim light.
Antrim grimly obliged. As he walked towards the door, he said, "Very well. I'll go, my friend. But, I must warn you. I have every intention of telling the Ruling Council what I saw here tonight. For your sake, and the well-being of these boys, I suggest you stop what you have been doing. The Council, as you know, does not abide those who stray from the law."
Gangrel stared as the tall vampire quietly left, half-enraged, half-stunned.
He suddenly heard shuffling coming from behind him, followed by a pained whimper. He turned around slowly, a fierce scowl upon his face.
Adam and Jay were huddled in the corner, grasping onto one another for support. Jay had obviously just woken up, as he looked a bit disoriented.
"I suppose you two enjoyed that a great deal", he said, a dangerous tinge to his voice.
Adam, too afraid to reply, only shook his head emphatically in the negative.
"Get up here, you little slut", Gangrel hissed, pointing sharply at Adam.
Trying not to freak out, the young blonde did as he was told, knowing that it was far better for the vampire's attentions to be focused on him right now. Jay needed time to recover from his blow to the head.
Adam gasped as he was roughly pulled against the vampire's chest. He screamed when Gangrel's teeth tore into his throat. The vampire's razor-sharp fingernails dug into the soft flesh of his abdomen, leaving behind bloody imprints.
That night, Gangrel made him suffer. He tortured him and broke him. Any anger he felt towards Antrim was taken out on Adam's fragile human body.
The next night was no better. Or the next. The vampire was brutal, doing his best to beat it into Edge and Christian that they belonged to him.
Their lives had become nothing more than a sad imitation of what they had once been, a constant stream of pain and despair, repeating in a terrible cycle. Always repeating, never ending.
A week passed. And then, one night, Gangrel did not come.
Sure that the vampire must be testing them, Adam and Jay stayed in the room, not even straying down the hall to the vending machine. They didn't speak of the vampire's absence. They barely spoke at all.
The next night, however, was no different. Gangrel did not come.
The two friends began to feel cautiously optimistic.
Two weeks after their master's disappearance, Adam and Jay still had not seen any sign of Gangrel, and they were finally settling back into a routine of cautious normality. As the two were readying themselves for some much-deserved rest one night, there was a knock at the door to their room.
Pensive and afraid, the two walked to the door together, praying it wouldn't be Gangrel returning to reclaim his estranged pets.
Upon opening it, however, there was no one there. An envelope, made of thick, obviously-expensive paper, lay at their feet. Their names were both written on it, in an elegant script.
Adam and Jay glanced around the empty hotel hallway suspiciously, before finally taking the envelope into their room.
Adam sat on the bed, and opened the envelope. Jay took a seat next to him.
"What is it?", he asked pensively, staring at the papers in Adam's hands.
"A letter", murmured Adam, his eyes roaming the page.
To Adam and Jason,
This night is a bittersweet one for me, for I know that justice has been done. However, it was an old friend sentenced, an old friend branded as criminal by our kind. It pains me to see this, as I knew him before, in simpler times. He was a better man then.
You would not understand, nor do I expect you to.
The two of you walk free this night, however, and for that, I am pleased.
I shall answer any curiosities either of you might have had concerning Gangrel's abrupt disappearance. He was called to stand before the Ruling Council, which is our version of a central government. They sentenced him to exile, as opposed to imprisonment, or death. I'm sure Gangrel was pleased with the Council's decision, considering the alternatives.
There are a few additional points of which you should be made aware.
He will be wrestling for the remainder of his WWF contract, which, I believe, has twelve months or so remaining, as of this writing. The council members decided Gangrel leaving the company at the end of his stipulated contract, as opposed to simply running off and disappearing, would be a better option as it would, in the long run, prevent legal issues and media coverage.
In this time, however, Gangrel is absolutely forbidden from any contact with either one of you. You are both free men, and under the protection of the Council until such time as Gangrel leaves the company.
Once his contract expires, he must move to a distant country. His own kind shall, sadly, revile him from this day forth. He shall be alone. He is forbidden from ever again taking a human slave.
You are safe now. Our kind will no longer interfere in your lives.
Forget Gangrel. Forget me.
Go forth, and live your lives.
~Antrim
[xxxx]
(Present Day)
Adam and Jay sat on crates by the backstage entrance, surreptitiously watching Jeff Hardy through the half-open door.
"That's his fifth cigarette!", Jay said under his breath, shooting an incredulous look to his friend.
Adam ran a hand back through his long hair. "He has to come in eventually, Jay. Just chill out."
Outside, Jeff heard the two blondes bickering. He rolled his eyes and took another long puff of his cigarette. Adam and Jay had been following him around everywhere recently, and it was beginning to get extremely irritating.
He didn't want them near him, considering their past with Gangrel.
The young Hardy raised a shaking hand to his lips, and puffed.
Fucking vampires. God damn blood-sucking pieces of shit.
Adam let out a heavy sigh as he watched Jeff lean tiredly against the railing outside.
"Remember Antrim, Jay?", he said quietly, his haunted gaze fixed upon the young Hardy, "Remember what he did for us?"
Jay shot his friend a strange look. "Yeah", he replied, "What made you bring Antrim up?"
Adam rubbed at his eyes. "I was just remembering." He sighed. "How long has it been since he died?"
"Four years now."
Adam shook his head. "It's a god damn shame. He was a good guy. He didn't deserve it, what Gangrel did to him." He leaned heavily back against the wall. "I wish he was here now. Maybe he could tell us how to help Jeff."
Adam and Jay glanced at each other, feeling lost.
As the sun began to set, Jeff finally succumbed and headed inside.
He passed Adam and Jay, ignoring them, and began to walk down the empty hall.
He kept his eyes on the ground. He didn't say anything.
In the end, he knew, there was really nothing to say.
Now you know why E&C hate Gangrel so much! As for my OC Antrim, he won't be a part of this story really, with the exception of occasional references to him here and there. But those of you who despise OC's can rest easy. As written above, Gangrel killed him off. ;)
Matt is still clueless. E&C are allies that Jeffy doesn't even realize he has, though how that will play out is anyone's guess. And what about Gangrel? Is he a vampire outlaw? How will that affect his "ownership" of poor Jeffy?
And then there's the mysterious person who'll start to unravel it all…
Stay tuned for more! PLEASE REVIEW!