A/N: This story is coming along nicely… now if only I could focus on my other stories…

Soundtrack: Caught in a dream by All Insane Kids; The Haunting (Somewhere in Time) by Kamelot.

o-o-o-o-o

Last Time…

"Did you hate me?" He asked quietly. Black Hat hid his surprise in the only way he knew how; with smugness.

"What, you losin' sleep over it?" He sneered.

Priest almost looked hurt as he stared at him.

"Yes."

Black Hat sighed and lay back on the bed again, staring at the ceiling.

"… Yea I hated you. But I got over it. Living in the past keeps you from living for the future. Life's too short for that." He said softly, feeling Priest relax.

"Now leave me be. It's bad enough I see you once a week during the day." He hissed half-heartedly. He was rewarded with a chuckle from Priest. When the door clicked shut, Black Hat frowned slightly, not understanding the fluttering feeling in his chest.

o-o-o-o-o

Another 2 weeks passed after Priest's midnight visit. It was during those weeks that Black Hat began to feel strange. His surroundings began to look dull to him when usually they were vibrant, despite the gloomy room. His sense of hearing got worse, as did his eyesight. He could no longer exercise as long or as often.

When Priest visited him the first week, the man noticed that he looked strange.

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked, noticing that Black Hat's tan skin looked paler, almost clammy. The vampire turned his eyes on him, and Priest saw that they weren't glowing for once.

"… 'm fine." He mumbled, unable to focus on Priest's face for more than a few seconds. The pressure behind his eyes was driving him mad.

Priest raised a skeptic eyebrow but didn't question him further.

The next week, Black Hat lost his ability to sleep. He couldn't keep his eyes shut. He had tremors every so often and his mind was constantly racing. He jumped when the door of the cell room swung open. He hadn't even heard it.

"Black Hat?" Priest said. The vampire's eyes were wild as he looked at him… well more like glanced in his direction.

"Are you alright?" Priest asked, a hint of concern creeping into his voice. Black Hat narrowed his eyes.

He knew that person… dammit who was he… Priest. That was Priest. Priest was looking at him… wait he just asked a question… most questions required a response.

Black Hat swallowed the lump in his throat, forcing the words from his mouth.

"Yea," He took a deep breath. "Just tired. Had trouble sleeping…" He forced out, stopping to pant at the end of his sentence. Priest gave him a strange look. He wasn't convinced.

It was in the middle of the third week that Priest received a call from the prison. He knew it was an emergency because he had told the prison guards to only call him in the event of an emergency.

As he came down the hall he saw the prison guards standing outside Black Hat's room with their guns cocked and ready. They looked scared; a bad sign indeed.

"What's going on?" He demanded. One of the guards cast him a look before staring down the line of his gun again.

"He's gotten out, sir. He's having some kind of episode." He said, his voice shaky. Priest raised an eyebrow.

"If he got out of the cell, then why is he still in the room?" That's when he really stopped to listen. He heard a snarl then a hellish shout… sounds of labored breathing… grunting… more snarling and moving about…

He straightened his back and steeled his nerves.

"Open the door."

The guards gave him a confused look, but his expression didn't change as he leveled his gaze at them.

"I said. Open the door."

With a hard swallow, the guard opened the keypad and punched in the number.

"Step back." He instructed quietly. The doors slid open.

"Close the door after me." He said, taking a step forward.

"What? But sir—"

"Do as I say." He snapped. He heard the door shut behind him as he stepped into the dim room. His senses were on full alert as he looked around. The bars of the cell were indeed wrenched apart and the chair and bed that were usually inside the cell were broken, the pieces strewn about the room. Black Hat's still-intact coat and boots were among the wreckage.

His eyes were directed to a shape hiding in the corner.

"Black Hat?" He spoke softly so as not so startle the vampire. He heard a sharp intake of breath.

"Priest…" A deep voice whispered. Priest took a small step forward. He was now able to see his brother, but he wasn't sure of what he was seeing.

Black Hat was in nothing but his pants. His shirt was in shredded pieces that somehow managed to stay on his shaking body. He was covered in feverish sweat and his eyes were squeezed shut. His body shook in violent tremors that died down into small shivers, and then back into violent shakes. His arms were squeezed tightly around his body, his legs drawn up to his chest in a protective position.

Priest crouched down.

"What is happening to you?" He asked softly. He almost jumped when a painful sounding laugh ripped its way out of the vampire's throat.

"Don't ask stupid questions…" Black Hat wheezed, shaking again. Priest watched helplessly as another huge wave of what looked like pain ripped through the vampire, tearing a shout from him that echoed in the room. When he finally opened his eyes, Priest straightened up again.

Black Hat's eyes were grey; a far cry from the honey gold color he was used to seeing. The pupils were tiny, almost invisible. That explained why most of the lights were shattered; the light was probably affecting his ability to see. As he listed all of Black Hat's symptoms in his head, Priest came to a conclusion.

"You're starving to death…" That earned him a violent reaction. Black Hat's eyes flashed and he growled, low and menacing in his throat. Priest stood and backed away as Black Hat pushed himself up to a standing position against the wall, keeping one arm across his ribcage.

"You keep me locked up in this shithole… for a month…" He stopped to wince and make a sound of pain before continuing.

"Without anything to eat… you expect me to just conjure blood from the goddamn air?" His voice was steadily escalating. Priest automatically flinched at the use of the religious profanity, but stood his ground nonetheless.

"I'm this way because of you Priest!" Black Hat shouted, his face contorting into raw pain before he slid back down the wall, choking and gasping. Priest stood transfixed in terror before he slowly crouched down again, making himself eye-level with Black Hat. He smiled softly.

"Isaac…"

Black Hat lifted his head from its slumped position on his chest.

"What?" He wheezed.

Priest smiled at him, warmer this time.

"My name is Isaac. You couldn't have known when we were in the order together."

Black Hat stared at him in mixed wonder and confusion. Why was he being told this? He broke eye contact with Priest when he heard the rustle of fabric. He watched as Priest slowly rolled up the sleeve of his robe and shirt, exposing his forearm.

When Priest pulled a dagger from inside his robe, Black Hat came to realize what he was about to do.

"Don't you even think about it…" He hissed slowly. Priest locked eyes with him and made a deliberate cut in his skin. He watched in amazement as Black Hat's eyes rapidly dilated and he breathed in deep.

"This is what you need isn't it…" Priest said soothingly, and Black Hat almost gave in… almost.

"I don't want your blood Isaac." He drawled. He forced himself to look away from the ruby droplets that were now running down Priest's arm.

"Why?" was the soft reply.

"Because." He turned his eyes back to Priest, locking gazes with him again.

"I could kill you." Priest smiled, still holding his bleeding arm.

"That matters to you? You almost sound like you care."

Black Hat snorted.

"I don't." He lied.

"I just know that they'll blame me for it if you die." He said, his eyes flickering between Priest's face and his bleeding arm. To his partial horror, Priest scooted closer to him, trapping him against the wall. He couldn't get away.

"I don't want to die… but I don't want you to die either…"

Black Hat narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to retort.

"I can't lie to you." Priest said. Black Hat paused. He was right. He couldn't lie. But why would he want him alive? After all he did… kidnapped his daughter, tried to kill him multiple times, tried to kill that Priestess and that cowboy kid… he killed everyone in Jericho, including those Priests that challenged him…

"Trust me."

The vampire stared into Priest's icy blue eyes, and finding no ill will, took the offered arm. He smelled the blood slowly before licking up the heavy drops that threatened to hit the floor. Priest watched as his brother practically worshiped his arm. He could feel his brother's shaking as he took a deep breath, looking at him again.

With Priest's silent approval, Black Hat bit down slowly.

o-o-o-o-o

A/N: CLIFFY! XD Bahahaha. I'm so evil.

Priest's name comes from his original name in the manhwa "Ivan Isaacs". :)