A/N: We live, tis a miracle! Sorry about the long time between updates, that is really my fault. I turned 4 pages to 9 and Quake was not pleased that I kept adding. But finally here it is! Thanks to all who read and review you guys rock! We will try our best to update soon but can't promise anything especially since school started again.
A/N: last thing, anyone who might also be following Sail Away, I am writing my part and will send it off as soon as possible.
Ch. 7-The Morning After
The sun peeked over the city to shed light upon the steel structures and its occupants. The birds were singing and the sound of morning life filled the air; it truly was a beautiful morning as another busy day dawned.
Jeff stared out the window, soaking up the sunshine and scents of the outside world. His face was glowing from the sunlight as he took it all in. He loved the sun, its rays always seemed to warm his soul. With a deep sigh from the Lycan the beautiful light became darkness as he pulled the thick black curtains shut and plunged the once well lit apartment into pitch black. He let out a shiver and quickly took out his lighter. The ancient relic sparked to life and he let out a sigh of relief as the flame danced in front of him, effectively fighting away the darkness. With the golden lighter in hand as a guide he walked over to the adjacent wall before flicking on the light switch.
"It's safe for the living dead to come out," Jeff called out to his brother as he picked up the coffee pot. He poured himself a fair amount before adding at least ten spoonfuls of sugar. When he was satisfied with the beverage he walked toward the refrigerator, opened the door and pulled out a small packet of blood. He tossed it on the kitchen table next to where he had placed Matt's mug before he jumped onto the kitchen counter. "He can mix his own brew for once." He muttered to himself before proceeding to stare off into space, deep in thought as he slowly sipped from his mug.
In the hallway leading from the two bedrooms a hiss was heard. The light hit Matt's eyes as he exited his room, forcing him to cover his face. Last night had not gone in his favor and to add insult to injury he had to wake up to this light. Matt shuffled his feet as he walked towards the table and noticed his brother sitting in his usual spot on the kitchen counter. Shit, we should just make that an official seating area, Matt thought to himself. He grabbed the coffee maker as he walked pass it and took a seat at the table. The Vampire took the packet of blood and opened the seal. His annoyance grew with Jeff as he decided to pour it straight into the pot. If he doesn't want to do his job fine he can drink one cup today, he thought groggily to himself as he ignored the empty mug on the table for him. He waited for the newly added blood to settle before he started to drink straight from the pot.
Jeff was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of his brother chugging the remaining coffee in the pot. He raised an eyebrow at him before taking another sip of his own mug. "How are you this morning, sunshine?" he asked casually, knowing full well that his brother was in a foul mood simply by the dark glares Matt was shooting his way.
Matt banged the pot on the table and glared towards his brother. Compared to Jeff's energetic face, Matt's was terrible and all he can do is wonder, how can he act so casual after last night? The irritated Vampire's glare darkened before he responding loudly and bluntly, "Fine."
Jeff shrugged. "Okay," he said simply, staring off again as he continued working on his cup of coffee. He knew Matt was still steamed towards him about last night but he was going to let Matt make the first move on that issue. He would be lying if he said that last night did not affect him as well, but not like Matt. His emotions seemed to range from joy and comfort to self loathing and anger. He missed pack life, missed the comfort and sense of completeness it brought along with it knowing his fellow Lycans were beside him. Most of all, he missed her. A swell of grief threaten to consume him as his thoughts drifted to his mate, yet he quickly pushed them down. He had to leave all those years ago, not because he wished but to protect Matt, to protect her.
Jeff allowed a heavy breath to escape his lips, Taker's words returning to the forefront of his chaotic mind. He knew he would have to hunt, the sooner the better. Adam could attack at any moment and they were no match for him right now. Yet the true question was not if they were ready to fight Adam, but if Jeff was ready to do whatever it took to stop him. At the moment he was not sure.
Attempting to drink another gulp, Matt realized he had run out. Looking through the glass of the pot, Matt hoped to find some amount of coffee but with no success. Matt looked over at his brother once more, seeing Jeff still lost in another world only annoyed him more. He wanted nothing more than to knock him out of whatever little world he trapped his mind in.
"Think fast!"
Jeff continued to stare off in the distance, lost in thought. He was not so distracted, however, that the sound of his brother's warning, or the whistle of glass flying through the air, did not catch his attention. Without moving his gaze he caught the pot his brother just threw at his head with lightening reflexes before setting it down on the counter top beside him. "You dropped something," Jeff stated simply, taking a large sip of his coffee as he drifted off again.
"Dropped? I want more coffee, so get to it." Matt's plan backfired. He wanted to knock that look off his face, but Lycans had those damn heightened senses. The fact that Jeff went back to day dreaming only infuriated the Vampire more. Matt looked away from his brother's annoying face, It's too quiet in here.
Jeff shrugged at his brother's request before tossing it back at him. "Do it yourself, you know how." He knew very well that Matt was ready to snap, Jeff was just waiting to hear him crack. But it seemed that the Vampire was just as stubborn as his brother this morning. After catching the pot Matt slammed it on the table and glared at his younger brother.
It seemed like an eternity that Matt glared darkly at his brother, only to go unnoticed by the Lycan as he gazed off into the distance. Finally Matt could no longer take it. With a growl of frustration he got up and began looking around the room for the remote. "I need to watch some television and rot away what's left of my already dead brain." Digging his hands in the couch, Matt began the search for the remote. Jeff watched television twenty-four/seven and somehow managed to lose the remote every time Matt wanted to watch television. If Matt's blood had not stopped pumping years ago, his blood pressure would have been rising.
Jeff watched Matt as he finished off the last of his coffee. He knew very well that the remote was where he always had it so he would not lose it, in the sugar jar. He jumped off of the counter before walking up to his brother. He leaned against the lazy boy, a small smirk on his face. "Need any help there, Matt?"
"Oh, now you want to help?" Matt got to his knees to search on the floor but it was too dark under the couch for Matt to see. Grabbing the bottom of the couch, Matt flipped over it and hoped it would crush Jeff's toes.
"Hey, watch it!" Jeff shouted, jumped back to avoid the couch. "Since when don't I help you?" he questioned, an eyebrow raised as he crossed his arms across his chest. He knew very well this had more to this then the missing remote.
Rising to his feet Matt walks over to Jeff. "When? Let's start with last night?" He watched as his brother's eyes widened. Matt walked away and began searching for the remote behind the television set.
The Lycan's eyes slowly shifted to a glare, not liking at all the way this was going. He walked up to Matt and pulled him away from the television, turning him to face his younger sibling. "Why don't you just come out and say what you want to say?" It was one thing for Matt to be mad at him, but to accuse him of never helping him that just pissed the Lycan off to no end.
"Why are you hiding shit from me?" Matt began moving away from his brother. Whenever Jeff got this look in his eyes, things usually became physical and the one thing Lycans had over Vampires was strength. "When I asked what was going on or why we where there, you refuse to answer me."
Jeff growled at his brother, anger apparent in his eyes. "Oh and I am the only one who has secrets? You are always running off and leaving a path of death and evidence for the police! It is fine for you to run off in the night but heavens forbid I do the same thing." He turned away from Matt and stared into space, his frustration evident. It is not that he wanted to keep things from Matt; it just was not that simple. He was being forced to choose between his Pack Leader and brother and he didn't like that choice at all. After a moment he stopped and turned to glare at Matt. "You followed me; I didn't ask you to come. What happens with my pack stays between them; it is none of your concern."
"You're right, it is not my concern and I don't care what you dogs talk about..." Matt saw his brother's anger rise; one thing that always got to Jeff was being called an animal. "…But I don't think what your pack talks about is so important that it must be kept hidden from me, especially based on recent events." Matt took a seat on the turned over couch and watched as his brother paced around the room. As Jeff paced faster and faster, Matt could practically see the anger radiating off of him.
Jeff was seething and Matt's words just made it worse. He stopped his pacing and slowly turned to face him, a terrifying look in his eyes. "I gave up my pack, my home, my ma..." he stopped himself mid sentence. He closed his eyes tight and shook that thought away before turning back to Matt, anger burning in his eyes. "Those recent events are the fact that you fucked up! You led Adam here and now he is looking for us!" He grabbed a glass from the side table and threw it against the wall in frustration. It shattered into a million pieces as it smashed against the wall across from them. He started pacing again, his feet stomping loudly on the ground.
It was becoming apparent to Matt that things had clearly gotten out of hand and though he knew he should be trying to defuse the situation, Matt was having a difficult time letting this all go. "Yes, I screwed up; no shit! How was I supposed to know Adam would find out?" Matt walked over and got the dustpan from one of the lower cabinets of the kitchen. "I never asked you to save my bloody ass all those years ago, I would've come too eventually, and you chose to do that!"
Jeff was silenced by his brother's words, his anger still raging as he fought to control it. He almost chuckled, his frustration evident as he took a deep ragged breath. He remembered that faithful night over a century ago, the night the two brothers were reunited and all of Adam's lies came crumbling down. But along with those lies his brother's memory were locked away in his mind of Matt's time with the Vampire; leaving only brief flashes, nightmares and familiar faces in the Vampire's mind.
Jeff fought with himself more than ever to tell Matt the truth, but he could not. He was the only thing keeping Matt from Adam's grasp; to shatter his illusion of peace would be devastating to both brothers. After one last shaky breath Jeff glanced back up at Matt. "You are blessed Matt, you don't remember that night, or the ones preceding it." His voice was low, almost haunting before he turned away from his brother and stared intently at the curtain drawn window as he subconsciously dug the golden lighter from his pocket and flicked it on. He had to relax himself, calm the beast within or risk putting his brother in danger.
Matt hesitated because he did not understand. "Wait…what do you mean?", but it was too late, Jeff was gone. Him and that damn lighter, seeing his brother use a small fire as comfort always made him wonder of its origin, but today it was like instead the small click of the lighter igniting the flame, it was ignited Matt's fury. "Don't turn your back to me, I'm talking to you!" Matt used the dustpan in his hand as a fan and created a large gust as he swung his arm towards his brother. Jeff was not physically hurt but he could see with the quick disappearance of the small flame came back his brother's attention. With a small sigh of fulfillment from distracting his brother from his tiny friend, Matt bent his knees and began the needed clean up. He swept the glass shards into the dustpan; through the argument he had lost sight of his point just as a Vampire lose sight of his reflection in glass.
Jeff was slowly finding his internal calm, the small flame before his eyes warding off the dark thoughts of his mind and warming him to the core. He was on the verge of regaining his self-control when all that was blown away by his brother's simple action of blowing the flame out. Something in Jeff snapped. In a blink of an eye he let out a roar of rage as he pounced on his brother in a flash and pinned him to the ground under his weight. Jeff's hands painfully gripped his brother's wrist. "Never do that again!" He snarled, his face very close to his brother's as Matt saw a savage side of Jeff he had never witnessed before. Jeff's breathing was heavy and ragged as he glared down at his brother. "You do not have to remember your past with that monster, I do!" His voice was low and deadly as his finger nails began to pierce his brother's skin.
Matt saw as his brother gradually became more and more animalistic. Jeff's beast was about to come out and all Matt could think of was that he wanted to fight, to play. The thought did not scare him but instead enticed a section in his mind that he thought only existed in his nightmares. He wanted Jeff to transform, wanted the challenge of the beast but most of all he wanted to spill his blood. Matt could not remember feeling this way, but it felt strangely familiar, he was excited and wanted the beast. The pain in his wrist was sharp and slowly increasing in intensity as his brother's anger also intensified. Without hesitation Matt looked at the beast in his brother's eyes and said with smile so large it bared his two enlarged incisors, "There's nothing sadder than a cripple puppy, so I suggest letting go of me otherwise you'll lose those limbs tonight and become one."
Jeff was so close to losing his sense of thought and simply giving into his animalistic side. Yet Matt's words and smile shook him so much to the core that he found himself frozen, unable to move or act as he gazed in Matt's eyes. There was something there that he had not seen in Matt in over a century, he saw Adam. The way that Matt spoke to him, smirked at him and looked at him at that moment resembled the Master Vampire exactly. He found his anger drain away as he jumped off of his brother as if he had shocked him, getting as far away from Matt as he physically could in the space that was the kitchen/living room. The fear was evident in his eyes as he fought to keep panic from consuming him, his body physically shaking from the effort as he found himself no longer in his brother's presence, but instead he found himself standing before Adam's own image. "M-Matt?" he questioned softly, praying that he would snap out of whatever had awoken in his brother.
Once Jeff released his grip, Matt rose to his feet. His fangs were still visible and ready for almost anything that this Lycan could bring to the battle. The fact that he was willingly walking away did not register in the Vampire's search for Lycan blood. It was not until he began to cower did the situation take a different turn. Almost ready to strike, it was like a light was switched on in the Vampire's head. He was himself again as he gazed through his own eyes once more, realizing in horror that his brother gazed back at him in fear.
Like a hot iron stabbing his subconscious Matt collapsed to the floor at the sight and sound of fear in his brother's eyes and voice. Matt's head was in unbearable pain as he cursed the heavens and screamed for peace within himself. Something was stirring but he could not remember what, his mind was trying to tell him, but the pain was too much and all he knew was that he had to get rid of it. The only solution he could muster from his already busy mind was water. Still gripping his head, close to losing it all together, the weakened Vampire ran to the bathroom and collapsed in the open shower as well as turning on the water at the same moment. He lay against the cold porcelain and allowed the water to pour his release on him. The sound of falling water splashing on his skin and any other surface made the world wash out, everything sounding the same under this thin layer he considered to be his sanctuary.
The distant sound of running water drifted to Jeff's ears as he stood rooted in the spot he had occupied in the corner, his face still contorted in fear. In the century he had spent living with his brother, never had he seen the hunter in him come out, never had Adam's Matthew resurfaced to attack him. Jeff had prayed that Matthew was gone along with Matt's dark memories, lost the night the two brothers were reunited again. Yet their Jeff stood, still shaken from an attack by his brother, nay an attack by Matthew.
Jeff took a deep shaky breath as he closed his eyes. "He's gone now," Jeff kept muttering to himself, not just talking about Matthew. In his brother's distant eyes he saw Adam, he saw the Master Vampire coming for him again. That dark carves of Jeff's mind that seeks to consume his sanity with fear attempted to control him again and Jeff found himself looking around the apartment floor wildly. When his sharp eyes caught the object of his search the Lycan dashed towards it. In one fluid movement he snatched the accent golden lighter from the ground and ignited it. Jeff felt the warmth building inside him again as all those dark thoughts began to dissolve.
Once Jeff had a handle on his mental state he slowly glanced toward the sound coming from the bathroom. His brother was in there, not Matthew but Matt. Though Jeff was too stunned to do anything, he did see the change in the older being's eyes. Clutching tightly to the small relic Jeff slowly made his way towards the bathrooms open door. The Lycan stopped in the door way, unsure how to proceed as he gazed into the room. There Matt laid, unmoved and still clothed as the water poured over him, effectively drenching him. Jeff knew that as much as his lighter helped calm him, water did the same for Matt. He was unwilling to disturb Matt less he provoke him again, but he needed to know that his brother was truly back. After a few more moments of hesitation Jeff slowly stepped into the now steaming room, "Matt…"
Silence, sweet silence… The pain slowly subsided as the beat of water matched that of the throbbing. The pain itself was intense and sharp but with each high and low the impact of water matched it. Matt soon only heard the water and the pain was entirely gone. He was close to becoming unconscious because it took so much out of him just to stop the attack let alone reach the bathroom. The Vampire has not had such a feeling of exhaustion in years, and he still did not enjoy the experience, but he knew he would forget if he fell asleep. Sleep always made him forget and right now that was exactly what he wanted to do.
The Lycan hesitated slightly as he glanced down at his nonresponsive brother. Taking a deep breath to gather himself Jeff moved forward before he stopped in front of the shower's open door. Matt gave no indication that he heard him approach and that was starting to concern Jeff. With one last shaky breath Jeff reached into the shower and turned the water off. "Matt, are you all right? Speak to me brother."
The small down pour had stopped, ejecting Matt from his sanctuary to see his brother's worried face over him. He was scared to answer but he could see a difference, there was some composure back in Jeff's eyes. "Sorry…" he said under his breath as he reached for the dial to bring back the fall of silence.
Jeff's hand remained firmly on the dial, blocking his brother from turning the water back on. To most Matt's apology would seem insincere and a mockery, but Jeff knew that that was just how Matt showed his emotions. "It's all right Matt," he said softly, knowing that that signaled the end of the conversation and it would not be brought up again. He let the silence fill the room as he gazed down at his brother somberly; knowing that if he did not interfere Matt would shut himself up again. "Come on, dead or not, being in drenched clothes can't be good for your non-existing health." Jeff took hold of Matt's already extended hand and helped pull the Vampire up.
Matt produced a smile without even noticing as brother lifted him out of the bathroom. "Health? Ha! That's funny." the sarcasm was blunt and obvious, "I'm not gonna melt like a witch or something." but he could not help it, Matt was laughing. A few squeals of pain interrupted the laughter but did stop it. The relief felt as he left the bathroom with a clear mind was pleasant and subtle, he enjoyed it for all its worth and was trying not to think otherwise. It only lasted until Jeff sat Matt down on a chair that somehow fell over and he propped up. He felt his brother leave his side and waited to see his face again; hoping things would seem to be getting better.
Jeff returned a few moments later with a pair of dry clothes for Matt and handed them to him. "Since it is day light and you have nowhere to go, doubt you really care what you're wearing." The Lycan said simply, a small smirk on his face. Jeff studied his brother for a moment, he could tell that Matt was calming down, yet he seemed just as much if not more shaken as Jeff because of the ordeal. He placed a comforting hand on Matt's shoulder and squeezed it. "Come on get dressed while I clean up the mess," His voice was gentle, letting his brother know he harbored no ill feelings towards him as he let go of Matt and made his way back to the battle weary living room.
The clothes hung from Matt's hand, he did not know how to act. His brother was surprisingly well and accepting of what just happened. "Thanks." Matt changed with some unpleasant tries as he moved his head, but noticed his brother pause and shake his head at his joke, making the process bearable. As much as he felt compelled to help, he could not, his body felt even more dead. Matt fell back into the chair waiting for his brother to finish cleaning the room. There was not much damage to the apartment but it seemed as Jeff worked he also cleaned the atmosphere because the hostility, anger, and ill feelings the brother's felt had been wiped away.
Jeff reentered the kitchen; the dustpan, filled with the glass shards that Matt had used earlier was in his hand before he dumped the contents in their trash. Once his task of distracting himself and returning the order had finished, Jeff was uncertain how to proceed next. He jumped up on the counter and took his normal seat on its elevated top as he gazed at his brother. Most of his fear and anxiousness had subsided and was replaced with concern for his brother. What was going on in Matt's head to trigger a reaction like that? They had fought before, but never had it gotten to that level, never before had Matt truly wish to harm him. It scared the Lycan but he had a feeling why Matt was acting different, Adam. It was the all the Master Vampire's fault, just the fact he was near was enough to mess with both their minds, Jeff could only imagine how bad it must be for Matt. Jeff's finger's physically tensed and clutched at the counter top as he resonated on what he had to do. He had to protect his brother from that monster, had to protect him from himself, even if it meant he would have to go against his own beliefs and morals.
"I need to feed," Jeff stated in a low voice, breaking the silence that had fallen between the two brothers. He took a deep breath before looking in Matt's eyes. "I am going to need to be a lot stronger to fend off Adam, and to do so I need to feed on a human." There was no joy or excitement at this statement, it was a decision he detested more than any he had ever made, but if he wanted to keep his brother safe he had no other choice.
With widening eyes Matt looked at his younger brother, it was obvious this was a last resort for him. "Jeff…" his brother's arm was tense, almost to the point of shaking, as he gripped the kitchen counter. The older of the two could not help but smile at his naive brother, "Grow up Jeff. I'll be the first to admit it, it's tough accepting such a need but that's how our species' work. But there is a bittersweet aspect when it comes to mortals." Matt felt a rush swell inside giving him the energy to stand as if nothing had happened. "Sure you feel wrong about doing it because of the emotions surrounding the act but at the same time they are the most enjoyable. Feeding wouldn't have such significance if it didn't." The two never had a conversation to this degree but it seemed to be of relative ease. Normally Matt would be fantasying about the experience itself but his brother needed his help. He stood in front of his brother to see if any of this had sunk in.
Jeff turned his face away from Matt, unable to look at him. "Killing is simple for you Matt, no offense but you have no soul. It's different for me, I have been hunted, been feed upon." He shuddered at the thought before moving on; he couldn't afford to go into another trip down nightmare memory lane. "It has been years since I have preyed on a human, it is not something I enjoy doing, I take no pleasure in taking the life of another in order to survive." He let out a sigh as she finally turned to face Matt, his dark blue and green locks obstructing his eyes as he looked at the Vampire. "I will hunt, but I will not take the life of an innocent."
"Innocent?" Matt snorted at the statement. He is naive to say such a thing; none of them are truly innocent, at least that is what I must remind myself. Matt was unsure if he should proceed and berate his brother on the subject but he could not. Jeff never looked away from the Vampire, he was serious. Another argument is far from what the two needed so Matt quickly changed the tempo. "Tell you what, I kinda owe you, so I'll help you out and treat you to a meal. And to sweeten the deal further you can choose the meal yourself." Jeff was unmoved by Matt's offer but he had one more clause to add. "One Condition! I get first dibs. I will leave the meat for you, still alive of course, but I can't past up the opportunity of a good meal, might as well right?"
Jeff resisted the urge to show his distaste at his brother's words, instead contenting himself by gazing towards the opposing wall. Taking another life had never been difficult for Matt, the Vampire realized that blood was his life force and he was the hunter. It was not that simple for Jeff. The Lycan subconsciously touched the thick leather necklace that hid the numerous bite marks under it. Taking a deep breath he slowly glanced at Matt. "Fine you can have you're…. Fill," He let out a shudder before speaking again. "Just don't leave any visible marks and I choose who it will be." The fact that he would pick the victim did not make it any easier, but at least he could try and ensure that the person was not an innocent. Jeff did not care what Matt thought, he still thought that innocence existed; in fact most of his brother's victims where beings Jeff saw as innocent. His thoughts drifted towards that night at the bridge, watching his brother play with his prey before striking. Part of Jeff was ashamed for his weakness, for wishing that Matt had left her body for him; but his darker half craved her flesh and wanted to feed on her.
"Jeff…" The plan was set but Matt knew his brother had to learn the right way to hunt, his way. "…innocence exists, yes, but in the defenseless and those who lack a choice. Don't confuse yourself with something that doesn't exist in everyone, or at least not apparently. I hunt based on taste and the experience that comes with it, it is more of survival of the fittest I guess, but if you want to hunt based on "innocence" hunt for those who don't use that choice properly." When he was finished explaining he felt a relief fill him because, even though it was opinionated, Matt felt his brother had to realize his way to hunt was the proper way. The hungry look in his brother's eyes confirmed that he was being to reach the clever hunter in him.
The vampire's words rang in Jeff's mind, taunting the beast within and the morals he still cling to. "I am heading out." Jeff announced, no longer able to sit here and mull over the fact that in only a few hours he would be hunting human life, like the animal he was. "Be back before dawn." He mumbled before he practically ran through the front door, slamming it shut behind him.
Tbc…