Last time on Alias… I mean Club Vampyr.

A cold hand touched her shoulder, running over the curve until the palm was braced enough around the bone to turn her over. Kerry felt boneless as she flipped to her back, staring up at the light blaring on the ceiling. She didn't really understand what was happening. How was she still alive?

"Hey, Kerry."

Of course, you probably all remembered that, right? Being the chapter you were all waiting for and all.

Club Vampyr

Chapter 8

"Hey, Kerry." An achingly familiar voice said from above her. She blinked, trying to get rid of the annoying blurriness in her eyes. His beautiful blue eyes wavered in an out of focus, framed by the blackness of straight black hair. He was standing above her, back against the wall and arms crossed in front of his chest. She wondered if she had died and this was a cosmic joke of her idea of heaven.

"Michel," she whispered, voice catching in her throat. She turned on her side, bringing her knees to her chin to protect herself. She couldn't stop trembling. She was sure now that her hazy sight was caused by a steady stream of tears in her eyes. It hurt her eyes to continue staring up at him now that she was facing his feet, so she studied his shoes instead, needed to keep him within her sight. It took her a while, mind disjointed and sight distorted, to realize that the red smudge on his sneakers wasn't the Nike whoosh.

Kerry bolted to her feet, dodging passed his surprised grab, bypassing the body in the doorway of Nelle's room – though it really didn't help the matter – and somehow made it into the bathroom in time to vomit heavily into the toilet. For a moment, she thought she was going to faint from the dizziness swirling around in her head and fall in her own puke. Kerry braced one hand against the cool white porcelain toilet, shaking and dry-heaving. Her skin was slick from sweat, and she was sure this is what drug addicts going through withdrawal felt like. She almost jumped out of her own skin when she felt his cool hand rest briefly against her shoulder.

"At least you made it," he told her with a smirk apparent in his voice. She wasn't sure whether he was talking about her life or the incredible luck she had aiming for the toilet. She nodded once in polite agreement, reaching up to flush the water out of the toilet. It took her three tries before her hand successfully connected with the flusher. His hand was still on her shoulder when she finished, and he directed her towards the sink. "Come on."

"I'm ok," she told him, despite the fact he hadn't asked. He hadn't needed to as it was more than evident she was lying through her teeth to the both of them. Kerry stood in front of the bathroom sink, not able to look at her own reflection in the mirror. She was somewhat afraid of what she would see there. She briefly thought of turning on the water, but both her hands were gripping the edges of the counter so roughly her knuckles were white. It was likely she wouldn't be able to turn the knob anyway, so she just stared into the black hole of the drain.

Michel sighed, sounding slightly exasperated with her. He reached beyond her body, turning the cold water on with a quick, yet harsh, flick of his wrist. He stayed behind her, a silent source of strength as she quaked and tried to stand on her own.

"I'm ok," she said again, speaking to the bottom of the basin.

"No you aren't," he spoke softly and patiently. "Drink, you'll feel better." He didn't give her a choice on the matter, pressing down on her shoulder blade with a constant pressure and gentle guiding. Kerry obeyed, leaning over and bumping into him accidentally. She put her face under the tap, allowing the freezing water to flow into her mouth and rinse out the taste of death. She didn't swallow at first, waiting until her teeth were numb from the coldness. When she straightened back up to a standing position, she was able to turn the tap off on her own.

She looked into the mirror, only faintly surprised to see the tears still streaming down her face. She couldn't feel herself crying, but she couldn't seem to be able to turn them off. Michel was looking at her reflection over one shoulder, his black hair lending him the countenance of the dark shadow he was. She could still see him; maybe he really was here. "Thank you," she said, voice cracking as if it were dry and parched.

He didn't respond, and she didn't really give him time to. Kerry latched on to him as if she were afraid he would leave again. Finally, she started sobbing in earnest. He just let her, not trying to pry her off, but not making any moves to comfort her either. Her arms were tight around his waist and she was on tiptoe, eyes pressed against where his collarbone met his neck. He was tense, as if her sudden movement had shocked him.

"I'm sorry," she blubbered against his chest, not really sure what she was apologizing for. Maybe for needing him to save her, for her reaction afterwards and needing him to take care of her, for not being able to let go of him, or maybe it was for the wet collar of his shirt which was getting wetter by the minute. It could also be from the nicely sized splotch of drool she was positive she had put there too. Hey, crying was never a pretty sight.

"Are you going to let go of me soon?" He asked her, finally bringing an arm up to support her back. Geez, now that he was showing her the lovin', she wasn't sure she could ever let him go again. She tried, honestly, to ease the grip she had on him, but she couldn't. She knew she was in shock, but she hated the weaknesses she was showing him. She knew he didn't really expect her to be strong in a situation like this, but she expected it from herself.

"Sorry," she repeated with a sniff. Her small form was trembling from a combination of residual distress and muscle fatigue. She wasn't sure how much longer she could hold the position she was in, but that wasn't enough deterrence to free him of her grasp.

"Ok," he said, the smile back in his voice. He was laughing at her again! Well, at least that was better than being annoyed, she realized, burrowing her nose against the neck of his shirt. She hoped it wasn't under a guise of wiping snot over him, but she couldn't really help that if it was. "Let's get you more comfortable, then."

She wanted to shake her head and tell him she was alright, but he wouldn't have listened to her anyway. He seemed quite adept at reading through everything she was telling him tonight. Easily, he lifted her enough to enable him to boost her onto the sink counter. Kerry moved with him, finally easing her death-hold on him long enough to take her arms from around his waist and put them around his neck. Her legs wrapped around his hips in a position which would have been naughty if it wasn't for the fact her muscles were still trembling uncontrollably. She had just come off the adrenaline high and barely had enough energy left to keep her eyes open. She was so cold.

He still wasn't really holding her, or making any overt movements to comfort her, but Kerry appreciated that he wasn't forcing her away. It might not be enough for her, but just being close to him was giving her strength.

"Kerry?" A male voice shouted from the other end of the hallway. Kerry recognized it to be Nathaniel, but she couldn't summon the energy to reply to him. She didn't really think how cruel it was to make him worry those last few seconds as he took in the destruction, violence, and body in the hall and bathroom entrance. "Ohmigod," he muttered, still not seeing her from where he stared down at the vampire Michel had killed.

She hadn't even thought of that. He had KILLED one of his own kind to save her life. It made her feel a bit nauseous again just to think of how close she had been to dying in her own apartment. Kerry's head was resting against Michel's shoulder like a sleeping baby would and his face was so close to her neck she could occasionally feel him exhale. Was this difficult for him, she wondered, having her jugular so close with the scent of blood still palpable in the air?

"Kerry!" Nathaniel yelped, shock evident in his voice as he stood in the doorway to the bathroom. Kerry turned her head slowly, blinking leisurely as she looked at his concerned face and rapidly-turning-normal hair. "Are you hurt?" He asked, eyes narrowing as he took in the appearance of the room and her leech impression on Michel.

"I'm ok," Kerry slurred, tongue thick with the need to sleep. To think, just half an hour before she had been convinced she would barely get any rest at all that night. One attack, adrenaline rush and crash, and marathon sobbing later, she was ready to hibernate for a few days.

Nathaniel looked at Michel suspiciously. "Did a vampire drink from you?"

Kerry grinned slightly, shaking her head no. Her chin rocked against Michel's shoulder. "Just sleepy."

"Let's get you to bed," Michel said, easily picking her up without shifting her. Kerry thought he just wanted to confront Nathaniel and couldn't really do it with his back turned. Or maybe that was the point – he didn't want his back turned to someone who sounded even the littlest bit hostile towards him.

"Mmhmm," Kerry agreed, letting her eyes drift shut. She felt so comfortable, even curled around him as she was. Maybe that was the point, he made her feel far safer right at this moment, even though it was evident that his peers were after her life, than she had felt in days. Michel was Michel, and despite all his threats and manipulations, he had really never did anything to harm her.

"Here, let me take her." Nathaniel stepped forward, reaching to take Kerry from Michel's hold. He obviously was not comfortable letting his friend stay in the arms of a vampire, especially one who had just killed one of his own kind.

Kerry screamed, jarring from where she had been almost asleep when Nathaniel's hand grabbed her waist. She flailed out, trying to fend him off as if he were attacking her. Michel pulled her closer, a move which looked like he was protecting her, but was mostly because she had lost her balance. Now that she was more awake, she felt foolish for being in Michel's arms like that. She wasn't a baby, or an invalid. She pressed her cheek into his shoulder, glaring at Nathaniel for ruining her contentment. Selfishly, she still didn't want to let him go. If she did that, he would know she really was ok, and would leave. She needed him.

"You better not have harmed her," Nathaniel threatened, knowing enough to stand out of Michel's way.

"Or you'll what? Sic daddy on me?" Michel replied sarcastically, pushing by the human man. It was almost a male posturing contest over a dead body in her hallway.

Michel walked her through the hallway easily, neither showing any signs of her being too heavy, or accidentally hitting her against the walls in the narrow pathway. Somehow, he managed to hold her in such a way that she couldn't see the body on the floor even though her eyes were wide open. She marveled at him, not just because of his strength and obvious superiority to human males, but because he was actually there.

"I'm tired," she told him in a whisper as he paused to open her bedroom door. "I just want to sleep." Her eyes were wide opened, and though she felt cold and exhausted, she knew she would never be able to sleep tonight out of fear. She couldn't help but remember the time he had put her to sleep in the car, and though he said he couldn't do it to just anyone, she felt inclined towards it and was definitely no longer running on adrenalin. According to everything he had told her four years ago, the only thing missing was his willingness to help. "Can you do it?" She asked. Wondering, but not positive, if he had already been trying for the past five minutes.

He didn't answer her until he slid into the doorway to her bedroom. Kerry didn't even pause to wonder how he had known which one was hers. Later, she would just assume it was part of his mysterious persona. Quietly, he slid her onto the bed. "Breathe," he told her. "You're still a bit too wired."

She nodded, accepting this. She scooted over in the bed, in case he wanted to sit down beside her. He took her up on the silent offer. It was a strangely intimate scene, not as it would be between lovers, but rather two people who knew each other and were comfortable enough with silence as well as speech in order to communicate.

"In and out. Relax." His voice grew soft and calm, almost mesmerizing to her. She inhaled, and exhaled, trying to think calming thoughts. She thought of him. She could already feel her brain starting to drift off, even though her eyes were open. The effects of Michel's powers were like a strong drug, making her fuzzy and almost giddy all at once. Nathaniel had followed them into the bedroom, and was standing guard at the door like a sentry making sure the prisoners didn't escape or get up to any mischief. The suspicious and resentful expression on his face fit the simile well.

"You're doing good," Michel told her, dragging her attention back to him, though it hadn't strayed for long. She didn't know whether he meant she was doing a good job calming herself so he could work his influence, or if her mind was so weak he was able to slip passed all her defenses easily and control her. Kerry looked into his eyes, and the blue orbs seemed the melt, dance and surround her. Her eyelashes fluttered closed and she was asleep, just as the front door opened and slammed shut.

"Is she ok?" Tim asked, voice quiet. Kerry had the distinct impression, even though she thought she was sleeping, that the three males were standing over her bed watching her.

"She will be," Nathaniel answered, frustrated. "No thanks to you. Did you walk or something? Glad to know you're around to protect us, dad." His footsteps left the room, and maybe the apartment. Kerry wasn't sure how she knew, but she thought Tim was now left with Michel.

"I…"

"How is anyone supposed to find out what secrets she's hiding if you can't keep her alive?" Though she was sure she was dreaming, Kerry knew that was a strange thing for Michel to be saying.

"The order had been retracted. She shouldn't have been in any harm."

Michel didn't say anything in return. His disapproval was heavy on the air.

"All sects have been informed that she isn't to be touched in any way until the information is obtained." Tim rushed to fill the silence.

"Good. Get rid of the body. Make sure there is no evidence left."

"You're the boss."

©RelenaFanel.Aug25.2006

I Lub Michel. Hands up all who agree. .:cough:. I mean, review all who agree.