It wasn't until he arrived outside the lab he realised he'd left his weapon behind him. He groaned, letting his head rest on the steering wheel, then jolting back upright as he inadvertently hit the horn, scaring the local wildlife out of a nearby tree with the short blast. It was only as he was about to pull out and drive back that the others car parked alongside his. Rolling down the windows he took the gun from the grinning Mathius. Shoving it into its holster he parked the car and zipped out, followed at a leisurely pace by Mathius. Even with his back to him, Horatio could sense the other was grinning.
--What did you expect?-- that same voice chided him mockingly -he got what he wanted from you. Full licence to use you as a walking blood bank...-- somehow he felt frustration rise again. Was he really in control of this, or was he just a little toy to Mathius? A pawn in a war against the likes of that crazy from the night before..
--I cant deny that it happened, hell that thing nearly choked me to death...-- a horrible feelings wept over him and he halted in his tracks, recalling that awful sensation of nearly passing our for good. He felt chilled as it at last sank in he'd nearly died. He'd come close to it before in this line of work. But for some reason that fact it had been some abnormal creature weirded him out even further..
He felt a hand land on his shoulder and he instantly jerked away, sighing and muttering an apology when he remembered who it was.
"Take it easy my little detective," Mathius murmers quietly "I wont let that happen to you again..im sorry you were put in such a difficult position.."
Horatio shook his head and scurried into the building. He needed to work this out in his own time...
But he'd barely gotten in the door then his attention was drawn to a case that'd cropped dup that morning. Calleigh had apparently already left, so he reversed direction and rove out to the scene, Mathius following him to his mild annoyance.
"You're gonna wanna see this H, its pretty gruesome," Calleigh greeted him at the crime scene. A body was staked to a wall, a metal pole driven right through its chest. the throat had been mercilessly ripped out or slashed. But there was little blood.
"What do you think it is?" she asked as he studied it, hands on hips, peering over the sunglasses he often wore. He'd grabbed them from his car so Calleigh wouldn't notice how sleepy he looked.
"I think...we've got an obsessive, perhaps cultist theme?" he said at last "maybe....someone thinks this symbolises revenge or something along those lines. It very precise, deliberately set out this way, so there more then mere murder here, there's a deeper meaning to the killers actions.."
Calleigh nodded in agreement and went to fetch her kit. Mathius quickly stepped up beside Caine.
"Bad news detective...it smells like one of my kind."
Horatio turned his head to look at him so fast his glasses slipped down a few centimetres, an almost comical look when mixed with the gob smacked expression.
"What?!" he whispered softly, "are you sure..?"
Mathius nodded "there's no mistaking it.."
Horatio groaned "is it..?"
"Him? I cant be sure...its harder to tell distinctive smells, plus its been some time since, the scents fade fast..."
Horatio groaned, rubbing his forehead, pushing the glasses back up, "this just keeps getting better.."
Calleigh returned, casting a glance at Horatio, puzzled at how quiet he was, but then again he looked tired. Maybe he hadn't slept well..
Horatio shook himself slightly, and got down to work, but at the back of his mind the doubt continued to grow.
They took what evidence they could, then returned to the lab.
Horatio let his head rest on the lab bench in front of him. In front of him a dna check was running, and he awaited the little chirp that would show him who this guy was. Theres been no ID, and no wallet. Robbery? Maybe. But the main motive HAD to be cult inspired murder.
--Or an obsessed vampire that wants your blood to paint the walls with.-- his brain interjected.
He uttered a soft groan and sat back up, his hair sticking up in several new directions. Before he could correct it, the computer brought up a page result.
The victim had been arrested for petty theft, but had no connections any religious movements, at least nothing noted on file. He could've been a closet lunatic and nobody could've known..
"Any news H?" it was Calleigh. She stopped short beside him, stifling a laugh "H, your hair..." she reached out and managed to flatten some of the sticky up strands while muffling her amusement.
Horatio cast her an amused smile, and ran a hand through his hair, restoring it to normal "sorry, I was drifting off, this thing was taking ages. But we got a result.."
Calleigh nodded, then asked "You OK, H?"
He jolted slightly "huh, yeah, im fine, why do you ask?"
"You just seem tired today.."
Horatio sighed "well, had a bad headache when I woke up this morning, its fine now, I just wasn't feeling too bright for awhile.."
She nodded "you've had a rough week or two haven't you?"
He laughed softly "nothing I cant get used to." god what a lie. He'd never get used to THIS. Blood draining super monsters, and one chasing after his neck 24/7.
She accepted his excuse and showed him the coroners report "Alexx says there was little to no blood left in the body...whoever killed him somehow drained all of it out. But we found no blood at the scene. He's been dead since late last night."
Last night, when Horatio had shot blindly at that creature.
"This reeks of cultist or possibly insanity.." Horatio murmured "the ritualistic way the body was displayed, like the murderer wanted us to find it.."
There'd been no finger prints of DNA other then the victims. The killer had been precise, and smart.
--He ripped the throat out so wed never find any bite marks. THATS why there's no blood...but I cant tell them that..--
He blinked as his nose itched then he sneezed, alarming Calleigh when his head slipped from the hand it was resting on and struck the flat lab table in front of him.
"H?" she was defiantly laughing now, but her giggles were tinted with concern.
For the first time in nearly a week, Horatio felt the urge to laugh. He looked up, meeting calleighs amused gaze, then they both burst out laughing.
Walking past the room Mathius paused seeing his dear detective and the pretty blonde laughing like loons.
--At last my dear detective, you smiled..-- he thought with relief.
Hating to interrupt them but needing to, he cautiously slipped into the room.
Horatio noticed him and sat up properly, a faint red mark on his forehead the source of amusement.
"What've you got?" he asked, quelling the fresh wave of giggelfits.
"Another murder." was all Mathius said, and this shut Horatio and calleighs giggles right up.
"Another?" she asked, looking baffled.
"Yes, its only just been called in, but the soco think it may have been not long after the first one.."
They all shared the same con cerned look. If this was s serial killer on a fast paced rampage then they had to act fast.
So that's why three CSI's went pelting out of the lab straight to the scene. This one was in a maze of back streets, inside a small apartment. In complete contrast to the open plan home they'd found the first one in. Clearly rich or middle class made no difference.
Calleigh and Mathius examined the body while Horatio prowled the surrounding rooms for any clues. Ina bedroom a window was wide open. Possible entry? Horatio looked out, seen a fire escape and sighed. People were in the habit of leaving windows open, thinking because they were on the 2nd or third floor nobody'd bother. Wrong.
But there was no sign of forced entry, not even a scuffle. The window was wide open, warm balmy air ruffling Horatios hair.
He was about to withdraw from the window when he seen someone crouching beside some trash cans down in the alley.
"Hey, hey you!" he called "stay where you are, I need to talk to you...."
But when the figure looked up at him, he seen beneath the hoodie it wore, that blood was smeared around its mouth. His heart jolted, and before he knew what he was doing he was clambering out fire escape, vaulting down from the railings. He landed heavily on his feet, and took off after the figure. It let him get close enough then scampered off
Caught up in the chase, driven by his fury at this whole business, Horatio ran further away from his only protector.
He barely noticed which route he took, dodging trash cans and once even someone's bicycle that the creature flung at him. It hit him pretty hard in the stomach but he flung it aside and carried on. There was nobody around, this was a labyrinth of a place, but he knew somewhere there was an open-air market, which probably explained the lack of passers by.
Up ahead he seen it scamper into an alleyway semi drenched in shadow. Large industrial waste bins blocked part of the entrance, but he squeezed in..
And wished he hadn't.
Up ahead was another person, who turned slowly to face the now hesitant detective.
"Well well...you did well, bringing him here.." the shadowy figure patted the thing like it was a puppy.
Horatio backed up, but met resistance. Someone grabbed his wrists and held them behind his back with one meaty hand, the other arm locking around his shoulders.
"At last, we get to see what that fool has deserted his kind for.." the first one stepped up close to Horatio and sniffed the air "remarkable. This scent is prized among our kind, only once in a great many years is a special scent like this born.."
Without warning he sliced at the captives shirt tearing the collar of his shirt, smirking as he seen the band aid covering the humans neck.
"So...he has been using you.." he whispered "how can even a weakling like him resist?" he grinned, gleaming fangs emerging. He threaded a hand through Horatios hair, yanking his head back and slightly to the side, leaving the main vein wide open.
"Now to take a sample of my own.." he laughed, the victims attempts to struggle were useless.
The piercing pain this time was much worse. It felt like the guy was driving ice cold metal into his neck. He felt his blood begin to chill, contrasted by the warmth of thin trickle that fled down his neck, soaking into his shirt.
He tried to let his legs to weak and collapse, but the one holding up him was too strong, compared to him Horatio weighed little at all...
Then the pain was suddenly withdrawn, and there was a smashing noise. The one holding him let him go, and he hit the ground with a smush.
Looking up he blurrily seen a hazy figure mowing down the one draining him along with his little pet.
All he could discern was there was blood everywhere, or at least it seemed like it. Then again he was still having fuzzy vision so it could've been a tap dancing ostrich and hedve still not been able to understand it.
--Gun...shoot..-- his mid tried to say. But he couldn't get himself to move, it was as if he was paralyzed..
Out of the corner of his eye he seen the big brute that'd been restraining him running off into the distance, snarling about alerting the master.
Back to the mysterious rescue, the new attacker seemed to have driven the owner and pet back. But he still stood there, breathing heavily, growling under his breath about people meeting their end if they hurt his "dear detective".
Taking a few deep breaths Horatio got slowly to his feet with the aid of the wall.
--Is this...bloodlust, what that thing last night was on? I have to stop him, before the others track us...--
"NOW its time to die, this is what you get for hurting him! ILL TEAR YOU APART!"
"NO, NO, you don't get it! Me and the big guy, we was just hired to get proof he's really as special as the master thinks he is. He said it was just a test!!" the guy sounded petrified. Horatio guessed he'd been paid to do this, and was just a hired goon, a dim-witted lackey who'd have no idea of the real plan.
"I don't care, ill tear you apart either way!"
He raised one clawed hand, ready to tear through the others neck, but suddenly there was a blur of motion and someone flung themselves at him, hooking their arms around his shoulders, trying to restrain him.
The scent of Horatio's blood was enough to catch his attention, but so did the detectives shaky voice;
"Stop, stop it now....the others...find us....if they see you.."
he could feel the mans heartbeat as if in his head, his detective was trying to protect them both.
"Run, coward...but tell your master if he dares show his face, he'll pay.."
The guy turned and ran, leaving the two alone.
Horatio let go and stumbled back. He seen his protector of sorts shudder, then he breathed a sigh of relief ands turned to Horatio.
"I'm sorry you had to see that side of me dear detective. That's our advanced state, when we fight, our true nature comes out. Even I cant help it.."
Horatio just shook his head, still feeling cold "its...all right.." he uttered at last, rubbing at his neck "I owe you for saving me.."
Mathius stepped up to him and used a handkerchief from his pocket to mop up the wounds on his precious detective. A spare band aid was produced from a side pocket, and Horatio was able to hide the second mark. The fact his clothes were torn was a bit more tricky..
"How did you find me.."? he asked at last. Mathius smiled, stroking the place where the band aid now lay.
"I told you, because of you willing let me take blood. I can sense a lot more now, your moods, your distance....your heartbeat...I tracked you using all of those. The pain you were in felt like a punch to the gut.."
Horatio looked stunned by all this. But he didn't flinch, swat the hand away or argue. Just stared dumbfounded at him. Completely confused by how this whole mess was escalating.
But if he hadn't let him take the blood… He'd done it out of sympathy and worry for his CSI's. He hadn't thought how it would help him. Hs main line of thought was safeguard his lab, he'd always thought he could defend himself since he knew what was after him . But this incident had proved him wrong. He'd re4cklassly pursued the small figure, assuming because he'd injured Rylam the night before, a weak little thing like that'd be easy prey for a 9mm.
Instead he'd run straight into a another noose, a second one which had been very nearly tightened...
"Not many things can stop a vampire in full bloodlust....you took a great risk doing that..."
"I didn't want...didn't want the others finding us and seeing all this, they'd kill you or something worse.."
Another smile, and a hand ran through Horatio's hair, sorting it out, the action oddly soothing...
"I'm supposed to be the one protecting you, silly detective...you have to be more careful.."
A weak laugh from Horatio "in this job, careful's meant to be the main aim...guess I goofed that up huh..?"
"Horatio?! WHERE ARE YOU?" that was Calleigh. Mathius quickly stepped back so that when Calleigh rounded the corner she seen the two standing there, innocent as ya like.
She noticed the state they were both in, rumpled clothing, torn in Horatio's case.
"What happened?" she asked, hurrying up to them.
"I was, chasing someone I seen hiding in the alley. They were covered in blood, but I ran into trouble. Apparently he had some friends hiding in wait.."
"An ambush?" Calleigh asked.
Mathius nodded "seems so, by the time I caught up-"
"-was already in over my head," Horatio finished, "too many to fight off, then they ran when he showed up.." meaning Mathius.
"Did you get a good look at them?"
Horatio shook his head "they were wearing disguises, it was all a set up...probably hired by the killer to interfere with the investigation. They knew a cop or CSI'd pursue someone so they used that to their advantage.."
"You should've called it in H," she reprimanded him.
He looked suitably chastened "sorry Calleigh, I didn't think. It was work enough keeping up, the guy was stronger then he looked..."
She nodded, it had been an impulse. Even the best made that mistake. What could've been the killer had made reason flee the scene, against the potential chance of stopping the guy..
"Are you hurt..?" she asked.
Horatio shook his head "a few scratches, not much.."
"All the same maybe you'd better go to the hospital?" Calleigh began, but Horatio cut her off gently.
"Its fine, really, it looks worse then it is.." and given he looked like a scarecrow she couldn't help agree.
"At least go get some rest..." she advised.
When they got back to the lab Horatio couldn't help agreeing with her that it was a good idea...
So at calleighs insistence he staggered home early. He crawled into bed, but not until after he'd double locked the door and pushed a table in front of it. Obsessive, but after seeing what'd happened to the door at Mathius' place he wasn't taking any risks. Even if Mathius himself did have a funny habit of inviting HIMSELF in.
Closing his eyes he forced the incident from his mind, but sleep provided no respite. Instead he was in another nightmare..
Being chased again, only this time he couldn't see his intruder, though he knew who it was. That creep from the attack. He could see fangs gleaming, hear maniacal laughter..
"Detective.."
A voice drifted into his dream and he bolted upright.
Blinking sleep away eh sat up, and seen a blurry figure in front of him. A blurry figure that was dripping blood.
"Oh my god-" he cut himself off as he bolted off the bed and over to where the person stood. As his vision refocused he knew wof course it was Mathius, he'd gotten in the same way he always did, without Horatio even knowing.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Got into another fight...a few blocks from here...I was..coming over to see you after my shift ended, to see if you were OK..and I spotted a bunch of what I assumed were Rylam's goons lurking near your apartment, so I tore into them.."
"How many were there?!" Horatio was bumbling about the kitchen, desperately searching for bandages, in other words, the first aid kit..
"5 of them.."
"5?! What were you thinking?!" grabbing the kit Horatio whirled round to look at him "you could've gotten killed.."
"But so could YOU detective...and your what matters. I'll survive. Had they done this to you, you wouldn't have.."
"But..but..." was all a stunned Horatio could mange.
"You sound like a motor boat detective.." he chuckled.
"A motor-butt?" Horatio shook his head to clear the line of thought, then resumed worrying. "why were they coming here..? I thought they could enter unless.."
"They cant...but no doubt they've gotten you out somehow.."
"You mean id've run out to investigate..?" Horatio muttered.
"Exactly...its not your fault. Its your isntincts..youre a cop, a CSI..it's in your nature to investigate...you worry others may be hurt...or in danger...but you don't think about the dangers to yourself.."
"That doesn't matter-" Horatio started, attempting to wrest with the sleeve of Mathius' jacket, so he could bandage the cut underneath up.
A hand ruffled his hair and he looked up at him.
"That's sweet detective...but I'll be fine by morning.."
"We still have to bandage them up. Stop any more blood escaping.." Horatio frowned, then forcefully sat the vampire down, prodding his shoulder "take the jacket off, I cant reach the worst injuries.."
Muffling a laugh at the detectives single-minded determination he did as he was told. He sat there, while the detective frowned and pulled a somewhat adorable concentration expression, focusing deeply on what he was doing..
"There!" he sat back, looking slightly less concerned "that'll do for now..."
He looked up from the tangle of bandages still on his lap, to see Mathius was restraining a smile.
"What?" he asked, baffled.
"You, dear detectve..i come barging in here, bleed all over the floor...and all you worry about is bandaging a few injuries...your not even angry.? You've got blood all over your suit now, but you don't seem to mind.."
Horatio shrugged "you were hurt.." he offered weakly, focusing on the bandages tangled hopelessly on his lap "what does a floor matter? I can wash it.."
"You're the least selfish person ive ever met my dear detective...and ive met a lot of people. After the day you've had, most people be thinking about themselves, wanting rest and recuperation.."
"I've, I guess, accepted what's going on...it doesn't bother me as much now.." Horatio finally admitted, shrugging lightly, his hands now tangled, mummy-like, in the loose bandaging. trying to free his hands only tightened the bonds.
Mathius chuckled "silly detective. Here, let me.." he began deftly unravelling the detectives hands. When he finished, he reached up and brushed the detectives neck on impulse, as he had when he'd been about to take the blood from him the previous night.
It was only for a split second, but the detective still flinched, a momentary panic showing in his deep blue eyes, and he tensed up just a little.
"See? you're still uneasy about it...don't lie detedtive..if you're unhappy, say so.."
Horatios heart sank, he hadn't meant to react to it at all, but maybe the guy was right, deep down part of him was still saying this was utter madness. An affront to the science he'd always pursued...
"...I..." he sighed "im sorry..."he stared down at the bandage free hands resting in his lap.
A hand propped his chin up, so his vision was directly met by the couch's other occupant. Who smiled at the confused human.
"Don't be a silly little detetcive..I'd be more worried if you weren't a little scared...it proves your human. Your alive..." he poked the detectives nose, making him go cross-eyed. The human scowled lightly, batting his hand away. But a muffled laugh escaped the confines of the facade.
"Heh, made ya laugh, im off the hook!" Mathius crowed mock-triumphantly.
Horatio sputtered, then burst out laughing. "You are such a..." but he didn't finish, just shaking his head and laughing.
The vampire smiled, mission accomplished, cheer up his dear detective.
Calming himself fast as he could, Horatio looked at Mathius "what about...you know.." he indicated the two different band aids covering two different puncture marks on his own neck "aren't you going to need..?"
"I can probably manage..." the vampire trailed off weakly as Horatio folded his arms and gave him a "I find that hard to believe" look.
"All right all right...maybe.." he admitted.
"Just say so then.." Horatio said finally "if you blank out again and that guy shows up, were ALL dead...last time was lucky. You woke up in time.."
"Because you had the sense to wake me.." Mathius interrupted, "I'll be fine.." he trailed off, seeing that same stern look on Horatio's face.
But beneath the almost emotionless front, he could still catch a faint scent of fear and unease.
"Its OK detective, "he got to his feet "you stopped the bleeding, that's enough.." he started to leave, but Horatio darted up from the seat, grabbing his arm and spinning him round to face him.
"Don't lie...if you have to...say so," Horatio partially mimicked the vampires words from minutes before. The torn collar had shifted, the covered puncture marks in full view. It was getting harder to resist temptation…The warmth of the grip on his sleeve, the sound of blood pulsing through such strong veins…
Sensing he was winning horatio pressed the matter "I cant beat that thing if it shows up again....and I cant have you falling over left right and centre..either you do what you have to or we're both up shit creek without a paddle!"
Then suddenly he was grabbed in the others arms, held in what felt like a bear hug. The sensation of the bandage being removed from his neck, and the same spot being gently bitten again…Then that dizzying feeling came back, and his legs nearly buckled. Partly it was his own fear, his mind rebelling against the sensation. That was why he'd passed out so fast before...because he hadn't WANTED to stay awake, fear had dragged him towards sleep..
He fought against that same feeling, telling himself to stop being so stupid, stay awake.
And so the feeding vampire got surprise when eh finished, and his dear detedtctive was still conscious. A little spaced out, but awake.
"What ARE you trying to do, detective? You humans normally tend to black out after a moment or two. The sensation alone sends most people to sleep.." he looked at the sleepy gaze that met his.
"Told you....used to it.." Horatio managed after a monumental effort, THEN added "what smells like blue?" then he lost grip on the waking world, and passed out.
Propping him up Mathius laughed "you are a funny little thing, my dear detective. You never think of yourself, even when it hurts you.."
Then he picked him up with ease, carrying him over to the bed and tucking him up in it.
Thanks for the reviews! ^__^ I drew a little thank you fanart, for the nice reveiwers whove encouraged em to keep writing this! but FFnet wont let me post the URL, so go to yamanakaangel . deviantart . com and it'll be in the recent gallery on the front page!