Horatio parked his car at the curb and yawned softly. God he was tired. Stumbling out of the car he turned to lock it when his cell phone rang. It was Calleigh, in a panic about something on the map pointing to him.
"Are you serious? What would it be doi-" suddenly a sharp force grabbed him, slamming him down onto the cars front hood.
"Aggh..." he gasped in pain as the bruises on his ribs flared up again. He lashed out, trying to break free from his captors. But the one pinning him slammed his head into the cars metal frame and the old concussion was hit a second time, sending waves of pain ripping through his head.
"Quit struggling you bastard-" there was a crunch, there went the cell phone, "you're not getting away this time!"
"let go-" Horatio managed to gasp out at last.
But his attackers just laughed, and he was dragged reluctantly towards a big black van that had silently pulled up at the curb.
The doors were opened and he was slung into the back, where one held him still while the other tied his hands and ankles with rope.
"Lets leave a little calling card for that useless Mathius shall we?" one grinned, fingers seeming to shift into sharp claws. These he used to scratch a deep cut along Horatio's shoulder blade tearing the suit as if it was tissue paper...letting the blood flow onto his hand he grinned, using it to leave a mark on the cars bonnet, an all too familiar mark...
Then they jumped into the drivers seats, and the doors were slammed closed, plunging Horatio into inky blackness.
--Oh god, what now...what's going on...-- he panicked, sickness and pain digging at him, until he gave up and passed out...
Mathius' heart sank as they drove closer, he could sense so much pain and misery from his dear detective, but the scent was fading, it was getting away. They were too late.
Sure enough his worst fears were confirmed, when they pulled up at Horatio's apartment, his car was still there, and a crushed mess of circuitry was determined to be his cell phone. There was a minor dent and some blood on the bonnet..
The backup pulled in behind them, as the two CSI's stared wordlessly at the symbol drawn in dripping crimson on the car. It was the same symbol as on the map..
"OH god...H..." Calleigh looked close to tears.
Mathius could barely speak "it was him. All along.."
"Why?" Calleigh raged, diving for her CSI kit to gather the evidence, as if moving fast enough would bring her boss back.
"I don't know.." Mathius lied, hating to keep the truth from his friend but knowing he couldn't ever tell her..
They went through the motions of collecting the evidence, and Calleigh rang the local station to make them put out an alert for a missing person.
They had to find him..
In the end the lab decided to go to the press, put out a news broadcast alerting Miami to the plight of their missing officer. With the chances this was a cult killing they had to move fast...
The whole lab was shaken up by this turn of events. The thought of their kind compassionate Horatio being attacked and kidnapped was the worst..
Mathius left when he could, vowing to himself he'd bring Horatio back.
His dear detective..
"Wakey wakey sunshine!" a harsh voice burst into the bubble of pain, popping it wide open.
Then something or someone struck him hard enough to snap him awake. Forcing his eyes open he seen he was in a dimly lit warehouse, a TV at the far end turned to what looked like some talk show.
Then a figure moved in front of the TV, blocking the light out, overheard a dim light bulb flickered into life. Then eh noticed he was sat on a chair, trussed dup with lengths of rope.
As his eyes adjusted to the light he recognised the big brute in front of him. The one Mathius had called "Rylam". He looked a little more human now, but still as ugly. The eye Horatio was sure he'd taken out had grown back, although it still looked painful and raw.
Rylams claws grasped Horatios chin and forced it upwards, so the detective couldn't shrink from his anger fuelled glare. He dug his claws in, small beads of blood welling up, drawing a panicky noise from the victim.
"Well well, it is as I promised detective...im going to rip your guts out.." the monster laughed, still holding the others gaze by force.
"Get off. Me!" Horatio spat, his heart pounding. But Rylam just laughed, turning to the others with him,
"What'd I tell ya boys? He's got guts standing up to me!"
"When ya going to tear 'em out boss?"
"Soon, once the ritual is complete!"
Seeing Horatio look panicked Rylam smirked "I suppose you may as well learn how you're gonan die little wretch. See there's an old ritual among our kind. It dictates that if, on the night of a full moon, the heart of a victim is torn out and consumed while still warm, the power of the bloodline will be absorbed. And your blood is So very unique.."
He let go of Horatio, and the human took a few ragged breaths. Rylam smirked, walking around to behind him.
"One like you only comes up once in a million, and the ritual will not only give me the joy of watching you die, but I'll possess the strength such blood is fabled to bring. In fact," hands dug into strawberry blonde hair and tugged his neck back, "I think ill start now, whatcha say boys?"
There was a round of cheers hurled in his direction, and Rylam grinned, forcefully biting the detectives neck.
The blood was a rich as he'd been told. The taste was intoxicating, like a fine wine to their kind.
The others watched and laughed as Horatio panicked and tried to pull away, but the ropes binding his wrists ankle's and middle to the hard backed chair wouldn't let him move an inch. All he could do was close his eyes and try to black out..
Then the pain withdrew, and he heard Rylam laughing.
"Oh no you don't, I'm going to make sure you long for death, you'll be begging me to end it for you by the time the moons full..." he gestured to the lackey watching the TV, "turn it to the weather, I want to see where the moon is highest.."
"Got it boss," the goon cackled, flicking through the channels until he came across a channel showing previews for the news, so he left it at that channel, and they all waited to see how much longer until the humans heart was theirs..
Then the adverts suddenly cut short, showing a harried looking news reporter. She looked at the camera, her voice serious.
"We interrupt your scheduled program to bring you an urgent news report."
Rylam snarled "what now? who dares-"
"Police are urgently seeking information regarding the whereabouts of missing CSI Lieutenant Horatio Caine, who was abducted from outside his apartment just hours ago." The report indicated at a photograph of the missing CSI "if anyone has any information pertaining to his whereabouts, we ask that you contact miami-dade PD ASAP. We now return you to your scheduled program.."
Rylam laughed coldly, running one sharp claw down Horatios neck "isn't that sweet "Horatio", those idiots are worried about you. Well its very touching, but they wont be seeing you again..."
Horatio forced a laugh "want to bet?"
This earnt him another painful smack across the face.
"If your counting on that rat Mathius coming to your rescue, I wouldn't bother. My men will take care of him." the vampire laughed coldly "that idiots infatuated with humans...hell, bloods on the start of what he actually wants from you.." he leant in close and laughed "knowing that ass, he probably wants to screw you too. He does have a certain THING for humans. But your the first he's gone to such lengths to safe guard.."
Horatio glared hatefully at his abductor "sounds like someone's talking out their-"THWACK. his gut this time.
"Urgh.."
"I'd shut up if I were you CSI.."
The one who'd been watching the TV let out a whoop of glee "tomorrow boss, and from what you told us it aint far from here.."
"Good, we've got to get to the highest spot we can find, where the moons brightest.." he looked at the battered Horatio "then ill get the power I deserve, our clan will best the ones to run this city!"
Horatio glared up at him in hatred, fury all that was keeping him from blacking out..
"Time to sleep detective," Rylam again, Horatio looked up to see him brandishing a needle with a clear liquid in it. Destination, his neck no doubt. He struggled, trying to move away from the needle. The vampire laughed, then stabbed it into his leg, pressing on the plunger even as Horatio realised it was too late..
His head felt heavy...vision beginning to blur..
"Sleep little human, you're time is almost up..."
Mathius meanwhile was calling on a few old friends...
He found one of them in a bar in downtown Miami. And old friend indeed, he'd known Scott Hansen a lonnnnggg time.
"What brings you here all of a sudden?" Scott asked him, finishing off his beer and looking at the obviously worried Mathius.
"Rylam," was all the vampire needed to say, Scott put the glass down right away and leaned closer, so nobody would overhear them, "are you serious?"
"I'm afraid so.."
"What've you gotten him pissed off about this time..?"
"Its not ME he's after....its a human.."
Scott groaned, Mathius was a devoted human-lover, he was fascinated with the beings, guys in particular. His good friend was about as straight as a roundabout in blunt terms. Not that he cared.
"What've you done this time...revealed yourself as a-" seeing Mathius looking guilty he smacked his face with his palm.
"Let me explain," Mathius began "this isn't an ordinary human...he's got blood legends ramble on about.."
"You mean...from the books.."
A nod from Mathius "yes. I was just feeding on a subject, little realising he was being chased by one of those police officers. Guy rounds the corner, sees me and flips out. So I go to do the usual "drain and knock 'em out" trick, and find out his bloods powerful enough to constitute draining three humans at a go.."
"So then what?" eyeing the uniform Scott pressed on "you got up close right?"
"Exactly, I started work in the CSI lab where he works. I didn't bank on him remembering me so quickly, so I had no choice but to tell him. I made a deal, id keep an eye on him and his lab.."
"In exchange for blood, yeah I get that bit, but what's happened now? you mentioned Rylam.."
"He's kidnapped him, I think he's going to attempt that crazy ass ritual from the old books.."
"But that's total bull, well, most of it..."
"He doesn't care, he just wants the detective's blood.."
"Wait. Detective...you mean," here Scott caught sight of a news report on the TV behind the bar "that guy?"
Mathius twisted in his seat, spotting the news report, and Horatio's photo being flashed on screen.
"Yes, that's him.."
Scott winced "if Rylams got him we don't have long. The moons gonna rise soon.."
"I know! That's why I need as much help as I can, I have to get him back!" the vampire looked worried sick as he looked pleadingly at his friend.
"Geez, you must REALLY like this one if you're pulling the puppy-dog eyes.." eh sighed "fine then, since I owe ya one for before, ill see what I can do...I know a few guys that owe me in turn, one of which is an expert at getting special info.."
"Thanks man, I owe ya-"
"Nah, lets just call it quits after this OK.."
When he broke free of the sedative for a brief few minutes, he was still in the same place. Only it was daylight, possibly morning or afternoon. Seeing he was awake Rylam coldly informed him they were "moving on since those damn cops are looking for your wretched ass.."
One of them cut the ropes and he was slung unceremoniously over their shoulder. He seen something drop to the floor as the one carrying him took off at a run towards the exit, then he passed out again..
Barely an hour or two after they'd left a pair of teenage kids snuck into the warehouse through a gap in the fence at the back. Once they discerned the place was empty they started goofing about, building a makeshift skate ramp out of some boxes and planks, and taking turns daring each other to try increasingly stupid moves.
The younger of the two hopped of his board and sat down in an old wooden chair "man that was freakin sweet!" he snickered, then noticed something under his foot. Scooping it up he called to his friend;
"Dude, come check this out, I found a wallet!"
"Serious? hey, see if there's any dosh in it!"
The teen grinned, opened the wallet up, and a card fell out. Out of curiosity he picked it up, tilting it so he could read the name. And froze.
"What's up man? It belong to some dork you know or something'?" the second teen came to a halt next to his buddy.
"Dude, look at this..." the younger handed him the card, the older one scoffed and read it,
"Lemme see....Lieutenant Horatio Caine...so? All this proves is he's a copper, aint too bright if he left his wallet in this dump!"
"NO," the other shook his head deadly serious "don't you watch the TV man? He's on all the news stations, apparently he's missing or something'...they think it was a cult abduct tion or something"
The older suddenly looked at the card in fear "you mean. this is some missing dudes property? whys it here?"
"Maybe the guys that took him held him here, you know, like in the movies.."
"Holy crap man..." the older teen stared at the ID card, looking at the picture on it. The name did sound vaguely familiar...
"We got to tell the cops," the younger said.
"You kidding, well get busted for trespassing in this dump!"
"Ims serious! The guys missing, the TV said they're urgently seeking ANY info...that count as info man, he must've been here!"
"aw man, you're kidding..."
But the younger one snagged the card back and took out the cell phone he'd gotten on his birthday just last week.
"Yeah, police? I got something on that guy from the TV? Caine?"
Calleigh's heart leapt when she was told they'd gottne their first clue. Two kids had apparently found H's wallet in an abandoned warehouse.
She and Ryan Wolfe headed out there ASAP, her heart in her mouth. Was Horatio still alive? Was he OK?
When they got there two cops were holding the kids for them to question. One looked sullen, the other the same, but tinged with concern.
"You the kids that found the evidence?" Wolfe asked. The younger nodded, handing over the wallet and card.
"We were just goofing off, you know.."
"In a place you know you're going to get in deep trouble for busting into? suurree.." Wolfe drawled sarcastically. Calleigh shook her head and sighed, speaking gently to the kid.
"Were was it?"
He led her across the floor to the chair. She noticed a few blood drops on the floor behind it.
She took out a swab and tested for blood. Positive, it was human.
"I hope you find him like," the kid mumbled as the cop led him away
"Thanks,.." Calleigh managed at last, with a sad smile.
In the end the kids were let off with just a verbal warning and told to scram.
Calleigh took the new evidence back to the lab, where she tested the new samples. It was Horatio's, just like the blood on the car.
The lot that had kidnapped him had held him there, then they'd probably been spooked by the news broadcasts, shed noticed a beat up TV on a table..
--Please hang on H, we'll get you back soon...-- she thought.
Pain, and lots of it. He slowly opened his eyes, panicking when it seemed he'd gone blind. Then he remembered the black van that'd he'd been stuffed into the first time. After some time his eyes adjusted to the darkness....
Voices talking, cars revving. Somehow sitting himself up, he noticed his wrists and ankles were bound again. He shuffled over to the chink of light that was coming in from the minutia gap in the vans doors...
From what he could tell it was a gas station. He tried shouting but his voice was hoarse from thirst. Then eh tried kicking the door, but it didn't budge.
--Damnit...they wont hear me..--
Tied behind his back, his hands groped at the suit pockets, his wallet was gone, they'd no doubt ditched it or he'd dropped it. His scrambling fingers touched on a slip of cardboard slipped into the rear pocket. Shakily grasping it between his fingers he put his back against the doors, jabbing the card at the gap between the doors. It cut several paper cuts into his shaking fingers before he got it through. He felt it slip from his hands and he prayed it would catch someone's eye...
Carl Mitchell was tired and out of gas. So with a reluctant groan he stopped off at the nearest gas station.
While he was slouching against the car gulping down a bottle of cola he seen something white flutter in a corner of his eye. Shaking his head to clear it he noticed a big black van , but nothing white. Weird.
He was about to turn away when the van drives returned from the till, and jumped into the drivers seat, the vehicle tearing off at speed. The back draft caused by the exhaust pipe blasted the scrap of white towards him, landing at his feet. Picking it up he noticed it had bloodied fingerprints all over it. It as a business card of some sort, with a woman's name on it, from NCIS apparently.
He would've dismissed it as just junk, but something seemed a little odd about the van, the guy he'd seen getting into it looked damn shifty. And the white flappy thing must've been someone dropping the card. But itd been by the back of the vans, and he didn't see those doors open, no sir. Something didn't sit right.
With a tired sigh he made a note to drop into the nearest police station on his way home..
Delko was just on his way out when a man lumbered into the lobby, catching sight of the CSI he waved impatiently at him.
"'Ere, you're one of those cops right? got something ta tell ya.."
He explained about the dodgy van, and the funny white card. He handed this over to Delko.
Delko mind was buzzing as eh turned the card over ina latex gloved hand.
"Arc..G...Ginovaef..sounds familiar..."
Leaving one of the cops to fill out a report on what the man had seen, he went back into the lab and discovered that was the same Russian woman who'd given Horatio the dry clothes. But why did the card have blood on it? Unless....
It was a long shot but he tested it. Positive match for Horatio.
The guy said he'd been at a local gas station when the odd card had fluttered out of the closed doors of a black van. he'd recalled the number plate as well, which Delko was eternally grateful for. It was a start...
Hopefully they could predict where the abductors were taking Horatio...
The doors were open and Horatio recoiled from the blinding light.
"Heh, were at your new home detective, and your soon to be grave!"
The goon hauled the bound Horatio out of the van, dragging him down a path surrounded by a chain link fence. The place was another warehouse, only this one was even bigger, and parked right by the sea. An empty docking platform was built right next to the exit door. The area was relative quiet, it probably been a fishing port at one time. But easier spots to fish had opened up so this palce'd been abandoned.
He was shunted into the empty space. In its centre was a stone altar, looking utterly out of place.
"You like it? Boss had some guys bring it here when he heard about you. This is where you're gonan die," and he cracked up laughing.
Horatios legs went to jelly and he stumbled, feet snagging each other and he nearly fell but was easily hauled back onto his feet.
--Oh god. This is crazy...they're going to use me as a sacrifice..?--
"Where do I put this guy boss?"
"Tie him down, that way everything will be set for when the moon rises..."
The goon tried to force the human onto the stone slab but Horatio thrashed about in his grip, trying valiantly to free himself.
Then a foot connected with the back of his knee, dropping him to the floor. While he struggled to recover, the goon easily pinned him to the table on his back, using ropes soaked in what Horatio prayed was NOT blood to restrain him.
In a few seconds he had the unwilling sacrifice strapped down onto the table.
Rylam strode over to smirk down at the captive detective. The human, despite having taken quite a few punches to the face and chest still didn't seem to have lost that spirit. His expression was of cold defiance as they locked gazes.
"For a human you're fascinating, you don't seem to realise just how much trouble you're in.."
"Speak for yourself!" Horatio laughed back.
Rylam snarled, and snapped a hand around Horatios neck, he leaned in close and hissed "I WILL make sure you suffer right up until the full moon...there are ways to hurt a man but not kill him.." as he spoke he raked the claws down Horatios side, laughing at the gasp of pain that followed.
"Understand yet "CSI"?" he laughed as he stepped back.
Horatio glared through the pain and managed a smirk "do you?" he shot back.
Mathius followed Scott through a seedy looking area of town, the guy said a friend of his lived hereabouts, he'd hopefully know where to look for Horatio.
Despite it only being midday the place seemed dipped in darkness.
He walked to a boarded up door and banged on it. A voice from the other side asked who it was.
"Its me Scott, got a buddy here that needs yer help Rick, open up."
There was a muffled groan, and the door opened, a skinny guy with glasses squinting at Scott and Mathius.
"What you want?" he muttered, motioning them to get inside fast.
"Got a missing human matty here needs to find.." Scott elaborated as they followed Rick down a dark hall to a room filled with computers "Rylams goons took off with 'im last night. Full moons in less then 12 hours and we got to figure out where they took him.."
Delko had rung Mathius with the latest news, and he'd told him in return eh was going to a source that could hopefully shed some light on ritualistic cults..
Rick squinted at him and sighed "your that guy who keeps making nice with the humans aren't ya? Figures, Rylam REALLY hates you,"
"Tell me something I DON'T know," Mathius retorted, then handed over a photo of Horatio they'd given to the news stations "this is him."
"Oh, the TV guy? Yeah I seen that..didnt realise it was the same one you're after. that'll make it easier..."
He started typing at the multitude of keyboards placed here and the on the desk. As he worked Mathius told him the location where first the wallet then the bloodied business card had been found.
"What we need to try if the highest place where the moons will be 'round here...Rylams guys believe they own Miami, this area in particular, so he aint going to stray far...and itd have to be well hidden.." Rick muttered to himself as he typed, pulling up a map of Miami and triangulating several spots on it. Then he typed in the charts for the moon, and most of the dots vanished, leaving one radius left.
"This areas under construction right now, nobody goes in there, contractors aren't planning to bulldoze it for another month. It matched with the moon charts...somewhere in this area.."
Mathius and Scott exchanged hopeful looks.
"Any abandoned buildings in the area, itd haveta be pretty deserted before that fat-ass tries anything.." Mathius growled.
"Yeah, site used to be a fishing port, but part of the cliff collapsed and the place was shut down. There's a bunch of old storage houses still on the site, but its falling apart. Still, that could be the place..."
"Lets hope so..." Mathius muttered.
The area had a few warehouses and some empty office buildings in the area, they were all worth a try.
But how to get the detective out without alerting Delko and Calleigh and the rest of the team to the vampyric nature of things?
Scott's best suggestion was he call in a few more guys and storm the place themselves, Mathius could warn the CSI's or the Cops once they'd taken Rylam out, the goons' flee at the thought of being captured, especially if their leader was ass-whooped.
Mathius sighed, this was awkward, having to keep the team out of it. But he could just say he was acting on a tip..
After some effort, and several favours, they'd assembled a ragtag bunch prepared to actually face Rylam.
But not all of them were too pleased about saving a human.
"Get this clear, you idiotic human-lover," one snarled at Mathius "me and the guys just want to kick Rylam's sorry ass for what he did to our gang, we don't give a shit 'bout some pathetic "detective", or whatever the hell he is..."
Mathius held back from punching the guys lights out, but Scott could see the vamp was so close to tearing him a new one. He'd seen Mathius get REALLY pissed once before, and it had ended in a veritable bloodbath. The madder he got, the stronger the blood rage. And if harming this missing human was a powerful trigger....well, duck and run was the best idea...
Outside it was growing towards dusk, they didn't have much time.
"Lets go," Mathius spoke at last "that fat ass pig Rylam, is going to get a hell of a fright.."
The rest cheered enthusiastically at the thought of a good brawl, but Mathius mind kept wandering back to how to keep the detective safe...
The light was fading fast. With every second Horatio could see the shadows lengthening...
It felt as if his whole body hurt. He'd tried blacking out repeatedly, but sharp blows to the already aching stomach had jolted him back from his efforts to make himself pass out. That and sharp cold claws digging into his neck..Rylam hadn't been kidding, it DID hurt. At one point the torture had extended to an extreme force being pressed down on his leg until he was sure the bone was about to crack. But even that hadn't produced the gibbering wreck of as sacrifice Rylam wanted. Even the loud scream of pain he'd been after hadn't made an appearence..as it was the human had been in too much pain to actually get his mind clear long enough to cry out.. He lapsed into unconiousness right after that. And hadn't been woken back up. Luckily Rylam had been distracted by one of his brainless goons giving him the latest news report..
--If....its all I can do...I wont let him destroy me...-- Awake again now it was all he could do. Refuse to be broken, to beg for mercy. --Id sooner die...-- eh thought morosely, then nearly laughed, that was what Rylam wanted him to die....
--Not until the last heartbeat you bastard...ive stood eye to eye with worse than you...bigger cowards, people who kill for kicks...and ive never let them break me down...so go to hell and stay there if you think you're going to succeed...--
He hitched in deep breath, feeling more pain returning as he grew more concious..his right leg ached the most, as he moved involuntarily, a fresh jolt of pain ran along it. Probably a clean break...his ribs were probably fractured, he didn't think they were broken, although it was a little hard to tell. His neck hurt, there were bruises from claws being clamped around has throat, dragging him close to blacking out then letting go, that had been Rylams biggest laugh...
"Want to die huh human? You wish!" he'd laughed coldly at the semi-conscious human staring groggily back at him. But even after all that, that look still wasn't gone from the humans eyes...Like a dog whose just waiting for its abusive master to get close enough so he can bite his hand off..
But now darkness was approaching, and so was the time to end the humans misery...
Through a crack in the dilapidated roofing Horatio caught sight of a silvery orb beginning to grow brighter as the light dimmed. The full moon....
Thanks to everyone whos reviewed and waited so patiently! ^_^