A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's…though I wished I owned the guys…*sighs*
Dean woke up the next morning to the sounds of the deluge gone but replaced by the gentle steady beating of raindrops. The rain would wash away Brooklyn's scent along with his buying the runaway lovers time. His delicate sense of smell inhaled the fresh scent of rain as it cleansed the Earth below. He always did love the smell and today it held even deeper meaning.
The vampire looked over to see his human still asleep wrapped in the cloak. Her copper hair peeked out from the top and spilled onto the soft patch of grass. He could hear her breathing and heart beating in rhythm. She was perfect in every way. Dean knelt down beside her and gently shook the sleeping form.
"Brook, Brook we need to go," Brooklyn groaned and pushed the thick cover from her eyes revealing half groggy orbs.
"Sleeping on the ground sucks," she whined while stretching out her legs arms then cracked her back and neck. Dean winced at the loud crackling sounds her joints and bones made but his human wasn't bothered by the sounds emanating from her body. Her piercing grey eyes scanned the woods as she rose and shook the cloak handing it back to the vampire. Dean flung it over his shoulders securing tight then reached out for his human's hand and together they carefully wandered back out onto the trail.
Alaric watched the rain pound against the windows as he waited on word from his scouts. It wasn't that he didn't trust the hunters it was more of he knew Winchester would go underground in a manner of speaking in order to elude capture. His anger rose and need for the slave teetered on the brink of madness.
"I see dear brother you're brooding as usual," Maximilian greeted him as he leaned in the doorway. Alaric turned around stunned to see his older sibling there in Cape Girardeau.
"What are you doing here?" He crossed the room taking his brother in a tight embrace.
"Father wanted me to give you this," he passed over the medium sized pouch containing a small fortune within. "Gold, silver and jewels to entice the bounty hunters which I believe is in response to your request for an increase in the reward for your slave."
The sinister grin crossed the younger vampire's face as he peered in the bag at the riches that awaited the one who returned his slave.
"And I am remaining to offer up any assistance you may need. As you well know I am not well liked by the Winchesters," Maximilian snickered.
"Of course I am well aware of that," Alaric indicated. "Remember how John begged and pleaded with the Council to spare her? How pathetic he looked, such an embarrassment to the vampire race. Begging to spare the life of a dirty filthy human who wasn't worth the price I paid for her. She would fight me every step of the way making it difficult."
"Now no need to grow bitter about that again Maximilian. We need to focus on the future and when I get Brooklyn back and we can inflict further pain upon the Winchester clan," the older vampire's eyes flashed with a deep coldness that was only rivaled by Nicholas's endless orbs.
"Now tell me what I can do to help," Alaric clapped a hand on his shoulder and together the brothers walked down the hall as Alaric laid out what to do.
"Ah to get back out in the wilderness again…..It'll be just like when I served in the hostile steppes of Russia," Maximilian said in a dreamy tone.
John arrived back in Saint Louis hoping to find Deacon. The markets were crowded but not like they were when he had first arrived. Now the auctions held older weaker humans for sale and John knew what fate held for those poor souls: A long sad journey to the slaughterhouses of Denver where they would be butchered and their flesh and blood sold in the fine markets of the West Coast and Southwest. He shuddered and shoved the bloody images from his mind as he dodged the crowds. Not many vampires had been to the killing fields as most refused to see or even partake in the act for it was below their stature. It was left up to the vampires who had no souls or didn't care about life to the point that slaughtering humans and hearing their screams and cries for mercy fell upon their deaf ears.
He kept the hood tight around his head and throat for the guards were still around and keeping an eye out for Dean. John suspected there was word he was no longer in Michigan and the guard were told to keep watch for him as well. His eyes scanned the top of the crowd but the familiar figure of his friend was nowhere to be seen as he slipped between bodies with swift fluid movements. The powerful invisible wall of scents and odors ranging from jasmine to human waste blended and waved through the air giving off a pungent tinge. He broke free of the tight packed bodies and carefully crossed the plaza and fountain and into the rows of fancy townhomes.
John decided it would be best to keep watch on the Saltzman house in the hopes of learning what Alaric was planning. He knew the vampire was still down in Cape Girardeau but it didn't stop the extensive reach he had in every aspect of vampire society. He listened in on Dixon as he spoke with another vampire.
"Maximilian has arrived in Cape Girardeau," John gasped at the name not only because of what he did to his beloved Mary but he was one of the fiercest fighters in the Russian Steppes. He had demonstrated a cold blooded ruthlessness that rivaled Nicholas's. Maximilian had slaughtered humans left and right for the smallest of infractions then would bathe in the blood of his victims while forcing the surviving humans to watch him bask in the obscene victory.
"It will only be a matter of time before they find the human and Dean Winchester. Maximilian is a skilled tracker as you remember reading about what happened in Kiev 300 years ago."
"I recall it clearly Dixon," the vampire agreed then shuddered.
"Well the reward has gone up but Maximilian will be the one to bring them back when they're caught. Alaric isn't taking any chances."
"Wise decision," the unknown vampire commented.
John knew Dean and Brooklyn were moving targets now that Maximilian was joining in the hunt.
Maximilian loaded up the saddle bags and tightened the saddle. He preferred to track his quarry down the old fashioned way: on horseback. The scent of the human shouldn't be too old but with the recent rainfall the trail would be all but washed away. But then again he loved a challenge like Alaric did.
"I have the word out you will be the one to bring the human and vampire to when they're captured," Alaric handed his brother the silver shackles. With gloved hands Maximilian loaded the cuffs and chain in a separate pouch.
"I don't want Winchester harmed. I want to be the one to destroy him," Alaric's voice dropped to a cold hateful tone.
"Believe me brother the bounty hunters won't be stupid to defy you. After all, Father hand selected everyone," Maximilian reminded him as he got on his mount. The bay stallion was the finest in the state, able to go through any terrain and outpace the fastest Thoroughbred. Alaric watched his brother take off down the lone road through town and west along the old trail.
"Soon I'll have what is rightfully mine back," his fangs slipped down at the hunger gnawing within.
Maximilian felt the stallion trotting as if he knew the one riding him was searching for someone or something. The vampire started north along the river to where the boat sank several nights before. His dark eyes kept down to the soft mud as the horse kept its steady pace. The horse and rider continued for several more miles before the reins pulled back and the bay slowed down. Maximilian spotted the ruined wreckage of the Saltzman schooner ahead and brought his mount to a complete stop.
The vampire hopped off and scoured the small bluffs along the shore. He was hoping to see signs of disturbance amongst the foliage and didn't have to look long. The branches and brush were snapped and bent, too much for a deer or cougar to do. Maximilian examined the damage more closely and spotted something tangled in the leaves. He carefully plucked the single red strand and knew he was on the right path. The vampire leapt on his horse and raced up the break in the bluffs into the dense curtain of trees. As he rode along, Maximilian noticed that the rain had not washed away all of the footsteps created. They were deep in the mud indicating something or someone was being carried.
Maximilian continued to follow the faded path and knew he was on the old trail.
"You think you're clever do you Winchester?" Maximilian grinned flashing bright sharp fangs as he rode hard down the path.
Sorry bout the late update!!!!