Author's Note: Wow! Real life has been way too busy and I didn't think this chapter was going to get posted today. But I made good use of lunch time so here you go. I guess you could say the team is storming the castle. I've had a lot of requests about Yuri's fate, and all I can tell you is yes, he's been a good friend to Tony and deserves to live. We'll have to see how that turns out….
Also, there's more information about the turning process in this chapter. I'll continue to add details as the situation progresses, but if you have specific questions private message me. Again, I just don't know if I could keep up the pace of posting without all your lovely reviews to inspire me. Thanks so much! Don't forget the summer NCIS convention (see xenascully or sparkiebunny for details) and have a happy Baltimore day! (I can't wait until tonight)!
Adrian slammed the door open to Gabriel's office and stormed inside, rage brewing barely beneath the surface. His Maker stood facing away from him, head tilted back and eyes closed, listening intently to the final strains of Chopin's Prelude in E Minor. Gabriel's expression of ecstasy combined with the familiar chords of music enflamed the younger vampire's ire even further.
He could smell DiNozzo's sweet scent oozing out of Gabriel's pores; the golden skinned vampire was doused in it. Gabriel didn't turn to greet him. "It's a lovely piece, both beautiful and melancholy at the same time. It fascinates me."
Adrian grabbed his Maker's shoulder and spun him around, frowning intently at the smoldering burn in the sparkling eyes. It was easy to guess what had put the older vampire in such a pleasant mood. "I see you've been up to your old tricks. Was he everything you imagined?" Adrian's mouth curled in an ugly snarl. "Did you enjoy fucking him?"
Gabriel's lips twitched, but he didn't smile. The memory of the previous night lingered fresh in his mind and he intended to make no apologies for what he'd done. Anthony belonged to him, and it was well within his rights to take the bellus whenever he pleased and however he pleased. The encounter hadn't been as much about pleasure as it was dominance and control; still, it had been a long time since he had been with someone he desired as much as he did the young agent and he had found it immensely fulfilling. Not even Adrian's surly demeanor could erase his good humor since there was the guarantee of many more nights for him to explore his newfound plaything.
Now that his appetite had been whetted, he had considered the possibility of visiting Anthony again tonight. Rationally he understood the idea was not a good one regardless of the strength of his lustful desires. As a vampire sex didn't require that he drink from his partner, but for him it added a heightened level of sensuality to the experience that he enjoyed as much as the act itself. He doubted he had enough restraint to avoid biting Anthony the next time they were together, which would be a problem for the immediate future. The blood loss Anthony had sustained left the young man in a precarious position. Even though as a bellus he would reproduce blood at a rapid pace and recover quickly from the attacks at the party, it would be several days before his body recuperated enough to withstand any more bites. Any further blood loss over the next few days would either result in death or, if the vampire stopped drinking at just the right moment, the turning process would be triggered. He didn't want Anthony to die, and since the boy would never consent to being turned by one of them, it was best to avoid going anywhere near DiNozzo. He would just have to wait for another taste of the bellus' sweetness.
Gabriel shuddered pleasurably before realizing he had been lost in thought. To make up for his inattentiveness, he decided to placate his offspring by indulging the younger vampire's fragile ego.
"Are you jealous, my child?" he asked Adrian. "Understand, I might get….distracted sometimes, but no one will ever take your place in my heart. Never forget, Adrian, you were the one who chose to leave my bed. That is the only reason I must find others to fulfill my desires."
The dark haired vampire frowned. "He's different than those you've been with before, and I'm not even sure if it's because he's a bellus. I think you actually like him."
A hand snaked out and cupped the back of Adrian's head. "Let me have my dalliance; I will always come back to you, as your Maker and more if you ever want that again. Do not blame Anthony; it is not as if he seeks my attentions."
"Gibbs wants him as a Son; you want him as a lover; where does that leave me? He even took Maria; I have nothing left."
Gabriel shook Adrian's head forcefully. "Self-pity does not work for you, Adrian. Let it go. I'm enjoying Anthony for now, and the fact anything I do with him is a further insult to Gibbs makes it all the better. When I'm finished using him, he'll be all yours to exact any kind of revenge you desire."
"I don't want to wait years for my vengeance." Adrian slipped free from Gabriel's grip and moved away. "I'm not that patient."
A discreet buzzing interrupted the conversation. Gabriel reached in his pocket and checked his phone, rolling his eyes as he answered. "When? Fine, I will be there." Ending the call he pursed his lips. "Julian wants to meet me at a pub in the village to discuss the events at the party. It seems someone's charged us with acts of 'abuse' against Anthony, and since he is a bellus they are obligated to investigate. I have to go." He grabbed a leather jacket off the back of his chair, tossing it on over his tight black t-shirt. "We'll finish this discussion when I return."
Adrian hid a wicked smile, glad to have Gabriel out of the way for the time being. The older vampire might think it was acceptable to prolong his retribution indefinitely, but he didn't agree. He had followed Gabriel's lead for centuries and done everything that was asked of him but it had gotten him nothing in return; Maria was dead and Gibbs had yet to suffer for rejecting him. He was finished with listening to others. The time for revenge was while his anger burned bright, the time for revenge was now.
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Tony lay curled on the bed with his eyes closed; Yuri couldn't tell if he was actually asleep or simply unwilling to interact with him. The younger man had barely moved since falling into a fitful slumber the night before, although occasionally he would jerk sharply and his green eyes would shoot open. When that happened he would look around hazily before awareness descended, and he would shut out the world again.
DiNozzo had clutched the small boat tightly in his fist throughout the night, and Yuri doubted that even in the injured man's weakened state it could be pried from his grip.
Yuri decided he was going to have to attempt to get some more water and medication into his charge after watching Tony attempt to swallow and lick his dry and cracked lips. He had no doubt the escape attempt would occur tonight, and Tony needed to be in as good a shape as possible. If anything, the various bruises had deepened, adding yellow and green to the mix of purple and blue and the bites were no better, most of them remaining red, puffy, and hot to the touch.
Tony's suntanned complexion had turned a deathly white, his cadaverous pallor a frightening backdrop to the multicolored injuries. The Albanian was certain that anyone who lacked the enhanced characteristics of Anthony's bellus blood would never have survived the continual attacks he had experienced. He only hoped that Gabriel was smart enough to back off for a time and let the young man recover, which would give them the chance to get Tony out before anything else happened to him.
Approaching the damaged boy like he would a sick child, Yuri sat on the edge of the bed and picked up Anthony's hand, patting the back of it gingerly. "Anthony, please wake up. Open your eyes for me." Eventually his tender efforts were rewarded with a tiny sliver of green that peered at him hesitantly.
"How are you feeling?" Yuri knew it was a stupid question, but he needed to find out the man's condition if he was going to be of any help.
DiNozzo stared. It was a simple enough request, but Tony didn't think he could answer. For someone who usually never stopped talking, he couldn't imagine uttering a single word. Every part of his body hurt, and any movement reminded him of what he'd gone through. He didn't want to think about any second of it, so he let himself drift, trying to escape reality again. Maybe if he stayed silent long enough Yuri would give up and go away.
Yuri watched him blink slowly as his eyes fell shut and he faded back toward sleep. "Don't do that, Anthony. You need to stay awake if you can."
"Don't want to," Tony eventually murmered, refusing to look at Yuri. "Sleep. Please."
The Albanian smiled sadly. "This has been hard, Anthony, I know, but you can't sleep it away. It will still be here when you wake up the next time."
Tony didn't reply, curling in on himself tighter, the boat pressed into his chest, its solid weight in his hand one of the few things keeping him sane. He felt completely empty inside, and couldn't find the strength to rally back this time. Being so weak and vulnerable should have infuriated him, but it was almost like he wasn't himself anymore. A part of him had simply died over the last few days.
Something in the back of his mind didn't like that train of thought and roared in defiance, reminding him he was not allowed to give up yet. Marines don't quit. It wasn't exactly stated in so many words, it was more of a feeling or a belief that refused to go away no matter what. I'm not a marine, Tony told the voice, and wondered if it was possible his newly acquired psychic connection really was Gibbs, or if he was just talking to himself and he actually had gone insane. Regardless, the owner of the never say die attitude that had taken up residence in his head refused to indulge in his pity party; Tony couldn't decide if he was grateful or annoyed. It didn't particularly matter in the long run, since he was too tired and weak to do anything anyway. Ignoring Yuri's kind ministrations, he elected to slip back into the dark comfort behind his closed eyelids.
Sighing, Yuri pushed a few lank strands of hair off Tony's face.
A loud noise outside the room startled them both; Tony's lazy eyes flew wide with barely contained dread – he couldn't tolerate another round with Gabriel. He latched his fingers around Yuri's hand and squeezed. Adrian entered the room, the furious expression on his face indicative of the less than friendly nature of his visit.
Yuri wouldn't let this be a repeat of last night; he was determined to find a way to protect Anthony. They only had to make it through a few more hours and the rescue plan would begin. He stood, drawing his large frame to its full height – he was no match for the strength of a vampire, but he wouldn't go down easy either. When he let go of Anthony's hand the younger man made a small whimper of protest; Yuri glanced down with a quick and reassuring smile. He faced Adrian. "I don't know what you plan to do, but I will not let you have him."
The dark-haired vampire snarled. "Tonight he pays for killing my wife; I won't be stopped, by you or anyone else."
Setting his jaw, the giant clenched his fists and glared defiantly, prepared to make a stand once and for all. If he died, at least it would be with the knowledge that he had done everything he could to save Anthony from further torment.
The vampire rushed toward the unyielding man, his dark eyes glowing red.
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"This is insanity, Jethro. Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Ducky glanced around the room helplessly. "Won't anyone else try to talk some sense into him?"
"He isn't going to change his mind regardless of what we say," Mike Franks stated casually from his perch on the back of the sofa, nonplussed by the unfolding drama. "So I don't see any reason to get all worked up about it."
"McGee and I will be fine, Gibbs. There is no reason for you to accompany us." The former Mossad member folded her arms indignantly. "It is a straight-forward operation and we should get Tony out quickly; I do not see any reason for you to endanger yourself." She looked at McGee for confirmation.
"Uh, yeah, Boss. Ziva's right, we've got the layout of the castle down pat and know the plan by heart. I mean, what if you can't get away and then we have both of you to rescue?" McGee shifted nervously when Gibbs rose to his feet and walked toward him, head cocked to the side and blue eyes alight.
"Do you really think I am going to need you to save me?" He pointed a finger into McGee's chest with each clipped word.
The younger agent's eyes darted around trying to find someone to bail him out. None of his companions stepped up to the plate. Wimps. "Um….sorry Boss…..it's just that, you know; it could get…. complicated….and then…." He floundered feebly.
"Don't you worry, McGee, I'll have it covered." Gibbs turned to face the rest of the group. The silver-haired vampire had no intention of sharing with them that since the last time he'd connected with Tony the bond hadn't fully shut down, leaving him a voyeur to DiNozzo's desolation for the last twenty-four hours. Every minute he wasn't concentrating on the escape he spent trying to convey hope and strength to his senior field agent. Tony's mood seemed to have lightened a little, but he still remained in a dark and desperate frame of mind. Gibbs almost had no choice but to accompany Ziva and McGee, since waiting any longer to take some kind of action would be unbearable. "DiNozzo needs me and I'm going. End of story."
Like a prowling lion he stalked into the kitchen for a final cup of coffee without waiting for further debate.
Franks snorted. "What'd I tell you? He's not going to listen, so we might as well not waste time trying." He gazed at the two agents. "I think it's time for you to get ready."
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Pressing the attack, Yuri tried to achieve an advantage before Adrian gained the upper hand. His only chance of defeating the vampire was to cut an artery as quickly as possible. He needed to find a way to get to his knife, but it was tucked deep in his pocket and inaccessible.
With his long arms he grasped Adrian around the neck and squeezed; the vampire easily reached up and pushed his limbs apart, breaking Yuri's grip. Yuri took a meaty fist and slammed it into the side of Adrian's head, knocking the man's skull back harshly. He stepped away, fists raised, prepared to deliver another punishing blow.
Adrian slowly straightened, licking a small spot of blood from his lip and smiling, unhurt. He swatted the big man's hands down, then gripped Yuri's biceps, and with barely any effort lifted the enormous man off the ground and flung him across the room where he crashed into a table, breaking it in half and knocking the contents to the floor. Yuri groaned but rose to his feet, plunging his hand into his pocket for the knife which was his only hope.
Before he could grasp the weapon, Adrian was on him again, shoving him against the wall and grinning madly. "You are such a foolish human to think you could do anything to harm me."
"Don't!"
Yuri looked over Adrian's shoulder and saw Anthony sitting on the bed, one hand wrapped around the post to keep him up. He was shaking, but within the black-ringed green eyes he observed renewed resolve and fortitude. Of course it took his potential death to rouse Tony from a nearly catatonic state. The willingness of the young man to face yet another vampire caused a pang in Yuri's heart; after everything Anthony had suffered he was still willing to do anything to save a friend from a fate he would take on himself.
Tony's response must have pleased Adrian, because the smile on his face broadened.
"You want me to let him live, DiNozzo? Why should I do anything you want?" He stared back at Yuri before banging an elbow into his nose, releasing a small fountain of blood. The Albanian groaned before he could stop himself. "Maybe if you beg."
Tony closed his eyes, trying to stay conscious, to fight back the endless waves of nausea, to ignore the layers of pain, to find out if he still had any dignity left.
What could he do? Physically, he had nothing left to give; if he let go of this post he knew he'd be flat on his back in a second. A normal Tony DiNozzo would come up with something, either turn the attention on himself or barrel across the room and hit Adrian with an Ohio State football player tackle. But he could do neither of those things. He could only watch mutely while the vampire kept Yuri pressed against the wall, a long claw tracing a bloody trail down his friend's neck, stopping to flick back and forth along his jugular.
Tony took a deep breath. "Please….I'm begging. Let him go. You….you can do what you want to me." His voice was incredibly small and tired and trailed off at the end. He raised his eyes pleadingly.
Adrian laughed at him. "I'll do what I want to you regardless; however, I do appreciate your supplication. I'm sure Gabriel enjoyed your willingness to submit to him, too. He seemed quite satisfied when I saw him last."
Tony winced at the reminder, realizing instantly that nothing he said made a difference to Adrian. The vampire already knew what he planned to do, and seeing Tony writhe and squirm only added to his enjoyment.
Their eyes met briefly, and judging by Adrian's dark look Tony was certain he was going to watch Yuri die. The sadistic smirk on the vampire's face was confirmation of his revelation. Tony felt like he had truly and fully descended into hell.
There was a flurry of movement, before Yuri's eyes bulged and his mouth gaped open. He looked down in surprise to find Adrian's claws inserted in his stomach, twisting and dragging painfully before he was released to slide slowly to the floor.
"No!" Tony yelled as loudly as he could. It was surreal; he couldn't believe he was watching someone else suffer in his place.
The Albanian gazed upward at his attacker, unable to speak, his hands reflexively covering the bleeding wounds.
"Now you know exactly how weak you are, human. Lay there and bleed while I finish my business here." Adrian's voice was as cold as steel, and when he moved back toward Tony, there was no question what he intended to do to the man would not be pleasant.
Taking a handful of Tony's unruly hair, he roughly pulled his head back. "Do you want me to kill you quickly or slowly?"
A multitude of sarcastic comments whirled through Tony's mind. How much time do we have? Do you want it to be good for me and for you? Is this a trick question?
None of that came out, though. Instead he whispered with weary resignation, "Do it fast." He tried to turn his head toward Yuri, desperate to see if the other man was still alive, but he couldn't free himself from Adrian's solid hold.
After a brief pause, the maniacal smile returned. "No, I don't think so. You need to suffer for your sins. A long, slow, agonizing death is much more appropriate, and I have just the thing in mind." He leaned down until Tony could feel hot breath on his face. "You'll pray for death before it's over just to end the pain."
Tony didn't move, surprised that he wasn't afraid. Since his brain was way too exhausted for his normal level of repartee, he went with a simple, tried and true phrase that usually elicited a good response from the recipient. "Fuck you."
A corner of Adrian's mouth quirked up knowingly. "That's more Gabriel's style, not mine. What's this?" he asked, picking up the tiny wooden boat that Tony had left on the bed. As Adrian studied it, Tony shifted, wanting to reach out and grab it back but knowing he couldn't. Adrian growled. "This is from Gibbs, isn't it? A good luck charm, maybe?" Squeezing his hand closed, the vampire crushed the small boat. Tony shut his eyes and felt much of the strength he'd been drawing on rush out of his body. He finally managed to look at Yuri, his massive form lying unmoving on the carpet surrounded by a growing puddle of crimson. It was over; there was nothing else he could do except face whatever Adrian had in store.
Adrian lifted Tony's wrist and gave him a pitying look. "You have lost a great deal of blood recently; it seems almost cruel to take more. I could bleed the life from you in seconds, but I won't. I think a little nip should be enough; you see, if I leave just the right amount, your body won't die - instead it will try to change into a vampire. I can't explain to you how it works, just that every vampire innately knows the stopping point to potentially create a newborn." He sniffed Tony's skin. "The irony is that even if your body wants to change, your mind has to want it, too. If you ask any vampire to turn you, he can do it once the process has started. But if you continue to refuse, your body will destroy itself when it receives no new blood to survive." Adrian smiled. "I think we both know you won't be asking Gibbs to turn you any time soon, since he isn't around and you're aware of how he would feel about it anyway."
The connection in Tony's mind rippled. "He's coming, you know," DiNozzo whispered raspily.
Adrian frowned angrily. "Who? What are you talking about?"
It was Tony's turn to smile, and he decided to make the most of the moment even if it might be his last. "Gibbs. He's coming for you and Gabriel. He'll be here soon, and believe me nothing is going to stop him from ripping your dick off and shoving it down your throat." DiNozzo was pleased at how steady his voice stayed when he said that. It might be graphic, but it was a line worthy of any action-hero star. Yippee-ki-yay, mother fucker.
"How descriptive," Adrian replied. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Leroy knows he can't get in here. Since this is Gabriel's ancestral home, only he or one of his first-born descendents can invite another vampire onto the property. If Leroy tries to enter without permission, he will die. You're obviously delusional and imagining things."
"Think what you want; I know he's coming." Tony coughed a little, ending it with a painful wince. He locked his knees to make sure he didn't fall down. He had committed to this little skirmish, and he wasn't going to let it end with him swooning like some damsel in distress.
At least that's what he hoped would happen; Adrian elected to end the conversation by lifting Tony's wrist to his lips and gently biting down, carefully breaking the skin. Tony let out a soft gasp. This time, as the blood was slowly and carefully drawn from his veins, he sighed and let himself go, no longer afraid. The emotional interloper in his head ranted and raved when he started to slip away; Tony tried to send back a sense of peace and calm; if it really was Gibbs coming along for the ride, he owed his boss that much. But Tony was tired and it was time to stop fighting. Adrian released the pull on his wrist, drawing back his fangs and grinning with satisfaction. Against his will, Tony slowly slumped to the floor, the damaged wooden boat lying next to him, filling his line of vision. Nothing in his life had ever been easy, and it was no surprise to him that even his death was hard.
When blackness consumed him, he was embarrassed to admit he was somewhat glad the struggle was finally over.
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The vampires ran alongside the humans, who were riding horses; at the edge of the forest the small group stopped. Ziva and McGee took time to strap their swords firmly to their bodies and also check the holstered guns and several small knives concealed under their clothes.
Gibbs was unarmed, since any weapons would more than likely be removed upon his arrival anyway. Besides, the most dangerous weapon he possessed right now was his blood-boiling anger, which no one could take away.
They reviewed the plan once more. Mike, Ducky, and Caleb would wait here concealed by the forest until they were needed. Ziva and McGee would enter from the side of the castle that bordered the woods, meeting Yuri to gain entry. Gibbs would walk up to the front gate and surrender himself, creating a diversion with his arrival. Once he had been given permission to enter he would free himself and meet them inside the castle; no one asked exactly how he intended to accomplish this part of the plan, since he seemed ready to literally bite off the head of anyone who questioned him.
"How will you know where to find us once we're inside?" Tim asked, adjusting his sword so he could move but it couldn't be seen by a casual observer.
Gibbs gave a small smile. "Haven't you noticed I always know where DiNozzo is? I'll find you."
McGee processed that. "Oh." It really did explain Gibbs' stealth habits a lot more.
While they made final preparations, the lead agent suddenly went very quiet and still, clutching a hand to his temple. Franks was at his side instantly, taking his arm when Gibbs actually swayed momentarily.
"What's wrong?" Mike looked from Gibbs to Ducky for an explanation. The silver-haired man shook his head and held up a hand for them to wait. He leaned over and struggled to control his breathing, finally standing straight again and rubbing his face wearily.
"Tony's dying," he said bluntly. "We have to hurry." He pushed back the feelings that threatened to overwhelm him, trying to shove them somewhere into the recesses of his brain where he could deal with them later. If they came through this intact he had every intention of kicking his senior field agent's ass for giving up like this. He could feel Tony's life being drained from him, and he realized they were possibly at a point where DiNozzo couldn't be saved. It was impossible to believe that on the brink of rescue he might end up dead before they even saw him again. Gibbs wouldn't even consider it, so he let his determination to save Tony seep out of his blue eyes. "Ready?" he asked.
The rest of the team exchanged frightened glances; they had seen Gibbs intense before, but his current state took it to a whole new level. "Please be careful," Ducky reminded them. "All of you." Ziva and McGee nodded, resolutely heading from the safety of the trees and dense undergrowth toward the castle.
"For the last time, Jethro, are you sure this is wise? They might just kill you on sight." Ducky's worried tone revealed his anxiety for his friend.
"Gabriel and Adrian will want to play with me for a while first. They wouldn't pass up the opportunity to have me as a prisoner, Ducky. I'll be fine." He placed a firm hand on the ME's shoulder. "We've been together far too long for you to get rid of me now.'
"You better be fine or you'll have me to answer to." Franks added. It was the closest he could come to revealing his feelings for his Son.
"I got it you two." Their worry for his safety was touching, yet it didn't change what he had to do. "Just remember, I might be a vampire, but I'm a marine first, and I won't leave anyone behind, especially not Tony. Now sit tight, we'll be out as fast as we can."
Squaring his shoulders, he walked in the direction of the gate. If anyone wouldn't be coming back from this, it would be him, but he needn't concern his Maker and old friend. He'd sacrifice everything he could to get all of his team back safely. But when it came down to it, if the choice had to be made and it looked like he wouldn't be coming home, he'd be sure to take Gabriel and Adrian out with him.
Besides, if Tony really was dying, the only thing he had left to live for was seeing his enemy's heads struck off by the blade of his sword. It was cold comfort, but he was bastard enough to take it.
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His stomach burned and ached, pulling him out of peaceful slumber toward painful awareness. With a groan, Yuri peeled his eyes open and gazed around, trying to remember what had happened to cause him so much discomfort. He was lying on the floor, and there was something wet and sticky adhered to his abdomen. Looking down, he lifted his fingers and was surprised by the red blood that coated them.
For a second he panicked, unable to recall why he was bleeding, until the events leading up to this came flooding back to him. He immediately scanned the room for Anthony, since the last thing he could clearly remember was Adrian bearing down on the young man with murder in his eyes.
He didn't have to look far. Anthony was also lying in the floor, on his back, with his arms splayed out beside him and his legs askew. His head was tilted away from Yuri, so the Albanian couldn't see the other man's face. What he did notice was the utter lack of movement; he could detect absolutely no signs of life from the perfectly still form.
Gathering his strength, Yuri raised himself to a sitting position, nearly toppling over when tendrils of agony shot through him. His hands quickly went back to the wound, and for the first time he became fully aware that his clothes were drenched in blood. Carefully he lifted his shirt, gasping at the mangled flesh and open holes in his stomach. He'd seen wounds similar to this before, and although it had taken the unfortunate victim hours to bleed out, death had almost always been the end result. He didn't know how long he'd lain unconscious, so it was impossible to accurately gauge how much time he had left.
He couldn't dwell on that now because he had other things to do.
With resolve he inched across the floor to Anthony's side, cursing when he found the fresh bite that stood out on the young man's wrist in contrast to the older wounds. The new bite was clean and precise; there was no blood oozing from the punctures. As a matter of fact, Tony's skin, which had already been pale, was now a cadaverous grey. It was the same color his wife's once rosy flesh had turned after she'd been bled to the bone.
Unsure of the outcome, he pressed his fingers into Anthony's neck looking for a pulse. Initially there was nothing, but after continuing to search he finally located a weak and barely detectable rhythm that indicated Tony had been left with at least a small amount of blood. He closed his eyes and swallowed, grateful for the heartbeat but not sure how long it was going to last. There was no more time to waste; he had to meet Ziva and McGee and give them access to the castle. It was Anthony's only chance for survival.
"Please, Lina, give me strength," he prayed to his dead wife, pushing himself up from the floor and making his way unsteadily to the door. He hated leaving Anthony alone, but there was nothing else he could do; without him the rescue was over before it began.
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The tip of the blade pressed into his neck forcing Gibbs to stop moving.
"Take one more step and you'll be missing your head," the stern voice from behind him warned.
Gibbs raised his hands to indicate his surrender. "What do you want here?" the vampire asked.
"I am Leroy Jethro Gibbs and I seek permission to enter the home of Gabriel and Adrian. I wish to speak with them on their own grounds." He kept his voice even and formal. There was the sound of whispering behind him as the guards discussed how to handle the situation. Eventually they decided to contact Adrian and inform him of the intruder. Gibbs smiled amiably.
"Adrian is coming to deal with you personally since only he can grant your request to enter. You are expected to wait until he arrives." There was a warning in the tone, but Gibbs also noted respect and nervousness as well. It was clear they recognized his name and had some knowledge of his reputation as several other guards armed with swords took up position surrounding him.
Crossing his arms, Gibbs relaxed and casually waited for his nephew to join them. So far, the plan was going exactly as he wanted it to.
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Gabriel entered the pub and waited just inside the entrance while the conversation died down into silence. The villagers recognized him, but they weren't accustomed to his presence in their domain. An uncomfortable tension permeated the air. His golden gaze circled the small knots of humans seated at rickety tables until he found who he was looking for sitting out of the way in the corner.
Julian smiled beatifically and tilted his head in greeting. Gabriel slid into the opposite seat and signaled for a drink, shedding his leather jacket and crossing his long legs. "What brings you to see me? I must say, I'm quite honored you traveled so far simply to take me to task for my little get-together. I'm sure it wasn't nearly as exciting as you might have heard."
The ancient vampire swirled his drink. "I knew you would take the bellus as your own, but I hoped you would treat him with a bit more care. Do you know how many of his kind currently exist in the world?"
The golden eyes sparked. "I have no idea."
Julian gave him another dazzling smile. "Only one other; and that bellus is now a vampire himself. Anthony is very rare and unique and should be loved and cherished. The reports I have received of his mistreatment are extremely disappointing. I believe it was a mistake to allow you to take him."
Gabriel leaned back defensively. "Be that as it may, he belongs to me now and I will deal with him as I see fit. The Conclave has no say in it."
The diminutive vampire frowned with displeasure. "I have great sympathy for Anthony's plight; it is difficult for those who have never experienced subjugation to understand how it feels to be so vulnerable."
"And you do?" Gabriel asked, suspicion growing in his belly.
Julian took a sip of his drink and sat it on the table before folding his hands in front of him. "I do. You see, I am the other bellus. My age and experience has allowed me to conceal the qualities that Anthony currently cannot control. I take his abuse as a personal offense. He belongs with Leroy; that is where he will be cared for and encouraged to thrive and flourish. Letting you anywhere near him was a serious miscalculation; I regret ever listening to the other members of the Conclave regarding this matter."
The golden eyes narrowed. "What have you done? Leroy is here, isn't he?"
Julian laughed; the sound reminiscent of tinkling glass. "Anthony is not yours if you cannot keep him, is he?"
Standing quickly, his chair falling to the ground with a loud thump that caught the attention of the tense locals, Gabriel ran from the pub in a nearly invisible blur. If Leroy took Anthony back now, it would be another humiliation to him, and he would not allow it to happen.
Julian calmly finished his wine, and hoped that he had bought Leroy enough time to get the boy back where he belonged. The decision he had made to ignore the Conclave and help Gibbs placed him at great personal risk, but he was satisfied with his choice. His own life had been filled with heartache when once, long ago, he had been forced to live as a slave to others merely because of the special blood in his veins and he wouldn't allow the same thing to happen to Anthony.
Unfortunately, he had provided all the assistance he could; the resolution of the situation was out of his control and rested entirely on Gibbs' shoulders now.
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Adrian stared intently at Leroy, who was currently lounging in a leather chair in Gabriel's office, not saying a word and looking for all the world like he was master of the house. It unnerved and infuriated him, the quiet confidence that allowed Gibbs to control any situation, regardless of the circumstances.
The older vampire was obviously up to something; he would never put himself into such a dangerous position unless there was an endgame with an outcome he desired. He wished he could read something in that blue-eyed gaze, but his searching revealed nothing, Gibbs' secrets were always his own. Even hundreds of years ago, when their lives had interconnected on a daily basis, he had never been able to gauge the vampire very well, and had always felt a distinct wall between them.
What was it Leroy had said about coincidences? He never believed in them; and neither did Adrian. Gibbs showing up at the precise time Gabriel left had to be part of a bigger maneuver than he could see right now. He was confident Gibbs couldn't do anything to remove DiNozzo from the castle on his own, but he tried to call Gabriel to tell him of the development anyway. There was no answer. Sighing, Adrian paced, trying to decide what to do next. Gibbs sauntering to his door and surrendering himself on a silver platter had never been part of the equation.
"Don't mean to make you nervous." Gibbs pale eyes flashed with the subtle challenge.
Adrian laughed. "You're kidding, right? I'm not a teenager anymore, Leroy, and you don't make me nervous."
Gibbs shrugged dismissively. "I just remember that you always paced when you didn't know what to do."
Immediately angry, his nephew grabbed a short sword from a display on the wall and pointed it at Gibbs. "I could kill you. Would that be a satisfactory decision, Uncle?"
The federal agent didn't blink. "You're call. I'm just here to talk."
His curiosity getting the better of him, Adrian lowered the sword. If there was one thing he distinctly remembered about Leroy, it was that he never wanted to have a conversation unless he had to. "Then talk."
Gibbs snorted. "Not to you. My business is with your Maker. I want to talk to Gabriel." He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. "I can wait."
Adrian seethed, completely put out by Gibbs' nonchalance when anyone with common sense would be terrified of what was going to happen next. Then again, Gibbs had never been one to operate simply within the parameters of common sense since he made up his own rules and said to hell with the others. Adrian turned to the guards, "Take him to the dungeon. Maybe a night with the rats will make him cry like it did his little pet."
The guards approached Gibbs warily, never lowering their weapons as he was forced to stand. He gave them a jaunty smile and acquiesced easily, which only served to make them grip their weapons tighter.
"And by the way," Adrian preened, deciding he needed to wipe the smile off the smug vampire's face. "The last time I saw your pretty little boy he wasn't doing too well. Maybe, if you behave yourself, I'll let you see him again before he dies. Or I might just lock you in separate cells and let you hear him scream while his body tries to change and he has no one around to finish the process for him. I hear there are few ways to die that are more painful. There would be something poetic about that, I think."
Licking his lips, Gibbs didn't let Adrian witness the anger beneath the surface of his cool exterior. Instead he supplied a calm grin. "Watching you die is going to be a pleasure."
Adrian tilted his chin up. "We'll see about that, Uncle. Get him out of my sight."
As he allowed himself to be led down the hallway, Gibbs gripped his fists tightly. So far, everything was working out perfectly. They had let him inside their lair, and he was going to take advantage of that very fatal mistake.
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Yuri staggered into the wall and hung there, unsure if he would make it to his destination in time. He placed a hand against the rough surface to steady himself, leaving behind a bloody handprint. He shoved off and continued to walk, focusing on taking one step at a time.
The sound of movement caught his attention and he was fortunate to duck into a darkened alcove, trying desperately to control his heaving breaths and pounding heart. He made a stifled gasp as he watched two guards escorting Gibbs down the hallway, instinctively praying that the sound wasn't heard by the vampire's sensitive hearing. At first none of them reacted, but kept moving straight ahead, until one of the guards paused. "What's that smell?" he asked his companion. "There's human blood around here somewhere."
The second guard sniffed the air. "I'll go look around; you stay here with him." He nodded his head at Gibbs, who flashed a disarming smile.
"I don't think so," the first guard objected. "Do you know who this is? You aren't leaving me alone with Leroy Jethro Gibbs. I'll go and you stay."
Gibbs chuckled as the guards argued, but Yuri noticed how the vivid blue eyes flicked in his direction, staring at him in the shadows, before quickly glancing away. Eventually the guards decided to stay together, delivering their captive to the dungeon before coming back to investigate the smell.
The dungeon? Why was Gibbs even here? Yuri didn't have time to consider the unexpected development too much, since he had to get to the rendezvous with Ziva and McGee. When he was certain he was once again alone, he slowly continued to walk down the endless hallways never once thinking about giving up or stopping. If this was going to be his last act, he would see it through to the end.
NCISNCSINCIS
Ziva and McGee huddled against the cold concrete of the castle, waiting for the servant's entrance door to open and let them inside. As Ziva crouched low, peering around the corner to check once more for Yuri's arrival, McGee had a wild and completely insane idea.
"You should let me take a picture."
"Excuse me?" Ziva glanced back at him over her shoulder, wondering if he had lost his mind. She shifted her weight, adjusting for the short sword strapped to her back. "What are you talking about, McGee?"
The agent gave his partner an appreciative once over, taking in the tiny maid's dress complete with frilled apron and matching cap. "For Tony. He's probably not going to remember much of this, and you have to admit your outfit is exactly the kind of thing he'd have a field day with." McGee provided her with his most sincere expression. "I'm just trying to be a good friend."
Ziva huffed out her nose in indignation. "You know, Tim, we are breaking into a castle filled with vampires to rescue him. I think we have got being good friends covered." She pressed her lips together and glanced at the ground, then turned back and pointed her finger at him. "Alright, but just one picture. And only after the operation is over! I cannot believe I am agreeing to this."
McGee gave her a broad smile. "For Tony," he mouthed. The one-time assassin punched him on the arm.
She peeked around the corner again, but there was still no sign of Yuri. "This is not a good sign."
Tim looked at his watch. "He's only ten minutes late. Maybe someone was in the way and he had to wait for them to leave."
Ziva only frowned more deeply. Finally, after several more torturous minutes of waiting, the door was pushed open and Yuri waved at them to enter. They scampered forward and followed Yuri into the darkness of the castle.
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"This way," Yuri whispered. "If we pass anyone…..just walk by like you belong here. But," he sucked in a breath, "don't make…eye contact." Ziva gave McGee a questioning look at the Albanian's stilted speech and uncoordinated gait.
"Is something wrong?" McGee asked, taking Yuri by the arm when he stumbled slightly. He was startled when Yuri's hand moved to reveal his red-stained shirt. "You're bleeding!"
Yuri winced. "Adrian attacked me. I'll be…..fine. We have to get to Tony." With single-minded determination, the tall man continued walking.
Moving deeper into the castle, Yuri opened a door to reveal a narrow staircase, trudging slowly upward while the two agents followed. The stairs spiraled around, dim light from small windows filtering in to illuminate their climb.
By the time they reached the top, both Ziva and McGee were breathing heavily. "We're here," Yuri announced, pulling on a heavy wooden door that concealed another dark corridor. He shuffled to the only door in the hall, tugging a large iron key from his pocket. It fell from his blood covered fingers; Ziva knelt down and picked it up.
He gave her a wan smile while she turned the key in the lock.
The door creaked as it opened on rusty hinges. "Tony…."
Ziva rushed across the room and dropped to her knees beside their friend's lifeless body. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and hesitated, afraid to touch him because of all the bites and bruises.
McGee joined her in the floor. "Is he," there was an audible swallow and his voice cracked. It isn't supposed to end this way. This is Tony; he has more lives than a cat. "Is he alive?"
"I do not know." Ziva licked her lips and carefully pressed the vein in his neck with her fingertips. When she looked back up at McGee, for the first time in all the years he had known her, there were tears welling up in her beautiful dark eyes. Silent tears streaked her face.
"No," Tim whispered, unwilling to hear that Tony was gone; that they had arrived too late, and he had died the way Tony would have never wanted to die, alone.